Post by stevek192 on Dec 28, 2014 20:30:30 GMT
I will start my report with a clip from a Macclesfield supporter on their forum.
"No need for the drama queens to appear just yet. Bristol Rovers looked an exceptional side this afternoon and I'd be more worried if I was a Grimsby or Barnet fan this evening. No need to doubt our potential for a top 5 finish after a couple of bad results against massive clubs who should be aiming to win that league."
Nice to actually read an opposing fan praising us up rather than the usual "nothing special".
Today was definitely a game where we passed the ball very well and ground down the opposition almost from the off but we have now added a new tactic - scoring goals!!!I thought the first half although not as good as the second produced some good football and should have seen us go in at least a couple ahead as Macclesfield did not really look like scoring and we were unlucky on a couple of occasions and well worth our one goal lead. Second half was a very one way affair and we always looked like we would win the game and how good it was to see us score some good goals. I like the composed way we are now building our attacks as our players seem to have recently found new confidence in their ability,the side has a great work ethic throughout the team and when one attack finishes another one starts.
Puddy 6 Didn't have a lot to do in the way of shots but looked confident and his distribution both kicking and throwing is a joy to watch as he regularly starts moves from the back.
Leadbitter 8 Just when I had said that he should be released (only because I didn't feel DC was really interested in playing him) back he comes in the side and today gave a first class performance both defensively and going forward. Strong in the air and very quick, him and Gosling seem to have built a good understanding and it is bringing the best out of both of them. I very much hope that he retains his place now as it looks to be just what he needed.
Parkes 8 Immense in the air and confident on the ground. We are now seeing Tom back to his best and that can only be a good thing. The lapses that earlier in the season saw the ball needlessly lost have gone and he brings the ball out well and the whole defence now looks solid.
McCrystal 8 Wasn't sure about the decision to bring him back in for Trotman but DC got it right again as Mac gave a faultless performance, won everything that came at him in the air and never looked likely to let his player past him on the ground either. Also he seemed to be vocally leading the team today which was good to see from our Captain.
Lockyer 7 A very solid game on his "wrong" side and really shows what a useful utility player he is. Doesn't have Lee browns attacking ability BUT I think defensively he may be better than Lee. I don't think it should be an immediate return for Browner as I believe players have to lose their place and the same goes for the other side where I think it would be so wrong to drop Leadbitter now and move Lockyer back. Going back to his defensive ability I think it brought the best out of Monkhouse because if your full back doesn't go racing on the overlap then your winger doesn't have to cover back all the time and can concentrate on getting forward.
Gosling 7.5 Not as outstanding as against Torquay but still a very good winger performance. Some good crossing and has the ability to take the defender on.Jake is improving with every game and the fact he can go both inside and outside really gives problems for the defenders. Was unlucky not to score today.
Mansell 8 This man is an inspiration,winning the ball and spreading the passes and rarely giving the ball away. He does so much of the gritty,unselfish work that doesn't always get noticed but when he isn't there you realise just what he does. He is a Leader and has a good football brain.
Sinclair 7.5 A usual performance from "The Beard". He covers every inch of the ground and is an inspiration to those around him. Never stops working and even when he is not completely on his game he still hassles the opposition and in fact does everything that OToole didn't. I wonder what Stuart Campbell thought of him?
Monkhouse 8.5 MOM I have always thought that Monkey has something to offer the team and today he was right on the ball. There is something classy about him in possession and no one can doubt his strength in the air. I actually think having Lockyer behind him helped him as he knew he rarely had to cover his defender and when he had the ball he was always looking to get forward. His header was sublime for the first goal and his assist for the second goal was wing wizardry at his best getting down the line with deceiving pace and then laying the ball perfectly into the path of Blissett.
Taylor 8 At last Matty is now regularly getting on the scoresheet and because of this he looks much more the part because his workrate,control of the ball and dragging defenders all over the place has never been in doubt but if you don't have another striker regularly scoring then you can't afford the luxury of Matt not being a goalscorer either. Scored a great header and brought a good save from the keeper although he probably should have scored.
Blissett 7 A hard working game and rewarded with a good goal which he took very well. Won a lot in the air and really causes problems for defenders with his willingness to move about rather than stand and make himself easy to mark which seemed to be the problem with Wall and often with Matty Harrold. He is nowhere near the finished article but can become a very good leader of the attack.
Clarke 6 Neither good or bad. Did not have the same influence as when he came on against Gateshead.
Goldberg 6 Won the penalty and a few useful looking runs, he seems to be quick off the mark and if we could get him in cheap I would take a punt on him as there is something about him.
Harrison 6 Didn't have long but dispatched the penalty well.
DC 8 Got everything right again. Is willing to make difficult decisions such as the Trotman/McCrystal decision and also the keeper decision. The Key now is how he deals with the January window
Referee 6 Made some mistakes but overall i thought he did a good job.
Supporters 8 Great atmosphere and the "light" show was something else. Great effort rewarded with a fine team performance and the first time this season that "The Gas are going up" has been heard. i am sure that the Macclesfield players would have been glad to hear the final whistle and get out of the arena.
Macclesfield 6 Can see why they haven't conceded a lot with a defence that got stuck in and cleared the ball anywhere and hard working players with no real cutting edge. The fact we destroyed them is another feather in our cap and surely will now send a message to thew rest of the League that we mean business.
The important thing now is that the return match with Torquay is not an "After the Lord Mayors Show"!!
"No need for the drama queens to appear just yet. Bristol Rovers looked an exceptional side this afternoon and I'd be more worried if I was a Grimsby or Barnet fan this evening. No need to doubt our potential for a top 5 finish after a couple of bad results against massive clubs who should be aiming to win that league."
Nice to actually read an opposing fan praising us up rather than the usual "nothing special".
Today was definitely a game where we passed the ball very well and ground down the opposition almost from the off but we have now added a new tactic - scoring goals!!!I thought the first half although not as good as the second produced some good football and should have seen us go in at least a couple ahead as Macclesfield did not really look like scoring and we were unlucky on a couple of occasions and well worth our one goal lead. Second half was a very one way affair and we always looked like we would win the game and how good it was to see us score some good goals. I like the composed way we are now building our attacks as our players seem to have recently found new confidence in their ability,the side has a great work ethic throughout the team and when one attack finishes another one starts.
Puddy 6 Didn't have a lot to do in the way of shots but looked confident and his distribution both kicking and throwing is a joy to watch as he regularly starts moves from the back.
Leadbitter 8 Just when I had said that he should be released (only because I didn't feel DC was really interested in playing him) back he comes in the side and today gave a first class performance both defensively and going forward. Strong in the air and very quick, him and Gosling seem to have built a good understanding and it is bringing the best out of both of them. I very much hope that he retains his place now as it looks to be just what he needed.
Parkes 8 Immense in the air and confident on the ground. We are now seeing Tom back to his best and that can only be a good thing. The lapses that earlier in the season saw the ball needlessly lost have gone and he brings the ball out well and the whole defence now looks solid.
McCrystal 8 Wasn't sure about the decision to bring him back in for Trotman but DC got it right again as Mac gave a faultless performance, won everything that came at him in the air and never looked likely to let his player past him on the ground either. Also he seemed to be vocally leading the team today which was good to see from our Captain.
Lockyer 7 A very solid game on his "wrong" side and really shows what a useful utility player he is. Doesn't have Lee browns attacking ability BUT I think defensively he may be better than Lee. I don't think it should be an immediate return for Browner as I believe players have to lose their place and the same goes for the other side where I think it would be so wrong to drop Leadbitter now and move Lockyer back. Going back to his defensive ability I think it brought the best out of Monkhouse because if your full back doesn't go racing on the overlap then your winger doesn't have to cover back all the time and can concentrate on getting forward.
Gosling 7.5 Not as outstanding as against Torquay but still a very good winger performance. Some good crossing and has the ability to take the defender on.Jake is improving with every game and the fact he can go both inside and outside really gives problems for the defenders. Was unlucky not to score today.
Mansell 8 This man is an inspiration,winning the ball and spreading the passes and rarely giving the ball away. He does so much of the gritty,unselfish work that doesn't always get noticed but when he isn't there you realise just what he does. He is a Leader and has a good football brain.
Sinclair 7.5 A usual performance from "The Beard". He covers every inch of the ground and is an inspiration to those around him. Never stops working and even when he is not completely on his game he still hassles the opposition and in fact does everything that OToole didn't. I wonder what Stuart Campbell thought of him?
Monkhouse 8.5 MOM I have always thought that Monkey has something to offer the team and today he was right on the ball. There is something classy about him in possession and no one can doubt his strength in the air. I actually think having Lockyer behind him helped him as he knew he rarely had to cover his defender and when he had the ball he was always looking to get forward. His header was sublime for the first goal and his assist for the second goal was wing wizardry at his best getting down the line with deceiving pace and then laying the ball perfectly into the path of Blissett.
Taylor 8 At last Matty is now regularly getting on the scoresheet and because of this he looks much more the part because his workrate,control of the ball and dragging defenders all over the place has never been in doubt but if you don't have another striker regularly scoring then you can't afford the luxury of Matt not being a goalscorer either. Scored a great header and brought a good save from the keeper although he probably should have scored.
Blissett 7 A hard working game and rewarded with a good goal which he took very well. Won a lot in the air and really causes problems for defenders with his willingness to move about rather than stand and make himself easy to mark which seemed to be the problem with Wall and often with Matty Harrold. He is nowhere near the finished article but can become a very good leader of the attack.
Clarke 6 Neither good or bad. Did not have the same influence as when he came on against Gateshead.
Goldberg 6 Won the penalty and a few useful looking runs, he seems to be quick off the mark and if we could get him in cheap I would take a punt on him as there is something about him.
Harrison 6 Didn't have long but dispatched the penalty well.
DC 8 Got everything right again. Is willing to make difficult decisions such as the Trotman/McCrystal decision and also the keeper decision. The Key now is how he deals with the January window
Referee 6 Made some mistakes but overall i thought he did a good job.
Supporters 8 Great atmosphere and the "light" show was something else. Great effort rewarded with a fine team performance and the first time this season that "The Gas are going up" has been heard. i am sure that the Macclesfield players would have been glad to hear the final whistle and get out of the arena.
Macclesfield 6 Can see why they haven't conceded a lot with a defence that got stuck in and cleared the ball anywhere and hard working players with no real cutting edge. The fact we destroyed them is another feather in our cap and surely will now send a message to thew rest of the League that we mean business.
The important thing now is that the return match with Torquay is not an "After the Lord Mayors Show"!!
