Team selection after the last few games

[shrimper]

What a series of dilemmas for Jimbo - under the sub-heading 'Nice Problems to Have'.

Oliver must come back into the reckoning, Osborne has played well enough to have staked a place, McGurk and Thompson have both impressed, Kev has scored four of our last five goals, Campbell has had a real influence when he's come on, Rose is the skipper and has been brilliant since joining us but hasn't been on form recently, Lang has looked a real threat coming off the bench...



If they're all fit I'd be tempted to go for:

Roche
McGowan Muller Old Brough
Kenyon Rose Osborne
Thompson McGurk Ellison.

Then maybe introduce Oliver and Campbell somehow for the Tuesday game against Luton.

It's going to be interesting to see what happens.

[Shrimpy]

Roche

McGowan Muller Old Brough

Osborne Rose

Thompson McGurk Ellison

Oliver

That would be my prefered lineup at the moment.

[Gone_Shrimping]

What a player we look to have signed in McGurk.

His first touch is superb and he shields the ball and holds it up so well.

I thought he looked good when he played for Burton and then did well at Portsmouth when he scored 6 in 36 games.

No mention was made when we signed him about the length of contract so I guess it was to the end of this season. I hope moves are made to extend it sooner rather than later , I don't want Carlisle or someone else stealing him next June.

[Ntini]

Really tough one. Rose, Campbell, Fleming and Oliver all knocking on the door for a starting position. Nice position for Jim to be in.

----------------------ROCHE--------------------
McGOWAN------OLD----MULLER----BROUGH
THOMPSON--KENYON--OSBOURNE--ELLISON
---------------McGURK-------------------------
---------------------------OLIVER---------------

I'd go with that, or just leave it the same as Saturday. We want to try and get a bit of consistency IMO.

[shrimper]

My only concern with those is that we may be short in central midfield with, effectively, two midfielders and four forwards.
That'd be a real 'going for it' option, shrimpy and ntini, but I'd prefer three proper midfielders.

Tricky - and great! as we say.

[Teams like Morecambe]

Keep the same starting line up but drop Wildig who offers very little. I would play Campbell at number ten who has looked threatening every time I've seen him. Alternatively Jim could play McGurk there to accommodate Oliver but why would you change McGurk's position when he's playing well there and the rest of the team are learning how he plays that position.

[Christies Child]

I'd prefer Lund to McGowan but somehow can't see Jim altering the line up after Saturday.

[red shrimp]

---------------------Roche------------------------
McGowan----Old-------Muller-----------Brough

Thompson---Osbourne---Rose (C)-----Ellison

--------------Mcgurk--------------------------------
---------------------------Oliver--------------------

Rose needs to sort his form out, but still ahead of Kenyon and Fleming for me.

[red shrimp]

I'd prefer Lund to McGowan but somehow can't see Jim altering the line up after Saturday.

I think Mcgowan has been brilliant past 2-3 games, and deserves to keep his place. Not been impressed with Lund Thus far this season.

[George Dawes]

Old & Muller could be the best defensive pairing since Artell & Bentley


be tempted to go 4 3 3 with a narrow 2 banks of 3 with and without the ball. and non of this it turning into a 4 5 1 shit

Roche

Lund Muller Old Brough

Osbourne Kenyon Rose

Thompson Olivier McGurk


tough one with Ellison but I just give McGurk the nod he's getting better game by game

[Christies Child]

Old & Muller could be the best defensive pairing since Artell & Bentley


be tempted to go 4 3 3 with a narrow 2 banks of 3 with and without the ball. and non of this it turning into a 4 5 1 shit

Roche

Lund Muller Old Brough

Osbourne Kenyon Rose

Thompson Olivier McGurk


tough one with Ellison but I just give McGurk the nod he's getting better game by game

My team as well....Kevin as super sub

[Little Shrimp]

Roche
McGowan Muller Old Brough
Kenyon
Wildig Osborne
Thompson
Oliver McGurk

4-4-2 Diamond/4-1-2-1-2: Muller bringing the ball out from the back into midfield with Kenyon to cover and also support if we need an extra man at the back. High pushing full backs (Kenyon dropping to support at back) to provide width. Wildig and Osborne with license to play and create, Thompson free to push wide and stretch the play and McGurk playing off Oliver. Kev super sub too!

Might be a bit weird that formation but I thought I'd throw it out there!

[Castaway]

I'm not at the games so naturally respect the opinions of those who are there, however I find it surprising Kev is being dropped by many (he's scored 3/4 out of our 8 goals this season - very dubious to claim Campbell's IMO ). You could argue it's about overall contribution but at the end of the day at this level it's not easy to find someone who can put their chances away - even if some are tap ins (they all count the same and they are often missed).

[George Dawes]

I'm not at the games so naturally respect the opinions of those who are there, however I find it surprising Kev is being dropped by many (he's scored 3/4 out of our 8 goals this season - very dubious to claim Campbell's IMO ). You could argue it's about overall contribution but at the end of the day at this level it's not easy to find someone who can put their chances away - even if some are tap ins (they all count the same and they are often missed).

it's not a case of dropping Ellison, it's about making room for Olivier who's suspensions up.

so who upfront who do you leave out? can't leave Thompson out, he's been our best player this season, although it's 50/50 with Ellison & McGurk

[Keith]

You could argue it's about overall contribution but at the end of the day at this level it's not easy to find someone who can put their chances away...

You could argue that. But then you'd still play Kev after his overall contribution on Saturday! He was everywhere, defending, scoring, left side, right side. A complete pain in the arse for the opposition.

That said, McGurk was my MotM despite Kev's two goals (even if he didn't know much about the second! )

it's not a case of dropping Ellison, it's about making room for Olivier who's suspensions up.

so who upfront who do you leave out? can't leave Thompson out, he's been our best player this season, although it's 50/50 with Ellison & McGurk

After Saturday, I'd seriously consider letting Oliver start on the bench and fight his way back in to the side. Start with the same side as began on Saturday (subject to knocks or injuries).

[steve mfc]

Ideally we can start to play a settled side, the players will start to develop a good understanding and after two good performances the confidence will be rising so I see no reason to make too many changes, personally I would start with Oliver on the bench, he offers something different to McGurk which is good to have but it also changes the way we play so if its not working then bring him on.

The number ten position is the interesting one, Osbourne would be my choice with Cambell a close second, Wildig dropping to the bench for me, the defence unchanged, Kenyon with Rose alongside, seems a bit harsh on Fleming but if its not broke don't fix it, Thompson McGurk and Kev.

[parceldave]

Agree Keith although Kev's contribution in some games hasn't been much , you shouldn't change a winning side until it stops working. I would have given Campbell the second goal , never changed direction from his shot.

[George Dawes]

Keith is right for once

I've changed my mind, Olivier to start on the bench untill things stop working.

over the years I've been one of the first ones to bang on about saying you shouldn't change a wining formula.

plus players hate being dropped, left out, rested especially after playing well or scoring the week before, it can be bad for the dressing room with players sulking.

[seasonsinthesun]

I think Kenyon has been one of the unsung heroes so far this season.
He has played really well as a centre back, and on saturday broke up a lot of Newport's midfield threat
in a defensive midfield role.
Rose at present doesn't justify a start,so I would give Osbourne another start,and have Oliver on the bench at Stevenage.
As has been said, there's a good argument for keeping the same side and the players getting an understanding of playing together.

[BerlinWaller]

Totally disagree. You have to play your best side as often as possible and strikers need to be playing to get confident. Jim has a history of bombing out strikers after 2-3 games and it destroys them. Get McGurk and Oliver playing together as soon as possible and let them have a run of games.

[Gone_Shrimping]

Agree Keith although Kev's contribution in some games hasn't been much , you shouldn't change a winning side until it stops working. I would have given Campbell the second goal , never changed direction from his shot.

I would disagree. I was on the Berlin Wall right behind Campbell when he shot and watched it several times on the club dvd. It was going wide until Kev flicked it and also he flicked it up and over the keeper's flailing arm. Kev's goal !

Definitely Adam should be credited with an assist though.

[shrimper]

Get McGurk and Oliver playing together as soon as possible and let them have a run of games.

Drop Kev, then?

[KenH]

Two changes for me. Kev and Wildig.

As Jim himself suggested in his post match interview, Kev benefitted from the rest of not starting a couple of games and came back very strong. Given his age, he can't be expected to give 100% if he's a starter every week. Brilliant that Jim now has other options and doesn't have to flog Kev to death.

Wildig is another who needs a rest as he's been a regular starter recently and not even subbed-off often and he does seem to be losing concentration towards the end of games. Jim give him a bollocking or two in the second half against Newport.

A front three of Oliver, Thommo and McGurk would be good to try. As for the no 10 position, then Flemmo or Campbell.

Unless injured, not at all sure why Osborne was taken off - he was the MOTM for me and a constant threat. He should start again on Saturday and stay on for the duration.

[Shrimpy]

The thing to take into consideration too is that Jim is very much a "horses for courses" type of manager and we won't necessarily have a "best starting XI".

For example, I'm guessing that Osborne probably won't start the majority of away games, same for Campbell. He'll much rather go with Kenyon and Wildig in those positions to offer us more experience and tactical nouse.

Home fixtures against "weaker" opposition such as Newport on Saturday will see people like Osborne given a chance.

[Christies Child]

With regards to Osbourne, I suspect that there will be an agreement between Fleetwood and ourselves with regards to the number of games he has to be guaranteed a starting place and to just limit him to home games will not possibly in the opinion of his 'first' club do his development much good. He has to learn all aspects of the game and that should include his role in away games as well.

So I fully expect him to retain his place this coming weekend after the way he's improved game on game.

Just my opinion but I have been wrong before... but what a unique position to find Jimbo in for once regarding team selection.