So, lets see what changes we can make for Saturday.

Think most on here will probably pick the usual suspects for Goalkeeper and back 4.

But with

Clark coming back from injury another option there if needed, we all know what a good defender he is, but probably Saturday a bit early for him.

Now Im not going to actually name a team but give pro's and cons for each player.

So taking into acoount I see no reason to change the back 4 lets look at the midfield.

Larkin, did enough against Kettering to warrant being in the team again, whether that on the right or staying on the left is open to question. Could be played up front if McSweenie fit (simply because of forwards perfomances against Kettering)

Monkhouse , We all know what an an enigma, he can be. Can put in performances that will win any game for us, but totally isolated and never a threat on the right on Saturday, if has head on and played on left would probably be in most fans team.

Sweeney On current form bench at best, but if injuries persist may well remain in team, though I'm sure other's should be ahead of him, simply because he isn't performing

Jones If fit surely must start and start in centre midfield, when he plays Pools play

Humphreys Off it at moment, I thought nothing more than a squad player for the season, but currently the incumbent in the middle, though I believe other's should be given a chance, probably better coming off bench

Rowell What does the lad have to do to be given a chance, always impressed me in games he played in and would probably be starting games for something like 25% of teams in our division on previous performances.

Fredriksen I was highly impressed with him in our first few games and thought we had a cracker of a player, slightly disappointing in home games at times but an alternative to Monkhouse on the left.

McSweenie another who has been hot and cold at times but also unlucky to be taken off at times when I thought playing well, if fit could fill right side berth

Now the interesting players

Brown If fit would be in any team in the division so speaks for self that must start for Pools, and probably up front due to the performances of the front 2 on Saturday.

Behan early season performances good to very good, way off it and although I tend to shake head when people say , a player should be rested due to tiredness, it may be a case for him, a couple weeks off and coming back refreshed may just work

Boyd Another who played badly on Saturday, but old club coming to Vic may be the boost he needs, we all know he can do it, but will he

Bjornnson On the performances of Boyd and Behan on Saturday would consider himself to be in with a great chance of making starting 11 this week, but on performances from him in the few games I've seen him in, then still cant be certain, and fact Turner used Greulich and a midfielder as subs against Kettering when chasing a game seems to say Turner thinks same at moment.

Greulich Young, maybe hungry to succeed, not seen enough yet to really say, could be anything , including a Mackay mark 2.

Tymon I dont usual comment on players who not seen a lot of, but he scored a cracking goal when I went to abuse Scott (sorry watch reserves against Boro reserves) so maybe worth a shout on the bench.

Reading that you would think I wanted wide ranging changes, I dont but it possible that changes could be made and some with points to make who play may just do so.

Turner did say as we were about to leave for Exeter it a long trip players can get tired from trips that long, well maybe some still suffering from "Coach Lag" and as we keep getting told it's a squad game maybe just maybe a few little kicks up the proverbial backside, may give the team the boost it needs.

Flinders

Austin Collins Liddle Hartley


McSweeney Jones Rowell Monkey

Boyd Brown (if fit then subbed for Tymon)

We should change our approach to the game.
Take the players off on Friday morning on a coach ride for about six to eight hours. Put them up in a hotel overnight, then bring them to the ground at about half past one. They will then think it is an away game and just might perform !!!!!!

Given that the back 4 & keeper stay the same, I'd do the following:

Drop Sweeney & Humphreys, and replace then with Jones & Haslam (Haslam as the defensive one). I'd keep Larkin & Monkhouse, but put them in their natural positions.

As for the strikers, Behan's attitude has annoyed me, as much as anything - when a decision went against him on Saturday he just stood there & whinged. I'd maybe give Bjornson (sic) a go (or if McSweeney is fit, move Larkin upfront & have McSweeney wide right).

If fit, Brown should replace Boyd (though he was starting to get into the game and hold the ball up better when Turner subbed him.)

A few if's, I know - but the centre-midfield & strikers need to be changed.

Well Turner keeps saying the squad is bigger and better than has been and i would agree with that. Given that he has no excuse NOT To make changes. I'd go for

Flinders

Austin Collins Liddle Hartley

Larkin Jones Fredrikson Monkhouse

Boyd Brown (if fit)

I wouldn't argue too much with that. Apart from maybe Rowell for Freddie.

It won't happen though as he'll continue to play those that are underperforming.

Flinds
Austin Liddle Collins Hartley
Mcsweeny Jones Monky Fredriksen
Boyd Brown

Nice midfield full of people who can hold the ball, pass it and run with it.

Why drop Larkin though when he has put in one of the best 45 minutes we have seen on the right wing this season?

Left wing even.

What about actually winning the ball in order to be able to pass and run with it?

And it looks from your post as if you want to play Monkhouse in the centre? Are you mad?

Behan needs a fortnight on the beach somewhere.

Sweeney needs a break from the firing line and then telling 'put up or piss off'.

These things are obvious. However the trickier decision is what to do
with our enigmas.

I've never seen a footballer put in two more ineffectual 90 minutes than Monkhouse at Brighton and at home to Kettering. Yet at his best he wins matches. Boyd trotted about like a the beer barrel that he is alleged to be on Saturday. I am as dewy eyed an optimist as you could find. But between them their performances on Saturday added up to a rating of 1 on Saturday. yet Adam can and will win games for us again.

Clearly though there is a big issue between the team and crowd after Saturday. Only a wholehearted performance will do.

I'd go for
Flinders
Austin Liddle Collins Hartley
Jones Humphreys Rowell
Brown Greulich Larkin

Subs: Boyd, Clark, Monkhouse, Bjornnnson, Cook, Tymon

I'd make sure both Boyd and Monkhouse had to bench. But were unused. For at least couple of weeks. Something has to wake them up.

Richie Jones is the player at the club who can battle and win the ball in the middle, who else are you thinking of?

Monkhouse likes to drift into central roles and isn't particularly good at beating his man so trying him in the middle wouldn't do any harm and it can't be much worse than what we had on Saturday.

Haslam centre mid!? Have you knicked Danny Wilson's tombola?

Squarepeginroundholetastic!

Seen as we are actually unbeaten in four league games and have won two out of three home games (and kept three consecutive clean sheets at home) I can't see wholesale changes. Larkin's natural position is up front or just behind the front two but did well in the first half on Saturday and probably deserves to start. Behan needs a rest badly before his confidence is shot to pieces totally by some of the lovely folk who support Pools, I'd give him a full break for a couple of weeks, he's played a lot of football. So assuming everyone is fit I'd go;

Flinders

Austin Liddle Collins Hartley

Larkin Humphreys Jones Monkhouse

Boyd Brown

It's pretty criminal that Boyd and Brown haven't played up front for any period of time together yet, surely they'd be two players who might compliment each other?

Ill have red sauce on my chips instead of brown

So you'd drop the only decent player from the midfield from last Saturday but keep your two favourite boys who were crap (once again)?

If you read what the majority of people on here have written instead of coming in effing and blinding then maybe you'd see that the majority of people want changes to BOTH the midfield and the strikers.

Infact, has ANYONE said to keep Behan in? I think not.

Were playing with no one who can win the ball with Sweeney and Humps? Jones can do it better than anyone at the club. Plus were at home, we want some attacking football that is pleasing to the eye. Monky has moved into the middle plenty of times when were chasing games etc and linked the midfield and strikers well. You need people who can hold onto the ball in the middle as that will stop the endless long balls. Humps and Sweeney couldnt hold their own tails.

Yeah Larkin made two good runs against a amateur side. I fail to remember any end product though and second half he did nothing. I missed the 'man of the match performance' some people saw.

Why when people suggest changing the team are their always a few who suggest playing players completely out of position!?

Tree, Andy Monkhouse is a left winger. Put away Danny Wilson's tombola and walk away from the keyboard.

i completely agree with what you are saying.....

...however....

...Aren't we playing a midfielder at centre back and a centre back at left back?

Isn't it working pretty damn well?

Not at all Gary Liddle has proven that he is very good centre good centre back, he's played centre back at youth team level and reserve team level for Boro. He also played centre back a fair bit in the promotion season. Hartley has also played left back before and is left footed.

Andy Monkhouse is a winger who I don't recall ever playing in the centre of midfield.

He setup 3 clear cut chances for Behan, one which the keeper made a superb save, one which he blasted over and one which Behan headed straight at the keeper. He also got behind the defence and had a shot which one of their defenders made a decent block against.

Granted he was quiet second half but were you watching a different first half performance from him?

I thought Larkin did ok on Saturday. He certainly has a lot of pace and got into decent attacking positions often enough. Granted, as many have pointed out, he was only up against Conference players but I'm not convinced anyone else in the squad would have done any better.

One thing I do want to see against Orient is Brown starting up front. I'm sick and tired of seeing our best forward being wasted on the wing.

we only need to make one change and that is bring a manager in

But in that same sense James Brown is and always has been a striker, yet most of his best performances have come from the right wing.

Tony Sweeney did a rather good job at right back, he's an attacking midfielder.

As i said, i agree in the sense that i don't want people playing out of position either, however, some people are flexible and can play more than one position, at this stage i wouldn't rule things out, unless its been tried and failed.

Personally i would play Brown & Monkey just sitting behind Boyd and have an attaking 3. Monkey is kind of out of position in that but i think it would suit him well.

Have they fck!

I actually agree with your last comment regarding Larkin Mr Hamster. In fact if I was picking the team for Saturday I'd probably only make one change to your suggestion in that I'd play Humphreys instead of Monkhouse.

yes, they have. Brown has spent most of his pro career on the wing. And barring 5 or 6 very good performances up front the majority of the best have come from the right wing.

So you missed the 4 clear cut goalscoring opportunities he created in the first half too?

Out of all the shyte you write on here that is probably the worst