My Ratings tonight

Yes he was struggling with cramp ,with running up and down the flanks for 90 minutes.

 

I agree, but would say Russell in particular. Apart from Cole's hat-trick on Saturday, Kane was the clear MoM for me, but last night I think Russell was the stand-out player.

 

I thought he looked defensively sound and in a back four would prosper but he didn't have the pace to get past his opponent and would often pass back to Shepherd as a result which is not what you need if your formation incorporates wing backs. By contrast we had Cotter on the other flank who does have the pace but lacks a bit of defensive nous and has yet to find the consistency we need for him to be first choice as a right wing back.

 

Agree that the changes the coach made said only thing - he wasn't interested in a cup run, but much more about having a look at the players. Personally, I don't like to see a lot thrown in all at once. It's almost impossible for them to show their best unless they are out and out individualists. To that extent I think I'll suspend judgement on the younger lads. I see that according to his club bio that Winfield is described as "operating as a left-back or central midfielder, he is pacey and tough-tackling, while also able to provide his teammates with goal scoring opportunities from wide positions." Hmm, never looked anywhere near capable of getting around the defender (his goal assist was a run into unguided space, but he hit an excellent low cross). As others I have said, he almost always came back inside to a very nervy Shepherd.

Kane looked on a different planet, but again I'm not sure why he - a key player - was given so long propping up a scratch team and having to put in such a shift. Happy for the coach to decide all this, but just my take.

 

It's a rare player who can receive a ball to feet and from a standing start skin a fullback. Both Cotter and Wingfield needed balls into space to run onto and get in a cross before the defence were settled.

Jalo provided a superb flicked pass round the corner for Wingfield to run onto and he delivered a great cross for the second. I was pleased for the lad - can't argue with the fact that he never stopped running.

 

I couldn’t agree more with this. Playing so many all at once puts them on a bit of a hiding to nothing. If one of them came into a team full of our first teamers then I think you’ll see a very different outcome.

That being said, although they looked good technically, some of them looked some way off being ready for the intensity and physicality of league football. They’ll only get that by playing so we either need to give them a chance and be patient or try and get some decent loan deals agreed.

By decent I mean more than just non-league. Some of the younger lads could do with that first but some others need to be playing at a higher standard.