Post by stevek192 on Aug 12, 2015 13:31:16 GMT
Well after the huge disappointment on Saturday this was far more like it with every player giving their all and looking well up to the task. My only problem is that DC is very predictable with his tactics when we play any side from either a higher position or with high expectation and that is to play 9 players back and leave our two strikers to wear themselves out chasing down 5 players with little support from anywhere else. Really feel we should be pressing up on the defenders to actually win the ball more often or at least stop the opposition getting near our penalty area unopposed.That aside it was a good game to watch with all players sticking to their tasks well and; unlike Saturday; making every effort to keep the ball on the ground.
Mildenhall 5 Not sure he is really up to the task anymore.IMO should have done better with both goals and for his size is no longer imposing on crosses,
Leadbitter 7.5 Good going forward,shows his pace well but a terrible mistake for the first goal and didn't close his player down on the second. It depends really if you want a full back who is better going forward or a good defender. The good thing is like Smith before him he is well capable of improving his defensive qualities because of his pace and is well worth persevering with.
J Clarke 8 A great signing. Considering he has not played League football before he is a great prospect.Covers others well and shows composure. Made a few errors but at this standard very few do not.
Lockyer 8.5 MOM Much better in his natural position (DC please take note!!!) Like Clarke very composed on the ball and a very good defender.May well be worth considering a Clarke/Lockyer central partnership as in comparison Parkes lookes very sluggish)
Parkes 6.5 Better than Saturday but looking sluggish still which on many occasions is the reason why he ends up hoofing the ball rather than "playing" it out. For a big bloke for me he is not hard enough either in the air or on the ground however he is very prone to a slow start to the season and hopefully will soon get back to his best.
Brown 6.5 Better than Saturday but still not at his best which is not surprising as he is regaining fitness after injury. Still managed to get foirward well on a few occasions but could have defended better and was very lucky not to give a goal away with a terrible header back similar to Leadbitter's which did give a goal away.
Sinclair 7 Far better when he moved into centre midfield and gave an all action performance but oh how I wish he could get more control over his shooting!
O Clarke 6.5 Good performance on his return to the side ,puts himself about but lets himself down with wayward passing and too often trys a long pass where a short ACCURATE pass would do. His powerful shooting is a weapon which if he could improve his all round game would be an asset to the side.
Gosling 6 A mixed game from Jake. Does seem very lightweight at times and was knocked off the ball tool easily but is a clever player and certainly worth another chance.
Harrison 7.5 Good all round performance especially considering the amount of work he had to put in during the first half which the majority of time is "unrewarded work" and capped off with his first goal of the season. Looked particularly good with Taylor when he came on.
Easter 6.5 Great in possession,holding the ball very well and many will not take into account the enormous amount of energy having to be wasted by both him and Ellis chasing 5 players around due to the defensive set up of the other 9 players. Unlucky with a header in the second half and deserved a goal as he builds up his fitness. I am sure he will soon be amongst the goals.
Monkanu 4.5 Not yet providing much to the cause and was pretty well a spectator after the ankle injury. hopefully the best is yet to come.
Taylor 7 As good tonight when he came on as he was bad on Saturday. Didn't waste a ball and formed a good partnership with Ellis with his clever touches and running with the ball.
Referee 5 Tried to keep the game flowing but made some strange decisions.
Crowd 7 Good turnout and support.
Birmingham 6 Some good players as would be expected.
I really think we could have beaten Birmingham last night with a bit more emphasis on attacking. Playing two up with no support means that your front two have to use up so much energy with little reward and had we pushed our midfield further up the pitch we could have closed down players and prevented Birmingham the room to come at us so often especially in the first half. On saying this the players are following instructions but I really feel DC pays far too much respect to the opposition and allows opponents too much time on the ball by just employing 9 players to defend our third.
Mildenhall 5 Not sure he is really up to the task anymore.IMO should have done better with both goals and for his size is no longer imposing on crosses,
Leadbitter 7.5 Good going forward,shows his pace well but a terrible mistake for the first goal and didn't close his player down on the second. It depends really if you want a full back who is better going forward or a good defender. The good thing is like Smith before him he is well capable of improving his defensive qualities because of his pace and is well worth persevering with.
J Clarke 8 A great signing. Considering he has not played League football before he is a great prospect.Covers others well and shows composure. Made a few errors but at this standard very few do not.
Lockyer 8.5 MOM Much better in his natural position (DC please take note!!!) Like Clarke very composed on the ball and a very good defender.May well be worth considering a Clarke/Lockyer central partnership as in comparison Parkes lookes very sluggish)
Parkes 6.5 Better than Saturday but looking sluggish still which on many occasions is the reason why he ends up hoofing the ball rather than "playing" it out. For a big bloke for me he is not hard enough either in the air or on the ground however he is very prone to a slow start to the season and hopefully will soon get back to his best.
Brown 6.5 Better than Saturday but still not at his best which is not surprising as he is regaining fitness after injury. Still managed to get foirward well on a few occasions but could have defended better and was very lucky not to give a goal away with a terrible header back similar to Leadbitter's which did give a goal away.
Sinclair 7 Far better when he moved into centre midfield and gave an all action performance but oh how I wish he could get more control over his shooting!
O Clarke 6.5 Good performance on his return to the side ,puts himself about but lets himself down with wayward passing and too often trys a long pass where a short ACCURATE pass would do. His powerful shooting is a weapon which if he could improve his all round game would be an asset to the side.
Gosling 6 A mixed game from Jake. Does seem very lightweight at times and was knocked off the ball tool easily but is a clever player and certainly worth another chance.
Harrison 7.5 Good all round performance especially considering the amount of work he had to put in during the first half which the majority of time is "unrewarded work" and capped off with his first goal of the season. Looked particularly good with Taylor when he came on.
Easter 6.5 Great in possession,holding the ball very well and many will not take into account the enormous amount of energy having to be wasted by both him and Ellis chasing 5 players around due to the defensive set up of the other 9 players. Unlucky with a header in the second half and deserved a goal as he builds up his fitness. I am sure he will soon be amongst the goals.
Monkanu 4.5 Not yet providing much to the cause and was pretty well a spectator after the ankle injury. hopefully the best is yet to come.
Taylor 7 As good tonight when he came on as he was bad on Saturday. Didn't waste a ball and formed a good partnership with Ellis with his clever touches and running with the ball.
Referee 5 Tried to keep the game flowing but made some strange decisions.
Crowd 7 Good turnout and support.
Birmingham 6 Some good players as would be expected.
I really think we could have beaten Birmingham last night with a bit more emphasis on attacking. Playing two up with no support means that your front two have to use up so much energy with little reward and had we pushed our midfield further up the pitch we could have closed down players and prevented Birmingham the room to come at us so often especially in the first half. On saying this the players are following instructions but I really feel DC pays far too much respect to the opposition and allows opponents too much time on the ball by just employing 9 players to defend our third.
