United 4 Exeter 4 - report

[Wards]

First game I've missed at home this year and just caught up with watching the goals on the FL Show.

From what I've seen, I can only lay the blame at Long's door for the first - I fail to see what he could have done with the others. Just bad defending from what should be experienced players. Unopposed run for the second, asleep for the third and just a complete mess for the 4th.

A real leader is needed in there somewhere, at the expense of Collins or Maguire I feel. I have doubts whether Morgs will be the same player so once the Blackpool lads go back I'd be trying to get someone in.

And yes, I also feel we get bullied somewhat. I'm not sure you'd be frightened of coming up agains anyone in our side.

 

[Highbury_Blade]

Quinn 3/10: a really poor game and I feel he needs a rest. He has completely lost his form and was completely ineffective yesterday. His touch was poor, he was wasteful, his passing bad and he has a tendency to hold onto the ball for too long. The most irritating thing is that he comes inside all the time and narrows play. When you want to spread things there is often nobody out wide left as he is running around ;like a headless chicken. He needs to be told to stay out wide, or played in centre mid. In fact, I think he needs to be rested. Badly out of form and offering very little at the moment.

It's more irritating when other players don't have the discipline to fill in the gaps when quinn, or others come inside. I'd rather our talented players have the freedom to move into spaces where they think they can cause damage, rather than be shackled.

 

[Kenilworth]

It's more irritating when other players don't have the discipline to fill in the gaps when quinn, or others come inside. I'd rather our talented players have the freedom to move into spaces where they think they can cause damage, rather than be shackled.

Agreed - Quinn is not a winger - he hasn't the pace of Phillips - so he is more suited to a central midfield role or a roving role, where he can dicatate the game. Unfortunately he has been far less effective recently than earlier on in the season - fewer assists, fewer attempts on goal from himself. Maybe he is the one targeted by oppo managers to stop us playing.

His corners are usually poor as well - notable this Satdi was a goal from a Quinn corner. Normally he doesn't clear the first man. Maybe he thinks everyone is 5'6" tall.

 

[Micalijo]

Deadbat, Ollie, great posting lads - keep it up.

 

[Ollessendro]

It's more irritating when other players don't have the discipline to fill in the gaps when quinn, or others come inside. I'd rather our talented players have the freedom to move into spaces where they think they can cause damage, rather than be shackled.

Eh? He is played wide left and should stick to that position. We lose our shape and it costs us. There's only so much Williams can do getting forward and do you really want Monty pulling out wide left or a striker having to come out to the left wing. If he wants a free roll or to play centre mid, then he should speak to Wilson. At the moment he is completely inneffective and like I've said, we lose our shape. I would not mind if he was creating things or getting in good positions (like the end of last season or beginning of this) but he has resorted to his headless chicken or disappearance acts.

Agreed - Quinn is not a winger - he hasn't the pace of Phillips - so he is more suited to a central midfield role or a roving role, where he can dicatate the game. Unfortunately he has been far less effective recently than earlier on in the season - fewer assists, fewer attempts on goal from himself. Maybe he is the one targeted by oppo managers to stop us playing.

His corners are usually poor as well - notable this Satdi was a goal from a Quinn corner. Normally he doesn't clear the first man. Maybe he thinks everyone is 5'6" tall.

If he is not a winger then he should not be played there. As stated above, it's fine when he is creating and scoring goals, but when he is doing nowt it gets highlighted. Move him inside, or drop him.

 

[Highbury_Blade]

We lose our shape because the other players don't move around to fill in the gaps. (From what i've seen). Sure, anchor quinny to the left wing. Will make him pretty easy to mark....


Your thoughts seem to be a bit one-dimensional on this issue olle.

 

[Pinchy]

Morgan will never be intimidated by anyone, but he's been bullied physically by bigger, stronger men. The most obvious have been Parkin, Kuqi and Carroll.

 

[cooperblade]

Quinn 3/10: a really poor game and I feel he needs a rest. He has completely lost his form and was completely ineffective yesterday. His touch was poor, he was wasteful, his passing bad and he has a tendency to hold onto the ball for too long. The most irritating thing is that he comes inside all the time and narrows play. When you want to spread things there is often nobody out wide left as he is running around ;like a headless chicken. He needs to be told to stay out wide, or played in centre mid. In fact, I think he needs to be rested. Badly out of form and offering very little at the moment.

I think Quinn was playing off the centre forward (particularly in the 2nd half) rather than wide left. To me it looked a 4-4-1-1 with Clarke wide left.

Don't disagree that Quinn had a poor game on Saturday but certainly wouldn't leave him out - there's no-one waiting in the wings who is pushing for a start.

 

[LA Blade]

Deadbat, Ollie, great posting lads - keep it up.

Ditto.

 

[Ollessendro]

I think Quinn was playing off the centre forward (particularly in the 2nd half) rather than wide left. To me it looked a 4-4-1-1 with Clarke wide left.

Don't disagree that Quinn had a poor game on Saturday but certainly wouldn't leave him out - there's no-one waiting in the wings who is pushing for a start.

Yes, that is true. I found it strange that he put Quinn up top and Clarke out wide. It did benefit the latter, though the former remained anonymous. As stated previously Cooper, I would play Lowton wide right and Philips out on the left. Quinn has been poor for some time and needs a rest. It might give him a rocket up the arse too. That said, he just needs to concentrate on his game. He is clearly trying too hard and this involves him running around like a headless chicken. If he trusted his team mates and stuck to his job (i.e. left midfield) then I am sure his form would return.

 

[cooperblade]

Yes, that is true. I found it strange that he put Quinn up top and Clarke out wide. It did benefit the latter, though the former remained anonymous. As stated previously Cooper, I would play Lowton wide right and Philips out on the left. Quinn has been poor for some time and needs a rest. It might give him a rocket up the arse too. That said, he just needs to concentrate on his game. He is clearly trying too hard and this involves him running around like a headless chicken. If he trusted his team mates and stuck to his job (i.e. left midfield) then I am sure his form would return.

My only worry with pushing Lowton into midfield is that we, in effect, lose 1 attacking player if the replacement right back (Parrino?) isn't as capable and comfortable at getting forward from full back as Lowton is.

Lowton, regardless of concerns about his form, continues to overlap but also to get into central attacking positions (look where he was when Porter scored v Orient). That has been a key reason why we've scored so many goals as the opposition struggle to cope with a runner from so deep.

 

[Ollessendro]

My only worry with pushing Lowton into midfield is that we, in effect, lose 1 attacking player if the replacement right back (Parrino?) isn't as capable and comfortable at getting forward from full back as Lowton is.

Lowton, regardless of concerns about his form, continues to overlap but also to get into central attacking positions (look where he was when Porter scored v Orient). That has been a key reason why we've scored so many goals as the opposition struggle to cope with a runner from so deep.

Fair enough. Interesting point. He has been a revelation going forward. This is particularly the case when wingers don't track back. Wednesday left winger did not track back and left their left back exposed. Williamson and Lowton tore him a new arsehole first half. Of course his tactic was to simply deck Williamson. I guess it is a trade off. Lowton is poor defensively, but offers a lot going forward. Do we sacrifice an attacking option for a more solid defence? We might not having any option when Philips goes back anyway (perhaps Flynn). I think it is worth a try. Particularly if Ertl is back soon, as he will be solid at this level.

Of course the other option Coops is to get Lowton working hard on his defending. Wilson and Morgs must surely have identified this and be working with him. I can give him some advice. Concentrate, get closer to your man and stay on your toes. But seriously, Lowton needs to work on his defensive game and that is what coaches are for!

 

[Bergen Blade]

My only worry with pushing Lowton into midfield is that we, in effect, lose 1 attacking player if the replacement right back (Parrino?) isn't as capable and comfortable at getting forward from full back as Lowton is.

Lowton, regardless of concerns about his form, continues to overlap but also to get into central attacking positions (look where he was when Porter scored v Orient). That has been a key reason why we've scored so many goals as the opposition struggle to cope with a runner from so deep.

How about central midfield for him though? Could we copy the holding playmaker-box to box man partnership of McCall and Brown? I'd hoped McAllister would fight his way into the team this season, but he seems nowhere near the first team at the moment. Could Lowton's superb off the ball runs give us an even bigger attacking threat if he's played in central midfield?