Post by stevek192 on Dec 3, 2014 12:07:01 GMT
Before the game I would have been satisfied with the point and after the game due to the events that unfolded I am happy with the point. At half time I said " Which is best playing with 10 men or playing with an outfield player in goal?" I think I would go for the 10 players as when you have an outfield player in goal then every player has to try to stop the opposition getting goalbound shots and so every player is pretty well radared to stifle the opposition and yet they know that sometime in 50 odd minutes the opposition are likely to get a shot in on goal that a stand in won't stop but a full time goalkeeper would. That is no criticism of McCrystal who performed what he had to do with distinction but is just a fact.
To lose Mildenhall and LDV in the first half was IMO part of the Wrexham hoodoo and why by the time we lost Mildy I was thinking in terms of a small defeat. There are more to hoodoos than just the defeats. I am sure that many of the 9 on the trot we went there with a better team than the opposition and thought we had a good chance of winning but the record is there for a reason. Last night was one of these where I thought we had by far the better team but events contrived to insure that the hoodoo would probably continue!!
Mildenhall 6 Had little to do in the time he was on the pitch other than the event in which he was injured where he did well to recover a terrible Lee Brown/Monkhouse mixup.
Lockyer 5 How can you give less than a 5 to any defender who keeps a clean sheet with an outfield player in goal? It was a close thing last night with Lockyer because on numerous occasions his questionable distribution caused us problems and all the good defending in the world is nullified if you give the ball straight back to the opposition. That said his opponent did not really manage to get past him much and he closed down well so deserves a 5 for his defensive performance.
McCrystal 9 mom Has to be a Man of the Match for Mac who was performing very ably at the heart of the defence before Mildys injury and then did everything that could have been expected of him and more between the sticks. He even had the audacity to collect a high cross into the box under pressure that Mildy would have struggled with. That is not to say that Wrexham peppered him with shots because to the credit of the whole team they didn't and certainly Wrexham did not deserve a victory and we ,in fact, had the better opportunities and with better finishing would have won the game.
Parkes 8.5 Superb defensive display from Parksy,defended well and happy to bring the ball out and play football and would have been my MOM but for the calmness with which McCrystal took to the goalkeeper shirt.
Brown 6 Not one of his better performances but credit must be given for the way he carried an injury for the last 25 minutes but instead of crying off battled for everything and still managed some good runs and overlapping.
Della Verde 4 Not his night.Had hardly broken into a sweat before he was replaced due to injury.
Mansell 7 Held his position well and battled for everything as usual. Nothing spectacular but does the basic tasks well and breaks up the opposition play and plays the game simply but well.
Sinclair 6 Not at his best when in possession but ran around for 97 minutes and battled for every ball.It is difficult to criticise a player who gives his all in every game and just doesn't stop harrassing the opposition.
Monkhouse 5.5 A disappointing performance as seems to drift in and out of the game but did conjure up moments of good football in the second half where he played Brown in behind the Wrexham defence. He at least looks capable of retaining the ball but did get caught in possession far too easily on a couple of occasions.
Taylor 7 Retained possession well and ran the lines well.He does everything a forward player should do apart from get in the position to snatch a goal. Trouble is if you take out his workrate and clever movement and ball retention from our attacks you would definitely lose something from our general play and particularly with the events of last night these assets were probably more important than the predator striker.
Blissett 4 Just not his night from start until he was rightfully replaced.Won very little possession either in the air or on the ground and the ball just seemed to keep coming off of him. Wrexhan had a strong experienced defence and not much went right for him.
Balanta 6 Has obvious talent on the ball but clearly lacks Match fitness yet and probably had to play a bit longer than Clarke would have liked but he really came into the game half way through the second half and had a ten minute spell where he looked like he could win us the game. Produced a good save from the keeper and created two opportunities for others with defence splitting passes during what was our best spell of the game when we got on top and looked capable of getting all the points. Certainly I am expecting great things from him in the second half of the season when he has a few games under his belt.
Trotman 6 Looked a little rusty but produced an effective performance in what was a solid defence that restricted Wrexham to very few opportunities.
Wall 7 Very impressed with everything he did when he came on and he immediately unsettled the Wrexham defence and seemed right up to a physical battle. Held the ball up well,brought other players into the game and then there was the free kick...of such power not seen since the days of Lambert that crashed against the crossbar with the goalkeeper well beaten.Two inches lower and it would have probably gone in off the underside of the bar and would have been one of the goals of the season. If we could sign him permanently then I think it would be good business as has the attributes that a targetman should have and with the different style of Blissett would give us strength in that departman.
Overall, I would say the side deserve great credit to be able to keep a point in adversity and although Wrexhams record prior to this game were questionable they have been improving and have a couple of good wins at home against the better teams in this league.
DC 7 Substitutions were the right ones and I like the way that we approach EVERY game to win and not just to draw a game. This could have been a 2-0 win come the end but just as easily a 2-0 defeat so full credit for his approach to the game but also to the way he has created a very strong squad that I think will improve as the newer players gain match fitness. Has his work cut out now to sort out the keeper position before Saturday (Can we bring in an emergency loan or will the availability of Preston prevent this?) The performance of McCrystal did show me that the decision not to include a keeper on the bench is a sensible one as it is questionable if Preston at the moment could have done as good a job as McCrytal did in a situation that is only likely to occur say twice a season.
Referee 7 Some "fussy" decisions but IMO got most right and one of the better Conference referees
Fans 7 Disappointing turn out at just under 200 but it was a cold, Tuesday night and a long journey however those who were there made themselves heard and vocally backed the team admirably. Well done.
My first thought on returning home was I wonder what Steve Phillips is doing these days but i am not sure if his fitness after his injuries is up to Conference football as I would assume he would still be in the League if he was fully able?
To lose Mildenhall and LDV in the first half was IMO part of the Wrexham hoodoo and why by the time we lost Mildy I was thinking in terms of a small defeat. There are more to hoodoos than just the defeats. I am sure that many of the 9 on the trot we went there with a better team than the opposition and thought we had a good chance of winning but the record is there for a reason. Last night was one of these where I thought we had by far the better team but events contrived to insure that the hoodoo would probably continue!!
Mildenhall 6 Had little to do in the time he was on the pitch other than the event in which he was injured where he did well to recover a terrible Lee Brown/Monkhouse mixup.
Lockyer 5 How can you give less than a 5 to any defender who keeps a clean sheet with an outfield player in goal? It was a close thing last night with Lockyer because on numerous occasions his questionable distribution caused us problems and all the good defending in the world is nullified if you give the ball straight back to the opposition. That said his opponent did not really manage to get past him much and he closed down well so deserves a 5 for his defensive performance.
McCrystal 9 mom Has to be a Man of the Match for Mac who was performing very ably at the heart of the defence before Mildys injury and then did everything that could have been expected of him and more between the sticks. He even had the audacity to collect a high cross into the box under pressure that Mildy would have struggled with. That is not to say that Wrexham peppered him with shots because to the credit of the whole team they didn't and certainly Wrexham did not deserve a victory and we ,in fact, had the better opportunities and with better finishing would have won the game.
Parkes 8.5 Superb defensive display from Parksy,defended well and happy to bring the ball out and play football and would have been my MOM but for the calmness with which McCrystal took to the goalkeeper shirt.
Brown 6 Not one of his better performances but credit must be given for the way he carried an injury for the last 25 minutes but instead of crying off battled for everything and still managed some good runs and overlapping.
Della Verde 4 Not his night.Had hardly broken into a sweat before he was replaced due to injury.
Mansell 7 Held his position well and battled for everything as usual. Nothing spectacular but does the basic tasks well and breaks up the opposition play and plays the game simply but well.
Sinclair 6 Not at his best when in possession but ran around for 97 minutes and battled for every ball.It is difficult to criticise a player who gives his all in every game and just doesn't stop harrassing the opposition.
Monkhouse 5.5 A disappointing performance as seems to drift in and out of the game but did conjure up moments of good football in the second half where he played Brown in behind the Wrexham defence. He at least looks capable of retaining the ball but did get caught in possession far too easily on a couple of occasions.
Taylor 7 Retained possession well and ran the lines well.He does everything a forward player should do apart from get in the position to snatch a goal. Trouble is if you take out his workrate and clever movement and ball retention from our attacks you would definitely lose something from our general play and particularly with the events of last night these assets were probably more important than the predator striker.
Blissett 4 Just not his night from start until he was rightfully replaced.Won very little possession either in the air or on the ground and the ball just seemed to keep coming off of him. Wrexhan had a strong experienced defence and not much went right for him.
Balanta 6 Has obvious talent on the ball but clearly lacks Match fitness yet and probably had to play a bit longer than Clarke would have liked but he really came into the game half way through the second half and had a ten minute spell where he looked like he could win us the game. Produced a good save from the keeper and created two opportunities for others with defence splitting passes during what was our best spell of the game when we got on top and looked capable of getting all the points. Certainly I am expecting great things from him in the second half of the season when he has a few games under his belt.
Trotman 6 Looked a little rusty but produced an effective performance in what was a solid defence that restricted Wrexham to very few opportunities.
Wall 7 Very impressed with everything he did when he came on and he immediately unsettled the Wrexham defence and seemed right up to a physical battle. Held the ball up well,brought other players into the game and then there was the free kick...of such power not seen since the days of Lambert that crashed against the crossbar with the goalkeeper well beaten.Two inches lower and it would have probably gone in off the underside of the bar and would have been one of the goals of the season. If we could sign him permanently then I think it would be good business as has the attributes that a targetman should have and with the different style of Blissett would give us strength in that departman.
Overall, I would say the side deserve great credit to be able to keep a point in adversity and although Wrexhams record prior to this game were questionable they have been improving and have a couple of good wins at home against the better teams in this league.
DC 7 Substitutions were the right ones and I like the way that we approach EVERY game to win and not just to draw a game. This could have been a 2-0 win come the end but just as easily a 2-0 defeat so full credit for his approach to the game but also to the way he has created a very strong squad that I think will improve as the newer players gain match fitness. Has his work cut out now to sort out the keeper position before Saturday (Can we bring in an emergency loan or will the availability of Preston prevent this?) The performance of McCrystal did show me that the decision not to include a keeper on the bench is a sensible one as it is questionable if Preston at the moment could have done as good a job as McCrytal did in a situation that is only likely to occur say twice a season.
Referee 7 Some "fussy" decisions but IMO got most right and one of the better Conference referees
Fans 7 Disappointing turn out at just under 200 but it was a cold, Tuesday night and a long journey however those who were there made themselves heard and vocally backed the team admirably. Well done.
My first thought on returning home was I wonder what Steve Phillips is doing these days but i am not sure if his fitness after his injuries is up to Conference football as I would assume he would still be in the League if he was fully able?
