United 1 Swindon 2 - report

[Reedy1889]

Another poor performance from Coutts. His insistence on playing him is now complete lunacy. He has offered nothing since his arrival. Has he had an assist? A goal? Might as well play me Ffs. Awful player.

I feel for Coutts. There is a good player in Coutts there's no doubt about that I think people are forgetting he's not long since recovered from a serious injury resulting in him being out of action for 16 or so months was it? A good pre-season under his belt and I think we'll see him kick on and prove a few folk wrong who've written him off so quickly.

The issue for me is Clough's mis-management forcing him to having to play Coutts regularly without sufficient rest for a player who's clearly still not 100% up to full speed.

 

[Fulwood Blade]

Headed goals conceded from set pieces
No proper centre backs
Scrappy midget midfield gets overrun
long shot creeps in
one man up front with poor scoring record
Sit back after taking the lead - and shock horror, we don't hold it

Clough has learnt nothing this season. Absolutely nothing.

We don't always agree but your post was measured and accurate.

The part of Clough has learnt nothing is the most worry aspect.

UTB

 

[Deadbat]

Seen nothing in Coutts at all. Watched him closely and he hid and when he got it went backwards or gave it away. Technically he is poor and this allied to being unfit/injured and having no pace/mobility. The only thing he has over a few others is he is taller....but he is crap in the air.

We have a squad full of journeyman, average midfielders that are either small, injured, slow, weak or not fit (many a combination of them all).

Sounds harsh but does anyone feel this squad would seriously mount a promotion campaign with any of Holt, Scougall, Baxter, J. Wallace, K. Wallace, Coutts in the side.

I would move all of them on in the summer...with Doyle probably going too (out of contract). Basham and Reed could still be ok but sign two strong or quick midfielders this summer that don't just turn backwards or stop and have to check every time they get the ball. Also need two centre backs and two midfielders and oh maybe a keeper, or two and a striker and.....I'll get mi coat.

Swindon had fitness, pace and more skill in key areas. Kasim, Gladwin, Luongo, Byrne, Thompson. All proper footballers that want the ball and want to go forward.

 

[siblade]

The biggest difference for me, aside from the loss of Brayford, was that they were fitter by miles. We looked to be carrying injuries and utterly exhausted.

Well played Swindon, but we were a busted flush.

Agree totally, our players looked to be blowing out of their arses whilst Swindon's looked fresh.

Can't fault the players for effort and they were positive on the whole but it's a tough ask now.

 

[Deadbat]

Agree totally, our players looked to be blowing out of their arses whilst Swindon's looked fresh.

Can't fault the players for effort and they were positive on the whole but it's a tough ask now.

..but this is why we had such a big squad and have rotated so when it came to the crunch, big games we would be fresh and ready

As others have said after first 15-20; they were stronger and so much fitter. We as we have much of the season looked like we were in quick sand and were at full stretch so much.

 

[Woodwardfan]

Seen nothing in Coutts at all. Watched him closely and he hid and when he got it went backwards or gave it away. Technically he is poor and this allied to being unfit/injured and having no pace/mobility. The only thing he has over a few others is he is taller....but he is crap in the air.

We have a squad full of journeyman, average midfielders that are either small, injured, slow, weak or not fit (many a combination of them all).

Sounds harsh but does anyone feel this squad would seriously mount a promotion campaign with any of Holt, Scougall, Baxter, J. Wallace, K. Wallace, Coutts in the side.

I would move all of them on in the summer...with Doyle probably going too (out of contract). Basham and Reed could still be ok but sign two strong or quick midfielders this summer that don't just turn backwards or stop and have to check every time they get the ball. Also need two centre backs and two midfielders and oh maybe a keeper, or two and a striker and.....I'll get mi coat.

Swindon had fitness, pace and more skill in key areas. Kasim, Gladwin, Luongo, Byrne, Thompson. All proper footballers that want the ball and want to go forward.

The trouble is those mentioned above are mostly recent signings on contracts and nobody wants them. The other gaps are there despite Clough signing 23 players.

Swindon had young optimistic players with pedigrees from big clubs. 4 on loan and three ex-Spurs players signed after a loan period.

 

[JohnDenver]

..but this is why we had such a big squad and have rotated so when it came to the crunch, big games we would be fresh and ready

As others have said after first 15-20; they were stronger and so much fitter. We as we have much of the season looked like we were in quick sand and were at full stretch so much.

McEv was in clear pain with his shoulder and blatantly not match fit. Murphy has looked knackered for a month. Coutts has never looked truly fit. Davies faded.

As an athlete Basham is in a different league to everyone else. Even Howard's footwork was laboured for their winner!

 

[Guesty]

McEv was in clear pain with his shoulder and blatantly not match fit. Murphy has looked knackered for a month. Coutts has never looked truly fit. Davies faded.

As an athlete Basham is in a different league to everyone else. Even Howard's footwork was laboured for their winner!

Remember how Crewe's winner was a one in a thousand worldie and we were dead unlucky to lose? Well it's happened about three more times since.

 

[Woodwardfan]

Remember how Crewe's winner was a one in a thousand worldie and we were dead unlucky to lose? Well it's happened about three more times since.

I suspect Howard needs contact lenses. He has a weakness seeing long shots and reacts slowly time and again. Last night's was horrendous.

Might not be as daft as it sounds.

 

[JohnDenver]

I suspect Howard needs contact lenses. He has a weakness seeing long shots and reacts slowly time and again. Last night's was horrendous.

Might not be as daft as it sounds.

Bunnitis?

 

[Guesty]

I suspect Howard needs contact lenses. He has a weakness seeing long shots and reacts slowly time and again. Last night's was horrendous.

Might not be as daft as it sounds.

Bunnitis?

Whatever it is, he's definitely had a case of the Bunns this season.

Could be his vision as you say, WWF, could also be a lingering injury hindering his movement. It's costing us points (and cup ties) though.

 

[Fulwood Blade]

Some have said it took a deflection of Mceverley

Does anyone know before castigating Howard?

UTB

 

[United Aren't Back.]

Deadbat has summed it up..a team of average journeymen, slow, tired, low on ability, determination, desire , and confidence. A piss poor team that is utterly dreadful to watch.

 

[United Aren't Back.]

Best post on this thread is by metalblade.
Hes far from alone in his thinking.

 

[Jehovah]

I feel for Coutts. There is a good player in Coutts there's no doubt about that I think people are forgetting he's not long since recovered from a serious injury resulting in him being out of action for 16 or so months was it? A good pre-season under his belt and I think we'll see him kick on and prove a few folk wrong who've written him off so quickly.

The issue for me is Clough's mis-management forcing him to having to play Coutts regularly without sufficient rest for a player who's clearly still not 100% up to full speed.

I dont see anything to suggest hes a good player mate. Nothing. There seems to be more of an assumption that the reason he has been shit is because he is unfit. My assumption he has been shit is because he is shit.

 

[Bergen Blade]

If ever a game cried out for 4-4-2 it was this one. They play a fluid 3-5-2 and if we had played an aggressive 4-4-2 we would have played more in their half and made them keep more men back.

I accept we pressed high up the field for the first 20/25 minutes but we lost our way as we always seem to do when we go one up. There were 6 men in the box when we scored though and that is what happens when we get numbers in there.

You study the video. Please give a view on the performances of all the midfield players, in particular Coutts, Holt and Scougall though I know Scougs is one of your favourites.

Coutts - expected more from him, we needed him to take responsibility on the ball when they started putting us under pressure. He's done it at times before, especially at Bristol City, when he showed that he's got the ability to hold on to the ball, taking off the immediate pressure and finding a constructive pass. He did it a couple of times in the second half, but he should have done it before. Thought his first half was poor, but improved a bit towards the end. He's been on the right a couple of times and also showed that he can run a bit on the ball, enough to get the odd cross in even, but sometimes he looks so immobile, almost like an injury is preventing him from accellerating and running at full speed.

Holt - He's neat and tidy, but doesn't offer enough. Often thanks to the good work of others the ball have dropped for him a few times, and he's had the composure to finish. He's mobile enough to get into the box and may be a bit more clever when it comes to taking up shooting positions, rather than busting a gut to get to the first post without getting the ball, like Scougall does. But Holt doesn't beat anyone, his passes are too often sideways and backwards, he gets pushed around and loses tackles. Defensively he's ordinary, despite being fit enough to track back. Both Scougall and Reed, who also share his lack of strength, have more all round ability, and playing Holt on Monday, let alone signing him in the summer, will be a mistake.

Scougall - Has got far too much critic due to the substitution which left us with a lack of strength and presence in midfield. Clough should have used Alcock, kept Basham in midfield and as soon as possible put on Scougall for Holt. I think that would have made us more equipped to battle and chase in midfield, and even more space for breaks. Scougall was quite sharp and tenacious and was far more involved (sadly more in terms of making interceptions than attacking, due to Swindon being on top) than his two ostrich midfield partners. As a team we looked shocked the first 20 minutes of the second half, and we lost our balance, but I don't think Scougall's individual performance was to blame.

 

[Woodwardfan]

Coutts - expected more from him, we needed him to take responsibility on the ball when they started putting us under pressure. He's done it at times before, especially at Bristol City, when he showed that he's got the ability to hold on to the ball, taking off the immediate pressure and finding a constructive pass. He did it a couple of times in the second half, but he should have done it before. Thought his first half was poor, but improved a bit towards the end. He's been on the right a couple of times and also showed that he can run a bit on the ball, enough to get the odd cross in even, but sometimes he looks so immobile, almost like an injury is preventing him from accellerating and running at full speed.

Holt - He's neat and tidy, but doesn't offer enough. Often thanks to the good work of others the ball have dropped for him a few times, and he's had the composure to finish. He's mobile enough to get into the box and may be a bit more clever when it comes to taking up shooting positions, rather than busting a gut to get to the first post without getting the ball, like Scougall does. But Holt doesn't beat anyone, his passes are too often sideways and backwards, he gets pushed around and loses tackles. Defensively he's ordinary, despite being fit enough to track back. Both Scougall and Reed, who also share his lack of strength, have more all round ability, and playing Holt on Monday, let alone signing him in the summer, will be a mistake.

Scougall - Has got far too much critic due to the substitution which left us with a lack of strength and presence in midfield. Clough should have used Alcock, kept Basham in midfield and as soon as possible put on Scougall for Holt. I think that would have made us more equipped to battle and chase in midfield, and even more space for breaks. Scougall was quite sharp and tenacious and was far more involved (sadly more in terms of making interceptions than attacking, due to Swindon being on top) than his two ostrich midfield partners. As a team we looked shocked the first 20 minutes of the second half, and we lost our balance, but I don't think Scougall's individual performance was to blame.

Well said. 1.Agree.2. agree. 3. Bit generous but fair enough.

 

[BerksBlade]

Some observations on Harris: His biggest problem is inconsistency - I guess that's why he's a L1 player, and he had a bit of a shocker, but:
Why didn't he get much help? Other teams have doubled up on Murphy to nullify him, so why not do the same on Byrne? Is that why Flynn appeared to start on the left? Also, it looked to me as though Harris wasn't sure what to do when Byrne ran from deep: go out and engage him or hold the line of the back four. Result? We let him run without a challenge and he scored.
Comes back to weak midfield again really - it's far too easy to play through us and get at the defence.

 

[robbiez666]

The problem with Harris on Thursday was that he got booked early and therefore had no choice but to stand-off Byrne. Clough should have seen this and given him help.

 

[Silent Blade]

The problem with Harris on Thursday was that he got booked early and therefore had no choice but to stand-off Byrne. Clough should have seen this and given him help.

Am I right in thinking that if Harris and Davies gets booked on Monday, they will miss the final if we go through?

 

[metalblade]

Am I right in thinking that if Harris and Davies gets booked on Monday, they will miss the final if we go through?

I wouldn't worry about that.