Step forward Baz....

[Keith]

However, I don't really see at this point what long term good a managerial change would do. There are two options: letting Derek make the additions he wants this January (I think a trusted DM would help massively), hoping for a miracle turnaround, then letting Derek continue to build the squad he wants for whatever division we're in. Or changing manager, probably having no money for January additions after paying Derek off, hoping for a miracle turnaround and then having to go through another bloody rebuild in the summer.

Either way, we're hoping for a miracle in the second half of the season, but I'd rather let Derek keep making the squad how he wants it than get done by another big squad turnover, which has ultimately been our undoing in these past couple of seasons.

I think the third option may be the one that transpires. Keep Derek for the rest of the season, then decide if his League Two management ability makes him worth keeping on for next season, or, he walks away at the end of his contract. Spending money we've not got, paying him off, but leaving any new manager with an almost impossible job isn't worth it. If we lose two of the next three, we're down, no matter what. Win the next three, and Derek will begin to look like the right man to try and keep us up anyway.

If I was considering buying the club, I'd be waiting to see which league we're in next season before making any bid. Even if someone came in now and gave Derek a million quid to spend in January, I am not sure we'd be able to stay up.

As for now, and the players we have, I'd like to see a simple 4-4-2.

Cooney/Love...Bedeau...Rawson/Delaney/O'Connor...Gibson/Melbourne

Connolly/Taylor....Weir/Watts...Shaw (slightly more deep)...Mayor

..............Phillips...Stockton................

Connolly's end product (or lack of) would be a concern, but pace & energy and perhaps a run of starts would help. Phillips feeding off Stockton rather than them being isolated when on their own. Watts & Mayor offering trickery and creativity. And leave the defence to do the defending. Shaw would offer a bit of 'bite' and defensive support from midfield, but he's got quality generally.

[Pandashrimp]

However, I don't really see at this point what long term good a managerial change would do. There are two options: letting Derek make the additions he wants this January (I think a trusted DM would help massively), hoping for a miracle turnaround, then letting Derek continue to build the squad he wants for whatever division we're in. Or changing manager, probably having no money for January additions after paying Derek off, hoping for a miracle turnaround and then having to go through another bloody rebuild in the summer.

Either way, we're hoping for a miracle in the second half of the season, but I'd rather let Derek keep making the squad how he wants it than get done by another big squad turnover, which has ultimately been our undoing in these past couple of seasons.

I think the third option may be the one that transpires. Keep Derek for the rest of the season, then decide if his League Two management ability makes him worth keeping on for next season, or, he walks away at the end of his contract. Spending money we've not got, paying him off, but leaving any new manager with an almost impossible job isn't worth it. If we lose two of the next three, we're down, no matter what. Win the next three, and Derek will begin to look like the right man to try and keep us up anyway.

If I was considering buying the club, I'd be waiting to see which league we're in next season before making any bid. Even if someone came in now and gave Derek a million quid to spend in January, I am not sure we'd be able to stay up.

As for now, and the players we have, I'd like to see a simple 4-4-2.

Cooney/Love...Bedeau...Rawson/Delaney/O'Connor...Gibson/Melbourne

Connolly/Taylor....Weir/Watts...Shaw (slightly more deep)...Mayor

..............Phillips...Stockton................

Connolly's end product (or lack of) would be a concern, but pace & energy and perhaps a run of starts would help. Phillips feeding off Stockton rather than them being isolated when on their own. Watts & Mayor offering trickery and creativity. And leave the defence to do the defending. Shaw would offer a bit of 'bite' and defensive support from midfield, but he's got quality generally.

That looks so simple it just might work!! That said anything is an improvement on starting 6 defenders.

I dont actually think DM is a concern at all with Shaw there (Little Shrimp). My only personal change to Keith's midfield 4 would be ..

Connolly/Arthur....Weir/Taylor...Shaw (slightly more deep)...Mayor/Watts

Otherwise I would love to see this. Cole is obviously a complete unknown but should we ever have the guts to go out and out two up top ,then even Obika with Phillips (should Cole leave) would offer a tad more hope than current. Both often cut isolated figures.

I would also be looking at Dylan much more often. His end product is shocking but the defensive lapses he creates through his workrate alone is a benefit. That said it often comes against tiring defences when Derek brings him on (too late)

[Bristol Shrimp]

Its not possible for us to be down no matter what halfway through January.

[BerlinWaller]

What is a hypocritical person?
noun.: a person who puts on a false appearance of virtue or religion. : a person who acts in contradiction to his or her stated beliefs or feelings. hypocrite adjective.

[Keith]

What is a hypocritical person?
noun.: a person who puts on a false appearance of virtue or religion. : a person who acts in contradiction to his or her stated beliefs or feelings. hypocrite adjective.

Would that be someone who complained about being in a relegation battle, but never actually relegated, saying it was unacceptable, but is happy to be clear at the bottom of the league, playing with six defenders? Asking for a friend.

[BerlinWaller]

Can we close this thread now? It made some people look really foolish and we should give them a fresh start in 2023.

[Gone_Shrimping]

Baz is doing a fantastic job as goalkeeper coach.

Connor credits him for his form and particularly with the advice Baz gives him each game on the potential penalty takers that the opposition have resulting in 4 penalty saves from 5 in normal play.

[Keith]

Can we close this thread now? It made some people look really foolish and we should give them a fresh start in 2023.

It's 'Super Twosday'

Two wins
Two clean sheets
Two games...
with TWO UP FRONT!

It's almost like Derek has changed things around a bit, and now we're having more than one shot on target? I know you find it hard to believe, but we all want what's best for Morecambe FC. After the last two matches, we can all be happy, and happier still if we stick with it and push on.

[Hodgie1978]

A managers job is to a pick team/formation to face the different types opposition.
For instance I don't think we would have gotten a point at home against Derby if we tried to go toe to toe with them.
Just get behind our most successful manager Keith

[redrobo]

Just got back from New Year with daughter and son in law plus grand daughter so first chance to pass comment about yesterday's game which I watched on Tv.

So pleased that DA continued with his attacking game but Burton were terrible BUT you still need to get the goals to win any game.

Just hope for OUR clubs sake that the last two results are not just a blip and that we can continue our current winning ways.

I've always said that if i get something wrong then I'd stand up and admit i got it wrong.

Will reserve judgement until later in the season BUT assuming that DA does turn it around then I be delighted to have been proved wrong.

Here's hoping......

[Keith]

A managers job is to a pick team/formation to face the different types opposition.
For instance I don't think we would have gotten a point at home against Derby if we tried to go toe to toe with them.
Just get behind our most successful manager Keith

Probably not. But we'd perhaps have got three points against a poor Port Vale, or away at Burton, or home to Fleetwood...

I'm totally behind him at the moment! I've also not called for him to be sacked. Two forwards is all I've wanted.

[mrpotatohead]

Maybe red robbo wanted Baz to be one of the two forwards!!!

[Little Shrimp]

Probably not. But we'd perhaps have got three points against a poor Port Vale, or away at Burton, or home to Fleetwood...

I'm totally behind him at the moment! I've also not called for him to be sacked. Two forwards is all I've wanted.

Two forwards really isn't the automatic signifier of attacking intent you're making it out to be.

Man City only play with one centre forward, are they defensive? And when Burnley had Dyche as manager they always played two centre forwards, but they were hardly an attacking side! Also, we were the most productive attacking team in League Two in our promotion season...mostly playing with one centre forward!

There's far more that goes into making a team attacking/defensive than just playing one or two strikers. Two of our worst attacking performances of the season vs Cheltenham and Burton away we had two up top. You need balance across the pitch, which is what has been better achieved over these past couple of games. Imo the standout factors are Gibson acclimatising to DM and giving Shaw/Weir a bit more freedom to push up, and Melbourne/Mayor replacing Gibson at LWB as both have a bit more dynamism and attacking intent in that role.

I don't think we've gone particularly 'hell for leather' over these past couple of games. We had a 15 minute spell vs Accrington when we really switched it on and were clinical in those moments, then did what we haven't done much previously and controlled the second half really well. Against Burton, we again had more control generally and also smartly exploited a massive weakness they had. The improved results have come from better team performances, not because we 'just went for it'.

There are reasonable criticisms of Derek to be made - but the two striker thing isn't one of them!

[redrobo]

Maybe red robbo wanted Baz to be one of the two forwards!!!

[Keith]

Probably not. But we'd perhaps have got three points against a poor Port Vale, or away at Burton, or home to Fleetwood...

I'm totally behind him at the moment! I've also not called for him to be sacked. Two forwards is all I've wanted.

Two forwards really isn't the automatic signifier of attacking intent you're making it out to be.

Man City only play with one centre forward, are they defensive? And when Burnley had Dyche as manager they always played two centre forwards, but they were hardly an attacking side! Also, we were the most productive attacking team in League Two in our promotion season...mostly playing with one centre forward!

There's far more that goes into making a team attacking/defensive than just playing one or two strikers. Two of our worst attacking performances of the season vs Cheltenham and Burton away we had two up top. You need balance across the pitch, which is what has been better achieved over these past couple of games. Imo the standout factors are Gibson acclimatising to DM and giving Shaw/Weir a bit more freedom to push up, and Melbourne/Mayor replacing Gibson at LWB as both have a bit more dynamism and attacking intent in that role.

I don't think we've gone particularly 'hell for leather' over these past couple of games. We had a 15 minute spell vs Accrington when we really switched it on and were clinical in those moments, then did what we haven't done much previously and controlled the second half really well. Against Burton, we again had more control generally and also smartly exploited a massive weakness they had. The improved results have come from better team performances, not because we 'just went for it'.

There are reasonable criticisms of Derek to be made - but the two striker thing isn't one of them!

I'm broadly in agreement with you, in particular the need for 'balance'. There are obviously different ways to achieve that. However, the way we were setting up, when one up front, was leaving that lone player too isolated, and, in my opinion, enable the opposition to press us back, quicker. Against a very poor Port Vale, Phillips initially, then Stockton later, barely touched the ball. Regardless, football is all about different opinions, that's what makes it interesting, but I'm sure we can all agree, the last couple of games are a vast improvement.