Deadbat
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My thoughts from the armchair....
Overall I felt Leicester deserved to win and 2-1 flattered us. Overall whilst we huffed and puffed and semi threatend a comeback we had in reality tossed the game away in the first half with more negativity and a general inability to keep the football.
I felt for much of the game we looked a really poor side and the endless times we just hoofed it up field or kicked the ball into nowhere into particularly was eye popping. Only when Camara came on did we start to play to feet and fed off his talent and pace. However, the whole game we only really put together 3 or 4 decent moves with most fo the time the big punt up to Creswell being our only real tactic.
Leicester were not amazing but at least at times they just passed the ball to a blue shirt and then moved into space. Simple. From this they drew opponents and created chances. They may be did this 5 or 6 times and nearly scored every time/ This is something we are unable to do. Maybe it is our players who are not good enough. Maybe it is our tactics. Whatever it is; we looked tonight a mid table side who will probably win enough games to stay away from the bottom but against the better sides (and they are quite a few better than Leicester) will not be good enough.
We actually started the game well and played well for 5 minutes but after that I felt Leicester were the better side, playing better football, creating more chances and having more efforts on goal. We had chances too but in reality they easily could have scored 6 or 7 to maybe 2 or 3 for us.
Leicester have some enterprising footballers with pace and ingenuity like Fryatt and Dyer and some clever brains in the middle of the park in Wellens. We have honest triers like Montgomery, Morgan and Quinn who are the sort of players that may stop us being in a relegation battle due to endeavours and efforts but just lack real football quality. Without this abillity/quality in the rest of the team this will also stop us being anywhere near the top. Last year with Naughton, Beattie, Halford etc we could get away with the above sort of player but this year other than the odd flurry from Ward or Camara we lack genuine quality all over the team. We look in short; a team of honest, triers who are just not that good a footballers and lack skill, pace and flair.
Our extremely negative tactics from the off cost us for me though despite the aformentioned complaints. We should have started with Camara or Evans or both. Sure we have been successful playing 4-5-1 but this was a game that with a win we would have got back in the top 6. We see Leicester play a really inexperienced backline so we go with one striker who is not really a striker (Cresswell has admitted this himself) and generally looked cluless when we entered the last third until Camara came on.
Up to their first goal though we had looked fairly untroubled but Bunn's erro and the lack of challenge on the scorer (Cresswell I think) saw the ball in our net. They had more chances after this and the challenge by Montgomery was stupid on Wellens. Leicester could have had more goals after this and Bunn made some good saves and they hit the bar.
Camara came on and of course changed the game although it was odd that
whilst Taylor had been poor, Walker was made to carry on even though clearly injured, a la Kilgallon at Barnsley. Walker than went off not long after effectively wasting a sub.
Yes, Camara made an impact but this also shows he should have been on at the start. Morgan had a great chance too level and Camara had a few other efforts too but they had even more chances than us and after we scored they actually had the better of the game and more of the play with only a nervy last 5 minutes from them but we did not really trouble them.
Blackwell basically made a mistake with the team selection and formation as the first half scoreline and performance showed and his subsequent changing to 4-4-2 when we were 2-0 down. Whilst he made chances at the break it was too late as we were then chasing the game. For once it would be good if we showed some positivity and tried to attack teams with sharp, passing football. Unfortunately we do not have the manager allied to poor players to be able to do this. Middle of the road manager and players will equal a middle of the road season. Am I being too negative? Maybe but it was shared by others watchign with me who just kept groaning every time we tossed the football away again.
What is even more worrying is our best two players by a country mile wont even be at the club next season or even in a few weeks, Kilgallon certain to go and there is a chance Spurs will recall Walker (have 2 centre backs injured) in January.
Maybe I am being too negative but that performance in terms of a football performance other than brief cameos from Ward (coupel of good runs), Harper (couple of good balls), Camara and a great performance from Kilgallon I felt was desperately poor.
Bunn 6.5/10 - A strange game as his error put us behind but then he kept us in the game too. Made some excellent saves and some standard ones. Had way too much to do. However, badly at fault for 1st goal and missed or did not claim quite a few other crosses.
Walker 6.5/10 - Did alright considering Howard had crocked him early on and should have been booked (did 4 or 5 other fouls after this too) but maybe should have gone off instead of hobbling around. Dyer stopped him getting forward.
Taylor 5/10 - Felt he was poor again and out of position a lot. His careless touch and lack of awareness saw Leicester have a few chances from down the right. He was one of 4 or 5 who could have been taken off at half time.
Morgan 4/10 - Thought he looked an ordinary centre back today. Made to look a mug by Fryatt most of the game who was too wily and skilful. Even in the aerial stuff against Howard he struggled today.
Kilgallon 8/10 - Class act. Read game well. Made 2 or 3 blocks and without him it could have been much worse. One shining light at the back and be sorely missed when he does go in a few weeks.
Montgomery 3/10 - Really poor tonight. Felt his touch and passing was worse then ever if that is possible. He ran around a lot and covered ground but generally was ineffectual. His stupid tackle effectively sealed the game too.
Quinn 4/10 - As poor as he has been much of the season (alebir had brief rally in last few weeks). Got rid of ball as soon as he had it, did not want o use right foot and generally looked poor with most of rest of team.
Harper 6.5/10 - Defensively he was very poor and so slow to track his runner. At times he was not in the game and lost his man; King countless times who had numerous efforts on goal. However, going forward particularly second half he put out 4 or 5 super balls to feet and showed technically he is quite good. I am not sure his decent passing at times can cover for his defensive liabilities especially with Montgomery and Quinn so poor around him. Maybe with Williamson he would be better as evidenced against Palace.
Stewart 3/10 - Really poor player. Had a great first 2 minutes and then an appalling 88! He is bad at left wing, right wing and left back! I am not sure where his worst posiiton is! I can see why teams have signed him as he is fast, athletic and not bad in the air but when he actually goes near the ball. Oh dear. Can only think we had to sign him to get Hendrie's wages off our books as it is a a really poor signing. Mind you with Reid, France, Evans, Little; he had got plenty of company in that department.
Ward 6.5/10 - Did some good things and looked our main creative threat for much of the game. Got in 2 or 3 good crosses and attacked his man second half but often drifted out of the game and did not get much service.
Creswell 5/10 - Never in the game at all. Do not think he is a centre forward and it is a bizarre signing for me with his age. I do not rate Evans but think he would do no worse and may actually improve with a run of games. Evans could get better. Cresswell is the wrong side of 30+ and the signing of this honest but lacking in any kind of quality; journeyman sums up Blackwell really.
Subs -
Camara 7.5/10 - Excellent even if the fact he just looked a threat. Sure he was selfish and sure he never got his head up but he scored and had other decent efforts on goal. Must start as he worries defenders. He may be frustrating at times but if you were a defender and you saw his name on the teamsheet or Cresswell's; who do you think they will be more worried to play against?
Geary 5/10 - Really does not look anywhere near match fit and struggled badly against Dyer. Always looked at full stretch to me. Done tremendously well to come back and even play again but do not see a future from him at United with his contract up in the summer and his inabillity to probably play a series of full games.
Evans - Not in the game that much when he came on. Had one weak shot and then moaned when the ball was not played to his feet just after he had miscontrolled the ball twice.
Overall I felt Leicester deserved to win and 2-1 flattered us. Overall whilst we huffed and puffed and semi threatend a comeback we had in reality tossed the game away in the first half with more negativity and a general inability to keep the football.
I felt for much of the game we looked a really poor side and the endless times we just hoofed it up field or kicked the ball into nowhere into particularly was eye popping. Only when Camara came on did we start to play to feet and fed off his talent and pace. However, the whole game we only really put together 3 or 4 decent moves with most fo the time the big punt up to Creswell being our only real tactic.
Leicester were not amazing but at least at times they just passed the ball to a blue shirt and then moved into space. Simple. From this they drew opponents and created chances. They may be did this 5 or 6 times and nearly scored every time/ This is something we are unable to do. Maybe it is our players who are not good enough. Maybe it is our tactics. Whatever it is; we looked tonight a mid table side who will probably win enough games to stay away from the bottom but against the better sides (and they are quite a few better than Leicester) will not be good enough.
We actually started the game well and played well for 5 minutes but after that I felt Leicester were the better side, playing better football, creating more chances and having more efforts on goal. We had chances too but in reality they easily could have scored 6 or 7 to maybe 2 or 3 for us.
Leicester have some enterprising footballers with pace and ingenuity like Fryatt and Dyer and some clever brains in the middle of the park in Wellens. We have honest triers like Montgomery, Morgan and Quinn who are the sort of players that may stop us being in a relegation battle due to endeavours and efforts but just lack real football quality. Without this abillity/quality in the rest of the team this will also stop us being anywhere near the top. Last year with Naughton, Beattie, Halford etc we could get away with the above sort of player but this year other than the odd flurry from Ward or Camara we lack genuine quality all over the team. We look in short; a team of honest, triers who are just not that good a footballers and lack skill, pace and flair.
Our extremely negative tactics from the off cost us for me though despite the aformentioned complaints. We should have started with Camara or Evans or both. Sure we have been successful playing 4-5-1 but this was a game that with a win we would have got back in the top 6. We see Leicester play a really inexperienced backline so we go with one striker who is not really a striker (Cresswell has admitted this himself) and generally looked cluless when we entered the last third until Camara came on.
Up to their first goal though we had looked fairly untroubled but Bunn's erro and the lack of challenge on the scorer (Cresswell I think) saw the ball in our net. They had more chances after this and the challenge by Montgomery was stupid on Wellens. Leicester could have had more goals after this and Bunn made some good saves and they hit the bar.
Camara came on and of course changed the game although it was odd that
whilst Taylor had been poor, Walker was made to carry on even though clearly injured, a la Kilgallon at Barnsley. Walker than went off not long after effectively wasting a sub.
Yes, Camara made an impact but this also shows he should have been on at the start. Morgan had a great chance too level and Camara had a few other efforts too but they had even more chances than us and after we scored they actually had the better of the game and more of the play with only a nervy last 5 minutes from them but we did not really trouble them.
Blackwell basically made a mistake with the team selection and formation as the first half scoreline and performance showed and his subsequent changing to 4-4-2 when we were 2-0 down. Whilst he made chances at the break it was too late as we were then chasing the game. For once it would be good if we showed some positivity and tried to attack teams with sharp, passing football. Unfortunately we do not have the manager allied to poor players to be able to do this. Middle of the road manager and players will equal a middle of the road season. Am I being too negative? Maybe but it was shared by others watchign with me who just kept groaning every time we tossed the football away again.
What is even more worrying is our best two players by a country mile wont even be at the club next season or even in a few weeks, Kilgallon certain to go and there is a chance Spurs will recall Walker (have 2 centre backs injured) in January.
Maybe I am being too negative but that performance in terms of a football performance other than brief cameos from Ward (coupel of good runs), Harper (couple of good balls), Camara and a great performance from Kilgallon I felt was desperately poor.
Bunn 6.5/10 - A strange game as his error put us behind but then he kept us in the game too. Made some excellent saves and some standard ones. Had way too much to do. However, badly at fault for 1st goal and missed or did not claim quite a few other crosses.
Walker 6.5/10 - Did alright considering Howard had crocked him early on and should have been booked (did 4 or 5 other fouls after this too) but maybe should have gone off instead of hobbling around. Dyer stopped him getting forward.
Taylor 5/10 - Felt he was poor again and out of position a lot. His careless touch and lack of awareness saw Leicester have a few chances from down the right. He was one of 4 or 5 who could have been taken off at half time.
Morgan 4/10 - Thought he looked an ordinary centre back today. Made to look a mug by Fryatt most of the game who was too wily and skilful. Even in the aerial stuff against Howard he struggled today.
Kilgallon 8/10 - Class act. Read game well. Made 2 or 3 blocks and without him it could have been much worse. One shining light at the back and be sorely missed when he does go in a few weeks.
Montgomery 3/10 - Really poor tonight. Felt his touch and passing was worse then ever if that is possible. He ran around a lot and covered ground but generally was ineffectual. His stupid tackle effectively sealed the game too.
Quinn 4/10 - As poor as he has been much of the season (alebir had brief rally in last few weeks). Got rid of ball as soon as he had it, did not want o use right foot and generally looked poor with most of rest of team.
Harper 6.5/10 - Defensively he was very poor and so slow to track his runner. At times he was not in the game and lost his man; King countless times who had numerous efforts on goal. However, going forward particularly second half he put out 4 or 5 super balls to feet and showed technically he is quite good. I am not sure his decent passing at times can cover for his defensive liabilities especially with Montgomery and Quinn so poor around him. Maybe with Williamson he would be better as evidenced against Palace.
Stewart 3/10 - Really poor player. Had a great first 2 minutes and then an appalling 88! He is bad at left wing, right wing and left back! I am not sure where his worst posiiton is! I can see why teams have signed him as he is fast, athletic and not bad in the air but when he actually goes near the ball. Oh dear. Can only think we had to sign him to get Hendrie's wages off our books as it is a a really poor signing. Mind you with Reid, France, Evans, Little; he had got plenty of company in that department.
Ward 6.5/10 - Did some good things and looked our main creative threat for much of the game. Got in 2 or 3 good crosses and attacked his man second half but often drifted out of the game and did not get much service.
Creswell 5/10 - Never in the game at all. Do not think he is a centre forward and it is a bizarre signing for me with his age. I do not rate Evans but think he would do no worse and may actually improve with a run of games. Evans could get better. Cresswell is the wrong side of 30+ and the signing of this honest but lacking in any kind of quality; journeyman sums up Blackwell really.
Subs -
Camara 7.5/10 - Excellent even if the fact he just looked a threat. Sure he was selfish and sure he never got his head up but he scored and had other decent efforts on goal. Must start as he worries defenders. He may be frustrating at times but if you were a defender and you saw his name on the teamsheet or Cresswell's; who do you think they will be more worried to play against?
Geary 5/10 - Really does not look anywhere near match fit and struggled badly against Dyer. Always looked at full stretch to me. Done tremendously well to come back and even play again but do not see a future from him at United with his contract up in the summer and his inabillity to probably play a series of full games.
Evans - Not in the game that much when he came on. Had one weak shot and then moaned when the ball was not played to his feet just after he had miscontrolled the ball twice.
. I was shocked how poor we were, it was like watching a game of pinball and i think we had a virtual 100% failure rate in winning headers when we hoofed the ball forward. Shocking. I kept having to check that Cresswell was actually still on the pitch, what on earth are we buying him for. Bunn is a good shot stopper but is useless at commanding his area. All in all a bit of a depressing afternoon.
