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I don't think either Lockwood or Martis played badly isolation, but as a pair they are not the answer. If you talk about distribution, well don't criticise them too much, when so called better ball players keep giving them the ball back, leaving them no option to punt it upfield.It's the midfield, and their lack of movement or them wanting to get on the ball, that was the problem in the second half today. No one seemed to want to support each other as they normally do and we were sliping back in to the tippy tappy stuff, encouraging the Bristol players to close us down.It is clear however, when Thomas came on he stamped his authority on the game. If the rest of the players can follow his lead then we will play much better as a unit.So for me it's Thomas and A N Other.
In terms of bread and butter defending both were ok. (goal aside where Martis let the goalscorer get away from him)Martis, even though he was doing ok, seems to get down on himself. Maybe because he's too sensitive to the unfair calling he gets from the crowd. A few of us have commented on him being a confidence player and I think he will benefit most from Wayne Thomas playing alongside him.He looked very depondant when he was subbed.
Normally we rely on Stock taking the ball off the centre halves and everything starts from there.
I think Martis/Lockwood works but the set piece curse hit again. Lockwood played well I thought today and I think the lack of midfield play had an effect on the distribution from the back today.
Central defence pairing? Not the 2 that started. And not the 2 that finished.We bid for Shackell pre season, so we wanted another 'commanding' CB and I can't see where anything has changed. We need a decent CB, pronto.