Marsh, watters, lopata, smith should be sent

Lopata is getting minutes.
McCarthy isn't.

One is needed for the bench.

So of the two, maybe McCarthy exits? Perm or otherwise.

Then we promote James to bench duties.

 

Of the four centre halves that played last night Lopata looked the most accomplished by a considerable distance. The only pressure we were ever under last night came about after glaring errors from our centre halves. Lopata put a stop to all that and pretty much prevented Wigan from getting beyond the half way line. Admittedly, Connell, Phillips and Watters all had a big hand in that too, but Lopata was our best defensive player. I wouldn't be in a rush to send him anywhere.

I'm aware Pines is just regaining his match fitness so is bound to look rusty, but Lopata looks a way better option than MDG or Earl.

 

In reply to MDG he needs to be sent out on loan to L2 because him and earl are a liability together

 

I always thought that Lopata looked decent last season up to his injury. For some reason he never got a look in again once he got fit.

 

Lopata would be good in a back 4, and I think there's a growing argument that we start to use that formation. We're weak at RWB, and we're weakened defensively by having to play Earl and MDG because other CBs are too slow. If we're not getting any attacking benefit from playing wing-backs then there's no point having them.

We could accomodate slower CBs as a 4, and Roberts, Pines and Lopata would all be solid options, maybe MDG's deficiencies would be less obvious. Gent at LB and Lofthouse at RB.