Deadbat
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- Aug 6, 2009
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I am not doing a full report as to be honest there is not much really to report on the game as to be frank almost nothing happened in the game from start to finish in 90 minutes. United did make changes but still had half a first team out with Bogle, Larouci, Norwood, Basham, McBurnie all finishing the game Saturday. Throw in Archer and also Trusty and we really should have had enough to see of a League One side but we never got going. It was slow and predictable. We rarely passed forward and no one other than Norwood took initiative. We looked like we did not have a clear plan how to break down or go through a lower league side and that is a concern, regardless of the changes.
First half not sure I can recall an effort from either side at all? Lincoln had as many ‘attacks’ as us, if you can call them that. Norwood had a shot from the half way line over the bar and they had one effort saved by Davies easily. McBurnie and Archer did not link at all and the midfield did not support or create except for some decent balls from Norwood that were more cross field. Lincoln just dealt with it all rather easily as it was so slow and laboured. Bash came out of defence a few times and actually Larouci, who started as he finishes Sunday with some indecisive moments, got forward well and was one of the main, if not only outlet.
After the break we took off McBurnie and Brooks and put on Marsh and Traore. The youngster had one decent run and pass to Archer whose shot was saved. This was the only chance I can recall of note that the keeper saved? Later, we had one ball across that was cleared away but that was it. That is a bit embarrassing. Norwood kept trying to find players but there was no movement, no one taking the ball on and it looked clueless. Lincoln did very little themselves but were content to just sit back and watch us pass it around and go nowhere. We made more changes and Seriki did well and he got down the side and created a few crossing chances but we never really seriously cut them open and the game just petered out. Egan had one header over but it was hardly much pressure applied at all. Was worrying that our four strikers used, McBurnie, Archer, Traore and Osula did not look a threat at all, save the one Archer chance. Lincoln ended having a few corners but they did not have any chances but deserved to take it to penalties.
The penalties saw Norwood and Osula score quite convincingly but Marsh had a tame effort saved and Traore’s was even worse, straight at the keeper who held the ball. Then the final one, you never thought Egan would score and so it proved as he blasted it over the bar, via the bar. That was it. We were out. We had 72% possession but did nothing with it and I can only recall one shot of note all game. The lack of pattern to our play, regardless of changes and inability to create any tempo or sustained spell in the last third of the Lincoln half was quite startling. It seemed like a friendly almost or worse still, two League One sides slugging it out. Of course, Sunday we did a great job and were organised and resolute but tonight, albeit missing one key attacking player in Hamer, we did not lay a glove on a very average lower league side.
I get people will say we get our main men back Saturday but we should have had enough to win and our opposition Everton get some confidence and goals into new players. If we fail to win Saturday, it could be a long time until our first win looking at the fixtures sadly.
I know you kind of sense you might get a changed side and it maybe does not mean much, but we were the only Premier League team to go out to a lower placed side in the pyramid I believe. We had a chance to at least see some attacking play which we have not seen and an opportunity for chances and some goals. We saw none of this and other than the young lad Seriki, no one took their opportunity at all. Credit Lincoln, they were organised and defended well but they had nothing to defend really and probably could not believe how bad we were.
Ratings:
Davies 6/10 – Nothing really to do other than one routine save. Saved one penalty but had little chance with the other 3 that were scored. Lincoln did not even need to take a 5th.
Bogle 4.5/10 – A few neat touches and runs but not sure he really created anything of note and fell on the floor a lot.
Larouci 5.5/10 – He started slowly and a few heavy touches but then actually was one of our main attacking threats and at least got into some good areas although no end product. Came off on the hour. Seems we may be signing Luke Thomas by all accounts (he was in the Stand tonight) but concern best we can do is a reserve Championship full back as competition?
Trusty 4/10 – He won a few headers but technically I was surprised how it was a struggle on the ball and seemed to not able to move it forward. He also lost a few duels which was supposed to be one of his strengths.
Egan 4/10 – Just kicked it out every time he had it first half, often under no pressure. He missed a good headed chance and then a woeful spot kick at the end. Not had the best start to the season.
Basham 6/10 – Our best defender in that he at least got on the ball and tried to drive forward. Even he regressed and his control/passing was not as good 2nd half.
Norwood 7.5/10 – Only one who wanted the ball and tried to pass it forward. Basically, was our team and midfield all night. Kept looking for movement but did not get any but he did at least try and take initiative. Scored a good penalty too.
Coulibaly 3/10 – Thought he was dreadful all night. Slow, clumsy, and poor first touch. Looked out of energy after 10 minutes and was often on his heels. He wanted an age to do anything and only played the odd simple sideways pass. He does not carry the ball at all and looks sluggish. I am not sure he is up to it from what I have seen over the last year and is one I would move on personally.
Brooks 3/10 – Had a bit of a nightmare. Ball came off him every time and he also lost most of the duels he was involved in. His touch and passing was wretched and came off at half time. Was looking forward to seeing him have a chance but he really struggled and looked a long way off the standard we need, albeit a youngster. Took way too long to make decisions and all seemed a bit much for him.
Archer 5/10 – Really quiet first half and with little service did not really have many touches. He tried to play on the last man but we were so slow getting forward. Him and McBurnie did not really form any kind of partnership, granted only one half. Both kept coming deep for a spell then and it became really congested. Had one chance when through with the keeper but rather telegraphed it. Taken off not long after.
McBurnie 5/10 – Tried to link play a bit but he had little impact too and just came wandering off the front line trying to get on the ball but we just passed it around in midfield. Taken off at half time with an eye on Saturday.
Subs –
Traore 4/10 – Not in it really. Looked weak when faced with challenges with defenders and ran down some blind alleys. He is tricky and works hard but worrying he does not really look like a goal threat and the physicality of games sees him lose tussles easily. The penalty was so obvious which side he was going and an easy save.
Seriki 7/10 – After Norwood, our next best player and two or three enterprising runs and actually got into good areas. Nutmegged his man once and another good interchange too. He did ok and was one of the only positives of a depressing performance.
Marsh 5/10 – Showed a good 5 minutes with one run and pass and at least came off and tried to get the ball on the half turn and had a chance from the Seriki cross but then struggled after this and ran into trouble or gave it away. Took too long to make decisions. His penalty was poor which is disappointing as he has been scoring for fun
Buyabu 5.5/10 – Did ok with a few neat touches down the left and kept it fairly basic. We ended up attacking more down the right the second half.
Osula 4/10 – The game was really scrappy and he saw little of it. One blocked effort apart, not sure he made much of an impact. After McBurnie and Archer went off, Osula and Traore offered even less.
Manager: Heckingbottom 3/10 – Made changes but they did not work and no one really stood out. The lack of tempo and attacking plan/pattern was worrying as even with the changes we should have been able to move it and have players taking responsibility. Other than Norwood and Seriki – no one else tried to even run at players or force Lincoln back.
Lincoln – Well organised, good fan support (sold out) and they defended it well. Carried little attacking threat but did not matter – they got to penalties and won the game.
Referee/Officials – No issues. Barely tackle of note all night. Booked a few of theirs for late tackles and Couilably for us – for being horrible late and slow.
First half not sure I can recall an effort from either side at all? Lincoln had as many ‘attacks’ as us, if you can call them that. Norwood had a shot from the half way line over the bar and they had one effort saved by Davies easily. McBurnie and Archer did not link at all and the midfield did not support or create except for some decent balls from Norwood that were more cross field. Lincoln just dealt with it all rather easily as it was so slow and laboured. Bash came out of defence a few times and actually Larouci, who started as he finishes Sunday with some indecisive moments, got forward well and was one of the main, if not only outlet.
After the break we took off McBurnie and Brooks and put on Marsh and Traore. The youngster had one decent run and pass to Archer whose shot was saved. This was the only chance I can recall of note that the keeper saved? Later, we had one ball across that was cleared away but that was it. That is a bit embarrassing. Norwood kept trying to find players but there was no movement, no one taking the ball on and it looked clueless. Lincoln did very little themselves but were content to just sit back and watch us pass it around and go nowhere. We made more changes and Seriki did well and he got down the side and created a few crossing chances but we never really seriously cut them open and the game just petered out. Egan had one header over but it was hardly much pressure applied at all. Was worrying that our four strikers used, McBurnie, Archer, Traore and Osula did not look a threat at all, save the one Archer chance. Lincoln ended having a few corners but they did not have any chances but deserved to take it to penalties.
The penalties saw Norwood and Osula score quite convincingly but Marsh had a tame effort saved and Traore’s was even worse, straight at the keeper who held the ball. Then the final one, you never thought Egan would score and so it proved as he blasted it over the bar, via the bar. That was it. We were out. We had 72% possession but did nothing with it and I can only recall one shot of note all game. The lack of pattern to our play, regardless of changes and inability to create any tempo or sustained spell in the last third of the Lincoln half was quite startling. It seemed like a friendly almost or worse still, two League One sides slugging it out. Of course, Sunday we did a great job and were organised and resolute but tonight, albeit missing one key attacking player in Hamer, we did not lay a glove on a very average lower league side.
I get people will say we get our main men back Saturday but we should have had enough to win and our opposition Everton get some confidence and goals into new players. If we fail to win Saturday, it could be a long time until our first win looking at the fixtures sadly.
I know you kind of sense you might get a changed side and it maybe does not mean much, but we were the only Premier League team to go out to a lower placed side in the pyramid I believe. We had a chance to at least see some attacking play which we have not seen and an opportunity for chances and some goals. We saw none of this and other than the young lad Seriki, no one took their opportunity at all. Credit Lincoln, they were organised and defended well but they had nothing to defend really and probably could not believe how bad we were.
Ratings:
Davies 6/10 – Nothing really to do other than one routine save. Saved one penalty but had little chance with the other 3 that were scored. Lincoln did not even need to take a 5th.
Bogle 4.5/10 – A few neat touches and runs but not sure he really created anything of note and fell on the floor a lot.
Larouci 5.5/10 – He started slowly and a few heavy touches but then actually was one of our main attacking threats and at least got into some good areas although no end product. Came off on the hour. Seems we may be signing Luke Thomas by all accounts (he was in the Stand tonight) but concern best we can do is a reserve Championship full back as competition?
Trusty 4/10 – He won a few headers but technically I was surprised how it was a struggle on the ball and seemed to not able to move it forward. He also lost a few duels which was supposed to be one of his strengths.
Egan 4/10 – Just kicked it out every time he had it first half, often under no pressure. He missed a good headed chance and then a woeful spot kick at the end. Not had the best start to the season.
Basham 6/10 – Our best defender in that he at least got on the ball and tried to drive forward. Even he regressed and his control/passing was not as good 2nd half.
Norwood 7.5/10 – Only one who wanted the ball and tried to pass it forward. Basically, was our team and midfield all night. Kept looking for movement but did not get any but he did at least try and take initiative. Scored a good penalty too.
Coulibaly 3/10 – Thought he was dreadful all night. Slow, clumsy, and poor first touch. Looked out of energy after 10 minutes and was often on his heels. He wanted an age to do anything and only played the odd simple sideways pass. He does not carry the ball at all and looks sluggish. I am not sure he is up to it from what I have seen over the last year and is one I would move on personally.
Brooks 3/10 – Had a bit of a nightmare. Ball came off him every time and he also lost most of the duels he was involved in. His touch and passing was wretched and came off at half time. Was looking forward to seeing him have a chance but he really struggled and looked a long way off the standard we need, albeit a youngster. Took way too long to make decisions and all seemed a bit much for him.
Archer 5/10 – Really quiet first half and with little service did not really have many touches. He tried to play on the last man but we were so slow getting forward. Him and McBurnie did not really form any kind of partnership, granted only one half. Both kept coming deep for a spell then and it became really congested. Had one chance when through with the keeper but rather telegraphed it. Taken off not long after.
McBurnie 5/10 – Tried to link play a bit but he had little impact too and just came wandering off the front line trying to get on the ball but we just passed it around in midfield. Taken off at half time with an eye on Saturday.
Subs –
Traore 4/10 – Not in it really. Looked weak when faced with challenges with defenders and ran down some blind alleys. He is tricky and works hard but worrying he does not really look like a goal threat and the physicality of games sees him lose tussles easily. The penalty was so obvious which side he was going and an easy save.
Seriki 7/10 – After Norwood, our next best player and two or three enterprising runs and actually got into good areas. Nutmegged his man once and another good interchange too. He did ok and was one of the only positives of a depressing performance.
Marsh 5/10 – Showed a good 5 minutes with one run and pass and at least came off and tried to get the ball on the half turn and had a chance from the Seriki cross but then struggled after this and ran into trouble or gave it away. Took too long to make decisions. His penalty was poor which is disappointing as he has been scoring for fun
Buyabu 5.5/10 – Did ok with a few neat touches down the left and kept it fairly basic. We ended up attacking more down the right the second half.
Osula 4/10 – The game was really scrappy and he saw little of it. One blocked effort apart, not sure he made much of an impact. After McBurnie and Archer went off, Osula and Traore offered even less.
Manager: Heckingbottom 3/10 – Made changes but they did not work and no one really stood out. The lack of tempo and attacking plan/pattern was worrying as even with the changes we should have been able to move it and have players taking responsibility. Other than Norwood and Seriki – no one else tried to even run at players or force Lincoln back.
Lincoln – Well organised, good fan support (sold out) and they defended it well. Carried little attacking threat but did not matter – they got to penalties and won the game.
Referee/Officials – No issues. Barely tackle of note all night. Booked a few of theirs for late tackles and Couilably for us – for being horrible late and slow.
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