Just back

Quoted from Tommy

3rd 0-0 in a row at home but not quite groundhog day as there were a few chances today.

We could've had a few. Jones hitting the post and then another shot after cutting back inside. Vernon header forcing a save. 2nd half not a lot but Dembele flashed the ball wide after going round the keeper leaving a difficult angle.

But it wasn't all Town. Cambridge should've scored first half when their lad scuffed his shot and dragged it wide from dead centre of the goal. And 2nd half McKeown made 2 good saves low down, to add to the 2 we cleared off the line within 10 seconds of each other.

In my opinion the standard and the tactics at the moment are poor. Despite us having these few chances, they're not much to show for 90 minutes of football, where generally the game wasn't a great spectacle. We have a chance but then don't do anything else for another 20 minutes. We don't back it up with any periods of sustained pressure. Teams dont have any spells in a game when they're pinned in their own half against us.

Crazy crazy subs today from Slade. Jones wasn't particularly having a fantastic afternoon but he's our only finisher. Vernon, aside from his header 1st half, didn't offer anything and is as likely to not score again this season as he is to score again this season.
Dembele, again, his decision-making and end product wasn't always there but at 0-0 I'd leave him on as he might make something happen. Meanwhile Woolford on the other wing gets a full 90 again despite offering very little.(I do accept he'd offer more if we had more movement in the team and had spells of possession).

Summerfield was my MOM. Intercepted balls, won tackles, passed with a purpose, passed forwards and saw passes early. One great cushion volley pass to Dembele when the ball came at him from high up and he had to open his body up to direct it to Dembele.

Davies was also good. Defended well, won free-kicks (just about our only player who knows how to draw a foul or even make it look like you've been fouled), and put 2/3 great crosses in during the first half from open play.

McKeown, despite his poor kicking, deserves positive mention for his vital saves today.

Sadly that was about it. Collins and Clarke were ok but both sloppy at times too. Berrett and Vernon offered nothing. Woolford and Dixon aren't terrible players but suffer from being paired with each other down our left. Much like Gregor Robertson and Monkhouse, too one-paced as a partnership. Either would be better with a more athletic player on that side with them.

The unbeaten run is all well and good but it's the points return from these games that should be the overriding judge of success. And we've only actually won 2 in the last 8.

Quoted from Mariner93er

We have too many steady players. Woodford and berrett are prime examples, always playing simple balls leaving the creative burden on a few players. Apart from Summerfield, dembele and jones, we have no attacking intent within the side. The problem is, it's these players that are the ones getting subbed. I'm praying slade puts Osbourne in the team ahead of berrett when he's back to fitness, and it would be nice to see Tom or dj given at least half an hour to prove their worth.

Quoted from MuddyWaters

Our level of ball retention yesterday was almost entirely down to Berrett breaking play up and making simple passes. If you play 442 you've got to have a player doing the dirty work - what we are lacking is pace down the sides, particularly the left.