York comprehensive match report

For those of you who couldnt/didnt go last night, i thought id try to inform you of the performance with my views on the game.

This was only my 2nd game of the season (1st was Crawley) so my views are based on last night, with memories of the Crawley game to try to be balanced on the team as a whole and not a knee jerk reaction to one performance.

1st half - Weird one really, atmosphere was totally dead apart from an impressive vocal York following. Yorks gameplan was obviously to close us down in packs and attack on the break, to try and kill the game off in the 1st half. At times they had 5 men up front and but for some woeful finishing should easily have been 2 or more goals up. Barnsley seemed content to let them do this and preserve energy for the 2nd half, they didnt even get into first gear, never mind out of it. No drive or urgency at all to attack, just simple neat and tidy passing but very slow. We didnt create our first real chance until the 35th minute, ironically though Hourihane came very close to making it 1-0 but for a good save.

2nd half - There was no way York could keep their work rate so high for the entire game and so it proved as Barnsley finally stepped up a gear and put more urgency and speed into their attacks. Moving the ball much faster and with players joining a previously isolated front two. After the first goal, we created numerous chances and really should have had a more impressive scoreline by the end as York tired even more. Strangely though and perhaps because of the dead atmosphere, the players still seemed to have many gears they could have moved into should they need to, but perhaps professionally after the first goal were just playing out the game knowing they were more skillful and fresher and could step it up if needed.

Definitely a "game of two halves" and the first half tactics were very dangerous to use and will get punished in future by any team with a half decent attack. Danny quickly needs to stamp out any complacency and make sure that the players know that the best tactic is to win the game first, then conserve energy not the other way around.
Was pleasing to see again that we tried to play football the entire game and the only time we 'hooved' it was when York kept quickly pressing us in the first half and we had no other option. The young lads will learn a lot from it as they need to improve how to cope with teams pressing so much so early. When they got the time on the ball in the second half, as York tired, they made their class tell but its much easier to play when you have the time, the hard part is having the belief to do this with no time. Im sure though Danny will teach them this as the season progresses.

Player Ratings -

Davies 7/10 Didnt actually have to make any good saves the entire game but gets a high mark for me because every ball into our box he came and collected very well. Caught them all and never looked in danger, always a positive thing for the defence to take confidence in front of him.

Dudgeon 5 - Struggled all game with Yorks right winger and never got to grips with him at all. Still put the effort in though and never gave up trying.

Nyatanga 7 - Calm and assured throughout, worked well with Cranie and Yorks strikers hardly had a kick second half.

Cranie 7 MOM - Just gets the nod over Nyatanga, but could have picked either. Very similar perfromances.

Brown 5 - Similar to Dudgeon, struggled with Yorks winger badly in the first half. Again put the effort in though.

Jennings 6 - No attacking threat at all in the first half, but what impressed me was his willingness to track back and help Dudgeon out. He saw that his full back needed help and he provided it the entire game. Grew into the game attacking wise second half and one run in particular past the York backline should stop people saying he is overweight and unfit.

Hourihane 7 - Similar to Jennings, impressive defensive workrate and attacked more second half as York tired.

Abbot 5 - The game passed him by for me, as the defensive midfielder he struggled to stop the tide of Yorks breaks first half. To be fair though as with all the others, he did try.

Bree 5 - First time ive seen him and had been led by some to believe he is the new Stones. Certainly not on that performance he isnt. He certainly isnt a right winger as he has no pace at all, so would need to see him in his natural full back role to pass judgement. Same as Abbot first half, good cross though for the 1st goal so did keep trying.

Winnall 5 - Had no service whatsoever first half, but kept trying. Was good to hear him though giving praise and encouragement to Bree the entire first half (One of the advantages of no crowd noise!)

Cole 6 - Same as Winnall, no service first half. Got more second half as York tired and we stepped up a gear. Looks a good prospect, showed some nice touches.

Hemmings 7 - Gets a high mark for his goal alone, a stunning strike. Looks neat and tidy again, as do all the players ive seen so far.

Berry - Not on long enough to grade.

On another note it was only my second time in the East Stand (the first when it opened back when Andy Rammell scored!) and although you certainly get a better overall view of the game as a whole, you have no idea half the time if any of the shots are on target or not - as proved by the delayed reaction to Hemmings goal! Also legroom is non existent and i was on the front row and im no big lad!

Anyhow time to stop waffling, hope this helped those who werent there and ill continue to keep reading the many varied and interesting views from you all on the games i cant get to (most of them to be fair!)

coyr

 

Good report but I think Abbott got better as the game went on. Agree about the east stand, I'm 6 foot so was pretty squashed, hopefully Donny or sheff utd in next round so we can get back int ponty! UpTheReds!


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Think Abbott only get better because York tired in the second half though, needs to stamp himself in the role from the start.
Its no wonder the East Stand dont sing, they must all be rigid with cramp every game!

 

Bree's cross for the first goal was brilliant. Players develop differently, the hard thing I guess is judging how good they can go on to be.

 

Glad you agree, as i said i think we need to see him in his natural position to pass judgement fully

 

Can't disagree with any of that tbh, poor first half better second half, and a deserved win in the end.