Matt Murphy

[Mark44]

I was just wondering how many games matt murphy has played and scored compared to hodgey.

[Martin]

Matt Murphy made his debut against Salisbury on the 30th August. Since that time he has started twelve games and made one substitute appearance scoring six goals.

 

Over the same period Hodges has started fourteen games scoring five goals.

[Mark44]

Cheers, i dont see why we dont drop hodgey for abit as murphy is a good enough replacement

[Martin]

At the moment we are playing them both....

[Mark44]

Yeah but i thinkthat we should give seedal a chance and drop hodgey as i think that he takes his place in the team for granted.

[Guest]

Matt has actually scored 7 goals in 11 starts

[Martin]

Quite right I forgot he scored twice in the first game against Braintree. I thought he had started twelve games though.

 

Hodgey is top quality and looked good against Braintree. He would always make my starting XI.

[Mark44]

Yes but that proves my point 'he would always make my starting line up', this is what i mean,we need to treat him as one of the others and therfore have competition for his place.

[Ted]

I don't think we are creating that many chances at the moment, and that will mean fewer goals.I don't recall Hodgey missing that many chances recently, so maybe the issue is why arn't we creating more chances.

[Mark44]

Point taken

[GarySTFC]

I would say we aren't creating the chances because the two aerially strong forwards are either dropping deep to collect the ball into feet (Murphy) or going out wide to the channels to get the ball (Hodges). This means when the ball is coming into the box, there's no one in there to get on the end of it usually.

 

In addition, both the wingbacks have been withdrawn slightly and are playing that bit deeper. In addition to this, they do not seem willing or able to take on their opposite fullbacks in recent matches, and being as though they are our main supply line, it restricts our chances somewhat.

 

With the heavier pitches, the wingbacks are obviously going to tend to stay further back to try and conserve some energy for later in the game. Another reason why I'd prefer to have 4-4-2 at the moment.

[Mark44]

I agree that the 4-4-2 has its advantages and works well with the side we have at the moment as. Also last season when we changed formation we went on a seven game unbeaten run, just what we need at the moment.

[A Rebel and a Saint]

i think that in the games ive seen this year, apart from that fantastic Walsall game, that Hodges has looked a little short of confidence in front of goal, does anyone else think this? I think we do miss Boot, but once a player is gone you have to move on, we just need some other goalscorers to develop. Maybe it would be a good thing if we stayed in this league for a while, to build up our other strikers, because we cant rely on Hodges all the time

[Martin]

Hodges has still got 8 goals this season and has been injured.

 

I agree completely with Gary. In addition when the crosses have been coming in from the wing backs they have been a little disappointing. To date this season I have thought that the wing backs have been our biggest plus and also possible our biggest weakness. When we are defending or on heavier more energy sapping pitches it leaves us short of attacking options. A switch to 4-4-2 could well see Hodgey with more opportunities and therefore more goals.

[A Rebel and a Saint]

i think that our two wing backs can do a very good job pushing down their sides of the pitch and beating their opponents, jo and alex do a great job, but where would they fit into a 4-4-2 formation, right/left backs or as wingers in the 4 midfielders?

[GarySTFC]

If you have Harris/Carbon providing from the right and covering for one another at full back, and Mike Murphy and Haddow on the other side, I think it would certainly provide more crosses. The front two would be more inclined to stay centrally as well rather than drifting wide to get the ball.

[A Rebel and a Saint]

that sounds like a good plan, i think those combinations would work well but it might get a bit complicated as they are all very attacking players