Credit to Morgan

[sheepbridge]

I can understand the view that MacFaz should have replaced Flynn which is fair enough and maybe so.
I disagree a bit about Whitehouse, I don't think we have seen enough to say in that situation against a very good Brentford midfield he'd have been better than Robson was, who played well I thought, but I totally disagree about Ironside. I like Ironside, but Higginbottom was brought on to play in defence after Harry had been sent off, moving Hill to centre back. Are you seriously suggesting that against BWP we have just 3 defenders? It was the only change he could make.

What I do like Morgan for so far is actually making changes when necessary, such a Flynn at half time. On many occasions in the past Flynn, and others, have been left on well in to the 2nd half when it was obvious a change was needed far sooner.
One criticism you could possibly have made is that Harry wasn't removed at half time. He was getting roasted by their attack and a 2nd yellow was always likely with that ref. Good tackles were being given as fouls for both sides.

 

[Bergen Blade]

Agreed - he performed better than he has done when starting games and I was pleased he was used in a role which worked within the existing shape rather than disrupting the team by playing him wide or in the hole.

Not as positive as you. Robson does some nice things on the ball and it was worth trying as we were chasing the game. But he is a liability defensively, and there were plenty of examples of it. He gets stuck in and it looks good when his gambling/chasing pays off. When he doesn't get close enough, which is often, he regularly puts himself out of the team's defending which leaves gaps which other players have to try cover for, and opposition midfielders are allowed runs with nobody tracking them.

Starting Robson in central midfield against decent opposition will be a huge gamble.

 

[alcoblade]

Disagree Dazzler....Brentford didn't see the need to shore up the defence when Craig was sent-off and it wasn't necessary if Morgan had shown some tactical nous and not bottled it against 9 men.
Morgan has brought passion and instilled spirit into the side but sadly that is not enough he needs to jettison the crap of Robson , Kitson, Doyle and Porter and play the academy products as per McCabe's brief. I posted on Saturday after the match that blood and guts would not be enough and sadly after yesterday looks like I've been proved correct.

Wow - 1 highly charged and highly entertaining match and you've been proved right by his substitutions not matching yours? Seriously?

UTB

 

[UnitedBlade]

Not as positive as you. Robson does some nice things on the ball and it was worth trying as we were chasing the game. But he is a liability defensively, and there were plenty of examples of it. He gets stuck in and it looks good when his gambling/chasing pays off. When he doesn't get close enough, which is often, he regularly puts himself out of the team's defending which leaves gaps which other players have to try cover for, and opposition midfielders are allowed runs with nobody tracking them.

Starting Robson in central midfield against decent opposition will be a huge gamble.

Spot on, totally agree. For me, there is nothing worse than a central midfield player that doesn't close down quickly and properly. It can disrupt everyone across midfield. Doyle isn't always brilliant at it but as you say a big gamble against decent opposition to play Robson there.

 

[Bergen Blade]

Having seen it once it looked like Collins was expecting Long to get there which is why he lost the chase. He was also caught flat footed by the goal kick coming straight back.

I was too far away to see if Long should have charged out, but given he was on a yellow I could understand any caution.

I don't think Long should have gone for it, don't think he would have got there first. Surprised to see Collins get so outpaced by BWP (like McMahon was by Donaldson in the first half). The photo below shows when the ball bounces.



I think the help Collins get from McMahon and Higginbotham is poor.

 

[Silent Blade]

Robson was excellent when he came on.

Fully agree. He is far better than Doyle who irritates me with his poor vision, giving balls away and would never, never use his right foot when he has a shooting chance

 

[cooperblade]

Not as positive as you. Robson does some nice things on the ball and it was worth trying as we were chasing the game. But he is a liability defensively, and there were plenty of examples of it. He gets stuck in and it looks good when his gambling/chasing pays off. When he doesn't get close enough, which is often, he regularly puts himself out of the team's defending which leaves gaps which other players have to try cover for, and opposition midfielders are allowed runs with nobody tracking them.

Starting Robson in central midfield against decent opposition will be a huge gamble.

I wouldn't start Robson but think he can add something as a game changing sub. Thought Doyle did well last night and would keep same midfield 2.

 

[GRUMPY BLADE]

Just seen the highlights on BP and there's no way George can come and collect for the second. Collins has a good 5 yard start and BWP flys past him, Collins the proceeds to stand still and let BWP just knock the ball straight through him in to the corner. God awful defending and absolutely criminal in the biggest 10 mins of the season.

Brentford's first was a defo pen, but Maguire's sending off was a shocker. Camera doesn't catch the alleged elbow on Kits.

Collins should have taken a red.

Much better to go into the last 3 games with 2 more points less a CB than 1 point and an old man.

 

[Bergen Blade]

I wouldn't start Robson but think he can add something as a game changing sub. Thought Doyle did well last night and would keep same midfield 2.

Yes, agree that's how Robson could prove useful.

Just to illustrate my point, it seems opinions are split on Robson in central midfield:

The photo below shows how he sometimes choses to do his own thing, breaks out of the midfield in an attempt to block a pass or make a tackle. This is often ok, at other times not if he can't get back to his defensive position.



He can't block the pass, and moments later only makes a half hearted attempt at tracking back when his man is making a forward run into a dangerous position:





Robson's man gets to shoot dangerously, fortunately it is straight at Long.

These are the situations where we risk getting overrun, and I worry it will happen a lot if we play McDonald and Robson in central midfield and the opposition is intent on exploiting it.

 

[Swanseablade]

I don't think Long should have gone for it, don't think he would have got there first. Surprised to see Collins get so outpaced by BWP (like McMahon was by Donaldson in the first half). The photo below shows when the ball bounces.

View attachment 5761

I think the help Collins get from McMahon and Higginbotham is poor.

It shows where it bounces but it doesn't show how much pace the ball had or where it finished up. I was level with the edge of the united box in Johns Street and my immediate reaction was that either Collins or George will mop that up. If I remember correctly George started to come (1 step) then stopped. Agree it was easier for Collins to clear it than George to come out and Collins was definitely caught flat footed. Personally think Collins is a confidence player and he became very nervy & unsure of himself towards the end of that game.
Maybe he was missing Harry!

 

[LoughboroBlade]

I agree that Collins should have removed the danger early, but having recovered, I have to say that Long should be doing better with the shot. BWP doesn't hit it hard, it's not far away from him - if you're the striker there you should have to do a lot more to score in that situation.

 

[Selly]

Collins should have taken a red.

Much better to go into the last 3 games with 2 more points less a CB than 1 point and an old man.

Given that Harry was already sent off, and would be suspended on Saturday, we would have been back to Walsall last season all over again.

I agree that Collins should have removed the danger early, but having recovered, I have to say that Long should be doing better with the shot. BWP doesn't hit it hard, it's not far away from him - if you're the striker there you should have to do a lot more to score in that situation.

I think Long got his positioning wrong, he was covering the bit of the goal that it was impossible to score into as Collins was blocking it.

 

[GRUMPY BLADE]

Given that Harry was already sent off, and would be suspended on Saturday, we would have been back to Walsall last season all over again.

What do points make?

Points make prizes [and more pressure on other teams to have to win instead of being happy with draws].

 

[Selly]

What do points make?

Points make prizes [and more pressure on other teams to have to win instead of being happy with draws].

I'm not saying he shouldn`t have taken him out, just pointing out the other consequence of him doing so...

 

[GRUMPY BLADE]

I'm not saying he shouldn`t have taken him out, just pointing out the other consequence of him doing so...

Agree and we'd probabally have Kitson playing centre half but I'm sure Bournemouth/Brentford/Donny would not have that on their minds more than needing a win.

 

[Selly]

Agree and we'd probabally have Kitson playing centre half but I'm sure Bournemouth/Brentford/Donny would not have that on their minds more than needing a win.

Of course the other possibility, probably most likely from a SUFC POV, is that Collins takes him out, gets sent off, and they score from the free kick...then we would all be saying "he should have left him", "still had a lot to do" etc etc

 

[Darren]

Of course the other possibility, probably most likely from a SUFC POV, is that Collins takes him out, gets sent off, and they score from the free kick...then we would all be saying "he should have left him", "still had a lot to do" etc etc

Shades of the Oldham game last season when Maguire pulled down their man in the last minute, got sent off, gave away a pen (from which they scored), we lost that game and, having no centre backs, lose the next game at Walsall.

In the glory of hindsight, what Maguire should have done was left their man, the ball was slightly running away from him and Simonsen was perhaps 60-40 likely to smother the ball. Had that happened, we get a point from the Oldham game and, with Maguire playing, probably at least a point from the Walsall game and are in poll position going into the last game.

Froim such small margins....

 

[Trigger Blade]

Collins should have taken a red.

Much better to go into the last 3 games with 2 more points less a CB than 1 point and an old man.

Why should he have taken a red, there was no need, BWP wasn't running away from him with a clear sight of goal, Collins recovers and ends up goalside.

If you want to use 20/20 hindsight, you could say that between them, Collins and Long should have stopped BWP from scoring, that would make more sense.

 

[Northyorksblade]

Collins should have taken a red.

Much better to go into the last 3 games with 2 more points less a CB than 1 point and an old man.

Old man who has just got player of the year!

 

[GRUMPY BLADE]

Old man who has just got player of the year!

Old man who had 1M start - see post 35

We got old men cus we're 3rd div.

 

[Darthblade]

I don't think Long should have gone for it, don't think he would have got there first. Surprised to see Collins get so outpaced by BWP (like McMahon was by Donaldson in the first half). The photo below shows when the ball bounces.

View attachment 5761

I think the help Collins get from McMahon and Higginbotham is poor.

What this does demonstrate, very crucially, is that IF we had taken BWP on loan in January, instead of that useless pretend striker Forte; we would have signed a player with pace who DOES know where the net is and CAN make a useful contribution.
I would suggest that with BWP in our side instead of Forte, we would quite likely be 10 points or so better off than we are now and likely to be promoted instead of spending another season in the 3rd Division.
Whoever made the decision NOT to persue the BWP option bears this responsibility !!
UTB & FTP

 

[Pinchy]

Morgan must be blamed for this shocking substitution and all the others last night. Showed he has very little tactical nous or a complete lack of bottle. MacFaz should have replaced Flynn, Whitehouse should have replaced Doyle and Ironside should have replaced that useless waste of oxygen Kitson but instead we get 3 of the crappy Wilson "old guard" Forte, Robson and Higginbottom who have were major contributors to the shit that has been served in recent weeks. Morgan should have used the 3 younsgters like he did on Sat and we would still have auto in our own hands in my opinion.

I've read some spectacular bollocks on here over the years [indeed I've written some of it!] but, my word, that's in the top 3.

Kitson has been magnificent for us. He's a superb centre-forward, albeit not as good as he once was. If the fans great hope Ironside is ever half as good he'll be a decent player.

I don't think Brentford would have scored a second had Kitson been on the pitch.

 

[bartman]

To be fair, I think it was the obvious decision, when we were 2-1 up with a man advantage but without one of our centre backs, to bring on a centre back to shore up the defence. Higginbotham was the only option for that. Obviously it didn't work, but hindsight is a wonderful thing...

Agree to a certain extent but I was surprised he didn't switch Hill to centre half when Wright-Phillips came on as he has more pace than Higginbottom and plays the covering role very well

 

[ghandi]

Disagree Dazzler....Brentford didn't see the need to shore up the defence when Craig was sent-off and it wasn't necessary if Morgan had shown some tactical nous and not bottled it against 9 men.
Morgan has brought passion and instilled spirit into the side but sadly that is not enough he needs to jettison the crap of Robson , Kitson, Doyle and Porter and play the academy products as per McCabe's brief. I posted on Saturday after the match that blood and guts would not be enough and sadly after yesterday looks like I've been proved correct.

I think today Morgan has showed beyond a shadow of a doubt he is not the man to takes us forward. He picked the same team of failures as Tuesday night and consequently has had his arse roundly spanked by an already relegated side with a team of players who won't be at Pompey next season. Again his substitutions are bewildering by not using our home grown players who are far superior to the likes of Robson and Forte and not starting with Whitehouse instead of Captain fucking Marvel. I personally would get someone else to pick the team for the play-offs because the team Morgan is selecting now has gone beyond a joke.

 

[JohnDenver]

Personally I don't see much mileage in criticising any SUFC manager just now. It's a hiding to nothing.

 

[super_pig]

Morgan making exactly the same mistakes as Wilson

 

[JohnDenver]

Morgan making exactly the same mistakes as Wilson

By accepting the job?

 

[super_pig]

no .. by playing the old farts who are shit week in week out.. ooh they've got experience. so fucking what.. they are worse than the kids. at least the kids show a bit of enthusiasm

 

[Racy]

Same thing is happening as the early eighties if we keep going with these journeymen and we will be in division 4/ league2 what ever you want to call it.

Get the kids in now!

 

[Pinchy]

How have these kids been doing in the Under-18s and Under-21s? I haven't followed the results, but I guess they must have been thrashing other underage teams every week to justify the claims made above? Ironside is one that everyone makes a fuss about. I bet he has scored a bucketful against other kids hasn't he? Must have if he's ready to lead the attack at League level. Similarly, Callum Mac and Whitehouse - I suppose they've been running rings around other lads of their age?

If I'm wrong about the above, some of us, especially ghandi and Racy are talking tripe. Surely not?