Crewe micro-report

[LoughboroBlade]

Using the minutes of free wifi at Crewe station....

We were very average, but it was better than the Pompey game. In no way near acceptable though.

On the plus side, Collins looked more assured, Harry was v good, Robson (who I'm v critical of) was probably our best midfielder this evening, and McFadzean had a decent game on the wing and at full back.

On the minus side, Doyle was awful, Higginbotham's default setting is hoof, Porter was far too isolated all game, Forte was poor again, Murphy started well but got worse as the game went on.

We might have got a result, Porter and Ironside had efforts well saved, and their goal was a pearler. But it would have been undeserved.

We will not get to, much less win at, Wembley without a serious improvement.

P.s. I'm most comfortable with Westlake being involved in the game when he's near the opposition's corner flag in their half. This is a worrying sign for someone whose primary role is to be a full-back.

 

[super_pig]

perhaps he should be a winger then??

thx for the report. massive props for going mate

 

[Bladesman]

Not good enough sounds about right.

 

[Blackheath Blade]

Using the minutes of free wifi at Crewe station....

We were very average, but it was better than the Pompey game. In no way near acceptable though.

On the plus side, Collins looked more assured, Harry was v good, Robson (who I'm v critical of) was probably our best midfielder this evening, and McFadzean had a decent game on the wing and at full back.

On the minus side, Doyle was awful, Higginbotham's default setting is hoof, Porter was far too isolated all game, Forte was poor again, Murphy started well but got worse as the game went on.

We might have got a result, Porter and Ironside had efforts well saved, and their goal was a pearler. But it would have been undeserved.

We will not get to, much less win at, Wembley without a serious improvement.

P.s. I'm most comfortable with Westlake being involved in the game when he's near the opposition's corner flag in their half. This is a worrying sign for someone whose primary role is to be a full-back.

Tidy report Loughboro, sounds as tho it was same old, same old.

Top marks to you and all the Blades for travelling there tonight, safe journey home.

 

[Living In a Fantasy World]

Thanks for the quick views. sounds about right with this team.

 

[alcoblade]

Decent first half, poor second. With a striker we would have been 2 or 3 up at half time and discussing a decent performance and result. But we had Forte on instead of Blackman, and Porter on instead of a bag of crisps - so we could still be playing tomorrow and we would be discussing how many more than zero Crewe had scored.

Thanks McCabe - you've fucked it up for us as I knew at Christmas.

UTB

 

[2ndtenorblade]

Can anybody explain how their goalie was given man of the match?

 

[Trigger Blade]

Using the minutes of free wifi at Crewe station....

We were very average, but it was better than the Pompey game. In no way near acceptable though.

On the plus side, Collins looked more assured, Harry was v good, Robson (who I'm v critical of) was probably our best midfielder this evening, and McFadzean had a decent game on the wing and at full back.

On the minus side, Doyle was awful, Higginbotham's default setting is hoof, Porter was far too isolated all game, Forte was poor again, Murphy started well but got worse as the game went on.

We might have got a result, Porter and Ironside had efforts well saved, and their goal was a pearler. But it would have been undeserved.

We will not get to, much less win at, Wembley without a serious improvement.

P.s. I'm most comfortable with Westlake being involved in the game when he's near the opposition's corner flag in their half. This is a worrying sign for someone whose primary role is to be a full-back.

Aneke, striker on loan from a Premeiership club
Forte, striker on loan from a Premiership club

I can't help feeling we got the wrong one. It's impossible to imagine Forte ever scoring a sublime goal like the one Aneke curled in.

My text to Trig Jnr (TY) after the game said not to worry about Wembley, it won't come to that. I can't remember ever feeling quite so dispirited about the Blades, in all the years I've followed them. We're a shambles, devoid of any real saving grace.

 

[puppet]

I can

 

[LoughboroBlade]

It's impossible to imagine Forte ever scoring a sublime goal like the one Aneke curled in.

At one of the corners we defended 1st half, one of our fans behind the goal took it upon himself to single out Aneke for some light-hearted heckling. "Oi, number 26 - you'll never make it as a footballer. Yer shit!" - Abeke clearly heard him, gave a bit of a glare back.

Having met the famous Greenwich Blade on the train back (good to meet you GB), I failed to mention the other player-reacting-to-crowd incident that happened late-on with Doyle - wasn't obvious from behind the goal, though could tell *something* had happened.

 

[Greenwich Blade]

At one of the corners we defended 1st half, one of our fans behind the goal took it upon himself to single out Aneke for some light-hearted heckling. "Oi, number 26 - you'll never make it as a footballer. Yer shit!" - Abeke clearly heard him, gave a bit of a glare back.

Having met the famous Greenwich Blade on the train back (good to meet you GB), I failed to mention the other player-reacting-to-crowd incident that happened late-on with Doyle - wasn't obvious from behind the goal, though could tell *something* had happened.

Two night buses and a Minicab later and I'm finally home. Even without bothering to hitch this season, I doubt very much that our brave boys will appreciate how much time, effort and expense I, and many others, put in to watch this passionless, directionless, heartless rabble.

I'm sure the Doyle incident will be discussed elsewhere, but it wasn't pleasant (from either side), although credit to Doyle for going up to his main detractor at the final whistle to shake hands. And cheering the substitution of Forte? Come on, he didn't pick himself to play when his confidence must be zero. And then there was the idiot behind me abusing the steward for no apparent reason - it wasn't even remotely funny.

 

[Greenwich Blade]

And of course, good to meet you too LB - hope you could forgive me for namedropping Matthew Wright and Steve Davis!

 

[bartman]

Using the minutes of free wifi at Crewe station....

We were very average, but it was better than the Pompey game. In no way near acceptable though.

On the plus side, Collins looked more assured, Harry was v good, Robson (who I'm v critical of) was probably our best midfielder this evening, and McFadzean had a decent game on the wing and at full back.

On the minus side, Doyle was awful, Higginbotham's default setting is hoof, Porter was far too isolated all game, Forte was poor again, Murphy started well but got worse as the game went on.

We might have got a result, Porter and Ironside had efforts well saved, and their goal was a pearler. But it would have been undeserved.

We will not get to, much less win at, Wembley without a serious improvement.

P.s. I'm most comfortable with Westlake being involved in the game when he's near the opposition's corner flag in their half. This is a worrying sign for someone whose primary role is to be a full-back.

Agree mostly with that (although no mention of the worst player for us yesterday who also plays central midfield). I am also not a fan of Robson but i thought he and Harry were stand outs for us yesterday. I also thought we deserved a draw especially with the chances we had.

Unfortunately for us,Ironside is not a natural goalscorer (he could/should have had at least two goals last night) we do not appear to have a fit goals scorer in the club. Time for Murphy to play down the middle ?

 

[LoughboroBlade]

Agree mostly with that (although no mention of the worst player for us yesterday who also plays central midfield). I am also not a fan of Robson but i thought he and Harry were stand outs for us yesterday. I also thought we deserved a draw especially with the chances we had.

Unfortunately for us,Ironside is not a natural goalscorer (he could/should have had at least two goals last night) we do not appear to have a fit goals scorer in the club. Time for Murphy to play down the middle ?

Indeed - McDonald had a shocker (was certainly worse than Doyle, who while also poor did pick up the odd scrap and I think was the one that played in Ironside).

Porter & Murphy up front should be tried together Saturday (where is Kitson btw?), with McFadzean and Flynn wide. It would also make sense to try someone like Kennedy at right back to see if he might be a safer option than Westlake.

 

[axel smeets]

I cannot see anything other than a season of mediocrity and misery next season unless we release about 12 players and bring in about 14 new ones, much like Charlton did in the summer 2 years ago. God help this team when Brentford, Doncaster, Swindon or Yeovil get hold of them in the Play - Offs. The aggregate score will look like the match odds.