United 2 Gillingham 2 - report

[DronnieBlade]

Credit to Gillingham who for a long time looked a rag bag outfit more intent on 'working the ref ' than seriously competing with us.

First 20 minutes of the first half I thought we were complacent and far too slow in our build up. There was one spell when we must have had 30 slow sideways and backwards passes in possession until we finally achieved a throw in . About 50 fans I could hear actually clapped that spell of completely wasted time for us but great for the Gills as the longer it went without conceding the more comfortable they would be; let us play across the face of their two lines at half pace and they were laughing. I must say that I have a new obsession watching Coutts demand the ball time and time again and often demanding a backwards pass to him only for him to play a nothing ball sideways or backwards. Once Fleck was told to move it on quicker Coutts was by-passed and we were better for it and so was Fleck. In fairness Coutts also got more progressive but I would ask fellow fans to just watch how many times Coutts demands the ball, gets it and thereby introduces two extra passes in a move which gets nowhere further but only more slowly. It's good to have a player who always wants the ball but oh how unproductive the lad can be.

After about 25 minutes our lads must have been told to speed it up and I thought we played the remainder of the half well.

Because we didn't put them away by half time the opposition manager knew they had a chance to gamble and they did with devastating effect. I wondered who fannied around for the first and it happened to be Coutts completely the wrong side of the man when he put it away; a liability in defensive positions as always.

Wilder upset me with his starting line-up selection : Wright should have been back long ago but after the 4-1 defeat this was the right time. Done is no wing-back and I'm sorry that our manager seems to think he owes him something for being a tryer, that's all he is these days and it doesn't make up for complete unproductivity.

Since Wright got injured EEL has been half the player. Wright organises and mops up. When he doesn't play EEL has to sdopt that role and O'Connell primarily attacks the ball first, to good effect I should add but at the same time removing EEL's strong suit. All of a sudden EEL is having to think more rather than just dominate and as a result he is poor frankly. Maybe more like the player past Wolves managers saw at the higher level.

We should have won the game and it's amazing we didn't but we can be more resolute and ambitious than we were in the first 20/25 minutes. Away sides seem to regard that as the key period to get through, silence the crowd and take it from there. We played those 25 minutes at a canter.

One final point re the substitutions; Scougall doesn't deserve the manager's faith and nor does McNulty. Surelly riley would have revelled in the situation and I make no apologies for saying that Reed has the capability to look up and play a ball to feet into the opposition area - a skill otherwise only Duffy seems to possess and he had an off day yesterday.

We have seen eye to eye on many a thing in the past WWF.

The role, influence and importance of Coutts in this SU side, under Wilder, won't be one of them.

UTB

 

[Fulwood Blade]

Subject:high foot in the area v Gillingham.

Have just seen Arsenal get a penalty for a high boot in the area - similar to when we got one v Scunny.

Sat in South Stand yesterday - did a Gills player do a high foot to one of our players in the 2nd half - seemed to think I saw one, but not a lot of protest.

Anyone?

UTB

 

[Woodwardfan]

We have seen eye to eye on many a thing in the past WWF.

The role, influence and importance of Coutts in this SU side, under Wilder, won't be one of them.

UTB

I understand both sides of the argument, honestly I do.
I rate him highly as a player technically and I could see him playing at a higher level in a good side.
I just don't think we can afford to play so much tippy-tappy stuff in the first hour of games. When things work out anyone can say it's a patience game. When it doesn't, like the last two games, it's wasted opportunity.
Let me re-address it. If we had Riley on one flank, a genuine strike partner for Sharp and say Carruthers buzzing in the final third then Coutts can dilly dally all he wants. One day we might well be that good that we can play with patience and arrogance even, but we are not there yet.

 

[DronnieBlade]

I understand both sides of the argument, honestly I do.
I rate him highly as a player technically and I could see him playing at a higher level in a good side.
I just don't think we can afford to play so much tippy-tappy stuff in the first hour of games. When things work out anyone can say it's a patience game. When it doesn't, like the last two games, it's wasted opportunity.
Let me re-address it. If we had Riley on one flank, a genuine strike partner for Sharp and say Carruthers buzzing in the final third then Coutts can dilly dally all he wants. One day we might well be that good that we can play with patience and arrogance even, but we are not there yet.

Alternatively, the dilly dallying you speak of is actually a player with a huge amount of intelligence to consistently find large pockets of space, has a first touch from the heavens, which gives the appearance of having even more time on the ball, a player that consistently makes good decisions when on the ball and one that rarely loses possession of the football.

As I see it. And only that.

UTB.

 

[coaxingstar71]

Yes, sadly having a family, cost and other commitments means i am restricted to 2 or 3 away games a season now. Hoping to get to a few in the run in. Planning to go to Peterboro and Rochdale if I can.

I'm intrigued as to how you manage to write up such accurately detailed reports - do you make notes while you're at the game?

Likewise on the away game front, managed 4 last season, but this season the fixtures are just not falling kindly for me. Hoping to get to Oldham and Northampton. Perhaps I'll have a go at doing reports for those!

 

[Woodwardfan]

Alternatively, the dilly dallying you speak of is actually a player with a huge amount of intelligence to consistently find large pockets of space, has a first touch from the heavens, which gives the appearance of having even more time on the ball, a player that consistently makes good decisions when on the ball and one that rarely loses possession of the football.

As I see it. And only that.

UTB.

Agree with all that but he slows us down and does all his work deep rather than where it really matters.

I'm not a 'hoofball' merchant but there is a pace to play the game and there is not much advantage to be gained to take 3/4 passes where one without risk will suffice. After 20 minutes yesterday I was incensed and once you recognise Coutts wants the ball every other ball and often can demand he gets it when he is no better placed than the man in possession, the penny drops and it drives you mad.

 

[Dnblade]

Because we didn't put them away by half time the opposition manager knew they had a chance to gamble and they did with devastating effect. I wondered who fannied around for the first and it happened to be Coutts completely the wrong side of the man when he put it away; a liability in defensive positions as always.

A bit harsh on Coutts Woody for the goal..Have a look at the video of the goal again and watch EEL open e ought space to build a new stand...Coutts is wrong side as he's tracking the other man, but then tries to rescue the situation when EEL misjudged everything and opens up the way to goal...if he'd stayed put the lad isn't going to score simple as that,can't blame Coutts for me.

 

[DHeppenstall]

My sons first game...the referee was rubbish, gillinhams cheated by wasting time.

Billy sharp scored..hurrah.

From me...first time I've been for ages, i did have a brief chat with a denizen of this forum and asked him who the team in red and white were, they seemed to pass the ball to each other and be running with purpose.

Even with the bad 5 minuted after half time we ran the match, i enjoyed it and will return with the boy.


apologies to anyone sat near me and the boy on the family stand...he was rather giddy..

 

[South Bucks]

Coutts drives me mad to be honest, his first priority always seems to be to go sideways and slow everything down. Opponents must love it as it gives them time to get back and in their positions. He has great skill so if he could just change his priorities sometimes to trying to go forward first and only only going sideways if a pass is not on he could be a very good offensive player. Take Billy's one two goal on Saturday, more early supply like that from midfield might well result in even more goals for Billy, might suit him better than the slow build up and a defender on his toes.

Coutts just jogging back when the opponents pinch the ball and rush forward is also an area where he could improve.

Not much point having lots of possession if we don't convert enough of it into goals.