Chesterfield on Tuesday

[Erith_Cobbler]

Should Sammo stick with the same XI for the third game in a row? People were saying today that we shouldn't just be playing the one striker on his own on our own turf, so should Guinan/Herbert/McKenzie be dafter in? If so, who would miss out?

Chesterfield haven't won away from home in the league so far, and we're unbeaten at Sixfields in all competitons. If we're going to push for promotion this season, we've got to beat the teams around us and Tuesday is a great chance to move up to the playoff places.

[Tyler]

It may sound harsh (or it may not) but if we're going with 1 upfront, that one has to be McKenzie, McKay just doesnt have the height and strength to do it in his own

[dazza]

It may sound harsh (or it may not) but if we're going with 1 upfront, that one has to be McKenzie, McKay just doesnt have the height and strength to do it in his own

He is doing all right so far this season.

[Tyler]

He is doing all right so far this season.

He definitely is, but if we're going 1 up top we need someone with strength and height like McKenzie. It would be harsh on McKay but he works better with someone else with him

[Enya_NTFC]

Chesterfield haven't won away from home in the league so far, and we're unbeaten at Sixfields in all competitons.

You have jinxed it now!!

[PineWoody]

I see where Tyler is coming from, but I think we can survive with Mckay as the lone man, as long as we continue to try and pass the ball through the midfield. The second we go long, it won't work for the reasons he says. But if we keep passing and working the ball, I think Mckay can hold his own, and 2 goals in 2 games with this formation is good enough for me, although I appreciate it has to work on the whole and I think it is.

Another key aspect is that when we do work the ball wide, we need to get bodies in the box e.g. Thornton, Osman/Gilligan, there was just one or two occasions today where crosses came in and there was only 1 man in there. But both goals against Liverpool came with one upfront, and with a cross, but the difference being both times there were 3/4/5 of our players flooding the box.

Chesterfield is a big game now, I know we all said today was, to see how we responded after Wednesday, and we passed this test with flying coloures, a very good performance, now can we keep that again against what will undoubtedly be a better side.

[NTFC Nut]

Chesterfield are my tip to win the league this season. Very well-organised side with a tactically aware manager and a lot of very good players, particularly going forward. Craig Davies signed from Oldham in the summer and will score a lot of goals at this level, particularly with the service he's offered by a midfield made up largely of players who came to Chesterfield from League One or Championship clubs and really still ought to be playing in League One at least.

We are on a high at the minute, confidence is rippling throughout the side and we'll be up for this, as will they. 1-1 I reckon.

[guest143]

McKay NEEDS to start
Anyways Im looking forward to it, something to look forward to after my naff tuesdays in stamford

[PepesProdigy]

i reckon nathanial will come in at centre mid. dont think gilligan in his pain can play 3 games in 6 days! ha!

[Dr Feelgood]

If Macca's fit I would start him and McKay. He won't get match fit if he's benchwarming..

[Marvo]

It's a difficult one but McKenzie has to start ALONGSIDE McKay. I'll leave it to Sammo who he drops/shifts to make this happen.

PS: Away from home todays formation works just fine.

[Razor]

Why change it at all? Today's performance was very good indeed. I'd rather see McKay up front with Thornton, Jacobs and Rodgers/Herbert in support as I actually think it's a more attacking formation - use the width as it also brings Johnson and Davis into play as an attacking force.

I fear with two up front we will play too narrow in the middle of the park and be tempted to resort back to long ball when we get pressured, unlike today when the width available from midfield gave us plenty of passing options.

Leave things as they are Sammo!

[Marvo]

Why change it at all?

You want to talk me through all the chances we created before we scored, or perhaps remind me of the saves the Bradford keeper made. WE were powder puff in attack, mainly because we only had McKay up front. The system Sammo played yesterday lends itself nicely to away games but at home we should be more aggressive. One striker, all 5' 7" of him is not enough.

[Razor]

I can see your point and actually think that if we had a big, powerful striker up front we would have scored a load more, but we have to work with what we have got. Playing two up front at the start of the season simply didn't work either in terms of performance or result. Yes we could have been better in the final 3rd at times today but I really wouldn't like to change the way we are playing at the moment. You can't deny that we were in total control and today it was effective. If we struggle to make a breakthrough then McKenzie is a great option to have on the bench but to throw two up front at the moment would risk upsetting our entire balance IMO.

If we start with 2 up front and struggle from the off then where do we go? 1 up front with players breaking from midfield is both more attractive to watch and creates us more chances, if it doesn't work then we always have a plan B - whereas in the past we have not.

[SteveRiches]

Until recently my only criticism of McKay was that he wasn't actually scoring goals, there was no criticism of his work-rate or attitude...but now he's beginning to find the net, and that's what it is about. The current system with him as lone striker means that he draws the defence to one side while our advanced midfield fills the gap and he then comes back inside to feed off what they create. You can't knock it in the last few games.
What we don't yet know is whether the other system, with McKenzie being the target guy and McKay feeding off him, will actually work better. Why fix what isn't broken?

[Marvo]

Okay have it your way but I'll tell you this, Leon Mckenzie is a very expensive option to have sitting on the bench and it's a reason the chairman will be very reluctant to give the manager any more money to spend! The best managers (in my opinion) pick their best players, then fit them into a suitable system, not the other way round.

[oldbloke]

I'd like to see the same formation with McKay rested for McKenzie and Wedderburn in for Gilligan. It suits our style of play. There were comments a few weeks ago calling for sammo to play with a 4-5-1 rather than a 4-4-2. Well he is and now we want two strikers!? Options on the bench allow it to change if necessary.

[brickowski]

If we play two up front it encourages the long ball, and that means the whingers on here can have a good old whinge about how 'we still hoof it like Bayo's in the team'.

[SteveRiches]

The other point I forgot to make is that Courtney Herbert in his two recent cameo appearances is beginning to look closer to the kind of player many of us feel he can be. If he can focus totally on his football and knuckle down to putting his time into being a professional football player, we won't need another forward...it's up to him.

[Insider]

I agree about Herbert.  I'd play him as an out-and-out winger down the right.  He frightened the life out of Liverpool and was strong in setting up our second.  The one player who I think has been unlucky is Wedderburn.  The Liverpool fans sitting around me couldn't believe how strong he is on and off the ground and especially couldn't believe he's only 18.  I'd personally play him ahead of Gilligan and get Gilli the op he needs.