Got better and better this season and in the first half strolled effortlessly around Oakwell like he owned the game. He can tackle, pass, beat a man, cross the ball, he's decent in the air for someone of his size, his positioning is excellent and he has a reasonable shot on him Then, on 53 minutes, his nemesis entered the pitch: a right winger with a bit of pace. Suddenly he's all at sea and we're all at sea. Everything comes down our left, Accrington create more chances than the opposition have for months and it's a head scratcher how we've managed to concede so few goals. It's not helped by the fact that Thiam gives zero cover. I was surprised Hedges wasn't introduced a lot earlier, or that Jordan Williams, who looked very lively, wasn't moved to the left to help cover. I'm also surprised Pinillos hasn't been targeted more often with players running at him, but that may be due to the fact that there aren't many such players in this division. He's a very good footballer, but his lack of pace will prevent him from being a success anywhere above this level.
I thought this to some extent about Hecky when we had him. Okay, maybe didn't have that classy edge, but it was only pace that used to worry me against him.
I didn't see him do much wrong... The game opened up a bit and they had a couple of dangerous crosses but that happens most weeks against most teams... I don't think we were all at sea but in complete control but for a couple of break a ways.
He has been playing well this season, but that little right winger had him beaten for pace when he came on as substitute and accrington played on that.
Pinillos was excellent today and was my man of the match. Unfortunately our system requires the fullbacks to push, which means they have to do a fair bit of work. By the time they brought Smith on Pinillos had taken a couple of whacks and was running out of gas so he did struggle a little. If the lad had pace he’d still be in low end La Liga top end championship team. It’s testament to this set of players and management that we were still pushing to score more instead of sitting back and been happy with 2-0. In the past we’d have conceded a goal and been hanging on at the end.
Smyth had a great game against Sunderland until he got injured and I was surprised he was on the bench yesterday. He certainly made a difference for them when he came on
He was my MOTM yesterday but was obviously tiring towards the end. As said above, he got no help at all from Thiam and the pacy winger gave him a hard time, can't really fault him for that.
He was my MoM too but he was struggling with the winger late in the game however I thought that was due to fatigue and lack of support. I don't generally worry about his lack of pace, not in this division at least.
My brother calls him “Slow Danny”! He really likes him as a player but seems to like to comment on his pace.
He's great doing the Aidy White type thing, overlapping the wide man up front. Soon one of those long distance shots is going to nestle in the top corner of the net.
To be fair, Pinillos was pushing further and further forward so pace or not he would have had trouble with any winger playing as a proper winger.
Pinilos is playing well, although he will have to be on his game Tuesday ,if jack Ross continues the same tactics as previously playing early into the corners to catch our fullbacks up the field thus pulling our centre backs out of position
