En reflektert spillerbørs:
Kenny - 1 very good save from eagles, otherwise was a passenger. Disappointed with his lack of urgency at goal kicks though when we were 0-0.
Peltier - didn't put a foot wrong. Is hampered by playing on the left and not having a left foot. It would also help if we could put a left footer in front of him for an easy passing option.
Tate - distribution was poor but with very cautious midfielders and Zat night being a giant it was always going to be difficult for him. Played Davies better than almost any player I've ever seen though.
Pearce - same as above. We Limited them to only shots from distance.
Byram - tidy. Not at fault but I would like to see him regain his confidence to beat a man and push forward as an option. I can't help but think the cautious nature we played with today is largely behind this.
McCormack - when he got on the ball he looked encouraging; I love him as a player but out wide, he was never going to be the threat we know he can be. He doesn't suit it as he isn't good at using the touchline in the same way as natural wide men is. Our bright moments invariably came when he did manage to cut inside and get involved. I thought he worked hard though and didn't let mears overlap.
Norris - buzzed and buzzed shutting down and harrying but was restrained and couldn't shut the CB down as the cover wasn't there for him. Our midfield never really got a hold of the ball as it was a war of attrition but he was tidy when he did get into it.
Austin - slow start, not quite the player we know he can be but they didn't capitalise because he did his defensive work Admirably.
Green - worked hard but his touch didn't work out much today. Probably nackered from this busy period and always looking to get involved in a bowyer-esque goal scoring capacity.
Becchio - good pen but really struggled to get into the game. Loved his intelligence in playing off of Andrews to win flick ons rather than getting too close to Zat Night
Diouf - intelligent and tidy on the ball. Only him and Ross ever look like they want the ball - its just a shame this system doesn't complement them as a pair. His touches, as for the whole team, were limited by the poor distribution.
My thoughts:
Defensively very tidy.
Lacking on tempo.
Midfield took one too many touches each time and it meant that we couldn't open them up.
Looked like we lacked confidence today. Eddie summed it up last game that the midfield aren't demanding the ball.. Its almost as if we're begging for a Kilkenny just to want the ball so that we don't just lump it. Without pace out wide or up front we are struggling to stretch the game and make space.
I'd like to see a left footer in the team. Peltier cuts back inside, as did Ross which meant we made the game very narrow.
We need to think of something new on throw ins - we regularly lost ground on our own throw ins.
The fans were awful today - we lambast the lack of football and criticise the failed endeavour when players do try to do something.. The only time we backed the team properly we (fans) almost willed the ball into the net. They didn't offer much, but we couldn't even get one MOT chant going..
auren
