Match Thread - Forest Green Rovers v Port Vale

[SFBT]

Could Oyeleke be at right-back? I'm sure it said he can cover there when he signed. That would mean Clark at left-back and keeps Hannant in his usual LM role and pushes Conlon to CM.

 

It really shouldn't be this difficult to work out the formation! Gibbons not even on the bench is even stranger.

Keeps the opposition guessing!

[valiant_593]

About as strange as it gets really. So he’s basically signed hardcastle to cover for one match. Hannant isn’t a bloody left back as Conlon isn’t a left winger. Sick of him playing players out of position every week. Where is legge? He’s been solid every time I’ve seen him..: happy Whitfield is starting and very happy manny is back. Still would’ve like to have seen miller on as well and really gone for a win here.

He’s clearly fell out with gibbons as well. Surely picking a side like;

 

Brown

 

Gibbons

Rawlinson

Legge

Clark

 

Hannant

Joyce

Manny

 

Whitfield

 

Pope

Miller

 

Isn’t too difficult? Or too daring?

[MBE]

Wow think Aspo taking a gamble with the team today. I will be absolutely slated if we loose today. With the personnel I'm hoping a 4-3-3 today with Worrall and Whitfield playing closer to Pope.

If we do go 4-5-1 more negativity away from home - square pegs round holes spring to mind.

[Davo666]

About as strange as it gets really. So he’s basically signed hardcastle to cover for one match. Hannant isn’t a bloody left back as Conlon isn’t a left winger. Sick of him playing players out of position every week. Where is legge? He’s been solid every time I’ve seen him..: happy Whitfield is starting and very happy manny is back. Still would’ve like to have seen miller on as well and really gone for a win here.

He’s clearly fell out with gibbons as well. Surely picking a side like;

 

Brown

 

Gibbons

Rawlinson

Legge

Clark

 

Hannant

Joyce

Manny

 

Whitfield

 

Pope

Miller

 

Isn’t too difficult? Or too daring?

Legge injured apparently !!

[philmpv]

Think the Sentinel is wrong on this. It's either 4411 with Manny at RB, or 3511 with Whitfield playing off Pope and Joyce sitting in

[davehartshill]

No idea why Gibbons isn’t at right back with Clark at left back. Play players in their natural position FFS!

[valiant_593]

If manny is been brought back early from injury to play at right back then aspin has lost it. He’s a class midfielder I won’t be at all impressed if he’s wasted there when we have gibbons

[Upfromnowhere]

If the idea was to confuse FGR with his team selection, then Aspin has certainly accomplished that, he has also confused the hell out of me. Been studying the team for ten minutes and I can't get it!

Unless he's playing Whitfield, a winger up front, it looks to be either 4-5-1 or 3-5-1-1, but if he does that with Whitfield in front of Pope, it means there is little natural width.

Great to see Manny back, and Conlon getting on the pitch is another huge plus, but after missing four and seven games respectively that's got to be a risk. More worried about this now than I was an hour ago, and it is either a brave decision or a ridiculous one and he could be in real danger if this goes belly up.

Must admit, feel sorry for Gibbons, unless he's injured, feel sorry for Hardcastle after his debut and Miller must be wondering what the hell he's done wrong....on balance I think I will change my prediction from a 2-1 victory to a 2-1 loss, and hope the lads can prove me wrong.

[davehartshill]

If manny is been brought back early from injury to play at right back then aspin has lost it. He’s a class midfielder I won’t be at all impressed if he’s wasted there when we have gibbons

 

There is simply no need for any other player to play at right back/right wing back when we have a player of Gibbons’ quality who plays there naturally. It’s absolutley absurd and as I’ve said before it is clear that something’s gone on between Aspin and Gibbons.

[Upfromnowhere]

If manny is been brought back early from injury to play at right back then aspin has lost it. He’s a class midfielder I won’t be at all impressed if he’s wasted there when we have gibbons

 

Like you, am only guessing, but surely not!!!!

[Hagrid]

On the radio they suggested Hannant at left back.

 

Gibbons hasn't made the bench so I assume he's injured. At least for Aspos sake I hope its the case.

 

Hannant has scored 2 and assisted 1 of our 6 goals this season. Considering Vassell, who played as a RB for Gateshead last season, is on the bench, why on earth waste Hannant's creativity? Play Vassell RB (if he isn't good enough, why wasn't he signed?), Clarke LB.

 

Is Whitfield up front or on the wing? If the former, who is on the left flank?

 

It just smacks of another confusing lineup with players not playing in their natural position. I would have started Miller personally, he got himself into very, very dangerous positions and the goal will come.

 

Slightly concerned. Hoping for the best.

[JRC]

Wow think Aspo taking a gamble with the team today. I will be absolutely slated if we loose today. With the personnel I'm hoping a 4-3-3 today with Worrall and Whitfield playing closer to Pope.

If we do go 4-5-1 more negativity away from home - square pegs round holes spring to mind.

 

Not sure its that strange with Legge injured. You can make a case for Miller over Whitfield and Gibbons over Conlon. Gibbons may have a knock as he's not on the bench.

[Hagrid]

Conlon on the wing (if thats the case) just highlights our poor recruitment RE the flanks over the summer.

 

Monty injured and its a shambles.

[davehartshill]

Hopefully he’s asked about Gibbons after the match.

[philmpv]

It's certainly true thst player's reputations and abilities increase markedly when they're not playing! Gibbo was great when he first broke into the side, not least because we'd been subjected to Lawrie Wilson and countless other out of position players playing there. He had a superb spell when he was one of, if not our best, players, but since February last year he's been average at best, certainly in his distribution. Some of you seem to think that no matter how bad somebody plays, in their natural position, they should not be dropped to ensure that 'settled 11'. What kind of nessage would that send out to the players?

 

i'm actually quite confident today. For the first time aside from the opening game, we seem to have our first choice centre midfield available and starting. 2-1 win for me.