Just got back from Chesterfield. I can’t get to many matches, and I do appreciate it when someone who’s been there posts their thoughts on this board, so . . . my turn!
Silvestri - 7 - looks like a good buy. Tall, competent and made a couple of good saves. Difficult to blame him for either goal. Nice dark green jersey in camouflage fabric, presumably so strikers can’t quite see where he is when they try shooting.
Byram - 7 - glad we still have him - and hope we can keep him! Delivered some impressive overlapping runs on the right with Ady White. Bit quieter after Ady had left the pitch on his stretcher.
Warnock - 7 - good game, very committed and saved a goal by accidentally sticking his head in the way of a shot. Hockaday decided to sub him 5 minutes later (he did look a bit out of it - understandably) and the announcement was made over the PA system. Mr Warnock refused to leave the pitch. Got away with it. Good to see our coach is in charge . . . (TBF, Warnock played well after that too)
(replaced by Berardi 73 mins) - who looks like another good buy - at least as committed and effective as Warnock. Let’s hope he’s not been bought just so we can sell Sam Byram.
Wootton - 6 - OK-ish.
Pearce - 7 - played pretty well, cut out quite a few attacks.
Cook - 7- very impressive. Great passing; didn’t look out of his depth at all.
(replaced by Tonge 67 mins) - anonymous.
Austin - 8 - competed for everything. Some good passes. Scored both penalties and didn’t shoot over the bar once!
Murphy - 7- intelligent passes.
(replaced by Norris 67 mins) - why?
White - 8 - tried harder than anyone else on the pitch. Some good committed runs from midfield, and unlucky that none of them resulted in a goal. Injury looked worrying - carried off on a stretcher with hands to his head. Fingers crossed for him.
(replaced by Bianchi 64 mins) - not great, not terrible. I’m a little worried his heart isn’t in it, but jury out.
Morison - 6 - tried hard, achieved nothing (not good for a striker)
(replaced by Dawson 75 mins) - not seem him play before, very impressed. Fast, committed, definitely one for the future. About half the height of Doukara!
Smith - 6 - got into one or two good positions, but ultimately achieved nothing (again, not good for a striker)
(replaced by Doukara 45mins) - started well after half time, but faded.
Overall, I’m still a bit worried about relegation, but not so much as I was. We're not great at the moment, but we're not as bad as we could be. We certainly weren’t playing hoof ball, and a passing game takes time to gel, especially when the players are new to each other. Am worried that the goals both came from penalties. We urgently need a proven striker, more creativity and time to gel. Then the glass might just possibly be half full.
Eye witness report
posted on 26/7/14
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posted on 26/7/14
Thanks, footshooter. After reading some of the comments in the YEP, I was getting ready to polish off the brandy and it's only 9.00 a.m. in this part of the planet.
posted on 26/7/14
Cheers footshooter always good to read the views of an intelligent articulate and unbiased witness.
Can I ask that you expand on the reasoning for your comment about Bianchi
posted on 26/7/14
Sounds like we played ok then? Was it an improvement from Mansfield then?
posted on 27/7/14
I'm not a pessimist but 3 shots on goal to 18 and equally the same at Mansfield. Are those ratings a bit too good cos the commentary I listened to suggested we were rubbish.
posted on 27/7/14
Commentary I listened to suggested we got better later in the game. One new recruit started yesterday.
We'll see what happens over the next 2 weeks....
posted on 27/7/14
Thanks for the thankses. In no particular order (but Eric first in recognition of his intelligent articulate and unbiased flattery):
- Bianchi - too much standing still (lazy, clueless, overawed to be playing for Leeds, or a good footballing brain?) No worthwhile outcomes, which is why the jury’s out.
- Battywack - didn’t go to Mansfield so can’t really comment, but a draw is better than a defeat, no?
- LS110ES - I agree - far too few shots on goal, but this is the first time the coach’s intended starting XI has begun a match together, so on balance I’m prepared to give them time to gel (but not a lot). There was some good passing, and some bad passing, but no hoof ball, so I think they’re setting about things the right way. Whether it works remains to be seen, but as I said, we really do need a proven striker and more creative players (game changers if you like) before my glass gets any fuller.
- Stefano - yes, we did get better as the game progressed, but then for the first 10 minutes we were rubbish. Defo improving - but is it enough?
posted on 27/7/14
Cheers dear fellow, could it just be first night nerves or lack of communication possibly...?
I wasn't there so cannot say, merely asking.
Does Silvestri look as though he might command his area...?
posted on 27/7/14
He might Eric. Their two goals both came from rapid breakouts, not sustained attacks, so difficult to tell.
posted on 27/7/14
Cheers mate.