TALKING POINTS

Ben Wade

Ben discusses the NLS game

MOVING ON FROM SATURDAY

After yet another dismal defeat, where do you look for improvement next? The reunion of the Jarvis and Ash combination finally took place on 71 minutes, DOA helped to create two goals with his big presence and hold up play and Will Jenkins Davies’ solid performance and goals are the few positives to mention from the game.

THE DEFENCE

After another dreadful defensive display, we need to sort things out. Ross Marshall’s incapability to come out to the ball proved costly in his centre back role and Dean Moxey’s lack of pace at full back was clear to see. With Tomlinson and Craske out for an unknown period of time, we have to go back to Marshall at right back, pushing Jude-Boyce further forward with a centre back pairing of Booth and Moxey. Dan Martin should be moved back into his usual position at left back to avoid his unfamiliar inverted winger role which he has taken up in recent games. With Marshall at right back, this would allow Jude-Boyce to play in a more attacking place as a right midfielder to try to dodge his vulnerability at full back. If needed, we could also use Ronnie Nelson (the newly signed defender on loan) to replace Booth or Marshall after Saturday’s poor performance.

ATTACKING OPTIONS

For once, we find ourselves in unusual circumstances, as we have a reasonable amount of attacking-minded players to pick from. With Aaron Jarvis returning from months out, he will potentially be fit to start in the lineup on Tuesday night, maybe with Duane dropping to the bench. Brad Ash replaced the limping Asa Hall vs Slough and I think he should remain in the team to partner Jarvis or Duane upfront. Poor Asa will presumably be out for the trip to Taunton and a few other matches as he often is. Dillon De Silva and Lewis Collins were both left out of the matchday squad on Saturday, but I would replace Asa Hall (if injured) with De Silva in the squad.

AWAY FORM; CAN IT GET ANY WORSE?

We have lost five away games in seven. With three away games in a row upcoming, that isn’t really a fantastic run to have after losing four in a row. Admittedly, 3G pitches aren’t ideal (especially in this league) but the facilities up at South Devon College allow training all week on artificial pitches, so that absolutely is not an excuse for our form. Often, hundreds of away fans travel in excess of 300 miles in a round trip, only for us to be humiliated by conceding three or four goals and score one or two if we’re lucky, so United have to do better, not just for league points, but also for their fed up supporters.

THE PEACOCKS

Tuesday’s opponents (Taunton Town) are currently 20^th in the league and five points off the relegation zone with a game in hand. They have three draws and two defeats in their last five games. We definitely need to be beating The Peacocks and hopefully we can make it their 2^nd thrashing of the week, with them being hammered 6-0 away at St Albans on Saturday (not that we can say much!). In truth we’ll take any win at the moment. The pitch will probably not be in fine shape due to their ongoing issues of getting games on, and the club also have off the pitch worries to consider because they have a forever increasing debt and multiple players have left the club in recent months, as their fear of bankruptcy is naturally making them get players off their wages ASAP. Amidst this challenging period, Austen Booth was one of those to move on and signed for us a couple of weeks ago.