What is the point?

Totally agree RG, too much unnecessary tinkering, hence confusion, instability and a break down of the team 'togetherness' which served us so well last season. It's just so frustrating!!!

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The basis of the side is a settled & competent back 5. We started the season with that & didn't let any goals in. That basis lets you experiment with the strikers. The 1st mistake was to get rid of Caddis, then almost Wes. What has McEveley done wrong?
Both fullbacks changed & Mac not a natural CD.
If the fullbacks can link with the midfield wide men, then that gives a platform for attacking. If they can't, then it's hoofball & the wide men can't produce their real value.
If the fullbacks are also struggling to defend, then the situation is even worse.
I think, that at the start of the season, we had the basis of a good side. The only problem was how to sort out the strikers.
But pdc didn't concentrate on that, instead changes everything else.
Now we are in a mess that, IMO, was avoidable. The defence is a shambles, the midfield doesn't know what it is doing, or even who they will play next to them, & the striker situation is still the same.
End of sermon!

Red, a few points from your post. Caddis, it is said, was sat in the stands yesterday, allegedly, maybe talks about cancelling the loan ? I dunno. Jay McEverly took a bad knock and is rumour to be suffering delayed concussion, not nice. In fairness to Devera, he has played reasonably well in place of Caddis, and is probably better at defending, but no where near as good as Caddis going forward and overlapping with Ritchie, so I consider that to be a very important factor in our play to be missing. Ritchie was coming right back into defence to help Joe out yesterday. With that element missing and the fluid play of Jay missing from the other wing, and his pinpoint passes across the pitch to Ritchie, switching play from wing to wing we were a shambles. Both wings were clueless and the strikers were having to come deep to collect the ball to run forward, problem there was they had to get through L.O's midfield to do that as they were so deep.

IF we can get Jay back for the next game that will be a positive step. If we can get TAH in there as well, another positive step. The new Rooney needs to be included, and I would put him in instead of the misfiring Williams, and would put Bostock in alongside Ferry. I think that would at least earn us a ship steadying draw at Carlisle. I mentioned that formation yesterday in the stands and it won universal acceptance as the way forward, among us older pharts. Solid dependable players, no nonsense, no hero's, just solid dependable players. TAH has good L1 experience and can play at right back, probably better than Joe, and can go forwards as well, bringing Ferry and Ritchie into the game more. Jay on the left to link up with his sweeping pin point passes across and up field. Bostock, menacing going forwards, chunky solid player but with good vision going forwards and anticipates the opposition well defending back. Collins plays well and has a go up front, and then if we are not quite getting there at half time bring on Benson, Mr Reliable up front.
That still leaves two tactical subs for later in the second half, and use them to rest players if they are flagging, Maybe Williams to get a run out later if all is well.

Great stuff both of you.

I see our best central defensive pairing as Flint and TAH. Is it worth giving Nathan Thompson a run at RB? Like the idea of Bostock and Ferry; also Collins and Rooney A up front.

But what will PdC do? Heaven knows!

SF,
Super post! I rely on guys like you to set me straight.
I didn't know about Jay's injury - the Town site is rubbish for information.
But we need 2 good fullbacks, not only for defence, but to instigate attacks. Defence is paramount, but if we can get a bonus......?
Don, in my less than illustrious sunday league career, I played right back. I wasn't much good at football, but found a niche there & did a solid job.I don't like the idea of "giving someone a run at RB" That could cost us. No, we have given our best RB away.

Red, Caddis isn't available... I wish he was. You're totally right we should never have given him away. I hope he comes back, the sooner the better.

In the meantime it sounds as though Devera isn't a natural RB. When I saw NT get a game at Tranmere in the last game of our relegation season he looked very decent to me. I think we should occasionally give a home grown young player a chance, and perhaps this is a time for that?

I'm sure you were a decent RB, I used to play for NALGO in the Sunday League, perhaps our paths crossed!

Don.
I was pretty carp. I played a few games in Chipp, but then went to uni in Bradford. So my career was spent in the Wharfedale & district sunday league. Not a place for faint hearts! But, after nearly 5 years of playing without scoring a goal, I finally got one & it was reported on radio Leeds!
Such is fame, it went to my head & I scored the first in the next match, where we went down 8-1 to Baildon!
As for our FB, we are in trouble. Maybe look what the other side has to offer. I wouldn't like a young lad being skinned away at Carlisle.