|
Post by stevek192 on Mar 18, 2018 11:28:55 GMT
Despite Plymouths amazing recent form I really felt that this was a match that we could win and certainly more so than the next game at Peterborough where we rarely do well. The first half did nothing to make me change my mind as we were the better side by some distance and only poor refereeing decisions stopped us going in at least two goals up and to add to that we should have been playing against ten players. Careys tackle could easily have been a straight red and the petulance after when he kicked the ball away should have seen him gone. Even in the second half we looked well capable of extending our lead but the referee then took over the show and robbed us of three points although we didn't help ourselves with either our defending or our finishing.
Slocombe 6- Great penalty save but huge question marks for me over his physical presence or lack of it. Generally I would say he is the best of two average League One keepers.
Partington 6 Caught far too often and passing and crossing was very much a mixed bag.
J Clarke 6.5 OK performance but very surprised to see a natural right sided player playing left back when we had a natural left back available. Beaten in the air for the first goal and another who in the penalty incident gave the referee the opportunity to make a decision.
Lockyer 6 Some wonderful interceptions and tackles but like the team in general gets caught out a few times during the game and when he does it is almost like a goalkeeper mistake in that it ends up in our net. Terrible miss at the end where surely it was easier to put the ball in the net from six yards than hit it straight weakjly at the keeper. As for the penalty although he did very little he allowed the attacker to get the wrong side of him and attack the ball and gave the referee a decision to make of which he just wasn't capable of making the right one.
Craig 6.5 Very reasonable performance and looked in control of most situations with few errors but again one who could have played left back and reinstated Broadbent in the middle.
Bennett 7 Looked lively throughout but totally impressed me again when brought into the midfield in the last twenty minutes where he orchestrated in the same way that he did last week. Please Please DC stick with something when it works.
Lines 7 Great free kick and generally imposed himself on the game however for me his corners are just so predictable and I question what happens in training because surely the Management team should be able to see that they just aren't working and havent worked most of the season.
O Clarke 6 Why was he brought straight back into the side? Not playing well enough to warrant an immediate return Unlucky with the own goal but I blame the tactics rather than the player as we did not close Plymouth down in a repeat of the first goal where we allowed them acres of space to run at us. The quicker we leave defending mainly to defenders the better and concentrate on making the opposition worry about us. The best form of defence is to attack but I'm not sure DC has everr heard of that. Sinclair 6.5 His usual energetic performance and another not helped by the referee although if he did dive then that is downright poor and no better than the cheating Pilgrims.
Harrison MOM 8 Worked hard throughout againsty it has to be said one of the worst centre halves and goalkeeper/centre half relationships I have seen and with a referee giving fair decisions Ellis would have had at least another goal as particilarly the one in the first half why should he hit the deck when he had beaten his player and was clear on goal? Powerful all round performance and didn't deserve to be on the losing side. if only we could find him a suitable partner.
Sercombe 7 Industrious and involved in most of our good attacks but probably should have done better with a chance in the second half.
Bola 6 Did ok in the short time he was on and if Brown was unfit then I am surprised he didn't start the game.
Nicholls Nole
Gaffney Nole
Ref 0 Would have been -1 but he blew his whistle OK at kick offs. Young ,inexperienced and allowed the home crowd to influence his decisions from start to finish.
Plymouth 6 How on earth are they where they are? On saying that they are and have won six of their last seven matches and so I have rated our players based on the fact that we looked the better of the two sides, had more possession,more shots on goal and would have beaten them with a referee with an ounce of common sense or refereeing ability. In all honesty they did not look a Play Off seeking team in any aspect of their play and if anything we treated them with too much respect with how we set up DC- I must query what our team do in training and the general number of changes that take place in our team. Eleven players back for two corners resulting in two goals conceded. Imo the number of opportunities we give the opposition to fire in crosses is the main cause of our problems and has been most of the season. How many goals have we actually conceded with most of our team in the penalty area? Certainly all three goals yesterday were caused by the wrong players in the wrong places and a failure to get tight to opposition players out wide. I fail to understand why we have to change formation every game because I am sure it confuses us as much as the opposition. Plymouth for all their recent results are a poor side especially defensively and if we had gone at them from the start I am sure we would have comfortably won. Totally fed up now with the constant changes and players making the same errors week in week out. To be honest I am grateful that we have 50 points and will be even happier when we have the 55 that will mathematically see us safe because in all honesty we are nowhere near a Play Off chasing side. We will of course never know if a settled side with a more attacking approach would do any better because we don't get a chance to see it. Has some big decisions to make in the summer because we lack the quality to get consistently good results and have too many average players at this level which really means an average finish. To be honest we will do well to equal last years position with the matches we have left. Darrell your "projects" are failing as often as they are succeeding so look at yourself as much as the players. The top sides in this division are invariably teams who keep settled sides.
Crowd 7 Would have been 8 or 9 but unfortunately too many let the general support down with their behaviour and probably their inability to take their drink.Led to one of our own fans being hit over the head and could have meant others injured when rushing at the Police outside to overcome the Police courden.
So we move on to Peterborough next week who also suffered a setback yesterday with a 2-1 loss at Oxford but in all honesty all I can see is another defeat not helped with the International call ups. All I would ask is that if Broadbent partners Craig and we do manage to do well then stick with it for the following game. NO player should be guaranteed a place and Lockyer should be made to fight for his place the same as anybody else. UTG
|
|
|
Post by Gas Go Marching In on Mar 18, 2018 11:40:15 GMT
Once again SteveK going overboard with criticism. We are 10th in the league so it is still not a disaster, talk of being happy to stay up when we are on 50 points with 9 games left is ridiculous. You even say yourself that we got f**ked over by the referee yesterday.
I agree with you about James Clarke, can't understand playing him at LB.
|
|
|
Post by justin blue on Mar 18, 2018 11:54:13 GMT
I'm sure it's new boys bounce that has took Plymouth where they are, but I don't think it will get them up. Ref's done us as you say. Never mind we gave it a good go and proud of the lads for that. Thanks for the report Steve.
|
|
|
Post by rocknrollaayatollah on Mar 18, 2018 12:30:26 GMT
Despite Plymouths amazing recent form I really felt that this was a match that we could win and certainly more so than the next game at Peterborough where we rarely do well. The first half did nothing to make me change my mind as we were the better side by some distance and only poor refereeing decisions stopped us going in at least two goals up and to add to that we should have been playing against ten players. Careys tackle could easily have been a straight red and the petulance after when he kicked the ball away should have seen him gone. Even in the second half we looked well capable of extending our lead but the referee then took over the show and robbed us of three points although we didn't help ourselves with either our defending or our finishing. Slocombe 6- Great penalty save but huge question marks for me over his physical presence or lack of it. Generally I would say he is the best of two average League One keepers. Partington 6 Caught far too often and passing and crossing was very much a mixed bag. J Clarke 6.5 OK performance but very surprised to see a natural right sided player playing left back when we had a natural left back available. Beaten in the air for the first goal and another who in the penalty incident gave the referee the opportunity to make a decision. Lockyer 6 Some wonderful interceptions and tackles but like the team in general gets caught out a few times during the game and when he does it is almost like a goalkeeper mistake in that it ends up in our net. Terrible miss at the end where surely it was easier to put the ball in the net from six yards than hit it straight weakjly at the keeper. As for the penalty although he did very little he allowed the attacker to get the wrong side of him and attack the ball and gave the referee a decision to make of which he just wasn't capable of making the right one. Craig 6.5 Very reasonable performance and looked in control of most situations with few errors but again one who could have played left back and reinstated Broadbent in the middle. Bennett 7 Looked lively throughout but totally impressed me again when brought into the midfield in the last twenty minutes where he orchestrated in the same way that he did last week. Please Please DC stick with something when it works. Lines 7 Great free kick and generally imposed himself on the game however for me his corners are just so predictable and I question what happens in training because surely the Management team should be able to see that they just aren't working and havent worked most of the season. O Clarke 6 Why was he brought straight back into the side? Not playing well enough to warrant an immediate return Unlucky with the own goal but I blame the tactics rather than the player as we did not close Plymouth down in a repeat of the first goal where we allowed them acres of space to run at us. The quicker we leave defending mainly to defenders the better and concentrate on making the opposition worry about us. The best form of defence is to attack but I'm not sure DC has everr heard of that. Sinclair 6.5 His usual energetic performance and another not helped by the referee although if he did dive then that is downright poor and no better than the cheating Pilgrims. Harrison MOM 8 Worked hard throughout againsty it has to be said one of the worst centre halves and goalkeeper/centre half relationships I have seen and with a referee giving fair decisions Ellis would have had at least another goal as particilarly the one in the first half why should he hit the deck when he had beaten his player and was clear on goal? Powerful all round performance and didn't deserve to be on the losing side. if only we could find him a suitable partner. Sercombe 7 Industrious and involved in most of our good attacks but probably should have done better with a chance in the second half. Bola 6 Did ok in the short time he was on and if Brown was unfit then I am surprised he didn't start the game. Nicholls Nole Gaffney Nole Ref 0 Would have been -1 but he blew his whistle OK at kick offs. Young ,inexperienced and allowed the home crowd to influence his decisions from start to finish. Plymouth 6 How on earth are they where they are? On saying that they are and have won six of their last seven matches and so I have rated our players based on the fact that we looked the better of the two sides, had more possession,more shots on goal and would have beaten them with a referee with an ounce of common sense or refereeing ability. In all honesty they did not look a Play Off seeking team in any aspect of their play and if anything we treated them with too much respect with how we set up DC- I must query what our team do in training and the general number of changes that take place in our team. Eleven players back for two corners resulting in two goals conceded. Imo the number of opportunities we give the opposition to fire in crosses is the main cause of our problems and has been most of the season. How many goals have we actually conceded with most of our team in the penalty area? Certainly all three goals yesterday were caused by the wrong players in the wrong places and a failure to get tight to opposition players out wide. I fail to understand why we have to change formation every game because I am sure it confuses us as much as the opposition. Plymouth for all their recent results are a poor side especially defensively and if we had gone at them from the start I am sure we would have comfortably won. Totally fed up now with the constant changes and players making the same errors week in week out. To be honest I am grateful that we have 50 points and will be even happier when we have the 55 that will mathematically see us safe because in all honesty we are nowhere near a Play Off chasing side. We will of course never know if a settled side with a more attacking approach would do any better because we don't get a chance to see it. Has some big decisions to make in the summer because we lack the quality to get consistently good results and have too many average players at this level which really means an average finish. To be honest we will do well to equal last years position with the matches we have left. Darrell your "projects" are failing as often as they are succeeding so look at yourself as much as the players. The top sides in this division are invariably teams who keep settled sides. Crowd 7 Would have been 8 or 9 but unfortunately too many let the general support down with their behaviour and probably their inability to take their drink.Led to one of our own fans being hit over the head and could have meant others injured when rushing at the Police outside to overcome the Police courden. So we move on to Peterborough next week who also suffered a setback yesterday with a 2-1 loss at Oxford but in all honesty all I can see is another defeat not helped with the International call ups. All I would ask is that if Broadbent partners Craig and we do manage to do well then stick with it for the following game. NO player should be guaranteed a place and Lockyer should be made to fight for his place the same as anybody else. UTG DC’s been using the ‘project’ method since day one and look where it’s gotten us. If he didn’t use that philosophy we may still be in League 2 or even the Conference. Funny his changes only get brought up when we don’t win.
|
|
|
Post by Topper Gas on Mar 18, 2018 12:51:44 GMT
"I have rated our players based on the fact that we looked the better of the two sides, had more possession,more shots on goal and would have beaten them with a referee with an ounce of common sense or refereeing ability"
I fail to understand why we have to change formation every game because I am sure it confuses us as much as the opposition. Plymouth for all their recent results are a poor side especially defensively and if we had gone at them from the start I am sure we would have comfortably won. Totally fed up now with the constant changes and players making the same errors week in week out. To be honest I am grateful that we have 50 points and will be even happier when we have the 55 that will mathematically see us safe because in all honesty we are nowhere near a Play Off chasing side.
Darrell your "projects" are failing as often as they are succeeding so look at yourself as much as the players. The top sides in this division are invariably teams who keep settled sides.
SteveK even your own report doesn't makes sense, you say in one para we were the better side and we should have won, then go onto say the players are all confused and we're nowhere near a play off side, even though in your opinion we should have just beaten the form team of the league who are currently in 6th? We lost yesterday as every major decision went Plymouth's way, even OC's goal was a fluke, not because Plymouth outplayed us or because DC got anything wrong.
|
|
|
Post by stevek192 on Mar 18, 2018 13:07:23 GMT
Topper Gas , What doesn't make sense?- You have highlighted just bits and pieces. We were the better side yesterday but that far from makes us a Play Off chasing side- Plymouth did not look a good side and frankly their defence was awful and a decent side would have beaten them yesterday. We lost because out tactics are wrong and we are inviting pressure. The number of games we have lost justly says that as many "projects" are failing as succeeding. The changing formation IMO is not helping us-these are my opinions and you are entitled to yours-fair enough.
|
|
|
Post by Feeling The Blues on Mar 18, 2018 13:07:40 GMT
"I have rated our players based on the fact that we looked the better of the two sides, had more possession,more shots on goal and would have beaten them with a referee with an ounce of common sense or refereeing ability" I fail to understand why we have to change formation every game because I am sure it confuses us as much as the opposition. Plymouth for all their recent results are a poor side especially defensively and if we had gone at them from the start I am sure we would have comfortably won. Totally fed up now with the constant changes and players making the same errors week in week out. To be honest I am grateful that we have 50 points and will be even happier when we have the 55 that will mathematically see us safe because in all honesty we are nowhere near a Play Off chasing side.
Darrell your "projects" are failing as often as they are succeeding so look at yourself as much as the players. The top sides in this division are invariably teams who keep settled sides. SteveK even your own report doesn't makes sense, you say in one para we were the better side and we should have won, then go onto say the players are all confused and we're nowhere near a play off side, even though in your opinion we should have just beaten the form team of the league who are currently in 6th? We lost yesterday as every major decision went Plymouth's way, even OC's goal was a fluke, not because Plymouth outplayed us or because DC got anything wrong. Bang on Topper. We played very well and but for an unfortunate own goal and appalling refereee who didn’t send their defender off for bringing Harrison down when clean through and awarding them too soft penalties we would have got a result our performance deserved. i really appreciate Steve taking the time to write up such comprehensive reports but I really don’t get why he feels the need to constantly criticise probably the best manager we’ve ever had. He isn’t perfect, if he was he wouldn’t be here would he? But we have absolutely zero chance of getting anyone better with our ongoing rag bag set up!
|
|
|
Post by bluestone on Mar 18, 2018 13:20:26 GMT
Gone a bit OTT there with the self criticism there I feel.
It was an entertaining end to end game, I think we were playing very well to be honest and if not for a dodgy ref we would have come away with all of the points. We were robbed imo.
Could we have played better? Yes of course, as DC said we came out after half time off tempo, I suspect the boys spent a bit too much energy in the first half, I also felt our fans did the same as we weren't singing as loud either after the break!
Some of the finishing of our opportunities could have been better and we were definately caught out with their first goal from the corner. Not much we could have done about the deflection goal and the pen wasn't a pen, simple as that.
The biggest disappointment for me (apart from the result obviously) was the crowd trouble. That soured the day for me.
|
|
|
Post by knowall on Mar 18, 2018 13:23:07 GMT
I was not there but Steve's report signals a great deal of frustration, which does not surprise me when hearing we led twice only to lose at the death to a penalty.
Regarding the referee, we have had him about five or six times in the last few years (he has followed us up the leagues) and we have won more times with him than we have lost. He has always been rubbish even when we won! And he was even worse as a linesperson with several famous errors on TV while assisting Mike Dean.
I think lots of us agree about DC changing the team too often - but the more we say it - the more he will do it so we will never know if we are right or if he is. But for me, players need to know and understand how their mates are going to react during play and the more they play together in a settled side the more that will be the case.
As for corners, we might as well not take them - just give the ball to the keeper to take a goal kick because we are never going to score when the ball is looped up by lines for a 'defenders' ball.
Well, I guess that is season over - the home attendances will now suffer which is a shame, and DC can put his mind to changes in the summer - can I suggest he recruits a defensive coach.
|
|
|
Post by bluestone on Mar 18, 2018 13:25:10 GMT
Topper Gas , What doesn't make sense?- You have highlighted just bits and pieces. We were the better side yesterday but that far from makes us a Play Off chasing side- Plymouth did not look a good side and frankly their defence was awful and a decent side would have beaten them yesterday. We lost because out tactics are wrong and we are inviting pressure. The number of games we have lost justly says that as many "projects" are failing as succeeding. The changing formation IMO is not helping us-these are my opinions and you are entitled to yours-fair enough. You're being unrealistic if you expect the opposition not to get spells in the game when they are able to apply pressure, especially when we're away from home. The result has nothing to do with changes in the team or formation or DC's project tactics. We were the better side and deserved to win, if not for the ref we would have.
|
|
|
Post by bluestone on Mar 18, 2018 13:29:41 GMT
One thing I do agree with is the comment about corners, we're very unimaginative and predictable. Also the ball gets played in too slow. We should play it short or cut it back once in a while to mix it up.
I felt the same way about it throw ins before Xmas, we were losing possession at most of them I reckon, we seem to have fixed that now but corners definately need improvement.
|
|
|
Post by worrelsterlingalbion on Mar 18, 2018 14:19:10 GMT
Topper Gas , What doesn't make sense?- You have highlighted just bits and pieces. We were the better side yesterday but that far from makes us a Play Off chasing side- Plymouth did not look a good side and frankly their defence was awful and a decent side would have beaten them yesterday. We lost because out tactics are wrong and we are inviting pressure. The number of games we have lost justly says that as many "projects" are failing as succeeding. The changing formation IMO is not helping us-these are my opinions and you are entitled to yours-fair enough. Sorry Steve like your reports but think you're way off the mark here. Plymouth didn't look a good side because we didn't let them we were excellent 1st half and should probably have had the game won. Not sure how you associate that with our tactics being wrong. Plymouth barely created anything meaningful in the whole game, of their 5 (I think) shots on target two were harsh pens one a deflected cross shot one a shot which Slocombe touched wide although it might not have been going in anyway + the first goal. You keep questioning DC tactics but imo opinion he got it bang on yesterday if we'd had the rub of the green with the big decisions we'd have won would you still have said his tactics were wrong then ?
|
|
|
Post by socrates on Mar 18, 2018 14:29:22 GMT
I was not there but Steve's report signals a great deal of frustration, which does not surprise me when hearing we led twice only to lose at the death to a penalty. Regarding the referee, we have had him about five or six times in the last few years (he has followed us up the leagues) and we have won more times with him than we have lost. He has always been rubbish even when we won! And he was even worse as a linesperson with several famous errors on TV while assisting Mike Dean. I think lots of us agree about DC changing the team too often - but the more we say it - the more he will do it so we will never know if we are right or if he is. But for me, players need to know and understand how their mates are going to react during play and the more they play together in a settled side the more that will be the case. As for corners, we might as well not take them - just give the ball to the keeper to take a goal kick because we are never going to score when the ball is looped up by lines for a 'defenders' ball. Well, I guess that is season over - the home attendances will now suffer which is a shame, and DC can put his mind to changes in the summer - can I suggest he recruits a defensive coach. I know he didn’t play yesterday but I think Lee Brown should take corners and blast them like his shot at waist to head height towards the penalty spot. Have everyone set up on the edge of the area and charge in at it as he hits it.
|
|
|
Post by toddy1953 on Mar 18, 2018 14:33:24 GMT
I thought that bar the first part of the second half, we were the best team out there & probably got robbed by poor ref decisions. Fail to see the criticism of DC, we all know he has a way of managing, he ain't gonna change & has said as much. I think he has done wonders with the resources he has. He is not going to get every transfer in spot on, no manager does - just ask Man U re Pogba £85m for a player they used to have FFS!!! But he won't let the season fizzle out, he will be looking for 67 points minimum - but we have some tough games so for me it will be touch & go. Still think that if we keep the squad & maybe 2/3 additions along with a couple breaking through from the development squad we have a good shout for the play offs next season. From what has been dished up since 2000, I will accept this all day long - players playing for the shirt, mid table L1 with a squeak of the play offs and an exciting young manager, who I hope we can keep hold of. UTG
|
|
|
Post by spiess1 on Mar 18, 2018 16:25:57 GMT
knowall:..."I think lots of us agree about DC changing the team too often - but the more we say it - the more he will do it..." Really? DC builds his selection around fans' opinions. I've read it all now.
|
|
|
Post by bluegas on Mar 18, 2018 17:24:28 GMT
knowall:..."I think lots of us agree about DC changing the team too often - but the more we say it - the more he will do it..." Really? DC builds his selection around fans' opinions. I've read it all now. Nah,he meant DC does it to p*** off the fans.....(snigger)
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Mar 18, 2018 17:36:49 GMT
So...we were the better side 1st half and sbould have been further in front....yet....attack is the best form of defence but DC doesn't realise this....yet....last year at Gillingham he's criticused in the match report for going for the win....yet.....
Come in, cut the guy some slack. These reports are always entertaining to read and I'm grateful for that, but they are starting to lose credibility. Why constantly criticise the best manager we can hope for every time we don't win? His projects have got us from obscurity to a position where some are disappointed that we're probably not going to make the play offs for the second tier.
Give me strength...
|
|
|
Post by clockendgas on Mar 18, 2018 18:08:30 GMT
Maybe someone could tell me why we bring everyone back for corners? Surely Ellis left the halfway line could have picked up about five clearances yesterday and maybe scored a breakaway goal,all we do is keep the pressure on by thumping it up field to their players?
|
|
|
Post by lastminutewinner on Mar 18, 2018 18:32:21 GMT
Maybe someone could tell me why we bring everyone back for corners? Surely Ellis left the halfway line could have picked up about five clearances yesterday and maybe scored a breakaway goal,all we do is keep the pressure on by thumping it up field to their players? Well DC was John Wards no2 for a season, maybe he picked up some annoying habits
|
|
|
Post by singupgas on Mar 18, 2018 18:40:34 GMT
We were robbed of at least 1 point yesterday. Second half we didn't really do enough.
What frustrates me is we never take control of games after scoring, we tend to sit back let the opposition compose themselves passing the ball around. We never seem to get the ball, keep and make the opposition chase it around.
Agreed our corners have been poor for a while, they are floated in and it looks like there is no plan, the players are just there in the box.
I think we can all agree that is our season over, we are pretty much safe, would imagine we will finish between 60/65 points.
DC hopefully now thinking about recruitment, in my own mind from watching all season, I know what positions I would like to see new faces in.
|
|