What surprises does Jim Gannon have up his sleeve for us on Tuesday evening for the visit of Barnet? Boomer partnering John McCombe at the back in the absence of Gareth Owen? A seven man midfield? Sean Rigg getting a game? Anything, it appears, is possible with Gannon at the helm...
We should, by rights, dish out a fearful hiding to our visitors, currently languishing pitifully 21st in the table. Barnet are precisely the kind of inadequate, impoverished, utterly sterile footballing outfit that we absolutely must trounce mercilessly. Somehow though, I can't see it happening. We've been dire for a litle while now, and it has to be said that this has been the case before the arrival of Gannon. I'll be happy with a scrappy 1-0 win in our current predicament.
Key players unavailable for us? Gary Roberts (suspension), Gareth Owen (suspension), Doug Loft (injury) and Marc Richards (injury). Basically we'll be missing the spine of our team, and without Roberts and Richards we are without any kind of cutting edge or attacking potency. Which is exactly why we have to be lenient for the time being with Gannon, he has had to tinker with line-ups and formations. let's judge him when he has a full deck to deal from...
Tuesday night may well see a quick return to Vale Park for former Skipper Tommy Fraser, who left us last week by 'mutual consent' when it was made clear to him that he did not figure in Gannons plans. Rumours have been circulating for some time that Fraser was unhappy living in Stoke-On-Trent, coupled with the fact that he has barely been given a sniff of first team action this season it was hardly surprising that he wanted out. No doubt he'll be fired up for this one if he makes the starting eleven.
My starting line-up: Stuart Tomlinson, Adam Yates and Kris Taylor as Full Backs, John McCombe and Lee Collins in the centre of defence, Jay O'Shea, Anthony Griffith, Kaylden Brown, Robert Taylor in midfield, and Louis Dodds partnering Justin Richards up front. Dodds seems to be another player that doesn't feature highly in the future plans of Gannon, and true, he often does very little in games, however, he does have an eye for goal, and we desperately need a goalscorer in the team.
Whatever the outcome on Tuesday night we have to keep faith with Gannon, give him time to 'mould' his team. Aim our animosity at it's rightful target: The Board.
Black & Gold Until It's Sold...