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Post by stevek192 on Jan 1, 2019 23:42:29 GMT
So after 9 points from the last 3 games it was always likely to be a hard task to get the four wins over the holiday period especially against an improving Burton side and so it proved to be. if I am honest the performance today was not much difference to ones at home under DC although we didn't really look like losing which was a bonus as in the second half it was very much a case of both sides giving away possession far too easily. Have to say that personally I would have started with Sercombe and Lines rather than Sinclair and Martin but could fully understand that GC does like to have wingers in front of the full backs.`It's a shorter report because in all honesty there was not a great deal to report in a game that had 0-0 written all over it..
Bonham 6 Looked a bit dodgy at times and his kicking left a lot to be desired but didn't have a great deal to do.
J. Clarke 7 A usual performance strong, mobile and solid and certainly better in possession than Lockyer but disappoints with his throw ins that rarely retain possession.
Lockyer 6.5 Is far better when we don't over involve him in play by passing back to him as his biggest limitation is his passing and today it was back to the midfield passing back far too often and then the big boot up to short forwards although it is hard to criticise the forwards when the ball goes nowhere near them.
Craig 7 good solid performance where not much went past him
Kelly 6 An average performance, some good things,some bad but overall an OK display.
Rodman 7.5 MOM Outstanding player for me in a very average Team performance without being as good as he has been recently. wins so many flick ons with his head and put in a few good crosses following strong runs.
Upson 6.5 As soon as the Team Sheet came out I was worried about an Upson/Sinclair partnership especially for a home game. We always seemed to be going backwards and the discipline which has been key under Coughlin was missing and too often we were chasing shadows
Sinclair 6 Sorry -covers a lot of ground but needs two players in with him to cover the holes he leaves. Can't fault his wholehearted effort but makes us a very negative team and it clearly showed in the performance alongside him where Upson was expected to do too much.as everything from Sinclair went sideways or back
Martin 6.5 reasonable game but nowhere near the class of the ill Holmes- Denis. was very surprised to see him selected to be honest as he has not really featured since GC has been in charge but I will be surprised if he doesn't go back to Stevenage in January.
Reilly 5 Ran about but devoid of any real service and didn't really make an impact on the game.
Jakubiak 7 Fought hard but like Reilly had to put up with a less than impressive service. Should have done better in the second half when he broke clear of the defence but was eventually hustled out.
Subs:
Lines 5 Looked way off the pace and didn't really influence the game - oh and it was back to his dreadful deliveries from Corners and free kicks.
Sercombe 6.5 Tried hard but like Upson found it difficult to form a unit in the midfield
Nichols 5 Body language really tells for me. I feel like booting him up his ass to get him right up top and to get in where it hurts.
Crowd 5 Biggest crowd we have had in a while but it was very quiet like the game.
Ref 5 Missed far too much just for a change!
Burton 5 A very average side who thankfully got just as bad as us as the game wore on. Not much went past their centre half especially in the air and today it was very much a case of us playing too much long ball from the back.
GC 6 This was very much a case of one too many games but at least we got a point. Not sure about his Team Selection today or his substitutions but very much hope that there will be a decision one way or another this week.
For me the performance today made me think that we need at least three players being a striker or two and another winger.Maybe even another central midfdielder
Based on the selections of GC I can see Leadbitter,one of the keepers , Bennett , Martin and possibly Matthews going out.
UTG
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Post by darkbluegas on Jan 2, 2019 0:03:31 GMT
I thought Burton weren't too bad. They look very organised with some pace and bulk in the side.
Can't disagree with much of your report although I rated Kelly higher than you did and thought in tbe first half particularly he put some decent balls into the box. Same for Martin, he's not been a signing to get the pulse racing but I thought he did OK today.
For all Craig's experience he does make some odd passing mistakes at the back. Coupled with TL's lack of a pass we put ourselves under unnecessary pressure.
As is so often said, it's fine margins. We missed Ollie Clarke driving the midfield and the bit of class THD has shown.
The break with no cup game has come at a good time and the opportunity to try some things at Northampton in the Checkatrade will be useful.
This squad is capable of staying up but a quality signing up front could make it a stress free second half of the season.
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Post by markczgas on Jan 2, 2019 0:17:04 GMT
NIGEL Clough was delighted with a clean sheet and an away point as the Brewers fought out a 0-0 draw away at Bristol Rovers.
The Brewers manager said: “The effort that has gone in today was magnificent again and we haven’t had enough games like that where we have kept a clean sheet and got a point.
“We could and maybe should have won it in the first 60-70 minutes of the game. We played well enough to have won the game but when you haven’t scored then in the last 10-15 minutes, they were always going to put us under pressure and I thought we stood up to it brilliantly.
“After this intense run of games, the lads are running on empty and they couldn’t try any harder. We tried to bring in a bit of freshness in midfield with Kieran Wallace and Ben Fox, but it is very tough physically and we had three of our four leading scorers missing at the start which makes it even more difficult
“All in all, with the schedule we have had it’s a good point and a deserved one as well.”
Clough praised the way the defence snuffed out Bristol’s attacking threat with the home side playing in front of a big New Year’s Day crowd on the back of three straight wins.
He said: “Jake Buxton typified it as he has thrown himself in front of everything, won his headers, and cleared everything.
“John Brayford has played with a hamstring problem in the last hour of the game and Stephen Quinn with a groin problem. These players could have come off at half-time, but it speaks volumes for their character that they wanted to stay out there.
“Without Chris Beardsley we couldn’t have named a full bench today so all in all the spirit we have shown that’s the most pleasing thing and it has resulted in a three-game unbeaten run.
“I can’t stress enough that when you play six games in 17 days it doesn’t half take it out of the players.”
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Post by Blackbeard on Jan 2, 2019 0:35:47 GMT
Everyone was hungover
I'll take the ten Xmas points thank you muchly gas
Much needed break now to reflect and plot the assault on the playoffs
This season starts now
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Post by CrispPusher on Jan 2, 2019 3:51:26 GMT
Can't argue with any of that Steve, we really missed THD and your favourite player imo; had those two been available I feel we would've comfortably picked up the 3 points.
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Post by stapletongas on Jan 2, 2019 7:44:52 GMT
Burton were tough and resilient to break down, they were the better team in the first half too.
Earned their point well and it was a close call where the win could have fallen either way.
As 0-0’s go, it was a decent battle.
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Post by Antonio Fargas on Jan 2, 2019 8:18:25 GMT
Blimey. Blast from the past. Is he really getting games in a decent League 1 side? |
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Post by Cantankerous Gas on Jan 2, 2019 8:24:35 GMT
Blimey. Blast from the past. Is he really getting games in a decent League 1 side?
No. He is Burton's fitness coach. Only on the bench because of an injury crisis.
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Post by Topper Gas on Jan 2, 2019 8:38:32 GMT
"Have to say that personally I would have started with Sercombe and Lines"
I guess that's this is why GC didn't?
"Lines 5 Looked way off the pace and didn't really influence the game - oh and it was back to his dreadful deliveries from Corners and free kicks."
"Nichols 5 Body language really tells for me. I feel like booting him up his ass to get him right up top and to get in where it hurts"
Surely Nichols was told to take Reilly's place which was sitting deep behind Jakubiak, wich was the same position Sercombe took when he came on?
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Post by tommym9 on Jan 2, 2019 8:50:14 GMT
Thanks for the write up Steve.
I would have knocked Kelly down a point as he got caught out a few times, however as a young lad breaking through its to be expected.
Really thought we looked worse when Lines came on. Sits way too deep which unbalanced our midfield.
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Post by Antonio Fargas on Jan 2, 2019 8:50:27 GMT
Blimey. Blast from the past. Is he really getting games in a decent League 1 side?
No. He is Burton's fitness coach. Only on the bench because of an injury crisis.
Ah, fair enough. I guess that makes more sense. |
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Post by dexter on Jan 2, 2019 9:27:18 GMT
Harsh on Chris Lines.
Yes, he sat deep but that gave him the space to dictate the play in a crowded midfield. He played a couple of delightful weighted passes which freed Rodman to put in crosses, something we didn’t look capable of doing for the first 70 minutes.
In the meantime, i thought Lockyer’s passing was embarrassing save for one pinpoint diagonal to Martin. Thought the MOM was pretty much our worst player!
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Post by kampucheagas on Jan 2, 2019 9:38:30 GMT
My first home game for a while and the first time I’ve seen them since the trip to Barnsley.... went again with my young lad (9) who popped himself at the front just behind the goal.
The build up was typically New Years Day..... everyone slightly jaded and wafts of the previous night spreading across the terraces
The team sheet left us wondering where the creativity was to come from and after 10 minutes it became clear this might end up being a close encounter. .... both defences able to deal with both defences whacking it aimlessly at each other
Our tactics seemed to be based on whacking it mostly towards Rodman, and he is surprisingly good in the air, but it was without end results as we lacked any bits and pieces going our way. They were well organised and neat but like us looked jaded and without that killer pass. One goal was always going to nick it but both held firm.
Sinclair was his usual self. Good In the air for his size. Upson looked a bit slow, Martin a bit lost, Reilly ran a lot but just doesn’t seem to know EXACTLY when to make that timed run to get on the end of crosses
All in all not a bad point, and with THD and Clarke missing we did ok.
January now here and big decisions to be made on squad retention and new signings, not to mention a manager! I think for me we keep the current set up, aim to bring in a winger and a striker and keep this spirit together to keep us up. I was proud of the support yesterday, clapped off at the end to show that we are fully behind them.
My boy said it wasn’t the best game he’s ever seen, but he reminded me of the Boxing Day game I subjected him to a few seasons back (0-0) in the freezing cold and also reminded me that in the end it was the point that got us promotion
If that’s the point that keeps us up I’ll be happy
Happy new year gasheads !
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Post by Qatar Gas on Jan 2, 2019 9:38:49 GMT
GC clearly likes to play wingers who can also help out defensively. This is maybe why we have not seen Matthews or Bennet start any games. Our first choice wingers (Rodman and THD) are good enough to take us to the end of the season, but there isn't much back up and its unlikely THD will be able to get through every game.
As I said before, we still need another strikers to play alongside Jak. I am still not convinced with Reilly.
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Post by rocknrollaayatollah on Jan 2, 2019 9:53:53 GMT
Am I the only one that thought that this may have been one of our worst performance of the season? Yes we never really looked like conceding but I am a bit concerned with how direct we played.
Under DC we were conceding sloppy goals but we were getting the ball down and playing a bit more and creating chances (albeit not taking them!).
I am not saying that DC shouldn't have went but I am worried that the style of football GC plays will eventually become frustrating (yesterday reminded me of a John Ward's team performance to be honest).
Hopefully yesterday was a one-off and things will change once THD and OC are back.
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Post by z1zou on Jan 2, 2019 9:55:30 GMT
In the grand scheme of things it's a good point off the back of recent results.
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Post by Antonio Fargas on Jan 2, 2019 10:14:16 GMT
Am I the only one that thought that this may have been one of our worst performance of the season? Yes we never really looked like conceding but I am a bit concerned with how direct we played. Under DC we were conceding sloppy goals but we were getting the ball down and playing a bit more and creating chances (albeit not taking them!). I am not saying that DC shouldn't have went but I am worried that the style of football GC plays will eventually become frustrating (yesterday reminded me of a John Ward's team performance to be honest). Hopefully yesterday was a one-off and things will change once THD and OC are back. Fwiw, the team yesterday was remarkably similar to the team that lost 4-0 to Doncaster. |
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Post by rocknrollaayatollah on Jan 2, 2019 10:22:06 GMT
Am I the only one that thought that this may have been one of our worst performance of the season? Yes we never really looked like conceding but I am a bit concerned with how direct we played. Under DC we were conceding sloppy goals but we were getting the ball down and playing a bit more and creating chances (albeit not taking them!). I am not saying that DC shouldn't have went but I am worried that the style of football GC plays will eventually become frustrating (yesterday reminded me of a John Ward's team performance to be honest). Hopefully yesterday was a one-off and things will change once THD and OC are back. Fwiw, the team yesterday was remarkably similar to the team that lost 4-0 to Doncaster. Yes I am aware of that but the football we played that day wasn't bad and we created a lot more chances than yesterday.
I am not saying that I'd rather watch better football and lose 4-0 than draw 0-0 with turgid football but I am just concerned with GC's style of football.
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Marshy
Proper Gas
Posts: 14,281 
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Post by Marshy on Jan 2, 2019 10:30:31 GMT
Fwiw, the team yesterday was remarkably similar to the team that lost 4-0 to Doncaster. Yes I am aware of that but the football we played that day wasn't bad and we created a lot more chances than yesterday.
I am not saying that I'd rather watch better football and lose 4-0 than draw 0-0 with turgid football but I am just concerned with GC's style of football.
Were you concerned with our style of play after our wins at Walsall & Oxford? 1 bad game after a punishing 10 day schedule, let’s give it a bit more time to see how things pan out. |
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Post by romangas on Jan 2, 2019 10:43:29 GMT
Lockyer 6.5 Is far better when we don't over involve him in play by passing back to him as his biggest limitation is his passing and today it was back to the midfield passing back far too often and then the big boot up to short forwards although it is hard to criticise the forwards when the ball goes nowhere near them.
Undroppable Tom. Contradiction in terms for the main man at the back AND captain.
Many forum contributors have chipped in about his actual ability and what he actually does on matchday.
Does he look like a commanding sweeper, central midfielder, centre half or whatever you want to call him ?
Was not at the game, but have seen him half a dozen times in as many months, and he flatters to deceive
every time and does not have the physical or mental strength required as a player or captain.
Flashes of brilliance once in a while but still looks a boy against men.
Steve Elliott he is not, and we need a player like him.
GC has got the confidence back and the team playing.
Long may it continue.
UTG.
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