Josh Coulson

[Smendrick Feaselberg]

He'll be okish in the squad this season, but that second year of his contract will be an albatross.

[Disoriented]

He'll be okish in the squad this season, but that second year of his contract will be an albatross.

I fear the squawking has begun already fella.

[BiggsyMalone]

He’a clearly carrying an injury and isn’t being given time to fully recover because he’s the captain and Happe and Ekpiteta aren’t trusted to play alongside eachother. Once Turley is back, he’ll be given some rest. I’d look at Ling, Widdowson and Ekpiteta’s form before Coulson at the moment

[Chief crazy horse]

In the match day thread some people are having a pop at coulson, just by coincidence I was watching him closely today as he’s not been the dominating defender he was of last year.

The pace of the game is quicker and pace isn’t his strongest point.
His heading today I thought was good and he was especially in the 2nd half getting to headers that he might not have had a right to get to.
His distribution was ok, no real wonky passes and made good choices on who to lay it off to

I thought he did ok overall.

However, I believe that he is carrying an injury or something else. In the 2nd half he seemed to be struggling with his right leg, possibly hamstring, but it was clear he was not comfortable nor running well. However, at this point we had no subs left and he carried on.

Putting it in to context and some have possibly been over critical, I think he’s carrying an injury which is stopping him getting to full fitness, it’s his importance and leadership which is possibly overriding the physical condition right now.

He will come good again, that I’m convinced of after watching him carefully today.

I'm not so sure about that last sentence. He also failed to clear his lines properly for their third goal. Having said that the whole defence needs looking at closely. It's a shambles and I hope priority is given in the thought process when selecting the new manager.

[Still's Carenae]

I thought Coulson looked much happier in the 2nd half today, playing on his natural side.

Happe reads the game better than Marvin and this helps Coulson out as well.

[Buddy Manucci]

Would have waited to see how he deals with being back in the league.

Come on, Josh is easily League two standard if not better .

We definately should have waited.

[gshaw]

He’a clearly carrying an injury and isn’t being given time to fully recover because he’s the captain and Happe and Ekpiteta aren’t trusted to play alongside eachother. Once Turley is back, he’ll be given some rest. I’d look at Ling, Widdowson and Ekpiteta’s form before Coulson at the moment

I think you're right with this. Like many in the squad he hasn't looked right from the off. That last clearance looked more like he couldn't physically make the big hoof required.

Too many players being forced into playing in an unfit state because of our lack of squad depth.

[BIGRON]

Only my opinion but I don't think Josh is the9 player he once was , last week at Colchester he was left for dead when their player went passed him and crossed for the opening goal , yesterday he could have done better with the third goal when he failed to clear the ball , struggling in this league in my opinion .

[Disoriented]

Only my opinion but I don't think Josh is the9 player he once was , last week at Colchester he was left for dead when their player went passed him and crossed for the opening goal , yesterday he could have done better with the third goal when he failed to clear the ball , struggling in this league in my opinion .

Sad but fair Ron.

Maybe he has been carrying a niggling injury and just needs some time to shake it off though.

[Ronnie Hotdogs]

So, so wrong.

[RedDwarf 1881]

In the match day thread some people are having a pop at coulson, just by coincidence I was watching him closely today as he’s not been the dominating defender he was of last year.

The pace of the game is quicker and pace isn’t his strongest point.
His heading today I thought was good and he was especially in the 2nd half getting to headers that he might not have had a right to get to.
His distribution was ok, no real wonky passes and made good choices on who to lay it off to

I thought he did ok overall.

However, I believe that he is carrying an injury or something else. In the 2nd half he seemed to be struggling with his right leg, possibly hamstring, but it was clear he was not comfortable nor running well. However, at this point we had no subs left and he carried on.

Putting it in to context and some have possibly been over critical, I think he’s carrying an injury which is stopping him getting to full fitness, it’s his importance and leadership which is possibly overriding the physical condition right now.

He will come good again, that I’m convinced of after watching him carefully today.

I'm not so sure about that last sentence. He also failed to clear his lines properly for their third goal. Having said that the whole defence needs looking at closely. It's a shambles and I hope priority is given in the thought process when selecting the new manager.

I agree . Going forward we're fine but our defence is proving to be our Achilles heel .

[Disoriented]

In the match day thread some people are having a pop at coulson, just by coincidence I was watching him closely today as he’s not been the dominating defender he was of last year.

The pace of the game is quicker and pace isn’t his strongest point.
His heading today I thought was good and he was especially in the 2nd half getting to headers that he might not have had a right to get to.
His distribution was ok, no real wonky passes and made good choices on who to lay it off to

I thought he did ok overall.

However, I believe that he is carrying an injury or something else. In the 2nd half he seemed to be struggling with his right leg, possibly hamstring, but it was clear he was not comfortable nor running well. However, at this point we had no subs left and he carried on.

Putting it in to context and some have possibly been over critical, I think he’s carrying an injury which is stopping him getting to full fitness, it’s his importance and leadership which is possibly overriding the physical condition right now.

He will come good again, that I’m convinced of after watching him carefully today.

I'm not so sure about that last sentence. He also failed to clear his lines properly for their third goal. Having said that the whole defence needs looking at closely. It's a shambles and I hope priority is given in the thought process when selecting the new manager.

I agree . Going forward we're fine but our defence is proving to be our Achilles heel .

Absolutely. Scoring goals is not a problem.

[Thor]

We have scored 1 less than the top team. However, we have conceded the most.

We defended well from the front last season, our midfield was more effective and dare I say it we miss Charlie Lee or at least his early season form.

[Ronnie Hotdogs]

Our defensive issues are not (solely) down to the 4 or 5 individual that play in defence.

People do understand that, right?

[Fisch]

Our defensive issues are not (solely) down to the 4 or 5 individual that play in defence.

People do understand that, right?

I make you right, there's either an organisational issue or individuals are losing concentration.

[LeighO]

We have scored 1 less than the top team. However, we have conceded the most.

We defended well from the front last season, our midfield was more effective and dare I say it we miss Charlie Lee or at least his early season form.

I was thinking yesterday how much we miss Bonne defending corners and free kicks; he won so many defensive headers.

[bobo66]

I thought Coulson looked much happier in the 2nd half today, playing on his natural side.

Happe reads the game better than Marvin and this helps Coulson out as well.

Of course he was happier in the second half because he wasn't having to withstand wave after wave of dangerous Port Vale attacks, nothing to do with which side of defence he was playing. There are too many defensive errors for which we are being punished and Coulson is as responsible as any of the others are for those.

[Chief crazy horse]

We have scored 1 less than the top team. However, we have conceded the most.

We defended well from the front last season, our midfield was more effective and dare I say it we miss Charlie Lee or at least his early season form.

I was thinking yesterday how much we miss Bonne defending corners and free kicks; he won so many defensive headers.

.........

[Smendrick Feaselberg]

He’a clearly carrying an injury and isn’t being given time to fully recover because he’s the captain and Happe and Ekpiteta aren’t trusted to play alongside eachother. Once Turley is back, he’ll be given some rest. I’d look at Ling, Widdowson and Ekpiteta’s form before Coulson at the moment

I think you're right with this. Like many in the squad he hasn't looked right from the off. That last clearance looked more like he couldn't physically make the big hoof required.

Too many players being forced into playing in an unfit state because of our lack of squad depth.

If Coulson needed to recover from an injury we could have played 4-4-2 or Widdowson or Marsh could have covered if absolutely set on five at the back. Not sure we can harp on about squad depth here when we have four orthodox centre backs and while one is injured a formation change to a back four, which has worked better anyway, would have alleviated that.

[Still's Carenae]

I thought Coulson looked much happier in the 2nd half today, playing on his natural side.

Happe reads the game better than Marvin and this helps Coulson out as well.

Of course he was happier in the second half because he wasn't having to withstand wave after wave of dangerous Port Vale attacks, nothing to do with which side of defence he was playing. There are too many defensive errors for which we are being punished and Coulson is as responsible as any of the others are for those.

Ok. I shall rephrase. Coulson was more comfortable on the right side of defence.

[Long slender neck]

Coulson has always been a bit lumbering, a bit like Nathan Clarke was. I think when the confidence is low he loses that extra yard.

[BiggsyMalone]

He’a clearly carrying an injury and isn’t being given time to fully recover because he’s the captain and Happe and Ekpiteta aren’t trusted to play alongside eachother. Once Turley is back, he’ll be given some rest. I’d look at Ling, Widdowson and Ekpiteta’s form before Coulson at the moment

I think you're right with this. Like many in the squad he hasn't looked right from the off. That last clearance looked more like he couldn't physically make the big hoof required.

Too many players being forced into playing in an unfit state because of our lack of squad depth.

If Coulson needed to recover from an injury we could have played 4-4-2 or Widdowson or Marsh could have covered if absolutely set on five at the back. Not sure we can harp on about squad depth here when we have four orthodox centre backs and while one is injured a formation change to a back four, which has worked better anyway, would have alleviated that.

Ross has chopped and changed between 4 and 5 at the back. He's playing because of his leadership. Happe and Ekpiteta aren't trusted to play together.

[LittleMate]

We have scored 1 less than the top team. However, we have conceded the most.

We defended well from the front last season, our midfield was more effective and dare I say it we miss Charlie Lee or at least his early season form.

I was thinking yesterday how much we miss Bonne defending corners and free kicks; he won so many defensive headers.

Agreed he did, but that's not been a factor. Bonne guarded the near post (which Wilko has been doing recently) - but the oppo have worked out that all they have to do is float it in 8 yards out and chaos is guaranteed. We are not strong enough to clear it and Brill would not travel that far for a bite to eat.

[gshaw]

He’a clearly carrying an injury and isn’t being given time to fully recover because he’s the captain and Happe and Ekpiteta aren’t trusted to play alongside eachother. Once Turley is back, he’ll be given some rest. I’d look at Ling, Widdowson and Ekpiteta’s form before Coulson at the moment

I think you're right with this. Like many in the squad he hasn't looked right from the off. That last clearance looked more like he couldn't physically make the big hoof required.

Too many players being forced into playing in an unfit state because of our lack of squad depth.

If Coulson needed to recover from an injury we could have played 4-4-2 or Widdowson or Marsh could have covered if absolutely set on five at the back. Not sure we can harp on about squad depth here when we have four orthodox centre backs and while one is injured a formation change to a back four, which has worked better anyway, would have alleviated that.

To play 4-4-2 we'd have to go with Ekpiteta and Happe but there seems a reluctance to take that gamble on a young pairing, even if the only other option is an unfit (but experienced) Coulson

If you're referring to Turley as the 4th he'd be playing RB if fit imo. If it's seen as too early for Ogie an experienced loan CB signing until end of the season would give us more options. Possibly financed by letting Judd go as he's well down the pecking order once Turley comes back (barring a new manager dropping Ling but unlikely for one reason or another).

More likely though I see Ekpiteta leaving in January for a nominal fee rather than going on a free in summer, with a well-travelled pro coming in to take his place.

[Smendrick Feaselberg]

The crumb of comfort with Ekpiteta is that his form might make him more willing to sign an extension.