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Steve wrote: When was Patto even in the squad?

Last summer he was signed. He hasn't started a match since away to Salisbury last November and since then only has had cameo sub appearances, the last being for 6 minutes or so against Grays. He does offer something different, in my opinion, but appears to have been marginalised by the management and Sam Smith appears to have taken his place on the bench. This coincides with our run of good form so who are we to question JE's decision?

You can tell he's not highly thought of, as he was kept out of the team by Cousins for a run of five games in October!

I've been far from Cousins' biggest fan since he arrived, but to be fair he had a decent run and was visibly improving game by game, deserved his place in the end I thought, looked like a few more games and he might have even been good! ;)

Patto only had a good run early in the season, his bit parts haven't been great or terrible, and who is he going to displace in this side? Without showing something special he isn't going to make it into the team, we're a bit blessed in midfield at the moment, especially having Byrne and Tomlin and Wolleaston all with great attacking ability.

The problem is our 'wingless wonders' approach where we play 4-3-3 with no players out wide, hence no Patto. I hate this system although it seems to be paying off at the moment. From many a spectator’s point of view it is frustrating but it does allow the deployment of our surplus of strikers.

I would much rather see Patto playing in a traditional 4-4-2 with Tomlin out on the left wing. But until the present system fails (and in time it will), then Patto is sidelined.

I have agreed with everything the management/coaching staff have done so far, and you can't deny their success, but I get so fed up with our lack of width.

From a defensive point of view, one game soon we'll come across a good team that plays with wingers and we'll get slaughtered down the flanks - pity our full backs on that day without cover up front - hope it's not tomorrow : :roll:

So for now an excellent player will continue to warm the bench...

Dukes wrote:The problem is our 'wingless wonders' approach where we play 4-3-3 with no players out wide, hence no Patto. I hate this system although it seems to be paying off at the moment. From many a spectator’s point of view it is frustrating but it does allow the deployment of our surplus of strikers.

I would much rather see Patto playing in a traditional 4-4-2 with Tomlin out on the left wing. But until the present system fails (and in time it will), then Patto is sidelined.

I have agreed with everything the management/coaching staff have done so far, and you can't deny their success, but I get so fed up with our lack of width.

From a defensive point of view, one game soon we'll come across a good team that plays with wingers and we'll get slaughtered down the flanks - pity our full backs on that day without cover up front - hope it's not tomorrow : :roll:

So for now an excellent player will continue to warm the bench...

I'm not a fan of 4-3-3 either it will give Kelly some good runs down the wing tomorrow ,assuming they are 4-4-2.Agree that Patto is wasted on the bench.

Suprised to see Patto make the bench ahead of Wolly, who could'nt have been injured as he was warming up before the match! :?

TheIncognitoKid wrote:Suprised to see Patto make the bench ahead of Wolly, who could'nt have been injured as he was warming up before the match! :?

According to Radio Northants he had a slight hamstring strain, and was involved in today's game in a coaching position.

Irish Diamond wrote:

TheIncognitoKid wrote:Suprised to see Patto make the bench ahead of Wolly, who could'nt have been injured as he was warming up before the match! :?

According to Radio Northants he had a slight hamstring strain, and was involved in today's game in a coaching position.

Fair enough. I would have been very suprised if he had of been dropped!