Deadbat
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Aug 6, 2009
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Sorry could not post on post match thread as not open and not as many seem to use those threads.
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Full deserved win. It was our best overall performance by some way. We won most battles, had more of the ball, created more chances and should have won by 3 or 4 goals. It was only poor finishing and final ball that cost us and some daft moments at the back. Between the two final thirds we dominated in every facet but are not quite ruthless enough in these key areas still.
We played some nice stuff at times and was not long at all today. We played though midfield with the two wing backs, particularly Freeman advancing welll. I also thought that we got men forward to support the front two. We had at least 5 or 6 good chances. Sharo could have had 3. Basham missed a header. Clarke shot wide. Freeman got in once and should have scored and there were a number of other times we got in the final third.
LAfferty was poor and Duffy had one of those days. The defence looked a bit sluggish first half but got better as the game went on. Overall we had so much more of the ball then them and aside from stupid free kicks we gave away or long throws they did not look scoring (had one chance at start though). They looked poor and it would have been a travesty if we did not win. We controlled the game completely and made them look very ordinary.
The new formation seemed to work in that we had a lot more of the ball. We also pressed well to get it back when we could. I felt 7 or 8 players won their individual battles and as a team we worked well together too get the ball back and then played triangles or little passages to get in. Main gripe apart from the daft free kicks we gave away was when we got in the final third we dithered or looked a bit clueless to make that final ball. However even when we did that we missed some good chances. Our set plays were still poor when you look at Dack's goal and even the corners they put in. We need to improve in this area.
Still it was a good win and now we have some momentum. Hopefully with players to come back such as Chapman, Fleck (when fully fit) and LAvery we have more competition. Ditto at the back. Gillingham will prob finish top 10 easily and may make the playoffs and looked much better than them.
We have to stop conceding first though as this is making it hard as we are playing catch up constantly. Next week we have to carry on from this and start well at Wimbledon to ensure we get the lead and make teams have to a a bit desperate against us for a change.
Today we kept our composure though and did more than enough to win. If we can put together a run now and get a few more wins from next 2/3 we are then in the top 8/9 and things look different.
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My individual ratings as follows...
Moore 7/10 – He makes us so much more secure. He had one moment he droopped a cross but aside from this he was very impressive. His handling was good and he gets in good positions. Made key early save and was organising well. I thought free kick he left a lot of the goal but that is being ultra harsh as his wall was on that side. Looks a massive upgrade on Long.
Freeman 8/10 – Thought he was excellent. He got up and down all game, used the ball well, showed better control than most and had a few half chances. Got in the box and nearly won a penalty; maybe dithered a bit before this. Then got in the box to score a good goal making himself determined to get there before Konchesky. At the moment looks fitter, more athletic and generally more up for it than Brayford ever did this season.
Lafferty 4/10 – Thought he was really poor. He looked sluggish, unfit and seemed to want an age on the ball. He gave away two or three poor free kicks including the goal even though others errored in the build up. WAs not that face nor athletic and unsure what he offers. Did put cross in for our first goal.
Wilson 6/10 – Not sure about him. He does not make lots of mistakes but he also does not impose himself and needs to come onto the ball more rather than waiting. Not sure long term he will be the answer here - indeed he may be 4th choice out of the 4 centre backs.
Wright 7/10 – Game of two halves. Thought he had a really poor first half at fault in the one where McDonald got away from him easily and beat him for skill and pace. He then let him get away again in build up to free kick. Second half much improved. Read the game well, neat and tidy and nothing daft. Looked much better. Lacks pace and mobility but an organiser.
O' Connell 7.5/10 – His best game for United. He defended quite well and also came forward with the ball. Looks a determined player and one who I think will improve. No daft mistakes today either.
Basham 8/10 – I have critcisied him a lot this season but he was right there with Freeman and Coutts for man of the match. He was excellent. At times he looks ponderous in possession and panics when he gets in the final third but he was all over the place today and picked up so many loose balls. Made the second goal with a run to the byline and good cross. Seemed to do better in a three where he could go and run offf and chase/harry knowing if he was out of position others may cover.
Coutts 8/10 – As above. Excellent. Another who had felt my wrath but he has lost weight and looks more mobile than he ever has before. Always liked him as a footballer. His touch is often better than most players on the field. My criticism has been lack of mobility and that he plays side and back (safe) too much. Today and even last week he has not done that. Driven forward, linked well and played range of passes. Also got stuck in too. Needs to add a goal or final ball threat but he has been much improved this season and will rightly stay in the team.
Duffy 4.5/10 – Along with Lafferty our poorest player. He worked hard and never hid but not sure he did anything right really. He actually had one good shot saved but after that; he did nothing. He has been a real disappointment so far and aside from that one assist last week and a few flashes he has been poor. His passing, touch and dribbling has bot been good enough. He lacks pace and strength and his crossing/final ball was horrific. The free kicks he took also were shocking. If we play a 3 I would play Fleck although Duffy can get wide more. I think the same formation with Fleck, Coutts and Basham may start next week. Scougall should have come on for him a lot earlier.
Done 6/10 – As ever tried really hard. NEver stopped and tried to get on the end of things or make runs for the midfield but often his touch came off him or it did not stick. A trier but ultimately I am not sure he is good enough and think bot Clarke and Lavery will probably play more than him moving forward. He does make defenders run around a lot though and that sometimes gives space to others but quality wise he is lacking. Did not really link with Sharp either.
Sharp 7/10 – Missed 2 or 3 good chances. One first half he took too long and then missed a header. Made another with a good run but shot at the keeper. He at times lost his battle on 50/50's but seemed to get stronger as the game went on. I think Wilder was considering taking him off (could have been him or Done really) but always look a goal threat and made one and scored one.
Subs
Ebanks-Landell – Looked very clumsy. One awful cross, a poor foul and kicked it out a lot. At the end when they had no threat he opted to whack it out for a throw in which in turn offered there only threat of nicking anything. Made a good block after Moore dropped it though. Remember Baptiste looking awful on his debut though.
Clarke – He failed to hold it up a few times and looked slow and then should have scored with the one opportunity he had from good move. Towards the end started to hold it better and cause a few problems with his strength. At least we did not just lump it to him. I hope if he does start with Sharp longer term we can play football like we did today and not resort to the longer ball all the time.
Scougall – On for the final 5 minutes. Helped us recycle possession in the build up to the goal. Harsh to lose his place as worked hard last week.
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Full deserved win. It was our best overall performance by some way. We won most battles, had more of the ball, created more chances and should have won by 3 or 4 goals. It was only poor finishing and final ball that cost us and some daft moments at the back. Between the two final thirds we dominated in every facet but are not quite ruthless enough in these key areas still.
We played some nice stuff at times and was not long at all today. We played though midfield with the two wing backs, particularly Freeman advancing welll. I also thought that we got men forward to support the front two. We had at least 5 or 6 good chances. Sharo could have had 3. Basham missed a header. Clarke shot wide. Freeman got in once and should have scored and there were a number of other times we got in the final third.
LAfferty was poor and Duffy had one of those days. The defence looked a bit sluggish first half but got better as the game went on. Overall we had so much more of the ball then them and aside from stupid free kicks we gave away or long throws they did not look scoring (had one chance at start though). They looked poor and it would have been a travesty if we did not win. We controlled the game completely and made them look very ordinary.
The new formation seemed to work in that we had a lot more of the ball. We also pressed well to get it back when we could. I felt 7 or 8 players won their individual battles and as a team we worked well together too get the ball back and then played triangles or little passages to get in. Main gripe apart from the daft free kicks we gave away was when we got in the final third we dithered or looked a bit clueless to make that final ball. However even when we did that we missed some good chances. Our set plays were still poor when you look at Dack's goal and even the corners they put in. We need to improve in this area.
Still it was a good win and now we have some momentum. Hopefully with players to come back such as Chapman, Fleck (when fully fit) and LAvery we have more competition. Ditto at the back. Gillingham will prob finish top 10 easily and may make the playoffs and looked much better than them.
We have to stop conceding first though as this is making it hard as we are playing catch up constantly. Next week we have to carry on from this and start well at Wimbledon to ensure we get the lead and make teams have to a a bit desperate against us for a change.
Today we kept our composure though and did more than enough to win. If we can put together a run now and get a few more wins from next 2/3 we are then in the top 8/9 and things look different.
---
My individual ratings as follows...
Moore 7/10 – He makes us so much more secure. He had one moment he droopped a cross but aside from this he was very impressive. His handling was good and he gets in good positions. Made key early save and was organising well. I thought free kick he left a lot of the goal but that is being ultra harsh as his wall was on that side. Looks a massive upgrade on Long.
Freeman 8/10 – Thought he was excellent. He got up and down all game, used the ball well, showed better control than most and had a few half chances. Got in the box and nearly won a penalty; maybe dithered a bit before this. Then got in the box to score a good goal making himself determined to get there before Konchesky. At the moment looks fitter, more athletic and generally more up for it than Brayford ever did this season.
Lafferty 4/10 – Thought he was really poor. He looked sluggish, unfit and seemed to want an age on the ball. He gave away two or three poor free kicks including the goal even though others errored in the build up. WAs not that face nor athletic and unsure what he offers. Did put cross in for our first goal.
Wilson 6/10 – Not sure about him. He does not make lots of mistakes but he also does not impose himself and needs to come onto the ball more rather than waiting. Not sure long term he will be the answer here - indeed he may be 4th choice out of the 4 centre backs.
Wright 7/10 – Game of two halves. Thought he had a really poor first half at fault in the one where McDonald got away from him easily and beat him for skill and pace. He then let him get away again in build up to free kick. Second half much improved. Read the game well, neat and tidy and nothing daft. Looked much better. Lacks pace and mobility but an organiser.
O' Connell 7.5/10 – His best game for United. He defended quite well and also came forward with the ball. Looks a determined player and one who I think will improve. No daft mistakes today either.
Basham 8/10 – I have critcisied him a lot this season but he was right there with Freeman and Coutts for man of the match. He was excellent. At times he looks ponderous in possession and panics when he gets in the final third but he was all over the place today and picked up so many loose balls. Made the second goal with a run to the byline and good cross. Seemed to do better in a three where he could go and run offf and chase/harry knowing if he was out of position others may cover.
Coutts 8/10 – As above. Excellent. Another who had felt my wrath but he has lost weight and looks more mobile than he ever has before. Always liked him as a footballer. His touch is often better than most players on the field. My criticism has been lack of mobility and that he plays side and back (safe) too much. Today and even last week he has not done that. Driven forward, linked well and played range of passes. Also got stuck in too. Needs to add a goal or final ball threat but he has been much improved this season and will rightly stay in the team.
Duffy 4.5/10 – Along with Lafferty our poorest player. He worked hard and never hid but not sure he did anything right really. He actually had one good shot saved but after that; he did nothing. He has been a real disappointment so far and aside from that one assist last week and a few flashes he has been poor. His passing, touch and dribbling has bot been good enough. He lacks pace and strength and his crossing/final ball was horrific. The free kicks he took also were shocking. If we play a 3 I would play Fleck although Duffy can get wide more. I think the same formation with Fleck, Coutts and Basham may start next week. Scougall should have come on for him a lot earlier.
Done 6/10 – As ever tried really hard. NEver stopped and tried to get on the end of things or make runs for the midfield but often his touch came off him or it did not stick. A trier but ultimately I am not sure he is good enough and think bot Clarke and Lavery will probably play more than him moving forward. He does make defenders run around a lot though and that sometimes gives space to others but quality wise he is lacking. Did not really link with Sharp either.
Sharp 7/10 – Missed 2 or 3 good chances. One first half he took too long and then missed a header. Made another with a good run but shot at the keeper. He at times lost his battle on 50/50's but seemed to get stronger as the game went on. I think Wilder was considering taking him off (could have been him or Done really) but always look a goal threat and made one and scored one.
Subs
Ebanks-Landell – Looked very clumsy. One awful cross, a poor foul and kicked it out a lot. At the end when they had no threat he opted to whack it out for a throw in which in turn offered there only threat of nicking anything. Made a good block after Moore dropped it though. Remember Baptiste looking awful on his debut though.
Clarke – He failed to hold it up a few times and looked slow and then should have scored with the one opportunity he had from good move. Towards the end started to hold it better and cause a few problems with his strength. At least we did not just lump it to him. I hope if he does start with Sharp longer term we can play football like we did today and not resort to the longer ball all the time.
Scougall – On for the final 5 minutes. Helped us recycle possession in the build up to the goal. Harsh to lose his place as worked hard last week.
