Four changes, how did they do?

[Bergen Blade]

I had expected more changes tonight, but it's probably better (and more fair) to analyse the new lads' performances when the basis of the team doesn't change completely.

Howard, Coady, Flynn and McFadzean came into the side, how did they do?

 

[Wards]

Think 7 have to start from the previous game?

Out of the 4 I'd say only Coady impressed. He really is some player, just wiah he was ours! Flynn and McFadzean tried hard but struggled and Howard flapped at the first goal.

We missed a cutting edge tonight. As much as its the 'cool' thing to do, Williams was v poor and Porter just isn't clinical. You'd have like to have thought that Miller would've had at least a couple tonight - can't comment on Talyor as I've not seen enough if him but he looks lively.

 

[Bergen Blade]

Think 7 have to start from the previous game?

Thought that was just a JPT rule?

 

[alcoblade]

Flynn was Flynn - sadly just not good enough. Powderpuff, slow, backwards looking. All out weaknesses wrapped up into one useless bundle. Sorry.

I'd like to see the goals again, but I reckon a better keeper (Long?) would have done better for both.

Coady - tidy, but so were most of the players. We need penetration, not tidiness. Still, promising.

McFadzean - OK. I think there may be a player in there, at least he wants to attack, unlike Flynn.

None of it will make any difference if our "super holder upperer" continues with his one in 7 third division strike rate, again missing a chance your Granny would have buried, an open goal from 5 yards out this time. Many will now say I need a scapegoat. It's a nicer way of describing just not good enough, I suppose.

Unfortunately, we weakened a side that can't afford to be weakened.

UTB

 

[Silent Blade]

Howard was definitely rusty and he will be disappointed at flapping the cross that led to the 1st goal. Last week Keith Edwards said that Howard should be our number 1 keeper and I strongly disagree as Long is more talented and I back him to improve his decision making. Coady looked nervous at times so I would have McGinn back. Flynn is not as good as Brandy. McFadzean was OKish. Taylor looked more sharper and more mobile than Porter. Agree with Wards that Williams was poor

 

[true99blade]

Howard - Mostly his fault we conceded the first goal but couldn't do anything about the second
Coady - Did OK but I found he was far too slow on the ball at stages (similar to Macca last season)
McFadzean - Poor and definitely should have been brought off
Flynn - Poor... It's Flynn

McFadzean and Flynn weren't the only ones who were poor. McDonald was definitely off today, he took a few very bad touches and a few more passes found opposition players. Porter was OK, he was isolated but then again every striker will be isolated on their own, he did his best. Although Taylor looked better he did seem a bit selfish at times (shooting when a pass would be smarter). He reminds me of Blackman, runs at defenders, quite fast, tall. but seemed to be around the midfield whenever he had the ball. I wouldn't look to play Coady and Doyle as a partnership either, McGinn and Doyle for me. Westlake and Williams were caught out a few times although Westlake did look quite a big threat going forward. For the Brentford game I can imagine DW putting together a very defensive minded team, the only changes I would suggest from the County game is maybe swapping Porter for Taylor as we probably need pace on the counter attack as we're facing Brentford.

Overall I think the whole team wasn't good enough. The pace, energy and fluidity we all saw on Friday just simply vanished and we looked like the team we were last year (not as bad but certainly still not good).

 

[MBoreman]

McFadzean drifted into the middle far to often leaving Williams isolated on the left wing making him look worse (many were shouting out him to skin his man, which he simply can't) due to a lack of support. Flynn also did this, although to a lesser extent, leaving our play too compact, making it easy for their defence to deal with. If we really want to threaten teams we need to drag defenders out of position through wide play, leaving space for the likes of Mcdonald, Coady and Mcginn to play balls into for the likes of Murphy, Brandy and Taylor to run onto and score. Defenders can also be dragged out of position through high tempo passing, so although we pass the ball well, in the final third the intensity must be higher in order to undo the oppositions shape, again leaving space for runners.

 

[MBoreman]

Although in addition to that, I do think it is important for the attacking trio to interchange roles so defenders struggle with who they are picking up, and simply to mix it up a bit. I feel this will come with time, so for now it shouldn't be too much of a worry.

 

[Guesty]

McFadzean drifted into the middle far to often leaving Williams isolated on the left wing making him look worse (many were shouting out him to skin his man, which he simply can't) due to a lack of support. Flynn also did this, although to a lesser extent, leaving our play too compact, making it easy for their defence to deal with. If we really want to threaten teams we need to drag defenders out of position through wide play, leaving space for the likes of Mcdonald, Coady and Mcginn to play balls into for the likes of Murphy, Brandy and Taylor to run onto and score. Defenders can also be dragged out of position through high tempo passing, so although we pass the ball well, in the final third the intensity must be higher in order to undo the oppositions shape, again leaving space for runners.

Great minds! I said much the same thing in the match report thread. The Fullbacks were left on their own on the wing far too often and the two wingers just got lost in the shuffle in the middle of the park.

 

[Pedro Verde]

Great minds! I said much the same thing in the match report thread. The Fullbacks were left on their own on the wing far too often and the two wingers just got lost in the shuffle in the middle of the park.

I would agree with that, often Williams got forward and there wasnt an out ball wide for him. The 4-2-3-1 formation is quite narrow and the full backs could do with some help with someone going wide for them
Williams is not great but atm hes the best we have got there unless you put Mcfadzean there but I thought they both had poor games.
I would disagree with the negative comments re Flynn whilst he is not as direct as Brandy getting into the box I thought he didnt give the ball away and passed the ball well but seemed to play more central in the 2nd half
I know Brandy was only on for 15 mins or so but didnt really make an impact
When the sub changes came we didnt seem to keep the ball as well and played a little more long at times, but Taylor was quite lively
Early days for this team we have to give them time to develop and learn how to play how Weir wants us to play

 

[Railway Blade]

Howard - Flapped at the first goal. Don't think he has the talent of Long though he is a reasonable replacement.
Flynn - Probably not match sharp tended to pass back every time he got the ball first half. Improved a little second half and tried to beat men and get crosses in, though most were hard and low to the opposition.
McFadzean - Very disappointed in him on this display. He is probably the nearest to a first team start having come on for Murphy in the first match but he did little. Again always passed it back, sometimes to the opposition into dangerous midfield areas setting up counter attacks and never looked a threat.
Coady - Can see he is a talented player but at the moment dwells on the ball too long and runs with it in non threatening areas when the idea is for quick accurate passing.

In conclusion. The wingers on Friday are much better than the reserve ones. Without them we lack penetration and McGinn needs to start in the centre.

 

[LSF]

Howard was definitely rusty and he will be disappointed at flapping the cross that led to the 1st goal. Last week Keith Edwards said that Howard should be our number 1 keeper and I strongly disagree as Long is more talented and I back him to improve his decision making. Coady looked nervous at times so I would have McGinn back. Flynn is not as good as Brandy. McFadzean was OKish. Taylor looked more sharper and more mobile than Porter. Agree with Wards that Williams was poor

I like Howard, he's made one mistake and was rudely punished for it. How many times have we seen keepers realise they cant make a cross and paw at it in the hope of diverting it to safety somewhere, last night it dropped at a Burton players foot. Longs done it, Kenny does it, Hart does it, Banks did it ....
I actually think Howard is a better keeper than Long at this stage and have no problem with him keeping the spot, however I don't think he will as Weir will go for the (still raw) talent that Long possesses.

 

[Brisca Blade]

I don't think any of them did enough to stake a claim for a place in the starting eleven. Taylor looked lively when he came on and was willing to run at and commit players

 

[Wards]

Thought that was just a JPT rule?

Think you're right and it's me that's probably got mixed up between the two tin-pot cups!

 

[Fiery Blade]

Tin Pot Cups !
Usual sh!te trotted out when we're beaten by lower league opposition !
Despite having 60% possession and 19 efforts on goal (7 on target)we still could only score one goal (from midfield)
What is worrying is in two games we have had 47 efforts on goal yet scored only 3 (McDonald, Maguire and Doyle) - Porter is not a striker - cows arse and banjo come to mind Give Taylor a chance from the start
Whilst the stats are showing we are creating chances Weir must sort it now or else we will struggle from lack of goals again

 

[Hodgyman]

Does anyone think that certain players were there on display in the shop window to attract clubs willing (or daft enough)to buy/loan them?

Earlier on, quite a few comments on here suggested that we need to get rid of certain players but no-one expected them to generate any interest from other clubs.

It is easier to get people interested in players that are playing rather than in the depths of squads where they "disappear" from view.

If we lighten our load of players who just aren't up to it such as Flynn, Williams, Porter, Ironside and Doyle(who has played much better so far this season to be fair) we may be able to either resist offers for our better players or even fund new ones.

 

[grafikhaus]

Tin Pot Cups !
Usual sh!te trotted out when we're beaten by lower league opposition !

Maybe, but I'm not too fussed about going out at the first hurdle. Unless you get to the semi final stage, it hardly covers the overheads. We were never going to win it so what's left? Injuries and suspensions.

We have only one priority this season.

 

[Silent Blade]

I like Howard, he's made one mistake and was rudely punished for it. How many times have we seen keepers realise they cant make a cross and paw at it in the hope of diverting it to safety somewhere, last night it dropped at a Burton players foot. Longs done it, Kenny does it, Hart does it, Banks did it ....
I actually think Howard is a better keeper than Long at this stage and have no problem with him keeping the spot, however I don't think he will as Weir will go for the (still raw) talent that Long possesses.

This reminds me of the selection headache Bassett had for the start of the 1989-90 season. Would he pick Benstead or Tracey as the number 1 keeper? I knew a few who wanted Benstead in but I wanted Tracey to play in the first match at WBA, he did very well and played in all the league games for that season (he won the POTY). Not saying that Long is a similar keeper to Tracey and also not saying that Howard is a similar keeper to Benstead, I feel that over the 46 games season, Long is better than Howard just like I did in thinking that Tracey is better than Benstead. Keeping Tracey in goal for the whole of the 1989-90 helped his confidence a lot (he was quite shaky in one or two of the games he played towards the end of the previous season- he played in the 5-1 win against Huddersfield when Benstead was suspended, and he was at fault for Udders goal- after Benstead got dropped after the 2-2 draw against Brentford, Tracey played for the rest of the season and he was unconvincing in the 2-1 defeat at home to Mansfield but Bassett still had faith in him and decided against bringing Benstead back) so I hope Weir will do the same to Long as Bassett did to Tracey

 

[mattbianco1]

Tin Pot Cups !
Usual sh!te trotted out when we're beaten by lower league opposition !
Despite having 60% possession and 19 efforts on goal (7 on target)we still could only score one goal (from midfield)
What is worrying is in two games we have had 47 efforts on goal yet scored only 3 (McDonald, Maguire and Doyle) - Porter is not a striker - cows arse and banjo come to mind Give Taylor a chance from the start
Whilst the stats are showing we are creating chances Weir must sort it now or else we will struggle from lack of goals again

Or you could look at it a bit more positively.. 47 shots in 2 games and 130% possession. That is a drastic move in the right direction. 47 shots? It would've took us 7 games to accumulate that last season.. We've played two games, keep up those percentages and we'll walk the league once things start clicking

 

[2ndtenorblade]

Or you could look at it a bit more positively.. 47 shots in 2 games and 130% possession.

How does 130% possession work?

 

[DazBlade88]

How does 130% possession work?

It's out of 200%
70+60 = 130%

I thought Flynn and McFadzean were poor, and as others have said narrowed the game down too much. Flynn's first touch let him down too many times and McFadzean just couldn't get in the game enough. It definitely helped Brandy and Murphy's cases more than their replacements, put it that way. That's not to say McFadzean or Flynn won't contribute something this season though because they will at some point.

Howard was OK apart from the first goal. But like I always say, players make mistakes in games and can get away with it where keepers very rarely do. It's one of those things.

Coady was our best player for me. He just needs to have a bit more confidence/drive to make things happen for himself. He had 2/3 chances to pull the trigger from 25-30 yards but decided to pass. I'd be telling him to have a pop when it opens up like that. Even when they don't go in they can create rebounds/corners. One thing I did notice about him is that his first touch was excellent, which is rare to see from our players!

Plenty weren't at their best last night. McDonald didn't seem on it, Westlake was poor defensively, Williams could have done more and Porter should have scored. Taylor looked more dangerous when he came on and is certainly a different threat, but he got in good scoring positions twice and missed the target both times which worries me. Hopefully it was just an off night.

On another night we'd have won comfortably; keep creating the chances and eventually they'll start going in.

 

[Eskimo]

I thought Flynn was generally poor too> BUT he played much better when he came inside just before he was subbed.
Williams too played like he played last year. Just about ok going forward but can't defend Didn't both goals come from right wing crosses?
I'm no aplologist for Wilson but would we be worse off with a 442 formation, two proper defenders McMahon and Hill, Brandy wide right and Porter and Taylor up front?

 

[Fiery Blade]

Or you could look at it a bit more positively.. 47 shots in 2 games and 130% possession. That is a drastic move in the right direction. 47 shots? It would've took us 7 games to accumulate that last season.. We've played two games, keep up those percentages and we'll walk the league once things start clicking

What I was trying to allude to is that despite the positive improvement in creating chances our lone 'striker' cannot convert one of them!
A 'striker' scores goals - if Porter is our lone 'striker' then we haven't got one!
Things will only start clicking when we ditch Porter and replace him with someone who can actually convert five chances into at least one goal - as a goalscorer he is useless!

 

[2ndtenorblade]

It's out of 200%
70+60 = 130%

I could argue with that but can't be arsed, totally agree with the rest 199.99%

 

[mattbianco1]

when we ditch Porter and replace him with someone who can actually convert five chances into at least one goal - as a goalscorer he is useless!

See that I can agree with. I backed him in pre-season but so far has missed 3 mind boggling chances. As a striker yes, there is no excuse for missing inside the 6yrd box

 

[mattbianco1]

I could argue with that but can't be arsed, totally agree with the rest 199.99%

Ok then. An average 65% possession over the 2 games. Not a bad average.

 

[Northyorksblade]

How does 130% possession work?

Now come on, you knew what he meant And Fiery, you are a glass half empty sort of guy aren't you?

 

[Fiery Blade]

I would ditch Porter and give Taylor a run from the start -can't be any worse than Porter !
I am sure that most of the strikers in this division would have put away two or three of the chances that Porter has wasted this season already!

 

[Grecian2000]

Maybe, but I'm not too fussed about going out at the first hurdle. Unless you get to the semi final stage, it hardly covers the overheads. We were never going to win it so what's left? Injuries and suspensions.

We have only one priority this season.

Too right. Them idiots who put Burton out last season must have felt like right muppets when they got to the final and ended the season with promotion. If only they'd let them knock them out early, could have meant a far less stressful season!

 

[2ndtenorblade]

Now come on, you knew what he meant And Fiery, you are a glass half empty sort of guy aren't you?

It conjured up a kind of surreal vision of a team having -30% possession.