Tactical Intrigue Awaits Bulls' Management

If there is one thing that marks the difference between life in the Conference and that of League 2, it's the extra tactical awareness that is required both on the pitch and in front of the dugouts. So long as they have players with discipline who can carry out instructions, coaches in League 2 seem more likely to change game plans during a match than they do in lower leagues. There can be little doubt that this seasons clutch of players hold the edge over the previous incumbents. It was interesting to see Paul Ince viewing the game from a seat high in the Stand last weekend to give himself a better perspective of the game and presumably to send carrier pigeons with instructions to the bench.

Saturday's Peterborough encounter is showing signs of being a real battle of wits with Posh Boss Darren Ferguson (no doubt with the unpredictable Barry Fry bending his ear) regularly changing his selection, tactics and formation. Last week, for example, saw Ferguson drop Craig Mackail-Smith to accommodate a 3-5-2 formation. Our own Turner/Trewick combination have this season proved to be a match for most but will certainly need to be on their toes on Saturday. The few occasions when the Bulls have struggled for control have come when opposition teams have had numerical advantage in midfield. However, the Hereford back four have looked solid this year even without the absent Dean Beckwith so it may be unlikely that Turner will want to tinker with that part of the set-up. With the FA so far ruling out 12 a side games, a five man midfield may see us deploying a lone striker certainly in the early stages of the game. Clear favourite for that role would be "Big" Trevor Benjamin who will be busting to make an impression on his return to London Road but where will the extra midfielder come from? It could signal a return for Rosey to his preferred left-back position and a move to midfield for Kris Taylor. On the other hand, Turner could stick to the same system that he used against The Dongs with Benji coming in for the suspended Guinan. The comforting thing about all this is that if the Bulls' fans don't know, the Posh management won't have a clue either!

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