The Poolie Bunker

Are we playing so many players out of position. Wright is not a left back, Horwood is not a left winger, Monkhouse is not a centre forward, Luscombe is not a....where did Luscombe play tonight I cant work it out?
Not wanting to be completely negative, we did play some good stuff first half, and we wont play many better teams than them this season.

MW has openly slated the defending and apologised to the fans for the players display. But I think MW needs to loko closer to home before slating the players and think about his selections.

As stated above too many players are playing out of position and I feel MW is accommodating too many players to keep smiling faces. Football is a ruthless game and as a manager you wont be happy if you drop players, but accommodating does not help as players playing out of position dont perform. OK as a one off but as stated above again Wright and monkey tonight, but in recent weeks playing sweeney on the left?????

I feel MW does not know his strongest team and is still experimenting. So the coaching staff and managerial staff need to look closer to home.

Agreed, why is Mick trying to convert players into positions they look less than convincing in? Monky is no forward-a left winger yes, no matter how much Mick fancies him up front he looks awkward and lacks the killer instinct in the box. Likewise Horwood is a reasonable left back, crosses fine, not a winger-dead ball delivery, crossing fine but running on the wing?? Looks clumsy, loses possession and is wasted there, Horwood's touch can be quite poor. Put them back please, left sided play has been none existent lately. Wright is no left back either and frankly is no better than Haslam was in the defending department?

Since Solano has been missing the threat of the wing or chance of crosses is missing-tonight we looked ok in the first half but lost the plot in the second-why the hell do we persist playing the ball backwards instead of carving out chances, Murray was guilty of this when we looked on top in the first half??

Back to the drawing board and try to keep a settled side. We have the players to compete but only if they are played where the best will come from them? If we need cover or competition why not bring some in on short term loans?? Boro reserves ths week had Andrew Halliday and Curtis Main in the side, the former particularly might put the spark back as he has not had a look in at the Boro this season- I've said before if the players we have are off colour bring a couple in the shake up the pack and create more competition. Monkhouse, Boyd, Nish and to an extent Poole have not offered the answer at home and 1 goal in 3 home defeats is a worrying stat that needs addressing. No need to panic but the positive vibe that 5,000 plus crowds should give is already ebbing away.

The defence was superb for about 6 games. Then Horwood got injured. Since then MW has tinkered with it. And has tinkered with whats in front of it.

It now looks shit. And we are shipping goals alarmingly.

Unless there is someone secret coda in football that you cant go back to what you served you well, then I think MW is being ridiculously niave.

or stubborn, for some weird reason.

Agreed. I don't understand why he's changing so much.

We were doing well the first few games and it was effortless. Everyone was playing in their right positions and we looked like a solid unit. Now the whole team is dis-jointed and it's all very needless.

MW is in danger if undoing all his excellent work from his first 12 months at the club if he doesn't sort this out ASAP. Back to Basics Mick, come on.

in tuesdays mail he was all over the front line of monkhouse n poole, saying they will be given there chance.

For me monkhouse n horwood are an excellent combination down that left and half the teams in this league can not live with them, take monky off the left wing and we lose our balance.

Micks sticking by his guns but your right Mr Y, our left side was a major strength. Monky is a decent L1 winger he is NOT a striker. Why has Mick lost faith in Boydy and Nish? What about 3 up front Brown, Poole, Boyd. Could Brown and Poole not click? Nish must have little/no confidence now.

Nish cut a forlorne figure when he was stood on his own with about 8 minutes to go, looking back at the bench waiting for the nod that never came. I find it hard to believe that he couldnt have done a better job than those on the pitch last night. At least Goodison would have known he had been in a game.

The anti Nish gang would have started booing if he'd come on last night. Factoid.

True. I really think its time I stopped watching football, as I seem to be the only man left alive that thinks Nish is better than our other strikers. Even people that supported him are now saying things like "I have supported Nish but he is testing my patience now". Funny how he is testing EVERYONES patience now he isnt playing.

I think Poole would benefit playing alongside him as well. He would have some room to play in as Nish occupies defenders.

But like I said, I must be out of touch.

Nish isn't even in the reserves today surprisingly.

Good, as it might mean that he has a high chance of starting on Saturday.

The poole / monkey partnership is a lot more mobile than the nish / Boyd one. In the first half when we got the ball down I thought both players did well. When they scored they made things tough and we missed Murray either smashing a tackle on or just having a calm head and picking the simple pass.

I would prefer monkey on the left and Boyd / Poole to be given a go up top but for some reason MW is reluctant to try that....

Also giving nish a run out for the ressies might get his confidence up.....

Cant comment on last nigh t as I wasnt there but in general I like the idea of Poole/Boyd but the way results have gone we have been most successful with Boyd/Nish & Poole coming off the bench so there is merit in the Boyd/Nish starting line up.

Why not play

Nish
Monkhouse Poole

Luscombe Murray

5-a-side team?

Would you tell Charlton the rules in advance or let them turn up thinking it was full 11 a side?