redintheface wrote: ↑Tue Sep 17, 2019 10:04 pm
I think Marvin still has the potential to come good. It’s his turn to take the flak tonight , on Saturday it was Josh Coulson people were moaning about . No doubt if Embleton recalls Dan Happe at Colchester he’ll be the cause of our woes. Unfortunately the euphoria and impetus of last seasons promotion has worn off already
When players make result changing errors you can understand that. And it's fair criticism.
That said, now is the best time for the club to show we want Ekpiteta to be part of our future by agreeing a new contract with him. If we just leave it then by the time he comes good he could have other clubs sniffing around and looking to take him on a free next summer.
I wonder if there is even a contract offer outstanding? He should be signing it asap, not quite sure he could be seen as a top L2 defender.
Don't see him being dropped for the next match, Colchester have Theo Robinson and Frank Nouble up front, both seem to be strong and direct.
Let's just hope Ross doesn't revert back to 5-3-2 to accommodate them all. While we have the players we do at full-back and midfield that formation should not be seen again.
redintheface wrote: ↑Tue Sep 17, 2019 10:04 pm
I think Marvin still has the potential to come good. It’s his turn to take the flak tonight , on Saturday it was Josh Coulson people were moaning about . No doubt if Embleton recalls Dan Happe at Colchester he’ll be the cause of our woes. Unfortunately the euphoria and impetus of last seasons promotion has worn off already
When players make result changing errors you can understand that. And it's fair criticism.
That said, now is the best time for the club to show we want Ekpiteta to be part of our future by agreeing a new contract with him. If we just leave it then by the time he comes good he could have other clubs sniffing around and looking to take him on a free next summer.
I find it surprising that he hasn’t signed a new contract. Maybe it’s been offered and declined. Perhaps he is willing to take his chances.
Apple Wumble wrote: ↑Thu Aug 01, 2019 9:25 am
Isnt he going to walk for nothing at the end of the season? 300k is a decent amount, however, it doesn’t feel like it would go into the playing budget so we’ve gotta keep him.
Would bite the hand off someone offering 300k for him now.
Apple Wumble wrote: ↑Thu Aug 01, 2019 9:25 am
Isnt he going to walk for nothing at the end of the season? 300k is a decent amount, however, it doesn’t feel like it would go into the playing budget so we’ve gotta keep him.
Would bite the hand off someone offering 300k for him now.
Same. I still rate him, for the record. But he’s been slow to adapt to this level.
Funnily enough I thought it was his best game this season until a bad 5 mins at the end. He won a lot during the game but you can’t give chances like that in this league.
Apple Wumble wrote: ↑Thu Aug 01, 2019 9:25 am
Isnt he going to walk for nothing at the end of the season? 300k is a decent amount, however, it doesn’t feel like it would go into the playing budget so we’ve gotta keep him.
Would bite the hand off someone offering 300k for him now.
Same. I still rate him, for the record. But he’s been slow to adapt to this level.
Funnily enough I thought it was his best game this season until a bad 5 mins at the end. He won a lot during the game but you can’t give chances like that in this league.
Had a decent first half to be sure. He has to realise that being agricultural as a defender is acceptable sometimes. Unfortunately, he cost us the game tonight.
Would bite the hand off someone offering 300k for him now.
Same. I still rate him, for the record. But he’s been slow to adapt to this level.
Funnily enough I thought it was his best game this season until a bad 5 mins at the end. He won a lot during the game but you can’t give chances like that in this league.
Had a decent first half to be sure. He has to realise that being agricultural as a defender is acceptable sometimes. Unfortunately, he cost us the game tonight.
That whole defence cost us at least a point along with that JMD Penalty miss
Same. I still rate him, for the record. But he’s been slow to adapt to this level.
Funnily enough I thought it was his best game this season until a bad 5 mins at the end. He won a lot during the game but you can’t give chances like that in this league.
Had a decent first half to be sure. He has to realise that being agricultural as a defender is acceptable sometimes. Unfortunately, he cost us the game tonight.
That whole defence cost us at least a point along with that JMD Penalty miss
Had a decent first half to be sure. He has to realise that being agricultural as a defender is acceptable sometimes. Unfortunately, he cost us the game tonight.
That whole defence cost us at least a point along with that JMD Penalty miss
I'm wondering how strong the correlation between these two groups is:
Ekpiteta can't handle the step up in class from National League to League Two
Ross Embleton is one of our own, get behind him, PASSION
The biggest drop-off in performance levels since last season has been our defence. Obvs Angol & Wilkinson is a downgrade on Bonne & Koroma, but frankly that can't be helped as is nothing to do with the manager.
But the fact that the same back 4/5 as last year no longer seem to know what they're doing defensively, and also pose zero threat from set pieces (after scoring plenty last season) tends to suggest to me that they're missing the leadership of a strong, experienced manager who had played in defence at the highest level himself. Not that the step up in class from Hartlepool & Wrexham & Barnet to Macclesfield & Stevenage & Crawley was so vast that they have individually and collectively gone to **** in just a few weeks.
OyinbO wrote: ↑Wed Sep 18, 2019 12:28 pm
I'm wondering how strong the correlation between these two groups is:
Ekpiteta can't handle the step up in class from National League to League Two
Ross Embleton is one of our own, get behind him, PASSION
The biggest drop-off in performance levels since last season has been our defence. Obvs Angol & Wilkinson is a downgrade on Bonne & Koroma, but frankly that can't be helped as is nothing to do with the manager.
But the fact that the same back 4/5 as last year no longer seem to know what they're doing defensively, and also pose zero threat from set pieces (after scoring plenty last season) tends to suggest to me that they're missing the leadership of a strong, experienced manager who had played in defence at the highest level himself. Not that the step up in class from Hartlepool & Wrexham & Barnet to Macclesfield & Stevenage & Crawley was so vast that they have individually and collectively gone to **** in just a few weeks.
I think it is a mix of things. There has been a definite step up and the change in manager and events of the summer may well have taken a toll. I think one of the main things is that this league seems pretty relentless- you can't afford to switch off. This has shown in a few of the goals we have conceded this season. Last year the opposition may have had one or two chances all game and not taken them. This season they aren't getting many more, but they are taking them.
We are not defending from the front like we did when we had Bonne and Koroma relentlessly chasing down defenders. Teams were forced to go long more often than not, playing into the hands of our big 3 (plus Turley and Widdowson) at the back.
The opposition aren't being pressed like that anymore.
That's obviously not the only reason but it's a massive factor people keep overlooking.
I agree with you in part. But Crewe had a hatful of chances last night.
Embleton is unable to convey a sense of control, structure and organisation to the team, and his changes seem to be somewhat half-baked rolls of the dice than anything deeply considered. Not saying he won't make a good manage someday, but that day is at least 3 years away, and probably much more.
Yes, there is a step up in class - we haven't seen anything as good as Swindon for 3 years or more. But I'm confident that Edinburgh could get this exact same squad into the top 7 this season.
