Darlington FC V Kendal Town

[poppyfield]

So Kendal next up, another tough game in prospect, i would expect them to pack the defence and see what they can get from the game, they have"nt done to bad so far.
BAMBER BRIDGE D 1-1
PADIHAM L 2-1
NORTHWICH VICTORIA D 0-0
Two draws against Bamber and Northwich who will be there or there abouts this season, again we will have to be well up for this one, a good crowd should help. The weather is not looking to great though.
Oh can the Drummer please turn up for this one

[princes town]

Probably takes a 5 or 6 games to start getting a grip on form lines. Yesterday has moderated any overblown expectations after Tuesday. 3 games in 7 days will probably mean some changes.

[Darlofan97]

I'd personally go for:

Jameson; Brown, White, Hunter, Galbraith; Reed, Portas, Scott; Thompson; Dowson, Armstrong

Subs: Bell, Robinson, Mitchell, Fisher, Hatch

4-3-1-2 with us attempting to get the best out of Thompson, who can be a real match-winner as we all well know. Mitchell dropped to the bench for no other reason than he's played ever minute so far.

[Twintowers]

I'd personally go for:

Jameson; Brown, White, Hunter, Galbraith; Reed, Portas, Scott; Thompson; Dowson, Armstrong

Subs: Bell, Robinson, Mitchell, Fisher, Hatch

4-3-1-2 with us attempting to get the best out of Thompson, who can be a real match-winner as we all well know. Mitchell dropped to the bench for no other reason than he's played ever minute so far.

Drop a player for having put in three outstanding performances?.Makes perfect sense.Cant wait for you to be our next manager.

[Ingleby]

I'd personally go for:

Jameson; Brown, White, Hunter, Galbraith; Reed, Portas, Scott; Thompson; Dowson, Armstrong

Subs: Bell, Robinson, Mitchell, Fisher, Hatch

4-3-1-2 with us attempting to get the best out of Thompson, who can be a real match-winner as we all well know. Mitchell dropped to the bench for no other reason than he's played ever minute so far.

Mitchell was subbed at Spenny

[Spyman]

Still can't believe the HITMAN hasn't started yet. Surely we won't keep him happy at this level on the bench.

[Sidarlo]

Armstrong has been impressive so far, so can't see why he would start Hatch, as above not sure how long Hatch can be kept happy on the bench though.

I can see us starting the same as the last two games but just with Thommo started instead of Fisher

[JPearson97]

I'd personally go for:

Jameson; Brown, White, Hunter, Galbraith; Reed, Portas, Scott; Thompson; Dowson, Armstrong

Subs: Bell, Robinson, Mitchell, Fisher, Hatch

4-3-1-2 with us attempting to get the best out of Thompson, who can be a real match-winner as we all well know. Mitchell dropped to the bench for no other reason than he's played ever minute so far.

Drop a player for having put in three outstanding performances?.Makes perfect sense.Cant wait for you to be our next manager.

I think the logic behind it is fitness, especially after the shift he put in against Burscough. Although if Mitchell can handle it again then fair play.

For example Scott played very good against Warrington and Spennymoor and perhaps was one of our better players against Burscough but he was subbed off and that would have been down to preserving his fitness. It wasn't a decision I agreed with at the time but looking back it was done with the next game in mind.

[Darlofan97]

I'd personally go for:

Jameson; Brown, White, Hunter, Galbraith; Reed, Portas, Scott; Thompson; Dowson, Armstrong

Subs: Bell, Robinson, Mitchell, Fisher, Hatch

4-3-1-2 with us attempting to get the best out of Thompson, who can be a real match-winner as we all well know. Mitchell dropped to the bench for no other reason than he's played ever minute so far.

Drop a player for having put in three outstanding performances?.Makes perfect sense.Cant wait for you to be our next manager.

What was my reasoning for putting Mitchell on the bench? Oh yes, fitness rather than performance. I was under the assumption that he'd played every minute so far, and his role requires a lot of energy getting up and down the pitch, so it wouldn't have been out of the equation for Gray to rest him and replace him with a similar styled attacking player, would it?

[poppyfield]

Crowd today? we got 1356 last year will we get that again? Lets hope so, a good win and a great perfomance.

[Darlogramps]

I don't buy this "Thompson plays best in a 4-3-1-2" talk.

Even when we played 4-4-2, Thompson was by far our more threatening player.

If anything, the 4-3-1-2 suited the team better, rather than Thompson, as having 3 CM's rather than 2 made our midfield more stable. It brought better balance.

For me, Thompson was just as potent on the left drifting in, as he was in the centre.

We've also never seen him play on the left of a 4-3-3.

I'd rather see us stick with the 4-3-3 and keep the consistency. There's no real need to start messing on with formations. Best to keep with a settled formation.

[Darlofan97]

I don't buy this "Thompson plays best in a 4-3-1-2" talk.

Even when we played 4-4-2, Thompson was by far our more threatening player.

If anything, the 4-3-1-2 suited the team better, rather than Thompson, as having 3 CM's rather than 2 made our midfield more stable. It brought better balance.

For me, Thompson was just as potent on the left drifting in, as he was in the centre.

We've also never seen him play on the left of a 4-3-3.

I'd rather see us stick with the 4-3-3 and keep the consistency. There's no real need to start messing on with formations. Best to keep with a settled formation.

Thompson's best form came when playing behind the forwards, this cannot be argued with. The stats are there in black and white.

The change to the 4-3-1-2 last season saw our best run of form and also Thompson's. This was probably down to giving the side more balance, as you rightly say, but also getting the best out of the league's best player.

[Darlogramps]

I don't buy this "Thompson plays best in a 4-3-1-2" talk.

Even when we played 4-4-2, Thompson was by far our more threatening player.

If anything, the 4-3-1-2 suited the team better, rather than Thompson, as having 3 CM's rather than 2 made our midfield more stable. It brought better balance.

For me, Thompson was just as potent on the left drifting in, as he was in the centre.

We've also never seen him play on the left of a 4-3-3.

I'd rather see us stick with the 4-3-3 and keep the consistency. There's no real need to start messing on with formations. Best to keep with a settled formation.

Thompson's best form came when playing behind the forwards, this cannot be argued with. The stats are there in black and white.

You can use stats to prove/distort anything. You can very much argue with them.

We got a better look at Thompson in the middle owing to him playing more games there. But that doesn't mean he'd be any less potent on the left of a front three.

As I said, I'd play him in a 4-3-3 as this is the system we've been working with so far. Then there's the option to move him centrally if needs be.

In all reality, it' would be a combination of the two. He'd drift in from the left like he usually does anyway.

[Darlofan97]

We saw exactly what happens to Thompson when he plays out wide at the beginning of last season, Ramsbottom and Burscough on Saturday.

Thompson got 7 in 19 playing out wide early last season.

In our 12 game unbeaten run after we changed to the 4-3-1-2 he scored 12 goals.

Afterwards, he got 6 in 11 playing behind the forwards.

In other games later on in the season where we went 4-4-2 (Lancaster (H), Curzon (H), Ramsbottom (H)), Thompson didn't score, nor did he have a great impact on the game (still a threat granted).

Out wide: 7 in 22
Behind the forwards: 18 in 23

Pretty conclusive evidence to me that he is more effective behind the forwards.

[Ingleby]

At left wing Thompson is our best player.
Playing behind the striker Thompson is our best player.
Thompson has a greater impact when not stuck on the left. I'd dare say he's happier when he's not playing as a winger.

My opinion.

[Darlogramps]

We saw exactly what happens to Thompson when he plays out wide at the beginning of last season, Ramsbottom and Burscough on Saturday.

Thompson got 7 in 19 playing out wide early last season.

In our 12 game unbeaten run after we changed to the 4-3-1-2 he scored 12 goals.

Afterwards, he got 6 in 11 playing behind the forwards.

In other games later on in the season where we went 4-4-2 (Lancaster (H), Curzon (H), Ramsbottom (H)), Thompson didn't score, nor did he have a great impact on the game (still a threat granted).

Out wide: 7 in 22
Behind the forwards: 18 in 23

Pretty conclusive evidence to me that he is more effective behind the forwards.

Using those stats is too narrow a way of looking at things. You have to look at it in a broader sense.

The 4-4-2 didn't work for us because we didn't have the team personnel to make it work. It lacked balance. I don't dispute this.

We both agree playing 4-3-1-2 was more effective for the team, because it added greater balance and stability in the midfield.

Thompson, being such a good player, benefited from this greater stability.

I'm not arguing about how effective he was in 4-4-2, because it was a different system which didn't work for us.

However we haven't seen whether he would be effective in a 4-3-3. That's the point I'm making - you can't say 4-3-1-2 is better for him until we've seen how
he does in a 4-3-3.

[joejaques]

No Shoutcast again today?

[piggy]

According to their twitter it is although ive been trying last five mins and still nothing.

Anyone know why theres no Gary Brown today?

[MikeinBlack2]

I had it, but have lost it again.

[piggy]

I believe they are having problems with the wifi connection

[MikeinBlack2]

Kendal have had a player sent off apparently!

[piggy]

make that 9

[MikeinBlack2]

Kendal down to 9 men with only 10 mins gone! Another 3 and the game will be abandoned lol

[MikeinBlack2]

Got nothing on Shoutcast...has anyone else?

[joejaques]

Kendal down to 9 men with only 10 mins gone! Another 3 and the game will be abandoned lol

Be careful what you wish for.

[joejaques]

Got nothing on Shoutcast...has anyone else?

Not yet, but at least I've found the station on the search. Didn't come up at all at 2:50, so maybe we're getting close.

[MikeinBlack2]

Radio back on

[MikeinBlack2]

linesman injured at the Bamber Bridge game....ref has taken both sides off!

[joejaques]

Radio back on

Got the station, but it's on and off like a whore's drawers.

[MikeinBlack2]

Radio keeps going on and off...pity as there should be goals in this game....hopefully to Darlo lol