hulloutpost
Vital Champions League
Danny Cowley was helped along by his young understudy ahead of the weekend match up with Stevenage:-
Northampton - Imps didn't start with enough purpose against Northampton so that will be a priority fix v Stevenage. There are 3 ways to go about counteracting an opponent. Imps couldn't go over them with 3 big centre backs in the way, couldn't go through them with the opposition deploying a diamond so the plan had been to go around them which went out of the window somewhat with the sending off.
Stevenage - DC is really looking forward to welcoming back the great character that is Paul Farman who was a massive part of what the club achieved in DC's first two years at the club. Stevenage will be an aggressive, front foot team - hard working in the image of their manager. They are a real threat from crosses having scored 52% of their goals with headers. Recently they have set up with a 4-4-2 but DC would not be surprised if they played the extra midfielder as teams often change up when pitted against City.
The war of Attrition - Being top for so long feels like the toughest season of DC's career and it is 'definitely tougher to lead from the front' as opponents raise their game. That is why in athletics or cycling for example you see a lot of team tactics to share the load. That said Imps embrace it and prepare accordingly. City are much more tactically better equipped now so DC feels more confident of finding solutions due to greater options and flexibility. Team play is constantly evolving and adapting - more so than in previous seasons. Consistency is the key with DC expecting 92 points (two a game) to win the league this year. With it being the long game DC does not put pressure on the squad by flagging up individual 'must win' games, with the 2 points per game target having been in place all season. DC feels currently a more apposite target to set the players is to go unbeaten for the remainder of the season as if 'we' manage that the points take care of themselves.
Miscellaneous - Imps have second lowest divisional yellow card count but DC is aware of the red cards and that has been discussed. He doesn't see it as a problem though; simply a by product of the Imps being (on the fair side of) competitive with some red cards as a natural consequence. Bossie may be available for selection and Imps have been working on several alternatives in the absence of Harry Anderson.
