Deadbat
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- Aug 6, 2009
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....sorry for no report last night. Just moved house and with work/other stuff on, just have not had time. Sorry not good enough I know.
Overall, we were never at the races last night and were second best from start to finish.
I felt we were outmuscled and more than out worked. They pressed, closed down and got men forward at every opportunity. Davies is a dirty so and so but caused major issues for United all night who could not handle him. Equally
Gallagher was better than anything we had from an attacking sense. Preston were really up for it and wanted it more.
They should have been 2 or 3 up at the half until our late rally with goal and then Baxter chance but that was our only real spell of the game.
I thought we had got away with it big time and Clough would have them sharper, more determined and that we would start to win some 50/50's and turn them the other way. In reality we got even worse, tossed away stupid free kick after
free kick and they scored inevitably before another ridiculous set piece goal. The third was shambolic defending.
I left a few minutes before the end. I had been at work since 7am, it was freezing and I wanted my bed!!!
Team ratings - You know no one was worth more than a 6 or 6.5 on the night and some were lucky to get to a 4 or 5 (McEveley and Campbell Ryce). Murphy did a few bits and scored. Baxter showed odd glimpse but those two were outmuscled at ties. Scougall too put effort in but so often good runs saw him then just give it away at the end defeating all previous effort. The defence was really poor. Basham was poor and had his worst game since he has gone to centre back. The two full backs made errors and positionally were all over the place. Harris was culpable on second goal with a silly give away . Howard made a few saves but the header they scored from was right inside the box. Harris and then McEveley on the final goal were laughable. McEveley has been decent for us this season but gives away stupid goals due to big errors that lead to free kicks or pens. There is a reason why he has had 11 clubs before he is 30. The midfield lost most balls and in terms of attacking save for a flash or two from Murphy, we had nothing. Campbell Ryce was terrible and should have come off. He was never in the game. McNulty was isolated but every touch he had saw the ball come off him. It was just a bad night with not one player coming off with any credit really.
Of course you can say it is good in a way we are out of the cup and now have no distractions and can settle down to hopefully a relatively consistent line up (albeit got a lot of games - Saturday to midweek most weeks).
However, I will be honest and say I was desperately disappointed to go out. Man Utd at the Lane. TV coverage. Big money. Another chance of an upset. We tossed it away. Good luck to PNE. They came, bossed us and got an easily deserved win. 3-1 flattered us in reality.
More concerning is when we have faced sides like PNE (mixed in league v cup), MK, Bristol we have got somewhat bullied physically. Our little side sadly does not enough quality to compensate for lack of physical stature. As my Dad said always preferred a good big un, over a good little un but I can cope with having little players if they are really skilfull, good dribblers, goal threats etc. Reality is most of ours are not. It concerns me that we may have to beat some of these sides in the playoffs. Swindon on Saturday did not have the physical threat but in reality looked like they had a
side full of young players and talent that sadly result aside on Saturday has shown to be much better and more of a goal threat,
There does seem a feeling now that our best hope is to sneak 5th or 6th and then if Clough carries on current tactics try and sneak a 1-0 / 0 -0 to get to the final and then the same scenario. Whether it is personnel, approach or tactics, still don't think that is good enough for the biggest side in the division with probably the biggest squad now.
A long way to go though and maybe my pessimism is mis placed. Maybe our team of mini men will skilfully charge to a comfortable play off position and surge to promotion. We will see. Clough now has a big test. He has had resources and has a deep squad. There is no excuses now.
Overall, we were never at the races last night and were second best from start to finish.
I felt we were outmuscled and more than out worked. They pressed, closed down and got men forward at every opportunity. Davies is a dirty so and so but caused major issues for United all night who could not handle him. Equally
Gallagher was better than anything we had from an attacking sense. Preston were really up for it and wanted it more.
They should have been 2 or 3 up at the half until our late rally with goal and then Baxter chance but that was our only real spell of the game.
I thought we had got away with it big time and Clough would have them sharper, more determined and that we would start to win some 50/50's and turn them the other way. In reality we got even worse, tossed away stupid free kick after
free kick and they scored inevitably before another ridiculous set piece goal. The third was shambolic defending.
I left a few minutes before the end. I had been at work since 7am, it was freezing and I wanted my bed!!!
Team ratings - You know no one was worth more than a 6 or 6.5 on the night and some were lucky to get to a 4 or 5 (McEveley and Campbell Ryce). Murphy did a few bits and scored. Baxter showed odd glimpse but those two were outmuscled at ties. Scougall too put effort in but so often good runs saw him then just give it away at the end defeating all previous effort. The defence was really poor. Basham was poor and had his worst game since he has gone to centre back. The two full backs made errors and positionally were all over the place. Harris was culpable on second goal with a silly give away . Howard made a few saves but the header they scored from was right inside the box. Harris and then McEveley on the final goal were laughable. McEveley has been decent for us this season but gives away stupid goals due to big errors that lead to free kicks or pens. There is a reason why he has had 11 clubs before he is 30. The midfield lost most balls and in terms of attacking save for a flash or two from Murphy, we had nothing. Campbell Ryce was terrible and should have come off. He was never in the game. McNulty was isolated but every touch he had saw the ball come off him. It was just a bad night with not one player coming off with any credit really.
Of course you can say it is good in a way we are out of the cup and now have no distractions and can settle down to hopefully a relatively consistent line up (albeit got a lot of games - Saturday to midweek most weeks).
However, I will be honest and say I was desperately disappointed to go out. Man Utd at the Lane. TV coverage. Big money. Another chance of an upset. We tossed it away. Good luck to PNE. They came, bossed us and got an easily deserved win. 3-1 flattered us in reality.
More concerning is when we have faced sides like PNE (mixed in league v cup), MK, Bristol we have got somewhat bullied physically. Our little side sadly does not enough quality to compensate for lack of physical stature. As my Dad said always preferred a good big un, over a good little un but I can cope with having little players if they are really skilfull, good dribblers, goal threats etc. Reality is most of ours are not. It concerns me that we may have to beat some of these sides in the playoffs. Swindon on Saturday did not have the physical threat but in reality looked like they had a
side full of young players and talent that sadly result aside on Saturday has shown to be much better and more of a goal threat,
There does seem a feeling now that our best hope is to sneak 5th or 6th and then if Clough carries on current tactics try and sneak a 1-0 / 0 -0 to get to the final and then the same scenario. Whether it is personnel, approach or tactics, still don't think that is good enough for the biggest side in the division with probably the biggest squad now.
A long way to go though and maybe my pessimism is mis placed. Maybe our team of mini men will skilfully charge to a comfortable play off position and surge to promotion. We will see. Clough now has a big test. He has had resources and has a deep squad. There is no excuses now.
