Craig Easton

[JPC82]

hes not being played as a right winger, more as  right sided in a midfield 3, then mcnamee playing left wing, so like mm said last season its 4/3.5/2.5 formation, we have a left winger but no right winger, if macca is well marked then we we are pretty fucked cos nothing will go down the right

[JPC82]

as for JP he had a falling out with adi Williams in training but I think he started a game since then so wouldn't have thought thats the reason

[Luci]

JP did play against Aldershot actually.  Good point.

[Batch]

The only way you could incorporate the 3 in midfield would be to play a 4-2-3-1 like:

Or 5 3 2 (or 3-5-2 if you prefer), with wing backs overlappinging to provide width. I don't think we have any wing back though so maybe not.

I prefer the straight 4-4-2 with proper left and right sided midfielders/wingers. Whenever JPM plays out wide he drifts inside, same to a certain extent with Easton. This seems to unsettle the midfield and it becomes confused in shape and thus non-effective.

I agree with Si Pie though, playing Marshall and McNamee is too risky week in week out. We've already seen McNamee get marked out the game, and whilst Marshall has pace there will be times where he is physically dominated and nullified.

In short this is a whole load of waffle to say I don't know how to solve the problem. I guess that is why we originally went for Betsy over Marshal. It would have given us a more robust if less skillful option.

[JOHNNY REEVES]

two wingers would be great,just our luck not having any strikers over 5 foot 10.
oh there,s painter,
and corr,
and peacock,
cox to get the knock downs,
defences doubling up on mcnamee and marshal leaving big holes in the middle leaving space for easton to make late runs,
just like the good old days.

[wiggy]

two wingers would be great,just our luck not having any strikers over 5 foot 10.
oh there,s painter,
and corr,
and peacock,
cox to get the knock downs,
defences doubling up on mcnamee and marshal leaving big holes in the middle leaving space for easton to make late runs,
just like the good old days.

Sounds so easy when you put it like that!!

I like Paynter but he doesn't seem to commit himself/take a gamble in goalscoring situations. He alwat=ys seems to be thinking about setting somebody esle up rather than having a go himself.

[JOHNNY REEVES]

just seems odd to play wide men in the middle and central midfielders out wide i think mm is trying to be too clever instead of getting players to do the simple things eg. their own job.

[adje]

I can't justify to myself dropping Timlin or Easton, but I do agree the system doesn't work.

The only way you could incorporate the 3 in midfield would be to play a 4-2-3-1 like:

Smith

Amankwaah  Ifil  Aljofree  Smith

Timlin  Nalis

Marshall  Easton  Macca

Cox

That is exactly the formation I deploy in my sunday league team-and it works!Ashford and District Div3 Cup winners 2008.

[Simon Pieman]

That is exactly the formation I deploy in my sunday league team-and it works!Ashford and District Div3 Cup winners 2008.

We'll soon be joining Oxford in the non-league then.

[RobertT]

Using Easton on the right of 3 is the option we used towards the end of last season to try and bring some solidity to the team.  We had 3 put past us at home, had 3 away games on the bounce, os it's not rocket science to believe the use of Easton in that position is all about giving the defence some protection.  I think it works, it certainly seemed to bring back some confidence last season, and I would bet we open up more in home games after the Leeds one or if we go on a little run.

The only change I'd be inclined to make would be to play Marshall wide right and lose a front man, but I suppose their scoring record this season simply means we go with form there so Marshall stays on the bench to offer options later in the game when players are a little tired.

Last time I checked we hadn't lost any of the 3 with Easton being used in this role, have I missed something?

[Arriba]

i dont like the formation at all.malpas came in last season and tried it,and our results went downhill.it was only when we went back to 4,4,2 that we improved.this season he started with a 4,4,2 and has changed it again.the results have not been bad to be fair, but easton isn't best used as a right mid or tucked in right mid imo.

[DV]

away from home I dont have a problem with it. 4 points from Franchise and Hereford is good enough for me.

However, its simple....3 into 2 doesnt go. Malpas needs to play 2 of Nails, Timlin and Easton and drop one. On current form it has to be Timlin, which is a shame because I thought he looked our best player in pre-season but hasnt exactly started the season on fire.

If there are no injures/suspensions and the fact we're at home i'd go 4-4-2 with 2 wide me

Smith, Amankwaah, Ifil, Aljofree, Smith, Marshall, Easton, Nalis, McNamee, Cox, Paynter

Our front two are scoring goals and playing well together. There is no reason to break that up.

[Simon Pieman]

I'm in agreement with DV.

[Arriba]

i'd be a bit worried if we come under the cosh with two lightweight wide men.if we are on top then all well and good mind

[DV]

I'd agree with that.

McNamee does very little defensive work (although he did a fair bit at MK) and Marshall, we'll we've only seen him on for the last 10/15 minutes when we've been chasing a goal for a win/draw (Cheltenham, Colchester, MK & Hereford) so its really anyones guess as to what hes like defensivly.

I'd assume (...and hope) Malpas will have a better idea than me. If he isnt that strong defensivly then i'd rather have JPM there so we at least have a winger either side...