Maher

[palexander]

I know he had the ****s tonight (thanks Tilly), but I find it amazing he isnt in the side.

Anybody have the skinny on whats gone on yet? It feels like a public slap in the face for Kev - the fact Moussa is in above him is proof enough of that.

If fit Saturday, I fully expect Hunt to play in midfield and Francis right-back, with Kev still on the bench.

The game last night was absolutely crying out for someone to put their foot on the ball and control the game. All we had was the huff-and-puff of Macca. Bailey wasnt great and Moussa is too lightweight at the moment.

 

[DTS]

Francky boy will be a very god player but is not up to the physical demands of playing Forest away yet.

Maher in the middle wiith Bailey on the right would have made me a lot happier. Even Francis would have been a better option in my book.

 

[Pubey]

Francky boy will be a very god player but is not up to the physical demands of playing Forest away yet.

Maher in the middle wiith Bailey on the right would have made me a lot happier. Even Francis would have been a better option in my book.

agree with both points, moussa was just too lightweight and i would have had francis in the midfield because we needed some muscle and a little bit of creativity which he brings.

if maher was ill then fair enough but it was strange that the moose got the nod over kev

 

[thechampionship_isupsidedown]

I always think that if a player isn't well enough to be in the starting 11 then he shouldnt be on the bench, even if he is your captain!

 

[stevie_G_G_G]

Hopefully kev will be back in the team saturday. From a fans point of view, it does look like a slap in the face for him when Tilly brought in Mousa as a replacement for Black but no matter how much we pretend to, none of us really know what goes on behind closed doors. Has Mahers attitude been sh*t since being dropped? Is his form in training not good enough to justify a starting place? Is he not hungry for it anymore?

I am a big Kevin Maher fan and hope he does return better and hungrier for it soon as i think we are a better team with an in-form kev in the team. But i wouldn't critisise Tilson for bringing on Moussa instead as he sees everyday what the fans don't!

 

[mattytheshrimper]

i think francis could do a good job at right wing.

 

[shrimperton]

Hopefully kev will be back in the team saturday. From a fans point of view, it does look like a slap in the face for him when Tilly brought in Mousa as a replacement for Black but no matter how much we pretend to, none of us really know what goes on behind closed doors. Has Mahers attitude been sh*t since being dropped? Is his form in training not good enough to justify a starting place? Is he not hungry for it anymore?

I am a big Kevin Maher fan and hope he does return better and hungrier for it soon as i think we are a better team with an in-form kev in the team. But i wouldn't critisise Tilson for bringing on Moussa instead as he sees everyday what the fans don't!

Fantastic point totally agree

 

[stevietheshrimper]

i think francis could do a good job at right wing.

I got berated for saying that last week.

 

[Richard_Cadette]

Personally, I am struggling to see what all the fuss is about?

Maher was dropped because he didnt play particularly well against Tranmere, since then, our midfield duo of Bailey and McCormack has been outstanding, so why would you possibly drop either of them just to accomodate Maher? Moussa was brought in to play on the right because Tilly did not want to disrupt the centre of midfield which has been performing so well, again, I don't see any big shock with that?

This isn't a public slap in the face, it is doing the very thing that most of you guys on here wanted - playing the people in form as opposed to playing his favourites! I have lost count of the amount of posts on here bemoaning the fact Maher never got dropped and he was untouchable, and now that Tilly has proved he is man enough to make big decisions, people are straight on his back calling for Maher to be recalled!

Maher has to earn his place back in the side, and with the impending suspension of both Macca and Bailey, no doubt he will do, and then it will be upto either of them to win their place back, thats how football is.

I didnt go last night, but from what I heard listening to the commentary, it didnt sound like we missed him too much at all? We led for most of the first half, and sounded very comfortable, and in the second half, before being undone by a dodgy offside decision and a referee intent on being the star in front of 26,000 people, we were again comfortable, and creating openings.

I think Moussa will be a wonderful talent for us, and I have to ask, why is he not ready yet? The only way he will get ready is by playing matches, and his age has nothing to do with it if he is good enough, which I believe he is.

Maher being out of the team will only do him good, and it will make him realise he has to maintain very high standards, otherwise he will be dropped. If he has the right reaction to it, which as Captain, should be a given, then he will be a better player for it - if he sulks and gets his head down, then that isnt the kind of person you want captaining your side.

 

[Jam_Man]

I agree RC, I think bailey and McCormack have done enough to hold down the central positions and although I like Maher I cant see why we need to change it.

Maher wasnt fully fit last night and I dont see what was wrong with giving Moussa a go on the right side.

 

[Beefy]

Personally, I am struggling to see what all the fuss is about?

Maher was dropped because he didnt play particularly well against Tranmere, since then, our midfield duo of Bailey and McCormack has been outstanding, so why would you possibly drop either of them just to accomodate Maher? Moussa was brought in to play on the right because Tilly did not want to disrupt the centre of midfield which has been performing so well, again, I don't see any big shock with that?

This isn't a public slap in the face, it is doing the very thing that most of you guys on here wanted - playing the people in form as opposed to playing his favourites! I have lost count of the amount of posts on here bemoaning the fact Maher never got dropped and he was untouchable, and now that Tilly has proved he is man enough to make big decisions, people are straight on his back calling for Maher to be recalled!

Thank you for saving me the bother of typing that out myself.

 

[The Flying Scotsman]

I personally feel that Maher is the key to our team and is without a doubt Mr Consistency. Tilly dropped him in order to give the team balance - well Tilly should have thought about the balance of the team when he started playing a CM in a wide right position. As much as I love Ally Mac and Bailey I feel they are too similar as they both like to bomb forward, wheras Maher will give the defence some protection in a more holding role. The other thing Maher brings is the ability to get the ball on the deck and retain possession - how many times do you see Maher give the ball away?

 

[Beefy]

Too many times.

If Maher came into the side we'd still be playing a centre-midfielder in a wide-right position.

 

[Mr. Benedict]

i think francis could do a good job at right wing.

I got berated for saying that last week.

Sorry, I'm getting slow in my old age...

No! Francis is not a winger, he was sh!t when he played there last season! ;)

 

[davewebbsbrain]

Collis
Clarke Richards Barratt
Francis Hammell

Maher
Bailey Macca

Clarke McDonald


5-3-2 Francis and Hammell wing backs, Maher holding in front of a back 3 with Bailey and Macca pushing on to support Clarke and McDonald

 

[londonblue]

Personally, I am struggling to see what all the fuss is about?

Maher was dropped because he didnt play particularly well against Tranmere, since then, our midfield duo of Bailey and McCormack has been outstanding, so why would you possibly drop either of them just to accomodate Maher? Moussa was brought in to play on the right because Tilly did not want to disrupt the centre of midfield which has been performing so well, again, I don't see any big shock with that?

Whilst I respect your opinions, I don't agree with you. I personally think we miss Maher, and I don't think Bailey and McCormack have been "outstanding". I think they have done a job, but I wouldn't say they have been "outstanding". I think teams find too much space in the middle just in front of our defence. That is exactly the area Maher patrols. The Carlisle game (IIRC) was a case in point. We gave them far too much room in the midfeld, and they just walked through us.

I also note the Leon's goals have dried up since Maher isn't there pulling the strings. It may be coincidence, but it is rather telling.

 

[davewebbsbrain]

Whilst I respect your opinions, I don't agree with you. I personally think we miss Maher, and I don't think Bailey and McCormack have been "outstanding". I think they have done a job, but I wouldn't say they have been "outstanding". I think teams find too much space in the middle just in front of our defence. That is exactly the area Maher patrols. The Carlisle game (IIRC) was a case in point. We gave them far too much room in the midfeld, and they just walked through us.

I also note the Leon's goals have dried up since Maher isn't there pulling the strings. It may be coincidence, but it is rather telling.

100% agree with all of this...Good call

 

[Interpol Shrimper]

Collis
Clarke Richards Barratt
Francis Hammell

Maher
Bailey Macca

Clarke McDonald


5-3-2 Francis and Hammell wing backs, Maher holding in front of a back 3 with Bailey and Macca pushing on to support Clarke and McDonald

Pretty much the team formation I suggested on Sat night but got shot down for (Hammell & Francis being too flaky to deal with the increased positional awareness of playing as wing-backs was the main criticism!)

 

[Mr. Benedict]

I reckon Hammell could cope with being a wing-back, although I'm not convinced Francis could cut it.

However, I always think 5-3-2 Wing-back system looks to narrow in the final third.

 

[Jam_Man]

3 centre backs never works, thats why its pretty much been ditched by everyone.

It breeds too much confusion and players dont like playing it.

I dont want to see radical changes in formation whilst we are sitting 3 points from top...