Defence

[true99blade]

I suppose the Westlake admirers are revising their opinions now, very poor positioning defensively... I've always thought McMahon was better defensively and more solid and that's what a defender needs!
As for Williams...........nuff said.

So who is gonna play vs Donny?!
Why not give Terry Kennedy a run out? But I bet DW will move McMahon into the centre...I'd happily take a draw.

 

[Hartley Hare]

Yep I reckon that's a good shout, McMahon with Hill.

I listened to Westlake on the radio, after the match and was not very impressed. He started every response with "I mean....." or something to that effect - why? He seemed a bit simple?

The club media people and the manager should police which players are authorised to provide interviews to the media. Players should be coached on how to respond.

Westlake had every chance to say how gutted he was at the result, and how determined he and his team mates were to put matters right at Donny. A simple effective response. Nothing to that effect. Hopeless.

Bad performance today.

HH

 

[shorehamview]

I listened to Westlake on the radio, after the match and was not very impressed. He started every response with "I mean....." or something to that effect - why? He seemed a bit simple?

He's a professional footballer. The great majority of them are as thick as mince. Why should our lot be any different?

 

[KenMcnaughtsNuts]

i wonder how many going to donny are now wishing they werent. hard to have much optimism now. we miss miller badly too. its all turned to pumpkins in about 3 days. we could all see it coming with our thin squad, but not this badly so quickly. bad times. top of the league has become a distant memory. fetch me the prozac lol. but really...how do we win at donny with the team were gonna put out?

 

[Hartley Hare]

Cheer up Kenny, I had that feeling for a moment. Then I thought NO.

Now is not the time to wither and die. Be strong brother. We are still in a very good position and one I suspect most of us would have taken back in August.

My glass is still half full, and I aim to fill it up, after victory at The Keepmoat.

HH

 

[Hartley Hare]

He's a professional footballer. The great majority of them are as thick as mince. Why should our lot be any different?

True, but as a club shouldn't we be covering up for the technically challenged members of the playing staff?

The image we present is important, and this is one aspect. Why send the boy out to do the interview? The manager should compile a list of players who are trained to do interviews. The rest should be banned.

HH

 

[KenMcnaughtsNuts]

id love it if we beat them. love it. but... christ on a stick, if we sign murphy can he get in the team being january the 1st?? im clutching at straws here i think. i dont even think we will sign him, nevermind that quickly.

 

[SwissBlade]

There was only one decent defender today - Harry.

Hill - At centre half he just looks lost and offers nothing to compliment Harry. He's one of those players that when he jumps to head a ball, ends up spinning around until he's heading the ball with the back of his head (that's if he even gets close to heading the ball)

Williams - please please please we have to get rid of him, not seen him have a single decent game defensively, don't really rate him going forward as his end product is crap.

Westlake - positioning is awful, gets dragged all over and thank fook McMahon is back.

Fullbacks generally - do your homework on the opposition, it isn't difficult, surely the scout reports will tell you which foot the wingers prefer and how they like to attack. It's not even that difficult if you don't have this info. The first couple of runs the winger attempts, look which foot he prefers... And please just put him onto his weaker side. If he likes to go outside, show him inside, if he likes to go inside, show him outside... Get up close, drop off if he has pace, but don't allow them free reign to walk through you!

 

[Bergen Blade]

The club media people and the manager should police which players are authorised to provide interviews to the media. Players should be coached on how to respond.

The academy players have some sort of media training.

 

[SUFC Handsworth]

Westlake was awful today, all three goals were crosses from his side, and all crosses should have been defended much, much better by the two centre halves. Williams wasn't good today, but the other three defenders were worse.

Every defence needs a mouth piece, with Collins out, that defence today was all over the place. Round pegs in round holes time, McMahon right back, Hill left back, Maguire centre half, if they want to go up this season Wilson is going to have to bring in a loan for two months to partner Maguire. The same applies up front to partner one of Kitson/Porter/Cresswell/Ironside.

 

[Hartley Hare]

I think Westlake should go back for some more lessons, and I suspect he could take one or two of his mates with him.

Shocking.

 

[bartman]

There was only one decent defender today - Harry.

/quote]

Can't agree...thought Harry got bullied by an old pro today and it was probably his worst game this season for us by some distance.

Howard's subtle movement left him stranded and left Hill leaving 2 to mark at times. He didn't have the strength or experience to deal with Howard and I felt his positioning was at fault for the 1st and 3rd goals. His passing was as bad as Williams' was today and he won few headers.

as for the others

Hill did OK
Williams,good defensively,passing awful
Westlake-cant defend,can't cross but good at overlapping

 

[Small Mendonca]

Cheer up Kenny, I had that feeling for a moment. Then I thought NO.

Now is not the time to wither and die. Be strong brother. We are still in a very good position and one I suspect most of us would have taken back in August.

My glass is still half full, and I aim to fill it up, after victory at The Keepmoat.

HH

I like your optimism HH but when you said 'now is not the time to wither and die', United always wither and die when it really counts and they have done for years.

 

[Fiery Blade]

Westlake was awful today, all three goals were crosses from his side, and all crosses should have been defended much, much better by the two centre halves. Williams wasn't good today, but the other three defenders were worse.

Every defence needs a mouth piece, with Collins out, that defence today was all over the place. Round pegs in round holes time, McMahon right back, Hill left back, Maguire centre half, if they want to go up this season Wilson is going to have to bring in a loan for two months to partner Maguire. The same applies up front to partner one of Kitson/Porter/Cresswell/Ironside.

Apparently, Wilson only signs Square Pegs! Wouldn't know a Round Peg if it slapped him with a wet kipper!

 

[ghandi]

i wonder how many going to donny are now wishing they werent. hard to have much optimism now. we miss miller badly too. its all turned to pumpkins in about 3 days. we could all see it coming with our thin squad, but not this badly so quickly. bad times. top of the league has become a distant memory. fetch me the prozac lol. but really...how do we win at donny with the team were gonna put out?

I am not going and never was...staying at home to watch the new Channel 4 Racing coverage with a few single malts in hand after yesterday my advice is to others is to do the same.

 

[1889]

I am not going and never was...staying at home to watch the new Channel 4 Racing coverage with a few single malts in hand after yesterday my advice is to others is to do the same.

I take your point but I've got my tickets now and any way I don't like whiskey, or horse racing come to mention it!

 

[lawlessdan]

It can only really be Williams at left back Hill and McMahon in the center and Westlake at right back

 

[pommpey]

I'd completely rethink the defence against Doncaster. If LJF is fit then he has to feature, and the best tactic in my opinion is to play 5-3-1-1 with McMahon and LJF by each side of the central defender (whoever that may be) and two flanking defenders to stop any threat down the wing and just block the fuckers out. Sure the midfield will be busy and it will require real discipline at set pieces but we have done this before and even nicked games from threatening opposition too. A point a piece would be satisfactory, mind.

Long
Hill LJF Kennedy McMahon Westlake
Doyle McDonald Flynn
Blackman
Kitbag

Subs:

Cresswell
Ironside
Williams
McFads
Me (I'll do last ten Danny, yeah?)

pommpey

 

[stannyblade]

Sorry swiss but for all the good Harry did he undid and them some when he got booked for being a gobshite.

 

[SwissBlade]

Sorry swiss but for all the good Harry did he undid and them some when he got booked for being a gobshite.

Agreed, I was basing my opinion on his actual play during the game, instead of looking at his booking. But his booking was ridiculously immature

 

[stannyblade]

If it wasn't to be his 5th of the season then its not really a problem. But given we had already lost Collins he was stupid beyond belief. Age doesn't come into it either. I would play one of the other young uns instead of Westlake.

 

[Balham]

Were you there SwissBlade? Would have given you a shout if so.

The defence on Saturday was completely lacking in leadership. Right from the start it should have been one of two options: either let Howard win the first header and mop up behind him (their other striker offered absolutely nothing) or put Maguire on him, swapping sides with Hill as necessary.

What actually happened was that either both centre halves ended up marking Howard or he isolated Hill, who still challenged him. That wasn't good enough.

I posted a thread straight after the game where I wondered whether the wheels had come off. I don't think they have but a couple of the bolts have been loosened - now is the chance for Wilson to sort it out.

 

[SwissBlade]

Balham Blade yeah I was there, met with Sheff de party after for a beer or two but I was driving as I was late getting there.

As for your assessment of the centre half pairing, spot on mate. Thought Hill seemed to keep getting lumbered with Howard and he lost out every time.

Having played centre half a fair bit it's not difficult to handover the man or deal with a big threat like Howard. We made a complete,hash of it... morg's would've relished this challenge

 

[ghandi]

I take your point but I've got my tickets now and any way I don't like whiskey, or horse racing come to mention it!

Its unraveling for me as well Cheltenham has been abandoned but there is still the Darts Final as a consolation.