Are we missing Marv ?

N

Nigel517

Well-known member
For the last two seasons Marv has been a rock . Despite his gangly looks he is strong, he rarely get pushed off the ball, he is quick , which the rest of our defence isn’t and he is very good in the air. His failing is that he is not great on the ball. Unfortunately Critchleys tactics and method of play have highlighted this failing.
Personally I would like to see Critchley change his tactics/line up to accomadate Marv , he is in my opinion our best defender.
We simply need his speed,strength and ability in the air and should work around his distribution problem.
Thoughts ?
 
No he can't play in a back three.
Our best defender but he only works in a back four so until we go to that formation even if gets back form he can't start.
 
Nigel517 said:
For the last two seasons Marv has been a rock . Despite his gangly looks he is strong, he rarely get pushed off the ball, he is quick , which the rest of our defence isn’t and he is very good in the air. His failing is that he is not great on the ball. Unfortunately Critchleys tactics and method of play have highlighted this failing.
Personally I would like to see Critchley change his tactics/line up to accomadate Marv , he is in my opinion our best defender.
We simply need his speed,strength and ability in the air and should work around his distribution problem.
Thoughts ?
Click to expand...
You've answered your own question.
He is arguably our best defender, blocking, defensive headers and attacking at corners.
Unfortunately for him, Critchley wants to play 3 at the back with his defenders comfortable on the ball (which he is not)
If he was then he probably wouldn't be playing for Blackpool.
 
Nigel517 said:
For the last two seasons Marv has been a rock . Despite his gangly looks he is strong, he rarely get pushed off the ball, he is quick , which the rest of our defence isn’t and he is very good in the air. His failing is that he is not great on the ball. Unfortunately Critchleys tactics and method of play have highlighted this failing.
Personally I would like to see Critchley change his tactics/line up to accomadate Marv , he is in my opinion our best defender.
We simply need his speed,strength and ability in the air and should work around his distribution problem.
Thoughts ?
Click to expand...
Marv had a nightmare few months under Appleton's mismanagement.

looked to be back to his best at the start of this season, but made a couple of errors one game, and then the nightmare game which i personally think he was a bit scapegoated for the failings of Norburn in that game in particular. Our playing out from the back can be very predictable, and lumping it forward is the stock response in many cases.

I think we miss his recovery when we are left a bit exposed. I don't think you could drop Casey, and I don't think Pennington has had a bad game even though some of his distribution is suspect.

i think its like a lot of the players we have, they seemingly have to fit into Critchleys very rigid plan often trying to play in a way that isnt either or comfortable for them.
 
Even though Marv cannot distribute the ball forward so well, he is by far, our best defensive player, and perhaps the best in League One. I think that when Charlton made their substitutions, Marv should have been brought on, and told that whenever the ball gets passed to him, just hoof it forward.
At 2-0 up with 15 or 20 minutes left, we would have beaten Charlton.
🧡UTMP🧡
 
I think we all know his positives and negatives and its because his negatives outweighed his positives early season he was rested.
I wouldn't play him in a back 3 but I wouldn't mind seeing him in a back 4 of Pennington, Eky, Casey & Hubby.
From what I've seen of Doug Tharme he might pleasantly surprise a few people if he ever gets a chance.
 
Burton now have P Crouch, so Marv will be needed when they come to Bloomers. But the real question is, will, Neil see it ?
 
Bring him back for the Oxford game lads. To be fair, we will press and be all over your back for like a rash, so you'll want good players on the ball id say. No idea if that's Marv or not, but if I were Critch, i'd be taking that into account.
 
He was awful with the ball again last night and gave it away a few times in the first half. Not sure you can have a defender who can't actually play football.
 
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