Reflections on yesterday

I'm not a regular away these days, yesterday was my sixth of the season to date, but it's blindingly obvious why we have struggled all season on our travels. We have forwards that cannot score and a defence that looks solid for the most part but then switches off to concede with alarming ease.
Yesterdays game started well enough and with a healthy following giving great support I actually felt we might get something from the game. Nardiello could (and should) have given us the lead when a long ball put him clear but he shot wide. Souza then picked up another facial injury and crucially had to leave the field. In his ten or so minutes absence we then proceeded to concede twice. Now I know that you can put that down to bad luck but both goals came from us switching off from throw ins, basic stuff. The first from a narrow angle appeared to go through Steele's legs and the second was a sublime finish by Lafferty (what a difference having a forward like him makes).
After that you thought that's it, game over. But to our credit we fought back in appalling conditions to pull one back through Howard. At this stage you wondered whether the game would finish with standing water all over the park and one penalty area resembling a lake. After a brief pitch inspection at half time the ref decided to carry on. For the first 20 minutes of the second half we played some decent stuff and took the game to Burnley without actually creating a clear chance it must be said. Then Mr Davey intervened with his usual tactical genius away from home, three up front, Leon off and Oddjob on. It hasn't worked all season but still he does it...WHY???? With 4 4 2 we were on top, why not bring Devaney on? Playing 4 3 3 we then, as usually happens, started to go long ball and lost the impetus we had. Macken struck the top of the bar from long range but other than that we faded away.
Obviously we are all looking forward to Wembley next week, but it's going to be tainted for many regular fans by the fact that we will probably walk out as a team in the relegation places. I hope with all my heart that I am wrong, but I just cannot see us getting the necessary points needed to avoid relegation. I reckon we'll need at least seven and i just cannot see where they are going to come.
Ratings for yesterday:-
Steele 6 - Unlucky with first goal, then steady enough.
Kozluk 7 - Decent performance and some good crosses going forward.
Nyatanga 6 - Steady enough, but a left back he aint.
Foster 7 - Decent, solid game as usual.
Souza 8 - Man of the match for me, crucially absent for both goals.
JCR 7 - Good game. Looked lively 2nd half until Davey decided to sub him.
Hassell 5 - Poor game. Gave the ball away far too often.
Howard 6 - Not a bad game and got a goal (we'd be down already without him). Some decent moments but some half hearted challenges again due to booking situation.
Leon 6 - Some decent moments but too often no end product.
Macken 6 - Average game. A forward playing as deep as he does is never going to be much of a goal threat.
Nardiello 7 - Crucially missed a good chance at 0 0 but looked our main threat for a goal. I know he's hated on here but for me he has to start for the rest of the season as we have nobody better.
Odejayi 5 - Proof that physique does not a footballer make. The guy does not have any reading of the game at all. Not a championship footballer and never will be. FACT.
Coulson 6 - Looked lively when he came on but you just know he hasn't got the necessary talent at this level. Good effort though.
There, got it off my chest now. Sorry if I've gone on a bit.....

 

absolutely spot on mate brilliant report of the game. why not forward it to shepherd and davey. you could be up for football director job to help get us out of the 1st div next season

 

absolutely spot on mate brilliant report of the game. why not forward it to shepherd and davey. you could be up for football director job to help get us out of the 1st div next season

 

Thanks for the vote of confidence. Or maybe there's a touch of sarcasm there?? Hehe...

 

I reckon you were at the wrong match

Its been said on here loads of times that Nardiello was **** and lazy yesterday, but Odejayi was unlucky.
But then again KO is a raw talnt, probably turn out to be a prop forward at Leeds Tykes.

 

Good report Mate

Excellent summarising of Nardiello and Odejayi. MOst on here thogh will hang you for such comments.
Your comments on the substitution i agree entirely except that i would have repalced leon with Coulson not Devaney. That lad has to be given more of a chance