The surprise package for me so far has been Paul Dixon. I was expecting Fox to be the first choice, but Dixon has performed ok against FGR and very well against Mac.

Welsh was always going to be a good signing but he’s been instrumental to bringing balance. This is one of the best town midfields for the past 7 years. Hess is starting to play well too, he’s a buzzing presence in midfield. Rose has been playing well too (before being sent off).

Macca is one of the best keepers in the league.

Cook and Vernham are the quick nuisance strikers we’ve been sorely missing. If they can score consistently...

Hooper never ceases to amaze me compared to thenplayer for most of last season. He’s not hit the heights of the run in but is still a useful squad member.

Davis played well at RB. Collins redeemed himself on Saturday, and there’s a potential good relationship between him and Whitmore.

I’m not wearing rose tinted glasses as there are still gaps but we have the makings of a harmonious team.

Paul Dixon played well against a poor Macclesfield side. But he was sub standard IMO against Forest Green and he has been sub standard ever since we signed him. I can't just forget all the performances he's put in after one game at Macc when we were in the ascendancy the majority of the game.

To be fair, against FGR the majority were awful, even at 1-0 up we hadn't played well. Maybe Dixon will benefit from a proper pre season this year as he joined us late as a free agent last pre season. Honestly, I don't think he has it in him anymore, he has played at a good level which bewilders me, he's only 32. Hope he proves me wrong. I'm pretty sure he can't play wing back.

John Welsh looks superb, his aggression, reading of the game and his quality stand out. Very fit bloke for 34 years of age.

James McKeown is a good solid keeper, capable of making top saves, commands his area better now, has a howler in him every now and again.

Cook and Vernham really excite me, both good technical players, Vernham in particular has a lot of potential.

Hooper, if we are to progress we need to improve on him IMO. Better out wide in a three IMO than central.

Davis, haven't seen enough of him yet. Collins will stand out, even at 38 on the ball. I don't blame him for that own goal, he was passing to the orange top, he couldn't seen our keeper, so passed to the steward via our net.

I think Dixon is just too slow to be a good full-back, unfortunately, and is certainly too slow to be an effective wing-back, even if he's otherwise a competent enough footballer. I'd expect that he'll have the odd decent game, from time to time, but will struggle as often as not.

Any time he comes up against a bit of pace (such as FGR), he's inevitably going to drop back a few yards and not get close to the wingers to make it more difficult for them to get past him. I personally prefer to see wing-backs/full-backs pushed further forward, putting pressure on the wide players as soon as they get the ball. Not going to happen with Dixon in the team.

Dixon did ok going forward on Saturday but did tend to over hit his crosses. Defensively he is quite poor, got caught daydreaming a couple of times.

Against FGR he was just poor

You cant have a surprise package after 2 games mate.

Dixon had a great game against Macclesfield and i'm buzzing for him, and should rightly keep his place in the team based on that performance.

But 1 game doesn't all of a sudden make him a great player again.

Just like 1 bad game doesn't make anyone a bad player

Even after the win on Saturday, I'm gonna have to say it. I've got some concerns about DC. Before the sending off we started to defend too deeply.. again. And having DC covering PD is a real weak point in my opinion. Far from him fully redeeming himself, a couple of eyecatching headed clearances apart, DC made several poor errors heading the ball straight to opposing players in and around the box. He was helped out by last ditch blocks by Whitmore, who in fact was the dominant centre half on Saturday. I hope Famewo gets a run when he's fully fit and I hope that MJ goes out and finds a dynamic left wing back or left back because PD is only going to be ever ok in that role. I'd just like to see us playing a game or two with a well drilled pacy back line without having to compromise our playing style due to lack of pace at the back. It's been a good long season or two already having to compromise without any benefits or results to show for it. We've got enough already to survive in this league and probably be a solid mid-table side, but what's the point in that? This is not a great league and it wouldn't take too much more to get into the play off hunt. And before everyone jumps on my back about DC.. watch the game again, then form a considered opinion..

For me, regarding Dixon, the surprise is that he's been selected twice.

I think he showed, last season, that he's decent on a good day but not really good enough for a side that wants to play with wing backs and challenge the better teams.

I thought Fox was a bit better than him last year, but a position where we're crying out for another good player to add to the few we have.

Quoted from Bigdog

Even after the win on Saturday, I'm gonna have to say it. I've got some concerns about DC. Before the sending off we started to defend too deeply.. again. And having DC covering PD is a real weak point in my opinion. Far from him fully redeeming himself, a couple of eyecatching headed clearances apart, DC made several poor errors heading the ball straight to opposing players in and around the box. He was helped out by last ditch blocks by Whitmore, who in fact was the dominant centre half on Saturday. I hope Famewo gets a run when he's fully fit and I hope that MJ goes out and finds a dynamic left wing back or left back because PD is only going to be ever ok in that role. I'd just like to see us playing a game or two with a well drilled pacy back line without having to compromise our playing style due to lack of pace at the back. It's been a good long season or two already having to compromise without any benefits or results to show for it. We've got enough already to survive in this league and probably be a solid mid-table side, but what's the point in that? This is not a great league and it wouldn't take too much more to get into the play off hunt. And before everyone jumps on my back about DC.. watch the game again, then form a considered opinion..

I wasn't there so can't comment on individual performances.  But a left side that combines Collins, Dixon and then Woolford (understand he was more on the right on Saturday) has to be a concern in terms of how exposed they would be by pace.

Quoted from diehardmariner

I wasn't there so can't comment on individual performances.  But a left side that combines Collins, Dixon and then Woolford (understand he was more on the right on Saturday) has to be a concern in terms of how exposed they would be by pace.

Yeah, it was Hooper in front of Dixon which is just as bad if not worse. Apart from one or two nice touches and tackles, Hooper was completely ineffective. Can't get my head around how he gets picked ahead of Vernam in any position and in any formation..

Quoted from Bigdog

Yeah, it was Hooper in front of Dixon which is just as bad if not worse. Apart from one or two nice touches and tackles, Hooper was completely ineffective. Can't get my had around how he gets picked ahead of Vernam in any position and in any formation..

Have to agree about Hooper, he started ok but the longer the game went on he started to look disinterested.

Apologies if this is a bit harsh, but I would have much preferred not to have Dixon, Hooper and Woolford here this season. Slade's signings, and none of them much better than decent once in while - swap them for 3 good players and add them to the rest and we'd be looking a much more potent outfit. Just my opinion.