Ekpiteta

Satriale's Pork Store said:
Feel sorry for the guy.

He is a solid defender, but no Beckenbauer.

Often today he had no options available but to punt it long.
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Agree with all of that. Drop Marv though and we lose his defensive capability. He's dug us out of shit loads of times with blocks, headers and those lanky legs making last ditch tackles.
His passing could improve (definitely needs too!) if more players made themselves available.
 
The lack of options in front of him are worrying, the tactics are a concern also. When it comes to defending he's excellent but when you ask him to be a ball carrying quarter back, he's just not up to it. As others have said, that's 5 clean sheets (4 with Marv playing). To single Ekpiteta out is quite frankly ludicrous. What is Morgan doing? What has Carey offered? Weir was anonymous yesterday. That is our biggest issue, along with our offensive (in more ways than one) tactics. But let's not get too depressed, it took time previously, we do need a couple of extra players and then I'm sure we'll see draws being turned into wins. Yes it has been turgid but we are only 3pts off top spot, let's not panic too much. The next 2 league games will be a bigger test, if we don't win either of those, I fear the growing discontent will just get louder. Our supporters are right to be concerned but this singling out of 1 player seems silly when he happens to be a defender and that is pretty much our only strength this season.
 
Never been the same since Keyhoe left as he seemed to organise him and give him confidence, in saying that he's piss poor technically but is a brilliant defender and athlete.

You cannot play out from the back with Marv, he hasn't got the touch for it, you need a defender who is technically gifted to do that and let Marv concentrate on what he does well, winning headers and all the defensive stuff.
 
Booing him every time he gets the ball will do his confidence no good at all. How would you feel if there was someone watching your every move at work and then criticising you out loud ?

It's not Marv's fault he is being asked to do things he is obviously not great at doing. We can all see it, why can't Critch?
 
I think the issue here is his body language. He looks like he doesn't want the ball, and he stands there almost hands on hips not knowing what to do with it. Granted there isn't much movent in front of him, but a couple of times in the first half yesterday Casey actually ran over and took the ball off him and played a forward pass. Casey looks "on his toes" all the time, alert, looking to do somey, jogging. Marv strolls about.

Interestingly, second half, he came out much more 'bouncy' - in fact the whole team looked more dynamic and positive. There were no personnel changes until 65mins, so it must have been something they addressed at half time.
 
A good defender, on the ball ok. Needs CM to show for ball and be confident to pass to them when they are under pressure. Decision making better today got the long diagonals off before getting caught in posession.
 
FY4MIKEH said:
Use his feet? Thought that was kind of a normal expectation for a footballer.
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You're kidding Mikey, most of these players these days are athletes first and ball players second, put it this way if Marv was not so tall and athletic he wouldn't get a game in Sunday League football.🤒
 
A_Tense_Grin said:
It’s these stupid tactics and sideways passing that is highlighting Ekpiteta’s problems on the ball. He is setup to fail by Critchley’s poor tactics.
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Well if Critchley is setting Marv up to fail ... then yes he succeeded.

Strange plan for a manager though doncha think Einstein?
 
NewburyOne said:
The lack of options in front of him are worrying, the tactics are a concern also. When it comes to defending he's excellent but when you ask him to be a ball carrying quarter back, he's just not up to it. As others have said, that's 5 clean sheets (4 with Marv playing). To single Ekpiteta out is quite frankly ludicrous. What is Morgan doing? What has Carey offered? Weir was anonymous yesterday. That is our biggest issue, along with our offensive (in more ways than one) tactics. But let's not get too depressed, it took time previously, we do need a couple of extra players and then I'm sure we'll see draws being turned into wins. Yes it has been turgid but we are only 3pts off top spot, let's not panic too much. The next 2 league games will be a bigger test, if we don't win either of those, I fear the growing discontent will just get louder. Our supporters are right to be concerned but this singling out of 1 player seems silly when he happens to be a defender and that is pretty much our only strength this season.
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Some good points Newbury. There were several anonymous players yesterday and I think there’s a few who are struggling with whatever this system is. Everyone seemed to be looking around as if they didn’t know where they should be.

The ‘system’ also seems to require Ekpiteta to go wider as the full backs had vanished. It’s when Marv was wide that he seemed to lose it. I agree, he is usually a good defender, but his distribution is shocking. His confidence suffered as a result, causing sideways passing which often short and putting us under pressure. This system doesn’t get the best out of him, but he was still dreadful yesterday. A Tense Grin is tight, the tactics don’t suit him.

Voice of reason - you’re too kind. If only.
 
Tangerine Tractor said:
I think the issue here is his body language. He looks like he doesn't want the ball, and he stands there almost hands on hips not knowing what to do with it. Granted there isn't much movent in front of him, but a couple of times in the first half yesterday Casey actually ran over and took the ball off him and played a forward pass. Casey looks "on his toes" all the time, alert, looking to do somey, jogging. Marv strolls about.

Interestingly, second half, he came out much more 'bouncy' - in fact the whole team looked more dynamic and positive. There were no personnel changes until 65mins, so it must have been something they addressed at half time.
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Yes, definitely better in second half
 
20togo said:
you need to watch again then. There's very little if no movement in front of him especially from the midfield players. Thats why he is forced to go long.
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Sorry ,but if you are seeing little movement does not mean there is none . I am seeing our forwards making runs ,I am seeing them pointing to where they want it putting and I saw Lyons stood on his own just waiting for a pass. I will grant you that there was little movement from our central midfielders though.
 
WIZARD OF TANGERINE said:
Sorry ,but if you are seeing little movement does not mean there is none . I am seeing our forwards making runs ,I am seeing them pointing to where they want it putting and I saw Lyons stood on his own just waiting for a pass. I will grant you that there was little movement from our central midfielders though.
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but Critch doesn't want us to go long, he wants us to keep possession and that's not by going long. Marv was forced to go long because of the lack of movement in midfield. We lost the ball pretty much every time when our defence, so it wasn't just Marv, had to pump it long because there was no other option. You even say it yourself, that it's the forwards making the runs. ie not the midfield.
 
Once he started knocking it over to the wings he was fine and pretty accurate. If he carries on like that he will be fine. He’s a great blocker and gets all over the place at the back. His game goes to shit once he starts dithering in possession. Just needs to cut that out. Critchley should be working on that may be he did 2nd half ?
 
20togo said:
but Critch doesn't want us to go long, he wants us to keep possession and that's not by going long. Marv was forced to go long because of the lack of movement in midfield. We lost the ball pretty much every time when our defence, so it wasn't just Marv, had to pump it long because there was no other option. You even say it yourself, that it's the forwards making the runs. ie not the midfield.
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For once I think we agree on something . So maybe Critch should do something about it.
 
20togo said:
but Critch doesn't want us to go long, he wants us to keep possession and that's not by going long. Marv was forced to go long because of the lack of movement in midfield. We lost the ball pretty much every time when our defence, so it wasn't just Marv, had to pump it long because there was no other option. You even say it yourself, that it's the forwards making the runs. ie not the midfield.
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I see what you’re saying because there was little movement in front of him, but even when there was, it still went long. It looked like orders to me.
 
The tactic yesterday from Orient was to let Marvin to have the ball and to closely track the midfield runners so it was difficult for a pass to be made. They were not pressing Marvin at all but would press when Hubby had the ball (and to a lesser extent Casey). The solution would have been for Marvin to run into the space with the ball and draw players to him (Hubby and/or Casey would have to cover the space behind him) At one time in the first half Casey actually brought the ball out and managed to get close to the edge of their box with it. Marvin ain't great with the ball at feet but if had gone forward at pace with the ball a couple of times it would have asked them a few more questions - less of a risk too if he gives the ball away in their half, with cover behind, than giving it away as last man in his own half.

In the second half he was obviously instructed just to look for Beesley which we did have some success with but that isn't particularly progressive, especially when it is used 90% of the time.

Critch needs to sort out distribution from the back this week in training as I expect most teams from now on will just let Marvin have the ball and then block off his options. Defensively we are solid, now we need to work on options on progressing out from the back and differing formations to revert to when we are struggling to make progress.
 
It seems sensible to me if you are playing with wingbacks you try and give them space to run into, but it seemed to be the case that Morgan an Wier sat in very wide positions pulling orient players wide so there was no space. Surely if Norburn comes deep to get a pass from Eckie, either Morgan or wier should stay central to give options. Also I noticed that Beesley was winning headers but no-one seemed to have the sense to anticipate it and give chase.
 
.. for the record if a mistake from him had lead to an opposition goal, I'd say the crowd would have been as culpable as Marv.
I don't understand what they think they're achieving booing whilst a player is on the ball.
 
Bozzer said:
He's a bloody defender and we haven't conceded. Look elsewhere.
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The fact we haven’t conceded is unbelievable when you consider the mistakes he’s made. He made two huge ones on Saturday, it took wonder saves for us not to concede.

Against Exeter, he made a huge error first half injury time and it took Norburn running like roadrunner to block the goalbound shot.

Against Derby he made at least one huge mistake that we somehow didn’t concede from.

Against Burton, he made two mistakes that created a one v one but the striker missed the target.

There are other areas, but the OP is talking about this area of the pitch, and yes the tactics are working against him but you cannot ever say that unforced errors are acceptable.
If it happens once or twice, ok yeh but if it’s a recurring issue….. 🫤
 
One healthy thread! Is Ekpiteta the new Maxwell? Every time we drop points the boo boys will be on his back? Hope not. Other players will put their heads down and hope its not them next; its one sure way for the confidence to drain out of the squad. We don't concede in 5 and people find it in their 'wisdom' to slag off the centre half; genius.
 
1966_and_all_that said:
Yes he was but he's being asked to do stuff he's not good at. Defender Marvin is a good player. Critchley's arrogantly got them wedded to one system and it stinks.
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'Yes he was but he's being asked to do stuff he's not good at.'

What, you mean such as 'tackle', 'distribute', 'mark', and 'play out from the back' - and whatever else you'd just ordinarily expect a central defender during the course of a game?

Normally, 1966-a-a-t, I've got alot of time for you - but, I'm now beginning to wonder to myself, 'what planet are you actually on!?'
 
tarantula said:
'Yes he was but he's being asked to do stuff he's not good at.'

What, you mean such as 'tackle', 'distribute', 'mark', and 'play out from the back' - and whatever else you'd just ordinarily expect a central defender during the course of a game?

Normally, 1966-a-a-t, I've got alot of time for you - but, I'm now beginning to wonder to myself, 'what planet are you actually on!?'
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Tackling, marking and dispossessing are his hallmarks. He is very good at those - very good indeed. However, he is not the complete player, as shown by his poor distribution and playing out from the back. Our conundrum is whether we sacrifice the benefits he brings because of the abilities he lacks.
 
He has got to play IMO
One of the reasons why we got relegated was Marvin's injury
Critchley will improve him, last time Critch worked with him these problems didn't generally happen. It seemed to start at around the beginning of last season, when Appleton came along (QPR away he was caught a couple of times)
 
Orange on Acid said:
The fact we haven’t conceded is unbelievable when you consider the mistakes he’s made. He made two huge ones on Saturday, it took wonder saves for us not to concede.

Against Exeter, he made a huge error first half injury time and it took Norburn running like roadrunner to block the goalbound shot.

Against Derby he made at least one huge mistake that we somehow didn’t concede from.

Against Burton, he made two mistakes that created a one v one but the striker missed the target.

There are other areas, but the OP is talking about this area of the pitch, and yes the tactics are working against him but you cannot ever say that unforced errors are acceptable.
If it happens once or twice, ok yeh but if it’s a recurring issue….. 🫤
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It's pretty clear you've an agenda against Marv. Evidence? Tell me about this huge mistake he made against Derby. Give me a graphic account of it please to see if I can recall it. Obviously I won't be able to, because he didn't even play in the game.
 
1966_and_all_that said:
Tackling, marking and dispossessing are his hallmarks. He is very good at those - very good indeed. However, he is not the complete player, as shown by his poor distribution and playing out from the back. Our conundrum is whether we sacrifice the benefits he brings because of the abilities he lacks.
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A very civilised reply , which I agree with by the way , to a typically condescending post from our eight legged friend.
 
Not one for sympathy but I did feel a bit sorry for him on Saturday.I actually blame Critch for trying to turn him into something he’ll never ever be.
 
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