NL: Gateshead v Torquay United 3pm 12 August 2017

So far, we have tried the diamond and a straight 4-4-2.

Not convinced that the diamond gives enough width or protection to the full backs - although it is ideal for Gosling to play a free role.

Not sure a 4-4-2 gives us enough bodies in midfield - particularly if BOTH wide men are essentially attackers, which Gosling, Reid and Haworth all are as opposed to Lee who knows how to defend.

Personally, I'd like to see us try a 4-3-3 with two midfielders either side of (and a little in front of) Lathrope and two "wide strikers" either side of a centre forward.

With Gowling, Davis and Lee all out, I would also rejig the back four to bring Klukowski to centre back and Anderson to left back.

Whatever formation, I would probably have the same eleven men.

Clarke

Higgins
Klukowski
McGinty
Anderson

Young
Lathrope
Chaney

Pittman
Keating
Gosling

Any injury to the back four would see Chaney and Klukowski both in the back four and a reversion to 4-4-2 with Reid and Gosling wide.

I would err on the cautious side by having Nico on the bench alongside Osborn, Reid and Gray just in case we pick up two defensive/midfield injuries.

Can't see the point in having four attacking players on the bench when you can only use three. So it would be a case of who is fitter out of Haworth and Fallon!

75 minutes gone not a shot on target its going to be another long long season

They were saying something similar during the lunchtime TV game.

Pressure is already on KN I feel need he needs at least two wins from the next three matches to retain any chance of him retaining the fans respect and crucially their support.
Injuries aside I'm not sure if its player quality or he's doing something wrong. With so much chopping and changing he still doesn't know his best starting line up but I feel the failure to secure a proper target man as a main contributor to our early season woes.
Its been the same old story for far too many seasons now - just another poor start to a campaign and already looking to play catch up with the likes of AFC Fylde etc.
Still early days and these were tough opening fixtures but a result like today following on from Aldershot is a real early season kick in the nuts.

My fear is this set of results will have a knock on effect with three of the better sides knocking the shit of us ready for the so called small fry to finish us off and knock us to the canvass.

That puts us 2 points down on the same games last season and our worst start since being relegated.

Poke, Todd, Hargraeves, Robertson, Sir Mansell, Nicho, Sills, Benyon, Todd, Stevens, Hodges & Carlisle - what a team!!

If we continue to "progress" so lamentably, there will be nothing left in 5 years time. We need a wind of change to blow through Plainmoor soon!