Craig Easton

[glos_robin]

Is NOT a fucking right winger stop playing him there please Mr Malpas. Just drop Timlin and partner Easton in the middle with Nalis and give Marshall a run on the right. For most of the second half tonight we had no right side to the midfield and Paynter of all people ended up playing there to plug the gap..........when you have to right midfielders on the bench it is bloody ludicrous.

[Samdy Gray]

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

[suttonred]

I concur, It's about time that happened, although i would probably save until after leeds, as that will probably be attrition.

[glos_robin]

That'd be seen as an own goal by MM I feel though and wouldn't really solve the width problem as there would be no striker to head in the crosses........its a hard one yeah but Nalis does the same thing as Timlin really but is better at it therefore Timlin should bench it for a bit. Only room for 2 central midfielders in a 442 formation which I feel is the only formation we are capable of playing.

[Panda Paws]

If we played both Marshall and Macnamee with only 2 central midfielder we'd get destroyed away from home...I like easton out wide away, but if not he should be in the middle over timlin

[glos_robin]

but tonight we had no right side so whats the difference? Easton did not play wide right second half there was just a hole there eventually plugged by Paynter.

[Panda Paws]

yeah but surely that was the point, we changed to a 451. It didn't really work and if you're gunna play 451 then play Marshall and Macnamee, I agree, but starting with a midfield of say macnamee timlin nalis marshall would be very light weight. At the the end of the day we've lost two points because again we couldn't defend for 90 minutes. We've created more than enough to win tonight.

[glos_robin]

Oh and we can't defend anyway so may aswell try the attack is the best form of defence option. At the end of the day when we got to the play-offs in this league we had Igoe and Howard on the wings........one was midget and the other lazy at the time so I don't think its much different to that. Definitely worth a go against trash like Hereford....

I would try Macca Nalis Easton and Marshall......nothing else has worked so worth a go.

[Simon Pieman]

Only problem is when Marshall has a crap game he's not going to do anything. Not the sort of player who can tackle. That said he must be getting closer to a starting place and perhaps it would be effective to start him, wear the opposition down with his direct style, then bring on someone who can cross the ball as they will get more space due to tired players (McGovern???).

I think the only reason McNamee is getting starts all the time is because there is nobody there to replace him. He's been pretty average so far this season. Down the right we've got McGovern, supposedly a right sided player and Easton, supposedly a central midfielder. Both offer little width, but I'd rather have Easton over McGovern. Whether Marshall is on the brink of a starting place, time will tell.

[suttonred]

I think you are wrong about Marshall and tackling, seen him do more in the odd 10 mins than Macca has done all season so far. But i like the point of no competiton for Mac, as he's definately tailed off from the 1st game, a bit more competition needed perhaps?

[Luci]

Can't really say hes not the sort of player to tackle when we've only seen him in a very limited capacity.  Marshall made several challenges today and did well in my opinion.  Think theres far more to see from him yet.

[Simon Pieman]

Oh come on, he's lightweight. You're going to get situations where he's up against some big players (take Colchester for example). Sure, he'll catch them out with his pace going forward, but he will be outmuscled defensively.

I'm not being critical of his footballing ability, it's just a fact. Someone like Easton will be far better and hustling for the ball. If that's what Malpas wants then that's why Easton is playing on the right. McGovern can't tackle, which is a shame because he does have the physical attributes to do it right, but he seems to bottle a tackle, which is completely different to being outmuscled.

I'd say exactly the same of McNamee, but that's different as we don't have any other options for that position (perhaps only Timlin).

[Luci]

Yes hes lightweight but done ok so far in the few times that we've seen him.  Quick on his feet and pretty nimble helped him win the ball this evening.

I just hope he continues to work hard and improve his game.

[Simon Pieman]

Yeah I like what I have seen so far, certainly been one the players that has looked to make things happen. I think the best thing is he's right on it from the moment he's on the pitch. Obviously he's got nothing to lose because he's a sub, but it usually takes a bit of time to get up to speed with the game. This lad has no trouble with that.

I do like the way Easton gets himself forward and into the box. I think there is a case for starting him in the centre soon and Marshall on the right.

The question is, what has happened to McGovern? Is he carrying an injury or has he fallen out with Malpas? Malpas said he was going to be our main right winger this season.

[Luci]

I said to someone earlier I wondered what had happened to JP.  Wonder if theres been a falling out somewhere or hes just fallen out of favour?  Either way I can't say I'm particularly fussed.