Have we got one (any good) ? Egan is NOT a right back - he is an 'excellent' centre back - and is far less effective being put at RB ( albeit that he tried reasonably well to fill the role.) Joe Martin is simply not good enough. He can't 'beat' his marker when he ventures forward- thus not being able to put over any crosses - and usually ends up going backwards ( if he doesn't lose the ball ). Is it just a coincidence that when we had Chicksen we remained unbeaten - I'm fairly sure that he if was still with us Martin wouldn't get a game. So I'm suggesting that we need to find a couple of decent fullbacks - who can stop some crosses connecting with Legge's wrong foot.
I was impressed with Chicksen when I saw him in his first match for us against Orient, but wasn't able to see him again before he went back to Brighton. Shame that he got called back, but that's the nature of getting players on loan. On the subject of players on loan, has anyone heard how Matt Fish is doing at Portsmouth? I know he's unlikely to set the world on fire at this level, but he's always seemed to be a reliable hard working player who doesn't make all that many mistakes. Joe Martin this season has looked to me like a full back (as they were pre-decimalization), but not a wing back, which is what we need if we're going to play 4-4-2. In the first half against Doncaster when we played with 3 at the back he just looked lost going forward. Last season he seemed to have a good working relationship with Myles Weston, but this season the lack of a settled team means that there hasn't been the opportunity at a competitive level to get an understanding with a midfield partner.
I think full backs is a big problem for us. I am not sure Hoyte has been the answer as he hasn't impressed that much. Don't seem like he has impressed Taylor for him to play a number of different players at right back. As for Martin, he has one good game and then has a really poor game. I think it is about time we look for a right back and a left back to challenge Martin in the January window and let Hoyte go.
Those two positions plus a new striker to back up Cody are absolute minimum requirements for January, if we are going to scape past being relegated, which in my opinion is a nailed on certainty with Taylors stupid and inexplainable tactics.
Firstly - well done Joe -a good goal ( great technique )- BUT - just how many times did Colchester manage to get their crosses in from the LB position ? We got lucky with the two disallowed goals - otherwise the better teams in L1 would have really punished us for our fullback inadequacies. One thing I have come to notice with Joe Martin is that he turns his body away from the ball if, ( or rather every time ) the opponent crosses the damned thing - when he should be keeping his eye on it and looking to stop the cross !
