Post by stevek192 on Jan 31, 2015 23:40:06 GMT
This is the only way to describe how I feel tonight after today's performance. It wasn't disgraceful unlike the pitch which resembled a cattle field but also it wasn't a good performance which i mainly put down to Team Selection. The only area of the pitch that was an OK surface was the wide areas so I was astounded to start the game with no wingers whatsoever. I think DC has done a marvelous job this season but I am more than a little concerned with his constant changes of formations and style of play but also his over emphasis on defending what we start off with rather than going for the opposition. To be honest Dartford were there for the taking in the first half hour - they were very ordinary all over the pitch but on saying that we rarely looked like breaking them down and a lot of that was down to our lack of creativity and taking too long to release the ball and when we did particularly with our central midfielders it was either a really poor pass straight to the opposition or a over hit pass. I would also question DCs decision to drop Will Puddy- whilst not being a great supporter of his earlier in the season he has in the last few games kept clean sheets and been well deserving of his place.
Mildenhall 4 Distribution was generally very poor particularly his kicking and I would question him on both goals. The first was down to plain awful goalkeeping and the second he lined the wall up to cover one side and was beaten by a great shot BUT it was on his side of the goal. Had the player put the ball over the wall and into the top corner on the other side then great goal but IMO he should have stopped the shot.
Leadbitter 6 Reasonable game both defending and going forward.
Parkes 7 Would have been an 8 or a 9 had it not been for the handball that gave away the needless free kick and their second goal. He should have cleared the ball. Other than that he brought the ball out with great confidence and his passing was of the highest standard when bringing the ball out.
McCrystal 6 A early booking when he got caught out certainly meant he had to be very careful for the rest of the game but I felt he did very well in the air throughout and held the defence together well. Unlike Parkes his passing was very mixed.
Brown 6 A bit unsure on my marking as was caught out in the second half when going forward BUT that could have been down to a formation change. It is very confusing sometimes when we change from four at the back to three as to who should be marking who. Personally I prefer full backs who defend as priority and give the ball to others to take the ball forward.
Lockyer 5 Saw a lot of the ball and the defensive side of Toms performance was very good but his passing other than the through ball for the first goal (which was probably fortunate) was embarrassing as he rarely managed to find a team mate.
Mansell 5.5 A poor performance by Lee's standard but he worked hard and always wanted the ball but though his passing sideways was good throughout any forward pass was generally over hit ans were all of his set piece deliveries particularly corners.
Monkhouse 6.5 Felt he had a good game and worked hard throughout. Some of his moves involving Lee Brown were great but my problem is that too often he is looking for this rather than running himself at the opposition and because of this is at times a wasted performer and slows the game down too much.
Easter 4 Very difficult to mark as didnt last very long but during the time he was on he did hold the ball well and brought other players in. Very much hope the injury is nothing but wouldn't be surprised if he is out for 3 or 4 weeks as we don't seem to be having a lot of luck with injuries this year.
Blissett 5.5 Worked hard to hold the ball up and bring players in and battled well but the service which he craves in the way of good crosses is just deserting him.
Taylor 7.5 MOM. Took his goal well and his general play was very good.
Balanta 6 On a surface that wasn't really for skillful players I was impressed with his ability to accurately pass the ball and his ability to pass and move. If you are looking for a player who runs around for 90 minutes then he will not be for you and he must get very frustrated with a lot of the passing from his team mates but if we can pass the ball to his feet and get forward players around him then he can do a good job. Personally I would sacrifice Lockyer in midfield and play Balanta there. Should probably have won the match at the death but shot over.
Harrison 5 Not on long enough but did manage to score a goal and cause a few dangerous moments.
Dawson 5 Like Harrison not on long enough but did set up the second goal with a burst of pace and a good cross. IMO another waste of a loan by DC. Should have started and just cannot see the point of laoning a player and then not playing them.
DC - 5 Too much of the "this will be a very difficult game" and making too many changes. Wish he would just pick a style of play and stick with it.
Referee 7 Not an easy game to referee but i felt he did a very good job.
Dartford 6 Tried hard throughout and definitely had a game plan to stop us playing by being very physical but clever in spreading the fouls around.
Another game where we didn't really look like losing but were our own worse enemies when in possession. I think we will need to win a couple of the "difficult" away games now if we are to have any chance of catching Barnet. It is looking more and more unlikely as we don't seem capable of getting those extra points against very ordinary sides.
Mildenhall 4 Distribution was generally very poor particularly his kicking and I would question him on both goals. The first was down to plain awful goalkeeping and the second he lined the wall up to cover one side and was beaten by a great shot BUT it was on his side of the goal. Had the player put the ball over the wall and into the top corner on the other side then great goal but IMO he should have stopped the shot.
Leadbitter 6 Reasonable game both defending and going forward.
Parkes 7 Would have been an 8 or a 9 had it not been for the handball that gave away the needless free kick and their second goal. He should have cleared the ball. Other than that he brought the ball out with great confidence and his passing was of the highest standard when bringing the ball out.
McCrystal 6 A early booking when he got caught out certainly meant he had to be very careful for the rest of the game but I felt he did very well in the air throughout and held the defence together well. Unlike Parkes his passing was very mixed.
Brown 6 A bit unsure on my marking as was caught out in the second half when going forward BUT that could have been down to a formation change. It is very confusing sometimes when we change from four at the back to three as to who should be marking who. Personally I prefer full backs who defend as priority and give the ball to others to take the ball forward.
Lockyer 5 Saw a lot of the ball and the defensive side of Toms performance was very good but his passing other than the through ball for the first goal (which was probably fortunate) was embarrassing as he rarely managed to find a team mate.
Mansell 5.5 A poor performance by Lee's standard but he worked hard and always wanted the ball but though his passing sideways was good throughout any forward pass was generally over hit ans were all of his set piece deliveries particularly corners.
Monkhouse 6.5 Felt he had a good game and worked hard throughout. Some of his moves involving Lee Brown were great but my problem is that too often he is looking for this rather than running himself at the opposition and because of this is at times a wasted performer and slows the game down too much.
Easter 4 Very difficult to mark as didnt last very long but during the time he was on he did hold the ball well and brought other players in. Very much hope the injury is nothing but wouldn't be surprised if he is out for 3 or 4 weeks as we don't seem to be having a lot of luck with injuries this year.
Blissett 5.5 Worked hard to hold the ball up and bring players in and battled well but the service which he craves in the way of good crosses is just deserting him.
Taylor 7.5 MOM. Took his goal well and his general play was very good.
Balanta 6 On a surface that wasn't really for skillful players I was impressed with his ability to accurately pass the ball and his ability to pass and move. If you are looking for a player who runs around for 90 minutes then he will not be for you and he must get very frustrated with a lot of the passing from his team mates but if we can pass the ball to his feet and get forward players around him then he can do a good job. Personally I would sacrifice Lockyer in midfield and play Balanta there. Should probably have won the match at the death but shot over.
Harrison 5 Not on long enough but did manage to score a goal and cause a few dangerous moments.
Dawson 5 Like Harrison not on long enough but did set up the second goal with a burst of pace and a good cross. IMO another waste of a loan by DC. Should have started and just cannot see the point of laoning a player and then not playing them.
DC - 5 Too much of the "this will be a very difficult game" and making too many changes. Wish he would just pick a style of play and stick with it.
Referee 7 Not an easy game to referee but i felt he did a very good job.
Dartford 6 Tried hard throughout and definitely had a game plan to stop us playing by being very physical but clever in spreading the fouls around.
Another game where we didn't really look like losing but were our own worse enemies when in possession. I think we will need to win a couple of the "difficult" away games now if we are to have any chance of catching Barnet. It is looking more and more unlikely as we don't seem capable of getting those extra points against very ordinary sides.
