Jon
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Post by Jon on Aug 9, 2014 8:59:42 GMT
I suspect we will line up the same as at Exeter.
I would like to see Ives at left back, but Hodges has been working hard at drilling the back four as a unit so his trip to Northern Ireland will probably cost him in the short term.
I'd be happier with MacDonald and Pearce at centre back, but Downes will do a job - let's hope Gateshead are more "get it up to a big man" than "run at them with pace" style.
Toss-up between Harding and Richards, but looks like he'll go with Harding.
Ajala is deserving of a start, but so are Briscoe and Cameron.
I'd like to accommodate all three by playing Briscoe through the middle, but if CH was thinking of that he would have tried it by now.
I suspect Benyon will get the nod over Yeoman, but I would prefer Yeoman.
5 subs will be interesting. Would be nice to have three or four forward options plus cover for goalkeeper, defence and midfield - so something will have to give.
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petef
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Post by petef on Aug 9, 2014 10:06:53 GMT
Its going to be an interesting test today to see if we have genuinely moved forward in terms of organisation ability and tactics. Nothing between Benyon and Yeoman though the former has more experience at this level and is certain to be chasing down their back line for the full ninety.
One thing I do like about this squad is that we have genuine options sat on the bench who I reckon will be able to change a game if needed.
Its a busy start to the season as well with quite few games crammed in with three matches in seven days and THIRTEEN league games in August and September alone by the end of which we will should have a real idea of our prospects.
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rjdgull
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Post by rjdgull on Aug 9, 2014 13:42:24 GMT
link Same starting XI as for the Exeter match. BBC have missed 2 subs off...
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Post by valgull on Aug 9, 2014 13:54:48 GMT
link Same starting XI as for the Exeter match. BBC have missed 2 subs off... I hear Ives and O'Achie. |
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rjdgull
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Post by rjdgull on Aug 9, 2014 14:13:23 GMT
link Same starting XI as for the Exeter match. BBC have missed 2 subs off... I hear Ives and O'Achie. Thanks! |
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petef
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Post by petef on Aug 9, 2014 14:20:40 GMT
1-0 Gateshead and the children are around on the other site slagging off players already.
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Post by bristolgull on Aug 9, 2014 14:38:43 GMT
1-0 Gateshead and the children are around on the other site slagging off players already. To be expected petef, some things never change. I actually think today's game will be one of the toughest of the season...a point would be a good result. |
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rjdgull
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Post by rjdgull on Aug 9, 2014 14:40:27 GMT
1-0 Gateshead and the children are around on the other site slagging off players already. Two down I am afraid now Pete... |
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rjdgull
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Post by rjdgull on Aug 9, 2014 14:44:37 GMT
Ah, Bowman has had his penalty saved!
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petef
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Post by petef on Aug 9, 2014 14:58:06 GMT
Somehow new he would fluff it. Some things never change.
Sounds like we were played off the park at times with Gateshead doing their homework well and targeting our Achilles heel but lets wait and see early days and this was always going to be tough - for the realists that is.
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Post by hullgull on Aug 9, 2014 15:01:59 GMT
It ain't over yet.......as for them idiots on other site why waste your time going on that site.......bowman will come good rest assure that.....c'mon you gulls .......si
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petef
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Post by petef on Aug 9, 2014 15:57:27 GMT
3-1 nearly all over at least we wont be bottom on goal difference. Early days and really feel sorry for loyal and all those who traveled to the other end of the country in hope of something better. It was always going to be a tough opening game Greavsy needs to find his best team pretty quick or the pressure will soon be on as this sort of result and performance has been following us around for far to long. Just shows that what appeared to be a very good pre-season was perhaps deceiving us all - including the manager. Lets also not forget that our opening fixtures and results in the first few weeks of our promotion season were pretty disastrous and if we really do have some potential, its how we recover that counts.
As the old saying goes Tuesday is a must win - now how many times have I hear that one over the last two seasons?
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Aug 9, 2014 16:18:57 GMT
Even those who were relatively upbeat during pre-season drew up a list of worries and concerns about the coming season: vulnerability in defence and a liability to being overrun in midfield being chief amongst them.
That, I'm afraid, is exactly what we saw today. Note too the substitutions this afternoon; those who were substituted did not perform well. We need Harding to be influential; little sign of that today. Bowman, Briscoe and Young are our main signings; a mixed bag of performances from them today. Young was pretty anonymous. The best of Bowman and Briscoe was encouraging; their worst rather frustrating.
A revealing balance of players today: four players we apparently don't want; four promising signings; a 'keeper we've retained; a short-term signing who may go if we find someone better; a winger who may disappear if he finds something better. Plus three other new signings who came off the bench. Given the state of play at the end of last season we shouldn't have expected an ideal situation by now. At best I dared hope we might be three-quarters of the way there. We're probably only around halfway.
Nor did I expect us to be one of the best teams in this league. Gateshead will surely fall into that category again. Today was disappointing but I can live with and accept the defeat. We now have a run of games against teams which are unlikely to be contenders. That will be an interesting barometer of what lies ahead. I'm sticking with a mid table prediction.
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rjdgull
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Post by rjdgull on Aug 9, 2014 17:44:35 GMT
Thanks for your initial thoughts there Barts. Disappointing but not too surprising. Still early days though!
At least the cricket has provided a bit of a distraction....
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Aug 9, 2014 18:10:06 GMT
Nothing is decided after one game, and we all know that results in PSF's are meaningless. PSF's are to get fitness up and let the players get to know each other. Today we played one of the contenders so losing isn't a great surprise, although it's still a disappointment.
As was said earlier, the Conf plays a lot of games very quickly so by the end of September the first third of the season will have virtually been completed and will be able to give us a much more balanced picture. Even then a lot can happen in the 2/3 that follow. The race ends at the completion of 46 laps not at the end of the first!
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