This is just a personal view of the current state of play as I see it, so please no abuse we're all entitled to an opinion. Goalkeeper wise I think Rich Lee has established himself as first choice and has proved a great shot stopper in his last few games. Our defence is woeful at times and it always looks as if no one takes the responsibility for marshalling it. We are constantly vulnerable to real pace down the flanks and our central defenders still lose men far too often in and around the six yard box. When you take into account also that our ball distribution from defence is also dire it becomes clear that an injection of new blood is badly needed. Stewart should be history asap, Doyley has been the pick of a bad bunch, though I'm not convinced of his quality long term. Shittu is very very slow at reading the game, sometimes almost like in a time warp which leaves Jay who I think is the only one really for the future. Mariappa may develop but again gets badly exposed against pace. The midfield is the source of the majority of our problems defensively they place the back four under far too much pressure and let the opposition threaten our 18 yard box instead of either forcing them wide or tackling earlier rather than later. Would love to see Bang Bangs problems resolved and him back in the side asap as replacement for Mahon. Francis looks better by the week and would feel tempted to give him a start. O'Toole has huge potential but we need to remember his age and temper our expectations. Smith has probably been player of the season so far as he works his socks off, whilst I'm still not convinced by Jobi who has so far failed to shine at all. Ainsworth looks a real gem and would certainly start with him at Sheffield. Williamson is a real liability both with some of his tackling and his lack of decent ball distribution and I can't see him as a long term fixture, especially when Williams is fit. Johnson was a real eye opener as to the quality of player we should be aiming to sign, goals, great ball delivery and superb dead ball play, and it's no coincidence that this slump has followed his departure. Up front we have huge goal scoring potential as seen earlier in the season but they must have the service and with the number of strikers we have in the squad we should always have at least two on the bench and should ring the changes at half time if the starting combination of the day isn't working out. I think King will be gone probably in January but certainly thereafter if we don't go up, Doris should always be on the bench as an attacking option, and lets give Duke and Priskin a chance to show what they do with some decent service to them. Lastly for heavens sake lets stop the aimless hoofball and play like we've shown we can at times this season and let teams worry about us instead of the other way round.
I agree with much of what you say there. I would like to say though that our defence with Demerit and Jackson has looked far improved IMO. I realise we conceded in the last minute or two, but the amount of pressure they are under because of our abysmal midfield is constant and ridiculous compared to pretty much all other teams. Apart from a new LB, I think we are pretty well set up. Midfield we are shocking. O'toole has clear potential, gets in people's faces and scores goals, BUT I think it shows the inadequacy of our midfield pairing when he is starting games, as he is far, far from a finished product, as you would expect. Williamson is shocking. Said it the first time he played, and he still is absolute cack as far as I am concerned. He dragged down Mahon (please nobody bang on about this Mahon needed to be dropped and he was, but Williamson was just as bad) and is dragging down O'Toole as well. Francis needs to start NOW. Williams needs to get fit too bloody soon. Strike wise we are loaded, its just that if King goes we are screwed IMO. Priskin has always been and will always be **** in my eyes, Hoskins is irrelevant (My Millwall mate tells me he hasn't exactly set the world alight but has been useful in their League One outfit...) and it is beyond me why King + Ellington haven't started a match together. Hendo is proven here, end of. Kabba I think would probably do a job, its just he has no way of getting in as even when we are playing **** he doesn't seem to have any way into the striker position. Oh, and Richard Lee is God. My thoughts.
