First half we were excellent. Positive, direct & aggressive - if we'd have gone in 3-0 up it wouldn't have been a surprise because we were that good. Then second half Doncaster changed tact a little, we started to tire, made some mistakes and then looked like the team from November time. Jittery, slow & happy to go side to side. The big thing now is to look at that defence - with White out I expect us to bring in a full back sharpish as we're really light in that area. We also saw that Bree will need to be dipped in & out and also that Williams isn't the answer at left back. Worked hard but I hope we see Smith back in there next game. Also, Roberts looked like he was at Halifax last year - clumsy, poor on the ball and hesitant. Showed you how much we relied on Long. But, saying all that, we ground it out and got what we deserved overall. Pleasing all round. However, considering the injuries we now have & how tired especially Hammill looks I reckon were due a few more displays like that second half in the coming weeks. Overall, well grafted reds. Pleasure at the minute watching us. Sent from my SM-G900F using Tapatalk
Think we really need to get an experienced centre half in until end of season. And a full back if White is out. I reckon if we'd have been cruising Winnall and Hammill would have been given a breather. But needing the win meant we had to keep them on. Need to rotate a bit next few weeks. Hopefully see a bit of Tuton (if he isn't get white back as he's bagging regularly)
Love that football is a game of opinions. We were all talking about how well Williams had played, albeit a touch one footed. Also thought Roberts performed really well, other than two or three shockers distribution wise. Being a bit harsh there saying he looked like he was at Halifax, considering clean sheet and lack of clear cut chances. Don't think we looked like the team from November at all. Even in that spell of Donny dominating due to bringing Coppinger on, we still had Hammill causing them problems, Hourihane from long range, some great play down the right, and Watkins bursting through on one occasion. Thought Bree did well considering he was up against their best player. Not our best performance, but lots of continued positives.
Agree with you with regard to the defence. Bree doesn't seem to me to be a full back. Williams tries his best but he's far more a right back. Roberts may be ok with a run in the team but........ I hope our defence is not disintegrating, as the rest of the team seems solid.
I actually thought Roberts played quite well, he certainly didn't do anything that warrants him getting dropped the next game, well in my opinion anyways.
Very harsh on Roberts , slightly harsh on Williams imho. Depth of squad is a worry though. Donny were Sunday League. Should have had 2 sent off. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
thought roberts was solid and mawson had a great game . williams is right footed but he adapts to left back ok . overall we defended well and they only had a few shots on goal all game
Wow. Footy truly is a game of differing opinions. That first half was as good as my group thought we'd played in years. Agree that we should have gone in up by 3. Donny played better second half but the good thing about this group is that they dig in and grind it out. Hourihane is a an transformed and we battled in that second half. Disagree about young James. Thought he played well and I a So think he will be a full back cum second half. Prem potential and I don't think he needs resting at all. He's young he's fit and he's learning. Why change? Georgie boy is not an aidy white but he's competent. Doesn't give us the attacking edge. Close call between him and smiffy. Thought Roberts was well solid. Apart from three really bad passes he was error free and Alfie grows game by game. Good pairing although I agree that long will be missed. Not sure we need to add anyone else to be honest.
I agree about the defence. I thought Roberts looked a bit rusty and the defence didn't inspire any confidence once White went off and we looked exposed in hot wings. Williams put a lot of effort in but did look like he was playing out of position more than I'd noticed in other games.
Harsh on Williams. My man of the match in his last couple of starts. The way he dealt with Marshall at Bradford, his display that night ranks proper high for me in terms of 'jobs' on a player. Set up the winner too but that was a bonus. Not sure what you saw in his spell today to convince you he isn't the answer. Admittedly, I really rate George Smith. But that's the point for me. Both are capable. We're nearing the end of the season, Wembley in the bag and playoffs a little distant but still possible, you never know. Not sure I'd upset the apple cart. Also, that was Roberts' first start for ages. Clean sheet. Got his weaknesses. Got his strengths. Course you're going to notice the difference when a lad plucked from non league replaces a Championship centre half. I'm not as worried on either count. But, I appreciate your opinion my friend. I hope WSB11 was a success. You're a credit to the town/club/gingers. You Reds n that.
It was a strange game, we dominated the first 30 minutes & should've been a couple up before White's injury which seemed to kill our momentum. The last 15 mins of the first half & the first 20 of the second were poor but then we brought on Scowen & Fletcher & took control of the game again. Fully deserved the win. I think there was only one moment where I was concerned Donny might score in the whole game which is pretty good considering the age & lack of experience of the back 4. Can see the concerns about the defence but I'd be tempted to leave it as it is. Other than Nyatanga they're all young lads who should be improving game by game.
I agree with Whitey generally; give the lads a chance. Williams was outstanding when he came in for three games; he came off the bench literally cold today and stepped right in. Yes he may be naturally right footed but he attacked well the second half crossing with his left. Yes Roberts had a couple of wobble moments but he needs a few games to get match fit. Furthermore they are 'ours' so we don't need more uncommitted loanees.
Opinions indeed. Williams did brilliantly, Bree - wow is this the kid they thought was better than Stones? His reading of the game is shocking, but he's young and I hope to god he gets better. Mawson and Roberts struggled, this was a poor team we were up against, anyone with a decent striker would have punished that second half defensive display.
I thought Williams was excellent when he came on. He doesn't offer the same skill going forward as White, but he made up for that with some excellent balls down the line for Hammill. I too thought Roberts looked Shaky, but he didn't actually do anything wrong defensively and it was his first full game back so we'll see how he progresses. Bree is looking a bit off it at the moment. Like all young players he'll have good and bad games. I have no doubt that Johnson would give him a rest. Let's see what Hecky does.
The team did well yesterday and I felt looked in control from start to finish. Always spells when the opposition have a go but it only lasted 15 mins before we resumed normal service. if 1 or 2 of the first half chances would have gone in we would have seen the game differently. But given we had to change the defense before the game and early in the game a clean sheet and pretty much dealing with everything they gave was a good performance. admittedly at times the defense did look on one or two occasions like a young inexperienced team that hadn't played together much but that's because,, errrrrr, They are a young, inexperienced etc etc........................ I guess we will have some decisions to make as the next few games unfold and how we do, but to answer a post from a week or two ago, this is now why the manager / head coach becomes a more important figure in things
Bree's a central midfielder. I don't know whether he's been playing there for the u21's as I don't go to the games, but I get the feeling once he's broadened out a little, and is a couple of years older, he'll start to play there for the first team. Sent from my I-Oven using the internets