In Danny we trust

[djbaldken]

Thought he got tactics spot on tonight.

Apart from the hit and hope shot that hit the bar Simmo had zero to do.
I think I could have kept goal for us tonight.

Brilliant midfield and defense display .

Willo and Quinn both awesome. Macca in and out. Doyle and Flyn both did their bits.

If we play like that at BDBL we should be fine.

Just my opinion ater watching on sky.

Still wearing brown trousers for mon night tho (Been a Blade too long)

 

[raul]

That was very reminiscent of a Liverpool away performance in their European-ruling heyday.

Quieten the crowd - check
Take the sting out of the game - check
Be patient - check
Take control of the game the lonegr it goes on and demotivate the opposition -check
Take the one golden chance you create - oh

Ok, very nearly etc etc, but bloody well done everyone for their sheer hard work.

 

[stannyblade]

Thought we played well tonight didn't really create a lot but were the better side

 

[pommpey]

Couldn't agree more. Very spirited, businesslike performance by the team. Thank fuck.

Simmo - 6 untested
Lowton - 6.5 did his bit
Collins - 7 some good tackles and in position
Maguire - 6 Good work spoiled by iffy ball work
Hill - 6.5 A lot better than press on here had him
Flynn - 7.5 Worked the wing as hard as he could and covered back
Doyle - 7 Grafted
McD - 7 As said, in and out, but his strength at times showed
Williamson - 7 Grafted
Quinn - 7 out of position but tried hard
Porter - 6 Lone striker, chased everything, half a yard behind everyone else

Ertl/Cresswell on toolate to assess

Thought we played well overall, but I'm like Ken, half empty. Nothing short of total dominance will suffice at the Lane. Wilson got much of it right tonight. Stevenage were for most of the game capable, but surpressed by some good midfield and defence work.

pommpey

 

[Toronto Blade]

Good defensive display Freeman marked out of the match and Stevenage reduced to shots from 30 yards.

 

[BladeFisher]

Missed a goal scorer badly.

Flynn's cross should have been buried by Porter. I suspect there was a very frustrated bloke in HMP Altcourse tonight.

 

[BladeInThatcham]

Couldn't agree more. Very spirited, businesslike performance by the team. Thank fuck.

Simmo - 6 untested
Lowton - 6.5 did his bit
Collins - 7 some good tackles and in position
Maguire - 6 Good work spoiled by iffy ball work
Hill - 6.5 A lot better than press on here had him
Flynn - 7.5 Worked the wing as hard as he could and covered back
Doyle - 7 Grafted
McD - 7 As said, in and out, but his strength at times showed
Williamson - 7 Grafted
Quinn - 7 out of position but tried hard
Porter - 6 Lone striker, chased everything, half a yard behind everyone else

Ertl/Cresswell on toolate to assess

Thought we played well overall, but I'm like Ken, half empty. Nothing short of total dominance will suffice at the Lane. Wilson got much of it right tonight. Stevenage were for most of the game capable, but surpressed by some good midfield and defence work.

pommpey

Are you shitting me? Tonight was a good, away professional performance, unspectacular and all credit to Danny Wilson for ensuring Monday is in our hands. But my god, I have always been a slater of Porter - always will, but Flynn rivaled him tonight. They were both proper toss. Porter did not lead our line like the 4-5-1 would suggest him to, and Flynn was frickin awful. Porter for me - 2. I could chase everything and jump every header and fail - piece of piss. Flynn - 3. Only higher because he tracked back more. But was still utter fucking shite.

I have faith in us for Monday, we'll be reight for Wembli...

 

[WorkingtonBlade]

Couldn't agree more. Very spirited, businesslike performance by the team. Thank fuck.

Simmo - 6 untested
Lowton - 6.5 did his bit
Collins - 7 some good tackles and in position
Maguire - 6 Good work spoiled by iffy ball work
Hill - 6.5 A lot better than press on here had him
Flynn - 7.5 Worked the wing as hard as he could and covered back
Doyle - 7 Grafted
McD - 7 As said, in and out, but his strength at times showed
Williamson - 7 Grafted
Quinn - 7 out of position but tried hard
Porter - 6 Lone striker, chased everything, half a yard behind everyone else

Ertl/Cresswell on toolate to assess

pommpey

I agree with most of that. I think I'd knock a mark off for Hill. He defended OK, but his passing of the ball is truly awful, and in a team set up to play the way we do, that's a pretty fundamental problem.

I'd add a mark on for Porter. Yes, he is unbelievably slow, and he can't take on a man - but we know that, so there's no point in putting balls over his head for him to chase. He needs the ball straight in to his head or chest, and once he gets that he holds it up and lays it off extremely well. In a game like tonight's that is fantastic for relieving pressure, and allows us to gain possession with the ball at our feet in the opposition half.

 

[WorkingtonBlade]

Are you shitting me? Tonight was a good, away professional performance, unspectacular and all credit to Danny Wilson for ensuring Monday is in our hands. But my god, I have always been a slater of Porter - always will, but Flynn rivaled him tonight. They were both proper toss. Porter did not lead our line like the 4-5-1 would suggest him to, and Flynn was frickin awful. Porter for me - 2. I could chase everything and jump every header and fail - piece of piss. Flynn - 3. Only higher because he tracked back more. But was still utter fucking shite.

I have faith in us for Monday, we'll be reight for Wembli...

We saw that one a bit differently then?

 

[Toronto Blade]

Porter was up against two big thugs tonight by himself.

 

[DazBlade88]

I felt Porter did a very good job. He put up with alot of crap from their defenders without a great deal of service or support. We need to get more bodies around him from midfield to create something more dangerous, but the important thing was not losing tonight.

If we'd pushed a bit more and got hit on the break to lose 1-0 I wouldn't fancy trying to break them down. As it stands it's set up for a great game on Monday!

 

[Northyorksblade]

Held the ball up well, was always on to a loser being on his own up front. Thought he had a decent game without creating much. Massive performance tonight. They did what they set out to do. Wilson obviously would rather save Cressy for Monday and hopefully it will be a different type of game. Doyle mom for me, but a good team performance.

 

[Cool Clint]

Couldn't agree more. Very spirited, businesslike performance by the team. Thank fuck.

Simmo - 6 untested
Lowton - 6.5 did his bit
Collins - 7 some good tackles and in position
Maguire - 6 Good work spoiled by iffy ball work
Hill - 6.5 A lot better than press on here had him
Flynn - 7.5 Worked the wing as hard as he could and covered back
Doyle - 7 Grafted
McD - 7 As said, in and out, but his strength at times showed
Williamson - 7 Grafted
Quinn - 7 out of position but tried hard
Porter - 6 Lone striker, chased everything, half a yard behind everyone else

Ertl/Cresswell on toolate to assess

Thought we played well overall, but I'm like Ken, half empty. Nothing short of total dominance will suffice at the Lane. Wilson got much of it right tonight. Stevenage were for most of the game capable, but surpressed by some good midfield and defence work.

pommpey

you're a completeTosser . Hijack others reasonable threads for your own aims, not stimulating debate but causing conflict. Bog off.

 

[pommpey]

you're a completeTosser . Hijack others reasonable threads for your own aims, not stimulating debate but causing conflict. Bog off.

Ooh. You alright, Clint? Don't be too upset, eh? Why not start another one about Radio Sheffield, eh?

Christ.

Anyway, Workington. Good point regarding pressure. However DW did maintain his party line regarding the two legs, which the Stevo boss seemed to think the pressure is all on us. Mebbe it is, but if we played like we did tonight and cancel Freeman and the other attacking midfielders (which we did not a couple of weeks ago) then th game will be a lot different. Their defence wasn't tested much tonight, because we had no pace at all up front. Not sure what OHallorhan has regarding pace but it would be interesting to see then given the run round in the second half if we can open up the game a bit.

pommpey

 

[Swinging a Pig]

Credit where it is due, set up to not lose and didn't.
Really hope we can find that bit extra in the home leg.

 

[mpjacko]

Couldn't agree more. Very spirited, businesslike performance by the team. Thank fuck.

Simmo - 6 untested
Lowton - 6.5 did his bit
Collins - 7 some good tackles and in position
Maguire - 6 Good work spoiled by iffy ball work
Hill - 6.5 A lot better than press on here had him
Flynn - 7.5 Worked the wing as hard as he could and covered back
Doyle - 7 Grafted
McD - 7 As said, in and out, but his strength at times showed
Williamson - 7 Grafted
Quinn - 7 out of position but tried hard
Porter - 6 Lone striker, chased everything, half a yard behind everyone else

Ertl/Cresswell on toolate to assess

Thought we played well overall, but I'm like Ken, half empty. Nothing short of total dominance will suffice at the Lane. Wilson got much of it right tonight. Stevenage were for most of the game capable, but surpressed by some good midfield and defence work.

pommpey

How times have changed. Top GS in the English league and we set our team up to scrape a draw. If Stevenage had scored, I had no idea where we would get the goal from. DW had no intention of playing Cressy so even if we was a goal down, DW would of still brought him on in the 89th min. DW thought that tactic would work, and lucky for us, it did. But why does it take united at least 45 mins to wake up. Stevenage could easily of been 2 goals up by half time.

Simmo - 5 provides no confidence to the defence
Lowton - 7
Collins - 7
Maguire - 6
Hill - 4 oh dear. Why did DW get him in. Surly there were better players that him.
Flynn - 7.5
Doyle - 7
McD - 7 As said, in and out, but his strength at times showed
Williamson - 6 Gave the ball away too much
Quinn - 6 out of position but tried hard - Hill tries too
Porter - 4 Lone striker, chased everything, half a yard behind everyone else - terrible ball control, poor, waste of money

Monday night will all depends on how long it will take United to wake up. Lucky for us, there are no away goals, so hopefully if we do concede a goal(s) it won't affect us if we draw the match.

 

[Revolution]

Personally, I thought 4-5-1 was a cowardly move but given the problems up top I suppose DW took a gamble to save Cresswell for the home game and it worked, so what do I know - as djbaldken says, he got it right. Given the way things have gone in the last few weeks there was no chance of winning there so I am chuffed with a draw.

Kudos also for dropping Taylor. Hill has his flaws but we struggle not to let at least 2 in with Taylor in the side for some reason.

I will say, however, that I hope that we do not see that formation on Monday and, should we make it, the final, as that will lead to nothing but the usual 1-0 play off defeat at Wembley. The teams who win playoff finals are the teams who attack.

 

[BladeInThatcham]

We saw that one a bit differently then?

Ha ha! Slightly. That was a somewhat alcohol induced post mind.
Still think it'll be Cressy in for Flynn on Monday and reverting back to 4-4-2.

 

[Melbourne Blade]

Porter up there in the 'worst ever player to put on a blades shirt' award.

 

[The One]

Wasn't impressed with Porter. Ball bounced off him too much.

I thought Flynn did quite well. Was very good with his defensive responsibilities.

If we make the final Cresswell will be in there. Would like to see him monday too but think he will rest him again.

 

[beechblade]

Didn't think we were magnificent but we were professional, having said that had we been braver second half and gone with two strikers for the last 20 minutes I believe we could have come away with a win, Stevenage, were tiring and looked more disorganise than they had in the first, they were running out of ideas to break us down and I think it was having an effect on them.

 

[super_pig]

i didn't know we could even 'do' that.. i'm impressed.. sort of.. i'm not sure actually

 

[pommpey]

True, regarding Porter. Last night Porter's second touch wasn't a tackle, like Monty usually does, moreso twenty minutes later when the ball was pinged at him again. Oh how you longed for Deano to be there. He'd bring any ball down to his feet and start moving forward with it.

Don't agree regarding Flynn/Cresswell. Okay, Cresswell has more kudos, strength and pedigree, but last night even after he came on for a minute, when the ball was delivered up to him or he broke on the wing, he just didn't have the speed across the ground to take it far enough into their half.

pommpey

 

[judge]

Porter was frustrating at times but the few times he did hold the ball up or beat his man the support was non existant ,he was asked to do a difficult job on the night and given the tools at our disposal I don't see what good slagging him off will do

 

[Blade58]

Wilson set his stall out to do a job and did it

Restricting Boro to one near miss and a couple of half chances was excellent.

Strong at the back. Good in midfield (especially MacDonald) just poor up front (understandably) Lack of bodies, movement and being able to make the ball stick when we actually found someone (the one) was a big problem for us. It meant we never retained possession for as long as we should have done.

However, with a little luck, a fit Cressy and the back 4 and midfield repeating last nights performance, we may just nick it

 

[pommpey]

Porter was frustrating at times but the few times he did hold the ball up or beat his man the support was non existant ,he was asked to do a difficult job on the night and given the tools at our disposal I don't see what good slagging him off will do

Woah. No one is denying it was a difficult job being lone striker when you are playing a deep 4-4-1-1. As said, he chased and chased which is the only thing you can do using that tactic, but much of the time he failed to get the ball under control to even lay off or carry it forward. I counted five occasions when the ball cannoned off him or just rolled away from him. The one time he did beat his man and had the chance to run on and get a crack on goal, the Stevenage defence poured back in numbers and he simply bottled it. I'd have thought his best option would be to at least get into the area where a challenge would have a chance of drawing a penalty. He needs a goal or two, perhaps, but that will only come if he improves his accuracy and control. Last night he was way below on both.

pommpey

 

[Bergen Blade]

Thought it was a very good defensive performance. Danny Wilson had done his home work and we looked so much more prepared for their threats. There were a number of times where our players tracked back superbly to stop Freeman and Wilson. For me, this was great management, great preparation and a tactical triumph for DW. Well done.

As we dealt with their breaks it became evident that they're not very good at opening up teams that defends in numbers and with great work rate. We eventually took control of possession as well, and we could have nicked it.

BTW, I love watching McDonald play, fans should take note of the little things he does to make space for himself, his technique, vision and accuracy. It could be years before we see such class in a red and white shirt again.

 

[judge]

Woah. No one is denying it was a difficult job being lone striker when you are playing a deep 4-4-1-1. As said, he chased and chased which is the only thing you can do using that tactic, but much of the time he failed to get the ball under control to even lay off or carry it forward. I counted five occasions when the ball cannoned off him or just rolled away from him. The one time he did beat his man and had the chance to run on and get a crack on goal, the Stevenage defence poured back in numbers and he simply bottled it. I'd have thought his best option would be to at least get into the area where a challenge would have a chance of drawing a penalty. He needs a goal or two, perhaps, but that will only come if he improves his accuracy and control. Last night he was way below on both.

pommpey

Yeah you're right , we should have played ched Evans or Hoskins or Beattie or an unfit cresswell instead they would have singlehandedly destroyed that Stevenage defence
Funny thing was though porter did get past his man a few times second half and might as well have not bothered as Doyle willo Quinn and Flynn ( heroic as they defended) just didn't give him an option

 

[LoughboroBlade]

BTW, I love watching McDonald play, fans should take note of the little things he does to make space for himself, his technique, vision and accuracy. It could be years before we see such class in a red and white shirt again.

I thought he was excellent, and like he was at Exeter a class above everyone else on the pitch. He and Doyle did particularly well in my view.

 

[Kenilworth]

Tictacs spot on last night.
Harsh on Flynn there Pommps. He was excellent defensively and don't forget that he has Hill behind him.
Hill is probably better than Taylor defensively but he panics too easily and just punts it forward rather than trying to work with his winger like Lowton does with Willo.
Felt a bit for Porter. His control was poor and the ball didn't "stick" on several occasions but he was very isolated and up against two very strong, physical CB

Quinn best game for a long time even if he was leaving Porter stranded quite a bit.
Doyle & Macca were v good in centre mid

Really pleased with grit and determination and the clean sheet.

Monday night will be a cometely different game.
Not convinced it will be a sell out though but perhaps people waiting until result from last night to make decision to attend

UTB