[spireitematt]

So Matt, you're going 3-4-1-2 with the 4 comprising two wing backs presumably ..........? So we have Dimaio, Rowley, Lou Reed, Wakefield, Brownell, McCourt. Mitchell and maybe Donohue (if not wingbacking) competing for the two central places? And not a physical presence between them. Maybe one of them has the timing of a Kante. Maybe. Maybe not.

Yeah or 4-3-1-2.

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Is it a case of train too hard and end up injured.

Probably or the fact they've played a lot of pre-season games with little recovery time.

[Devongone]

Seems to me Dennis is our only STRIKER pure and simple, the rest are disruptive and even creative forwards with physique and power who will also score some goals themselves.

Therefore I'm thinking we should be looking at ways to get Dennis most chances to do what he does best - score goals.

My solution WOULD BE to play him in behind whichever two of the bigger guys start AND to change those guys strategically during the game. The rest of the set-up would follow from there. 3-5-2 is immediately ruled out when you stick three further forward!!!! If you go either 3-4-1-2 or 4-3-1-2 in my eyes one of the central midfielders needs to exhibit a bit of physicality. And that's why like Dancing I worry about the midfield, because McCourt seems the only one with that aggression and it sounds as though he is mostly on the point of boiling over.

When you get down to it football is just about two simple things that coaches all too often seem to forget. It's about scoring goals and stopping the opposition doing that same thing. Unfortunately it is very easy to do just one of these successfully at the expense of the other.

This is a bizarre thing to say as the club has more full backs than I can remember at the club in 57/58 years (or whenever it was I became aware of full backs) ........ but looking at the ways we might play I currently can't really see a slot for Mitchell ........... and IMO that he could potentially become the best attacking full back in the club. I'm happy to be called an idiot. That's usually fair!

[bluepooch]

Dont think its over training that has caused the main two injuries .both were impact injuries

[Devongone]

I'm sure Rowley could've got his injury sledging or falling off a climbing frame. Just coming up against bigger heavier guys can cause injuries anyway can't it? That's why coaches are often scared of risking youngsters ........... and exactly why they should take that risk. Even if you're Ricky German there'll always be even bigger stronger guys. The longer you don't learn to deal with that fact, the harder it is going to be. In the end the choice is to play at a level where you are either good enough or big enough not to get shoved around, OR learn to cope with what comes your way and take your knocks at the highest level at which your ability will get you a game.

Friendlies on hard summer pitches are good for getting a team together. Unfortunately they are also pretty excellent for getting injuries. The good thing is a little of Rowley's recovery will happen pre-season. The bad thing is that about a quarter of the season is gone by the end of September.