Our penalty

[Trigger Blade]

Not really seen it mentioned on here, although the Crewe view seems to be that Ray was lucky to stay, but how could it not even be a card?

He was clearly the last man, it was a goalscoring opportunity and the ref can't assume we'd score. As it was, they weren't punished at all. Great save by the keeper by the way.

I also wonder whether any other player would have walked when Ray had his strop and the ref was making up for his penalty based error.

I bet there'd have been outrage on here if we hadn't won.

 

[Jehovah]

Saw it on footy league show and was thinking the same. Clearly a blatant red card.

 

[Kenilworth]

Be thankful we got the pen after last weekend's utterly incredible non decision at Bradford Bulls

 

[LSF]

Having seen it at Gresty Rd yesterday and now a different view on FLS, I'd say it was an excellent save rather than a bad pen in defence of Baxter, who that apart, was a little disappointing yesterday.
Most others played to the standards they'd expect from themselves, if I'd have been Jose I'd be reflecting on a below par performance and be disappointed in myself.
He's capable of much more, wherever he plays and whatever role he's expected to fill.

 

[Bladesway]

Having seen it at Gresty Rd yesterday and now a different view on FLS, I'd say it was an excellent save rather than a bad pen in defence of Baxter, who that apart, was a little disappointing yesterday.
Most others played to the standards they'd expect from themselves, if I'd have been Jose I'd be reflecting on a below par performance and be disappointed in myself.
He's capable of much more, wherever he plays and whatever role he's expected to fill.

Surely a bad performance from Jose must be someone elses fault?

 

[JohnDenver]

Not really seen it mentioned on here, although the Crewe view seems to be that Ray was lucky to stay, but how could it not even be a card?

He was clearly the last man, it was a goalscoring opportunity and the ref can't assume we'd score. As it was, they weren't punished at all. Great save by the keeper by the way.

I also wonder whether any other player would have walked when Ray had his strop and the ref was making up for his penalty based error.

I bet there'd have been outrage on here if we hadn't won.

Just seen it on the FL Show and that was the first thing that went through my head. Outside the box - yellow. In front to the goal - red.

Some refs seem to forget about cards in the excitement of a penalty decision.

 

[Captain]

It was no surprise Baxter missed the pen yesterday, his overall performance was very poor, needs a spell on the bench and a longer spell in the bloody gym, carrying far too much timber.

 

[true99blade]

Baxter did his best in an unfavourable position. The amount of stick he received yesterday was becoming embarrassing. Did very much nothing wrong. His best position though is midfield. The penalty save was a great one from Garratt. Let's say if it was Reed in his position, wouldn't it be Clough's fault? Or unlucky Reed? Scougall wasn't great yesterday apart from the five minuted after he scored. Baxter should play in midfield and bring Scougall on for the last half hour maybe? McNulty should start but missed a chance you'd be certain of him scoring.

 

[Tynemouth Blade]

Having seen it at Gresty Rd yesterday and now a different view on FLS, I'd say it was an excellent save rather than a bad pen in defence of Baxter, who that apart, was a little disappointing yesterday.
Most others played to the standards they'd expect from themselves, if I'd have been Jose I'd be reflecting on a below par performance and be disappointed in myself.
He's capable of much more, wherever he plays and whatever role he's expected to fill.

Sorry, but I disagree. It was a poorly taken penalty, tired even....a bit like Baxters overall performance last two games!

 

[LSF]

Sorry, but I disagree. It was a poorly taken penalty, tired even....a bit like Baxters overall performance last two games!

Fair point. I guess you could argue any failure from the spot is a bad pen.

 

[Tynemouth Blade]

Fair point. I guess you could argue any failure from the spot is a bad pen.

That's right, in reality a keeper should never save a penalty and in most cases when it is 'saved' it's due to poor placement of the kick.
Players like Frank Lampard, Alan Shearer, Steve Gerrard etc have a very high success rate with penalties because they don't piss about and just hit the fucker!

 

[Russ]

My Uncle used to say that the player who is fouled for a pen should never take it. Quite often proved right.

Maybe he is still shaken or thinking about the incident. Or even slightly injured. Needs to be someone who is focused.

Apart from don givens.

 

[Kenilworth]

My Uncle used to say that the player who is fouled for a pen should never take it. Quite often proved right.

Maybe he is still shaken or thinking about the incident. Or even slightly injured. Needs to be someone who is focused.

I think there is some truth in that theory. I used to take pens and it does feel different when you were the one brought down for the kick. Whether it's a knock or the adrenalin, not sure, but you are definitely a little tighter, less relaxed, when taking the kick.

 

[Fulwood Blade]

Be thankful we got the pen after last weekend's utterly incredible non decision at Bradford Bulls

The piggy supporting Bradford player Mcardle got his just desserts a week later - sent off for 2 book-ables yesterday.

UTB

 

[sitwell]

Baxter did his best in an unfavourable position. The amount of stick he received yesterday was becoming embarrassing. Did very much nothing wrong. His best position though is midfield. The penalty save was a great one from Garratt. Let's say if it was Reed in his position, wouldn't it be Clough's fault? Or unlucky Reed? Scougall wasn't great yesterday apart from the five minuted after he scored. Baxter should play in midfield and bring Scougall on for the last half hour maybe? McNulty should start but missed a chance you'd be certain of him scoring.

Really ? 'did very much nothing wrong' ? more like did very much nothing , he certainly contributed nothing and if that's his best he shouldn't be playing for us.
Do you honestly think he deserves a shirt in front of Scougall ?

 

[SE1Blade]

Baxter did his best in an unfavourable position. The amount of stick he received yesterday was becoming embarrassing. Did very much nothing wrong. His best position though is midfield. The penalty save was a great one from Garratt. Let's say if it was Reed in his position, wouldn't it be Clough's fault? Or unlucky Reed? Scougall wasn't great yesterday apart from the five minuted after he scored. Baxter should play in midfield and bring Scougall on for the last half hour maybe? McNulty should start but missed a chance you'd be certain of him scoring.

Seriously? I thought Scougall was awesome yesterday. He harried and hasled, got stuck in and his first touch in tight spots is excellent. Sprayed the ball about and did a lot of Baxters work for him. No wonder he was knackered with 10 to go. He's getting better with every game and will be a real player.
Wallace is also going to be a real find for us if we can keep him fit.

 

[forza sampdoria]

Seriously? I thought Scougall was awesome yesterday. He harried and hasled, got stuck in and his first touch in tight spots is excellent. Sprayed the ball about and did a lot of Baxters work for him. No wonder he was knackered with 10 to go. He's getting better with every game and will be a real player.
Wallace is also going to be a real find for us if we can keep him fit.

n You thought Scougall was great yesterday!!!! I thought he was medicore to put it mildly

 

[sheepbridge]

Scougall did well yesterday. He did the chasing and closing down of the keeper and back four that Baxter wasn't doing. And scored. He's not playing as well as he did last season admittedly, but he has been injured and we'd miss his energy in midfield.
At Bradford and yesterday Baxter has now had good chances to score and hit them tamely at the keeper.
I think half the trouble is we actually have some very decent midfielders now and it's hard to leave anyone out. Murphy and Wallace were outstanding yesterday, as Reed was on Tuesday, but I personally would play McNulty ahead of Baxter and keep the rest as they were yesterday.
Baxter is good at retaining possession but is not a forward and it is causing the team problems. There were a number of good crosses going straight across the box yesterday and good chances just aren't being taken.

 

[Darthblade]

Having seen it at Gresty Rd yesterday and now a different view on FLS, I'd say it was an excellent save rather than a bad pen in defence of Baxter, who that apart, was a little disappointing yesterday.
Most others played to the standards they'd expect from themselves, if I'd have been Jose I'd be reflecting on a below par performance and be disappointed in myself.
He's capable of much more, wherever he plays and whatever role he's expected to fill.

Sorry mate ...... I applaud your keenness to defend Jose but it was a crap penalty. Not hit especially hard and at the perfect height for a keeper. If it had been on the deck or 3 ft higher it would probably have gone in. As one of the most technically gifted players at the club he should have scored !
UTB & FTP

 

[Bladesman]

That was a sending off for their defender that foul.

 

[Sheff de party]

Not really seen it mentioned on here, although the Crewe view seems to be that Ray was lucky to stay, but how could it not even be a card?

He was clearly the last man, it was a goalscoring opportunity and the ref can't assume we'd score. As it was, they weren't punished at all. Great save by the keeper by the way.

I also wonder whether any other player would have walked when Ray had his strop and the ref was making up for his penalty based error.

I bet there'd have been outrage on here if we hadn't won.

Just for the record, it doesn't matter if it's last man, nor whether the ref assumes we'll score. If you break the rules to deny a clear goalscoring opportunity, it's a red card. You're perfectly right, that is as blatant a red card as you'll see once you've given the penalty.

A friend of mine always says you shouldn't give a red and a penalty because the penalty is punishment enough, but otherwise where's the deterrent? "Ah he's about to score, I'll rag him down as he might miss the penalty. No skin off my nose as I won't get sent off." That said, he is a keeper!

 

[Hodgyman]

I saw it several times from a recording of the FL show. It was an especially poor penalty. Crewe's keeper was stood to his left of centre, giving a larger target to his right but Jose chose to hit a tame shot at the perfect height to be saved to the smaller target side.

After our recent success at penalty shoot-outs I would maybe pick Doyle to take the penalties.

I don't dislike Baxter has he is normally beyond 1st Division class, but he is not perfoming up to that standard at the moment. I prefer to see a genuine forward who knows where to position himself for goal chances in the style of Edwards, Sharp and currently McNulty

 

[Bladesman]

I saw it several times from a recording of the FL show. It was an especially poor penalty. Crewe's keeper was stood to his left of centre, giving a larger target to his right but Jose chose to hit a tame shot at the perfect height to be saved to the smaller target side.

After our recent success at penalty shoot-outs I would maybe pick Doyle to take the penalties.

I don't dislike Baxter has he is normally beyond 1st Division class, but he is not perfoming up to that standard at the moment. I prefer to see a genuine forward who knows where to position himself for goal chances in the style of Edwards, Sharp and currently McNulty

Just an excuse for him to do the cockney walk celebration again.

 

[Trigger Blade]

I saw it several times from a recording of the FL show. It was an especially poor penalty. Crewe's keeper was stood to his left of centre, giving a larger target to his right but Jose chose to hit a tame shot at the perfect height to be saved to the smaller target side.

I noticed that on the highlights, I suppose it's possible that Jose realised he was stood a bit to the left and thought the keeper was inviting him to go for the bigger gap and he didn't fall for it. Unfortunately, the keeper wasn't bluffing.

 

[true99blade]

Really ? 'did very much nothing wrong' ? more like did very much nothing , he certainly contributed nothing and if that's his best he shouldn't be playing for us.
Do you honestly think he deserves a shirt in front of Scougall ?

Yes I do think Baxter deserves to start over Scougall. I don't know if you've seen Baxter play in midfield this season like he did at Preston. He was awesome. I'm perplexed to see that anyone can say Baxter hasn't been better than Scougall so far this season.

As for the comment on Baxter doing nothing, he didn't contribute to a lot but thats because he's out of position and on his own, he did a few neat flicks and he won a penalty... Which was well saved but you can't accuse him of not doing anything.

In the centre of the park, Baxter>Scougall.

 

[Bladepicker]

Honestly thought it wasn't too bad a pen. Some awful pens make it easy for a keeper but on this one I think it goes down as a great save rether than an awful pen. Was struck fairly sweetly and going in the corner, only criticism would be at a decent height.

 

[Cyprus Blade]

I think Baxter is definitely not firing well since his return from injury but I think its fair to say that its taken Scougall a long time to find anything like the form he had last year and he is still some way off it in consistency in my opinion. Murphy has only recently hit some sort of form after a lacklustre and, seemingly, under-confident start to the season.

We do need some creativity in the midfield and final third and that isn't going to come from the likes of Doyle or Basham (who I think is a better centre half than midfielder - though I do think he could play the Doyle role). For the effectiveness of the side I think Wallace has to stay fit (iffy as I still think he is a sicknote - talented but very injury prone) as he adds some physical presence as well as being creative. Both Baxter and Scougall need to regain form. Scougall is slightly ahead in that department at the moment in my opinion but he isn't being played out of position. I doubt the side can accommodate both except in a 4-5-1 or 4-4-1-1. For me Baxter is much more effective just behind the forward(s) and playing him in a position better suited to him may well be beneficial to the team as a whole but NC knows best how he wants to use him. However, I do think some of the recent criticism of Baxter has been overly harsh and un-necessarily vehement when you remember that he too is coming back from injury and it is not many weeks ago when he looked about our only player capable of scoring. NC will get him sorted I am sure.

If we had two decent forwards I would like to see us go 4-4-2, especially if we face an 11 man defence or go behind but its difficult to see anyone to accompany MM up front at the moment. Higdon still has a lot to prove and Chris Porter is a forgotten man. So 4-5-1 in November looks likely to me - some tough games ahead. MM should start up front for me, but I doubt that he will.

 

[Bladepicker]

. So 4-5-1 in November looks likely to me - some tough games ahead. MM should start up front for me, but I doubt that he will.

I reckon we might see MM or Higdon starting at home where we will be going for it from the off but you will see the 'false 9' with Baxter from the start away from home. It worked last season and has worked in the last two games, by starting more solidly away from home it has worked out much better than earlier in the season when we were more open.

 

[Foxy]

This one went better -