Post by stevek192 on Oct 28, 2018 9:26:32 GMT
After Tuesday's disappointing performance but three points it was a completely different performance yesterday where in many ways it was a very good performance that against one of the better sides deserved at least a share of the points and yet we ended up with nothing. Dc brought in Reilly and Payne and brought Lines back in place of Upson despite him being one of our best players on Tuesday and brought in James Clarke as the third defender to play with wing backs. Ollie Clarke, Lines and Sercombe was the three man midfield. I just feel that too many of our players are feeling hard done by and we lack any understanding as we swop personnel and formations with the same overall effect because in truth we don't have a cutting edge in the final third.
The only goal of the game was a magnificent shot from the edge of the penalty area where we gave them far too much space and time but that really was the difference not only in the result but also in the performance because despite a lot of possession and a reasonable amount of good chances we really lack the quality and composure in the final third to make them count. Despite all the possession and pressure you always felt that Barnsley were more likely to score a second than we were to equalise.
Bonham 7.5 Just a standard game from him without having to be the hero as he didn't really have much to do but what he did do he did well.
Leadbitter 7 Best of the season for me from Danny. defended well and attacked whenever he could in the role that suits him best. Couldn't really understand the substitution but there again who can understand DCs tactics? Kept us alive as an attacking force and put a good supply of crosses in and gave us the width which we really struggled with on the left side.
J. Clarke 7 Did well on his return. Battled for everything and was part of the defence that really restricted Barnsley to very few chances
Lockyer 8 MOM back to his very best and with Craig marshalled the defence superbly and read situations before they happened and was generally first to the ball.
Craig 7 Just behind Lockyer for me but still a very good performance. Mistakes were at a minimum which helped ensure that Bonham had probably his quietest games so far. Dc really has to maked a decision as to what formation he is going to use and perfect it but whichever he chooses Craig would be in it for me.
Kelly 7 Good performance overall especially defensively which is the main part of his duties. Got forward to less effect than Leadbitter but for a young inexperienced player he is doing well and my only criticism would be that he lacks strength at times and comes out second best in the physical battles.
O. Clarke 5.5 Mixed bag. Some great things but went missing and I am not convinced the pressing style really worked or should I say it might have worked better if the midfield had moved up and helped the strikers to close down effectively as a unit. Personally I would have brought Upson on rather than Matthews.
Lines 6 Faded as the game went on. A very bright first half in which he seemed to be behind most of our good moves but after the substitutions he went missing or perhaps we ; as a team; just lost a bit of the organisation we had in the first half. looked like it was lines who should have closed down the opponent on the goal conceded.
Sercombe 5.5 Yet to get anywhere near last seasons form and his shooting boots have really deserted him. never gave up and kept battling. It is a lot more controlled performances these days from him but I would much prefer the less involved in general play and producing the memorable moments that brought him so many goals.
Reilly 5 Huff and puff but little else. Offered less than Nichols and missed a very good chance at the far post when he missed the ball with his head completely. I know he has scored a goal this season but he lacks the quality of Nichols as a footballer and looks no more likely to score goals.
Payne 5 What a rotten role he has , Chasing down players with little hope of actually winning the ball. Those who say he didn't put any effort in I just can't see as he ran across the whole front line in the first half trying to close down with no help from anybody else as Reilly didn't play anywhere near him and the midfield held back behind the ball. He does lack pace and twice had the chance to break through but didn't have the pace to do it and really should have scored from a clear one on one with the keeper in the second half. he was a bit unlucky with a speculative shot from a tight angle that the keeper managed to turn over.
Subs: Bennett 5.5 got involved as soon as he came on but should have done better with two chances. The fact he has yet to score is the key to his appearances and I just don't think he has the strike rate to be a success in the hole.
Rodman 5 Struggled to get involved but was willing to come back when required and for me should have been brought on earlier
Matthews 4 Yet to be really impressed by him. A bit like Sinclair in that he runs about a lot, has a bit more skill than Sinclair but unlike Sinclair he gives the ball away needlessly far too often, Substitution did not work for me.
Crowd 5 Vocally abusing individual players is not what "supporting" the team is about and whilst the nearly 500 away supporters was a great turn out considering our form and lack of goals we can do without the few who at the end gave abuse.. I can only say that as regards the home crowd it really seemed like we were in a 4000 crowd rather than over 10,000!
Ref 4 Too many incidents missed and inconsistent with decisions.
Barnsley 6 For a top side in this division I was expecting more but some of their moves were good to watch as their individual movement was good and the goal was the sort of composure and class which we sadly lack and the difference in the teams. You always felt that if they got a chance they would put it away whereas our players you honestly don't expect to score.
DC It is very difficult to see what he can do to change our fortunes because you know that he will never stick with players and /or system and this for me is the problem because in all honesty we played very well yesterday and deserved at least a point and probably all three but I would describe a DC team as Jack of all trades but master of none as in many ways we got most things right yesterday but our pressurising was in the midfield area but there was no real support to the front two in closing down. For me I just don't see a happy camp of players and get the feeling there is a divide in the club caused by the Managers failure to reward good performances with a place in the team. The tactics side of things worked yesterday possibly with the surprise element of the team selection and formation but Barnsley obviously sussed it out more in the second half and three substitutions made with 25 minutes remaining, if anything, lost us the momentum and although we were struggling a bit at the time I don't think the substitutions really worked.
So we move on and what surprises will DC have in store for us next week against Blackpool. I suspect that there will be three or four changes and a different formation and the only probable outcome is Bristol Rovers Nil. whether Blackpool will be good enough to score past us I think the answer is probably Yes , will they score more than one- unlikely!! UTG
The only goal of the game was a magnificent shot from the edge of the penalty area where we gave them far too much space and time but that really was the difference not only in the result but also in the performance because despite a lot of possession and a reasonable amount of good chances we really lack the quality and composure in the final third to make them count. Despite all the possession and pressure you always felt that Barnsley were more likely to score a second than we were to equalise.
Bonham 7.5 Just a standard game from him without having to be the hero as he didn't really have much to do but what he did do he did well.
Leadbitter 7 Best of the season for me from Danny. defended well and attacked whenever he could in the role that suits him best. Couldn't really understand the substitution but there again who can understand DCs tactics? Kept us alive as an attacking force and put a good supply of crosses in and gave us the width which we really struggled with on the left side.
J. Clarke 7 Did well on his return. Battled for everything and was part of the defence that really restricted Barnsley to very few chances
Lockyer 8 MOM back to his very best and with Craig marshalled the defence superbly and read situations before they happened and was generally first to the ball.
Craig 7 Just behind Lockyer for me but still a very good performance. Mistakes were at a minimum which helped ensure that Bonham had probably his quietest games so far. Dc really has to maked a decision as to what formation he is going to use and perfect it but whichever he chooses Craig would be in it for me.
Kelly 7 Good performance overall especially defensively which is the main part of his duties. Got forward to less effect than Leadbitter but for a young inexperienced player he is doing well and my only criticism would be that he lacks strength at times and comes out second best in the physical battles.
O. Clarke 5.5 Mixed bag. Some great things but went missing and I am not convinced the pressing style really worked or should I say it might have worked better if the midfield had moved up and helped the strikers to close down effectively as a unit. Personally I would have brought Upson on rather than Matthews.
Lines 6 Faded as the game went on. A very bright first half in which he seemed to be behind most of our good moves but after the substitutions he went missing or perhaps we ; as a team; just lost a bit of the organisation we had in the first half. looked like it was lines who should have closed down the opponent on the goal conceded.
Sercombe 5.5 Yet to get anywhere near last seasons form and his shooting boots have really deserted him. never gave up and kept battling. It is a lot more controlled performances these days from him but I would much prefer the less involved in general play and producing the memorable moments that brought him so many goals.
Reilly 5 Huff and puff but little else. Offered less than Nichols and missed a very good chance at the far post when he missed the ball with his head completely. I know he has scored a goal this season but he lacks the quality of Nichols as a footballer and looks no more likely to score goals.
Payne 5 What a rotten role he has , Chasing down players with little hope of actually winning the ball. Those who say he didn't put any effort in I just can't see as he ran across the whole front line in the first half trying to close down with no help from anybody else as Reilly didn't play anywhere near him and the midfield held back behind the ball. He does lack pace and twice had the chance to break through but didn't have the pace to do it and really should have scored from a clear one on one with the keeper in the second half. he was a bit unlucky with a speculative shot from a tight angle that the keeper managed to turn over.
Subs: Bennett 5.5 got involved as soon as he came on but should have done better with two chances. The fact he has yet to score is the key to his appearances and I just don't think he has the strike rate to be a success in the hole.
Rodman 5 Struggled to get involved but was willing to come back when required and for me should have been brought on earlier
Matthews 4 Yet to be really impressed by him. A bit like Sinclair in that he runs about a lot, has a bit more skill than Sinclair but unlike Sinclair he gives the ball away needlessly far too often, Substitution did not work for me.
Crowd 5 Vocally abusing individual players is not what "supporting" the team is about and whilst the nearly 500 away supporters was a great turn out considering our form and lack of goals we can do without the few who at the end gave abuse.. I can only say that as regards the home crowd it really seemed like we were in a 4000 crowd rather than over 10,000!
Ref 4 Too many incidents missed and inconsistent with decisions.
Barnsley 6 For a top side in this division I was expecting more but some of their moves were good to watch as their individual movement was good and the goal was the sort of composure and class which we sadly lack and the difference in the teams. You always felt that if they got a chance they would put it away whereas our players you honestly don't expect to score.
DC It is very difficult to see what he can do to change our fortunes because you know that he will never stick with players and /or system and this for me is the problem because in all honesty we played very well yesterday and deserved at least a point and probably all three but I would describe a DC team as Jack of all trades but master of none as in many ways we got most things right yesterday but our pressurising was in the midfield area but there was no real support to the front two in closing down. For me I just don't see a happy camp of players and get the feeling there is a divide in the club caused by the Managers failure to reward good performances with a place in the team. The tactics side of things worked yesterday possibly with the surprise element of the team selection and formation but Barnsley obviously sussed it out more in the second half and three substitutions made with 25 minutes remaining, if anything, lost us the momentum and although we were struggling a bit at the time I don't think the substitutions really worked.
So we move on and what surprises will DC have in store for us next week against Blackpool. I suspect that there will be three or four changes and a different formation and the only probable outcome is Bristol Rovers Nil. whether Blackpool will be good enough to score past us I think the answer is probably Yes , will they score more than one- unlikely!! UTG
