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Full backs need to improve dramatically (Just back)
- Thread starter Shoenice
- Start date
- Sep 15, 2003
- 6,843
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Knibbsworth":6lyy5rj1 said:
This.
While everyone is entitled to their opinion, it really does seem sometimes that some people have immediate access to what DA's plans are.
Purrington will have been given a role to play by DA prior to kick off.
Did his style of play change in the 2nd half?
No, it didn't.
Therefore, unless Purrington was being a total egg and ignoring the manager's instructions, he was playing the game exactly has he had been told. I somehow couldn't imagine Paul Wotton remaining in his seat or remaining silent, if Purrington was cocking up the gameplan.
That was probably the strangest Argyle game I've been too.
No reasonable complaints could be made against the two reds. They were all over the place in the period between the spending offs and Spencer cooly finished a good move to give us the lead.
When they went down to nine men they completely shut up shop. We dealt with it well to begin with and passed it around with purpose to tire them out. Their 'keeper was forced into a few good saves and Goodwille missed a sitter. The half petered out as they became comfortable defending the penalty box and we struggled to create chances.
The second half begun as the first ended. As frustrating as it was not top be running up a cricket score it probably was the right approach. They were not threatening at all so no need to give away chances on the break.
Eventually the second came after good work from Purrington. We could and should have scored more, especially Goodwille who is desperate for a goal to kick start his season.
The two main complaints were we didn't carry the ball into space enough from deep to really stretch them and we persisted with short corners for no obvious reason. The worst that would have happened after a ball into the box was us picking up the clearance.
Part of me is disappointed that I don't really know where we are after watching my first game of the season. A much larger part of me just wants us out of this flipping league and would snap your hand off for a 2-0 away win every day of the week!
No reasonable complaints could be made against the two reds. They were all over the place in the period between the spending offs and Spencer cooly finished a good move to give us the lead.
When they went down to nine men they completely shut up shop. We dealt with it well to begin with and passed it around with purpose to tire them out. Their 'keeper was forced into a few good saves and Goodwille missed a sitter. The half petered out as they became comfortable defending the penalty box and we struggled to create chances.
The second half begun as the first ended. As frustrating as it was not top be running up a cricket score it probably was the right approach. They were not threatening at all so no need to give away chances on the break.
Eventually the second came after good work from Purrington. We could and should have scored more, especially Goodwille who is desperate for a goal to kick start his season.
The two main complaints were we didn't carry the ball into space enough from deep to really stretch them and we persisted with short corners for no obvious reason. The worst that would have happened after a ball into the box was us picking up the clearance.
Part of me is disappointed that I don't really know where we are after watching my first game of the season. A much larger part of me just wants us out of this flipping league and would snap your hand off for a 2-0 away win every day of the week!
It does appear that we are having very good 15 to 20 minute spells in games where we score and win the game but the overall performance and the 70 minute spell is not so good and this is what is remembered by fans when talking about the game, especially when we've been hanging on late in games.
In short, we are not dominating games as our league position suggests but the purple patch we have during games is enough to win it.
In short, we are not dominating games as our league position suggests but the purple patch we have during games is enough to win it.
Last night's atmosphere was quite surreal. The Argyle faithful, despite a virtually certain 3 points, were, in the second half more like Saturday's crowd hoping for an equaliser. We knew Argyle should have taken the opportunity to work on their goal difference but Orient simply parked the bus with five along the back. Their No 11, playing right back in the second half, had Carey in his pocket and would be a good January acquisition if Miller becomes a Mellor.
The second sending off seemed quite harsh. We all know that Jake was highly unlikely to score from that far out but the Argyle goals were well created, particularly the first.
To make the evening even more memorable there were signalling problems with South West Trains which meant I could not get back to Aldershot. The taxi from Farnborough was more expensive than my rail ticket to Leyton and back.
The second sending off seemed quite harsh. We all know that Jake was highly unlikely to score from that far out but the Argyle goals were well created, particularly the first.
To make the evening even more memorable there were signalling problems with South West Trains which meant I could not get back to Aldershot. The taxi from Farnborough was more expensive than my rail ticket to Leyton and back.
Surreal indeed! including that the Orient fans seemed to have more fun than we did! Our nervousness at "the goals not coming" contrasted with their "no expectations, nothing to lose" appreciation of a fantastic rearguard action by the "magnificent nine" & a brilliant display by keeper Cisak, easily Man of the Match.
I'm delighted at the prospect of Orient gelling quickly following last night, not least 'cos they play Pompey & Luton at home on 8th & 15th October & I can see the "getting it together" continuing to make Brisbane Road soon a tougher place to get points.
A "proper club" with "real fans" ( & a great supporters bar!, with tasty Sheepdog at £3.20 a pint!).
For us, we came away with 3 points, Green Army were in great voice & HaHa! I read on Pasoti, GasparGomez, who wasn't there trying yet again to "wee on our Bonfire". Get real, man! There are so many positives currently, that your armchair attempts to dampen (doubtless in the misguided "name of realism") are truly laughable. Of course I , like all that were there last night, can have our misgivings & worries, but at the moment, I'm enjoying the feeling: it feels Great!
I'm delighted at the prospect of Orient gelling quickly following last night, not least 'cos they play Pompey & Luton at home on 8th & 15th October & I can see the "getting it together" continuing to make Brisbane Road soon a tougher place to get points.
A "proper club" with "real fans" ( & a great supporters bar!, with tasty Sheepdog at £3.20 a pint!).
For us, we came away with 3 points, Green Army were in great voice & HaHa! I read on Pasoti, GasparGomez, who wasn't there trying yet again to "wee on our Bonfire". Get real, man! There are so many positives currently, that your armchair attempts to dampen (doubtless in the misguided "name of realism") are truly laughable. Of course I , like all that were there last night, can have our misgivings & worries, but at the moment, I'm enjoying the feeling: it feels Great!
I agree with the comments regarding DA's instructions. If he was berating Purrington and Miller for not attacking then you have a point. If he had instructed them to sit deeper then they have successfully carried out their duties.
I do wonder in the absence of Nelson whether we will see all defenders sit a bit deeper as we don't have Nelson's pace to cover the wide areas when hit on a counter attack.
I have no qualms with a defensively minded back 4 and a deep lying playmaker to allow the front 5 to play and express themselves in an attacking manner. One key point to this would be the effective DCM - Fox (not seen him play yet) likened to Paul Scholes - suggests he has the attributes.
You only need to score 4 if you are shipping 3 at the other end. Winning is important, promotion is important. Playing pretty football and blooding youngsters have to be secondary to that.
I do wonder in the absence of Nelson whether we will see all defenders sit a bit deeper as we don't have Nelson's pace to cover the wide areas when hit on a counter attack.
I have no qualms with a defensively minded back 4 and a deep lying playmaker to allow the front 5 to play and express themselves in an attacking manner. One key point to this would be the effective DCM - Fox (not seen him play yet) likened to Paul Scholes - suggests he has the attributes.
You only need to score 4 if you are shipping 3 at the other end. Winning is important, promotion is important. Playing pretty football and blooding youngsters have to be secondary to that.
I agree it's a proper club, and one I visit several times each year as I have family nearby. They have some marvellously eccentric supporters. During the 60s, in the early days of match of the day, there was an occasion wheni one older supporter got so fed up with the lack of goals that he ran on the pitch mid-game, tackled a player, and dribbled the ball into the goal to show how it should be done, accompanied by cheering from the entire ground. He was politely escorted off the pitch by the ref, and he resumed his seat with no police or steward involvement!Ray_Stidwell":2mja5usq said:
Don't rate Miller at all. He seems slow and over weight to me and the one time he crossed the half way line this season it took him 5 minutes to get back blowing like a whale.
Whilst he is more "solid" than Mellor on balance I would say the latter is the better player and we have gone backwards at RB.
How the hell Miller keeps Threkeld out of the team is beyond me. Threkeld on a bad day is better than Miller on the top of his game. I also think we miss his energy in midfield and he would be one of my first names on the team sheet no matter where he played - note to DA
Purrington has been a little disappointing - looks nervous and lacking confidence hence cutting inside and backwards for the safe option far too often.
Sawyer is definitely the better defender but does not offer a lot going forward. Both get skinned by a fast winger.
Agree with comment above that the back 4 sit deeper due to lack of covering pace something Luton exposed on first game.
Unless Ben ups his game defensively and offensively Sawyer will walk straight back into the team when fit
Whilst he is more "solid" than Mellor on balance I would say the latter is the better player and we have gone backwards at RB.
How the hell Miller keeps Threkeld out of the team is beyond me. Threkeld on a bad day is better than Miller on the top of his game. I also think we miss his energy in midfield and he would be one of my first names on the team sheet no matter where he played - note to DA
Purrington has been a little disappointing - looks nervous and lacking confidence hence cutting inside and backwards for the safe option far too often.
Sawyer is definitely the better defender but does not offer a lot going forward. Both get skinned by a fast winger.
Agree with comment above that the back 4 sit deeper due to lack of covering pace something Luton exposed on first game.
Unless Ben ups his game defensively and offensively Sawyer will walk straight back into the team when fit
Shoenice":3crlbrqg said:
Why, in God's name, would BP tell DA that GS is no. 1!!!! I think GS will be hard pushed to get back in the side in all honesty!
Sorry, derr, see what you're saying! Don't think you can make that comment about tonights game because of the circumstances.
samjones":2dpi5v53 said:
Any right back who can concentrate and not make calamitous errors at the worst possible moments is an improvement on Mellor. It has become fashionable to be nice about Mellor, almost out of pity as some of the abuse he got was indeed nasty, personal and unwarranted. However his inability to concentrate under pressure, and to just see a game out pretty much cost us promotion. He gave away a few costly penalties, the one against Accrington away a total game changer, and then his decision to head that pearoller cross at Wembley...
Mellor wasn't a bad right back over all, could dribble well and had some good technical skill. However for me he was mentally weak and seemed to buckle under the pressure. It cost us last season, whereas Sawyer had the focus to see games out well defensively on the other flank. It was chalk and cheese, and Adams seemed to consciously recruit an older senior head for the RB role this season - to the point he seems to be ignoring Threlkeld's good performances at RB and going with his senior man. Our new back 4 seems a lot mentally stronger, although it is early days.
I'd rather have Miller even if he's less mobile, a poorer crosser and less technically gifted dribbler, IF he can mark better, concentrate better and not give daft penalties or poor passbacks when under pressure in big games. 4 goals conceded in 9 games is a terrific stat, and that is with one mishit cross out of the blue. The back four is becoming a tight unit.
Threlkeld seems to have played well at RB in recent games, and played well in midfield too, so Miller starting over him is a bigger mystery. Oscar hasn't put a foot wrong this season but can't get a start?
Watching the extended highlights it looked like Ben had a fairly good game. I know it's not always representative, but I don't understand the criticism based on those.
