The unofficial AFC Rushden & Diamonds messageboard

Well, we know our team CAN play competitively against other teams in this division, as we have seen against AFCW and Grimsby. We've tried 4-4-2 and 4-3-3, so what's next? We cannot continue with this Jeckyll and Hyde form if we're going to make a run at the play-offs, we've lost half our games so far! With Farrell and O'Connor being available again, perhaps we should try Faz out wide right? He did play there a few times last season and worked hard, although Johno has also done the same this season. Does Johno deserve a start in the centre? If I were the manager, I'd certainly be considering having a 5 man midfield of Farrell, Power, Johnson, Porter and Day at Southport. Let's set-up for a point first and foremost (as Newport did).
Here's my team selection, let's see yours;-

.....................Roberts
Miller.......Osano.......Stuart.......Robinson
...........Power................Porter
Farrell.............Johnson.............Day
.....................Howe

0-0-10.

Stuart

After that performance yesterday, it's time for Keehan to come into the side. Not saying Porter or Power have to be dropped, but some changes have to be made somewhere, maybe Charles dropped. Maybe Shariff could make the bench when he returns, obviously knows where the net is!

What would be the point of dropping Green? He's obviously a good player, he just had a bad game. Tomlin had the odd off day but we were never going to drop him.

I think if we need to change anything then it is at right midfield. Charles spent most of his time in the middle of the park and we had no width. Obviously Osano is going to get moved out wider so i guess either Miller or Huke would be in the centre. I don't think Miller should be in our starting XI in the long run, the way he plays isn't conducive to good football.

We need to get back to what we are/were good at, and that's passing the ball to each other., and getting the ball out wide.

As much as Power is a good passer, he is absolutely no goal threat. I get the impression he was brought in with the proviso that he would play in the 'Terry' role. We no longer have that role, and as a result i don't really see how he can hold down that place much longer.

I'd go back to 4-3-3 personally.

Edinburgh has made some mistakes this summer. I think Simmonds (signed immediately after Tomlin was sold) was brought in for the sake of it, and Spence and Keehan were ill-thought. Johnson should have been blooded over time at this level, look what Peterborough are doing with Tomlin, instead he has been thrust straight in to a team that is carrying a certain amount of expectation.

I also think he should have tapped into some of his contacts for a different Asst Manager, because i think Driver was the easy choice.

Just as a point of interest, Justin has played as a sweeper in the past (quite succesfully) and spent most of his first season with Orient as a right winger (less successfully!).

His most successful season with us was as right back but overlapping with the right winger who would drop back (and the same on the left) which we did in our promotion season.

I was under the impression that Johnson would be brought into the team over time, as JE had stated, but he's featured in every game so far and looked out of his depth!

TheIncognitoKid wrote:I was under the impression that Johnson would be brought into the team over time, as JE had stated, but he's featured in every game so far and looked out of his depth!

To be honest apart from yesterday i don't think Johnson has been playing badly,considering it was a big step up for him i thought he was coping well.Spence in imo has to go not impressed at all.

I've personally been impressed with Johnson so far, especially given the jump he has made joining us. He's not perfect I'll grant you, but he's a young player and puts 100% in each game. He probably needs blooding over time, but I still think he has done well considering.

I think this thread goes well with the Overreactionforum and panic button above.

We are only just into the season and we will win, draw and lose a few games and until Xmas has past it is of no importance if we are not in any playoff position.

We are no doubt a weaker team than at the finish of last season but last season we were hardly going great guns uptil Xmas time and its always the 2nd half of a season that league position and playoff places are determined.

There is still time to sort out the squad for when it really matters but maybe we were spoit last season by a squad that overachieved and we expect to much this season.

JE obviously wasn't impressed with the team and rightly so. Man for man we were better yesterday but we didn't make it count, because the players didn't utilise the 4-4-2 formation and play wide to get behind their defence. They need a proper bollocking and firm directions from JE on how to play the next game.
Some on here say we need to get back to our passing game - for me we pass too much, back and forth across the pitch, to the defence and back to midfield an so on. We need more direct play - down the wings, balls over the top or staight forward to Rene to hit or lay off to O'Conner or on coming midfielders.
We are not Brazil and despite all our skills, teams like Newport and Histon etc will just laugh at us because at this level non-football gets results.
Can see Howe and O'Conner as a great partnership for the season but they need service from the wings and central midfield.