Joe Tait

[Bogratsteve]

I must have watched a different Walker as i saw a good young player who made few mistakes and linked up well on the right and was not afraid to get forward, passing skills were good and with coaching on some positional issues will be an excellent RB for many years to come, he needs to beef up a little to make his presence felt more.

[lo36789]

he looked a little overawed in the playoff game. Lacked a bit of composure but admittedly that is the only game I saw him in. The other games he seemed to get some good reviews.

[Bogratsteve]

he looked a little overawed in the playoff game. Lacked a bit of composure but admittedly that is the only game I saw him in. The other games he seemed to get some good reviews.

To be fair yes he did but that's inexperience and he wasn't expecting to be coming on so soon!! The whole team looked overawed in that game.

Most likely his worst game for us TBH

[Twintowers]

I must have watched a different Walker as i saw a good young player who made few mistakes and linked up well on the right and was not afraid to get forward, passing skills were good and with coaching on some positional issues will be an excellent RB for many years to come, he needs to beef up a little to make his presence felt more.

Spot on Bograt.Walker is a good prospect and with the grounding he'll get from MG and Gregan he can make the right back spot his own for years.Dont know about beefing up though,think I'd rather he stayed the build he is and kept his pace.

[polarbear]

They must have some pretty good sponsorship deals to be able to carry a very big squad on gates of 250-300

Spennys av gate last season was 430
2012-13, 303 without the darlo game
2011-12, 334
and i would expect this season to be 500+ without the darlo game

[Ingleby]

I can see Brown playing right back

In favour of Walker? I don't think so.

Seems I wasn't a million miles away.

[JPearson97]

I can see Brown playing right back

In favour of Walker? I don't think so.

Seems I wasn't a million miles away.

We're 3 pre-season games in and he didn't even play right-back against Newcastle Benfield.

Gray's clearly switching things around a bit and rightly so. Remember that we're looking to bring in a full-back which would free up Walker.

[quakerste]

Paul Weldon seems to be in around the club a fair bit at the moment. Anything in it?

[Bogratsteve]

Weldon was at the game again today, he will be coming back I have little doubt about it, Hatch up front and Brown CB

[Darlofan97]

I think Gray rates Weldon and I don't think we've seen the best of him yet. He's been quite unlucky after suffering a knee injury which ruled him out for 2 months, then ankle ligament damage on his return. He had knee surgery at the end of April on his cruciate, whether that was related to the knee injury suffered with us I do not know.

Hopefully he can come back and prove his fitness this pre-season. We're looking a bit stronger if we can get him and Leon back to full fitness by the start of the season.

[lo36789]

How does Wheldon at left back free up Brown to be a CB? I don't think Ingleby is that far wrong with the thought of Brown at RB. If anything signing Wheldon is to free up Galbraith and Scott to play CM.

I am expecting Hunter/White will be our best partnership at CB. Gives us Brown/Wheldon/Walker and a trio who can support the FB spots.

Strengthens us in midfield as well so long as it is the Terry Galbraith from 2012/13 season rather than the one from last year who seemed a bit timid in CM.

[Bogratsteve]

Who said it does?

[lo36789]

You seemed to mention Weldon back, Hatch upfront, Brown CB as if they were all connected. That was all.

[dickdarlington]

Weldon would play right back. Tez at the left. Browny and The Hunter in the middle. White on the bench. Allowing Hatch to play up Front alongside Armstrong.

Mitchell, Portas, Scott in the middle. Thommo tearing it up.

Bench finished with Dows. Amar. One of the keeps. And Robinson. Not bad at all

That's not considering he others. The squad is stronger this time.

[D_F_C]

Weldon would play right back. Tez at the left. Browny and The Hunter in the middle. White on the bench. Allowing Hatch to play up Front alongside Armstrong.

Mitchell, Portas, Scott in the middle. Thommo tearing it up.

Bench finished with Dows. Amar. One of the keeps. And Robinson. Not bad at all

That's not considering he others. The squad is stronger this time.

I hope that is a joke. Weldon is ALL left foot

[Bogratsteve]

For me it would be a starting line up of

Bell/Jameson
Weldon Hunter Brown/white Walker
Galbraith Portas Robinson Mitchell
Thompson Hatch
4-4-2

[m62exile]

Thought Brown did really well yesterday, could be a bonus in a spot I was worried about. Brown, White, Hunter, Walker would be my back four. As we're going to have wide players with little defensive focus, we need to be very solid at full back.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[super_les_mcjannet]

Bell
Brown White Hunter Walker
Mitchell, Galbraith, Portas, Thompson
Armstong/Hatch Dowson

Armstong/Hatch Jameson, Robinson, Hopson, Scott, Purewal, Fisher, Weldon

I think Gray will need to mix the strikers around to keep them fresh and firing, if we use Hatch as a striker (which we should) we probably have one too many but Fisher/Purewal are looking likely to be on the wing especially if Mitchell gets offered something at Gateshead. If Mitchell does sign then one out will have to happen and maybe the same if Weldon signed leaving us with about 17 in the squad and then youngsters D.Mitchell & Cocks who probably need some NL experience in terms of a loan move.

I think White should start with Brown at right back so that we can free up Galbraith for midfield. Not sure if this is in Grays thinking though but we will see.

I would say we have assembled a good squad and team but need similar luck to the NL season in regards to injuries.

[divas]

Hoping for a new look midfield this season of Portas & Galbraith with either Scott or Robinson adding a bit of steel.

I guess the big question is where will Hatch be deployed, and over the course of the season he'll play both at the back and up front - he's looking like the direct replacement for both Tait and Ward. I reckon we'll see him begin at the back due to the number of forwards we currently have and will be utilised further forward in place of Purewal where necessary.

Where Brown plays will be dependent on the above - he's going to fit in somewhere and that's likely to be RB if Hatch plays CB.

Missing Scott, Robinson, Thommo and not signing Mitchell could leave us with some problems for the season opener

I think we'll start with:

------------------Bell-----------------
Brown----Hunter----Hatch----Walker
Fisher---Portas---Galbraith---Purewal
--------Dowson-----Armstrong--------

Then once Thommo and Robinson are back from suspension:

------------------Bell-----------------
Brown----Hunter----Hatch----Walker
---------------Robinson---------------
------------Portas---Galbraith---------
---------------Thompson---------------
--------Purewal----Armstrong--------

Once Scott returns he can slot in for Walker or any of the midfielders. We have quite a versatile squad for next season, would be nice to get at least another one or two bodies, ideally Mitchell plus another full back who can get forward.

[Bogratsteve]

One thing I would enjoy watching would be Hatch & Dowson up front, given their never give up chasing and closing down players they could terrorise defences beyond belief.

[quakerste]

In today's Sunday Sun it says that Gateshead have released Mitchell after his trial.

Let's hope he puts pen to paper with us and he does enough to get a move next season.

[Darlogramps]

Weldon would play right back. Tez at the left. Browny and The Hunter in the middle. White on the bench. Allowing Hatch to play up Front alongside Armstrong.

Mitchell, Portas, Scott in the middle. Thommo tearing it up.

Bench finished with Dows. Amar. One of the keeps. And Robinson. Not bad at all

That's not considering he others. The squad is stronger this time.

I hope that is a joke. Weldon is ALL left foot

I wouldn't take anyone who suggests playing Weldon on the right seriously.

They clearly know nothing and should be ignored accordingly.

[Darlogramps]

I quite like the idea of Gary Brown at right back - he's done well in the two games he's played there so far.

Then either Hatch or White in defence, which allows us to have Armstrong and Purewal/Dowson as well.

My concern with putting Hatch and Armstrong up front together is we'd lose some of the pace Dowson and to a lesser extent, Purewal have, and the likelihood of aimless long balls would increase.

We'll probably see a lot more rotation this season, given the quality we have in the striking department.

[Ingleby]

Weldon at right back? Blimey.

He's decent for the level (as a left back) but cant see him staying fit.

I hope Brown plays CB, I thought Hatch would be ok there as emergency cover not first choice.

[dickdarlington]

Bearing in mind we haven't seen him for 6 months and he played centre half when he was here you can forgive me for not remembering which foot he uses primarily. Secondly considering our weakness is at right back. And we have two very good left backs in Leon and Tez I naturally assumed he would fit into the position that needs strengthening.

To suggest I should be ignored is pathetic for a simple mistake. Silly old man.

Personally I would keep Tez at left back. When he started in the middle last season he was left wanting. And was much better when in the back four. However in his defence he was coming back from an injury. But Weldon in the middle with Hjnter and Brown at right back could work. Let's still not forget Walker who will come good with game time.

[divas]

In today's Sunday Sun it says that Gateshead have released Mitchell after his trial.

Let's hope he puts pen to paper with us and he does enough to get a move next season.

http://nonleague.pitchero.com/news/no-g ... um=twitter

Greg McDermott wouldn't be a bad shout for a trial - thought we'd had him on loan at some point in the past but possibly not.

[TDS]

Brown is a leader and a CB. No need to force him to play a position that he doesn't need to play. He isn't a get down the wing type of player either. Sign a RB or play Walker there, no issues last season with Walker.

Midfield, last season I wanted to see Galbraith in there as we lacked a good ball player but now we have Portas, I don't mind Tez at full back where he was outstanding and set up a lot of goals.

I want to see Hatch upfront, Purewal on the bench and whoever the other striker is I don't really mind, I have a feeling Hatch and Armstrong may just be too immobile together, saying that would it matter if Thommo plays in the hole behind then they'd be a good wall to bang the ball off of!

All in all I think we're more prepared but who knows at this stage!

[super_les_mcjannet]

Bearing in mind we haven't seen him for 6 months and he played centre half when he was here you can forgive me for not remembering which foot he uses primarily. Secondly considering our weakness is at right back. And we have two very good left backs in Leon and Tez I naturally assumed he would fit into the position that needs strengthening.

To suggest I should be ignored is pathetic for a simple mistake. Silly old man.

Personally I would keep Tez at left back. When he started in the middle last season he was left wanting. And was much better when in the back four. However in his defence he was coming back from an injury. But Weldon in the middle with Hjnter and Brown at right back could work. Let's still not forget Walker who will come good with game time.

Weldon played at left back mainly at the time the defence was mainly Hunter at RB, Robinson and Scott at CB with Weldon at LB until his injury against Mossley and White came in also.

Tez was playing through shin splints at the start of the season even when he dropped back to leftback, he continued to play through the injury and after coming through it admitted that he probably wasn't being honest with himself. We also had a midfield 4 of Thomspon, Moore, Tez and Davis, which left us to open, particularly in the away game at Farsley.

[Twintowers]

Weldon at right back? Blimey.

He's decent for the level (as a left back) but cant see him staying fit.

I hope Brown plays CB, I thought Hatch would be ok there as emergency cover not first choice.

Why wouldn't he stay fit.The lad has had two bad injuries in a year.Its not like he keeps breaking down with the sama problem.He is a specialist left back and would improve the squad .

[Ingleby]

Weldon at right back? Blimey.

He's decent for the level (as a left back) but cant see him staying fit.

I hope Brown plays CB, I thought Hatch would be ok there as emergency cover not first choice.

Why wouldn't he stay fit.The lad has had two bad injuries in a year.Its not like he keeps breaking down with the sama problem.He is a specialist left back and would improve the squad .

Some players just love an injury. Hopefully he gets over them.
Weldon has played much of his football as a centre back, so I'm not sure about being a specialist left back.

Due to numbers if he can stay fit he
will however improve our squad.