Where the problem lies!

[muggley]

I believe that above anything the reason we have found ourselves in this mess, is down to the centre midfield.

Honestly.... where would Chippy, Oatway or Nicolas get into at any other side in this division?

Outclassed everyweek in what is arguably the most telling area of the pitch. Not one offers anything in the form of an attacking threat other than the occaisional strike of richard carpenter's right boot.

Oatway's lack of ability was emphasised on Saturday as I watched him move the entire midfield forward before the ball set only to see the ball float over the midfield line leaving 3 on 4 at the back. This eventually led to Knight being booked in what could have caused a goal.

 

[Silent Bob]

Nicolas is a good player imo. Oatway less so.

 

[itszamora]

Chippy has also been excellent since about December time this year. Him and Nicolas are both easily Championship quality players.

 

[Basil Fawlty]

Midfield has always been the problem. I would like to see Chippy and Nicholas play there on Tuesday and leave slow coach Oatway on the bench.

 

[John Boy]

Midfield has always been the problem. I would like to see Chippy and Nicholas play there on Tuesday and leave slow coach Oatway on the bench.

Agreed, it's good to have Chippy back from suspension

 

[Basil Fawlty]

Agreed, it's good to have Chippy back from suspension

This might sound stupid but drop Oatway all together and put Hammond the bench. Oatway aint got it in this division.

 

[John Boy]

This might sound stupid but drop Oatway all together and put Hammond the bench. Oatway aint got it in this division.

He is a good captain though. Hammond was playing well mid season, but was dropped for some reason, so I wouldn't mind seeing him play

 

[Basil Fawlty]

He is a good captain though. Hammond was playing well mid season, but was dropped for some reason, so I wouldn't mind seeing him play

Agreed. But the second goal was down to Oatway fault when he lost the ball and then the midfield and defence backed off Staunton for their second goal. In some way Oatway was to blame for the goal because he didn't tell anyone to hassle Staunton. Guy Butters had to tell someone to get him but no one did. It was like there is the goal have a shot.

 

[Stevie Boy]

i would play chippy and hammond in the middle, oatway hasnt exactly been any good this year there.

 

[Safeway]

Actually, when did we LAST have a decent central midfield pairing? Sidwell and Rodger? Carpenter and Lewis?

 

[London Irish]

Agreed. But the second goal was down to Oatway fault when he lost the ball and then the midfield and defence backed off Staunton for their second goal. In some way Oatway was to blame for the goal because he didn't tell anyone to hassle Staunton. Guy Butters had to tell someone to get him but no one did. It was like there is the goal have a shot.

That's not what happened and to pin it all on Charlie may suit your prejudices but is pretty cheap. He bears some responsibility but so do other players.

Bolix did he lose the ball he was 30 yards away when Staunton began taking the ball forward.

McPhee created the first problem by standing like an oak tree rather than follow and hassle Staunton. This was terrible for a player freshly on, Virgs and McCammon has spent all game tracking players back, Big Mac won loads of headers inside his own box too.

The first player facing Staunton was not Charlie but Hammond. Staunton did him too easily with a standard 1-2 with another Cov player. Charlie was moving to cover this player and was thus was also dragged out of position.

The final problem was Butters and Dolan were nervously standing so deep because of the fearful runaround they were getting from Adebola/Benjamin. So once Staunton was behind Hammond/Oatway, he had that crucial few yards of space on the edge of the box to unleash the shot.

That's actually what happened, a combination of lack of concentration, poor teamwork and tired legs - about 4 or 5 of our players to blame.

You can scapegoat Charlie all you want (of course you probably didn't notice his work in our goal) but McGhee won't

 

[mona]

That's not what happened and to pin it all on Charlie may suit your prejudices but is pretty cheap. He bears some responsibility but so do other players.

Bolix did he lose the ball he was 30 yards away when Staunton began taking the ball forward.

McPhee created the first problem by standing like an oak tree rather than follow and hassle Staunton. This was terrible for a player freshly on, Virgs and McCammon has spent all game tracking players back, Big Mac won loads of headers inside his own box too.

The first player facing Staunton was not Charlie but Hammond. Staunton did him too easily with a standard 1-2 with another Cov player. Charlie was moving to cover this player and was thus was also dragged out of position.

The final problem was Butters and Dolan were nervously standing so deep because of the fearful runaround they were getting from Adebola/Benjamin. So once Staunton was behind Hammond/Oatway, he had that crucial few yards of space on the edge of the box to unleash the shot.

That's actually what happened, a combination of lack of concentration, poor teamwork and tired legs - about 4 or 5 of our players to blame.

You can scapegoat Charlie all you want (of course you probably didn't notice his work in our goal) but McGhee won't

Quite right London Irish!
But Charlie is struggling in this division and we should look for a Chippy/Deano midfield now.

 

[London Irish]

Nope, his passing has been a revelation this season. Charlie's actually now a better player when we play the ball on the deck than when we play the more direct long-ball style, because he's a more accurate passer than Dean or Chippy. Alexis is the most accurate of the lot but count the times he passes the ball forward and you'll see why. The ball Charlie fired into Harty's feet prior to the goal yesterday has been typical of the kind of passes that he's been playing to our guys in advanced positions this season. That's why he's getting picked, McGhee is not affected by sentiment like many fans, he is picking the players who get the job done best.

 

[sydney]

i beleive you inadvertantly mentioned the problem there L.I ,when our fellow relegation contenders can bring on the likes of benjamin and adebola as subs..you dont have to be too bright to work out what sort of kakka we're in......slagging the likes of charlie oatway down when we are in this predicament is a bit rich....if carpenter hadn't been suspended for the last three games things might be a little different............i still think we will stay up anyway.......

 

[sydney]

i beleive you inadvertantly mentioned the problem there L.I ,when our fellow relegation contenders can bring on the likes of benjamin and adebola as subs..you dont have to be too bright to work out what sort of kakka we're in......slagging the likes of charlie oatway down when we are in this predicament is a bit rich....if carpenter hadn't been suspended for the last three games things might be a little different............i still think we will stay up anyway.......

 

[Yorkie]

good call sydney

 

[Superseagull]

i beleive you inadvertantly mentioned the problem there L.I ,when our fellow relegation contenders can bring on the likes of benjamin and adebola as subs..you dont have to be too bright to work out what sort of kakka we're insalute:

U hit the nail on the head fella. The fact is Coventry got 12,000 more fans into the ground on Saturday than we could ever get at Withdean, which at say £22 a head would be over £250,000+. That is the same amount of dosh in one game that we got by selling our best player Currie!

Then add food, programmes, hospitality, etc and you have got a huge amount of extra revenue above what we will ever get at Withdean that will pay for the likes of Benjamin and Adebola.

Until we get Falmer we will struggle to compete in this division.

 

[Napper]

I'd love to have Benjamin or Adebola at the moment. Our problem is we don't score enough goals whether it's from attack or midfield.

 

[Lawro's Lip]

Lack of goals and strength in depth of our squad are our problem made worse recently by injuries and suspensions. But not a problem that, with just a bit of luck, we cannot overcome and still stay up.