For all the progress rookie manager Sadler is making you simply cannot avoid the fact that DJ is our best and only natural finisher and playing him on balance has to be right. Obviously something is amiss but it’s frustrating and problematic. Maybe time to put personalities and issues to one side and use him for the final push?
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Looking at the table, goal difference really could be a factor!
Playing devils advocate given our first half dominance I’d have wagered maybe we wouldn’t have needed an 89th minute winner if DJ would have started. Game could and should have been over by half time (although Gordons all round performance in the first half was quite superb and a joy to watch).
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If only we would have scored a legitimately good goal on Saturday that was given offside 
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I thought Foulkes was outstanding yesterday too. Sign him up for next season please Sadler.
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Or we never have that dominance due to losing battles further up the pitch not able to turn them round not forcing them to defend a bit deeper not winning headers that keep the ball in the opposition half….just playing devils of course…
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This was, at the end of it all, great entertainment. Let’s take a step back and see that we have just won a thrilling game to keep us in the play-off hunt with 2 games to play. If you look back at the comments following Sadler’s appointment, there were few who thought that a possibility. And on the back of a lot of injuries.
After an average game on Saturday, Evans was pretty much faultless and even his distribution was better. He made some good saves and had zero chance with their goal, which was a belter. Foulkes played very well and although Liam Gordon was not as good as on Saturday, he still did lots of good things.
Some people have blamed Daniels for the goal against but I thought it was Okagbue who was out of position and Daniels came to try to cover the loose man. Okagbue is so much better in the centre of the 3.
The midfield did well and at times, our attacks were stunning. It’s a pity we did not win more comfortably but what better than a late winner in a midweek game under the lights?
The real question is about the team for Saturday. Bring in the Priest for Okagbue? Does Comley return for Stirk? Does Knowles replace Foulkes? And the hardest one of all, who plays up front?
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Looking back on it the following day that first half performance was a joy to behold. Now that was what front foot, high press football looks like, and that was prime Sadball. If we can achieve those high standards regularly we will be a very entertaining team to watch next season.
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Well put.I think I would leave Stirk in midfield for Saturday. Foulkes deserves to keep his place and I would bring Farquaharson back for Okagbue. If we can play like that consistently we will become a force in this League.
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Just watched those highlights back and as I’ve been one of those fans that’s been critical of Owen this season(rightly so at times in some areas of his game) I have to applaud him for that save at the end, I probably didn’t give him enough credit watching it live but it’s a smart stop and keeps us right in the mix.
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Thought that was Foulkes best performance.
Allen was very good. Occasionally caught positionally but his strength and power of recovery got him out of trouble.
Stirk maybe not quite as neat and tidy as Comley but he is more progressive and takes a few more risks with the ball. Good performance.
Faal. Can’t help but like what he brings us despite his ever growing catalogue of howlers.
Evans made a ccouple of good stops which hopefully help his confidence.
Presuming Bradford play to Cooks strengths and get balls wide and into the box then does Evans keep his place as he is better than Smith at claiming crosses. For similar reasons I would seriously think about bringing Farq back in.
If Comley returns then Stirk has to sit out. Don’t want him as a number 8 at home in a must win game. I would put Comley on the bench.
I can accept DJ not starting this deep into the season after having so long without a start but he has to be on the pitch before DJT whatever the context of the game. We have Knowles back now to come on as a wide forward if we need to change shape.
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That’s odd because last night I posted and it was showing ten times in the thread and this morning it only shows once.
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Thought the interview on WM was very telling what Sadler said about DJ .Sort of DJ great finisher we all know what Danny can do .but I have other options as well .! So basically we don’t t need a goal scorer .someone who can finish .amazing .and don’t forget most of the credit goes to Sadler for Dans goal last night .taking the “” goals from all over the pitch “ a little far a I think .
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I haven’t heard it yet mate, I’ve had lads say to me “we’ve had 23 different goalscorers this year, we don’t need DJ”.
Natural born finishers are hard to find as everyone is after one, for me the best in recent times was Bradshaw, DJ scores goals and given the chances were missing he needs to start.
If he tires after an hour get him off, we’ve done this with other lads including Jamille Matt but imo we are wasteful in front of goal and once again sadlers refusal to bring DJ on in front of DJT nearly backfired.
End of the day MS is manager and will pick what he believes is his best team but how that can be without DJ I’ll never know, whatever as happened behind the scenes between them needs to be forgotten for the last 2 games, goals will be needed as the goal difference could come into play.
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I’m not sure anything has happened behind the scenes with the manager, I have heard one or two things that suggest it’s a personal issue rather than an internal club issue, but there’s definitely something. He seems to get on well with the players when I’ve seen him at events and the like.
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Or missed a stack loads of sitters
True though pal.
Can’t tell if faal is class or awful
Daniels and Dave were awful again.
Allen is becoming player of the season material, most improved.
Hutchinson again poor, missing Earing?
Josh Gordon MOM? shocking, 10 chances no goals, DJ 1 chance 1 goal, say no more?
Foulkes defending 8/10, attacking 3/10
Stirk better than Comley
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Don’t understand why Farquaharson is not playing that’s 3 on the bench is it, Sadler said everyone is fit bar one I think on WM.
I agree with almost all of that, other than Evans keeping his place.
With Evans in goal, we’ve managed 26 points from 24 games (including Newport, where he played 86 minutes and ignoring Barrow where both him and Jackson Smith played about half each).
With Smith in goal, we’ve managed 39 points from 19 games (again, ignoring the Barrow game, but also ignoring Newport as he only played 4 minutes).
I know we all love stats, so Evans playing - 1.08 points per game and 1.66 goals conceded.
Smith has produced 2.05 points per game and 1.15 goals conceded.
He should surely be our number 1 when fit now in my opinion.
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