Team for Tranmere

[Babylon]

That would be resistable at 100-1 but good luck anyway.

I usually put it on Tunchev, but he has looked not even close to scoring.... so you can guarantee this weekend he'll score bang your money on him Thrac.

Good news is I got a free £5 bet because I bet £5.... so I have also banged on £5 for howard to score first.

Perfect result for me would be Howard to score first and then Morrison and for city to win 3-0 (another £5 bet).... It that comes off it'll pay for a week away somewhere hot.

[colbo68]

What does everyone think the team for Tranmere will be?

I think:

GK:Henderson

RB:Gilbert

CB:Morrison

CB:Hobbs

LB:Tunchev

RM:Gradel

CM:Oakley©

CM:King

LM:Dyer

ST:Howard

ST:Dickov

SUBS

Martin

Kishishev

Adams

Campbell

Fryatt

I think only one change and that is Dickov in for Fryatt as Fryatt wastes too many chances and Dickov would have probably scored all of the chances that Fryatt had on Saturday and Dickov reads Howard's flick-ons.

Your Thoughts?

Just cant agree with sticking with Howard. He gives us the option of flick-ons but consistently we look a more dangerous side going forward if we keep the ball on the floor - with Oakley, King and the wing-men, the passing can be slick, the ball got out wide early and crosses made. HOWARD DOES NOT SCORE ENOUGH GOALS FOR A STRIKER - HE DIDN'T LAST SEASON AND I DONT BELIEVE HE WILL THIS SEASON. To drop him would make us play better football, and I hope that this happens. Would agree with the rest of this line-up, although I would swap Morrison for Tunchev and would play Fryatt for Howard

[mancunianfox]

Henderson

Gilbert

Hobbs

Morrison

Tunchev

Gradel

Oakley

King

Porter

Dickov

Fryatt

Martin, Howard, Adams, Dyer, Kishishev

[bigneville]

Just cant agree with sticking with Howard. He gives us the option of flick-ons but consistently we look a more dangerous side going forward if we keep the ball on the floor - with Oakley, King and the wing-men, the passing can be slick, the ball got out wide early and crosses made. HOWARD DOES NOT SCORE ENOUGH GOALS FOR A STRIKER - HE DIDN'T LAST SEASON AND I DONT BELIEVE HE WILL THIS SEASON. To drop him would make us play better football, and I hope that this happens. Would agree with the rest of this line-up, although I would swap Morrison for Tunchev and would play Fryatt for Howard

With the crosses though, surely that means Howard is best suited?

Howard will score goals if we put the ball into the box in the form of crosses.

I wasn't one of his biggest fans pre-season, but he looks dangerous when we get the ball towards his head in the box. Give him chances in the box from crosses, and he will score.

[mmarkie]

With the crosses though, surely that means Howard is best suited?

Howard will score goals if we put the ball into the box in the form of crosses.

I wasn't one of his biggest fans pre-season, but he looks dangerous when we get the ball towards his head in the box. Give him chances in the box from crosses, and he will score.

exactly

[Guest Chocolate Teapot]

Just cant agree with sticking with Howard. He gives us the option of flick-ons but consistently we look a more dangerous side going forward if we keep the ball on the floor - with Oakley, King and the wing-men, the passing can be slick, the ball got out wide early and crosses made. HOWARD DOES NOT SCORE ENOUGH GOALS FOR A STRIKER - HE DIDN'T LAST SEASON AND I DONT BELIEVE HE WILL THIS SEASON. To drop him would make us play better football, and I hope that this happens. Would agree with the rest of this line-up, although I would swap Morrison for Tunchev and would play Fryatt for Howard

6 in 19 almost 1 in 3 in a side that went down AND at a higher level, season before 19 although 6 were pens, still not a bad return, especially when you compare this with Matt 'the goal machine' fryatt.

[colbo68]

With the crosses though, surely that means Howard is best suited?

Howard will score goals if we put the ball into the box in the form of crosses.

I wasn't one of his biggest fans pre-season, but he looks dangerous when we get the ball towards his head in the box. Give him chances in the box from crosses, and he will score.

having seen him now for a season and a bit im afraid he dont!

[Simi]

HOWARD DOES NOT SCORE ENOUGH GOALS FOR A STRIKER - HE DIDN'T LAST SEASON AND I DONT BELIEVE HE WILL THIS SEASON.

Here we go again ladies and gentlemen.

Last season for Fryatt..

21 starts. 2 goals.

Last season for Howard..

20 starts. 6 goals.

Interesting.

[Lovejoy]

Here we go again ladies and gentlemen.

Last season for Fryatt..

21 starts. 2 goals.

Last season for Howard..

20 starts. 6 goals.

Interesting.

Nah, you're lying! It couldn't possibly be true!

[Simi]

Nah, you're lying! It couldn't possibly be true!

Oh but it is, yet it remains the Fryatt fan-boys favourite argument.

[Lovejoy]

Oh but it is, yet it remains the Fryatt fan-boys favourite argument.

Last 2 seasons didn't he score 5 goals in roughly 50 starts?

Forgive me for not bumming him out just yet this season .

[The Stig]

It was Howards work rate that bothered me last year. I think if he had a bit more determination about he'd have socred more. Anyhow that was in the past, this is this season and I can't judge him yet as I've not seen him play. I've not been to any games this season so can't really pick a team but gut instinct would tell me same team purely for the consistancy.

[Thracian]

There's still too much reliance on our strikers and we have to start scoring from other positions.

Howard's stats suggest he'll get 16/17 goals this season. Fryatt's already up to last year's total and probably considers himself unlucky not to have three. I'm sure he's capable of 15.

We need others like Gradel, King, Adams, Porter and Dyer to start getting some goals from other positions and taking the pressure off people and I'm sure this will come as the team gels, as confidence grows and as the players start to move more freely and naturally from one position to another instead of being so rigid.

The key though is in the passing and moving. This is what disturbs defences. The more people do this around Gradel the more chances he will get to move inside and shoot. And the same with Dyer to some extent. It is movement too which will give King the space to burst through more from midfield rather in the style of David Platt or Martin Peters.

[clazkel]

Just cant agree with sticking with Howard. He gives us the option of flick-ons but consistently we look a more dangerous side going forward if we keep the ball on the floor - with Oakley, King and the wing-men, the passing can be slick, the ball got out wide early and crosses made. HOWARD DOES NOT SCORE ENOUGH GOALS FOR A STRIKER - HE DIDN'T LAST SEASON AND I DONT BELIEVE HE WILL THIS SEASON. To drop him would make us play better football, and I hope that this happens. Would agree with the rest of this line-up, although I would swap Morrison for Tunchev and would play Fryatt for Howard

Yay, someone who thinks the same as i do, i totally agree with what you have said, we play better and will score more goals if Howard doesn't play. He is playing better than last season and putting in more effort but if we are gonna do well this season Howard shouldn't play every game. We will play better football and as a result score more goals if Dickov or DJ played up front with Fryatt, or Chambers when he's fit again. We don't look like scoring when Howard plays. In pre-season when Fryatt was up front with Chambers there was movement and both players were postive and creative and second half against Hinckley we looked sharp. DJ needs a chance to play alongside Fryatt as he's always alongside Howard and i think Howard brings out the worst in the other striker. Some games will be suited for Howard, but please not every game!

[Bert]

Hendo

Gilbert

Tunchev

Hobbs

Morrison

Gradel

Dyer

King

Oakley

Howard

Fryatt.

We need stability. Look at what happened last season, how many times did we keep the same line-up? Sometimes things can't be helped i know, but as the saying goes "Don't fix it if it isn't broken"

[Daggers]

There's still too much reliance on our strikers and we have to start scoring from other positions.

Howard's stats suggest he'll get 16/17 goals this season. Fryatt's already up to last year's total and probably considers himself unlucky not to have three. I'm sure he's capable of 15.

We need others like Gradel, King, Adams, Porter and Dyer to start getting some goals from other positions and taking the pressure off people and I'm sure this will come as the team gels, as confidence grows and as the players start to move more freely and naturally from one position to another instead of being so rigid.

The key though is in the passing and moving. This is what disturbs defences. The more people do this around Gradel the more chances he will get to move inside and shoot. And the same with Dyer to some extent. It is movement too which will give King the space to burst through more from midfield rather in the style of David Platt or Martin Peters.

I agree with this entirely.

Apart from the bit equating Kingy to Martin Peters.

[Tevez]

Martin - Made some good saves vs Stockport in the League Cup. And He's young.

O Neill (Big Money, Big Pimping)

Morrison

Hobbs

Beswick

Porter

King

Wesolowski

Burns

McKay

Bruno Berner.

[BoneHead.]

Martin

Gilbert

Hobbs

Tunchev

Morrison

Gradel

Oakley

King

Dyer

Fryatt

Howard

[Candidcamera]

Henderson

Morrison

Tunchev

Hobbs

Gradel

Porter

Oakley

King

Dyer

Fryatt

Howard

Only omitting Gilbert because it would be an experiment with King and Oakley just in front of back three allowing Porter room behind the front two.

[emitunchev]

Hendo

Gilbert Hobbs Morrison Dyer

Gradel Oakley King Porter

Fryatt Dickov

or

Hendo

Gilbert Hobbs Morrison

Gradel Oakley King Dyer

Howard

Fryatt Dickov

If Howard has to play then he would serve a more of a purpose behind the front 2 strikers knocking it on. He gets drawn into midfield quite alot and this way the other striker will have support.

My question to you is why isn't Tunchev on the starting line up. I love him there compared to the Bench area

[mmarkie]

My question to you is why isn't Tunchev on the starting line up. I love him there compared to the Bench area

I know i thought the same aswell he's deffo been our best defender for the two games that he's played the reason he didn't play against Stockport in the cup is because he's head and shoulders above everyone else.How can you not include him in your starting line-up?

[mmarkie]

Yay, someone who thinks the same as i do, i totally agree with what you have said, we play better and will score more goals if Howard doesn't play. He is playing better than last season and putting in more effort but if we are gonna do well this season Howard shouldn't play every game. We will play better football and as a result score more goals if Dickov or DJ played up front with Fryatt, or Chambers when he's fit again. We don't look like scoring when Howard plays. In pre-season when Fryatt was up front with Chambers there was movement and both players were postive and creative and second half against Hinckley we looked sharp. DJ needs a chance to play alongside Fryatt as he's always alongside Howard and i think Howard brings out the worst in the other striker. Some games will be suited for Howard, but please not every game!

And again your wrong.

[morris1234]

i really want adams to feature, eprsonally i dont andy king is ready and the times ive seen him this season hes not been great, adams had a good record at bury, okay league2 level but i still think hes more creative than king, kish and weso put together.

[Simi]

i really want adams to feature, eprsonally i dont andy king is ready and the times ive seen him this season hes not been great, adams had a good record at bury, okay league2 level but i still think hes more creative than king, kish and weso put together.

Curiously, how many times have you seen King play this season?

[morris1234]

Yay, someone who thinks the same as i do, i totally agree with what you have said, we play better and will score more goals if Howard doesn't play. He is playing better than last season and putting in more effort but if we are gonna do well this season Howard shouldn't play every game. We will play better football and as a result score more goals if Dickov or DJ played up front with Fryatt, or Chambers when he's fit again. We don't look like scoring when Howard plays. In pre-season when Fryatt was up front with Chambers there was movement and both players were postive and creative and second half against Hinckley we looked sharp. DJ needs a chance to play alongside Fryatt as he's always alongside Howard and i think Howard brings out the worst in the other striker. Some games will be suited for Howard, but please not every game!

couldnt agree less! its been said before, what do you expect howard to do? he can only do what he is given! if somebpodys lumps the ball up to him, thats not his fault, the only thing he can do then is win the header, and to be honest most of the time he does, like somebody else said (cant remember) do expect him to be doing cart wheels or scoring 25 yard headers thats not what he does, he holds the ball up and links well, he provides a huge danger in the air and hes very experienced which an only be good for our young squad! i think howard has played well so far this season, hes done whatever was needed and has done it very well, hes also putting more effort in with slide tackles and more running and as a city fan all i ever want to see a player do is try and try hard!