Post by stevek192 on Apr 30, 2015 10:06:04 GMT
Well that's the first half out of the way and mission accomplished so far but there is a long way to go in this Jon Parkin v Bristol Rovers Play Off Semi Final. I come away from the game thinking back to "Roy of the Rovers" because that is the way I think of this Forest Rovers team who lack any semblance of class other than the tough,rugged centre forward that is a real handfull and who really carries the team in the twilight of his career. It is not difficult to see where he obtained his knickname "The Beast". Their total reliance on him is understandable because without him they are a mid table Conference side with players of limited ability but who get stuck in (sometimes unfairly) and never give up. Bristol Rovers on the other hand looked every inch a Football League side in the first half with the way they handled the aerial battles and brought the ball down to play some good football which was no mean feat because this was Dover all over again as the opponents wanted the ball in the air from wherever they could get it and it is very difficult to play against let alone be totally dominating which is what the first half was and with better finishing and a bit of luck we could and should have been out of sight and well on our way to Wembley.
Before I go on to individual marks may i comment on the fact that it was sad that a Conference match of this importance was watched by so few people when it could have been a sell out as without doubt we would have filled the terracing down the side. There again in truth we could have filled the ground and I can understand why Forest Green sought to gain every advantage possible.
Puddy 8 - Coped admirably with everything that Forest Green threw at him which was almost totally an aerial threat but one error aside he looked confident and assured behind an excellent back four that is well capable of keeping a clean sheet ;if necessary; on Sunday.
Lockyer 8 Very solid,very little got past him and although I think Leadbitter gives a more attacking threat, the selection of Tom for this game was 100% correct as defensively he is the stronger of the two players and against a clever opponent in Freer he gave him very little room and also cleared the ball well.His strength in the air made him perfect for the job in hand which was very much an aerial battle.
McCrystal 8 The job of marking Parkin was mainly down to him and he did an excellent job in winning most of the aerial battles despite being fouled on a number of occasions by the big man and most of which the referee either didn't see or chose not to see. Good to see him give a Captains word of advice to Ellis which unfortunately Ellis failed to take.
Parkes 8 - Stood his line and won many good headers and looked a class act at the back.Got in a lot of clearances and was assured in possession and very unlucky not to score with a header that rocketed off the inside of the post with the keeper no where.
Brown 8 - Lee has an excellent engine which was very clear to see in a first half where he covered the entire length of the pitch with his direct running and i thought his crossing was the best we have seen from him with one in particular worthy of being finished off. Unfortunately the game dictated in the second half and we saw little of his forward thrusts but he defended stoutly.
I have given all the defence and keeper the same mark because IMO as a unit they were absolutely outstanding in both facing up to the aerial threat and in keeping their cool despite constant provocation.
Gosling 6.5 - A typical wingers performance.In and out of the game but when in the game a definite threat and unlucky on two occasions not to score. It is a shame he doesn't go outside more often but nevertheless he gave Pipe a tough time and held and controlled the ball well.
Mansell 7 - Does all the things that most players don't like doing and I very much hope that what looked like a hamstring injury does not prove to be anything and that bringing him off was only precautionary as we have nobody who can do a similar thing in midfield. His workrate and experience is invaluable in the middle particularly when he releases the ball to Lines and let him take it forward.
Lines 8.5 MOM - Stood out in the first half as the best player on the pitch. Controlled the middle of the pitch and spread the ball about with a certain nonchalence that it is clear had he been with us for longer the Play offs would not have been necessary. He has still not scored but i have a feeling that is still to come this season and was unlucky with two attempts. Not as influential in the second half but still stood out for keeping his cool in our penalty area and clearing when we looked a bit dodgy.
Monkhouse 6.5 - Thought he played well without ever being outstanding. Has a cool head and in the first half i thought the midfield as a group were outstanding and controlled proceedings. He's a good passer of the ball but i still wish he would have a bit more confidence in himself to run at opponents and get shots away, Great header in the second half that really should have found Matty in an onside position as there was no need to be caught offside with his pace.
Taylor 8 - Probably scored his best and what could be his most important goal of the season. Ran the Forest Green back four ragged with his clever movement but still IMO should have scored a couple more goals although some of that was down to some excellent stops from Arnold (without doubt Forest Greens Man of the Match) but it was disappointing that he was blatantly offside when Monkhouse headed across.There is no need whatsoever for a player as quick as him to be caught offside.but 20 goals so far with hopefully more to come is a fine return but can't help feeling that it should have been nearer 40.
Harrison 6 - I've taken a mark off him for his petulence and failure to keep his head with both bookings but I can't take away his overall performance where i thought he lead the attack excellently against two tall centre halves. Him and Taylor dragged them all over the place and particularly in the first half caused FG endless problems. I wouldn't be at all surprised to see Danny Coles recalled for Sundays game.
Subs - not long enough to mark. Blissett obviously followed instructions well and was only really interested in seeing out the time by holding the ball.
DC 7 - Kept the same squad which was a rare occasion in itself and it paid off. Admirable for the way he managed to turn around the disappointment of missing out on the title and the players showed no signs of this disappointment in an excellent first half which deserved at least a three goal cushion. IMO made a terrible mistake keeping Ellis on after his booking and particularly after a second flare up where really I think everybody could see a sending off was inevitable.
Ref 4 - Started well and then got worse and worse as the game went on. How Forest Green finished the game with eleven players was down entirely to yet another poor Conference Official. Allowed Parkin to constantly foul before belatedly producing the yellow card and allowed Clough to commit two fouls both worthy of a red card. It was no surprise to me that it would be us who went down to 10 men although to be fair he did make some strange decisions both ways.
FGR 4 - If Parkin is not productive then that is their lot as everything is set out to revolve around him. In truth Forest Green are what i was expecting to come up against every week at the start of the season. Nasty,tough ,big booting but effective tactics that seek out to upset the opposition and have little quality.
The match is still very much in the balance at the halfway stage with us holding the edge. If we can reproduce the first half performance with a bit more clinical finishing in front of a packed Mem then we can be booking our seats at Wembley.If it turns into a game like the second half then it is anyones guess. Personally i think we have the quality and i very much hope that after Sunday i have one more match to report on. Team selection will be interesting on Sunday but would not be at all surprised to see Balanta played up front with Taylor rather than the more obvious Blissett. Could this be the match where he shows his true ability? Can he end up a hero in what has been a disappointing season for him? UTG
Before I go on to individual marks may i comment on the fact that it was sad that a Conference match of this importance was watched by so few people when it could have been a sell out as without doubt we would have filled the terracing down the side. There again in truth we could have filled the ground and I can understand why Forest Green sought to gain every advantage possible.
Puddy 8 - Coped admirably with everything that Forest Green threw at him which was almost totally an aerial threat but one error aside he looked confident and assured behind an excellent back four that is well capable of keeping a clean sheet ;if necessary; on Sunday.
Lockyer 8 Very solid,very little got past him and although I think Leadbitter gives a more attacking threat, the selection of Tom for this game was 100% correct as defensively he is the stronger of the two players and against a clever opponent in Freer he gave him very little room and also cleared the ball well.His strength in the air made him perfect for the job in hand which was very much an aerial battle.
McCrystal 8 The job of marking Parkin was mainly down to him and he did an excellent job in winning most of the aerial battles despite being fouled on a number of occasions by the big man and most of which the referee either didn't see or chose not to see. Good to see him give a Captains word of advice to Ellis which unfortunately Ellis failed to take.
Parkes 8 - Stood his line and won many good headers and looked a class act at the back.Got in a lot of clearances and was assured in possession and very unlucky not to score with a header that rocketed off the inside of the post with the keeper no where.
Brown 8 - Lee has an excellent engine which was very clear to see in a first half where he covered the entire length of the pitch with his direct running and i thought his crossing was the best we have seen from him with one in particular worthy of being finished off. Unfortunately the game dictated in the second half and we saw little of his forward thrusts but he defended stoutly.
I have given all the defence and keeper the same mark because IMO as a unit they were absolutely outstanding in both facing up to the aerial threat and in keeping their cool despite constant provocation.
Gosling 6.5 - A typical wingers performance.In and out of the game but when in the game a definite threat and unlucky on two occasions not to score. It is a shame he doesn't go outside more often but nevertheless he gave Pipe a tough time and held and controlled the ball well.
Mansell 7 - Does all the things that most players don't like doing and I very much hope that what looked like a hamstring injury does not prove to be anything and that bringing him off was only precautionary as we have nobody who can do a similar thing in midfield. His workrate and experience is invaluable in the middle particularly when he releases the ball to Lines and let him take it forward.
Lines 8.5 MOM - Stood out in the first half as the best player on the pitch. Controlled the middle of the pitch and spread the ball about with a certain nonchalence that it is clear had he been with us for longer the Play offs would not have been necessary. He has still not scored but i have a feeling that is still to come this season and was unlucky with two attempts. Not as influential in the second half but still stood out for keeping his cool in our penalty area and clearing when we looked a bit dodgy.
Monkhouse 6.5 - Thought he played well without ever being outstanding. Has a cool head and in the first half i thought the midfield as a group were outstanding and controlled proceedings. He's a good passer of the ball but i still wish he would have a bit more confidence in himself to run at opponents and get shots away, Great header in the second half that really should have found Matty in an onside position as there was no need to be caught offside with his pace.
Taylor 8 - Probably scored his best and what could be his most important goal of the season. Ran the Forest Green back four ragged with his clever movement but still IMO should have scored a couple more goals although some of that was down to some excellent stops from Arnold (without doubt Forest Greens Man of the Match) but it was disappointing that he was blatantly offside when Monkhouse headed across.There is no need whatsoever for a player as quick as him to be caught offside.but 20 goals so far with hopefully more to come is a fine return but can't help feeling that it should have been nearer 40.
Harrison 6 - I've taken a mark off him for his petulence and failure to keep his head with both bookings but I can't take away his overall performance where i thought he lead the attack excellently against two tall centre halves. Him and Taylor dragged them all over the place and particularly in the first half caused FG endless problems. I wouldn't be at all surprised to see Danny Coles recalled for Sundays game.
Subs - not long enough to mark. Blissett obviously followed instructions well and was only really interested in seeing out the time by holding the ball.
DC 7 - Kept the same squad which was a rare occasion in itself and it paid off. Admirable for the way he managed to turn around the disappointment of missing out on the title and the players showed no signs of this disappointment in an excellent first half which deserved at least a three goal cushion. IMO made a terrible mistake keeping Ellis on after his booking and particularly after a second flare up where really I think everybody could see a sending off was inevitable.
Ref 4 - Started well and then got worse and worse as the game went on. How Forest Green finished the game with eleven players was down entirely to yet another poor Conference Official. Allowed Parkin to constantly foul before belatedly producing the yellow card and allowed Clough to commit two fouls both worthy of a red card. It was no surprise to me that it would be us who went down to 10 men although to be fair he did make some strange decisions both ways.
FGR 4 - If Parkin is not productive then that is their lot as everything is set out to revolve around him. In truth Forest Green are what i was expecting to come up against every week at the start of the season. Nasty,tough ,big booting but effective tactics that seek out to upset the opposition and have little quality.
The match is still very much in the balance at the halfway stage with us holding the edge. If we can reproduce the first half performance with a bit more clinical finishing in front of a packed Mem then we can be booking our seats at Wembley.If it turns into a game like the second half then it is anyones guess. Personally i think we have the quality and i very much hope that after Sunday i have one more match to report on. Team selection will be interesting on Sunday but would not be at all surprised to see Balanta played up front with Taylor rather than the more obvious Blissett. Could this be the match where he shows his true ability? Can he end up a hero in what has been a disappointing season for him? UTG
