Balanced assessment of last night

Echoing Ritchie's comments, we knew exactly what to expect, it was a battle and we lost. As much as we try and 'take positives', we are going nowhere in this Division if we cannot hold onto a lead. We dominated possession in the 2nd half, but other than Shukers golden opportunity (more on that later), we didnt make their keeper make a save. We are massively exposed down the left, and their manager spotted it and capitalised. When they scored, we had nothing on the bench, absolutely nothing, that could change things. The game just petered out, much like the 15 odd games last season that we lead and then coughed. Much like, much like.

Ratings:

1. Colgan - his kicking was terrible, he's a frightened lamb when the pressures on, made 2 reasonable saves but created pressure on the back 4 by not making the half way line with most of his kicks. To have f.ucked him off to Dundee where he conceded 7 and then struggled to make their bench, I'm at a loss to understand whats changed. Mr Ritchie, anyone, someone PLEASE enlighten me as to why he's back in the side. He'll get Ritchie the sack for sure if he's given the chance.

2. Tonge - solid and composed, made the right back position his. Cant fault him.

3. Austin - looked ok, then tired towards the end, got caught up field and beaten for pace for the 2nd, but had no cover frwhatsoever from Wroe.

4. Carbon - started ok, winning things in the air, then gave away a blatant penalty, buckled, disappeared, didnt reappear in the 2nd half, wont be see for months now. Absolutely criminal that we are stuck with a player for 2 years who had previously retired from football then realised he needed the brass. What do people expect? He's a weak, weak, weak man, with no backbone for a fight and absolutely no way should he ever play for us again. "..we stand a chance if we can keep Carbon fit". Well, you've spunked that one, Andy old kid.

5. Kay - battled hard, but his distribution makes Morgan look like Beckenbaur. He's not the main culprit. He needs Reid next to him to cover when his mind wanders onto other things.

6. Burns - out of his depth last night. Have seen him play better, but have a feeling that he'll be the one to miss out if Kell ever gets fit. Doesnt have the physical presense to play the holding role, and his set pieces are criminal. Can pass a ball 5 yards like, but thats about it.

7. Shuker - last night was the perfect example of the problem I have with him. Saw loads of the ball out wide, but didnt find a single telling cross. Put through by his mate, but weakest of weak shots when we shouldve scored. He got booked for jumping into his man, as normal. Passenger for large parts of the game. In a physical battle like last night, he's a weak link. FACT. Absolutely agree that he gives 110%, but he's a little boy lost when the ball is whizzing about in the air. We have no replacement to speak of, ho hum.

8. McPhail – ineffective last night. Couldn’t impose himself and that’s the big worry I have. We need him to make us tick, but again, when it’s a battle, I fear he gets bypassed more often than not. Got booked again for a stupid tackle, a familiar pattern, and as a betting man, it’s a nailed on cert that he’ll get at least on suspension per season. Not the talisman that we had hoped. Disappointed hugely.

9. Hayes – magnificent last night. The only real positive I can take from the game. He was a soldier, stood up to be counted and had a very good game. Held the ball up, brought his team mates into the game, hardly lost the ball. His goal was exactly what we needed, shame we couldn’t do him justice and hold on. Took the fans abuse, felt for him. Great prospect though.

10. Nardiello – didn’t get into the game. Toiled, but didn’t really get the service, and if he’s gonna get the 20 goals everyone is hoping, he needs better service from those around him. Else we’re f.ucked, basically.

11. Wroe – poor. Out of position, but doesn’t strike me as a footballer, in the same respect as O Callaghan and countless others never quite made it, Wroe is of that ilk I’m afraid. And to be playing him out of position, accident waiting to happen. We got caught out by Scnuthorpe, 9 teams out of 10 will be able to do the same.

Others:
Conlon – League 2 player at best, a plodder. Not prolific, not a great link man, not a creator of chances, not really that good in the air - what is he? The amount of time he spends on the pitch his say a lot about how we fare this year. Emergency only, but I suspect people still think he’s worth a go. God help us.

Jarman – not on long enough to comment, other than to say speaks volumes about our squad depth.

Ritchie – made the substitution too late. Didn’t spot what Scnuthorpe had done with putting their pacey winger against Wroe/Austin. Sold T. Williams but has yet to strengthen. Cant be blamed for 2 of his key players being injured/suspended (Reid and R Williams), but can absolutely be blamed for picking Colgan and Carbon over others. Still maintain he was the cheap option, and as much as I hope he gets the chance to bring others in, I fear he’s there only because he aint gonna be knocking on the Chairman’s door every 5 mins asking for cash.

Overall, I see mostly the same problems we had last year, and a very similar season ahead of us. For those of you more optimistic, fair do’s, but you’re in for a big disappointment I’m afraid.

 

"we didnt make their keeper make a save"

Did you fall asleep last night. Their keeper made three really good saves form Nardiello, Shuker and Hayes in the second half.

Unbelievable

 

He made one good save low down to his right

but everything else was straight at him. we didnt test him. FACT. we had loads of possession around their box but didnt make the most of it. FACT.

 

RE: "we didnt make their keeper make a save"

Ok the keeper didn't make the save but there was also a dead cert which was headed off the line.

 

we didnt test him. FACT

We did test him FACT.

He was at full stretch to keep out effort from Hayes and Shuker.

Mcpahil also had a header saved late on.



(banghead)

 

A corner that Vaughan got his head to

flew wide. wouldnt call it a clear cut chance tho. Shuker had at least 4 really good chances to find his man and didnt. poor.

 

A header from vaughan....

got cleared off the line by their full back Williams.

 

RE: A corner that Vaughan got his head to

Vaughans header was cleared off the line!

Not really sure which game you were watching - but when we BATTERED them for 20-25mins in the second half, McPhail took control of the game and made us tick. We really should have scored during that period - but, as always in football, if you don't take your chances while your on top then your always vulnerable to a goal at the other end. I also thought that Colgan might have done better for their second goal - beaten on his near post???? Thought he ought to have got across a bit quicker myself.

We still need to get more physical as a team. Scnuthorpe beat us because they simply out-powered us in every department - especially Torpey up-front, who won EVERYTHING in the air lastnight.

However, I do think that once Reid is back in the side and the 2 new lads finally get to pull on a red shirt and replace Wroe/Burns we might just surprise a few folk. (worship)

 

Battered them?

were you in the chippie? we flattered to deceive. loads of possession, but didnt really threaten. Nardiello didnt have a clear cut chance all game, Shuker did and shouldve scored. everything else was a half chance at best, which aint good enough.

 

How was Vaughns header a half chance?

It had the keeper beaten and was goal bound but for the defender on the line.

Is everything that isn't a goal a half chance in your eyes.?

We had chance after chance after chance. The finishing was worse than poor and if it was the rain that affected the play we should turn the sprinklers on in the indoor pitch and make them train in there every day.

 

RE: Battered them?

We outplayed them for most of the secnd half, but that 20-25min period we were well on-top. You could tell they thought the same - dropping deeper and deeper, I thought it was only amatter of time before we were going to score - and then......bang! Austin misjudges a challenge (was he fouled???) their lad outpaces our backline and a sweet finish beats Colgan on his near post 2-1(givinfinger)

 

RE: Battered them?

Whether we are good enough or not is up for debate.

The simple fact is we put them under great pressure for 10 - 15 minutes in the second half and created several chances.

Even the Scnuthorpe fans I know conceed that we were well on top and that they scored their second against the run of play.

 

RE: Battered them?

(Y)

 

hasnt replaced t williams ??

ER... how about Robbie Williams who was suspended and Brian Howard who is injured... maybe the squad as a whole needs looking at but it seems ritchie is ok with our lefties.. i think we need another defensive player to play there away from home maybe , last night was a perfect example !!
long trip home too it was !!

 

RE: hasnt replaced t williams ??

I like Robbie Williams but I have to say he isn't any quicker than Austin.

 

Thats the point

we had loads of possession but didnt convert, and ultimately lost a game we shouldve won. Like we did umpteen times last season. we shouldve won, we didnt. and the reason is the same as last year.

 

No the point is....

We had loads of chances and didn't convert. :S

 

He knew about Howards injury when T Williams was allowed to leave

which left a right back playing left back and a left back playing left midfield. having said that, I suspect it might not be Ritchies fault we havent added to the squad. cutting our cloth, and all that.

 

Were you watching the same game as me last night?
For once i thought McPhail ran things, especially in the second half and he worked hard for the team tracking back!!!!

As for not creating chances we had a hatful in the 2nd half and what did they create? a wasted header and that was it!

Remember there goals came for a pen and a defensive mistake (or foul?) Plus Hayes was not magnificent (is this becasue he scored?) last night he did well but could of worked harder!

Fair enough we lost which was against the run of play but it seems that you are just critcising becasue of the result! If the ref had given a foul against Taylor last night on Austin we would of won or drawn at worst! the fact that we didn't is just football, but i'm still optemistic for the season!

 

Lets stick with Colgan and Carbon then

Everything fine. Everythings fine. etc