Post by stevek192 on Nov 4, 2018 10:00:50 GMT
Another long journey after Barnsley last week and I have to say that when the Team Sheet came out at 2 pm it was not far off the team I would have selected. for those who haven't been to Blackpool in a while I would describe it as a run down seaside resort that makes Weston Super Mare look like Vegas and a football team and supporters to match. You just wouldn't believe that football supporters could opt to not watch their team for a few years in protest however that is exactly what Blackpool have done to the extent that a nice reasonably sized stadium is three quarters empty on matchdays.
Anyway to the match and it was very much a case of possibly not as good a performance as Barnsley but a much better result. It could easily have been six as we missed some very good chances especially in the first half but also could easily have found ourselves behind because of not taking the chances created. It is days like yesterday when I realise that perhaps we are not as badly off as we think we are. Certainly in midfield we have as good a unit as any in the division and how many other teams could manage to name 18 players and still have potential first teamers like Matthews, Broadbent, Partington and Reilly remaining at home or on the terraces. if we could add a couple of strikers in January who knows what we could yet do this season and to be honest even yet Nichols and Payne could prove to be a good partnership and we have yet to see the best of Bennett and Rodman.
Bonham 7.5 Couple of outstanding saves but that is his job and for him it was a quite game as the defence were superb in front of him and the team battled for every point and created numerous opportunities.
Leadbitter 7 Was too hot to handle for ex Rovers Bola and after a good defensive performance in the first half with some exciting runs, in the second half he was attacking regularly and put over some great crosses to make Bola look a very ordinary full back. for me he is now back to his best and as such should be in the team every week.
J. Clarke 7 Won most balls in the air and really played well like he has most of the season to the extent I would say he is our most improved player. I like the three at the back with two attacking full backs to provide width in away games but James Clarke might need to be sacrificed in home games to get a wide man on. Good block in the first half to prevent a goal.
Lockyer 7.5 Has made a great return to form and excels in a back three where his reading of the game enables him to cover across the back line. I am sure he will know that he should have scored with his header in the first half when he headed powerfully over from close range when left completely unmarked.
Craig 8 Puts his body on the line for the team and was again absolutely outstanding. Why do I mark him so highly? Well for me he is the experienced head and the real leader of the side setting a fine example to others and fully committed to the cause. His goal was absolutely superb with a thunderous volley at the far post and did he enjoy it!
Kelly 6.5 Not completely sure about his defensive ability but shows a lot of promise and gets forward well on occasions but seems to miss out physically but a very good prospect and will surely gain a lot from regular appearances, his fitness over 90 minutes is questionable and for that reason it is useful to have a player with the experience of Martin to come on and steady the ship late on. The big question is when will Holmes Dennis be fit?
Upson 8 Very unlucky to miss out at Barnsley and IMO that decision was wrong. This was probably his best game as he battled for everything and was very unlucky to get booked by an over zealous referee in Trevor Kettle. He cannot resist a battle and a tackle and was a dominant force but being replaced late on by Sinclair was the right decision after an injury in the clash when he was booked and probably made more to protect him from a second yellow and suspension. He is that sort of player that would not have pulled out a challenge and is now looking the player that excited me when he signed. Perhaps Rodman can also come to the fore in the near future too especially in home games.
O. Clarke 8.5 MOM Superb throughout. I was moaning as to why he was playing in front of Sercombe - well he answered that with a two goal display, the second being taken like a striker when he was played in and expertly put the ball beyond the advancing keepers reach and in the corner. If the forwards can't score then it is always good to have other players joining in and yesterday it was a case of Nichols assisting in all three goals which were scored by midfielder and centre half and in truth Lockyer and Craig should both have scored with headers in the first half and Sercombe was unlucky on a couple of occasions in what was a very mobile midfield unit.
Sercombe 7.5 His best display of the season with his corners being a key factor of the game. Good to see a variety of crosses rather than the predictable Lines efforts that favour the defenders.and goalkeeper. He was superb throughout in what was a dominant interchanging midfield and I very much hope that DC will play all three in the next game to reward for their endeavour. It was great to see Liam's twisting and turning to make space to get shots away,it is pretty well the first time we have seen that this season and long may it continue. The fact is that we may have the best midfield in the division in Sercs, Upson and Ollie Clarke with Lines and Sinclair to support as needed and that is without considering the three widemen- Rodman, Matthews and Bennett.
Nichols 6 Played a great part in all three goals and although he is there to score goals it is good to see him playing so well and if assisting is to be his role at present then that is fine by me as he is without doubt a good footballer who could ,if he continues his present form get back to the player he was before he joined us. DC must persevere with Payne and Nichols and give them the chance of a run together and to become consistent. At least until January it is our best option.
Payne 5.5 Many fans scapegoat at the moment and it is sad to hear those towards the back yesterday who almost want the man to fail and in fact you wonder why those with their comments throughout even bother to travel if all they want to do is to be negative about the team from start to finish and can't be bothered to even see the positives from Payne when they occur. He didn't have the greatest game but worked hard and held the ball up well at times. good flick ons both to set up Sercombe in the first half and to Nichols to set up Ollie Clarke on the first goal. I think the Nichols/Payne partnership is our best hope and could yet produce goals.
Subs:
Sinclair 6 came on and added some energy.
Martin NOLE
Jakubiak NOLE
Crowd 7 take away those "fans" who just criticise individuals and seem to want them to fail and sing stupid songs that down the team and you have a superb bunch who yesterday got what they deserved-a well deserved win. As for the Blackpool support well pathetic comes to mind but I suppose you have to admire the willingness to stick to their principles but is it really doing their team any good?
Ref 3 Well could I really give Trevor Kettle any higher than a three? Terrible referee who has made a career out of being bloody dreadful.
Blackpool 5 So their Manager made the excuse of them being tired from Wednesdays game at the Emirates but for me good players can play two games in three days and to be honest I am not at all convinced anyway by Blackpool and would not swop any of their players as being better than what we have. Will probably stay midtable for most of the season.
DC Got the team set up right yesterday and now the test is to have the guts to stick with that team for the next game and give up on the switching each game. You have just over complicated things Mr Clarke and we now need to give the majority of this team to gel together with maybe the change to 4-4-2 for home games with one defender dropping out and Rodman or Bennett coming in. In truth yesterday we could have had six and the midfield were the best unit I have seen this season with each of Ollie Clarke, Sercombe and Upson giving potential Man of the Match performances.
So we move on to Barnet in the FA Cup First Round next Sunday. This is a potential banana skin especially given DC's record in this competition but I have the feeling that we will see another good performance and hopefully come out on top. UTG
Anyway to the match and it was very much a case of possibly not as good a performance as Barnsley but a much better result. It could easily have been six as we missed some very good chances especially in the first half but also could easily have found ourselves behind because of not taking the chances created. It is days like yesterday when I realise that perhaps we are not as badly off as we think we are. Certainly in midfield we have as good a unit as any in the division and how many other teams could manage to name 18 players and still have potential first teamers like Matthews, Broadbent, Partington and Reilly remaining at home or on the terraces. if we could add a couple of strikers in January who knows what we could yet do this season and to be honest even yet Nichols and Payne could prove to be a good partnership and we have yet to see the best of Bennett and Rodman.
Bonham 7.5 Couple of outstanding saves but that is his job and for him it was a quite game as the defence were superb in front of him and the team battled for every point and created numerous opportunities.
Leadbitter 7 Was too hot to handle for ex Rovers Bola and after a good defensive performance in the first half with some exciting runs, in the second half he was attacking regularly and put over some great crosses to make Bola look a very ordinary full back. for me he is now back to his best and as such should be in the team every week.
J. Clarke 7 Won most balls in the air and really played well like he has most of the season to the extent I would say he is our most improved player. I like the three at the back with two attacking full backs to provide width in away games but James Clarke might need to be sacrificed in home games to get a wide man on. Good block in the first half to prevent a goal.
Lockyer 7.5 Has made a great return to form and excels in a back three where his reading of the game enables him to cover across the back line. I am sure he will know that he should have scored with his header in the first half when he headed powerfully over from close range when left completely unmarked.
Craig 8 Puts his body on the line for the team and was again absolutely outstanding. Why do I mark him so highly? Well for me he is the experienced head and the real leader of the side setting a fine example to others and fully committed to the cause. His goal was absolutely superb with a thunderous volley at the far post and did he enjoy it!
Kelly 6.5 Not completely sure about his defensive ability but shows a lot of promise and gets forward well on occasions but seems to miss out physically but a very good prospect and will surely gain a lot from regular appearances, his fitness over 90 minutes is questionable and for that reason it is useful to have a player with the experience of Martin to come on and steady the ship late on. The big question is when will Holmes Dennis be fit?
Upson 8 Very unlucky to miss out at Barnsley and IMO that decision was wrong. This was probably his best game as he battled for everything and was very unlucky to get booked by an over zealous referee in Trevor Kettle. He cannot resist a battle and a tackle and was a dominant force but being replaced late on by Sinclair was the right decision after an injury in the clash when he was booked and probably made more to protect him from a second yellow and suspension. He is that sort of player that would not have pulled out a challenge and is now looking the player that excited me when he signed. Perhaps Rodman can also come to the fore in the near future too especially in home games.
O. Clarke 8.5 MOM Superb throughout. I was moaning as to why he was playing in front of Sercombe - well he answered that with a two goal display, the second being taken like a striker when he was played in and expertly put the ball beyond the advancing keepers reach and in the corner. If the forwards can't score then it is always good to have other players joining in and yesterday it was a case of Nichols assisting in all three goals which were scored by midfielder and centre half and in truth Lockyer and Craig should both have scored with headers in the first half and Sercombe was unlucky on a couple of occasions in what was a very mobile midfield unit.
Sercombe 7.5 His best display of the season with his corners being a key factor of the game. Good to see a variety of crosses rather than the predictable Lines efforts that favour the defenders.and goalkeeper. He was superb throughout in what was a dominant interchanging midfield and I very much hope that DC will play all three in the next game to reward for their endeavour. It was great to see Liam's twisting and turning to make space to get shots away,it is pretty well the first time we have seen that this season and long may it continue. The fact is that we may have the best midfield in the division in Sercs, Upson and Ollie Clarke with Lines and Sinclair to support as needed and that is without considering the three widemen- Rodman, Matthews and Bennett.
Nichols 6 Played a great part in all three goals and although he is there to score goals it is good to see him playing so well and if assisting is to be his role at present then that is fine by me as he is without doubt a good footballer who could ,if he continues his present form get back to the player he was before he joined us. DC must persevere with Payne and Nichols and give them the chance of a run together and to become consistent. At least until January it is our best option.
Payne 5.5 Many fans scapegoat at the moment and it is sad to hear those towards the back yesterday who almost want the man to fail and in fact you wonder why those with their comments throughout even bother to travel if all they want to do is to be negative about the team from start to finish and can't be bothered to even see the positives from Payne when they occur. He didn't have the greatest game but worked hard and held the ball up well at times. good flick ons both to set up Sercombe in the first half and to Nichols to set up Ollie Clarke on the first goal. I think the Nichols/Payne partnership is our best hope and could yet produce goals.
Subs:
Sinclair 6 came on and added some energy.
Martin NOLE
Jakubiak NOLE
Crowd 7 take away those "fans" who just criticise individuals and seem to want them to fail and sing stupid songs that down the team and you have a superb bunch who yesterday got what they deserved-a well deserved win. As for the Blackpool support well pathetic comes to mind but I suppose you have to admire the willingness to stick to their principles but is it really doing their team any good?
Ref 3 Well could I really give Trevor Kettle any higher than a three? Terrible referee who has made a career out of being bloody dreadful.
Blackpool 5 So their Manager made the excuse of them being tired from Wednesdays game at the Emirates but for me good players can play two games in three days and to be honest I am not at all convinced anyway by Blackpool and would not swop any of their players as being better than what we have. Will probably stay midtable for most of the season.
DC Got the team set up right yesterday and now the test is to have the guts to stick with that team for the next game and give up on the switching each game. You have just over complicated things Mr Clarke and we now need to give the majority of this team to gel together with maybe the change to 4-4-2 for home games with one defender dropping out and Rodman or Bennett coming in. In truth yesterday we could have had six and the midfield were the best unit I have seen this season with each of Ollie Clarke, Sercombe and Upson giving potential Man of the Match performances.
So we move on to Barnet in the FA Cup First Round next Sunday. This is a potential banana skin especially given DC's record in this competition but I have the feeling that we will see another good performance and hopefully come out on top. UTG
