Northampton thread

Quoted from TAGG

Can't we send Embelton and Ring back where they came from???

Embleton has gone off the boil which you might expect with a youngster and he’s also turned into a right greedy so and so.

Early days yet but my first impressions of Ring is that he’s not that good. Then again time may tell.

I don't think anyone in the team is that good.

Quoted from HertsGTFC

Embleton has gone off the boil which you might expect with a youngster and he’s also turned into a right greedy so and so.

Early days yet but my first impressions of Ring is that he’s not that good. Then again time may tell.

Ring certainly seems to  be a long way behind his fellow countryman but it is early days.

As for Embleton I just don't see any point in continuing to pick him in fact he may as well go back to Sunderland now. We're going nowhere up or down and he could be useful on the bench at Sunderland as they appear to be play-off bound

What has Embleton actually produced in terms of goals and assists by being a regular starter at L2 level? His stats are not at all impressive. I know the general consensus is that he won't be here next season, but I really don't think he's produced enough, on a regular basis to have any future at Sunderland, whether they are L1 or championship.

I rate him, as I'm sure we all do, but his stats as a regular L2 starter are bang average, at best.

Quoted from Ipswin

Ring certainly seems to  be a long way behind his fellow countryman but it is early days.

As for Embleton I just don't see any point in continuing to pick him in fact he may as well go back to Sunderland now. We're going nowhere up or down and he could be useful on the bench at Sunderland as they appear to be play-off bound

I think Embleton keeps getting picked as Jolley wants to get a reputation for playing young loanees ........ apart from Joe Grayson that is 🤔

I do agree though we should be giving others a bit more game time.

Embleton was a bit better today than of late but I have to agree that he's not exactly looked like he's playing at a level beneath his ability. In his best games before Christmas, he looked a really good prospect but he's looked tired and sluggish since then. Much like Thomas, in fact!

I just don't think that 3-5-2 suits the players at our disposal. We've been at our best with one up top. The best we've been in centre midfield is when we've played Hess and Clifton deeper with Embleton in a more advanced position. When was the last time we played them together regularly? Our best pairing at centre of defence was Davis and Whitmore, who blended together well as a partnership, after Collins (who had a decent game today) broke his arm and when he was banned in December. And we've had a lack of presence going forward or defending on the left. Thomas's body language wasn't great today, I don't think he's going to be here next season and Jolley will have an idea if he's going already. If so, why aren't we having a good look at Vernam, Dennis or A Rose? The opportunity to blood other players in competitive matches without consequences doesn't come around very often, MJ should treasure the next few games rather than trying to beat our points total from last year. It's a given anyway. At this stage the development of players who are going to be here next season must be far more important than trying to finish with 51, 54, 56 or 60 points. It's not like the players that are not going to be here next season are tearing up any trees at the minute and fans might even be more enthused in watching fringe players rather chasing some meaningless points target. We may even amass more points with players with fresh legs and desperate for a game anyway, especially if we ditch the 3-5-2 until we have the right players for that system..

Ring is simply too weak to be a wing back. He seems to lack the confidence to attack the line as if he is not sure that someone is covering behind. He dithers or passes backwards rather than winning throw ins,  corners or free kicks in the last third. Ordinary full back at best.

What happened to the usual "Just Back" thread ???

Quoted from Bigdog

I just don't think that 3-5-2 suits the players at our disposal. We've been at our best with one up top. The best we've been in centre midfield is when we've played Hess and Clifton deeper with Embleton in a more advanced position. When was the last time we played them together regularly? Our best pairing at centre of defence was Davis and Whitmore, who blended together well as a partnership, after Collins (who had a decent game today) broke his arm and when he was banned in December. And we've had a lack of presence going forward or defending on the left. Thomas's body language wasn't great today, I don't think he's going to be here next season and Jolley will have an idea if he's going already. If so, why aren't we having a good look at Vernam, Dennis or A Rose? The opportunity to blood other players in competitive matches without consequences doesn't come around very often, MJ should treasure the next few games rather than trying to beat our points total from last year. It's a given anyway. At this stage the development of players who are going to be here next season must be far more important than trying to finish with 51, 54, 56 or 60 points. It's not like the players that are not going to be here next season are tearing up any trees at the minute and fans might even be more enthused in watching fringe players rather chasing some meaningless points target. We may even amass more points with players with fresh legs and desperate for a game anyway, especially if we ditch the 3-5-2 until we have the right players for that system..

Personally I don’t think 3-5-2 is doing us any favours either especially in games like today when both Hess & Woolly appeared to be sat deep and neither Ring or Hendrie are consistently bombing on or getting in behind. We did look a bit more fluid when RHJ played on the right of the 3 but the manager appears to prefer Davis there over RHJ I assume for his height more than footballing ability.

I’d also like to see some more of our quicker & more energetic players as our tempo and movement off the ball has regressed badly in recent weeks which may explain some of the performances and results.