Ohh Tommy Johnson

It doesn't say that he has been released, it says his contract is due to expire which is different. Morecombe haven't released their retained list yet. You wouldn't say the same about Wooton and Rodrieguez but they both left us at the end of their contracts. In the lower leagues it is far more likely a player moves at the end of their contract rather than incur a transfer fee, so I don't think you can read anything into that. Likewise the Winning Mentality; you can't project the collective failure to stay up on the individuals. That is what our stats based approach is supposed to avoid as it removes external influence as far as possible. So you would have got rid of JoB then?

I think the plan is to use it for exhibition space, meeting space and for Florist games, so I guess they want it to remain relatively neutral whilst keeping the nod to the Magpies. I quite like The Gulp though (but it's probably a crap name in reality!!).

I realised I had run out of names (although I have forgotten Scott and TAR). I would have both of them on the bench. I left Didzy off because he doesn't seem fully fit, same with Bostock). The Slocombe and Stone was just to highlight that I think our squad is struggling and picking up a lot of fatigue injuries or recovering from long term issues. In reality I would absolutely put youngsters on the bench and if we are winning handsomely I wouldn't be afraid to give one, maybe 2 a few minutes. I wouldn't throw a youngster in to a lost cause though as I could imagine the atmosphere would be very toxic. My bench (assuming that we don't have Jones (family issues) and Chicksen (achilles) available would be: Slocombe, TAR, Scott, JoB, Sanderson, Gill, Bostock

This will be an interesting one. For the last couple of seasons we have always struggled against teams that set up to defend and catch us on the break. Our attack always seems to become predictable and pedestrian and we pass around the back until we make a mistake. Sorting out a better attacking approach would certainly help the defence in this case!

@Wheelbarrow repair man When your job is on the line you play safe, so I am sure he will stick to experience wherever he can. That isn't unusual. Maybe that would be one advantage of making a statement tat Maynard is staying to next season, it gives him a free hit and an opportunity to experiment without pressure. I doubt they would do that though as it would hit crowds between now and the end of the season. That said, if we see youngsters coming in then it may be an indication that he ahs been given the assurances he needs.

I get the feeling that he will go for the 11 fittest players and go from there. There seems to be an illness in the camp, and with all the off field issues with Jones and Morias (not that I think he would figure normally anyway) and partially fit Bostock, Didzy and possibly Chicksen, Austin and Macari we could end up with something like this: Ashby-Hammond Cameron Baldwin Rawlinson Nemane Robertson JoB Randall Jatta Macca Bench: Slocombe Stone Colkett Anybody else that can stand (running and 2 legs optional)!!

I think it was more than the usual sleepless nights - by all accounts there were complications and he hadn't slept much if at all as a result. 'Normal' sleepless nights may seem like a godsend right now! I wonder if our small squad and injuries is increasingly playing a part. Chicksen was playing with a sore achilleas that he has been carrying all season, Didzy clearly isn't fit, now Bostock, Ausitn went off injured again and numerous other players have been struck down with niggles or illness. That smacks of fatigue and if Maynard is having to select a patched up team each game, then it isn't surprising that performance is up and down.

@Robbie I think he is pretty sure what his best / preferred starting line up is, but what he hasn't figured out is what to do if one or more of those isn't available. I think his preferred starting 11 is: Slocombe Cameron Macari Baldwin Nemane Jones Robertson Bostock Crowley Jatta Langstaff The only caveat I would have is Austin. He seems to like him, but that may be Austin's flexibility. What I think his issue is what to do if one of the key players is out. With our injuries you have the issue of putting square pegs in round holes, and I think he is struggling to work out which are the closest fits. Putting Jones in for Nemane is an obvious one, and when you look at who was available you can see why he would back Jones to do a better job of right wing back than say Macari or TAR. Hopefully, now he can see that it doesn't work, but with our small squad it is becomes difficult very quickly. Hopefully everyone is fit and firing and we can see a settled side this weekend.... obviously if he carries on tinkering when there are no injuries or illnesses I take all that back!!

To be fair to Maynard a lot of the recent changes have been brought on by illness, injury and suspension (Chicksen, Baldwin, Robertson, Nemane, Slocombe to name a few). Prior to that I think he was trying to find out about the players. I don't think he is as big a tinkerman as he appears.

He faces all sorts of problems - the constant chopping and changing of the goalkeeper (not just SM) breeds a lack of confidence in the defence. Our defence is ropey (Baldwin vs Warner???) and our midfield is threadbare. I would go with the team for Bradford and cross my fingers. At least it's away; Meadow Lane will be toxic on Monday regardless of the result so they need to make the most of Friday.

Another thing.. are we likely to see Cedwyn Scott back this weekend? We could suddenly have a stronger bench - McGoldrick, Bostock / O'Brian, Scott (although I wouldn't expect a lot from him to begin with). That could be quite important going into the last few games.

I think Maynard has had a difficult job. The team he came into was riding high, but stuttering. and he followed a very popular head coach. There were (are) clear problems which he identified early one, however how do you change that? . Then what do you do, leave things as is and hope that we outscore the opposition? Whilst that had been successful at the start of the season it was less reliable. Injuries have curtailed rotation options so some players have been showing signs of fatigue. Finally, the side has been so drilled in one approach makes any change risky. If the change had happened at the end of the season, then I think a lot of the tinkering would have happened in pre-season matches, but he has had to do it during the season, and I think to take it on has been quite a brave thing to do. I hope that the upward turn we have seen over the last few matches continues at home and Maynard is successful.

I understand that it has been laid over a concrete bed, not immediately below the surface, but close enough to mean it won't drain. The cost to remediate it is prohibitive, so they (and everyone else) will be living with it for a few seasons yet.

I wonder if Jatta also helps our defence in many ways. We play around the back a lot, and I think a number of errors come from not wanting to put it into row Z, or getting it down field to relieve pressure, and so choosing the wrong option from time to time. With Jatta we have that, so the defence can now get rid quickly and that will eliminate the opportunities for errors. The team have been drilled very hard over the last 18 months in possession at all costs football, and overall it has been successful, but increasingly predictable and easy to counter. I think SM is a little more pragmatic, and in time will help us progress. With a win on Saturday we may be seeing the turning of the corner. I really hope so as I am beginning to think there is a decent Head Coach in SM (if we are patient).

Keep last nights side. If Scott / McGoldrick / Chicksen are fit then put them on the bench. Last night's team picks itself really...unless there were any knocks.