Viking Supporters Co-operative
Viking Chat => Viking Chat => Topic started by: Donnyjim on November 13, 2017, 07:13:43 pm
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At home, in a local derby. Any idiot could see it needed changing at half time. Fergie set his team up not to lose. Hats off to Darren, he achieved it, with 0 shots on target.
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Jim
Tot up how many clubs and countries play one up front.
The world's moved on from 4-4-f**king-2.
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DonnyJim, look at the stats over the last six games on the lets talk about the Fleetwood game thread,it is working,dont change it.
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The no shots on target stat is a joke as well.
The one Marquis had that hit the defenders arm was on target for certain.
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Another Donnyjim wind up.
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What happens when Alfie's fit?
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Marquis is fastly becoming over paid and under worked . He isn’t able or capable to run the show he needs a partner to work off . Williams is in dog house Mandeville isn’t the finished article , May is only just getting to grips with his new roll and poor Alex must be itching to get on the pitch ( next season) so either January has a new face coming in or it’s more results like Rotherham.
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like a fish out of water in my view
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I wonder what the average age of the people slagging off Marquis is?
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i'm not slagging him off, he is not a loan striker he was very much isolated against Rotherscum, it was as plain as the nose on your face
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Marquis has definitely lost his mojo, but it is thankless task up front on your own. We'd have been more of an attacking threat if he had some support. I could tear my hair out with the negative tactics of modern managers.
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I think when Alfie May comes back we will play 3-5-2. It might mean a few more opportunities for Marquis. FWIW I thought he worked hard on Saturday, but his awful 'clearance' in the lead up to the equalizer did him no favours. He should have lashed it down the park or kicked it into the West Stand.
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For those who wanted two strikers in the side who would you leave out and what formation would you play.
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TRB. He couldn't lash the ball down the park. That was physically impossible, given his body position and the position of the ball. Have a look at the video.
Regarding hammering the ball out of play, no player is ever going to do that in those circumstances. You don't know how long is left of the clock. So you're not going to wilfully give a throw-in to the opposition 30 yards out from goal and give them the initiative. That could equally well have led to a goal. Especially since they had someone who could throw the ball 40 yards, and a centre forward who had 4 inches on any of our defenders. Marquis would have been castigated for that.
His only really safe outlet would have been to turn round 180 degrees and lay the ball back to Toffolo. But that would have required him to have eyes in the back of his head. And not to slip up, withfour Rotherham players around him.
What he did do clearly didn't work, but there are lots of Monday Morning Quarterbacks on here saying it's obvious he should have done something else. And it wasn't obvious. Neither at the time, nor now.
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Marquis inability to do what required in defence did not cost us the game as drew , but his inability to take a shot when presented may have cost us a win .
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Marquis inability to do what required in defence did not cost us the game as drew , but his inability to take a shot when presented may have cost us a win .
Who would you play from our current squad in his place?
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TRB. He couldn't lash the ball down the park. That was physically impossible, given his body position and the position of the ball. Have a look at the video.
Regarding hammering the ball out of play, no player is ever going to do that in those circumstances. You don't know how long is left of the clock. So you're not going to wilfully give a throw-in to the opposition 30 yards out from goal and give them the initiative. That could equally well have led to a goal. Especially since they had someone who could throw the ball 40 yards, and a centre forward who had 4 inches on any of our defenders. Marquis would have been castigated for that.
His only really safe outlet would have been to turn round 180 degrees and lay the ball back to Toffolo. But that would have required him to have eyes in the back of his head. And not to slip up, withfour Rotherham players around him.
What he did do clearly didn't work, but there are lots of Monday Morning Quarterbacks on here saying it's obvious he should have done something else. And it wasn't obvious. Neither at the time, nor now.
BST
That is the best summary of the situation JM found himself in at the time.
It is a good point that you make about the Monday morning quaterbacks.
Much the same as the stick Heffs got for not kicking the ball out of the ground against Arsenal.
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I agree with the majority of comments on here about Marquis (BST, I know you don't, that's fine, it's all about opinions at the end of the day)
Personally, I would have taken Marquis off in Saturday and brought on the old dear who sits in front of me in the west stand.
The 'mistake' that led to the equaliser was a mistake that a 10 year old wouldn't make. And Billy, it doesn't matter how old you are, or what era you played football: 5 minutes into injury time when you're winning 1-0, that ball should have been out of the ground. Give the defenders time to re-group and pick up their man.
I don't know what's happened to Marquis. He's a shadow of the player he was last season. At first I thought it was because we are playing at a higher level, but now I'm not sure. He refusal to shoot is baffling. And yes Billy, I know you reckon that's not necessarily the main job of a striker these days. Well, call me old fashioned if you want.........
I want Marquis to prove me wrong now and get a hat trick on Saturday
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If you cannot see that Marquis is the best leader of the line we have had since Brown at his best,dont put in for the job as a Sky pundit.
You have to Know something about football to do that job.
And by the way he has scored goals at a decent average per game with us as well.
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If you cannot see that Marquis is the best leader of the line we have had since Brown at his best,dont put in for the job as a Sky pundit.
You have to Know something about football to do that job.
And by the way he has scored goals at a decent average per game with us as well.
Ok, my opinion is different to yours so I must be wrong.
Terrific argument
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MFD.
You keep going on about Marquis not shooting. So does 1969.
I really don't know what instances you are in about, but I do recall Marquis having a powerful shot in target that hit an arm and should have led to a penalty, and another excellent shot on the turn that skimmed over the bar. That doesn't sound to me like a player who chooses not to shoot.
Whatever the occurrence is that you keep hammering on about, do you think there may have been something about it that you didn't see? Maybe a player blocking the route to goal?
To be honest, if you really think that ANY player would have booted the ball into touch in that incident that led to the goal, it doesn't give me much confidence that you understand how footballers make their split-second decisions.
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MFD,just pointing out your job prospects mate (joke),you are more than entitled to your opinion, we all see different things in players,thats football and this is a discussion forum,I want to read other peoples opinions,it is the only way I can learn about the game.
Nobody sees everything that goes on on the field of play,we are making mistakes in games as a team that are frustrating to the fans and the management,again that is part of the beauty of the game.
What I will say is that if I was a defender playing against us,the strikers I would not like to mark would be Marquis and Mandeville.The reasons being Marquis can play with his back to goal and bring other players into the game while drawing defenders around him,Mandeville can collect the ball and turn you and then carry the ball at speed and is capable of playing the through ball.Alfie and Williams run the channels and need an extra touch to control the ball (in my opinion you may disagree) in the box and miss more chances because of the way defenders block the shot nowadays. It is only a personal choice,we have the best all round strikers we have had for years with hopefully another good one getting nearer to fitness.
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MFD.
You keep going on about Marquis not shooting. So does 1969.
I really don't know what instances you are in about, but I do recall Marquis having a powerful shot in target that hit an arm and should have led to a penalty, and another excellent shot on the turn that skimmed over the bar. That doesn't sound to me like a player who chooses not to shoot.
Whatever the occurrence is that you keep hammering on about, do you think there may have been something about it that you didn't see? Maybe a player blocking the route to goal?
To be honest, if you really think that ANY player would have booted the ball into touch in that incident that led to the goal, it doesn't give me much confidence that you understand how footballers make their split-second decisions.
Ah, again, my opinion is different to yours so I'm wrong. Ok
Two specific incidents in the second half.
1) Ball played to him on the edge of the box. No-one in front of him and could have carried it a few yards and shot. Passed it instead: straight to a Rotherham player.
2) Ball passed to him about 9 or 10 yards out. No-one blocking him. Put your foot through it. If it's in target, which it should be from that range, chances are you will score. Tried to take a touch first. The touch if a donkey and went straight to a Rotherham plater.
Donny Baz Rover, who sits next to me, was I thought, going to have a stroke he was so apoplectic.
And, although my opinion is just my own, as I said in another thread, I think everyone who sits around me in the west stand, thought Marquis was pants on Saturday, so we're obviously all wrong
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MFD
No. We disagree therefore we disagree.
I like to think I watch games carefully, and I regularly get frustrated by players' mistakes. But I don't recall either of those two occurrences. And no-one around me was screaming for Marquis's head.
Just like you and the people around you do t seem to have spotted the shots that Marquis did have, or the numerous times he played the target man role excellently, holding off much bigger defenders, controlling difficult passes and intelligently bringing others into the attack.
Funny game.
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MFD,just pointing out your job prospects mate (joke),you are more than entitled to your opinion, we all see different things in players,thats football and this is a discussion forum,I want to read other peoples opinions,it is the only way I can learn about the game.
Nobody sees everything that goes on on the field of play,we are making mistakes in games as a team that are frustrating to the fans and the management,again that is part of the beauty of the game.
What I will say is that if I was a defender playing against us,the strikers I would not like to mark would be Marquis and Mandeville.The reasons being Marquis can play with his back to goal and bring other players into the game while drawing defenders around him,Mandeville can collect the ball and turn you and then carry the ball at speed and is capable of playing the through ball.Alfie and Williams run the channels and need an extra touch to control the ball (in my opinion you may disagree) in the box and miss more chances because of the way defenders block the shot nowadays. It is only a personal choice,we have the best all round strikers we have had for years with hopefully another good one getting nearer to fitness.
Ok Selby. I respect your opinion also. But, do you know what, if I was a defender playing at this level, I'd be delighted we were playing Donny Rovers this Saturday for the simple reason our strikers are not good enough at this level.
Do you really believe the strikers we have now are the best we have had for years or was that a wind up? Ok, fair enough if you do, but here's my two penneth.
Marquis: A shadow of what he was last season (prove me wrong please John)
Mandeville: Doesn't look half the player he was last season.
Williams: Not wanted here (not surprising considering how he's played when given the opportunity) and if the truth be known, probably doesn't want to be here.
May: Injured, but to be honest, I think he has more impact coming off the bench.
Kiwomya: We have absolutely no idea.
If you rolled up all the best assets of all our strikers into one, you still couldn't make one Billy Sharp out of them. He is by far the best striker we've had in my 50 years of watching the Rovers. Alick Jeffrey was past his best when I saw him.
But at the end of the day, just my opinion
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maybe its not our players that have gone backwards, but maybe the opposition in L1 have better players than the teams we played in L2? Just a thought...
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When JM plays up front in his own we need to get midfield runners going beyond him, this doesn’t happen.
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If you cannot see that Marquis is the best leader of the line we have had since Brown at his best,dont put in for the job as a Sky pundit.
You have to Know something about football to do that job.
And by the way he has scored goals at a decent average per game with us as well.
That says more about the team's decline in player quality that the ability of Marquis.
I'm also quite surprised by people's reference to Sky Sports after it, along with its subscribers were much maligned in previous threads.
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Agree about Sharp in the box,but our game,and the team set up was geared to him,and we had possibly the best mid field we have had.
The present mid field are not as creative,something we have to live with, and are also much less experienced,something they will get with more game time,and I do not think we have seen the best of yet this season.
Thanks for the reasoned imput,Mandeville needs games,but his goals to minutes on the field must be the best of the strikers this season,perhaps a statto could take a look.
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I watched the Rotherham game on sky. I am 100% sure copps had a shot and it was on target.
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Mrfrostsdad...I remember both of those incidents and was furious with the one that he passed sideways. He had a good opening to shoot and instead squared it straight to a Rotherham defender. Rowe was the only player he must've aimed for but he wasn't really on to pass to.
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I was surprised by that pass as well, we just gave possession away rather than have a crack.
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It's the same size pitch and goals. When your striker gets chances, he should not be passing it off when he's in the best position. You can debate all you like about his contribution in general play, but what he does in front of goal matters. He may have been unlucky with the hand ball incident but two equally good opportunities had gone begging by then.
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When JM plays up front in his own we need to get midfield runners going beyond him, this doesn’t happen.
Bang on. That barely happened once in the first half on Saturday. It did happen in the second half and it transformed the game. We had Rotherham on the back foot for much of the second half, precisely because Marquis was the focus for bringing Coppinger and Rowe into the game as an attacking threat. During the first half, those two had been playing far too wide so Marquis was in a hopeless position. Even if he won the ball there was no-o e within 30 yards to lay it off to. When we got tighter in the second half, we controlled play in their half and pulling Coppinger and Rowe innartower gave space for (in particular) Blair to make those runs down the wing.
I don't now if it was wrong tactics or wrong implementation by the the players in the first half, but credit to Ferguson for working thechange at half time. We looked like a different side and Marquis looked a different player.
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I don't think Marquis' lack of confidence in front of goal is only down to playing against better players in league one. I think he lost it towards the end of last season. It could be that he has been sussed by officials for his falling over tactics and as a result, they are hesitant to give decisions in his favour, even when they are justified. I believe the same applies to Williams.
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BB
WHAT lack of confidence in front of goal? Thee man already has 5 goals in 16 league appearances this season. When was the last time we had a striker in Tier 3 who had scored that many goals at this stage of the season?
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May's only started 7 times in the league and has got 3. Whiteman has started 14 times and has 4.
By lack of confidence, I'm talking about Marquis' reluctance to shoot on occasions when the opportunity is there, an example of which was there to see last Saturday. Perhaps his reluctance to take penalties is a dead giveaway.
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It might not be a reluctance on his part to take penalties. Maybe Fergie is reluctant to give them to him - he missed half the ones he took last year didn't he?
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BB
That wasn't what I asked. I'll ask again. Who was the last striker for us who had 5 goals in Tier 3 by this stage of the season?
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BB
That wasn't what I asked. I'll ask again. Who was the last striker for us who had 5 goals in Tier 3 by this stage of the season?
Nathan Tyson possibly.
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I don't know, and neither do I particularly care, but playing in a team managed by Darren Ferguson I expect 5 goals is not too incredible an achievement.
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No one thinks Marquis is rubbish but Rovers chose him after his amazing performances of last season , yet it’s obvious to anyone that he’s lost something and he’s barely the same enigmatic Player who bossed his was to nearly 30 goals . His efforts is just that, his running off the ball and possession on the ball are just not the same . He has scored but it’s not making any difference to his overall effect, it’s as though he’s coasting through games instead bullying and being more proactive. Alfie May runs into the grown and into Player twice his weight but has an effect on the game . Marquis starts & stops but has little end product or effect on the game , it passes without any difference being made .
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BB
That wasn't what I asked. I'll ask again. Who was the last striker for us who had 5 goals in Tier 3 by this stage of the season?
Nathan Tyson possibly.
Nope
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I don't know, and neither do I particularly care, but playing in a team managed by Darren Ferguson I expect 5 goals is not too incredible an achievement.
The "don't know" bit I can live with. The "don't care" is a bit immature. If you're going to throw out criticisms, you should have some context in which to make them.
I reckon we've had two players in recent years who has scored that many league goals by this time of the season in Tier 3.
Heffernan didn't manage it.
Hayter didn't manage it
Paynter didn't manage it.
Brown didn't manage it
Tyson didn't manage it.
Fortune-West didn't manage it
Hume didn't manage it.
Roberts didn't manage it.
Robinson didn't manage it.
Williams didn't manage it.
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Edit:
Guy didn't manage it - how could I have forgotten about him?
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The only two examples I can find are Cotterill (5) in 12/13 and McIndoe (7) in 04/05. Goes without saying that neither of them were having to do the thankless job of leading the line.
Just kind of puts a bit of perspective on it.
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No one thinks Marquis is rubbish but Rovers chose him after his amazing performances of last season , yet it’s obvious to anyone that he’s lost something and he’s barely the same enigmatic Player who bossed his was to nearly 30 goals . His efforts is just that, his running off the ball and possession on the ball are just not the same . He has scored but it’s not making any difference to his overall effect, it’s as though he’s coasting through games instead bullying and being more proactive. Alfie May runs into the grown and into Player twice his weight but has an effect on the game . Marquis starts & stops but has little end product or effect on the game , it passes without any difference being made .
Rovers chose Rowe and Coppinger the two players who are the most experienced at this level, the two players who along with Marquis had a big part to play last season. Both players have had little effect this season as well in fact on Saturday they were luxury players. Neither effecting the score or stopping Rotherham front the front. All the players are finding it hard at this level especially against hardworking robust sides.
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In a nut shell! We are just not quiet up to the standard required .
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In a nut shell! We are just not quiet up to the standard required .
Depends what you mean by "the required standard". If we take a lower-mid table position as a reasonable outcome, then I'd say we are looking like we should be perfectly well up to that standard. If (IF) we have a bit of luck with injuries, I see no reason (based on recent form) why we can't do a good bit better than that.
My optimism is based on having Badry back. He's the closest thing we've got in the squad to a mester and I thought he was excellent on Saturday. It's notable that we've only conceded 2 league goals whilst he's been on the pitch. Saturday, and that howler when Lawlor took his eye off the back pass against Portsmouth. The back three is a vital foundation for the sort of football that Ferguson wants us to play and I just keep my fingers crossed that they all stay fit.
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In a nut shell! We are just not quiet up to the standard required .
If the standard is to finish above half way then you are right. But we have the players we’ve got hopefully they do their best to achieve the highest we can.
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I don't know, and neither do I particularly care, but playing in a team managed by Darren Ferguson I expect 5 goals is not too incredible an achievement.
The "don't know" bit I can live with. The "don't care" is a bit immature. If you're going to throw out criticisms, you should have some context in which to make them.
I reckon we've had two players in recent years who has scored that many league goals by this time of the season in Tier 3.
Heffernan didn't manage it.
Hayter didn't manage it
Paynter didn't manage it.
Brown didn't manage it
Tyson didn't manage it.
Fortune-West didn't manage it
Hume didn't manage it.
Roberts didn't manage it.
Robinson didn't manage it.
Williams didn't manage it.
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Edit:
Guy didn't manage it - how could I have forgotten about him?
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The only two examples I can find are Cotterill (5) in 12/13 and McIndoe (7) in 04/05. Goes without saying that neither of them were having to do the thankless job of leading the line.
Just kind of puts a bit of perspective on it.
So, because none of those players on your list achieved 5 goals in tier 3 at this stage of the season it is proof that Marquis is better than all of them?
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No BB.
It's context for the many complaints on here that Marquis isn't scoring enough.
It's just a fact to throw into the discussion. I usually find facts are a bit more useful than opinions.
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That a matter of opinion!
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Perhaps Marquis himself thinks he's scored enough. Maybe that's why he passed the ball to one of the Rotherham players when the home crowd were screaming for him to shoot. I put that incident, along with others instances, like when he looks for a foul instead of attempting to score legitimately as a reason why he hasn't scored more, especially now that it appears officials have got wise to him.
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I don't know, and neither do I particularly care, but playing in a team managed by Darren Ferguson I expect 5 goals is not too incredible an achievement.
The "don't know" bit I can live with. The "don't care" is a bit immature. If you're going to throw out criticisms, you should have some context in which to make them.
I reckon we've had two players in recent years who has scored that many league goals by this time of the season in Tier 3.
Heffernan didn't manage it.
Hayter didn't manage it
Paynter didn't manage it.
Brown didn't manage it
Tyson didn't manage it.
Fortune-West didn't manage it
Hume didn't manage it.
Roberts didn't manage it.
Robinson didn't manage it.
Williams didn't manage it.
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Edit:
Guy didn't manage it - how could I have forgotten about him?
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The only two examples I can find are Cotterill (5) in 12/13 and McIndoe (7) in 04/05. Goes without saying that neither of them were having to do the thankless job of leading the line.
Just kind of puts a bit of perspective on it.
BST - you have put your finger precisely on a huge historical failing of ours - to find a goalscorer at tier/level 3 since the non-regionalised level 3 was introduced in 1958-59.
In our 17 seasons at level 3, the highest number of league goals scored in a full season by a striker is a measly 13. This record is shared by John Regan, Colin Douglas and Billy Paynter - none of whose names I see beng put forward as our best striker ever. Glyn Snodin (18) and Neil Redfearn (14) scored more but were not strikers. We have never found a striker who could score even 15 at this level.
Strikers often go on a run early in a season, and then fizzle out. We have not even ever had that. After 17 games the only strikers to better John Marquis' 5 are Laurie Sheffield (7 before being criminally sold), John Regan, Colin Douglas and Neil Woods (6 each). The ones who have 'failed' at this level include Alick Jeffrey, Nathan Tyson, Andy Williams, James Hayter, Paul Heffernan, Chris Brown, Greg Blundell, Neil Roberts, LFW, Brian Deane, Alan Warboys, Peter Kitchen (OK - only half a season as a youngster)............................some really good names there.
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Great stats Dutch.
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It absolutely amazes me how anyone can criticise Marquis at all. Just who the hell do they think is going to replace him and make things better? We just don't possess the same sort of player in our ranks and we certainly can't afford someone better, so we are where we are!
The last player we had who did the job better was, arguably, Billy Sharp and that's going back a bit.
The thing we need to get right, when playing this formation, is getting the 2 who play just behind him up there supporting him and busting a gut to make themselves available. Trouble is, Copps is getting on and Rowe seems to drift in and out of games and, strangely, both seem to dodge criticism!
We're getting there, but we need something else, come January, and it will cost, as I think we are a bit short of experience and strength in the middle of the park, as well as pace. Matty Blair was starting to get behind before he was subbed, but we didn't have that same threat on the left! Having Kiwomya fit and available would be a good start and another option, but we lack know-how elsewhere.
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I saw Marquis live on Saturday and the replay on Sky and can't understand where the criticism of him comes from other than blind prejudice .
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I saw Marquis live on Saturday and the replay on Sky and can't understand where the criticism of him comes from other than blind prejudice .
As someone wrote on another thread, certain players are not liked by some fans and even when they do something really good it isn't acknowledged.
Only the bad things are noted and written about.
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That's not the case with me. I always give credit when it is due. I criticise Marquis for instances such as the one against Rotherham when he passed the ball instead of shooting when there was a clear chance to do so. I also criticise him for falling over, looking for fouls instead of getting on with doing his job legitimately. I've criticised Williams for doing exactly the same.
As for not acknowledging the really good things they do I can assure you that I'm on my feet with the rest of us when they score. I just dislike being denied the opportunity to do so when a clear-cut chance isn't taken.
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BB, i haven't singled anyone out on the forum in particular (although there are a couple who it would apply to).
In the stadium i hear people having a go at some players before they have set foot on the pitch when they are coming on as a sub, saying stuff like "he is crap, why is he coming on" and then ranting about anything they do.
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BB
Once again you're being inconsistent. You criticise Marquis for (as you say) not doing "doing his job legitimately". But you've called time and time again for our players to cheat.
Which one is it?
My two pennorth is that I don't see Marquis diving. I can't recall ever seeing that. I do see him drawing fouls and being a little less that straight with his positioning to do so. I thought at first that he'd done that for the first penalty shout on Saturday but watching again, I think he's been badly treated. He had every right to try to shield the ball and he's been flattened as he did so. By the way, those of you who claim that he can't hold the ball, have a look at that move again. Inch-perfect control of a 50 yard pass with a defender 18 inches from him. Immediately onto the attack, riding two challenges and being brought down by a third. But MFD reckons we'd be better off with the old lass in the row in front of him on inplace of Marquis. Strange, what some folk refuse to see in front of their eyes.
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"Strange, what some folk refuse to see in front of their eyes."
An ironic statement from someone trying to claim they've never seen Marquis dive. He is a regular diver, has been booked for it several times in a Rovers shirt and along with Rowe is well known for being willing to go to ground remarkably easily in attacking positions.
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I'm not "trying" to claim anything. I'm only saying what I've seen. Rowe, I'll grant you. I've seen him five in a regular basis and I hate it. As I would if I saw Marquis diving. I don't want to win like that.
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Opinions are the very blood of what makes forums work , Marquis is today’s topic , I’m sure it will be DF again if results go tits up but there like me a Supporter who thinks Marquis IS going through i hope a temporary blip in his finishing and effectiveness over all . But I suppose he can do NO wrong in others eyes ( perhaps spec-savers need to improve their efforts too) .
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BB
Once again you're being inconsistent. You criticise Marquis for (as you say) not doing "doing his job legitimately". But you've called time and time again for our players to cheat.
Which one is it?
My two pennorth is that I don't see Marquis diving. I can't recall ever seeing that. I do see him drawing fouls and being a little less that straight with his positioning to do so. I thought at first that he'd done that for the first penalty shout on Saturday but watching again, I think he's been badly treated. He had every right to try to shield the ball and he's been flattened as he did so. By the way, those of you who claim that he can't hold the ball, have a look at that move again. Inch-perfect control of a 50 yard pass with a defender 18 inches from him. Immediately onto the attack, riding two challenges and being brought down by a third. But MFD reckons we'd be better off with the old lass in the row in front of him on inplace of Marquis. Strange, what some folk refuse to see in front of their eyes.
I've never said I like cheating. What I have said is that as long as referee'a are conned by it it will continue, and as long as it continues I don't want my team to be disadvantaged by not continuing to do it also. I actually want no cheating at all, but from all teams, not just mine!
Now, the problem with Marquis cheating is that he's crap at it. Even the most dupable officials don't fall for it. That means that we're actually losing out by cheating, while our opposition gains by it.
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You're not being consistent BB. Earlier you were complaint that he used non-legitimate means. Now you're saying that you'd be ok with that but your complaint is that he's not very good at it. I still don't know what you're actual grouse is because it seems to change with every other post.
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Well, you're certainly consistent, BST, in respect of your forum misinterpretations being on a par with your pitchside observations.
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BST - I admire and respect most of what you say (there's obviously a "but" coming) but, I suspect what's happening here is that Marquis is guilty of getting some split second decisions wrong - as we ought to expect of someone at this level.
I watched the match on TV on Saturday and I do remember the occasion when Marquis could or should have shot at goal. Yes, there was a player coming towards him but the shot at goal seemed a much better option - as all 3 of us sat watching it screamed at the TV together. Instead he passed it - a hospital pass which he seemed to hit from hope rather than intent as there was no-one at all to take advantage of it. Now maybe he knew he could do no more in that situation so he just passed it hoping there was a runner and maybe out of the corner of his eye he saw red and white hoops, but it was a shooting chance all day long and in the absence of a definite runner for his pass it was the wrong option.
Is that a reason to slate him as not wanting to shoot in general? No, clearly not. But it is a reason to say that this season he's finding that he's having to think more quickly and as a result there will be more instances when he gets it wrong. All this actually shows is that he's about at the top of his level.
I'm not trying to take anything away from his overall game on Saturday. He had a thankless task playing alone against a strong and experienced defence - never a scenario where he was going to have half a dozen clear chances at goal. However, he did make a couple of errors and its possible that one of those errors foiled one of his best goal scoring opportunities. He's a league one player, he's going to make those kind of errors all his career. If he was any better, he wouldn't be here.
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Beerseller. I pretty much concur with all of that. As you say, of course he doesn't get every decision right. But he doesn't do badly overall, as even a cursory look at the highlights shows, nevermind seeing much more at the match that never makes it onto the videos. I'm genuinely bemused by the level of stick that he's got on here from some people.