Thats exactly what has happened. Locky's injury has forced Manny out from DM where he was great last year. He is more of a natural RB but is doing a reasonable job at LB. Troy if you remember was the RB for most of last years succesful run.
Now Troy has lost form/out of confidence so we have to convert one of the centrebacks to RB.
North and Muscat are fine players but they are not quick enough to have a big impact down the flanks on attack. As most of our attacks are down the sidelines we have lost a big part of our potency because the wingbacks are too slow to join the attacks.
End result....Ifill and leo have nobody to interpass with so they stop and play the ball backwards. People give those two flack for not being more decisive.....but whats their options when there are no wing backs making overlapping runs and there is no attacking midfielder as an outlet.
you would have to be Christiano Ronaldo to make something from their positions. End result? they have to pass it back, which slows up the attack or they try and wack in a miraclel cross when the play is static and they have two defenders on there arse. Thats why we are seein so many crosses being blocked.
I am pleased I am not Mr Herbert....coz he has bugger all options. He definitely needs more pace wide. I would select Hearfield again at RB. He is a bit of a lose cannon some times but at least he has the pace to trouble defenses. If we keep up with the current two then oposition teams know they can push their wideguys forward and the Nix don't have the fast guys out wide to cause them any trouble. Good example was Rose last match. He had a field day running down the flanks