No Coincidence

[Slim Man]

McEveley off, we look more solid and get a positive result. Apart from the first minute where they got lucky and the last where they had a header cleared off the line (class Jose) we didn't look threatened in that second half and could really take the game to them once the changes were made and we rescued a point.

It's only Craig Alcock, someone I really wanted out. But fair play to him he looked really solid and maybe that's what we need, Freeman didn't put a foot wrong on the left either. We looked better all round.

Well done Nigel for having the bollocks to hook your captain off, and the man who replaced him as captain - Chris Basham - played like he was 20ft tall. Got the foot in, outstrengthened the opponents and generally played much better.

A tale of two halves but I hope that's the end of the bad run now. And maybe a 4-3-3 to start next game.

Get the fuck in, good point before the game never mind at 2-0 down.
UTB

 

[Ballinpigpubs13]

Mceverly gave away 2 free kicks within the 1st 12 minutes the 2nd of which he got booked for. Another poor game.

 

[sitwell]

It changed when we went 433 when Baxter and Sammon came on .

 

[blade too long]

looked more solid when Edgar stopped dropping these

 

[Slim Man]

It changed when we went 433 when Baxter and Sammon came on .

It changed yeah, but you can't say we didn't look more solid with Alcock at right back and Freeman on the left?
Believe me, even Im surprised I'm saying that.

 

[sitwell]

It changed yeah, but you can't say we didn't look more solid with Alcock at right back and Freeman on the left?
Believe me, even Im surprised I'm saying that.

The back four were protected more ,Woolford is a waste of a shirt and JCR had a bad one ,so the change of formation made the job easier for the back four.

 

[robbiez666]

It changed yeah, but you can't say we didn't look more solid with Alcock at right back and Freeman on the left?
Believe me, even Im surprised I'm saying that.

It's hard to just as he did very little defending. They stopped attacking down the flanks in the second half.

 

[Slim Man]

The back four were protected more ,Woolford is a waste of a shirt and JCR had a bad one ,so the change of formation made the job easier for the back four.

I agree there, but certainly felt a lot more comfortable. Their right winger wasn't getting the better of Freeman at all unlike he was with McEveley - eventually he gave up and stopped trying.

 

[Foxy]

The back four were protected more ,Woolford is a waste of a shirt and JCR had a bad one ,so the change of formation made the job easier for the back four.

Woolford was continually tucking inside first half, leaving McEveley completely exposed. He was often effectively attempting to play wing back.

 

[FTPE]

I though Sammon was great when he came on.

 

[Kevincarterversion2.0]

I thought Alcock looked fairly solid and looked less of a liability then Jay, I'm afraid.

Agreed Sammon gave them something else to think about. Baxter was class today. So good subsitutions from Adkins.

 

[Bergen Blade]

Woolford was continually tucking inside first half, leaving McEveley completely exposed. He was often effectively attempting to play wing back.

That's what will happen when we're struggling to cover enough ground in midfield. The wide men tucks inside to help out centrally, but this can see our full backs exposed if they switch play quickly.

We also had a special plan for dealing with long balls to Hanson. Basham pulled back to challenge him while the other three midfielders concentrated in front of him:



At the end of the first half we switched to 4-1-4-1, with Woolford in a more central role:

 

[sitwell]

Woolford was continually tucking inside first half, leaving McEveley completely exposed. He was often effectively attempting to play wing back.

I noticed that ,its hard to pinpoint exactly what his role is ,whatever it is he has failed to impress so far.

 

[The_Green_Man]

I agree with sitters and anyone else with the same opinion really. The big change was when Sammon and Baxter cam on, it instantly gave us a new shape and made us a threat. Baxter at times found himself really deep in front of the back four and Sammon did the dirty work and brought the front two into the game.

 

[Bergen Blade]

I agree there, but certainly felt a lot more comfortable. Their right winger wasn't getting the better of Freeman at all unlike he was with McEveley - eventually he gave up and stopped trying.

Marshall continued to look dangerous, putting in good crosses and had a good effort at goal in the second half.

 

[Slim Man]

Marshall continued to look dangerous, putting in good crosses and had a good effort at goal in the second half.

Didn't think that myself, they didn't really attack much down the flanks as touched on previously. They identified our left as a problem in the first half and in the second they didn't go down it half as much. They ran out of steam somewhat as the sky commentators said they concede in the second half quite often and don't seem to score as many.

 

[Bergen Blade]

Didn't think that myself, they didn't really attack much down the flanks as touched on previously. They identified our left as a problem in the first half and in the second they didn't go down it half as much. They ran out of steam somewhat as the sky commentators said they concede in the second half quite often and don't seem to score as many.

Marshall made five good second half runs, ending with dangerous crosses and the one dangerous shot. One of the runs went across the pitch and ended in a cross from their left. He's a good player and difficult to deal with. Two footed as well, noticed he crossed with his right foot and took corners with his left.

 

[TJB.]

Must say I nearly cried into my ale when I saw Alcock was coming on at half time, but that's probably the best I've seen him play in a United shirt. He's never going to be a world beater and I've never been a fan of his, but he was certainly an upgrade on McEveley yesterday. Loved his long throw into the box for the first goal; clearly a 'just fucking get it up there' instruction!

 

[OllyBlade]

My biggest worry was how Collins, Edgar, and Howard didn't look to have developed any sort of understanding. The former 2 seemed to often be going for the same ball, and generally didn't seem confident in each other. Howard was indecisive all afternoon and I think he was at fault for both goals.

 

[LoughboroBlade]

Must say I nearly cried into my ale when I saw Alcock was coming on at half time, but that's probably the best I've seen him play in a United shirt. He's never going to be a world beater and I've never been a fan of his, but he was certainly an upgrade on McEveley yesterday. Loved his long throw into the box for the first goal; clearly a 'just fucking get it up there' instruction!

It was also his ball forward down the line that created the throw in the first place. He did well at Fulham – steady enough yesterday too. Hopefully these sort of games are making him a player others might consider buying – when Brayford returns, Alcock shouldn't really be getting any look in.

 

[Slim Man]

Alcock is one I don't particularly want to see in the side but if it means we see less of Captain bombscare II, I can live with it.

 

[Notts Blade]

Mceverly gave away 2 free kicks within the 1st 12 minutes the 2nd of which he got booked for. Another poor game.

From watching on tv I thought he was lucky not to give a penalty away as well, just a few minutes after an identical foul he came in late on a player just inside the area.

 

[Tyler Durden]

I actually think Basham showed a lot of leadership yesterday. Sort of stood out amongst most of the rest of them who didn't give a toss.

 

[Slim Man]

From watching on tv I thought he was lucky not to give a penalty away as well, just a few minutes after an identical foul he came in late on a player just inside the area.

Yeah he might have given away several free kicks and get beaten time and time again over the past few games, as well as losing the ball just about every time he got it... but... he won a penalty at Colchester. So, that means it must have been a good performance




Right?

 

[Slim Man]

I actually think Basham showed a lot of leadership yesterday. Sort of stood out amongst most of the rest of them who didn't give a toss.

Me too. For me him and Reed really put the foot in, they did well but they weren't helped by any of the others. For me, we suit a 3 in midfield, playing a 4 with Woolford and an off colour JCR really is pointless. We might as well be playing 4-2-2. Mind you, with McEveley I suppose it becomes a 3-2-2. It's no wonder we aren't competing with the huge gaps in the team like that.

Che would be brilliant as a wide forward upon his return too, gets him further up the pitch yet could still use his pace to stretch the game.

 

[Tyler Durden]

Me too. For me him and Reed really put the foot in, they did well but they weren't helped by any of the others. For me, we suit a 3 in midfield, playing a 4 with Woolford and an off colour JCR really is pointless. We might as well be playing 4-2-2. Mind you, with McEveley I suppose it becomes a 3-2-2. It's no wonder we aren't competing with the huge gaps in the team like that.

Che would be brilliant as a wide forward upon his return too, gets him further up the pitch yet could still use his pace to stretch the game.

I've got a lot of time for JCR because he is one of the few who puts in a shift every game but he's not much use on the wing because he can't cross a ball to save his life.
I actually think he'd work better as a centre-forward because he's good at winning the ball and fights to keep it. Plus he spends most of his time cutting inside anyway.

 

[Slim Man]

I've got a lot of time for JCR because he is one of the few who puts in a shift every game but he's not much use on the wing because he can't cross a ball to save his life.
I actually think he'd work better as a centre-forward because he's good at winning the ball and fights to keep it. Plus he spends most of his time cutting inside anyway.

I agree I like how he works back and I'd always have him in the 18 but when he's not playing well we really might as well hook him after 10 minutes. I much prefer him as an impact player.

 

[Whiston Blade]

Any word on potential loan signings coming our way ? We've let in 14 goals in our 8 league games at an average of 1.75 goals per game. That's not promotion form and never has been.