I keep reading about all the strikers and wingers we need

Is that really the main issue. We have players capable of creating and scoring goals. Okay they're not doing it on a regular basis but we're not addressing the real issue in my opinion.

Defensively we were dreadful again today. Dudgeon was awful and not for the first time. Nyatanga at centre half never fills me with confidence. Big Jean was doing all the hard work, in actually winning the ball, but then giving it away with shocking distribution. Bree can be excused to a certain extent as he's a 16 year old lad in his first full season as a professional footballer, therefore he's going to have bad games. The problem is, we shouldn't become over reliant on young lads like Bree as he's still learning, and he's in the side as another one of our defensive frailties has been temporarily relieved from his duties. I still have my reservations about Cranie too, he certainly isn't a right back as many seem to say, nor on the evidence of today is he a holding midfielder. And for a centre half, he doesn't win anywhere near enough ariel battles for me.

At present our best centre half pairing has got to be Cranie and M'Voto, one who can play the ball on the floor and one who will win everything in the air. But we're certainly suffering from a lack of strength in depth. As the out of form (or just not good enough in general) players are constantly given a chance purely because we have no other option.

It was good to see Turnbull back today. He looked every inch the ideal replacement for Steele that I was expecting and was completely faultless for the 3 goals.

 

Nyatanga and Dudgeon started season well. Mvoto misplaced a couple of passes yesterday, we know his distribution isn't strong point, Nyatanga gave almost every ball away. Dudgeon was undone regularly by a player that got his card marked and who had no support from Nyatanga. However our left was exposed in defence and as an outlet because we have no midfield (not and underachieving midfield player) but NO midfield coverage. We expected Hemmings to come from his forward position to do it. Even with the players we have in the squad our formation, game plan and balance is awful, we should be doing better. Winnal is our best striker in work rate and we know he can score but we are creating fewer and fewer in the area chances. In my mind we are playing too wide across the midfield, I think Steven Foster called it too many Marguee wingers in the team. I would sacrifice one of the wide players for a tighter compact midfield. Our left was exposed all game and we don't look like we create much from either wing. Only question I ask, as I did when we started the season, do we have enough true midfielders to do it? I think we need an experienced tackling midfielder.

 

Midfield was a mess leaving Dudgeon exposed.