Deadbat
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You thought I had gone for the summer......but no still another boring report to come!
I won't go too in depth. Suffice to say it was probably more entertaining than some of the more recent league games but still was not great. Overall have to say we did not deserve to lose and were the better side. A flurry og goals came late on. Our defending on both was dire.
New manager Wilder and his assistant Knill were introduced and came across to the fans (over 4,000 and a decent amount from Huddersfield mixed in amongst us) seated on John Street. He did not linger for long. A quick wave and thumbs up and back to his seat in the South Stand.
We decided to really try and win the game by fielding first teamers in Adams and Whiteman. Reed, Kelly and Ramsdale who have also been on the bench featured as did De Girolamo.
First half saw them start the better with a decent amount of passing football and we struggled to get out early on. Town forced a few corners and one hit the post as the defender misjudged it for United. After the first 15 minutes we started to play better with Whiteman and Gilmour getting stuck on. Diego and Che started to link well and a few chances started to come. The keeper made saves from both and then Kennedy had a header saved. De Girolamo then could not get his shot away. A short back pass from Kennedy gave them a half chance but Ramsdale came out well before Cummings cross shot at the other end was beat out. United were now well in control with Cummings and Kelly overlapping to support well. Half time was 0-0 but United had the chances to lead.
Second half was more even early on but United had first real chance when Diego's free kick hit the wall and went out for a corner. The keeper made a save from the resultant corner from Semple. Huddersfield had a few mazy runs stopped and forced a corner off their own. Soon after Adams shot over after a good run holding off defenders before Diego had an even better effort but his shot was excellent saved. Maybe the best chance/effort of the game. Huddersfield then had a good spell of their own and one chance was blasted over when he maybe should have scored after poor defending by Cummings. Gilmour was replaced by Hamilton with Reed moving inside. With just over 10 minutes to a speculative shot was flicked in by the Terriers man with United's defenders ball watching as he headed home. Straight after Adams run was then fortuitously turned into the path of the onrushing Whiteman who got there before the keeper and poked home. 1-1.
It seemed it might go to extra time but only minutes later the visitors were back on top. Poor play from Kelly with the backpass and then after it was not cleared Reed did not win the ball and a though ball saw the man in and the striker clipped in under Ramsdale. United could not recover from this and a few late headers and Reed shot was all they could muster before the final whistle.
United - We were the better side but we had a number of players who have a lot of first team experience. Huddersfield did not. We really should have won the game but did not take the few chances the game had and they did - helped by some really poor defending. McCabe (and Adkins before him) harped on about the pathway of youth and McCabe said the other day that we have some good, fast and hungry players at this level. On this and other games I have seen I am not sure any (Adams showed he might be - poor today though) are going to first team regulars. Indeed if we had 5 or 6 of these playing next season we would be much closer to the bottom than the top. that is the reality. If they were that good they would be playing (like Maguire, Long, Walker and Naughton were at 18) but whilst there are a few neat and tidy players none really stand out; albeit a few are still young kids.
I honestly dont see one player save Adams being anywhere near a first team regular next season. Whiteman, Reed, De Girolamo, Calvert Lewin are not first team players and will be back ups at best. The rest are a year or so away from even being first team contenders. It was a surpruse today that much younger lads such as Semple and Gilmour looked just as good as Kennedy and Reed who have been a while. Those two were really poor and I dont think are going to make it at pro level.
Ramsdale 7/10 - Had little chance on the goals. Kennedy tried to blame him on the first but it was his fault! The second was a one on one. Apart from that I liked him. Commands, kicks well and handling very good. A big lad for his age and well built too. Looks a very good prospect from the two finals I have seen this week.
Cummings 6/10 - Had a good first half and got up and down the flank. He had a cross shot and a few other powerful runs. Second half faded and got beat quite a few times for trickery. He looked a bit clumsy. Big lad for a right back.
Kelly 6/10 - Neat and tidy. He was linking well with others but quite small and defensively I felt he was too far ff his man. Made a bit of a mistake in build up to the second. Not sure on that evidence he is a first team players sadly.
Kennedy 5.5/10 - Made two good tackles where he read game well and a few other blocks but he lost his man completely on the goal. I watched him try and pass him off to someone else but it was his man. Earlier he had played a horrible back pass that nearly let them in. Also tried to step up on second goal. Came off near the end. I saw he had been released so it seems strange he would play if that is the case (know technically on our books till end of June?) unless he is one of Wilder's surprises on the released list. I hope not. He looked unfit, overweight (actually looked fat) and was mistake ridden amongst some committed play. Time to move on.
Semple 7/10 - Thought he was our best defender. He headed it away well and read game well. Decent on the ball. Like to see more of him. Know he is only 16 I think so a really good prospect on that showing.
Gilmour 7/10 - Think he is only 17 too and looks a neat and tidy, energetic player who can get around the field. used the ball better than Reed. Another that will get more game time in the u21's next season I am sure.
Whiteman 7/10 - Got stuck in with some crunching and sometimes close to the edge tackles. Bit mixed in possession and is quite slow I feel. Scored a decent goal but lacks that one real quality that would make him a first team regular for me. He is a good size though and hopefully like Jagielka might develop but needs a loan spell I reckon.
Reed 5/10- Thought he was really poor. He played wide early on but then moved inside. Never in the game. When he did get it he gave it away or played balls that have no chance to the strikers often overhit. He looks a player that has gone badly backwards. For him even at this level to look one of the poorer players on the pitch is a worry.
Brooks 6.5/10 - Very lightweight and he has to put some muscle on if he wants to be a professional. He looks about 14 rather than 18! He had a few decent runs and dribbles and one shot blocked. Played wide left. Not sure he has any real one quality either. Surprised we gave him another deal.
De Girolamo 7/10 - He was not brilliant but our most likely threat. Takes too many touches and over plays but he does have some good skill and had 2 or 3 decent efforts at goal making keeper work twice. He did not have any real service and had to make most of his chances from deep rather than in the box. Not sure he is ever going to make it and he has to really improve the next few months to give himself a chance in Wilder's squad (did he sign him for Northampton and then never play him?).
Adams 6/10 - Not a real threat today and things did not come off but he looked disinterested for long spells. Did have one run and shot over but often he was outpaced (way too top heavy now) and his first touch was a real mixed bag. Not a player that plays well with his back to goal. Showed some skill but too often it seemed to be in areas where he could not hurt opponents. Him and Sharp did ok in spells but personally feel we need something different up top and would play him wide left to start next season (did well there start of last season) and sign a big lad that will give defenders something to think about with presence to partner Sharp. He still will play a lot of games up top but that is what I would do. Today Wilder will not have been impressed with that showing at all.
Subs
Hamilton - Replaced Brooks. A wide player that has been released. Been on loan in the Conference but today he never got into the game and will now move on.
Hall - Liked him in the u18's final playoff game but he came on right at the death today for Kennedy.
I won't go too in depth. Suffice to say it was probably more entertaining than some of the more recent league games but still was not great. Overall have to say we did not deserve to lose and were the better side. A flurry og goals came late on. Our defending on both was dire.
New manager Wilder and his assistant Knill were introduced and came across to the fans (over 4,000 and a decent amount from Huddersfield mixed in amongst us) seated on John Street. He did not linger for long. A quick wave and thumbs up and back to his seat in the South Stand.
We decided to really try and win the game by fielding first teamers in Adams and Whiteman. Reed, Kelly and Ramsdale who have also been on the bench featured as did De Girolamo.
First half saw them start the better with a decent amount of passing football and we struggled to get out early on. Town forced a few corners and one hit the post as the defender misjudged it for United. After the first 15 minutes we started to play better with Whiteman and Gilmour getting stuck on. Diego and Che started to link well and a few chances started to come. The keeper made saves from both and then Kennedy had a header saved. De Girolamo then could not get his shot away. A short back pass from Kennedy gave them a half chance but Ramsdale came out well before Cummings cross shot at the other end was beat out. United were now well in control with Cummings and Kelly overlapping to support well. Half time was 0-0 but United had the chances to lead.
Second half was more even early on but United had first real chance when Diego's free kick hit the wall and went out for a corner. The keeper made a save from the resultant corner from Semple. Huddersfield had a few mazy runs stopped and forced a corner off their own. Soon after Adams shot over after a good run holding off defenders before Diego had an even better effort but his shot was excellent saved. Maybe the best chance/effort of the game. Huddersfield then had a good spell of their own and one chance was blasted over when he maybe should have scored after poor defending by Cummings. Gilmour was replaced by Hamilton with Reed moving inside. With just over 10 minutes to a speculative shot was flicked in by the Terriers man with United's defenders ball watching as he headed home. Straight after Adams run was then fortuitously turned into the path of the onrushing Whiteman who got there before the keeper and poked home. 1-1.
It seemed it might go to extra time but only minutes later the visitors were back on top. Poor play from Kelly with the backpass and then after it was not cleared Reed did not win the ball and a though ball saw the man in and the striker clipped in under Ramsdale. United could not recover from this and a few late headers and Reed shot was all they could muster before the final whistle.
United - We were the better side but we had a number of players who have a lot of first team experience. Huddersfield did not. We really should have won the game but did not take the few chances the game had and they did - helped by some really poor defending. McCabe (and Adkins before him) harped on about the pathway of youth and McCabe said the other day that we have some good, fast and hungry players at this level. On this and other games I have seen I am not sure any (Adams showed he might be - poor today though) are going to first team regulars. Indeed if we had 5 or 6 of these playing next season we would be much closer to the bottom than the top. that is the reality. If they were that good they would be playing (like Maguire, Long, Walker and Naughton were at 18) but whilst there are a few neat and tidy players none really stand out; albeit a few are still young kids.
I honestly dont see one player save Adams being anywhere near a first team regular next season. Whiteman, Reed, De Girolamo, Calvert Lewin are not first team players and will be back ups at best. The rest are a year or so away from even being first team contenders. It was a surpruse today that much younger lads such as Semple and Gilmour looked just as good as Kennedy and Reed who have been a while. Those two were really poor and I dont think are going to make it at pro level.
Ramsdale 7/10 - Had little chance on the goals. Kennedy tried to blame him on the first but it was his fault! The second was a one on one. Apart from that I liked him. Commands, kicks well and handling very good. A big lad for his age and well built too. Looks a very good prospect from the two finals I have seen this week.
Cummings 6/10 - Had a good first half and got up and down the flank. He had a cross shot and a few other powerful runs. Second half faded and got beat quite a few times for trickery. He looked a bit clumsy. Big lad for a right back.
Kelly 6/10 - Neat and tidy. He was linking well with others but quite small and defensively I felt he was too far ff his man. Made a bit of a mistake in build up to the second. Not sure on that evidence he is a first team players sadly.
Kennedy 5.5/10 - Made two good tackles where he read game well and a few other blocks but he lost his man completely on the goal. I watched him try and pass him off to someone else but it was his man. Earlier he had played a horrible back pass that nearly let them in. Also tried to step up on second goal. Came off near the end. I saw he had been released so it seems strange he would play if that is the case (know technically on our books till end of June?) unless he is one of Wilder's surprises on the released list. I hope not. He looked unfit, overweight (actually looked fat) and was mistake ridden amongst some committed play. Time to move on.
Semple 7/10 - Thought he was our best defender. He headed it away well and read game well. Decent on the ball. Like to see more of him. Know he is only 16 I think so a really good prospect on that showing.
Gilmour 7/10 - Think he is only 17 too and looks a neat and tidy, energetic player who can get around the field. used the ball better than Reed. Another that will get more game time in the u21's next season I am sure.
Whiteman 7/10 - Got stuck in with some crunching and sometimes close to the edge tackles. Bit mixed in possession and is quite slow I feel. Scored a decent goal but lacks that one real quality that would make him a first team regular for me. He is a good size though and hopefully like Jagielka might develop but needs a loan spell I reckon.
Reed 5/10- Thought he was really poor. He played wide early on but then moved inside. Never in the game. When he did get it he gave it away or played balls that have no chance to the strikers often overhit. He looks a player that has gone badly backwards. For him even at this level to look one of the poorer players on the pitch is a worry.
Brooks 6.5/10 - Very lightweight and he has to put some muscle on if he wants to be a professional. He looks about 14 rather than 18! He had a few decent runs and dribbles and one shot blocked. Played wide left. Not sure he has any real one quality either. Surprised we gave him another deal.
De Girolamo 7/10 - He was not brilliant but our most likely threat. Takes too many touches and over plays but he does have some good skill and had 2 or 3 decent efforts at goal making keeper work twice. He did not have any real service and had to make most of his chances from deep rather than in the box. Not sure he is ever going to make it and he has to really improve the next few months to give himself a chance in Wilder's squad (did he sign him for Northampton and then never play him?).
Adams 6/10 - Not a real threat today and things did not come off but he looked disinterested for long spells. Did have one run and shot over but often he was outpaced (way too top heavy now) and his first touch was a real mixed bag. Not a player that plays well with his back to goal. Showed some skill but too often it seemed to be in areas where he could not hurt opponents. Him and Sharp did ok in spells but personally feel we need something different up top and would play him wide left to start next season (did well there start of last season) and sign a big lad that will give defenders something to think about with presence to partner Sharp. He still will play a lot of games up top but that is what I would do. Today Wilder will not have been impressed with that showing at all.
Subs
Hamilton - Replaced Brooks. A wide player that has been released. Been on loan in the Conference but today he never got into the game and will now move on.
Hall - Liked him in the u18's final playoff game but he came on right at the death today for Kennedy.
