Did anybody actually play well?

[flash-blade]

You are kidding ,try telling Adkins Freeman and the scoreboard operator that. Baxter was at his worse last night ambling around , out of position ,no intention of supporting his team mates ,flouncing about when it didn't go his way. They spotted this early and attacked relentlessly down our right hand side. If that was playing well we really are fucked.

Fuck me, someone who knows what he's on about, hear hear Sitwell

 

[sitwell]

Seen a lot of contrasting views but here is my take. The performances ranged from disgraceful to mediocre.


Long 5- Didn’t make a meaningful save but was badly exposed.

Freeman- 4- Sloppy but constantly outnumbered in the first half with Baxter not running with his fullback.

Basham- 6- At least showed a bit of effort. Limited but tries to put himself about, make tackles and compete for headers.

Collins 5- Won his headers (from which midfield never won a second ball) but struggled with the movement of Vernon up front and often looked at full stretch.

Harris 4- As poor as the rest with some embarrassingly poor free kicks to boot. Wallace can consider himself unlucky to not be playing. Played a lot of lazy punts forward from deep as well.

Baxter 4- Offers something going forward but no positional discipline or work-rate to speak of. Didn’t track back, left Freeman badly exposed. Would be a 2 or 3 if not for the assist.

Hammond 5- Looks like the mind is willing but the body is not able. He tries to make challenges but is often late. Could have been sent off. Showed more desire than some and got a goal but is so slow.

Reed 2- Nowhere near his man at any point. Barely touched the ball. Like playing with 10 men. Don’t think he made one tackle or won one 50/50 ball.

Adams- 4- As lazy as the rest of midfield shirking his defensive responsibilities. Tried to run at the defence but when he beat his man, he didn’t get his head up and his decision making was poor.

Sharp- 4- Toiled wilfully on the right wing in the 2nd half but didn’t have the pace or trickery to make anything happen really. Was very quiet up front in the first half. Perhaps needs resting for a game or 2. He’s a striker that needs good service and struggles to create for himself.

Sammon 6- At least put a shift in. got a goal and made their defence work a bit. Worked the keeper with a decent effort 2nd half. But for a big bloke, he is atrocious in the air. Still, one of the better players and one of only 3 that I think should keep their place from the starting 11.


Subs:

Edgar- 6- Reasonably steady. A bit clumsy on the ball but won a few headers.

McEveley 5- Slow playing out from the back and struggled to win headers. No huge ricks though. Got away with a lot of wrestling.

Done- 5- ran around a bit but struggled to affect the game in any real way. Bergen’s reference to gegen-pressing and our inability/unwillingness to do it means that his individual pressing is often ineffective. He’s one who looks like he’s lacking confidence as opposed to effort. Certain others seem to think they can stroll through games and that they are much better than they are. I think it’s the opposite problem with him.

The most accurate report Ive seen. Sammon was also up against an excellent centre back in Whitbread ,and the balls to him were poor. The moving Sharp to right wing is one of Adkins most bizarre moves and there have been a few.

 

[1danewhitehouse]

The most accurate report Ive seen. Sammon was also up against an excellent centre back in Whitbread ,and the balls to him were poor. The moving Sharp to right wing is one of Adkins most bizarre moves and there have been a few.

Whitbread was very good but I think it says a lot about how bad we were that we still couldn't break them down in the last 10-15 minutes when Whitbread was clearly injured and hobbling about.

 

[jt64]

the majority of fans on here want Basham at Centre half - we have seen why he shouldn't be at CH - he quite simply, is not a CH.

The majority of fans want Basham in midfield. It's only an illusion that people want him at centre back because the other choices are much worse or on loan at Cambridge

 

[Deaneandagana]

Seen a lot of contrasting views but here is my take. The performances ranged from disgraceful to mediocre.


Long 5- Didn’t make a meaningful save but was badly exposed.

Freeman- 4- Sloppy but constantly outnumbered in the first half with Baxter not running with his fullback.

Basham- 6- At least showed a bit of effort. Limited but tries to put himself about, make tackles and compete for headers.

Collins 5- Won his headers (from which midfield never won a second ball) but struggled with the movement of Vernon up front and often looked at full stretch.

Harris 4- As poor as the rest with some embarrassingly poor free kicks to boot. Wallace can consider himself unlucky to not be playing. Played a lot of lazy punts forward from deep as well.

Baxter 4- Offers something going forward but no positional discipline or work-rate to speak of. Didn’t track back, left Freeman badly exposed. Would be a 2 or 3 if not for the assist.

Hammond 5- Looks like the mind is willing but the body is not able. He tries to make challenges but is often late. Could have been sent off. Showed more desire than some and got a goal but is so slow.

Reed 2- Nowhere near his man at any point. Barely touched the ball. Like playing with 10 men. Don’t think he made one tackle or won one 50/50 ball.

Adams- 4- As lazy as the rest of midfield shirking his defensive responsibilities. Tried to run at the defence but when he beat his man, he didn’t get his head up and his decision making was poor.

Sharp- 4- Toiled wilfully on the right wing in the 2nd half but didn’t have the pace or trickery to make anything happen really. Was very quiet up front in the first half. Perhaps needs resting for a game or 2. He’s a striker that needs good service and struggles to create for himself.

Sammon 6- At least put a shift in. got a goal and made their defence work a bit. Worked the keeper with a decent effort 2nd half. But for a big bloke, he is atrocious in the air. Still, one of the better players and one of only 3 that I think should keep their place from the starting 11.


Subs:

Edgar- 6- Reasonably steady. A bit clumsy on the ball but won a few headers.

McEveley 5- Slow playing out from the back and struggled to win headers. No huge ricks though. Got away with a lot of wrestling.

Done- 5- ran around a bit but struggled to affect the game in any real way. Bergen’s reference to gegen-pressing and our inability/unwillingness to do it means that his individual pressing is often ineffective. He’s one who looks like he’s lacking confidence as opposed to effort. Certain others seem to think they can stroll through games and that they are much better than they are. I think it’s the opposite problem with him.

I don't think that the Utd players are fit enough, from the perspective of the last 3 games, all of Southend, Walsall & Shrews were faster, sharper, physically stronger on the ball, had better first touches, closed & pressed our players consistently for 95 mins - as for us, ponderous.

I'd get them on an army training camp & then as Warnock used to say before a practise match "tell the players to get their pads on"

 

[longinthe toothblade]

Lots of Shrewsbury players did well. Energetic, put a foot in, moved it around crisply, attacked, had shots. Definitely had a team spirit about them.

Agree - it's called football

 

[longinthe toothblade]

I couldn't make it last night, listened until they scored the 4th then switched off as couldn't take any more. I honestly got more enjoyment out of watching America's Next Top Model with the wench.

To those who sat through it all (I applaud you), can any of the "players" from last night take any credit whatsoever from that game? Or was everyone just sh**** from start to finish?

No in a nutshell.

No fight, no passion, no movement, no creativity, no pace, no leadership, no idea, no f**king chance.

 

[1danewhitehouse]

Maybe they're not fit enough. Is that down to our training methods our their own lifestyle choices? They are better paid than most of their opponents and should at least be able to match them for fitness and effort. They are stealing their wages and showing contempt for us. Can't fucking stand this bunch and can't wait to get rid of most of them in the summer.

 

[BushBlade]

On the Sammon point, no, he didn't win a lot of headers, but as i made the point to the bloke constantly shouting "Fucking jump Sammon" I shall make again:

It's difficult to jump for a ball when every time the balls is near you, you've got a CH getting a step-ladder out and climbing onto your shoulders, when the ref offers no protection whatsoever. In fairness to the ref, he let a lot of that go on both sides of the coin. Sammon also had a very poor game, but better than most of the other 10, as his control of the ball was atrocious at times, and merely poor the rest of the time, but complaining about his inability to win headers when he's got people clambering on him is unfair.

He should be able to deal with that. He's supposed to be a striker. Defenders are supposed to stop him trying to score. I appreciate you may have forgot that after watching our defence regularly.

 

[Bergen Blade]

Having watched it on BP I think ratings and criticism of individuals are influenced by a general feeling of disappointment, coupled with our declining form and the shocking result. I fully understand fans needing to get things off their chest after such a game.

We were poor, naively set up and couldn't find any sort of rhythm to our game. Covering space in midfield is a huge problem and Adkins needs to realise this. It leads to too many danger situations that brings out individual mistakes. He's doing his players no favours at the moment. I was surprised to see that no players had real nightmares, but as a team we were poor defensively and offensively.

We did get quite a few chances though second half, although they must have felt very insignificant for those who were there, because of Huddersfield's comfortable lead.

 

[Harry's Game]

Wait for it.... I thought Hammond had his best game for us last night (not difficult) and was our best shit too. That's how last night left me....

Sorry but Hammond's legs have gone, twice in the second half he was outpaced but that big lad in The Shrewsbury side who got outpaced by Baxter (Baxter!) in the first half,

He also was lucky not to pick up a straight red for a two footed lunge.

 

[William Henry Foulkes]

Having watched it on BP I think ratings and criticism of individuals are influenced by a general feeling of disappointment, coupled with our declining form and the shocking result. I fully understand fans needing to get things off their chest after such a game.

We were poor, naively set up and couldn't find any sort of rhythm to our game. Covering space in midfield is a huge problem and Adkins needs to realise this. It leads to too many danger situations that brings out individual mistakes. He's doing his players no favours at the moment. I was surprised to see that no players had real nightmares, but as a team we were poor defensively and offensively.

We did get quite a few chances though second half, although they must have felt very insignificant for those who were there, because of Huddersfield's comfortable lead.

Agreed. It wasn't really about individuals not trying - though some may have lost heart. It was the set up that was wrong. It often is when you get a real hammering.

The game it most reminded me of was Gillingham.

Before the game you posted something about Will Shrewsbury park the bus or attempt to exploit our weaknesses? Afaict they went for the second option - and it paid off. I don't think they played at all well (they may have been the worst team we've faced this season), but they are professional footballers - and given chance to shoot unchallenged from the edge of the box are going to score more often than not.

 

[William Henry Foulkes]

Having watched it on BP I think ratings and criticism of individuals are influenced by a general feeling of disappointment, coupled with our declining form and the shocking result. I fully understand fans needing to get things off their chest after such a game.

We were poor, naively set up and couldn't find any sort of rhythm to our game. Covering space in midfield is a huge problem and Adkins needs to realise this. It leads to too many danger situations that brings out individual mistakes. He's doing his players no favours at the moment. I was surprised to see that no players had real nightmares, but as a team we were poor defensively and offensively.

We did get quite a few chances though second half, although they must have felt very insignificant for those who were there, because of Huddersfield's comfortable lead.

I'd be interested in your opinion on Hammond.

It looks to me like he's a yard - or even two - too slow. The mind might be willing but the body's weak.

And, at the moment, he can't be worth what we're paying him.

 

[Bergen Blade]

I'd be interested in your opinion on Hammond.

It looks to me like he's a yard - or even two - too slow. The mind might be willing but the body's weak.

And, at the moment, he can't be worth what we're paying him.

Not impressed, but he's not quite as rusty as in his first games. It would be worth a try at Barnsley to play him as an anchor, flanked by two hard working and aggressive box to box players.

If that doesn't work either he'll be remembered in a similar manner to James Harper and Garry Flitcroft, players who relied on great physique, and when that went they didn't have enough about them to do well, despite dropping down a level or two.

 

[Dnblade]

I thought Freeman did OK to be fair,although many seem to be giving him undeserved stick...he puts in a shift getting up and down the pitch as he provides the width when we attack down the right... Can't fault him on effort,he gave100% and always does..Can't really blame him for the 3rd goal if that's what people are thinking,it was 2 on one at one point..Baxter managed to get back and help,but lunged in and Freeman who took the other man couldn't make up the ground to stop the cross once the lad got free.

 

[Bladesman]

Alan Wright he could still do a job for us.

 

[Kevincarterversion2.0]

I find it difficult to really have a go at Baxter for not being able to defend, given that he is a behind the front two type player, who is therefore not very good at defending ..and has been played mostly in deep midfield or on the right by Adkins, when you will have to do some...er.... defending.

Its a bit like playing George Long upfront and then having a go at him for missing chances.

Adkins has hinting at being annoyed at Baxter for marking etc, but I think he is deluded if he thinks its all down to Jose. He needs to sign some f'cking half decent centre backs and stop pretending is mate Hammond is doing it in the defensive midfield role - because so far he hasnt.