Centre Mids

[gullintwoplaces]

Got to be Morris, assuming he is fit. I wouldn't object to Craig if Morris isn't 100% fit. I'm afraid that Lathrope seems to have lost it, he has been anonymous and ineffective when he has played in recent months. I'm sure Easton was a decent player once, but he is not a replascement for Labadie in any way.

[jonnyfive]

I guess it is tempting to return to 433, so we at least have an extra body in the middle, but Gillingham's vastly superior players will no doubt run rings around us anyway.

On the rare occasions that we nick possession, we will have to get the ball wide as soon as humanly possible, so at least we don't give it away in dangerous areas. Dribbling down the line with pace is about our only hope of gaining territory too.

A 'performance' and result like at York is the only chance of avoiding heavy defeat, but Gillingham are a lot better than the Minstermen. Without Labadie's quality, we surely can't pull out a Northampton-style rearguard manoeuvre. This could be a real whipping.

[SteveDeckchair]

Morris has been out of contention for months and months now. We haven't got a few games to get someone back to match sharpness any more, we have four games left!

We need someone who can hit the ground running and fits into our new style of playing. I believe that has to be Craig as Lathrope is too much like Manse and Easton is liable to play the ball sideways when we need to be pushing forward.

Gutted to lose Labadie like we have, but it's got to be Craig. My fear is that Knill will find him too lightweight though.

[AustrianAndyGull]

Totally agree GITP, Lathrope is a disaster now and what has happened to him God only knows. His form tailed off at the end of last season as i began noticing him giving the ball away too often, loose passes going astray, trying to get forward and losing the ball and also getting caught out of position. He hasn't recovered so forget him.

Easton is really industrious and a busy player and i quite like him but you can't really have him and Manse in the same midfield as they are too similar in my book. He is also not very creative and although i commend his battling abilities, we also need something more in the middle of the park.

If Morris is fully fit then it's a no brainer but i'd start with Craig in the middle and bring on Morris later on for a run out as to come straight back into a struggling side away at top of the table might just be too much for him at this stage. Only he and Knill know though so we're all guessing. I'd have Jarvis in there again with Chappell too and leave Bodin back in Devon to go and visit Babbacombe Model Village or something.

Either way it's a defeat.

[Richinns]

Ok, with a place up for grabs in the middle alongside Manse, who deserves a chance against Gills? Thoughts?

Craig
Morris
Easton
Lathrope

Hmm. I'd be very tempted to give Morris a chance in a game against Gillingham in which we are expected to lose. Is he fit enough? He's got the height of Labadie, he's got the ability on the ball, and he's shown that he can perform well there in the past. I can't help but feel that whoever we replace Labadie with, will struggle with the defensive side of the game that Joss excelled in....

Craig - too inexperienced and poor defensive qualities
Morris - not match fit and an average player when he is!
Easton - calf injury likely to rule him out for the season now
Lathrope - poor form and cannot pass wind!

Thoughts? - relegation fodder.

[AustrianAndyGull]

[Yellow4life]

I'd go with cruise, with nico back in left back.

[ferrarilover]

It's like you've never seen football before. Nathan Craig. Nathan Craig Nathan Craig Nathan Craig, not sure what else I can say?

If Craig is too inexperienced, how is he supposed to get experience if he doesn't play? He's lightweight in the same way that Eunan is lightweight, in precisely the way that doesn't matter because the opposition so rarely get anywhere near him.

Morro is a classy player and would have proved as much all year had he not been injured, not a chance he'll feature in this match though, and nor should he.

Easton is really good on his day, it's just such a shame that his day comes round so infrequently now. Still, he is knocking on a bit, so it's to be expected.

Lathrope is a mystery to me as he seems to be to all of us. Brilliant for a year, not done a thing since.

Play Nathan Craig (a central midfielder) in central midfield and see what happens.

Matt.

[ROADRUNNER]

i agree with that, craig in the middle, its a no brainer

[Jeff]

But Craig played in the middle at Southend and was a complete passenger. Perhaps being stuck out on the wing for so long has dented his confidence, but what looked like a promising future back at Port Vale at the start of the season certainly didn't show through at Roots Hall.

That said, it probably will have to be Craig on Saturday as there is nobody else really. Morris massively short on fitness, Lathrope completely out of form. A fully fit Morris would do a job, but he's not there yet.

[Richinns]

i agree with that, craig in the middle, its a no brainer

This seems to be the fans view but if it was such a no brainer - why has neither Ling or Knill played him here with any great frequency?
Something screams out he is not what we all try to make him out to be.

[ROADRUNNER]

maybe but who else have we got?

[brucie]

I would actually play Oastler in midfield - at least then Leadbitter will play. All the other midfield options are hopeless.

Craig - cannot run.

Lathrope - overated last season. Found it this time around.

Morris - no chance - he has not played any games.

Easton - hopeless.

[brucie]

It will be Lathrope - we have noone else.

[Dave]

Nathan Craig has largly been stuck out on the wing where he never looked comfortable and by and large a fish out of water.

When Lee Mansell was suspended, correct me if I am wrong , Nathan Craig played 3 games in the middle and we had probably out best run picking up 7 pts from 9 during that period. I am at a loss to understand why he was moved away from the middle and has not had a chance there since, agreed, it really is a no brainer.

Morris, like the lad, but played no games, we do not have the time.
Easton, old, injured and unfit, no thanks
Lathrope, see Oastler, had a stinker, no thanks.

We have nothing left to lose, if we are going down lets atleast go down fighting, get Craig in there tell to get out there do what he does best which attacking midfield play, and get Manse, who can run all day long to take care of the defensive side of things, please.