Central Defence Pairing

[Standanista]

Any thoughts on what might be our best middle pair at the back?  Commentary today reckoned Martis looked short on confidence, particularly with distribution.  Thinking also back to A.Stanley game - solid or shaky?

[big fat yorkshire pudding]

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.

[Spankster]

Lockwood won everything today, he is not always the best player but he did have a good day today

[bessacarrover]

i think we should play lockwood and thomas for the cardiff game, martis played shocking today he gave the ball away too much.

[stockyboy]

Martis was awful today, gave the ball to them pretty much every time he got it. I do like the look of Thomas, him and Locky look like a good partnership.

[MrFrost]

I thought both Lockwood and Martis were shocking. Every time Lockwood goes for a header, his arms are all over his man, i'm surprised more free kicks aren't given against him.

Martis is totally clueless with the ball at his feet.

The number of times the two of them let the ball bounce when they should have been heading it clear was insane.

Thomas and Hird, or maybe Thomas and JOC with Dumbuya for me.

I'm not convinved with Friend either as yet, he did ok against Preston but seemed to lack today.

I still think we need a Shackell/Mills type centre back.

[mushRTID]

Thought friend was shakey today too. He seemed to turn into trouble a lot.

[goalkick]

not sure about hird but def need a shack/ mills type.

[DonnyBazR0ver]

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.

[DonnyOsmond]

I know Chambers is injured at the moment but how about this.

Friend Thomas O'Connor Chambers

[i_ateallthepies]

DonnyBazR0ver wrote:

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.

Agree completely Baz, I've just made the same point in another thread.

[DN8ROVER]

Never rated Martis TBH.The Ark Royal can turn quicker than him.

[VikingJames]

DonnyBazR0ver wrote:

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.

Spot on.

If you look at the instances in which Martis resorted to booting it forward, he didn't really have any other option. You can't slate him for not passing it. If there isn't a man available to pass to, then what is he supposed to do?

As for the marking for the goal, it may have been sloppy, but looking at it another way, not many people beat Damion Stewart in the air - he is a man mountain.

I'm pretty sick of people getting on Martis's back. Lockwood was far from perfect today, and Martis certainly wasn't the worst player on the pitch. The midfield was non-existant. I had a bloke sat behind me in the South Stand slating Martis for the entire game, so frustrating. Especially when he never said a word when Locky made identical mistakes!

[DonnyBazR0ver]

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.

[MrFrost]

DonnyBazR0ver wrote:

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.

He was injured when he went off. Anyone know to what extent?

[besty]

I noticed he was blowing through  his backside 5 mins before he started limping.

Cant make my mind up about him to be honest,Thomas looked a lot better when he came on but guess thats easy when we are 1 down and they are sat back!

[ravenrover]

Can't say I thought he looked injured very dejected but can't see why. His marking was terrible today. To say that he had their player in his hands just before the kick was taken would be an understatement he was watching him like a hawk but the minute the kick was taken he stood like a statue and just watched him have a free header. O'Connor ws giving him some right stick all the way through about his marking and the lack of cover he gave him when JO'C was going forward. I thought Locky was fairly solid but would agree that either him or Martis will be better with Thomas alongside.
I was disapointed with Friend on Tuesday, the 1st time I have seen him this season, but today his perfoemance confirmed my original thoughts....not good enough. All left foot, slow for a full back and poor in his defensive duties. Reckon that Chambers will be back in LB position.
Woods and Shiels will be on the bench when Oster and copps are fit.
All in all though happy with a point today after a poor performance against a team that obviously came for a point, were well organised and closed Rovers down well. Billy hardly had a sniff nothing for him to feed on from our midfield, but have to say he looked a yard short of pace.

[MrFrost]

He was injured. He went down holding his hamstring about 3 minutes before he was subbed.

[VikingJames]

He was injured. Hence why he sat on the floor for 2 minutes before he went off! I don't even think Martis would get so dejected he has to have a sit down in the middle of play.

I was so annoyed at the bloke behind me who was constantly calling Martis! Didn't even stop chuntering when he went off!

[Jonathan]

I think when we're talking about the distribution of the centre halves then it's clear our entire game hasn't clicked into place. Normally we rely on Stock taking the ball off the centre halves and everything starts from there. Stock was not at his best today and when that happens the whole team doesn't tick as it should.

As for our best centre half pairing this season, I'm hoping to goodness we haven't signed part of it yet!

[BillyStubbsTears]

Jonathan wrote:

Normally we rely on Stock taking the ball off the centre halves and everything starts from there.

As our kid perceptively pointed out today, Millen got his tactics spot on. They played a harrying midfielder in that space between our defence and midfield and totally denied us the space that we use to build attacks. It's so simple, it's astonishing that more managers don't play this way against us. Close down that space and we struggle badly. Give us a bit of time and space in that position and we will dominate any side in this division.

[uros-predic]

big fat yorkshire pudding wrote:

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.

its not a curse my friend, its zonal marking, i could tell they were gunna score before they took it, dodgy DODGY stratedgy

[Alan Southstand]

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.

[Dagenham Rover]

Alan Southstand wrote:

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.

A combination of one from each half I would have thought  

[jb stainforth]

i know its not nice to say but joc playing out of position is better than every cb we have
 at club i think its something to do with the ability to read the game

[Filo]

JOC and Thomas would be a good pairing when Chambers is fit

[goalkick]

agree with filo thomas and joc but wld like to see a new big capable cb on loan.