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Post by realtrottersforever on Mar 14, 2015 20:28:45 GMT
Most of what I thought has already been said by AndyL and davidm.
We allowed Millwall to boss us in midfield. We were already light in midfield and Danns let us down badly by losing the ball then getting booked for a lunging tackle and then minutes later doing the same thing again and was very lucky not to be sent off. His substitution was only a matter of time. I'm sorry but his days are numbered as far as I am concerned. Unfortunately his replacement wasn't much better and if it hadn't been Coke it would have been Trotter, what a choice!! Surely Spearing is better than both of those??
Mills was atrocious and his continually punting of the ball to LeFondre (who didn't win one header) just ensured that the ball came straight back. In contrast Ream was magnificent both in defence and getting forward. McCarthy was OK, didn't make any mistakes and was solid.
I was cautiously impressed with Walker, yes he did get caught a few times, but did some good stuff and was always willing to track back. How many of our youngsters is it now that NL has blooded since his appointment?
How I despair at the inclusion of Feeney week after week. What does NL see in him??? He does nothing....he can't cross, he can't pass, he never beats an opponent, just what does he do??
I agree with davidm about Eidur, he really didn't offer much apart from the pass for ALF's 2nd.
Shame ALF couldn't get his hat trick and I cannot wait to see him partnered for a full game with Cravies, who actually made use of the long punts up field.
Amos..........9 Vela..........6 Mills.........2 McCarthy......6 Ream..........8 Feeney........2 Danns.........2 (Coke....4) Bannan........6 (Trotter...1) Walker........6 Gudjonson.....4 (Cravies...7) LeFondre......8
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Post by greydad on Mar 14, 2015 22:10:11 GMT
As has been stated by other posters, 3 valuable points....it's one of football's ironies that the team has played a lot better and lost, but I'll take a few more 2-0 wins with average displays! Fortunately, the performances of Amos, ALF, Ream, Bannan and McCarthy in particular, along with Vela and Walker to a lesser, but nonetheless creditable extent, compensated for the dearth of fluency overall. Ream played a superb long ball to help set up the first goal, and was commendably accurate with most of his passing throughout. Bannan was also consistent with his use of the ball, and his constant picking up of 'loose threads' in midfield, whilst McCarthy again did the simple things well. ALF did today what he threatened to do a couple of times last Wednesday. wonderful strikes both, complemented by his tireless running...sign him up in summer, please, along with Amos if at all possible, he really does present a formidable obstacle to opposing forwards. Walker showed commendable skill and penetration at times, and his free kick brought an excellent save from the Millwall keeper, a pleasing debut indeed. Craig Davies was lively, and had he not been hacked down he would have had a good opportunity to put Wednesday's miss behind him. Should the team as a whole manage to raise their performance levels at Ipswich to something like those achieved today by the players mentioned previously, Tuesday's journey should not disappoint!
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Post by andyl on Mar 14, 2015 22:27:12 GMT
Temporarily buoyed by an excellent play at the Octagon I'm now back to the despair I felt earlier. Three points yes but if we lose to Ipswich and Wigan as we will if NL sets up like that again we will be very vulnerable
It's true that Millwall were flaky defensively and had little cutting edge until Fuller came on and happily Amos thwarted him but they made fools of our midfield time and time again. Bannan was OK (why take him off), if lightweight but at least he's good on the ball. Danns without Pratley is too often exposed and if by any chance he moves forward that's when he gets into trouble and lunges. He was very very lucky today to last until half time.
Coke reminded me of the anti climax when my parents swapped coal for Coke in our Parkray in the 60s. It just wouldn't ignite the fire and nor did he and as for Feeney-well it's been said
But on the basis of that NL must pach his midfield in the next two games. I think Trotter is potentially much better than Danns and Coke. But surely as Greydad has been saying it's time for Ream to move forward so that we can utilise his excellent passing. He could make lots of chances for Le Fondre. We just don't need two up front and we don't need two wide players. We have to do better in midfield. Surely the Bulgarian is reAdy by now. He looked big and strong and had one excellent run late on at Derby. Twardzik also looked neat and combative. He gets stuck in and is good in the air. Danns has quick feet but Bannan does too. We should go with Bannan and help him out
Mills was too abysmal to be selected again in defence. Dervite may complement McCarthy better. Time to find out. Mills can go to the bench and maybe come on up front late on or to try to help defence without frontline responsibility. I think Moxey will be fine at left back; rather him than Mills in the team. But if he won't move Ream up then he should support McCarthy in the middle
It's unusual for Myself,David M and RTF to be quite so of one mind in pretty much every detail re those who played today.
Yes Craig D energised the forward line, held up the ball, was flattened by a last man defender when through ( red card?) but he also conceded fouls and wandered offside but for all that he offers something. Heskey and Eidur alas only offer moments.
I think we won today playing with half a side. We'll be mangled at Ipswich and Wigan without surgery and some sort of platform for continuity established
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Post by greydad on Mar 14, 2015 23:56:56 GMT
Glad you enjoyed the play Andy, and I agree with your half a team appraisal...my previous post ought to have added the qualifier that such a raising of performance levels might well be easier said than done for certain players, but with Tuesday's long trek in mind I need to retain some degree of optimism that N L can provide the necessary motivation and inspiration!
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Post by OohMac on Mar 15, 2015 13:28:37 GMT
Mills.........2 Feeney........2 Danns.........2
This needs addressing soon. Or a dressing down. Since Liverpool i'd say these three players have been absolute rubbish. No doubt Danns is suffering from not having the quality around him he once had Davies, Lee, Clough or Pratley. They did the hard graft and the good work and let Danns play his natural game of clumsily breaking up play.
Feeney is a winger who doesn't like to beat a man and who cannot cross. Not fit for purpose but Lennon likes his head down, "duracell" attitude. I can't knock him for effort but I'd run around like a headless chicken for good money and a guaranted spot(well until I got a stich, seven minutes in)
Mills i'm not sure. I know he can do it he was turning in consistent performances earlier this season but now he can't keep concentration. Again probably not helped playing with a different keeper behind and a consistent centre pairing, or not knowing how to change between flat back 4 or 3 or 5 at the back. But at the end of the day he needs to adapt his game or be dropped.
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Post by megsontilidie on Mar 15, 2015 17:36:17 GMT
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