Plan B - Have we got one this year? (8 Viewers)

[Esoterica]

Barnet was the 4th game this season we've failed to score against very deep lying opposition (Newport, Yeovil, Chesterfield). The subs were late and they were direct replacements rather than formation changing. Our shape and system has been pretty much the same all season too so far with the variations in our game coming from the different types of player to fulfil the roles in the team e.g. Beavon vs Biamou, Vincenti vs DKE.
Do you think we've got the players for a decent plan B either home or away or perhaps if we lose Jones or one of the holding midfielders to injury? Could we for example play an effective diamond or a 4-3-3?

 

---

[Ccfc1979]

I think the Andreu injury has severely hampered our ability to adapt.

 

[Sick Boy]

I think the Andreu injury has severely hampered our ability to adapt.

Massive shame

 

[Skyblueweeman]

We’re 4th. We’re doing fine.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Gazolba]

Our plan B is to bring on Ponticelli in the 85th minute.

 

[pusbccfc]

I think it's part down to Robins being more than happy to pick up a point away. He had better options to bring off the bench today to go more attacking and he didn't use them.

 

[Liquid Gold]

We’re 4th. We’re doing fine.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

We’re 5th now. Burn it all down.

 

[dongonzalos]

Plan B sign a striker in January.
Or injuries and suspensions force Robins to play Ponti and he happens to be as good at scoring in the senior team as he is in the under 23's.
Until then our defence will keep us in touch with the automatic spots.

 

[Grendel]

We don't need to change anything. We haven't lost since August and concede virtually nothing - the defence is hardly troubled and we have as much chance as any as it stands of promotion.

 

[lifeskyblue]

Absolutely. No need to change anything as yet. Keep this up till new year and then decide, depending on other promotion chasing sides, whether we need to be more adventurous. But whilst we are this tight at the back there is no panic


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Mcbean]

Thought he could have bought Ponti on 10 mins earlier to give him a bit more time to break them up DKE was knackered having been hounded everywhere by Sky's MOM

 

[ccfcway]

We don't need to change anything. We haven't lost since August and concede virtually nothing - the defence is hardly troubled and we have as much chance as any as it stands of promotion.

Maybe just Haynes for Stokes when he returns fit :happy:

 

[Grendel]

Maybe just Haynes for Stokes when he returns fit :happy:

I don't really get why stokes gets critics about defending - grimmer is the poorest defender in the team.

 

[Otis]

The only thing I am slightly unhappy with, with Mark Robins is the lack of subs when it seems abundantly clear from the stands that things need changing.

Definitely should have made a substitution earlier today and same too last Saturday.

 

[ccfcway]

the defence is more than solid for this level, even the replacements don't really weaken the team too much

 

[Otis]

Maybe just Haynes for Stokes when he returns fit :happy:

I think if we play Haynes we will let more goals in.

 

[pusbccfc]

The only thing I am slightly unhappy with, with Mark Robins is the lack of subs when it seems abundantly clear from the stands that things need changing.

Definitely should have made a substitution earlier today and same too last Saturday.

Same most games, to be fair.

He should have changed things earlier against Chesterfield and Swindon. It seems he either has little faith in his bench or he is a bit worried a sub with disrupt things.

 

[pusbccfc]

The only thing I am slightly unhappy with, with Mark Robins is the lack of subs when it seems abundantly clear from the stands that things need changing.

Definitely should have made a substitution earlier today and same too last Saturday.

Same most games, to be fair.

He should have changed things earlier against Chesterfield and Swindon. It seems he either has little faith in his bench or he is a bit worried a sub will disrupt things.

 

[letsallsingtogether]

I don't really get why stokes gets critics about defending - grimmer is the poorest defender in the team.

Thought Grimmer did really well especially in the first half today.
They never got past him and he did some good runs with the ball.

 

[Grendel]

Thought Grimmer did really well especially in the first half today.
They never got past him and he did some good runs with the ball.

Defensively he's the weaker link crosses come in from his side frequently.

 

[Adge]

I don't really get why stokes gets critics about defending - grimmer is the poorest defender in the team.

Thought he is our best player today.

 

[Gint11]

Win your home games, draw your away ones all season and you won't be far off....


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Ranjit Bhurpa]

I think if we play Haynes we will let more goals in.

However we would probably score more goals as Haynes is a better outlet than Stokes.
Given though that the first priority of a left back is to defend, I wouldn't mind seeing Haynes in front of Stokes taking up a left midfield/wing position. Would be a different option for us and take some of the opposition focus away from Jones.

 

[Adge]

However we would probably score more goals as Haynes is a better outlet than Stokes.
Given though that the first priority of a left back is to defend, I wouldn't mind seeing Haynes in front of Stokes taking up a left midfield/wing position. Would be a different option for us and take some of the opposition focus away from Jones.

How many seasons have we been saying that though about Haynes? None of the managers he's played under have consistently used him in defence or further forward. They can't all be wrong.

 

[Gibbo]

I think if we play Haynes we will let more goals in.

Agreed - Stokes seemed very sound today. If anything it was the much vaunted MacDonald who was caught out a couple of times

 

[Ranjit Bhurpa]

How many seasons have we been saying that though about Haynes? None of the managers he's played under have consistently used him in defence or further forward. They can't all be wrong.

Maybe L2 is his level? Just thinking aloud that it might be an option for us. Certainly prefer Stokes at LB.

 

[clint van damme]

Defensively he's the weaker link crosses come in from his side frequently.

agree going in to today but thought he was fine today and got the centre halves out of trouble a couple of times in the first half.

As for plan B, i think plan A is working for Robins, draw away win at home.

 

[dongonzalos]

We don't need to change anything. We haven't lost since August and concede virtually nothing - the defence is hardly troubled and we have as much chance as any as it stands of promotion.

Sorry I misread the table.
We are guaranteed promotion after all?
As you say then, keep everything the same.
Onwards and upwards.
If you don't concede in division 4 you get promoted

 

[Grendel]

Sorry I misread the table.
We are guaranteed promotion after all?
As you say then, keep everything the same.
Onwards and upwards.
If you don't concede in division 4 you get promoted

If we maintain the points per game we have at the moment yes we will - we've beaten Notts county and Exeter two of the front runners and have 10 points from the last 12.

 

[I_Saw_Shaw_Score]

Plan B this season only came about due to injuries!

Plan C is none exsistent

 

[Adge]

Maybe L2 is his level? Just thinking aloud that it might be an option for us. Certainly prefer Stokes at LB.

Yeah could be.

 

[steve82]

I'm hoping that a plan B will be Haynes coming back to fitness and a return to the team in a more advanced role on the left wing.
I think he's got a few goals in him that on days like yesterday and in games like those where teams sit deep he can run and cut in to whip a shot in. We've seen a few like that from him in the last few seasons.
Would make us traditional with two quick wide players and Biamou can get into the box to attack headers more.

 

[Otis]

I'm hoping that a plan B will be Haynes coming back to fitness and a return to the team in a more advanced role on the left wing.
I think he's got a few goals in him that on days like yesterday and in games like those where teams sit deep he can run and cut in to whip a shot in. We've seen a few like that from him in the last few seasons.
Would make us traditional with two quick wide players and Biamou can get into the box to attack headers more.

Yep. So many of us keep on saying it. Haynes is better going forwards than he is defensively and Stokes is pretty solid. Personally I wouldn't replace Stokes with Haynes. Therefore the only option is further up the pitch. Successive City managers haven't deployed that set up though.

 

[steve82]

Yep. So many of us keep on saying it. Haynes is better going forwards than he is defensively and Stokes is pretty solid. Personally I wouldn't replace Stokes with Haynes. Therefore the only option is further up the pitch. Successive City managers haven't deployed that set up though.

I agree I'd not drop stokes for Haynes as i don't think we'd be better off with two fullbacks getting forward. Stokes goes forwards but rarely beyond a safe distance like Grimmer say who's given that role to overlap into advanced areas.

I think he's been used a a handful of times as a left winger once by TM v Portsmouth in the capital one cup win which I think Haynes scored in? And a few times under Slade tho more a wing back and at sheff Utd by MR was he tried there.

For me he's demonstrated more than enough times he's got it in his locker and upon his return to full fitness I'd not be surprised to see it happen.

 

[mechaishida]

We’re 4th. We’re doing fine.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

This is something we, as a fan base, should be very encouraged about. It's easy to lose sight of the obvious.

I believe MR is a forward thinker, unlike Mowbray, and will not stubbornly adhere to tactics that simply don't pan out.

It's very easy for us to analyse every element of the season in anxiety, but we have to realise this is a grotty, dire league at times and we'll be out-grotted a few times.