• Nigel Adkins has been given the Tranmere job on a permanent basis signing until the end of the 25/26 season. Continue the discussion here.

Rovers v Liverpool

M

Mal

Guest
CJ isn't a winger and wouldn't be happy there. Same goes for Mangan who played wide at Wembley of course. Personally I thought the 5-3-2 worked well at times last season. Vaughan and Rides were genuine attacking wing backs and CJ was in his best position behind the front 2. Of course that system was in part a result of losing Tollit & Dunn to injury and now we have lost Vaughan, plus from listening to MM, he clearly prefers 4-4-2 but will be flexible.

It will be interesting how MM keeps all these players happy. If we start with 4-4-2 assuming Tollit isn't ready, with Dunn on the left, who would play on the right? CJ or Mangan is square pegs in round holes. Kirby I am assuming isn't fit and Rokka may be good but very much one for the future. The diamond may work but where do wingers fit into this?

With Vaughan gone and Tollit injured, I am surprised MM didn't go out and look for another proper right wing back (maybe he has), unless he sees Duggan as an option but I don't think he offers much going forward and I don't think Buxton is the answer as a marauding wing back.
MM has explained his approach in recent interviews.he wants flexibility not only for formations for specific games but to be able to change style in a game. He also prefers proper wingers to wingbacks. He also wants to bring in the right (best fit) to improve the team not just bring in so.eone to boost numbers.hehas been successful before at this level so as long as the Tranmere "family" approach can implement a more ruthless culture in games, i think Micky has a vision that will work. Playing Liverpool first friendly wasnt smart from playing perspective but guess it brought in revenue. I would have rather the team had playedthem last game before NL opening game.
 

Ian

Super White!
Admin
Joined
21 Sep 2005
Messages
12,019
Player
Aldo
Manager
Kingy
I don't think we had the ball long enough to make any judgments on players. Good for the coffers but I won't be going again if this turns out to be a regular fixture.
 

Boz

Member
Joined
30 Sep 2005
Messages
8,851
Player
Iain Hume
There are advantages in deciding your best players and picking a formation to suit them. This 'natural width' approach needs quality wide players to deliver and with Tollit's absence I'm not so sure. At the moment our best five are arguably Davies, McNulty, Harris, Jennings and Cook, so use a formation that suits them, such as the diamond or Jennings in the hole behind Cook and re-assess when Tollit is fit or our wide options improve.
 

bigmart

bigmart
Member
Joined
29 Jul 2009
Messages
7,107
Player
Ian Muir
With a crowd in excess of 12,000 this fixture is very important for the club financially, the income from the fixture I would think would be I the region of £200,000 which is a huge bonus for us.
 
Joined
15 Mar 2010
Messages
13,870
Player
Jason Koumas / John Morrissey
Manager
John King
Are we going to be playing 442 every league game though? I'd have thought it unlikely and have some reservations about 532 as a defensive strategy.
We used 532 as a defensive strategy against a Champions League team and we won't be playing many of those in the National League. Mellon's biggest strength is his tactical flexibility as Sparky points out and we will mix and match according to circumstances.

I also think you are wrong to suggest Mellon does not rate Jennings. He was ever present in the closing months of last season.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Mal
Joined
15 Mar 2010
Messages
13,870
Player
Jason Koumas / John Morrissey
Manager
John King
CJ isn't a winger and wouldn't be happy there. Same goes for Mangan who played wide at Wembley of course. Personally I thought the 5-3-2 worked well at times last season. Vaughan and Rides were genuine attacking wing backs and CJ was in his best position behind the front 2. Of course that system was in part a result of losing Tollit & Dunn to injury and now we have lost Vaughan, plus from listening to MM, he clearly prefers 4-4-2 but will be flexible.

It will be interesting how MM keeps all these players happy. If we start with 4-4-2 assuming Tollit isn't ready, with Dunn on the left, who would play on the right? CJ or Mangan is square pegs in round holes. Kirby I am assuming isn't fit and Rokka may be good but very much one for the future. The diamond may work but where do wingers fit into this?

With Vaughan gone and Tollit injured, I am surprised MM didn't go out and look for another proper right wing back (maybe he has), unless he sees Duggan as an option but I don't think he offers much going forward and I don't think Buxton is the answer as a marauding wing back.
I don't think we will start the season with a 442. It will probably be a 4312 formation or something similar, with Jennings behind the strikers.
 
M

Mal

Guest
There are advantages in deciding your best players and picking a formation to suit them. This 'natural width' approach needs quality wide players to deliver and with Tollit's absence I'm not so sure. At the moment our best five are arguably Davies, McNulty, Harris, Jennings and Cook, so use a formation that suits them, such as the diamond or Jennings in the hole behind Cook and re-assess when Tollit is fit or our wide options improve.
Micky s aiming for enough wide men tomeet his vision. Obviously this will not happen overnight so bedding in potential quality wingers is necessary. He has repeated the need for flexibility. He did well with a ludicrous amount of injured players out of the equation. We will not see perfection from the off but at least there is a vision for once, otherthan the Brabin "dont concede and hope we score one" approach.. http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/tranmere-boss-micky-mellon-no-13324031
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Joined
15 Mar 2010
Messages
13,870
Player
Jason Koumas / John Morrissey
Manager
John King
With a crowd in excess of 12,000 this fixture is very important for the club financially, the income from the fixture I would think would be I the region of £200,000 which is a huge bonus for us.
Confirmed attendance of 13,444. There are aspects of the game that I don't enjoy but I suppose it is a no-brainer for the club to stage it.
 

Boz

Member
Joined
30 Sep 2005
Messages
8,851
Player
Iain Hume
We used 532 as a defensive strategy against a Champions League team and we won't be playing many of those in the National League. Mellon's biggest strength is his tactical flexibility as Sparky points out and we will mix and match according to circumstances.

I also think you are wrong to suggest Mellon does not rate Jennings. He was ever present in the closing months of last season.
I looked back on the reports of last seasons friendly with RedScouse including your own. Brabin managed to stifle them more effectively by using a 4411 formation. 532 isn't the only strategy against a strong opponent, although as Sparky points out last season showed, it can work well against our bread and butter rivals. No issue with the aspiration to play with natural wide men or the style of football we've adopted, but as things stand now the quality or fitness isn't there.

MMs approach to Jennings is ambivalent. Positive comment when injured, followed by very limited playing opportunity post recovery and farming him out to Macclesfield, before bringing him back as the injuries started to mount. Agreed he was a regular starter at the end of the season, though didn't always last the ninety minutes. Quality player at this level and hope he gets the chance to show it for us.

Agree this game is a necessary evil to keep the club in funds, but of limited worth in terms of team assessment and development.
 
Joined
15 Mar 2010
Messages
13,870
Player
Jason Koumas / John Morrissey
Manager
John King
I looked back on the reports of last seasons friendly with RedScouse including your own. Brabin managed to stifle them more effectively by using a 4411 formation.
Liverpool played a far stronger team yesterday than in last season's game: Firminho and Sturridge versus Danny Ings ?

If you would prefer Brabin's (alleged) ability to stifle a strong opponent in a meaningless friendly to Mellon's positivity and tactical flexibility, you are probably in a minority of one among Tranmere supporters.

Mellon has already demonstrated his ability to vary tactics to deal with different opposition, whether 532 or anything else. It is an area where he is strong and I am not sure why you are so concerned with how we set up last night.
 

drwhoman

Member
Joined
30 Jun 2008
Messages
2,658
I take Mal's point about the Pool game being the last of pre-season but the reality is that the Reds would only send a reserve team then. The Premier League team will be too busy making big money in an international tournament somewhere. As other have said, we should just treat it as a revenue raiser and not get too sad at losing. The Pool players on show are not playing in the Premier League for nothing.
 

Boz

Member
Joined
30 Sep 2005
Messages
8,851
Player
Iain Hume
Liverpool played a far stronger team yesterday than in last season's game: Firminho and Sturridge versus Danny Ings ?

If you would prefer Brabin's (alleged) ability to stifle a strong opponent in a meaningless friendly to Mellon's positivity and tactical flexibility, you are probably in a minority of one among Tranmere supporters.

Mellon has already demonstrated his ability to vary tactics to deal with different opposition, whether 532 or anything else. It is an area where he is strong and I am not sure why you are so concerned with how we set up last night.
You might want to refresh your memory, given you were fairly complimentary as to how we set up and performed in last season's game. I agree that the Liverpool sides out this year were stronger than last season. My point is simply that if the intention is damage limitation against a vastly stonger opponent 532 may not be the best approach.
 
Joined
15 Mar 2010
Messages
13,870
Player
Jason Koumas / John Morrissey
Manager
John King
My point is simply that if the intention is damage limitation against a vastly stonger opponent 532 may not be the best approach.
In a pre-season game he also has to get players time on the pitch and in their correct positions and, unlike Brabin, wanted to keep two strikers on the pitch to maintain an attacking threat.

But ultimately, who cares ? The real games start on 5th August.
 
M

Mal

Guest
Well. Even Aldridge's side lost to Liverpool at home. Let us see how the current team fares against Torquay. I had Newcastle and Tranmere for s double last season . so close. now going to pair them with Birmingham. Reallylooking forward to the new season.
 

Ian

Super White!
Admin
Joined
21 Sep 2005
Messages
12,019
Player
Aldo
Manager
Kingy
Results really are meaningless in friendlies. It gives the team the chance to gel, regain their fitness ready for the new season.

Felt outnumbered in the JK stand yesterday. Very strange experience.
 
Joined
1 Oct 2005
Messages
5,690
Player
Alan King, Barry Dyson
Not the ideal opposition for the first preseason match, but I expect Lairds feel just the same about tomorrow's fixture. He who pays the piper.

The Liverpool date is arguably the most important single game of the season as it brings in a huge percentage of the season's gate income. I wouldn't be surprised if it generated more cash after expenses and share out than the Wembley play-off final. If only we could get Everton, Man U and Man C to come here too. Then the preseason games could generate as much as the regular home matches combined.
 
Joined
15 Mar 2010
Messages
13,870
Player
Jason Koumas / John Morrissey
Manager
John King
If only we could get Everton, Man U and Man C to come here too. Then the preseason games could generate as much as the regular home matches combined.

That would not be a very satisfactory pre-season programme though. We need to learn what the players can do with the ball, as well as without it.
 
M

Mal

Guest
Not the ideal opposition for the first preseason match, but I expect Lairds feel just the same about tomorrow's fixture. He who pays the piper.

The Liverpool date is arguably the most important single game of the season as it brings in a huge percentage of the season's gate income. I wouldn't be surprised if it generated more cash after expenses and share out than the Wembley play-off final. If only we could get Everton, Man U and Man C to come here too. Then the preseason games could generate as much as the regular home matches combined.
Difference is that Lairds have already played two "real" games before Tranmere.
 
Joined
1 Oct 2005
Messages
5,690
Player
Alan King, Barry Dyson
That would not be a very satisfactory pre-season programme though. We need to learn what the players can do with the ball, as well as without it.
True, but my point was to illustrate the financial value of this game, not to suggest we would/should ever consider this.
 

Boz

Member
Joined
30 Sep 2005
Messages
8,851
Player
Iain Hume
Perhaps there is an an argument that if we have a similar fixture at an early stage in the future, we should arrange a game before it as preparation. Had some team-building event not been scheduled at the same time, the Heswall game could have done that job. The money we make from the Liverpool friendly is invaluable, but while accepting the limited weight which should be attributed to friendly results, a closer, tighter game could have done more for morale. Whether that was ever achievable, given the strength of our opponents is a moot point.
 
Top