Thetownend.com

An absolute gut punch at the end. Our play deserved better, but architects of our own downfall.

Apologies for the delay in getting this posted, watching on a 20 minute delay!

The end was shit but there were plenty of candidates today. McEachran good as ever, think both Hutton and Williams had their best game for months, the three central defenders all looked good, especially Brewitt on debut and RHM and an out of position Wakeling both caused them problems. Oh, and the first three subs helped. Only really Austin that disappointed.

I'll go Brewitt, for overachievement vs expectations. If he and McEachran are the standard of players you can get outside the window then perhaps we shouldn't bother with January at all!

Nice to see Shade get a goal and was a good tactical change.

Hutton played closer to his optimum so possible he's had an epiphany and realised if he plays to his level, he'll get just rewards.

RH-M, Brewitt, Clayton all get special mentions despite the defensive error/poor decisions at the end.

McEachran though for such a ball playing CM, he also does so much off the ball. Passing numbers are up there with Championship levels. There's a feeling you get a couple more like him, blended with some more experience and Town should pretty much walk this dog shite division.

Yep McEachran for me.

Brewitt for me, seems to be eactly the type of defencer we have needed at CB all season, no nonsense at times and likes a tackle and header but can still pass a ball.

I thought other than his miss RHM had another storming game as did GnotJ McEachran. Shade looked lively when he came on. Clayton also excellent as was lavinier when he came on.

Williams poor 2nd half, Austin poor all game but playing way out of position and Hutton poor most of the game too, hes just not been as good since deadline day. Cain shows some good but currently a bit more poor than good in a Town shirt.

Probably controversial amongst posters but don't think Williams is contributing enough considering he has a wealth of experience and is now injury free.

It might just be his usual disposition but he looked dead behind the eyes in the Pre match Interview. Possible and likely he goes at the end of the season. I can't see how him staying in L2 is good for his career at this stage. Obviously the intent was probably to get promoted with Town but as that looks unlikely he'll probably be playing L1 footy next season. Along with Austin and Hutton (that's a given).

He is what he is. He’s a talented, awkward player at this level but it’s not his fault that he’s a bit of a luxury in a team that needs a bit more beef in midfield.

That's the problem us fans can see that the midfield is too lightweight but it hasn't been addressed.

Opinions like arseholes etc. but I thought Williams had his best game since the WC today. There was a turn through the press in the first half that was utterly sublime, and a lot of linking up play on our attacks, in addition to his usual winning of free kicks all over the place.

So you don’t rate Lindsey. I agree. And Morris was barely in place by deadline day. I think we’re paying the price for last summer’s managerial appointment and the time it took to get Morris in. So we have to write off this season and trust Jody to impose his style in the summer.

Spot on, I didn't rate Lindsey and don't hold any blame towards Morris and excited for next season if he is allowed to get in his own players.

I didn't see the game today only caught snippets on the radio so will take your comments on board about Williams best performance since the World Cup of which I was talking about generally.

I thought Williams was one of better players today alongside Brewitt, Clayton, Hutton and McEachran (who i gave MOTM to)

Yep

Are we not getting the ball in the box to give Austin any chances as he's dropping too deep?

I agree with Fjortoft on this one - Austin is spending his time all over the pitch as if he feels he needs to offer the experience in all areas rather than just up front.  Morris needs to pull him and say don't come back across the Halfway line except for set pieces etc.  Austin needs to get back to doing what he is good at, holding the ball, being a nuisance, and ultimately putting the ball in the back of the net.

1st half I would agree but 2nd I thought Williams looked a bit more off the pace.

McEachran was busy and skilful in midfield. He also went in for some thumping challenges. But, I think that was a very good debut by Brewitt at CB. Especially given the inexperience around him. If he plays like that a few more times then we will have no chance of keeping him!

Only person to equal him was Fjortoft on comms. Superb analysis.

Other than an off day for Austin, it was pretty strong across the board. Brewitt was the standout for me. Hell of a shift from a guy that hasn't played a game in months. He did all the old school stuff really well, winning headers, crunching tackles, shouting and organising and so on.But he also looked happy with the ball, driving up into midfield and spraying some nice passes around. A monumental upgrade on Brennan on that showing. If he plays like that until the end of the season he'll earn a contract, which is the brutal Hunger Games reality of it for some of these players. Absolutely gutting that Brynn smacked it into his calves to concede the dreaded corner, but that's football as they say.

Went with McEachran but Brewitt did superb too. Best two players we've managed to get in outside of the window after Sandro has had his wings clipped, it says a lot.

Thought Williams did ok today FWIW, some nice passes.

If its intentional or not, Austin is not an attacking midfielder.

100% agree. If we're going down the ex player route, then I'd rather have Oliver Risser at the club to play AM

Thought that Brewitt was the most consistent over the 90mins.
Not what I was expecting.
Liked the way he took charge.
We could have a proper defender who can play here.

Then again many have faded after a bright first game.

I agree. I'd be tempted to bin him off and use the wages to get Mceachran tied down onto a decent contract.

I said after Orient that I don't think Austin suits the way JM wants to play, my thoughts haven't changed after yesterday unfortunately.

I voted for GM, another tremendous display. Was impressed with Brewitt on debut also.

I don't think that he will be here next season anyway, but disagree about JW's contribution.
Top scorer still isn't he, don't see what more he can do.
More consistency maybe, but all of them could do with that.
Saw a lot more of the ball in 2nd half after a relatively quiet first, but the same could be said of young George as well.

After seeing some of the shit that the opposition get up to then having one our own fall over & win free kicks should be seen as an asset.
Still hope that he can be tempted to stay.

I guess I'm expecting too much from a player of his experience who has represented his country at a high level and is on a big wage that eats into the playing budget. There's no doubting his ability but to get out of league 2 I reckon we need bigger stronger players mixed with a few younger prospects and not sure we could afford Williams sat on the bench.

We all see the game different and all opinions should be valued.

I agree, I think Williams is a huge nuisance and quality at this level and more often than not plays really well, I hope we can keep him.

I think you're right about Austin as he's hardly  getting any chances now under the way Morris is setting up and can't see him being here next season.

Orient was pretty much the first time we had used Charlie in that role as an attacking midfielder from the off, previously he flitted back there later in games to conserve energy, it didn't work then and won't work IMO.

We need Charlie up front in the middle getting on the end of any crosses put into the box, where he plays best, not sat around the centre circle trying to release RHM, he should be in the box looking for loose balls after missplaced/saved shots or crosses.

That obviously doesnt fit in to Morris's formation though and we seem to be shoehorning him into the team at the expense of playing him where he looks dangerous.

Thing is who else is going to bag a few? Morris said yesterday on the radio as I was on my way in, that he’d had words with Jephcott along the lines of needing to do more work. Others may put some more flesh on the bones as to what he said.

I guess until we get more players back we won't know how Morris really wants to play in terms of set up, but he will know full well that he is having to use Austin as a square peg in a round hole at the moment. Suspect he doesn't want to play a back three but doesn't trust a back 4 with the options currently at his disposal. Yesterday we didn't have a fit left back.
As an aside, Hutton has really fallen off but I'd be curious to see him as a Nathan Byrne type wide of a front three. That might help Austin.

I have suggested months ago a few times that I see Hutton as more of a winger than a defender but was shot down by some, I would agree though, hes far more dangerous in the opponents half than useful in our own half.

Jephcott is a strange one as he had a decent scoring record at Plymouth but has shown nothing here and basically wasted a season here on loan. Austin we all know will score goals if he's given chances in the box but I do wonder if his personality will clash with Morris behind the scenes.

To be fair 5 goals from 15 starts ain't too bad

Not bad stats but he got 33 in 106 games for Plymouth which suggest there is a decent player in there somewhere but for whatever reason Lindsey and now Morris don't seem to want to play him.

I'm worried this might be the case but I don't think our defensive issues are helping at the moment. We're under the kosh more than we should be and he's dropping deep to help out.

It's a bit 'Harry Kane' where he drops very deep to get involved. As captain he obviously feels responsible and the effort is there as always, it just feels a bit 'clunky' when Austin is doing it. Perhaps it will change when JM is able to field a side free of injury and suspension.

I don't like it much when Kane does it for England either really. You always end up creating a chance and your top striker is nowhere to be seen.

The only difference with Kane he has got a decent pass in his repertoire and quite often makes things happen if he does come short looking for the ball.

I think You are right there. I think personally once all fit we will see Austin back up top, i don't think RHM is disciplined enough to play any other role apart from up top on his own out the way

It's not in any way scientific or representative, but Tom Brewitt has now got more votes in this one game (his debut) than St. Angus of MacDonald received in his 16 appearances for Town in total...

Not scientific maybe but significant, hopefully