Following the 2-2 draw at home against Accrington Stanley in the Quarter-Final of the EFL Trophy, which The Imps lost 3-1 on penalties, I asked the Vital Lincoln City members what three things they learnt from the match.
You can discuss what has been said in this article HERE, as well as get involved with many other threads on our 100% Imps forum!
Prior to the match, we also published a quiz about the times The Imps have played Accrington Stanley in the EFL Trophy, which can be found HERE, and also below the three things!
Here’s what sedgleyimp said:
1. Danny Mândroiu can be a huge asset for us but we need to play him in a role where we can get the best out of him. In some ways, this is similar to how we adjusted how we play to get the very best out of Jorge Grant in the ‘Covid’ season. The season before that he was often isolated playing in a wide berth which didn’t maximise his potential. In the 20/21 season, he was moved more centrally and became one of the reasons for that terrific season. We now have Danny Mandroiu, a player who although his game is very different to Grant’s, one who can influence a game with something that little bit different. Playing him out wide doesn’t get the best out of him. Players in that role can fade in and out of matches. We saw in this game how he is much more influential when played centrally and when we have few players who can make that difference on their own, then serious consideration has to be given to fitting formations and tactics around him.
2. We can’t play with a central midfield of 2 with the players currently available. The injury to Matty Virtue has derailed how we set up. We now have central midfielders of Sanders, Sorensen, Bishop, and Oakley-Boothe. Decent enough players and ones who will put a shift in, but ones who have bar the odd occasion, have a lack of creativity in their games. With these current options, it perhaps explains why we are playing that bit longer at the moment.
3. Round pegs in round holes are essential. Charles Vernam was played as a left-wing back on Tuesday and was nowhere to be seen for their first goal. Not his fault. He’s being asked to play an unfamiliar role. I have seen suggestions that Lewis Montsma is the answer to our midfield problems. He’s never to my knowledge played there. Players become accustomed to what they know, and if asked to do something different, struggle. So you really have to look to who’s available to play and put them in roles they know how to play.
– @LincolnCity_FC 2-2 @ASFCofficial (1-3): Three Things We Learnt:https://t.co/COzCAvl3s7#ImpsAsOne #WeAreImps #ASFC
— Vital Lincoln City (@VitalLincoln) January 14, 2023
