Post by stevek192 on Sept 9, 2018 9:21:39 GMT
The season is starting to unfold now and it won't be long before we reach the ten games that generally tells you how things are going and also the first time it is generally worth looking at the League table. Sorry DC but one win out of seven is just not good enough especially considering that four of those games have been at home. I don't know what the crowd was yesterday but it certainly again looked well down on what we were getting last season and it is hardly surprising such is the negativity off the field which at present is reflected with the performance on it especially in the final third.
The starting line up saw two enforced changes from the draw at Shrewsbury last week with Kelly back in for the suspended Martin and James Clarke replacing Lockyer who was on International duty. Reilly was at last given a start in preference to Nichols with Bennett and Lines replacing the out of form Rodman and Upson. The trouble these days is that even the visit of Bottom of the Table Plymouth does not change DC's negative tactics and his inability to find the winning formula. How long is it going to take DC to realise that if you have every player back for a corner without the pace to get out that the ball will soon come back in again? yesterday saw both teams adopting this tactic but for me it just draws pressure on the team. I would also question what the kick off no longer having to travel the circumference of the ball forward has added to the game other than to provide another reason for a big boot forward!
I really do question what our lads are up to in training as no matter what formation or personnel we play we fail to get players into the opponents penalty area in numbers but also fail on the majority of attacks to get a cross into the danger area. What is the point of full backs going forward when they are unable to get in a decent cross? Leadbitters crossing was pathetic from start to finish and Kellys was not as bad but was certainly not that far behind. The problem I particularly have with Leadbitter is that without an end product is it really worth him going forward and then being nowhere to be seen defensively because all it really means is that a natural attacking player has to then cover him.
Anyway before the game is described by looking at individual performances I will say that particularly in the first half there was some good football played and players showed they can play good football until they reach a position where they can either hit a final cross, path or shoot. possession yesterday was about 60% in our favour but it is always goals that win matches and although both keepers played their parts in keeping clean sheets chances in the Plymouth penalty area were few and far between.
Bonham 8 If DC wanted a goalkeeper who controls his area then why oh why did he sign both Smith and Slocombe as neither were renowned for this ability in their previous sides. What a difference it makes to have a keeper who is not glued to his line and actually inspires confidence in the back four. This was a quality display from the on loan Brentford keeper which included a worldly save in the second half and an excellent all round game bar a couple of kicks into touch.
Leadbitter 4 Pitiful crossing display throughout and caught out defensively far too often particularly when Plymouth brought on Joel Grant. It has not been a good start to the season for a player who looks to be struggling to overcome the injury suffered last season.
J. Clarke 7.5 Mr Reliable who other than the QPR game has performed admirably wherever he has been asked to play and that has been pretty much every back four position. He certainly deserves a start next game whether that be in place of Tom Lockyer or as Right back as he played well yesterday when asked to do both roles.
Craig 7 I just cannot understand those who continually criticise this man. Ok he lacks pace and IMO should never be employed as a left back but at Centre half he uses all the tricks in the book and yesterday was very solid and just gets on with the job and it was great to see the first clean sheet of the season.
Kelly 7.5 Did little wrong and looked comfortable defending. Deserves a run in the side but we all know he is unlikely to get this with DC's constant changing. Has a bit of pace about him which Martin did not appear to have although Like Leadbitter his crossing was generally disappointing and a few passes went astray but he certainly has ability and for someone so young this was a good display.
Matthews 8 Looks a good signing but is not really a winger and like on the opposite flank we lack the ability to go on the outside of a defender and so we tend to be a bit predictable. Had a couple of useful shots and generally good in possession but like a few of our players I would question his overall fitness levels as he visibly tired and was rightly substituted.
O. Clarke 8.5 MOM Ollies best game of the season by a country mile and if he could keep up this level of performance I would have no hesitation in him being the first name on the teamsheet. He really looked a class player yesterday and we can only hope that he can maintain this form which was back to his level of two years ago when it finally looked like he had reached a consistent level. Time will tell but well done Ollie for this man of the match performance.
Lines 5 Good to have him back in the side but looked a bit rusty. Brings creativity to the side and the ability to run with the ball and we have missed this in his absence but even more noticeable with Sercombe out injured as well.
Bennett 6 Flatters to deceive at times as far too often he breaks but then slows the game right down and the momentum is lost. that said he does have the ability to take players out of the game with his trickery and pace but like Matthews I would like to see him take the defender on the outside to give more width to our play but in truth he is only doing what he is told as it is well known that DC likes his wingers to come in field.Has the ability to be a game winner but like all our attackers he is struggling in front of goal but there were times yesterday where he looked unplayable and he was involved in some of our best football moments.
Reilly 7 The nearest player yet to a player who can make a partnership and IMO is worth persevering with. I did not agree with his substitution as for me it was just a like for like and certainly no more likely to score a goal and break the deadlock. His movement was good throughout and it is a shame that we are not just that bit more attacking in our outlook because our problem at the moment is that we are too slow in our build up play and we are not getting enough chances in the box.
Payne 4 The service to him was generally poor and I can't remember him having a shot at goal. He battled hard but it is difficult to see at the moment where the goals are going to come from but the main problem is that he is the only targetman of the four forwards and has no competition for his place.
Subs: Nichols 5.5 Added nothing to the game and even less likely to score a goal than Reilly so really a wasted substitution.
Sinclair 5 Good to see him fit again but a winger he is not and like Nichols added nothing to the game.
Broadbent NOLE Think Leadbitter must have been injured because otherwise this was a strange substitution if we were actually trying to win the game.
Crowd 6 Subdued a bit like the team.
Ref 8 I thought this was a good performance from the official but let down by his linesmen with a couple of decisions.
Plymouth 4 easy to see why they are propping up the table. Came for a point and got it thanks mainly to Matt Macey who made a couple of good saves and our lack of creating clear chances.
DC Uninspiring and seems to be really struggling to turn our fortunes around. There is just no balance to our side and the only width is provided by full backs who struggle to beat the first man with the cross or put it over the crossbar. Substitutions were strange as could see no positives in any of them. Trouble is that the players on the bench are there for a reason and at the moment most of them are there because they are struggling for form. Rodman should have been exactly what we were looking for to bring on because Sinclair certainly was not. IMO DC has failed miserably with his signings this summer and as the majority of players in the side are his signings then he must take the blame. At least history shows that he is capable of changing our fortunes around but I really wonder this season if he has the tools at his disposal to do it. We really need a couple of wins and soon or we are going to find ourselves bottom of the pile and Luton next week is a worrying prospect. UTG
The starting line up saw two enforced changes from the draw at Shrewsbury last week with Kelly back in for the suspended Martin and James Clarke replacing Lockyer who was on International duty. Reilly was at last given a start in preference to Nichols with Bennett and Lines replacing the out of form Rodman and Upson. The trouble these days is that even the visit of Bottom of the Table Plymouth does not change DC's negative tactics and his inability to find the winning formula. How long is it going to take DC to realise that if you have every player back for a corner without the pace to get out that the ball will soon come back in again? yesterday saw both teams adopting this tactic but for me it just draws pressure on the team. I would also question what the kick off no longer having to travel the circumference of the ball forward has added to the game other than to provide another reason for a big boot forward!
I really do question what our lads are up to in training as no matter what formation or personnel we play we fail to get players into the opponents penalty area in numbers but also fail on the majority of attacks to get a cross into the danger area. What is the point of full backs going forward when they are unable to get in a decent cross? Leadbitters crossing was pathetic from start to finish and Kellys was not as bad but was certainly not that far behind. The problem I particularly have with Leadbitter is that without an end product is it really worth him going forward and then being nowhere to be seen defensively because all it really means is that a natural attacking player has to then cover him.
Anyway before the game is described by looking at individual performances I will say that particularly in the first half there was some good football played and players showed they can play good football until they reach a position where they can either hit a final cross, path or shoot. possession yesterday was about 60% in our favour but it is always goals that win matches and although both keepers played their parts in keeping clean sheets chances in the Plymouth penalty area were few and far between.
Bonham 8 If DC wanted a goalkeeper who controls his area then why oh why did he sign both Smith and Slocombe as neither were renowned for this ability in their previous sides. What a difference it makes to have a keeper who is not glued to his line and actually inspires confidence in the back four. This was a quality display from the on loan Brentford keeper which included a worldly save in the second half and an excellent all round game bar a couple of kicks into touch.
Leadbitter 4 Pitiful crossing display throughout and caught out defensively far too often particularly when Plymouth brought on Joel Grant. It has not been a good start to the season for a player who looks to be struggling to overcome the injury suffered last season.
J. Clarke 7.5 Mr Reliable who other than the QPR game has performed admirably wherever he has been asked to play and that has been pretty much every back four position. He certainly deserves a start next game whether that be in place of Tom Lockyer or as Right back as he played well yesterday when asked to do both roles.
Craig 7 I just cannot understand those who continually criticise this man. Ok he lacks pace and IMO should never be employed as a left back but at Centre half he uses all the tricks in the book and yesterday was very solid and just gets on with the job and it was great to see the first clean sheet of the season.
Kelly 7.5 Did little wrong and looked comfortable defending. Deserves a run in the side but we all know he is unlikely to get this with DC's constant changing. Has a bit of pace about him which Martin did not appear to have although Like Leadbitter his crossing was generally disappointing and a few passes went astray but he certainly has ability and for someone so young this was a good display.
Matthews 8 Looks a good signing but is not really a winger and like on the opposite flank we lack the ability to go on the outside of a defender and so we tend to be a bit predictable. Had a couple of useful shots and generally good in possession but like a few of our players I would question his overall fitness levels as he visibly tired and was rightly substituted.
O. Clarke 8.5 MOM Ollies best game of the season by a country mile and if he could keep up this level of performance I would have no hesitation in him being the first name on the teamsheet. He really looked a class player yesterday and we can only hope that he can maintain this form which was back to his level of two years ago when it finally looked like he had reached a consistent level. Time will tell but well done Ollie for this man of the match performance.
Lines 5 Good to have him back in the side but looked a bit rusty. Brings creativity to the side and the ability to run with the ball and we have missed this in his absence but even more noticeable with Sercombe out injured as well.
Bennett 6 Flatters to deceive at times as far too often he breaks but then slows the game right down and the momentum is lost. that said he does have the ability to take players out of the game with his trickery and pace but like Matthews I would like to see him take the defender on the outside to give more width to our play but in truth he is only doing what he is told as it is well known that DC likes his wingers to come in field.Has the ability to be a game winner but like all our attackers he is struggling in front of goal but there were times yesterday where he looked unplayable and he was involved in some of our best football moments.
Reilly 7 The nearest player yet to a player who can make a partnership and IMO is worth persevering with. I did not agree with his substitution as for me it was just a like for like and certainly no more likely to score a goal and break the deadlock. His movement was good throughout and it is a shame that we are not just that bit more attacking in our outlook because our problem at the moment is that we are too slow in our build up play and we are not getting enough chances in the box.
Payne 4 The service to him was generally poor and I can't remember him having a shot at goal. He battled hard but it is difficult to see at the moment where the goals are going to come from but the main problem is that he is the only targetman of the four forwards and has no competition for his place.
Subs: Nichols 5.5 Added nothing to the game and even less likely to score a goal than Reilly so really a wasted substitution.
Sinclair 5 Good to see him fit again but a winger he is not and like Nichols added nothing to the game.
Broadbent NOLE Think Leadbitter must have been injured because otherwise this was a strange substitution if we were actually trying to win the game.
Crowd 6 Subdued a bit like the team.
Ref 8 I thought this was a good performance from the official but let down by his linesmen with a couple of decisions.
Plymouth 4 easy to see why they are propping up the table. Came for a point and got it thanks mainly to Matt Macey who made a couple of good saves and our lack of creating clear chances.
DC Uninspiring and seems to be really struggling to turn our fortunes around. There is just no balance to our side and the only width is provided by full backs who struggle to beat the first man with the cross or put it over the crossbar. Substitutions were strange as could see no positives in any of them. Trouble is that the players on the bench are there for a reason and at the moment most of them are there because they are struggling for form. Rodman should have been exactly what we were looking for to bring on because Sinclair certainly was not. IMO DC has failed miserably with his signings this summer and as the majority of players in the side are his signings then he must take the blame. At least history shows that he is capable of changing our fortunes around but I really wonder this season if he has the tools at his disposal to do it. We really need a couple of wins and soon or we are going to find ourselves bottom of the pile and Luton next week is a worrying prospect. UTG
