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forevertufc wrote:Get that Andy, however I thought Hutcings was in the main a right back, on your other point, as said why the reaction from a small few, who says Lathrope isn't going to start today, who says McCourt is going to start, some have jumped the gun here a bit to quickly, I think.

He probably will start with Damon.

My issue is that we have adequate people to cover centre mid - not youth players but good adequate pros. We don't have that in defence which is where the cover is properly needed in my opinion.

TeenageGull wrote:First of all we are 10 games in with 78% of the season to go ( think that what matt said). With this long to go a few seasons a go Bristol Rovers were looking at relegation because they had so many injuries (like us) and people were righting them off, what did they? nearly made the playoffs. On a whole, this squad that knill has made on a smaller budget is IMO better than last year with the exception of rene howe. With a squad with so much potential with players like pearce and chapell and some cracking loanees with occonor and azeez I fail to see where Knill has gone wrong since we have played much better football this year than anything I saw last year. Now you tell me why Knill is a clown and crap

I completely agree that it is too early to write the season or the manager off with so many games yet to play.

However, I have to disagree with some of your comments. Yes Knill has put together what seems a better squad than last season, and I do think he has done some good business in the transfer window and with loan signings. The problem has been his use of players and his inability to change. It's all well and good having a cracking squad on paper, but Knill has failed to get them playing to their potential. That's where I think he is falling down at the moment.

We have also been playing some pretty terrible football at times, better than Ling but still nowhere near a decent enough standard.

Knill clearly isn't a clown having managed to get a similar sized club to ours promoted, nor would managers at other clubs trust him with their young players if they didn't think he was capable.

Knill has never been promoted as a manager has he not?

No.

He took Bury to within touching distance (lost in playoffs) before he left a year later with them in the top 7, and Richie Barker finished the job off, if I remember right.

My bad. Thought he had stayed with Bury for the promotion but you're right, he left before the season was over. The point still remains though that he can't be completely useless to have taken them that close or for another club in a higher league to poach him.

leetufc wrote:My bad. Thought he had stayed with Bury for the promotion but you're right, he left before the season was over. or for another club in a higher league to poach him.

Martin Ling?


(joke - before I get abused )

Thought McCourt showed more midfield nouse in a few minutes than Manse did all game. I would have him and Lathrope in for now. It won't happen, though. More likely he'd put Lathrope in behind McCourt and Manse than that. Manse will be off in January, but Knill will regard dropping him now as too soon. Edged out the minute Mozika is fit. It will happen. Would rather it did now to get McCourt playing a bit, as he'd be nice to have on a season-long.

I make you right, RJ. Knilly won't play one up front, nor three at the back. Mozika will play and he won't leave out his signing in Harding so Manse has to be the one to go.

Matt.

Lets be honest, he wont drop mansell

TeenageGull wrote:Lets be honest, he wont drop mansell

Probably not just yet, no.

TeenageGull wrote:Lets be honest, he wont drop mansell

Ok, who does he drop?

He will play Mozika, he won't play one up front, he won't drop his boy Harding, so who else misses out?

Matt.

Think I'd still play 4-3-3

Chappell and Azeez wide and a central man as a forward 3

I honestly think he would be scared to drop mansell even though he should be dropped and I honestly think if Mozika is going to play like you state that he will play a 4-3-3 or drop harding

TeenageGull wrote:I honestly think he would be scared to drop mansell even though he should be dropped and I honestly think if Mozika is going to play like you state that he will play a 4-3-3 or drop harding

I hope the reason Mansell is still in the team isn't because Knill is too scared to drop him, as if that is the case, then Knill shouldn't be in charge of our team. He's the manager and there make difficult decisions, one of which at this moment in time, is dropping Manse.

I don't think that is the case, I personally think Manse is still playing because Knill doesn't rate Lathrope or Craig and therefore has had no other option. As soon as he gets in his own players (McCourt now, and possibly Mozika), I think Manse will dropped and potentially moved on, with Downes as our new captain.

I am personally coming round to thinking that the problem this season has been that he cannot play effectively in this league in a two man central midfield. If I am not mistaken, under Buckle he played predominantly at right back, and then under Ling he largely played as one of three.

My view of this before this season has got underway was

Lee Mansell (although not the best footballer) gives everyone that extra 10% seeing him buzzing around and shouting adds more to the whole team than playing a different CM,

However this season, perhaps with all the new players I don't see him being his usual self, which is a shame because he's been there through some of the worst moments of the club in recent years