Eardley

Small squad hobbling into the play offs. Question marks over the fitness of both our first choice full backs, no back up left full back and a reserve right back who has an ankle knock of his own with virtually no game time this season. Rheady having to play full 90's recently, Freck injured, Green befeft of confidence in front of goal, Harry off the pace by his standards. Surely playoffs a bridge too far....and yet and yet. More often than not this team do find a way and although not ideal I suspect the Cowleys thrive in this backs to the wall situation. As DC said this year the play offs are a free hit so let's just enjoy the adventure with pressure off. Coventry and Notts County are under so much pressure financial and expectation wise so if we can get past Exeter it would feel like a repeat of the Shrews game back at Wembley.
 
Hope everyone is fit, if so, I would tend to play Eardley at left back (If Sam still missing) with Long on the right. I don’t think it worked with Wharton on the left today, playing on the left in a centre half partnership is where he should be. Having said that, I think there will be a few missing due to injury.
 
Think it was obvious in the second half before he went off that he was struggling. Very worried about the amount of injuries we have before next Saturday.
 
German Imp said:
Hope everyone is fit, if so, I would tend to play Eardley at left back (If Sam still missing) with Long on the right. I don’t think it worked with Wharton on the left today, playing on the left in a centre half partnership is where he should be. Having said that, I think there will be a few missing due to injury.
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Clearly looks like a central defender filling in. The lad is a cracking player, but definitely not a full back.
 
I think a lot of the play off teams will be in the same boat a long season takes it toll on players, unfortunately we have a smaller squad then most teams.

Eardley would be a massive loss but Long is a capable replacement, we could do with Habergham back and switch Wharton back to centre half.
 
After all they have achieved over the past two years, to get to Wembley again ( cannot believe I am saying that ), with the injury situation as it is, would be their greatest achievement to date. UTI.
 
IF the injuries are as have been alluded to and there will be no Habergham, Eardley or Freck next week then I fell we need to switch to a three at the back - I concur it is unfair on Wharton to ask him to do the left back job and it unbalances the side. I would go Waterfall, Wilson and Wharton in a back 3 with the radical option of Anderson right wing back and Pett or Williams likewise down the left. Midfield three of Bostwick, Woodyard and Whitehouse. As the home team we could keep the wing backs high to provide width and stop Exeter getting out and Bostwick could patrol/cover whichever flank we are attacking down to break up counter attacks. Rhead and Green central which renews their old partnership, is a better fit for Green with Ollie to come off the bench and do his thing. Not ideal but a better shape/balance than trying to make the back four work with the injuries we have. It would be positive, could catch Exeter off guard and would hopefully buy the fullbacks recovery time to revert to a solid back four for the second leg.
 
I think that may be one of our better options. Bostwick can control centre mid allowing woodyard and whitehouse to go out and support Williams/Pett/Stewart/whoever. Wharton will keep balance playing LCB, Wilson RCB and Waterfall in the middle.
But tactically that requires a lot of work to change the shape and train wingers to more defensive but still add something going forward.
 
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