Team for Gateshead

Quoted from mariner91

80's why would you drop Brown for Clay?

Well despite those wonderful calls we all heard of him being called "sh1t" before a league ball was even kicked, think Clay did reasonably well in the last home game (especially 2nd half).

I liked the energy and attitude he showed (especially since he was playing out of position too)
But also think he might be able to do a job somewhere in front of the back 4 (perhaps protecting) using that same energy to help break up play.
Did Hurst mention this as one of his strengths too ? (I may well be wrong here but have a feeling he did...)
Not saying Brown couldn't do it too, just my opinion it could be an advantage to save some of the "bestuns" (subjective) for Monday.
Then again didn't Brown miss a chance from 1 yard too ?
All depends which way you want to look at it ! (e.g. why would you drop Clay for Brown ?)
Can't please every single fan out there -  there'll always be someone wanting to complain about something ! (don't mean you BTW 91...)

End of the day, while any "squad rotation" at this very early stage of the season arguably isn't really about protecting against "fatigue", "tinkering for the sake of it" and much more to do with getting absent players fitter and everyone chipping in and involved for the cause, may also be fair to say it's a bloody long trip up to the North East (and back) in 3 days in a game that most (realists) don't expect us to win anyway.

Also if "best XI" were to fall flat on their ar5e at Heed, it might pose a tricky or worrying selection dilemma or 2 for Monday ?
Conversely if so called lesser players shine then it's a "nice problem to have" whether to bring in any others left out.  

Course there's risks with every selection (except the fans of course who never see theirs play or receive any stick for them !) and it's ultimately down to the man in charge to shoulder responsibility and do the best thing he sees fit under arguably immense and unfair pressure in the best short AND long term interests of Grimsby Town Football Club.

Sincerely hope that answers your question.
(but not replying to any more about MY irrelevant pick just in case anyone else is thinking of asking...)

I know I moan about the manager a lot but when I see some of 80s weird and wonderful suggestions I realise how much worse it could be.

Quoted from ackomariner

Quite like this meza

Well I guess I best elaborate lol

I know Boyce has done well but my reasons for dropping him was he's not contracted to GY and the more we play Toto and Pearson together they will only strengthen there understanding.

Magnay at LB well he played there for Gateshead and played v well against us more or less nullified Rodman.

Bignot RB due to his experience.   I like Paul Walker and I think he will become a regular one day but he needs to curb that petulance streak of his.  Otherwise he will get a few red cards.

Paddy in the centre because a) he has deserved it from pre season and b) Disley a bit behind in terms of match sharpness due to his injuries.

I went with Pitman due to his pace and skill and connell for his intelligence you never know these 2 just might hit it off lol

Quoted from 120797

..............McKeown
.........Boyce.....Pearson
Walker.........Clay.......Winfarrah
...........Disley.......Paddy......
Mackreth.....Connell......Neilson

Subs (see Monday): Magnay, Toto, Brown, Pittman, John Lewis

so a 2-3-2-3 formation ?

well I have seen hurst do stranger things I suppose..

in all seriousness why on earth would you drop scott brown for clay and Connell is no way a lone striker player.

PH will just pick his favourite/best XI players and fit them all in a formation somehow!

Quoted from Grantham_Mariner

PH will just pick his favourite/best XI players and fit them all in a formation somehow!

I honestly don't believe he knows his best 11 though.  It depends if he's strong enough to pick a different forward line and drop disley.

Why so many all in favour of the 433 formation, this is the formation hurst has tried and failed so many times, it simply doesn't work for him.
Stick to 442 and let Gateshead worry about us.

Quoted from 2578

Why so many all in favour of the 433 formation, this is the formation hurst has tried and failed so many times, it simply doesn't work for him.
Stick to 442 and let Gateshead worry about us.

Ph has never let any team worry about us and our formation , he always sets up our team not to loose and nick a goal from somewhere and then sit back and defend on our 18 yard line

I'd go with this......


                        McKeown

          Toto         Pearson         Boyce

                          Brown        
Magnay                                     McLaughlin                
                  Disley          
                        
                                 Neilsen  

                   LJL         Connell


Neilsen having a free role, and Magnay and Paddy covering Rodman and Maddison but having the freedom to attack when we have the ball.

Quoted from Stew0_0

I'd go with this......


                        McKeown

          Toto         Pearson         Boyce

                          Brown        
Magnay                                     McLaughlin                
                  Disley          
                        
                                 Neilsen  

                   LJL         Connell


Neilsen having a free role, and Magnay and Paddy covering Rodman and Maddison but having the freedom to attack when we have the ball.

The reason why I didn't go for the 3-5-2 or 5-3-2 is because of the width.  I don't think Magnay and Paddy will get forward much and force there wingers back into defensive positions thus leaving us open to attack down the flanks, I know I would certainly tell my wingers to stay up or attack the space.   So having a fullback and winger in a 4-4-2 for me would add more width obviously, the game at Dover that I saw was that even though we dominated large parts of the game In the first half some of the players didn't look comfortable at all and wasn't adventurous or risky enough.  3 players was surrounding Dovers sub and Paddy was first he should have stuck his boot but because he's not defensively minded he didn't and stood of him.  Then he wriggled through and 1-1.  

Im just hoping for 3 points today