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That performance has to put him ahead of Pook and probably Weston in the pecking order for CM.

Thought he looked lost early on positionally, but grew as the game went on and wasn't far off MoM.

His passing was good, made the runs forward and did just as much of the dirty work as Pook would.

Seems a shame not to play him more often...a real 'footballer'.

Anybody else remember watching that little kid with dreds running about at half time 7 or 8 years back...knew he'd make the first team eventually.

He really shut me up tonight, he was really good. Work rate was superb and he seemed to win everything in the middle. Like a man possesed was the best description of his performance!

Had a mental spell in the last 20 minutes of the 90, seemed to be involved in everything..... he was a bit of a non-entity first half, it took him 16 minutes to have a meaningful touch. I'd still rate him above Pook, but not Weston

 :agree:

disagree entirely, i thought he was the weak spot in our midfield tonight. showed the occasional good touch but doesn't work hard enough or get stuck in.

weston and evans for me everytime, i would struggle to say holgate was a better option than pook.

There were times he'd put a tackle in, be on his feet straight away and knocking the pass off...there was another tinme second half he lost it, and went charging after it to win it back over by the Nationwide....I know this is all about opinions and different views, but his work rate was the thing that really stood out for me - we all knew that he could pick a pass out and show a flick or two - but tonight for me showed he has so much more.

Yea cant understand why his work rate is being questioned? I thought he worked his bollocks off tonight and that could easily be seen, that was the best that ive personally see him play and did he chances of a place in future starting line ups no harm. Nice to see we can make so many changes to the side and stil put in a performance like that against a side in a higher league, just goes to show the strength off the squad.

Are you disagreeing with everyone for the hell of it tonight?

I agree with the second bit though, I'd rather have Weston and Evans.

no i'm fucking not you cunt, but sitting on my own gives me the opportunity to watch the game a lot more closely than i usually do and i'm just posting my thoughts, i apologise for the fact they're different to everyone elses

Yeah but you're wrong sonic. I know that and I didn't even go to the game. If Holgate doesn't make the england squad soon it's a mega-travesty.

hahahaha he actually exploded! When some says the pharse you "fuckin cunt" you know deep down there emotional hurting!

It's a bloody pharse all right, Danny :D


Thought he got stuck in plenty after he'd realised he was in a game, nicking the ball off player's feet all the time, and as Moonraker said, he showed good ability to get up quickly after going to ground and play a decent ball.

i'm with SY. i agree that ashans work rate was good but there were times when he did nothing, and when he had the ball it was as if he was trying to get rid of it asap.

i was expecting him to come off for lukas in extra time

He showed his fitness levels were very high and is learning still in that new midfield role

Hope his "ballbags" are ok after that wallop! :Ride On Fatbury's Lovestick:

By far Swindon's best player last night.  Think he showed everyone what he's capable of, now he's just got to carry that on..

I thought he was superb and some of distribution was 1st class.  Definitely would like to see him play again and nice to see we have another decent option in midfield.

if im honest i would have to say i didn't notice him much. Not at bad as i notice pook, when pook players i normally count 10 players.

Holgate though did make some good tackles passes, and thankyou, he passed forward when clearing didn't turn around and play it back. Good to see some attacking awareness.

Holgate had a great game last night. I thought he was our man of the match to be honest. Put himself about well & showed some good creativity in the last half hour. Definatly better than Pook. Hope he makes the bench on saturday

who isnt better than Pook?

Ashan seems to have developed into that central midfield role quite nicely. i would love to see him play ahead of Pook. my first choice would be Evans and Weston though

Disagree with King CY.  Not oure best player, too quiet in the first half, although he did improve and I would agree this should see Pook demoted to the reserves, for eternity.

in all fairness jan not one player stood out in the first half did they.based on the 2nd half and extra time holgate was my man of the match

well at least it confirmed one thing. Pook is a waste of space

The one place you don't want Dick Mackay putting his freeze spray  :shock:

just think if Ince signs we are going to be spoilt for choice in midfield. who would we play? evans? weston? ince? ashan? Wise? whalley? it's looking better than it's ever done in that postiton for a long time

IF Ince signs and once he is fit I think the midfield should be:




Weston     Ince      Evans     Brown

I'm 100% in agreement with OST.  If Ince signed that midfield would be a force t be reckoned with.

Yep Ashan was ace last night. He is improving every time we see him.

Was a tad dissapointed with Weston wide on the right - always seemed to want to come inside

which i thought was strange as he is so right footed.weston is good enough to start but if ince comes i would have him on the bench,,suprised no one else has mentioned that caton could be the left winger we are looking for

agreed, he has some lovely touches down by me in the NW in the 2nd half last night, had the right back at 6's and 7's.  Wasn't fully match sharp yet, but just his ability to cut in or go wide caused them all sorts of problems so they stood off him.

I've said this elsewhere, but what i loved about caton was his confidence on the ball - great moment down by the bank/North Stand corner when he had nobody in the middle and just stood there waiting to knock it off their full back - he's got the pace and ability to beat his man and finish if he gets in the right positions

yeah he could. In my opinion caton looked good when he came on. His set pieces were pretty good as well. Good to see caton back.

Forget Paul Ince-give Holgate the no4 shirt-he was the Guv'nor last night!

I think if Caton wants to make left-wing his position, he's got to learn to defend properly. Could've cost us last night - sliding in when he only needed to stay on his feet and stand up his man. But, he was at least making an effort, and as has been said, showed some nice touches. Could really flourish under Wise (like so many of this team).

Ashan's been loaned out to Newport County in Conf South - I reckon he should be given a go on the right wing - he's technically better than Brownlie or Shakes, not as quick as Shakes but he's no slouch, and has played up top before this year so could pop in with the odd goal - get him back here Wisey, give Royce and Ricky the boot and get ashan out there.

I'd be gutted if we missed out on him, he deserves a proper run in the side.

huzzah welcome to my world