Team From Todays Performance.

[Babylon]

Did clemence play, or was he injured/left out as he's on his way?

[Unabomber]

Did clemence play, or was he injured/left out as he's on his way?

Injured/not fully fit

[Father Ted]

Did clemence play, or was he injured/left out as he's on his way?

Injured but still hope he goes.

Weso, Oakley, King, Kish and Adams can all do a better job in midfield.

[dog_4]

kishishev should go, he's good at absolutely nothing.

[Unabomber]

kishishev should go, he's good at absolutely nothing.

I didn't think he did anything wrong yesterday and was as good as many of our players on the day. We need to keep him to help Tunchev settle and in and with translation issues anyway.

[Bryn]

I didn't think he did anything wrong yesterday and was as good as many of our players on the day. We need to keep him to help Tunchev settle and in and with translation issues anyway.

Decent coach as well by the sounds of it.

[Babylon]

Decent coach as well by the sounds of it.

Great Sig and avatar... great choice in women!!

[Thracian]

Never ever were we 2-0 down or even 2 down . Porter made a difference and would think by August 9th he will have a good chance of starting on the left side of midfield , lets face it he aint gonna get picked in the centre

Corrected. Straying thoughts I think as the wife shouted that dinner was served!

As for a team based on yesterday I honestly wouldn't know who to chose on merit but I had some thoughts.

Henderson would be in goal.

You might say Gilbert, Morrison, Tunchev/Worley, Chambers would pick themselves across the back.

Then what do you do? You could make a case for so many.

Gradel or Adams?

Porter/King (attacking) or Weso/Oakley/Kishishev (supporting) or any combination from the four?

Howard, Chambers, Campbell or Fryatt up front?

And no mention at all of Dodds, McKay or Beswick who might well challenge in future based on our first half display.

For me though, and as the theoretical selection would be based on yesterday, we played far better second half and that was reflected in the scorelines... losing 3-2 first half and winning 3-1 second half.

The turnabout was down to a much more efficient defence (posing no problem selection wise), the major influence of Porter and Ashley Chambers later on, the terrific forward support given by James Chambers, the lesser but nevertheless consistent prompting of Weso and Kishishev and the ever present stretching and threatening of Hinckley by Gradel.

Because James Chambers operated like Stearman, Porter was able to play as an old fashioned inside left giving City more or less three men in central midfield rather than two as in the first half and this eventually gave us complete control.

But then wouldn't King and Oakley have liked help from a third midfielder?

Not only did they not get it but they had little support from the left-back area where James Chambers so often provided the outlet ball second half and King/Oakley had no support from the central defenders behind them who were in dreadful difficulties just coping with the home attacks.

So, to me, the picture clouds a bit when you consider reasons for the difference in our performance over the two halves.

But it did emphasise the vital influence of supporting/attacking full-backs and, in that respect, James Chambers was outstanding. The centre-backs too - being on top of their job - were able to press higher making it so much easier for City to find people available for a pass.

[clazkel]

Hendo

Gilbert - Morrison - Worley - Chambers

Gradel - Adams - Wesolowski - Dyer

Chambers. - Fryatt .

That would be what i would go for. I can't understand why people still want Howard to play up front. If Howard is to play then i think this team would be best as Howard gets drawn into midfield too much and doesn't support who ever he is up front with:

Hendo

Gilbert/Cox - Morrison - Worley - Chambers

Gradel - Adams - Dyer

Howard

Chambers - Fryatt

[Thracian]

That would be what i would go for. I can't understand why people still want Howard to play up front. If Howard is to play then i think this team would be best as Howard gets drawn into midfield too much and doesn't support who ever he is up front with:

Hendo

Gilbert/Cox - Morrison - Worley - Chambers

Gradel - Adams - Dyer

Howard

Chambers - Fryatt

I don't know whether they're right but suspect the reason so many pick Howard up front is because he's the only player we've got who can hold the ball up and lay it off reasonably capably - provided it is first played to his feet or chest.

And, slow and frustrating though he is, Howard can almost guarantee 15 goals in a season of Division One football (based on 1 every 3 starts last season) and that's not to be lightly dismissed with our goalscoring record in recent seasons.

Most of me would prefer to go the Spain way and base our attacking on speed and movement. That would point much more to using the likes of Ashley Chambers, Adams, Gradel, Dyer, Gradel, Porter and DJ.

If you go for speed and movement you could make do with one up front and, indeed, we might play better a result with the personnel we have right now.

But, as I've mentioned before, we need to have more than one way o playing anyway. And an in-form and interested Howard would surely be an asset in giving ourselves options.

[teblin]

I don't know whether they're right but suspect the reason so many pick Howard up front is because he's the only player we've got who can hold the ball up and lay it off reasonably capably - provided it is first played to his feet or chest.

And, slow and frustrating though he is, Howard can almost guarantee 15 goals in a season of Division One football (based on 1 every 3 starts last season) and that's not to be lightly dismissed with our goalscoring record in recent seasons.

Most of me would prefer to go the Spain way and base our attacking on speed and movement. That would point much more to using the likes of Ashley Chambers, Adams, Gradel, Dyer, Gradel, Porter and DJ.

If you go for speed and movement you could make do with one up front and, indeed, we might play better a result with the personnel we have right now.

But, as I've mentioned before, we need to have more than one way o playing anyway. And an in-form and interested Howard would surely be an asset in giving ourselves options.

Agree with you about howard.

[Sparky]

Looks like some big decisions for big Nige to decide . Hendo favorite for the No 1 jersey . J Chambers and Gilbert favorite for full back spots . Maybe 2 from 3 of Worley Morrison and Tunchev at centre half . I think it be be Oakley + 1 of Clem and Weso in the cental positions . Gradel and Dyer for the wing spots perhaps with Porter and Adams breathing down their necks . Howard would start for me and maybe Ashley Chambers will provide decent competion with Fryatt and DJ .

[reynard]

It's just too early to second guess however,here goes anyway.

The goalkeeper position seems a dead cert to be Henderson unless a new keeper comes in which is surely unlikely?

Left back will be mattock should he stay. Otherwise we will be playing a player out of position yet again. Can't say James Chambers looked that good there last season though this year is a league lower.

centre backs. If he's half decent then Tunchev will surey play which leaves a straight toss up between Morrison and Worley?

right back Looks to be a choice between Chambers and Gilbert. Personally I'd just say Chambers shades it at the moment.

wide left Either dyer or porter for me.

central midfield Adams looks the most constructive option and then it's a bun fight. Assuming Clemence doesn't stay then any one from Kishishev, Oakley or Weso. Personally I'm not sure Weso has got it and for me Oakley has never in his career been anything other than very ordinary. Still think this is a problem area.

wide right Gradel looks the likely option though he will need to provide better crosses than yesterday.

strikers ????????? Really don't have a clue. I simply am not sure any we have are going to score the goals we will need. They are either past it, disinterested or young and not either good enough yet or not going to be good enough. Really think this is an area we need to strenghten and offload but hope I'm proved wrong.

[davieG]

Considering in the recent past one of the biggest complaints re team selection was square pegs in round holes everyone seems more than pleased to place Chambers at LB.

I couldn't make yesterday's game but considering how he played there on occasions last year I'm surprised so many want him there based on one performance against a team such as Hinckley.

[Fez of Mahrez]

Considering in the recent past one of the biggest complaints re team selection was square pegs in round holes everyone seems more than pleased to place Chambers at LB.

I couldn't make yesterday's game but considering how he played there on occasions last year I'm surprised so many want him there based on one performance against a team such as Hinckley.

The question is 'Team from Todays Performance' though.

If Mattock stays then he'd probably be most people's first choice for left-back but Chambers was really impressive yesterday, it doesn't look like Mattock will stay and Rowe-Turner showed that you can still look pretty shocking against a team such as Hinckley.

[Ric Flair]

Hendo

Gilbert - Morrison - Worley - J. Chambers

Gradel - Adams - Oakley - Dyer

A.Chambers - Howard

DONE

[Thracian]

Still can't believe there's barely a mention of Porter.

He was far more effective than Oakley or Wesolowski on Saturday - and turned the game round in just 20 minutes with two simple but well-judged forward passes that led to our equaliser and winner.

His influence was the greater for playing in what was his best position, more of an inside-left role.

[Thracian]

Considering in the recent past one of the biggest complaints re team selection was square pegs in round holes everyone seems more than pleased to place Chambers at LB.

I couldn't make yesterday's game but considering how he played there on occasions last year I'm surprised so many want him there based on one performance against a team such as Hinckley.

Being fair to the posters Chambers played far better at left-back than I've seen him play before in any level of football and his drive into the penalty box won the penalty for our equaliser.

He really did operate as a wing back and looked very fast, sharp and determined. Mind you I rated his peformance better than that of right back Gilbert as well so there's no reason he still shouldn't move over.

Seems to me that Gilbert and Cox are the least attacking of our four full-backs while Chambers and Mattock are the most attacking, if, of course, we don't count Beswick who, seeing as he's not even gone to Slovenia, would seem to be out of the picture.

Judging solely on Saturday's game and comparing Chambers' contribution with Mattock at every level that I've seen him, I'd say the youngster had some serious competition.

Big question for me would be whether Chambers could operate as a genuine wing-bck at Division One level instead of non-League level cos Mattock's not shown that he can as yet. My guess is that he'd still be best at right back.

[Ric Flair]

Still can't believe there's barely a mention of Porter.

He was far more effective than Oakley or Wesolowski on Saturday - and turned the game round in just 20 minutes with two simple but well-judged forward passes that led to our equaliser and winner.

His influence was the greater for playing in what was his best position, more of an inside-left role.

Porter is only just overcoming a very serious injury, i'd not have him in the starting eleven yet. Thought he looked lively though when he came on. Dyer, Adams and Gradel all did as well though, so you can hardly have 4 wingers in the starting eleven, even if Porter and Adams can play in the centre if need be.

[Thracian]

Porter is only just overcoming a very serious injury, i'd not have him in the starting eleven yet. Thought he looked lively though when he came on. Dyer, Adams and Gradel all did as well though, so you can hardly have 4 wingers in the starting eleven, even if Porter and Adams can play in the centre if need be.

I'd definitely think of Porter as our playmaker. Yes he can fill in on the left wing but he's wasted there to some extent. Of more concern to me is the productiveness of Oakley and Weso.

Like others I had high hopes for both but we've so missed having a central midfielder who can pick out the ball betwen two defenders which opens a defence. Porter can do that and with people like Gradel, Dyer, Adams plus a striker around him he'll have lots of choices.

[Manwell Pablo]

I wouldn't pick a team based on yesterdays performances. As it's out first friendly and there is still alot Pearson and the fans need to learn about our players both old and new. Don't let me stop you all though

[Ric Flair]

I'd definitely think of Porter as our playmaker. Yes he can fill in on the left wing but he's wasted there to some extent. Of more concern to me is the productiveness of Oakley and Weso.

Like others I had high hopes for both but we've so missed having a central midfielder who can pick out the ball betwen two defenders which opens a defence. Porter can do that and with people like Gradel, Dyer, Adams plus a striker around him he'll have lots of choices.

I thought Wesolowski looked decent on Saturday, but after his performances last pre-season I had hopes of him becoming a more creatiove player, something he's yet to show since.

Oakley has been a massive disappointment. I am unsure on who should play in the centre right now. That Adams looks like he will be equally as effective anywhere in midfield and his main focus is to get in to the box when he can, something we have been crying out for. Whether he and Porter could play in the centre together is questionable. I might be tempted, if it can be implemented correctly to play 5 in midfield, consisting of Gradel, Adams, Wesolowski/Kishishev/Oakley/Clemence, Porter and Dyer. I am concerned about most of our strikers and with 3 midfielders amongst our ranks that got in to double figures last season, I hope we make the most of all of their goal scoring threat.

If Porter is to play, I hope to see the Porter from the first few months he broke on to the scene and not the player who seemed to have got found out by the opposition towards the end of the 2006/07 season and start of the 2007/08 (bar Chelsea away where he was brilliant). It's nice to see signs of our midfield potentially being the strongest area in our squad, which hasn't been the case for several seasons.

[renards]

Hendo

Gilbert - Morrison - Worley - J. Chambers

Gradel - Adams - Oakley - Dyer

A.Chambers - Howard

Be suprised if the side wasn't very similar with maybe Tunchev in for Worley

Some quality players still in contention and its not all about the starting 11.

Howard gets the nod because there is no competition for that type of player, just wish he'd start to look interested

[The People's Hero]

Porter was garbage before he got injured, apart from away at Chelsea, where he was excellent.

It says a lot about a player when people's estimation goes of him goes up when he's injured. That's all I'll say.

[Hackneyisblue]

If you let in 4 goals against a pub side I wouldn't pick any of the back 4 from the first half, so the defence picks itself.

But Henderson still scared people and the strikers didn't exactly fill people with confidence.

If there are no more changes to the squad then I would be very worried about next season.