The Spine Of The Team

Is Greeno-Shackell-Safri-Ashton.

Greeno hasn't benefitted at all from having the current shambles of a defence in front of him and not being certain who is playing there from week to week-how he must miss the days when it was Edworthy-Mackay-Fleming-Drury, virtually every week?

Shackell is a player with a huge lot of potential yet he has been dragged down a bit by our start this season-it would help him a lot if he had a partner alongside him who could "talk" him though games and pass on his experience etc, he might have had that in Flem 2-3 years ago, but nowadays, I think he is too busy wondering about Flem's positioning and just about everything else to benefit from his experience!

Safri is the redeeming feature in what used to be a midfield. Nations Cup and other commitments aside, it would be great to get 30-35 games out of him this season.

Deano, well, if his head has dropped a bit of late, I can't blame him. Is it me, or has he looked a bit weary of Leon at times? The optimist in me recalls what he said when he signed his contract extension, about the "ambition" the club had, is this, or does this reflect what he has been told, or what might be about to happen, because if he can see it at the moment, where most of us can see nothing but mediocrity, then good on him, and where is it please?

I've missed out Hucks as we seem now, or rather, Worthy does, to have not quite made his mind up what to do with him?? Wide left, wide right, up front, in the hole, free role? No wonder he is frustrated, the evidence was there on Monday.

As for the rest of the squad, well, just now, thats all they seem to be-"the rest". Quality desperately, desperately needed. But not coming, it seems. Hugely disappointing.

Posted By: Martin Peters, Aug 31, 16:52:57