Predicted line-up vs Concord...

Getting to that time of the year.

I think it'll be the following in a 3-5-2 formation:

-----------------------Mellor--------------------
-------Gallinagh-----Walsh----Ball----------------
Simpson----------------------------------Slocombe
-------Artus--------Adelsbury-------Kington-------
---------------Watkins--------Pratt------------------

Subs: Bowman, Keary, Allen, Stearn, Hemmings.

I've probably missed someone really obvious now.

5-2-3

Mellor
Bowman, Gallinagh, Simpson, Ball, Slocombe
Artus, Kington
Stearn, Pratt, Watkins

Subs: Walsh, Keary, Allen, Adlesbury and Hemmings

I don't think Walsh will be match fit after his 2 week holiday unless he plays the 90 vs Yate this sat, so Simpsons will slot in at CB. Also the 3 up top gives us a better attacking option but whether they use it away is another matter. Hope to see it at home!

4-4-2 or 4-3-1-2 (with stearn playing behind the strikers)

mellor
ball walsh gallinagh slocombe
stearn artus adelsbury kington
watkins pratt

subs: hemmings, bowman, allen, keary, simpson

I always get confused when people refer to a formation as 5 at the back, makes it look ultra defensive to me, as if it's a flat back five!

3-2-2-3 then or 3-4-3?! :-P

I see what you're saying. Both latter suggestions sound a bit 'out there' though, I don't think we've ever started a game 3-4-3. I just think with the players we have we'd be better suited for a 3-5-2, although we've had four at the back most of the time in friendlies.

In any case, it certainly looks like a strong squad.

Someone point this thread out to Powell...

I've liked seeing the interchanging of positions in friendlies, particularly in attack and defence. Can't wait for the season to start now!

I think the 3-5-2 formation suggested will be very close to the actual line-up. I'd be amazed if Walsh wasn't picked, holiday or no holiday - he played a full game against Cardiff, so another 90 minutes against Yate and a spot of intensive training next week should do the trick.

stillmanjunior wrote:Someone point this thread out to Powell...

so it can be deleted?   

as i haven't seen a single minute of pre-season, i'll defer on posting any prediction. looking forward to seeing the game at concord and hopefully being as impressed with the new signings as everyone else. but remember, that's the 1st meaningful game since we played there in april...

I think Mark is pretty close with his opening post. I personally would prefer to see Chris Allen start as he was terrific at the end of last season and of course Ross Stearn. I'd also prefer Ball at left wing back as I think he has too much to offer in an attacking sense. Adelsbury and Slocombe would lose their places in a 4-4-2.

But I wouldn't mind any of the team line-ups suggested in this thread which shows the strength we have throughout the squad.

Beau Nash wrote:

What has happened to Zac Evans?

Is this him in the back row of the 'squad' photo? 3 in from the right.

After the Yate game my prediction is as juniors but with Chris Allen starting and Ben Adelsbury on the bench.

sned wrote:

Beau Nash wrote:

What has happened to Zac Evans?

Is this him in the back row of the 'squad' photo? 3 in from the right.

Yes, that's him.

Chris Allen starts every time for me.

Strange how no one picked a starting XI without Artus or Walsh. Except Adie. Whoops, I meant Lee.

I had no idea Artus picked up a knock in training leading up into the game. Was surprised Walsh didn't start though.

I don't know about Artus, but Wlashy's reputation grows when he misses games like yesterday's. We badly missed his quick thinking and strength at the back and hopefully he will return to the side on Tuesday.

Why don't we play a 3-5-2 like so:

Mellor
Gallinagh-Walsh-Ball/Simmo
Bowman-Adelsbury-Artus-Allen-Slocombe
Watkins-Pratt

3-5-2 seems to have become highly popular at the moment especially with Premier league teams, so why don't we try it at Bath City!

That's not far off what I went with I think. I don't think Stearn had much influence on Saturday, he's a better wide player in (just) my opinion.

I was at the game yesterday, and, like many others, was most surprised at Walshy and Artus's exclusion from the starting line-up, when we read the team sheet. As you now know, Frankie had a few minutes on the pitch, but Walshy remained on the bench throughout the match! The official feedback to our pre-match enquiry was that neither player was fit - Walshy had been on holiday and Frankie had damaged (a calf muscle?) in training. Another of the fans present managed to have a word with both players, and they both said they were fit to play! (Artus had only gashed his shin); so, even regardless of what ensued, it beggars belief that City took to the field without [u]both[/u] of them.

It does indeed beggar belief Steve.
But then again we have the same clueless management team in place which is why after following this club for some 54 years I can no longer bring myself down to Twerton Park.
A two week holiday should not render a footballer at this level unfit. Absolute crap.

We finished just short of the play-offs last year, Gary. And we've lost one game so far this season. We had some great performances last year and have tried to build a younger squad for this time out, which fans have been after.

It seems a majority of level-headed supporters have steered clear of the forum after this game, I'm starting to wish I'd avoided looking at it as I knew we'd have the usual complete fly off the handle reaction to one poor performance, with some already condemning us to relegation! I wasn't too pleased at how yesterday panned out, bar the first 10 minutes or so we were pretty abysmal. Probably only played at that level two of three times last season.

I personally would have picked both players that were left out but I have no idea what's been going on at training and so on. I think Walshy will start Tuesday and hope he will. We lost one game with him in the side last season? Makes a difference. There's no way we'll be unchanged for the Basingstoke game.

I didn't go to the Meet the Manager last week (thank God it's not tomorrow!) but from what I heard the feedback was quite positive and the general feeling was we're moving in the right direction. Then an hour and a half of football is played and suddenly we're going nowhere, the management don't have a clue, players treated appallingly and a crisis is emerging. Heavens forbid we lose on Tuesday night, we'll end up with the "they don't want promotion" garbage again.

With respect, I don't think it helps when people report what a mate has told them about a conversation he had one of the players. Idle gossip costs lives and all that.

Having said that, those who paid a lot of money and gave up their Saturday to travel to a pretty soulless place deserved better and are entitled to air their views. As I said on Saturday evening, if that's the worst we see this season we can't complain too much, but it's better to do it on here than in the players' faces (unless it's at Dover....)

stillmanjunior wrote:There's no way we'll be unchanged for the Basingstoke game.

I'm not sure how Walshy is supposed to get match fit if he doesn't play.

Having said this I do not like to see players dropped after one bad game. They should be given the chance to redeem themselves. It also suggests Archie doesn't know his best side.