As always on here people feel the need to see a situation as either black or white, and have difficulty accepting that it's probably somewhere in between.
Even a week ago everything about Jephcott on here was positive. Posters were speculating about the Euros, out-bidding one another in their transfer valuations, making comparisons to the likes of Harry Kane, and certain extremists were demanding that LJ start every game and never be subbed. Suddenly he's had a short run without goals and there's an inquest into what has gone wrong, and what needs to be done to get him scoring again.
The main diagnosis seems to be that he is happier playing with Hardie than with Ennis. I'd be pretty sure that's the case given that he's partnered Hardie far more than anyone else. Yet he has to learn to play with different partners, as any club needs their strikers to be able to perform successfully in different combinations. I'm sure there's far more too it than that though.
When a team is on a good run, future opposition will study video footage and work out how to stop them. In simplistic terms , to stop Jephcott scoring, you stop him getting chances, by closing off supply lines. Defenders are instructed to push Danny Mayor into blind alleys down the left hand side of the penalty area, to block out low crosses into the box from the likes of Conor Grant, and to negate Camara's forward runs. Suddenly the goals dry up, chances become a rarity, and when they do come there's more pressure due to there being so few opportunities.
Late in January a number of posters speculated nervously about the February fixture list. It looked hard, with a number of top teams to play. In terms of results it had gone well up until last night, but better opposition has nevertheless reduced our goal threat.
People have to remember that Luke Jephcott is human. For all the potential, and for all the impressive stats, he's not (certainly not yet) a superstar. 15 months ago he was a teenager on loan to Truro who had previously had the odd opportunity on the wing for Argyle. He's played a lot of minutes at a time when the fixture list is unusually congested. At a young age he's had to get used to being relied on for goals, as well as the adulation of fans ever eager to welcome a new star, banging on endlessly about huge valuations and international caps. I'd be very surprised if he isn't physically tired, and mentally probably exhausted.
In most aspects of life, you learn most through a bit of adversity. LJ has had it pretty good. If things are a little more difficult now (and it's certainly no crisis yet), he'll learn and come back stronger. I rate him highly, though struggle with some of the more extreme hype,, and am sure the current blip (if there is one) will soon be overcome.
So when we had Mariner and Rafferty you would have split them up because they needed to be able to perform in different combinations! Perhaps you're too young to remember them.
IMO people are not holding "an inquest" on Jephcott but questioning Lowe's decision to drop Hardie for Ennis.