Little Facing Selection Poser?

By Deadly Submarine
February 8 2005

In the aftermath of the Bradford game on Saturday, Total Tranmere looks at the possible selection headache facing boss Brian Little for the home game against Colchester this Saturday. It is believed that three players will be out due to suspension and we look at what the alternatives could be.

Following the bookings of Midfielder Mark Rankine and Striker Iain Hume at Valley Parade on Saturday, Total Tranmere believe that both have now accumulated five yellow cards which means an automatic one game suspension seven days after the fixture in which the last booking was given.  If this is the case, it renders both players out of the League One fixture against Colchester at Prenton Park this Saturday.

 

Added to this is the possibility that left sided player Gareth Roberts will also miss the game unless Tranmere are successful in their appeal against what appeared to be his wrongful dismissal at Bradford.  So assuming all three players are out for the game, what are Brian Little’s options for team selection?

 

The obvious option would be 4-4-2 with Ian Goodison playing at left back and a wide midfield pairing of David Beresford on the left and Paul Hall on the right.  Eugene Dadi and Chris Dagnall will be favourites to lead the front line.  In the middle of the park, the absence of Rankine would suggest that McAteer really needs to play but his fitness will remain a doubt leading up to the game.  If Macca is unfit, Harrison and Whitmore may be the preferred option although Steven Jennings could also slot into Midfield alongside Harrison.

 

If Roberts’ ban was to be overturned, a 5-3-2 formation could still be utilised with the usual back five of Roberts, Goodison, Jackson, Sharps and Taylor. Dagnall and Dadi upfront would complement a possible midfield of Hall, Harrison and Whitmore.

 

Whatever Little chooses to do, Hume and Rankine will be sorely missed in their respective positions as will Roberts on the left if the appeal fails.  The replacement of Rankine with McAteer may help the midfield whilst pace wise, Dagnall is the best replacement for Hume though Paul Hall and possibly Theo Whitmore could also play in attack.