Post by stevek192 on Feb 2, 2020 11:03:52 GMT
Eleven games without a win is a worrying trend as we slip down the league in pretty well freefall. In this stage we are at in changing the side it is difficult to9 see where the next three points is going to come from and it is very important to end this run in the next two games as if we don't get anything at Wycombe and then lose at relegation threatened Tranmere we could yet end up in serious trouble. My problem at the moment is that whilst seven in during the window was surprising they were all young players and those who are saying we are following the Oxford, Peterborough and Coventry route are wrong because although those clubs are producing fine players and then selling them on for a fortune they are also signing experience heads and also rather than picking up free transfers also pay out large transfer fees to get in quality. There has to be a balance.
Anyway on to the game and to be honest I found it an entertaining one where we played very well for 35 minutes and were deservedly ahead and should have been two up but once Coventry got in their stride it was clear we would struggle to get the points as the key area of midfield swung away from us and was bypassed. The second goal on half time was a real killer and really should have been avoided but was sweetly taken by IMO the best player on the pitch Liam Walsh. His type of creative player is something we have lacked all season. To our credit we kept going and could have got something out of the game because we restricted Coventry to very few shots even in their dominating periods but we are not getting the run of the green at the moment at key times in the game.
Blackman 7 Confident and IMO a very capable keeper who makes the defence overall look a lot better than it was before he arrived and after Annsi was injured. He doesn't need to be making spectacular saves because he is aware of what is happening. Ok he flapped at one and nearly lost possession but overall IMO it was a good display of basic goalkeeping with far more good points than bad ones.
Davies 6 A mixed game but has only recently come back from a long injury and taking that into consideration it was not a bad performance at all and will only get better.
Craig 7 Very good game . Wish other players could be as clever as him when it comes to avoiding needless bookings. The only back player who consistently held his own against good opposition but can he play the Garner way? You need a Tony Craig in a young side but I fear he will be the next experience pro to be replaced.
Kilgour 7 Pretty good game overall but caught a couple of times including an unnecessary booking. The problem with getting bookings with todays game is that you then can't afford to commit another foul and it severely restricts your game.
Rodman 6 Got better as the game went on. Unlucky not to score when his header was cleared off the line and overall looks far better when he doesn't need to defend.
Clarke 4 Pretty abysmal overall and I think the one good move three bad ones come into play. He certainly has the ability to put in a good crunching tackle which prior to his injury Ogogo did too but there is no creativity whatsoever. Personally I would put Barratt in the centre of midfield and try to build the team around him
Upson 5 Another stupid booking where he seems now to be providing competition for Ollie Clarke in this department. I stand by what I have said previously that he cannot play in the same team as both Ollie Clarke and Ogogo . He is the best of the three on the ball but lacks mobility
Holmes-Dennis 5.5 Similar to Davies in that he looks class at times but his long injury period shows in his fitness. Could be one of the best left backs in the division but can he regain top form and hold his place till the end of the season which will be IMO a minimum requirement if we are to extend his contract. Was very good in the first 35 minutes but we need this to be a far greater proportion of the match.
Ginnelly 7 Looks a good winger but the key here is that we must find the players to supply him with the ball quicker. It is great to now see a few players who do actually have the ability to beat a player
Mitchell-Lawson 7.5 Great first half but faded more and more as the game went on
Clarke-Harris 8 MOM Brilliant individual goal and looked more like his old self with the transfer window now behind him. He will again be key to us getting that first win under BG. Should probably have scored in the second half from the edge of the area.
Subs: Barrett 6 Should have started the game as he looks to have some creation in his play and for me he should have been the first sub on rather than Ogogo
Ogogo 4 Lacking fitness since his lay off and made us worse if anything
Reilly NOLE or some may say on too long!! A poor mans Nichols!
Crowd 6 tried hard to get behind the team and another good following from Coventry which is understandable as they get high entertainment from their side.
Ref 1 God help us! I really wonder what the level of refereeing is like at the grass routes level if this is the best of them! Once the crowd start singing Yo9ure not fit to referee it seemed he took even greater delight in giving decisions against us to the extent of blatant cheating. Early bookings set a precedent that he did not follow for both teams and got far more wrong decisions than right ones.
Coventry 7.5 IMO the best side we have faced this season and I am glad to see the back of them. I would not b e at all surp0rised if they go straight up in one of the top two positions.However much better than us they were the truth is they did not create very many chances at all but the main difference in the sides is that they have a good midfield who can pick a pass and take their chances so don't need very many. Liam Walsh for me was their best player by a country mile and I feel if we had him in our midfield it would have been us who9 had the three points now.
So we go to everyone's favourite place next week in Wycombe and really need to bring something home with us. IMO we need four points from our next two games taking into account forthcoming matches. At this point of time I think we will be lucky to get two points from the two games. UTG
Anyway on to the game and to be honest I found it an entertaining one where we played very well for 35 minutes and were deservedly ahead and should have been two up but once Coventry got in their stride it was clear we would struggle to get the points as the key area of midfield swung away from us and was bypassed. The second goal on half time was a real killer and really should have been avoided but was sweetly taken by IMO the best player on the pitch Liam Walsh. His type of creative player is something we have lacked all season. To our credit we kept going and could have got something out of the game because we restricted Coventry to very few shots even in their dominating periods but we are not getting the run of the green at the moment at key times in the game.
Blackman 7 Confident and IMO a very capable keeper who makes the defence overall look a lot better than it was before he arrived and after Annsi was injured. He doesn't need to be making spectacular saves because he is aware of what is happening. Ok he flapped at one and nearly lost possession but overall IMO it was a good display of basic goalkeeping with far more good points than bad ones.
Davies 6 A mixed game but has only recently come back from a long injury and taking that into consideration it was not a bad performance at all and will only get better.
Craig 7 Very good game . Wish other players could be as clever as him when it comes to avoiding needless bookings. The only back player who consistently held his own against good opposition but can he play the Garner way? You need a Tony Craig in a young side but I fear he will be the next experience pro to be replaced.
Kilgour 7 Pretty good game overall but caught a couple of times including an unnecessary booking. The problem with getting bookings with todays game is that you then can't afford to commit another foul and it severely restricts your game.
Rodman 6 Got better as the game went on. Unlucky not to score when his header was cleared off the line and overall looks far better when he doesn't need to defend.
Clarke 4 Pretty abysmal overall and I think the one good move three bad ones come into play. He certainly has the ability to put in a good crunching tackle which prior to his injury Ogogo did too but there is no creativity whatsoever. Personally I would put Barratt in the centre of midfield and try to build the team around him
Upson 5 Another stupid booking where he seems now to be providing competition for Ollie Clarke in this department. I stand by what I have said previously that he cannot play in the same team as both Ollie Clarke and Ogogo . He is the best of the three on the ball but lacks mobility
Holmes-Dennis 5.5 Similar to Davies in that he looks class at times but his long injury period shows in his fitness. Could be one of the best left backs in the division but can he regain top form and hold his place till the end of the season which will be IMO a minimum requirement if we are to extend his contract. Was very good in the first 35 minutes but we need this to be a far greater proportion of the match.
Ginnelly 7 Looks a good winger but the key here is that we must find the players to supply him with the ball quicker. It is great to now see a few players who do actually have the ability to beat a player
Mitchell-Lawson 7.5 Great first half but faded more and more as the game went on
Clarke-Harris 8 MOM Brilliant individual goal and looked more like his old self with the transfer window now behind him. He will again be key to us getting that first win under BG. Should probably have scored in the second half from the edge of the area.
Subs: Barrett 6 Should have started the game as he looks to have some creation in his play and for me he should have been the first sub on rather than Ogogo
Ogogo 4 Lacking fitness since his lay off and made us worse if anything
Reilly NOLE or some may say on too long!! A poor mans Nichols!
Crowd 6 tried hard to get behind the team and another good following from Coventry which is understandable as they get high entertainment from their side.
Ref 1 God help us! I really wonder what the level of refereeing is like at the grass routes level if this is the best of them! Once the crowd start singing Yo9ure not fit to referee it seemed he took even greater delight in giving decisions against us to the extent of blatant cheating. Early bookings set a precedent that he did not follow for both teams and got far more wrong decisions than right ones.
Coventry 7.5 IMO the best side we have faced this season and I am glad to see the back of them. I would not b e at all surp0rised if they go straight up in one of the top two positions.However much better than us they were the truth is they did not create very many chances at all but the main difference in the sides is that they have a good midfield who can pick a pass and take their chances so don't need very many. Liam Walsh for me was their best player by a country mile and I feel if we had him in our midfield it would have been us who9 had the three points now.
So we go to everyone's favourite place next week in Wycombe and really need to bring something home with us. IMO we need four points from our next two games taking into account forthcoming matches. At this point of time I think we will be lucky to get two points from the two games. UTG