Selles not out

[YorkshireRoyal99]

I think IR eluded to this on the Arsenal thread. Our youngsters with a sprinkling of experience look like world beaters playing other teams U21s because they’ve had some league experience. However, that scenario is reversed when we play experienced League One teams.

I believe another manager with plenty of lower league experience should be able to get us winning enough games to survive this season, but I expect any change will be made too late.

I do think that this group of players with another year of league experience have the potential to become very good. That was obviously the aim of Bowen and co when they assembled the squad. I just hope we can get rid of Selles sooner rather than later.

Question is, if ownership and management change happens too late, could the new regime keep the core of the team together in L2? You'd expect an instant return if so, but I can't imagine the likes of Smith and Wing wanting to fall to that level. But let's say we actually look good from late Feb or so, it may be a heroic failure from the new regime that convinces them it's worth hanging about for a couple of years.

Obviously if we fall to L2 with the current regime in place it's an utter disaster.

Yes.

Barely any L1 teams could cough up enough to tempt us to sell our best young players to them.

Championship clubs could, but who realistically is going to pay hundreds of thousands or even millions for players who struggled in L1 with barely a season of games to go straight into their first team squad. I think a move to the Championship would probably see Abbey, Vickers, Ehibhatiomhan, Elliott, Bindon etc's career stall.

PL clubs could easily, but then these players will just go into their youth teams or go back out in loan to L1/Champ.

I don't see any great exodus. Two or three maybe. Probably Smith. Maybe Abbey or Savage.

Assuming the new owner could balance the finances with a sale or two.

What you would say is moving to a PL team and then going out on loan to Championship/League One level could be better than hanging around with us in League Two though. I'm not sure how many would genuinely attract Premier League interest though, not many are teenagers anymore and are getting to the stage where they should be playing regular first team football.

[WestYorksRoyal]

I've seen the "reset" joke rolled out, but this is the first season is ages where we don't feel like we need a playing staff reset. We need new owners, stability and a management change.

If you look at the squad, who would you offload in a heartbeat? Azeez? Hutchinson? Dean? Mola? Not many more.

The concern is a reset being enforced upon us. We need to get as many players are possible under long term contracts; it should be the new owners' 2nd priority after management change.

Ideally, the summer window looks like offloading 2 or 3 deadwood players and selling a couple for good fees financially. Bring in 3 or 4 experienced players to help out the younger ones and allow a couple of squad spaces for new academy graduates. For once, we don't need wholesale change.

[Snowflake Royal]

Question is, if ownership and management change happens too late, could the new regime keep the core of the team together in L2? You'd expect an instant return if so, but I can't imagine the likes of Smith and Wing wanting to fall to that level. But let's say we actually look good from late Feb or so, it may be a heroic failure from the new regime that convinces them it's worth hanging about for a couple of years.

Obviously if we fall to L2 with the current regime in place it's an utter disaster.

Yes.

Barely any L1 teams could cough up enough to tempt us to sell our best young players to them.

Championship clubs could, but who realistically is going to pay hundreds of thousands or even millions for players who struggled in L1 with barely a season of games to go straight into their first team squad. I think a move to the Championship would probably see Abbey, Vickers, Ehibhatiomhan, Elliott, Bindon etc's career stall.

PL clubs could easily, but then these players will just go into their youth teams or go back out in loan to L1/Champ.

I don't see any great exodus. Two or three maybe. Probably Smith. Maybe Abbey or Savage.

Assuming the new owner could balance the finances with a sale or two.

What you would say is moving to a PL team and then going out on loan to Championship/League One level could be better than hanging around with us in League Two though. I'm not sure how many would genuinely attract Premier League interest though, not many are teenagers anymore and are getting to the stage where they should be playing regular first team football.

Yep, they really need games. And they're getting them here, with players and facilities they're comfortable with.

[Hound]

I've seen the "reset" joke rolled out, but this is the first season is ages where we don't feel like we need a playing staff reset. We need new owners, stability and a management change.

If you look at the squad, who would you offload in a heartbeat? Azeez? Hutchinson? Dean? Mola? Not many more.

The concern is a reset being enforced upon us. We need to get as many players are possible under long term contracts; it should be the new owners' 2nd priority after management change.

Ideally, the summer window looks like offloading 2 or 3 deadwood players and selling a couple for good fees financially. Bring in 3 or 4 experienced players to help out the younger ones and allow a couple of squad spaces for new academy graduates. For once, we don't need wholesale change.

The ‘reset’ joke was old and tired about 2 months ago, though suspect it will be with us for a while yet.

But yes think you’re right - I’d want the majority of the players to hang around

Azeez is extremely frustrating but he’s a good player. Just lost confidence, and not helped by Selles keep picking him no matter what. Would like to see him stay

We’ll be losing Hutch, Ejaria, Dean at the end of the season, and tbh a lot of what is left isn’t dead wood.

Frustrating this is don’t think anyone is saying we should be getting promotion with this team but it really shouldn’t be anywhere near where it is. Off field issues and shite management - sacking these players off and starting again won’t help that

[tidus_mi2]

Do agree with I'm sure the majority that would say Azeez needs a spell out of the team, he can be introduced against tiring defences, might present him easier opportunities, maybe the next goal will give him the burst of confidence he needs.

As for changes, I understand the quality of opposition is lower but surely some of those performing in the EFL trophy need to get a look in? Feel like Ehibatioman should be starting, Vickers should be getting a look in.

I've also had time to reflect on the Shrewsbury game and we did start falling deeper and deeper as the 2nd half went on, you can't really blame Selles for Knibbs being an idiot for the 1st goal but whatever the hell he was doing with the defensive subs at the end of the game 100% contributed to the defeat, we were defending fine, if Dorsett was tiring he should have done a like for like sub and just brought on NGW, he probably realised his mistake hence why he tried to correct it by bringing on NGW not long after but by then it's too late, he's thrown the defence into confusion and we're completely on the back foot.

He's stubborn, he doesn't learn from his mistakes and he keeps making further mistakes, if the current restrictions are stopping us from making a manager change despite wanting to, then it's another case of the EFL just hammering us far too hard I think.

[Stranded]

I've seen the "reset" joke rolled out, but this is the first season is ages where we don't feel like we need a playing staff reset. We need new owners, stability and a management change.

If you look at the squad, who would you offload in a heartbeat? Azeez? Hutchinson? Dean? Mola? Not many more.

The concern is a reset being enforced upon us. We need to get as many players are possible under long term contracts; it should be the new owners' 2nd priority after management change.

Ideally, the summer window looks like offloading 2 or 3 deadwood players and selling a couple for good fees financially. Bring in 3 or 4 experienced players to help out the younger ones and allow a couple of squad spaces for new academy graduates. For once, we don't need wholesale change.

The ‘reset’ joke was old and tired about 2 months ago, though suspect it will be with us for a while yet.

But yes think you’re right - I’d want the majority of the players to hang around

Azeez is extremely frustrating but he’s a good player. Just lost confidence, and not helped by Selles keep picking him no matter what. Would like to see him stay

We’ll be losing Hutch, Ejaria, Dean at the end of the season, and tbh a lot of what is left isn’t dead wood.

Frustrating this is don’t think anyone is saying we should be getting promotion with this team but it really shouldn’t be anywhere near where it is. Off field issues and shite management - sacking these players off and starting again won’t help that

Dean signed a 2 year deal, so unless he retires/pay him off/someone buys him, he'll be around next year too.

[Snowflake Royal]

The ‘reset’ joke was old and tired about 2 months ago, though suspect it will be with us for a while yet.

Yeah, from the same tired tedious lot who never actually have anything to say.

[WestYorksRoyal]

Do agree with I'm sure the majority that would say Azeez needs a spell out of the team, he can be introduced against tiring defences, might present him easier opportunities, maybe the next goal will give him the burst of confidence he needs.

As for changes, I understand the quality of opposition is lower but surely some of those performing in the EFL trophy need to get a look in? Feel like Ehibatioman should be starting, Vickers should be getting a look in.

I've also had time to reflect on the Shrewsbury game and we did start falling deeper and deeper as the 2nd half went on, you can't really blame Selles for Knibbs being an idiot for the 1st goal but whatever the hell he was doing with the defensive subs at the end of the game 100% contributed to the defeat, we were defending fine, if Dorsett was tiring he should have done a like for like sub and just brought on NGW, he probably realised his mistake hence why he tried to correct it by bringing on NGW not long after but by then it's too late, he's thrown the defence into confusion and we're completely on the back foot.

He's stubborn, he doesn't learn from his mistakes and he keeps making further mistakes, if the current restrictions are stopping us from making a manager change despite wanting to, then it's another case of the EFL just hammering us far too hard I think.

Smith and Ballard were excellent against Shrewsbury and we were winning when they went off. Ehibhatiomhan is doing well too, but for me he is behind them.

Craig and Vickers are the two who should feel hard done by at the moment, and I'd also like to see Holmes ahead of Dean. It may be time for Holmes-Abbey at the back.

[YorkshireRoyal99]

Seeing a lot about Azeez being removed from the team, which I agree with, but then I think who do we replace him with, do we have a true, direct replacement for him? I know others can play there like Mukairu for instance but he seems more suited to the other side where Knibbs is and I don't know about Camara, I think he is also better on the left as well.

I think the midfield needs someone else with a bit of experience, I know Wing is in his prime and Hutchinson is experienced, but the latter isn't a midfielder for me and it just seems like we are shoe-horning an experienced player into that position. We could use someone else like Wing, but maybe just in a different role to his, like a ball winner. It might then allow us to introduce the likes of Savage, Rushesha and Craig into the team alongside a couple of seasoned-pros.

It just seems really difficult to pick our best team at the moment, as it leaves quite a big hole somewhere in the team, be it balance, experience, quality, all of the above etc.

[Uke]

Craig and Vickers are the two who should feel hard done by at the moment, and I'd also like to see Holmes ahead of Dean. It may be time for Holmes-Abbey at the back.

Or Abbey Holmes? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abbey_Holmes

[leon]

The ‘reset’ joke was old and tired about 2 months ago, though suspect it will be with us for a while yet.

Yeah, from the same tired tedious lot who never actually have anything to say.

I'm sure it will keep going right down with us to the bowels of English football.

[Snowflake Royal]

Seeing a lot about Azeez being removed from the team, which I agree with, but then I think who do we replace him with, do we have a true, direct replacement for him? I know others can play there like Mukairu for instance but he seems more suited to the other side where Knibbs is and I don't know about Camara, I think he is also better on the left as well.

I think the midfield needs someone else with a bit of experience, I know Wing is in his prime and Hutchinson is experienced, but the latter isn't a midfielder for me and it just seems like we are shoe-horning an experienced player into that position. We could use someone else like Wing, but maybe just in a different role to his, like a ball winner. It might then allow us to introduce the likes of Savage, Rushesha and Craig into the team alongside a couple of seasoned-pros.

It just seems really difficult to pick our best team at the moment, as it leaves quite a big hole somewhere in the team, be it balance, experience, quality, all of the above etc.

I think Vickers could do well on the right.

I wonder if switching Azeez to the left might do him any good?

I'm not hugely impressed.with Knibbs either... I know he's got a few cup goals, but he disappears in games far more than Azeez does.

I'd like to see Craig regularly coming on for Hutch and eventually taking over. Don’t mind a midfield 3 with him or Savage coming in.

I think we should seriously consider the 4-5-1/4-3-3 until we can stop conceding so many. I know it's defensive, but we've taken the lead in our last three league games and got 1 point. We've conceded 13 goals in 5 games.

[Hound]

Do other teams consistently do this inverted winger thing? Could understand it with Meite when he was good as he played the role to perfection. But he was crap at it last year, Azeez isn’t great at it now either

Azeez has a decent cross on him, why take that out of his game?

Put Azeez left and play as a proper wide mid and Knibbs right. Or else Vickers, Camara or Mukairo right. Azeez, Carson, NGW could all do left mid/wing

[blythspartan]

I’d be tempted to play a 5-4-1. I am rubbish with formations and I have probably shown it wrong below.

NGW-Abbey-Holmes-Bindon\Dean-Yiadom

Azeez-Craig/Hutchinson-Savage Vickers/Elliott

Smith/Ehib

[YorkshireRoyal99]

Seeing a lot about Azeez being removed from the team, which I agree with, but then I think who do we replace him with, do we have a true, direct replacement for him? I know others can play there like Mukairu for instance but he seems more suited to the other side where Knibbs is and I don't know about Camara, I think he is also better on the left as well.

I think the midfield needs someone else with a bit of experience, I know Wing is in his prime and Hutchinson is experienced, but the latter isn't a midfielder for me and it just seems like we are shoe-horning an experienced player into that position. We could use someone else like Wing, but maybe just in a different role to his, like a ball winner. It might then allow us to introduce the likes of Savage, Rushesha and Craig into the team alongside a couple of seasoned-pros.

It just seems really difficult to pick our best team at the moment, as it leaves quite a big hole somewhere in the team, be it balance, experience, quality, all of the above etc.

I think Vickers could do well on the right.

I wonder if switching Azeez to the left might do him any good?

I'm not hugely impressed.with Knibbs either... I know he's got a few cup goals, but he disappears in games far more than Azeez does.

I'd like to see Craig regularly coming on for Hutch and eventually taking over. Don’t mind a midfield 3 with him or Savage coming in.

I think we should seriously consider the 4-5-1/4-3-3 until we can stop conceding so many. I know it's defensive, but we've taken the lead in our last three league games and got 1 point. We've conceded 13 goals in 5 games.

Only issue with Vickers is that he influences games from the middle and would rather develop him there. Played on the right, he'd effectively be wanting to play inverted anyway as that's where I think his strength his.

I'm not that impressed by Knibbs and I did suggest the idea of Azeez on the left as he is quick, so can get round a full back and can potentially put some decent crosses in from that side, at least he stretches the game that way anyway. Then can have the full back underlapping if Azeez hugs the touchline or overlapping if he doesn't, just need to build that understanding but it's fairly simple.

For a bit of defensive stability I thought a 3-4-3 would work. We've got plenty of solid CB's to choose from really and allows us to accommodate many. Mbengue - Holmes - Abbey for example could work. We can then have a choice of Wing, Savage, Craig, Hutchinson, Rushesha in the middle with Yiadom and NGW as the starting wing backs. That might allow us to play Vickers as a 10 with another player perhaps, something like this:

Button
Mbengue Holmes Abbey
Yiadom Wing Savage NGW
Vickers Elliot
Smith

Could take one of the 10's out and go with 2 up top with Smith and then Ballard or Kelvin E, it just leaves us very reliant on the wing backs for width, but less issues with an extra defender to cover.

EDIT: Seen a post further down and forgot about Elliot, would be a lot better to put him in the team, potentially as a 10 alongside Vickers.

[Sutekh]

I’d be tempted to play a 5-4-1. I am rubbish with formations and I have probably shown it wrong below.

NGW-Abbey-Holmes-Bindon\Dean-Yiadom

Azeez-Craig/Hutchinson-Savage Vickers/Elliott

Smith/Ehib

Button
Yiadom Bindon Abbey NGW
Hutchinson Craig
Elliott
Vickers Smith WiFi

Subs: CBC, Savage, Azeez, Mukairu, Carson, Dean, Holmes

[Hound]

Noticed Carson created a number of chances again last night

Reckon he may be worth a go ahead of NGW on left mid as well. If Kelv and Smith are up to you have proper targets to aim for.

Do like Carson a lot, just not quite ready to be a starting FB. Get him on set pieces and ask him the help defensively

Reckon we could do something like

Button
Yiadom Holmes Abbey NGW
Knibbs Craig Wing Carson
Kelv Smith

And be pretty good and more solid. Smith is excellent in the air, and alongside Kelv would be expecting them to win their fair share in the box

Can use the likes of Vickers, Savage, Eliott, Ballard if we need a bit more subtlety

[URZZZZ]

Do other teams consistently do this inverted winger thing? Could understand it with Meite when he was good as he played the role to perfection. But he was crap at it last year, Azeez isn’t great at it now either

Azeez has a decent cross on him, why take that out of his game?

Put Azeez left and play as a proper wide mid and Knibbs right. Or else Vickers, Camara or Mukairo right. Azeez, Carson, NGW could all do left mid/wing

It’s quite a recurring theme, indeed, certainly in the top two divisions. Supposed to give more licence and space for the respective fullback

Requires effective decision making from the “inverted winger” as to when to stay out wide and when to come inside and requires attacking prowess from the fullbacks. Sadly, we lack both of those

It’s something we’ve tried for a while and never really grasped it. Blackett and Ejaria complemented each other well for a short period I suppose

[skipper]

Was it Coppell who said he preferred to go with youth in attack and experience in defence?

In theory we should have that mix. No time like the present to get these youngsters out on the pitch and playing proper football. Just need a quality mature captain to rally them when we inevitably stumble.

That and sort the off field antics. I don't think we can underestimate how badly that is affecting our players.

[ILoveMoonPig]

I’d be tempted to play a 5-4-1. I am rubbish with formations and I have probably shown it wrong below.

NGW-Abbey-Holmes-Bindon\Dean-Yiadom

Azeez-Craig/Hutchinson-Savage Vickers/Elliott

Smith/Ehib

I've been thinking this for a while, too. 3 at the back with two wing backs to provide width going forward. If the defensive midfield had 1 or 2 players in there, we should have ample cover for NGW/Yiadom to go forward freely.