Ratings thread

[gshaw]

Same old same old, another poor home petformance. Didn't compete physically and the paper-thin squad exposed ruthlessly by Colchester. Fair play, they deserved 3 points today.

As per usual CM weak and looked knackered after 45 minutes whereas Colchester just kept going. No LB cover is ridiculous and cost us today.

Sargeant - 5 - can't give much more to a keeper who concedes 3 goals. No chance with first and third, second was deflected so seemed a decent initial save even if ball popped straight back our to their striker. Some ropey kicking.

Happe - 5 - a solid CB but lack of pace cost us the first goal. That's why you need a cover LB but that seems lost on Ling & co
Turley - 5 - some good interceptions but equally goals came from Colchester bundling through our CBs
Ekpiteta - 5 - seemed to struggle as game went on
Marsh - 6 - did OK, got MOTM in the ground and probably deserved it

Brophy - 5 - keeps running but often blind alleyways. Got in a few times first half but nothing to aim at in the box
Clay - 4 - being generous with that. Can't compete for 90 minutes and passing was awful
Wright - 4 - lightweight, needs a warrior alongside him
JMD - 4 - anonymous for the most part
Dayton - 5 - little bits of link-up play, a lovely pass in behind for Brophy first half was his highlight really

Angol - 5 - doesn't ever look like scoring in this formation. Completely isolated first half, at least had someone else to battle with him once Harrold came on

Subs

Harrold - 5 - should've scored at least one of his chances. Played a key role in our goal though so being a tad harsh. Should've come on earlier
Sotiriou - 6 - poached his goal well

Embleton - didn't have many options but should've made the Harrold sub earlier.

Pitch - poor. Yes we've had a lot of rain but it cut up horribly, ball barely moving by the end

[JimbO]

Think you're being generous with a five for Marvin he stank today.

[MrB]

Pitch poor but Colly coped much more better with it..JMD,Brophy,Dayton,Too similarly.Fits and starts but not a decent tackler between them

[Fanny]

Clay got completely done for pace by their LB who went on a blazing run to set up their second.

Meanwhile, we didn’t even have a LB on the pitch.

[Long slender neck]

I would think Ling knows we need a LB. Ogie could have played but it would have been tough for him.

[Smendrick Feaselberg]

Clay is a big part of the problem and we need to face up to this and upgrade on him significantly in January. That alone would be worth a lot more points by the end of the season.

Did he sign a one year deal in the summer?

[Long slender neck]

Two years! FFS

[gshaw]

I would think Ling knows we need a LB. Ogie could have played but it would have been tough for him.

Doubt it or he would've signed one at the start of the season. We got away with it last year but a joke to move up a level and not have any cover there.

Clay as 3rd or 4th choice CM would be OK but as a starter just a liability at his current fitness level.

[Smendrick Feaselberg]

Two years! FFS

Clay, Brill and Coulson then are on terrible contracts. That's unacceptably poor.

[whittle81]

I can see why Clay was offered a 2 year contract at the time having played well last season. It should not really be seen as long time if, a club is planning ahead and the fact is he is only 27, most players at that age if they have had a good season would expect a minimum 2 years.

[Smendrick Feaselberg]

I can see why Clay was offered a 2 year contract at the time having played well last season. It should not really be seen as long time if, a club is planning ahead.

Last year he was good rather than continually great though at a time when he was playing for a new contract. Signing him for another two years when we didn't know how he would cope with the step up was negligent. We should have been looking to move away from the likes of him and Harrold and upgraded by recruiting better players on two year deals. That would have shown better planning ahead.

[gshaw]

I can see why Clay was offered a 2 year contract at the time having played well last season. It should not really be seen as long time if, a club is planning ahead.

Last year he was good rather than continually great though at a time when he was playing for a new contract. Signing him for another two years when we didn't know how he would cope with the step up was negligent. We should have been looking to move away from the likes of him and Harrold and upgraded by recruiting better players on two year deals. That would have shown better planning ahead.

Retaining him not so bad if you bring in a new strong CM to fight for that starting spot. Instead we let Lee and Lawless goz only bringing in Wright (not a ball winner so basically taking Clay's place) and eventually Marsh (a kid and not a ball winner either). Poor recruitment again by... take a guess...

[jamespevans]

Really is starting to look like we shot the messenger (Fletcher). Some of the squad are now not good enough for L2 and Embleton does not have the tactical nous to be a manager at this level. We were 9pts off the bottom at 3pm (currently 8pts) and can easily get sucked in. Tough decisions need to be made

Sergeant - 7 - can't blame him for the goals and yet again made some good saves. needs to sort out his kicking
Happe - 5 - has adapted well to LB but is short of pace and was run ragged all game
Ekpiteta - 4 - I never give less than 5 but this was abysmal.
Turley - 6 - not as bad as Happe/Ekpiteta
Marsh - 7 - thought he did okay but why is our best central midfielder playing at RB?
Brophy - 5 - a winger who can't cross to save his life
Clay - 4 - doesn't have the skill, fitness or the legs for this level, contributed nothing
Wright - 5 - was poor today
Maguire-Drew - 6 - was busy and got in some good crosses but Colchester had us figured and gave him no room
Dayton - 6 - adapted well to playing behind the front man but is not a natural and showed up the paucity of midfielders at the club
Angol - 6 - given he was always surrounded by a minimum of three defenders did well but should never have been up there on his own

Harrold - 6 - should have been on the field from the start

[Howling Mad Murdock]

No LB/RB cover.

[Story of O]

At least we have 2 right backs, we have only had 1 lb for over 2 years.

[gshaw]

At least we have 2 right backs, we have only had 1 lb for over 2 years.

Two weak RBs though, Ling should never have got that contract extension

[whittle81]

Ogie has had many games as sub and can play left back, why not give him a chance it surely can't be that much of a risk or his there only to make up the numbers on the bench.

[gshaw]

Ogie has had many games as sub and can play left back, why not give him a chance it surely can't be that much of a risk or his there only to make up the numbers on the bench.

It's the old Hearn creative accounting trick to tell the fans we've got a full squad of 28 when in reality it's a first XI, a couple of fringe players and the rest academy youth teamers on cheap pro contracts for compo purposes if they get poached by a bigger side

[Ronnie Hotdogs]

It’s staggering that the likes of Coulson, brill, Clay and Ling have been offered contract extensions out to June 2021. Staggering.

[kokomO]

It’s staggering that the likes of Coulson, brill, Clay and Ling have been offered contract extensions out to June 2021. Staggering.

When they'd won the club it’s first trophy in 50 years , staggering......

Hindsight is a wonderful thing

[Admin]

Really is starting to look like we shot the messenger (Fletcher). Some of the squad are now not good enough for L2 and Embleton does not have the tactical nous to be a manager at this level. We were 9pts off the bottom at 3pm (currently 8pts) and can easily get sucked in. Tough decisions need to be made

This entirely. Looks more and more like fletchers been slung for correctly identifying what was needed.

Everyone from Travis, Teague to coaches and players need a long hard look at themselves. 2 home wins in half a season and 6 from 23 isn’t anywhere near good enough.

[George M]

When are supporters going to see that , despite several players trying but not being good enough , Brophy neither puts effort in or adds anything.
He pulled out of every tackle , he can’t defend , his crosses are to no one , he is weak in all aspects of the game.
The others aside , we play with 10 men from the start of every game with him on the pitch.

[Thor]

What amazes me is people banging on about the contracts given out. Think things through first before posting. I was a massive supporter of Ling, I am still a supporter of the role being active in our club. He has helped massively with us going from zero to champions, although he has messed up pretty much everywhere since the summer.

However, look at the new contracts dished out. Justin said he will give this squad an opportunity to play in league 2 as they had deserved it. Now I do agree with what he said and let's face it, who am I to argue with him? So I'd guess he had already identified who he wanted contracts given to, who he wanted to let go and who he wanted listed and I'd wager all of those things happened. Maybe not thesamling as that happened later and then general consensus is that he didn't deserve it. Taking Alabi off the list I'm also sure wasn't part of his plan for this season either, so you have the Ling influence in two players who probably shouldn't have deviated from what Justin wanted. Ross is the puppet who can't argue back with his boss.

Now what we don't know is what additions he was looking for, and we don't know what was actioned other than Wright as it was suggested it was his last signing.

What I do know and it's not being clever now is that he would have had this side performing better than what it is now. I've no doubt about it. That includes the players who the fans on this site are complaining about and I am sure they would have been fine in the majority, some would not have made the step up, but he'd have worked that out.

Still we are where we are.

Travis and Teague have questions to answer. Ling is at fault on so many levels and Ross is out of his depth. All my own opinion.

[gshaw]

What amazes me is people banging on about the contracts given out. Think things through first before posting. I was a massive supporter of Ling, I am still a supporter of the role being active in our club. He has helped massively with us going from zero to champions, although he has messed up pretty much everywhere since the summer.

However, look at the new contracts dished out. Justin said he will give this squad an opportunity to play in league 2 as they had deserved it. Now I do agree with what he said and let's face it, who am I to argue with him? So I'd guess he had already identified who he wanted contracts given to, who he wanted to let go and who he wanted listed and I'd wager all of those things happened. Maybe not thesamling as that happened later and then general consensus is that he didn't deserve it. Taking Alabi off the list I'm also sure wasn't part of his plan for this season either, so you have the Ling influence in two players who probably shouldn't have deviated from what Justin wanted. Ross is the puppet who can't argue back with his boss.

Now what we don't know is what additions he was looking for, and we don't know what was actioned other than Wright as it was suggested it was his last signing.

What I do know and it's not being clever now is that he would have had this side performing better than what it is now. I've no doubt about it. That includes the players who the fans on this site are complaining about and I am sure they would have been fine in the majority, some would not have made the step up, but he'd have worked that out.

Still we are where we are.

Travis and Teague have questions to answer. Ling is at fault on so many levels and Ross is out of his depth. All my own opinion.

JE was also pretty ruthless with players that weren't performing. As above the Alabi situation would never have occurred, he was out the door and Ling / Embleton brought him back in. Talk about waste of a squad place now Sotiriou has rightly got in ahead of him.

As for Sam Ling, of course Martin had no involvement in that at all. Absolutely none, nope I'm sure it was completely Embleton's decision to give him a long contract mid-season without manager situation sorted out.

Fact is JE's ability covered for Ling and without that pragmatic side Justin brought we're heading back into Davis territory again. A soft side without the balls to compete against sides showing a bit of steel and guile.

[Thor]

Agreed Justin covered up Lings weaknesses and now hes being shown as a liability especially in his decision making ability.