Johnson

My Bad, was in a bit of a hurry

Johnson has made a big difference in the last 2 matches but to say the sudden change in form is just down to him would be harsh on some other players.

Johnson does the simple things well and leaves the fancy stuff to others. He breaks up opposition moves by sitting in the space between defence and midfield which we had previously left open for around 12 months during his absence. Then when we go forward DJ always makes himself available just off of the man on the ball, which means we always have an easy ball on and can keep possession in good areas. He's a massive bonus and there's no doubting that he makes things tick in the middle of the park.

Scott Arfield has IMO been our best player in the last 2 matches, and his ability to play in a very difficult position has enabled us to look better defensively while playing with 2 strikers away from home. His work rate is fantastic and that has never been doubted, but now we're using his willingness to run to full effect while giving his something of a "free role" on the right hand side, covering in the middle when we defend and then offering an outlet when we go forward.

Tony Kay and Jamie McCombe both deserve equal credit for the solidness we have now found at the back. The captain gets to decide how we defend - Peter Clarke liked to sit on the 6 yard box and wait to make another last ditch bloke but Tony Kay actually gets us out early and stops the constant pressure on our goal. McCombe in my opinion has been the better of the 2 performance wise but Kay does the organizing which is critical for the rest of the team. His added pace in comparison to Clarke is a bonus as well.

town need to be one of the teams that i like to call "one timers".

simply put, it means you get once chance at a corner or a free kick to score.. if the ball is cleared then the side get themselves out and attack the second ball before the opposition get a chance to get it back in. we need to station players at the edge and just outside the box to effectively clear the ball , if we all mooch back into the box leaving one bloke or at times no one further up the field then the cleared ball just comes straight back in, effectively offering the opposition another go. we use to do this and wycombe can testify to being dicked on the break at least 4 times from their own corners at the galpharm..

it also means that the opposition cant overload the box as well..the more in the box the more chaos that can follow.. p clark loved it, i hate it...

Centre Midfield - the engine room.
Tommy Miller - the con-man masquerading as a midfielder.
Damien Johnson - class act at this level and now hopefully feels he owes Town for the rehab.
Result - Massive difference.

It's worked out ok my article after all thanks lads .

38,
A man on each post (full backs) to defend a corner,
Makes the goals 6 yards wide instead of 8.
Novak up on his own, with the two wingers 'almost' out by the halfway flags, "They" which ever team it might be, Will not flood our box,
The best way to defend the Alamo, is Attack those attacking you.
The modern game often seems to abandon space,
I liked your analysis of what seemed to be a P Clarke inspired tactic,
From what appears to have taken place since his injury,
It would seem the players are in full agreement with you & hated it too

I don't know how many goals we have now conceded from the area about 3 yards from the far post. Is this Bennett's fault ? (just asking).

jacko..
too many bodies in the box.. too many people who then ball watch.. pick up your man and make a challenge. if the initial ball goes nowhere near you just stay with your man..forget the ball.. just do your own job.. most of the time bennett couldnt get near the ball for the wall of bodies underneath it.. we got so deep at time against sheff utd the challenges were not made till the ball was about to go past our goalposts.. one slight touch from that distance and its a goal..
and bennett is coming out with about 40 or 50 stone in a big lump on the move heading straight towards him..
get em further out give bennett a chance, get em trying to head it in from further out..

I might have advocated a zonal marking system, rather than man for man, but having watched Arsenals zonal defence against blackburn, maybe not.

It is a problem with Town though, there seems to be a 'hole' in the defence at both posts really...maybe its the full backs not being tall enough, maybe we need a Mally Brown...whatever, we need to plug this hole.

Damian Johnson in 1 word - Quality.