Braintree (Away) The Braintree No Train Bees Match Thread

[Bee_Forever]

So...... saturday sees the Bees travel in to the depths of Essex as we take on Braintree Town FC in our latest Bananarama fixture.

Normally this would be an easy fixture to get to with a train from Liverpool Street changing at Witham but thanks to track closures you have to get a train Billerickaaay and then a replacement bus to Witham (the best cheese toastie) and another bus to Freeport. With all of the works on the line it is a rotten time for the Percy Bus to get Kabba'd, and I would imagine many would be taking the trip by road instead. On the subject of travelling to this one, it is one of my favourite stories where Letchbee and crew thought they had to change at Wivenhoe not Witham and had to do a rapid reverse ferret through Colchester to get to the game. I was partly to blame as normally I was the trip leader.

Braintree is always a memorable ground, be it for the ignominious debut of Rihards Matrevics, the disgusting foul on Muggleton or one of the best terrace comebacks in recent history when one of our supporters told the ref he would not trust him with the kids team. While visits to Braintree have been Decresssing I do hope that we will manage to get three points. Their new manager has managed to drag them out of the relegation Pitt and there are a couple of ex bees amongst their ranks in Annesley and more notably Sir John Akindepen. 10 points from their last 6 including a much appreciated win vs York have seen the Iron Bru up what looks like a good cushion to the relegation zone of 5 points. We can expect a steely welcome from the irons and while I am not expecting us to tee off against them, I am hopeful we will find our way to a gritty win on a difficult surface as we have managed many times in recent weeks.

In terms of our team lineup, both Ndlovu and Kanu seemed to be struggling, not helped by a useless refereee who failed to protect our players from a fairly vindictive Gateshead side and I am not sure we will see either on Saturday. On this basis and given the pitch I think a switch in formation may be a good idea to keep us compact. In the hope that Shelton is fit I would suggest:-

---------------------------Evans------------------------------

---Grimwood-------Collinge-----Tavares-----Kenlock---

---Glover------Shelton---------Hartigan-----Browne---

--------------------Stead------Telford---------------------

Subs: Bellagambi, Oluwu, Cropper, Chapman, Brunt, Clifford, Okimo

I hope I am wrong and that one or both of Kanu and Ndlovu are available. If Deano wanted to stick with 3 at the back he could push Grimwood on to wing back in a pinch.

I am doing this one, hoping we do a professional performance and take the three points Hive.

COYBS

[beeman]

Ndlovu has been in all training pictures and videos this week, however I haven’t spotted Idris, like you am hoping both are fit.

[Doyley]

If Shelton is back then glover to right and Coker non left ?

[beesknees99]

If Shelton is back then glover to right and Coker non left ?

Not sure if Coker is a good idea against a Braintree side who are fast in transition. Remember the Maidenhead nightmare.

[Doyley]

If Shelton is back then glover to right and Coker non left ?

Not sure if Coker is a good idea against a Braintree side who are fast in transition. Remember the Maidenhead nightmare.

Yes fair point!

[Bee_Forever]

Coker wasn't even on the bench against Gateshead so not sure if he's fit. Has he been seen in training photos?

Good to hear about Ndlovu. Hopefully Kanu isn't out too long.

Sent from my SM-S916B using Tapatalk

[Tuesds]

Was encouraged to see Braintree’s strongest line-up played out a reportedly hard-fought 0-0 draw with Sutton last night in the National League Mickey Mouse cup semi-final. Only a couple of subs made, too, so hopefully a bit of fatigue in those legs!

Thank goodness we chose to swerve that abomination of a competition. Braintree didn’t even get the boost of proceeding to the final vs Leeds United kids, as they lost on penalties. Akinde scored his, naturally, while Jermaine Francis missed.

[ETBee]

Shelton is out for some time yet.

[#Beebot]

Was encouraged to see Braintree’s strongest line-up played out a reportedly hard-fought 0-0 draw with Sutton last night in the National League Mickey Mouse cup semi-final. Only a couple of subs made, too, so hopefully a bit of fatigue in those legs!

Thank goodness we chose to swerve that abomination of a competition. Braintree didn’t even get the boost of proceeding to the final vs Leeds United kids, as they lost on penalties. Akinde scored his, naturally, while Jermaine Francis missed.

Braintree have so few players that they pretty much have to go full strength in every game

[beeman]

Shelton is out for some time yet.

He was also in training videos out this week

[Jimbokav1971]

---------------------------Evans------------------------------

---Grimwood-------Collinge-----Tavares-----Kenlock---

---Glover------Shelton---------Hartigan-----Browne---

--------------------Stead------Telford---------------------

Subs: Bellagambi, Oluwu, Cropper, Chapman, Brunt, Clifford, Okimo

I hope I am wrong and that one or both of Kanu and Ndlovu are available. If Deano wanted to stick with 3 at the back he could push Grimwood on to wing back in a pinch.

If we started with that and wanted to move to 3 at the back, I would have thought that Glover/Kenock would be WB's and Grimwood, Collinge & Tavares would stay as a 3.

If for any reason he didn't want Kenlock to move from the DLC slot then he would more likely play Collinge at RWB and leave Grimwood alongside Tavares.

Also think that in that formation, Stad more likely to play wide than Browne.

[FatherStairmaster]

I can understand adjusting style of play for the big boys of the league, but meaning no disrespect to Braintree, I don’t think we need to here. Even with 1 or 2 injuries we’ve still got the squad capable of playing the system we want and picking up all 3 points

[hoofer2]

Cropper on right - Glover on left?

[BeeArmy22]

Cropper on right - Glover on left?

If it was up to me that’s what I’d do, assuming the management team have decided the best way to win the match is our usual formation. Can see us potentially going to a 4 with how pacy their wingers are though. Might cause our wide centre backs issues with their runs and pin our wingbacks back. Don’t need more than 2 cbs for big John and then go 1v1 at full back - hopefully make the lisbie brothers run back more than they run forward.

[talldarkslim]

Kanu's injury looked like a hamstring to me. If so he is done for the season sadly. Good to hear that Ndlovu is in training as he will be needed on saturday.