Post by stevek192 on Mar 1, 2015 10:18:36 GMT
I felt we just about deserved our victory yesterday based on an improved second half display and the fact that Mildenhall only had one shot to save in the entire 90 minutes. On saying that their keeper also did not have much to do. The thing which clearly shows from the number of goals conceded is that we have a fantastic defence at this level and that is the reason we find ourselves sat at the top of the pile.
My complaint will continue to be that we play far too defensively as a unit with our two defensive central midfielders and Monkhouse rarely getting forward and looking at the performance it is hard to believe that we are top but I am certainly not going to complain at that!! Hopefully Easter will last longer than Sinclair on his return and that will be an added bit of class to the team.
Mildenhall 6 One of the easiest games he has had or will have with only one save in the 90 minutes and that was an easy take from a header in the second half.
Leadbitter 9 MOM Against a very clever winger I feel this was his best performance
McChrystal 8
As usual won most of his headers and coasted through the game and restricted a dangerous looking Gateshead team to one opportunity
Parkes 8.5 Continues to perform at the top of his game and him and Macca are without doubt the best central defenders in this League and part of the best defece by a mile.
Brown 7 Defensively very good but wasteful in possession.
Sinclair 5 Very sad to see him leave the field with what looked to me like a season ending injury. To be honest he didn't do a lot in the time he was on the field and was obviously as would be expected looked well short of match practice.
Mansell 6.5 Not his usual authorative game but still won a lot of the ball and kept things ticking overwithout ever really creating anything.
Lockyer 8 Won so much of the ball with his quick tackling and reading of the game. Brought the ball out well but doesn't really have creative edge to his game
Monkhouse 6.5 Much better second half but still for me does not get involved as much as he should and has so much more to offer for an accomplished player
Taylor 5 Didn't have his usual game at all and was rightfully replaced. Not sure what the tactics were but never really got anywhere near Blissett and left his striking partner isolated.
Blissett 7 Tried very hard to close down the Gatehead back four but without much support it meant that he used up a tremendous amount of energy with little reward. Won a fair amount in the air and a couple of surging runs, one of which was stopped illegally as he burst forward.
Subs: Dawson 7 Proved again that he should be playing from the off as he gives us an attacking edge and is capable of beating his full back and whipping in crosses.
Harrison 7.5 Took his goal really well and finished clinically for the second time in the week. Maybe he should start next week in place of Matty Taylor who looked yesterday like he needed a rest. I don't really see Ellis as a leader of the attack and feel he needs a player of presence up front with him and Blissett fills that build.
DC 8 Not convinced by the team selection as I feel he could go a bit more attacking from the off but with 5 wins out of 5 in February he deserves a lot more praise than he seems to get and those who doubted him at the start must surely soon concede that he is a very capable Manager who has managed to unite the squad and whilst not being a particularly creative team it is a very effective unit that works tirelessly for each other and always give 100% for the cause.
Ref 5 Poor. Stopped the game far too often and allowed Gateshead to get away with far too much
Gateshead 6.5 Not as good as they were at the Mem earlier in the season but very dangerous on the flanks and started off very well. IMO they overplay from the back and as was proven in the second half were very susceptible to pace which we managed to exploit with the introduction of Ellis and Dawson.
Fans 8 Great turnout for such a long journey
Personally I would like to see us take the game to the opposition from the start by playing our attacking players but it is impossible to make too much of a case for a change of approach when the tactics employed have brought us 5 wins on the bounce.
So its on to next week and without doubt the most difficult home game we have left against an Eastleigh team that is full of experienced League players. We will need to be at our best to beat them as I am sure they will be very confident after their demolition of Macclesfield yesterday. Bring it on.
My complaint will continue to be that we play far too defensively as a unit with our two defensive central midfielders and Monkhouse rarely getting forward and looking at the performance it is hard to believe that we are top but I am certainly not going to complain at that!! Hopefully Easter will last longer than Sinclair on his return and that will be an added bit of class to the team.
Mildenhall 6 One of the easiest games he has had or will have with only one save in the 90 minutes and that was an easy take from a header in the second half.
Leadbitter 9 MOM Against a very clever winger I feel this was his best performance
McChrystal 8
As usual won most of his headers and coasted through the game and restricted a dangerous looking Gateshead team to one opportunity
Parkes 8.5 Continues to perform at the top of his game and him and Macca are without doubt the best central defenders in this League and part of the best defece by a mile.
Brown 7 Defensively very good but wasteful in possession.
Sinclair 5 Very sad to see him leave the field with what looked to me like a season ending injury. To be honest he didn't do a lot in the time he was on the field and was obviously as would be expected looked well short of match practice.
Mansell 6.5 Not his usual authorative game but still won a lot of the ball and kept things ticking overwithout ever really creating anything.
Lockyer 8 Won so much of the ball with his quick tackling and reading of the game. Brought the ball out well but doesn't really have creative edge to his game
Monkhouse 6.5 Much better second half but still for me does not get involved as much as he should and has so much more to offer for an accomplished player
Taylor 5 Didn't have his usual game at all and was rightfully replaced. Not sure what the tactics were but never really got anywhere near Blissett and left his striking partner isolated.
Blissett 7 Tried very hard to close down the Gatehead back four but without much support it meant that he used up a tremendous amount of energy with little reward. Won a fair amount in the air and a couple of surging runs, one of which was stopped illegally as he burst forward.
Subs: Dawson 7 Proved again that he should be playing from the off as he gives us an attacking edge and is capable of beating his full back and whipping in crosses.
Harrison 7.5 Took his goal really well and finished clinically for the second time in the week. Maybe he should start next week in place of Matty Taylor who looked yesterday like he needed a rest. I don't really see Ellis as a leader of the attack and feel he needs a player of presence up front with him and Blissett fills that build.
DC 8 Not convinced by the team selection as I feel he could go a bit more attacking from the off but with 5 wins out of 5 in February he deserves a lot more praise than he seems to get and those who doubted him at the start must surely soon concede that he is a very capable Manager who has managed to unite the squad and whilst not being a particularly creative team it is a very effective unit that works tirelessly for each other and always give 100% for the cause.
Ref 5 Poor. Stopped the game far too often and allowed Gateshead to get away with far too much
Gateshead 6.5 Not as good as they were at the Mem earlier in the season but very dangerous on the flanks and started off very well. IMO they overplay from the back and as was proven in the second half were very susceptible to pace which we managed to exploit with the introduction of Ellis and Dawson.
Fans 8 Great turnout for such a long journey
Personally I would like to see us take the game to the opposition from the start by playing our attacking players but it is impossible to make too much of a case for a change of approach when the tactics employed have brought us 5 wins on the bounce.
So its on to next week and without doubt the most difficult home game we have left against an Eastleigh team that is full of experienced League players. We will need to be at our best to beat them as I am sure they will be very confident after their demolition of Macclesfield yesterday. Bring it on.
