Post by stevek192 on Oct 21, 2015 23:11:35 GMT
Well slightly later than usual but here goes after what i considered to be quite an entertaining 0-0 draw played by two teams who for the majority of the time tried to play the game the right way and with a referee who was also of a higher standard than most we have had recently. i sometimes wonder whether DC does make too many changes both in the initial selection and then with his substitutions BUT it is easy to be critical when the result isn't exactly what we were looking for but he is probably beyond criticism with 13 points out of the last 15. That said I really couldn't see the point of taking off Bodin and Taylor and replacing them with Blissett and Montano. Were either of those more likely to score? I think not and what i don't really understand is bringing on Mantano and then seemingly not playing him on the wing but rather inside a bit and trying to bring Brown into the game more. i like to see wingers playing as wingers and if they are played as such in a 4-4-2 then there is little reason to have your full backs duplicating the wingers "area" to play.
Nicholls 7
Had very little to do but did nearly all what he had to do well other than one mistake. Distribution was a bit slicker last night.
Leadbitter 7
Strong game both attacking and defensively
Lockyer 8
Very good game including a couple of impressive runs with the ball
McChrystal 8.5 MOM
Not sure about whether he should have replaced either James Clarke or Parkes based on their performances on Saturday but there again did McCrystal really deserve to be left out for Saturdays game. Anyway back he came and gave a MOM performance.Unlucky not to score in the first half and gave little away defensively. in fact the defence as a unit restricted Notts Countys experience forwards to very few chances.
Brown 7.5 Plenty of involvement going forward in the first half with a mixture of good and poor deliveries. Like all the defenders Brown did very well and in truth there were very few mistakes at the back and some of the intricate passing movements to get out of
closed down defensive positions was a joy to watch.
Bodin 7
Would rather have seen him moved into the middle than be replaced. Better first half than second and very unlucky not to score when he hit the underside of the bar.
Mansell 6.5 Busy ,hard working display particularly defensively
but a bit slow to get attacks moving forward. Dead ball kicks were very poor
Sinclair 6.5
same as Mansell,not as effective as the last few games but a busy ,hard working display particularly defensively
but a bit slow to get attacks moving forward. Really felt that rather than replace our attackers DC should have been looking to get lines on and try to run at County from midfield.
Gosling 7
Corners could have been more effective but seems to be getting a bit of consistency into his performances and I really think our central midfielders should have been getting the ball out quicker to him and Bodin
Taylor 5
To be fair to him the service provided last night was not of a high standard and i really think he should have stayed on with Easter and we should have been looking at ways of getting the ball to him. Should have scored in the second half.
Harrison 5.5 Replaced at halftime due to injury. Had some good moments in the first half and some bad ones too. Again I think DC got it wrong and should have started Easter and Taylor together as that has been our most successful partnership recently and was really starting to look a good partnership.
Subs:
Easter 6.5 Some good movement and touches. Why oh why was he not started on his recent form? Closest to scoring in the second half after a clever move inside which ended with a powerful shot just over the bar.
Montano 5
Is he a winger or not? We are not going to see what he can offer in a 10-15 minute appearance especially when he does not appear to have been employed as an out and out winger.
Blissett Not long enough to mark but sadly saw nothing to make me feel that this is a worthwhile substitution
Crowd 5
Pretty quiet but numbers were pretty good.
Ref 8
definitely one of the better referees this season
Notts County 6.5 Thought they had a strong side and quite impressed with them and i think we did very well defensively to keep Stead and Izal McLeod so quiet and really wished their no 33 was playing for us as I felt he was the best player on the field ,always prompting and always available and looking to move the play forward. In fact he was everything i would like to see Lines doing.
DC For me made unnecessary changes in the starting line up and even more unnecessary substitutions. We were crying out for Lines to be brought on to run at County from midfield and try to get us moving forward quicker. To be fair i thought we played a lot of good football in the first half and overall should have won the game with far more shots and corners than County but you do wonder sometimes what we do in training with the quality or should I say lack of quality in both the corners and the three direct free kicks from good positions.
So its on to Saturday and surely we can get our second home win of the season although Newport are improving.
Nicholls 7
Had very little to do but did nearly all what he had to do well other than one mistake. Distribution was a bit slicker last night.
Leadbitter 7
Strong game both attacking and defensively
Lockyer 8
Very good game including a couple of impressive runs with the ball
McChrystal 8.5 MOM
Not sure about whether he should have replaced either James Clarke or Parkes based on their performances on Saturday but there again did McCrystal really deserve to be left out for Saturdays game. Anyway back he came and gave a MOM performance.Unlucky not to score in the first half and gave little away defensively. in fact the defence as a unit restricted Notts Countys experience forwards to very few chances.
Brown 7.5 Plenty of involvement going forward in the first half with a mixture of good and poor deliveries. Like all the defenders Brown did very well and in truth there were very few mistakes at the back and some of the intricate passing movements to get out of
closed down defensive positions was a joy to watch.
Bodin 7
Would rather have seen him moved into the middle than be replaced. Better first half than second and very unlucky not to score when he hit the underside of the bar.
Mansell 6.5 Busy ,hard working display particularly defensively
but a bit slow to get attacks moving forward. Dead ball kicks were very poor
Sinclair 6.5
same as Mansell,not as effective as the last few games but a busy ,hard working display particularly defensively
but a bit slow to get attacks moving forward. Really felt that rather than replace our attackers DC should have been looking to get lines on and try to run at County from midfield.
Gosling 7
Corners could have been more effective but seems to be getting a bit of consistency into his performances and I really think our central midfielders should have been getting the ball out quicker to him and Bodin
Taylor 5
To be fair to him the service provided last night was not of a high standard and i really think he should have stayed on with Easter and we should have been looking at ways of getting the ball to him. Should have scored in the second half.
Harrison 5.5 Replaced at halftime due to injury. Had some good moments in the first half and some bad ones too. Again I think DC got it wrong and should have started Easter and Taylor together as that has been our most successful partnership recently and was really starting to look a good partnership.
Subs:
Easter 6.5 Some good movement and touches. Why oh why was he not started on his recent form? Closest to scoring in the second half after a clever move inside which ended with a powerful shot just over the bar.
Montano 5
Is he a winger or not? We are not going to see what he can offer in a 10-15 minute appearance especially when he does not appear to have been employed as an out and out winger.
Blissett Not long enough to mark but sadly saw nothing to make me feel that this is a worthwhile substitution
Crowd 5
Pretty quiet but numbers were pretty good.
Ref 8
definitely one of the better referees this season
Notts County 6.5 Thought they had a strong side and quite impressed with them and i think we did very well defensively to keep Stead and Izal McLeod so quiet and really wished their no 33 was playing for us as I felt he was the best player on the field ,always prompting and always available and looking to move the play forward. In fact he was everything i would like to see Lines doing.
DC For me made unnecessary changes in the starting line up and even more unnecessary substitutions. We were crying out for Lines to be brought on to run at County from midfield and try to get us moving forward quicker. To be fair i thought we played a lot of good football in the first half and overall should have won the game with far more shots and corners than County but you do wonder sometimes what we do in training with the quality or should I say lack of quality in both the corners and the three direct free kicks from good positions.
So its on to Saturday and surely we can get our second home win of the season although Newport are improving.
