Eustace - the midfield saviour

[wristslasher_909]

I notice the "Eustace is god" men have disappeared.

He was woeful on Saturday. What's the point in trying to play out from the back if your integral cog in midfield is completely clueless with the ball?

It was embarrassing to watch Buxton/Keogh/Eustace playing sideways balls to nobody in particular. Keogh does make the odd dart forward which is good, but we might as well get Grant to hoof it up to Martin if Eustace is playing. I can't remember him playing a purposeful forward pass all match. And when Grant or the centre halves had the ball, most of the time he didn't show or look like he was interested in getting on the ball.

If we're going to play that style it has to be Hughes or Mascarell.

I'd rather have Hughes playing out of position, at least he looks like a midfielder.

Dear me, he (Eustace) wasn't good enough 5 years ago!

What we're going through is a defensive/controlling midfielder crisis!

Grant's distribution doesn't help either.

[AngryRam]

[quote="wristslasher_909" men have disappeared.

He was woeful on Saturday. What's the point in trying to play out from the back if your integral cog in midfield is completely clueless with the ball?

It was embarrassing to watch Buxton/Keogh/Eustace playing sideways balls to nobody in particular. Keogh does make the odd dart forward which is good, but we might as well get Grant to hoof it up to Martin if Eustace is playing. I can't remember him playing a purposeful forward pass all match. And when Grant or the centre halves had the ball, most of the time he didn't show or look like he was interested in getting on the ball.

If we're going to play that style it has to be Hughes or Mascarell.

I'd rather have Hughes playing out of position, at least he looks like a midfielder.

Dear me, he (Eustace) wasn't good enough 5 years ago!

What we're going through is a defensive/controlling midfielder crisis!

Grant's distribution doe

[wristslasher_909]

They're hiding angry, the Eustace men are hiding.

He wouldn't get in any other Championship side.

Hughes out of position any day of the week for me.

[blackandwhite56]

I was critical when we signed him and it has to be recognised that he makes wrong decisions, is slow, tires in the second half and some of his errors cost us last season.
However he is better than Hughes in this role - Hughes lacks a physical presence, and when tackling he costs us too many free kicks.

He's not our saviour, but he's the best we got at the moment.

Even critics have to face the fact that we did quite well with him in the team last season. He was far from our worst player on Saturday.

[Rapid]

'Eustace is god' and I'm still here wrist slasher. I don't know why you think anyone's disappeared.

I completely disagree with you. I thought Eustace had a really good first half, breaking up play regularly. people always remember the 2nd half, i thought we played well in the first, partly down to eustace. he didn't have a good 2nd half but then again our other 9 outfield players didn't either. I don't know why your scapegoating Eustace when Christie had a stinker and cost us the goal. they destroyed us down our right hand side. Forsyth's distribution was awful. ward was his usual self again. pretty much everyone bar martin was very poor in the second half.

football is a game of attacking and defending not just going forward. Eustace is there to do a job, not pick the opposition apart.

claude makelele didn't pass a ball further than 5 yards when he played for real Madrid and Chelsea but pretty much every player in both squad's considered him their most important player (more so th

[wristslasher_909]

Makelele and Eustace

I don't want to see him in the shirt again!

Not good enough for the role. I'd sooner see Hughes and Mascarell getting bullied.

[wristslasher_909]

I agree with all your other points Rapid. Christie will be looking over his shoulder now, with Shotton ready to claim the right back slot.

But if Eustace plays every week we will be struggling for top 6.

Shotton in the defensive midfield position could be another option to try. He would give us "presence" at 6'3" which could help at set plays, and is more mobile than Eustace. Not sure how good he is on the ball.

Longer term surely we have to try Mascarell.

[triz]

yeah sure put hughes back there again, genius.

[Rapid]

Makelele and Eustace

I don't want to see him in the shirt again!

Not good enough for the role. I'd sooner see Hughes and Mascarell getting bullied.

yes makelele

you think Eustace was bullied by Ipswich?

on your other point on shotton, I'd have him in the team in some way shape or form simply because he's a very good player at this level. I agree with you that he's definitely worth a try at DMF - could be the solution until thorne's return. failing that possibly RB after Christie struggling on Saturday and possibly even CB for Keogh long term. short term bucko's blatantly injured so pick between shotton and Whitbread.

[wristslasher_909]

Looking back at the performances with Eustace in the team last year there is a clear pattern. Many scrappy wins, draws and the odd defeat.

With Eustace we may be more robust, but certainly less fluent.

We have been spoilt with some of the champagne football played with Thorne in the side towards the end of the season. I suppose it's just come as a bit of a shock because we were looking premier league class at the end of last season.

Fingers crossed Mascarell can come in and make an impact in a 4-3-3, or another alternative – do the management team change the formation and style of play?

In my opinion we changed to go to a more direct style too late in the Ipswich game and lost the chance to gain a further 2 points against a very average Ipswich side.

Early days I suppose.