After getting a lot of attention following his string of MotM performances, teams have crowded him out, Lincoln doubled up on him and yesterday again he couldn’t turn and create like he has been doing. He’s a threat, and teams have worked this out.Bate has been a shadow of himself in recent games actually. Probably could do with a rest even if not injured. Decent player, but he's young, and maybe has just had too many games in a row.
Browne infuriated me with his lethargy for the third goal. I would’ve dragged him off instantly. He’s got form for it. It wasn’t the first time in the game yesterday and the Wycombe game at Wembley also springs to mind.
We haven’t got time for passengers anymore. It’s not like he did a huge amount of positives in the game anyway. The amount of times he was in a good position to put a decent cross in and just hit the first defender with it. Sorry if I’m being hash but we need players fighting for the jersey now. Not sure who else we have though? Wildschut I guess
Agree with lots of that and I was surprised by some comments on Radio Oxford last night, Ollies for a start we were better than he made out.Body language atrocious after each of their goals.
We have decent quality in the squad but I saw only 3 fighters on the pitch today. Long, Brown and Brannagan. That’s got to be a problem, whoever sits in the dug out. We are not built for a relegation fight.
We were out muscled in midfield too, like we are every week, allthough Smyth actually showed some promise. I’d start him next week.
Derby bog average, they had what 4 shots and scored 3. It’s such a poor league this season, which makes our shocking run even more galling. All Eastwood seems to do is pick the ball out of the net. He needs a rest, he simply doesn’t create any sense of confidence.
Good luck Liam Manning , you’re going to need it.
I didn’t want to be too negative about him but there were many times even just yesterday where inside I‘m screaming about his lack of effort whilst watching Derby payers busting a gut. He has the ability to be the best player on the team but the work rate and effort of the worst. It’s criminal really because anyone can try hard even those of us in Sunday morning pub teams with little ability.Browne infuriated me with his lethargy for the third goal. I would’ve dragged him off instantly. He’s got form for it. It wasn’t the first time in the game yesterday and the Wycombe game at Wembley also springs to mind.
We haven’t got time for passengers anymore. It’s not like he did a huge amount of positives in the game anyway. The amount of times he was in a good position to put a decent cross in and just hit the first defender with it. Sorry if I’m being hash but we need players fighting for the jersey now. Not sure who else we have though? Wildschut I guess
I noticed that too.Body language atrocious after each of their goals.
We have decent quality in the squad but I saw only 3 fighters on the pitch today. Long, Brown and Brannagan. That’s got to be a problem, whoever sits in the dug out. We are not built for a relegation fight.
We were out muscled in midfield too, like we are every week, allthough Smyth actually showed some promise. I’d start him next week.
Derby bog average, they had what 4 shots and scored 3. It’s such a poor league this season, which makes our shocking run even more galling. All Eastwood seems to do is pick the ball out of the net. He needs a rest, he simply doesn’t create any sense of confidence.
Good luck Liam Manning , you’re going to need it.
One of the reasons I was encouraged by Smyth’s overall performance was because he didn’t shrink. He constantly showed for the ball and wanted the pass, moved into space and pushed other people on. He looked to move the team up the pitch. Played several one-two’s with Long that forced him to go forward, and there were a couple of times when he laid the ball off to a centre back but made a point of pushing it several yards ahead of them. He took the option for them to check back away from them and basically went, “You’re going to stride forward onto that ball and you’re going to be brave.”I didn’t want to be too negative about him but there were many times even just yesterday where inside I‘m screaming about his lack of effort whilst watching Derby payers busting a gut. He has the ability to be the best player on the team but the work rate and effort of the worst. It’s criminal really because anyone can try hard even those of us in Sunday morning pub teams with little ability.
Our crossing is as poor as I’ve seen. It also creates a culture where players don’t make the effort to get into the box because they know it’s not worth it.
Don’t invite Gary LinekarI don't think you understand how billionaires think.
But if you're right then I have no doubt that we will soon see an announcement limiting free speech in the Kassam and banning hundreds if not thousands of paying punters.
If we don't, you can probably assume it's a bad idea.
Smyth has already shown he’s got balls by not shrinking back after the way he’s been treated. To still be here and prepared to man up when the temptation might have been to chuck it all in and head back home shows he has just what we need. To play the way he did with so little minutes showed guts but it was interesting that his team mates showed the trust in him. They certainly didn’t shy away from entrusting him with the ball. They must have seen plenty in training - Short as well - that, for some mysterious reason, KR couldn’t…One of the reasons I was encouraged by Smyth’s overall performance was because he didn’t shrink. He constantly showed for the ball and wanted the pass, moved into space and pushed other people on. He looked to move the team up the pitch. Played several one-two’s with Long that forced him to go forward, and there were a couple of times when he laid the ball off to a centre back but made a point of pushing it several yards ahead of them. He took the option for them to check back away from them and basically went, “You’re going to stride forward onto that ball and you’re going to be brave.”
Compare that to a player like McGuane, who always plays the ball either directly to feet or ever so slightly behind people, which either forces or encourages them not to move up the pitch, and you see the difference. Smyth has got a bit about him and even when he makes mistakes he keeps going and has belief in what he’s trying to do. We are going to need players like that, because otherwise we are going to autopilot straight out of the division.
Smyth has already shown he’s got balls by not shrinking back after the way he’s been treated. To still be here and prepared to man up when the temptation might have been to chuck it all in and head back home shows he has just what we need. To play the way he did with so little minutes showed guts but it was interesting that his team mates showed the trust in him. They certainly didn’t shy away from entrusting him with the ball. They must have seen plenty in training - Short as well - that, for some mysterious reason, KR couldn’t…
With the rare crosses we did get in the only target seemed to be Tyler of all people.I didn’t want to be too negative about him but there were many times even just yesterday where inside I‘m screaming about his lack of effort whilst watching Derby payers busting a gut. He has the ability to be the best player on the team but the work rate and effort of the worst. It’s criminal really because anyone can try hard even those of us in Sunday morning pub teams with little ability.
Our crossing is as poor as I’ve seen. It also creates a culture where players don’t make the effort to get into the box because they know it’s not worth it.
I don't think I've ever seen a player who doesn't utilise their attributes effectively as much as him. He should be pressing defences with his pace and strength as well as running the wing up and down, supporting Brown and the rest of the defence. Instead he has a couple of glimmers each game and it usually comes to nothing and for the rest he's just making up the numbers.Browne infuriated me with his lethargy for the third goal. I would’ve dragged him off instantly. He’s got form for it. It wasn’t the first time in the game yesterday and the Wycombe game at Wembley also springs to mind.
Initial clearance is not good, we totally lack the ability to put our foot through the ball and really clearing it. I'm not saying that should be done every time but when needs must.I’d say we usually make a decent initial clearance, but too often don’t win the 2nd or 3rd ball as it bounces round, the opposition recycle it quickly and we’re all out of position.
Not helped by the non replacement of Gorrin since November 2021.
That did make us laugh, he thought some Swindon fans might come past and nick them..
He'd been passed the training ground and seen 3 free kick dummies left out, thats wh the club is in the state it is.
So this is our worst run of form since 1989? I can't pretend I'm hopeful of survival.Yep, 1988 to 1989, our third but last season in the top flight. We sold Ray Houghton to Liverpool in the November and we didn't win a game in the League for the rest of the season. In short, we've got some way to go to match that.
Wildschut put in two good crosses to the back stick only for the defender to clear under very little pressure, not Tyler's fault at least he's getting in there. But a taller more physical player would have had a good chance to get on the end of it. Sam Long for instance would have got on the end of both . A season or so ago he would have been joining in those attacks when we needed a goal.With the rare crosses we did get in the only target seemed to be Tyler of all people.
Morecombe have have only lost 1 of their last 8 home games with 5 wins. Getting 3 points there will need a better performance than yesterday.Lots of emotions from yesterday
GOD has loads of potential but it’s not fair him starting, his first touch let him down a few times and he should have scored perhaps but he’s young, he’s a strong player and perhaps he should have someone next to him to feed off of him
Browne is frustrating some good runs but not ready to run for the team the third goal is a perfect example
Long had yet another up and down game
Findlay another who did the odd thing well but at other times was poor
Anderson was poor today
Bate was poor
But both these often had 2 up against them
Smith did well the sitter apart but he’s a defensive midfielder and was positioned further up the pitch than say Cam
It was a huge match to introduce him
We allowed too many crosses into our box
When we finally managed to get crosses into the box Tyler was the only one there
He was a bright spark
Henry (who I have slated) played well
Although generally a negative post, because we have again come away with no points, I actually think we could have come away with one point, poor poor finishing yet again
Next weeks game is a must win and I think if we play like we did today we will/ should come away with 3 points
then with confidence we move on under Liam