Season fades out in the heat.
May 6, 2018 11:17:55 GMT
Antonio Fargas, markczgas, and 8 more like this
Post by stevek192 on May 6, 2018 11:17:55 GMT
This was a typical end of the season fixture with glorious Cricket weather and an atrocious five hour journey on a Bank Holiday weekend and in all honesty an apt conclusion to a season that began at a whimper and concluded the same way. Ok there will be those who are satisfied with a mid table finish but for me just 9 points off relegation and only 9 points from the final ten fixtures is not good enough whatever the opposition and it has been a season where our away form has been atrocious with only five victories and even our home form has been nowhere near previous seasons. if you take into account that seven of our wins were against the bottom six sides then there has to be big question marks over the season as a whole. Considering we went half the season without a single draw it was disappointing to end up with 11 draws with 5 coming in the last six games which yielded only 5 points.Although it is hard to believe we actually picked up less wins in the second half of the season than we did in the first the big difference was the 25 goals conceded in the second half of the season compared to a ridiculous 41 goals conceded in the first 23 games. I feel the summer dealings were mainly to blame for the poor start to the season and the consolation is the fact that the transfer dealings have to be done BEFORE the first game next season so hopefully we will be far better prepared. We certainly have the basis of a good side and signings like Bennett, Craig and Sercombe have definitely improved the side from the previous season and it was good to hear the interview from Darrell where he set out what he hoped to do0 in the summer. A couple of goalscorers would not go amiss and a quality defensive midfielder. Anyway on to the game yesterday where Ollie Clarke had already been booked before I got to my seat!!
Slocombe 8 Had a good game. Controlled his area and held a couple of shots well and even showed a willingness to come for crosses.
J. Clarke 7 Solid if not spectacular I think he has done pretty well since returning considering his lack of match practise. Would I keep him- not sure on that one.
Lockyer 7.5 Solid performance in a defence that held firm and apart from a couple of occasions didn't really look like conceding.
Broadbent 7.5 Brought the ball out well and used it well but there were again those slack moments where he takes unnecessary risks but overall he can be very satisfied with his game and in fact his first season in the League.
Craig 8 I thought he had a tidy game at left back and again showed all his experience. very unlucky not to scorea winner with a header that hit the post.
Lines 6 Kept going and slightly more involved than Sercombe but again by his standards recently it was poor but obviously difficult when down to 10 players in that heat.
O. Clarke 3 Disciplinary record is very questionable but second booking was ridiculous. the truth is when Ollie Clarke has been booked he may as well be substituted because it takes away his best quality. Really think we should be looking at a better player for next season.
Sercombe 5.5 Very quiet game by Sercombes standard as he struggled to get in the game apart from a couple of shots.
Mensah 6 Showed some good footwork and pace and is particularly good in the air winning most that came his way and beat his full back for pace a few times in the first half but faded. There is something there so one to hop0e for in the future.
Harrison 8.5 MOM Didn't score again but ran his socks off for the entire 90 minutes and looked shattered at the end. In a team with more attacking intentions I think Ellis could play anywhere across the front line because he is a much better all round player than in previous seasons. My Player of the Year just in front of Sercombe.
Bennett 5 Very disappointing game and just didn't really get into the game enough although he tried hard and was always looking for the ball.
Subs: Russe 7 Looks a good steady player who is not afraid to tell regulars what to do, all the signs of a player who could make the grade.
Baghdadi 6 Didn't have a lot of time to influence the game and was mostly involved in trying to keep it tight defensively but another who could make the grade.
Nichols 5 Not on long and didn't really do anything. The start of next season will be an important time for him.
DC- Seemed strange to release the players before the last game and send all the loans back too but maybe it was to look at some of the other options. I felt every player put in a shift and it was not easy with ten players for so9 long in such heat. I thought Darrells interview this week was absolutely brilliant and am really looking forward to the summer transfer action which will have such an effect on our future. At a minimum I would like to see two strikers, another winger and a central defensive midfielder and obviously with Browner going we will need a left back but this is a minimum and IMO( there are players like Gaffney, Nicholls, Ollie Clarke, James Clarke who it is questionable whether they are good enough for a Championship chasing season.
Crowd 8 Eight hundred for a fixture that had nothing on it on a Bank holiday was a good turnout and gave the lads good support throughout. Considering the circumstances it was a good atmosphere.
Ref 3 Sorry but can't give him any more becasue the sending off was ridiculous and if players got booked for that tackle every time then we would not have any players left on the pitch for a second half!! Totally ruined the game as have many of the clowns we have had to put up with this season.
Southend 6 Considering they had the extra man for a large part of the game in hot conditions they are a very average side but there again they had won their last three games so we must take credit from the way we played.
So that's it from me for another season and I conclude by wishing all gasheads a great summer and hope to see you all next season. UTG
Slocombe 8 Had a good game. Controlled his area and held a couple of shots well and even showed a willingness to come for crosses.
J. Clarke 7 Solid if not spectacular I think he has done pretty well since returning considering his lack of match practise. Would I keep him- not sure on that one.
Lockyer 7.5 Solid performance in a defence that held firm and apart from a couple of occasions didn't really look like conceding.
Broadbent 7.5 Brought the ball out well and used it well but there were again those slack moments where he takes unnecessary risks but overall he can be very satisfied with his game and in fact his first season in the League.
Craig 8 I thought he had a tidy game at left back and again showed all his experience. very unlucky not to scorea winner with a header that hit the post.
Lines 6 Kept going and slightly more involved than Sercombe but again by his standards recently it was poor but obviously difficult when down to 10 players in that heat.
O. Clarke 3 Disciplinary record is very questionable but second booking was ridiculous. the truth is when Ollie Clarke has been booked he may as well be substituted because it takes away his best quality. Really think we should be looking at a better player for next season.
Sercombe 5.5 Very quiet game by Sercombes standard as he struggled to get in the game apart from a couple of shots.
Mensah 6 Showed some good footwork and pace and is particularly good in the air winning most that came his way and beat his full back for pace a few times in the first half but faded. There is something there so one to hop0e for in the future.
Harrison 8.5 MOM Didn't score again but ran his socks off for the entire 90 minutes and looked shattered at the end. In a team with more attacking intentions I think Ellis could play anywhere across the front line because he is a much better all round player than in previous seasons. My Player of the Year just in front of Sercombe.
Bennett 5 Very disappointing game and just didn't really get into the game enough although he tried hard and was always looking for the ball.
Subs: Russe 7 Looks a good steady player who is not afraid to tell regulars what to do, all the signs of a player who could make the grade.
Baghdadi 6 Didn't have a lot of time to influence the game and was mostly involved in trying to keep it tight defensively but another who could make the grade.
Nichols 5 Not on long and didn't really do anything. The start of next season will be an important time for him.
DC- Seemed strange to release the players before the last game and send all the loans back too but maybe it was to look at some of the other options. I felt every player put in a shift and it was not easy with ten players for so9 long in such heat. I thought Darrells interview this week was absolutely brilliant and am really looking forward to the summer transfer action which will have such an effect on our future. At a minimum I would like to see two strikers, another winger and a central defensive midfielder and obviously with Browner going we will need a left back but this is a minimum and IMO( there are players like Gaffney, Nicholls, Ollie Clarke, James Clarke who it is questionable whether they are good enough for a Championship chasing season.
Crowd 8 Eight hundred for a fixture that had nothing on it on a Bank holiday was a good turnout and gave the lads good support throughout. Considering the circumstances it was a good atmosphere.
Ref 3 Sorry but can't give him any more becasue the sending off was ridiculous and if players got booked for that tackle every time then we would not have any players left on the pitch for a second half!! Totally ruined the game as have many of the clowns we have had to put up with this season.
Southend 6 Considering they had the extra man for a large part of the game in hot conditions they are a very average side but there again they had won their last three games so we must take credit from the way we played.
So that's it from me for another season and I conclude by wishing all gasheads a great summer and hope to see you all next season. UTG
