WHAT will be your preferred formation this season and who might be the 'next Jon Stead' to prove themselves in the Premiership? Dan, Cowlersley

Jacko says: OUR formation will be 3-5-2, even though the players we've got are quite flexible in their outlook.

We managed to change it successfully against Stockport to earn a win when it looked like we might lose.

Instead of continuing to play three at the back, I was able to get an extra striker on in Pawel Abbott at the expense of a defender (Efe Sodje) and it worked a treat.

Not only did Chris Brandon make a goal for Andy Booth after going on to replace Danny Schofield, but Pav got the winner, so we were all delighted.

By my reckoning, a 3-1 or 4-1 defeat at this stage in the season would have been just the same as 2-1 - so it made perfect sense to swap things around and have a real go.

I thought our fitness really told, too, in the closing stages in what were terribly hot conditions.

The lads are fit and strong and that has already paid off for us with a great win at Edgeley Park.

I thought we kept going well against Chesterfield as well, although we weren't quite able to sneak a winner.

On Tuesday I made the same Brandon switch for Schofield and sent Pav on for Junior Mendes up front.

Although Junior did really well in the first half and set up a few half chances, he never really created a significant opening for himself and that's why I opted to bring him off.

On formation, though, 3-5-2 is here for the forseeable future.

Injuries forced me into trying it at Sunderland last season and, barring the odd hiccup, we have had nothing but success ever since.

On the question of up-and-coming players, I think Andy Holdsworth and David Mirfin are at the head of the queue at the moment.

We have got a lot of talented young players, but I do feel those two are going to do particularly well.

They have only been in the senior game for about eight months apiece, but they already look very exciting prospects and I reckon they could both play at a lot higher level.

The eye-catching thing about the pair of them is their consistency. Rarely do they have a bad game - and that's unusual in young lads who have just made the breakthrough.

You usually get ups and downs in performance, but not with Andy or The Ox.

At the next level, I think Michael Collins is going to be a very good midfielder.

He needs to work on his strength, but he's got a lot of talent and is keen to work hard on his game.

I shouldn't finish without mentioning young John McAliskey as well.

Macca has that wonderful knack of being able to find the net. Whether he starts or comes on as a sub, he always looks like getting us a goal and that's not something you can coach. It's natural.

Macca has benefited from working a lot in the gym on his upper body strength and now Michael Collins is doing the same.

They are getting help from Steve Yates, who wants to become a personal trainer when he packs in playing and he's worked out a few programmes for the lads.

AFTER Chesterfield, do you think we need to vary our tactics and stop relying on long balls up to Boothy? Andy, Huddersfield

Jacko says: IT took us 40 minutes on Tuesday night to string three passes together and that's not how I want us to play.

I told the lads before the game and again at half time that we can't expect to just lump the ball towards Boothy and expect him to win every header, especially when the opposing centre-backs are big lads and quite dominant themselves.

We didn't get the ball down enough and we didn't get behind them enough. They pushed their wide men onto Rob Edwards and Andy Holdsworth and that didn't help us either.

When we play well, the wing-backs are always joining in, but they were denied the time and space to do that.

I was disappointed that we didn't play to our normal ability either against Chesterfield or Stockport but, having said that, we are still handily placed with four points from two games and we'll be doing our level best to make it seven from three against Hartlepool.

I think we can play out from the back a lot more and work the ball through midfield.

That's how we played at Rotherham in pre-season and that's what I want more of.

We definitely have the ability to pass and move and work the ball forward, and that's what I'll be encouraging the lads to do.

WE have looked better so far with Brandon and Abbott playing. Will they start against Hartlepool? Martin, Manchester

Jacko says: IF they carry on performing like they have as subs in the first two matches then they are bound to push for selection.

They are both probably frustrated at not being in the team, but I think all the lads realise we've had a lot of success here recently and that the team is playing well.

If it stays the same for the next 10 matches or if we don't keep picking up points, then I'm sure someone will be knocking on my door to press their claims, and rightly so.

I'M an Anthony Lloyd fan. Why hasn't he even been on the bench so far? Tracy Sanderson, W Yorks

Jacko says: ROB EDWARDS has come back strongly through pre-season and, in the matches he and Lloydy have played, I think Rob has shown more quality on the ball.

Last season, Lloydy showed that quality and forced Rob out of the team. At the moment, he is just going to have to be patient.

Rob knows he will have to maintain his high standards, otherwise Lloydy will be keen to take over, and the rest of the lads know there is strong competition for places too, so they need to stay on their toes.

HOW much do you agonise about team selection? James, Clayton West

Jacko says: I HAVE known since Wednesday morning after the Chesterfield game what my starting line-up will be against Hartlepool.

Even though you get inundated with advice and ideas from all sorts of sources, you have to be decisive.

There are times when it plays on your mind and it is hard to drop people, particularly with a group of players like ours when everyone is so close to each other.

But these decisions have to be made and, seeing as how I'm judged on the people I pick and the results they get for the club, I take that responsibility on myself.

A prime example of that would be last season when I left Phil Senior out at Oxford after he'd done really well. I brought in Paul Rachubka who also did an excellent job.

EVEN though red and black is much better than last season, I prefer to see Town playing in blue and white away from home when possible. Will this be the club policy? Rob Whittaker, Wakefield

Jacko says: YES, because I also like to see Town in blue and white stripes whenever we are allowed.

I do like the red and black stripes which were picked by our fans for this season, but blue and white stripes are what this club is all about.The lads like to play in the home shirt, too, only with the matching blue shorts and socks when they are away from home.