Ternent in 'selection headache' shock?
Last updated : 02 February 2005 By Simon Head
Andy Hessenthaler may have departed on loan - and Tommy Johnson may have been released, but it seems Stan may have a few options when it comes to team selection in the weeks to come.
 | Pouts: our leader in midfield |
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Alan Pouton, Andy Crofts and Paul Smith have been ever-present in Ternent's midfield selections, with Andy Hessenthaler or Nicky Southall making up the quartet. But with the arrival of Mike Flynn from Wigan and the iminent returns of both Matty Jarvis and Danny Spiller, Stan will have what will probably be his first selection headache since his arrival at Priestfield.
The form of Pouton and Crofts has been so good that dropping either of them would be extremely harsh, which leaves Smith and Southall. Both are among our older contingent and both have improved since Ternent's arrival.
 | Crofts: a revelation under Ternent |
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However, the general view is that one of the two should make way to give Flynn his opportunity - and perhaps the other should stand aside to allow Danny Spiller a run in the side. A midfield of Crofts, Pouton, Flynn and Spiller looks a lot livelier than our previous midfields this season - and will hopefully result in more goals. Whether Stan will opt for that quartet in the long run remains to be seen.
With the need for points becoming greater by the week - and with games running out, Ternent's team selections will take on more significance as we approach the end-of-season run-in.
With Stan at the helm, we look far more capable of staying up than we did under Hessenthaler. It'll be nailbiting and gut-wrenching at times, but hopefully, Stan's record of never being relegated will still stand by the time summer arrives.