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Brief synopsis
- Thread starter Tugboat
- Start date
We have a lot of good Midfielders. Difficult to see how to keep them all happy. They also seem to be of a similar ilk. I don't see any Steve Castle or Frio type players who will get in the box and score.
Nobby":3b32n2rj said:
Cooper had to pull out a tremendous save from the free kick in the s/h and also closed matey down very quickly in the 1 on 1, so I think he was tested and came out of the game with a lot of credit. Nouble keeps improving each game and is becoming a very important part of the forward options. Reeves and Fornah are both class. I feel that Lowe is building a team to challenge for promotion THIS season, rather than just consolidating.
An underwhelming win against a side who looked worse than many we played in League Two last season. Burton were awful and look dead certs for relegation based on today's evidence.
Still, a win's a win and was much needed seeing as we'd gone five games without one. You could see how much we wanted it due to the amount of time wasting we engaged in - we were keeping the ball on the touchlines from throw-ins with more than ten minutes to go! RL even gestured for Jephcott to slow down when he was running off after being subbed. I got the distinct impression they'd done some work on game management after the capitulations at Orient and Cheltenham.
We had loads of possession and dozens of crosses but once again our final ball was lacking. I lost count of the number of crosses that either went straight to a yellow shirt or into no man's land. That needs to be sorted.
The much-maligned defence kept a rare clean sheet but weren't particularly threatened. They've got the spots now and it'll be up to them to keep hold of them. Opoku is waiting in the wings to take someone's shirt.
Moore was much more involved and grabbed a deserved goal. GC was also very good on the other flank, though was taken off because Burton were having too much joy down his side and we needed to tighten up (another indication of how cautious RL was today once we went 2-0 up).
Reeves must start as soon as he's up to full fitness. He was everywhere: pass-and-move, pass-and-move. His introduction pushed Burton back and pretty much ended their attacking threat. We have a real player there.
At the other end of the scale was Frank Nouble. Someone commented on the match thread that he looked like he was playing in flip-flops and that about sums him up for me. I get that we're playing longer and need an outlet, but surely we could have done better than him?
We looked like what we probably are today and that's a mid-table side, and that'll do fine for me.
Still, a win's a win and was much needed seeing as we'd gone five games without one. You could see how much we wanted it due to the amount of time wasting we engaged in - we were keeping the ball on the touchlines from throw-ins with more than ten minutes to go! RL even gestured for Jephcott to slow down when he was running off after being subbed. I got the distinct impression they'd done some work on game management after the capitulations at Orient and Cheltenham.
We had loads of possession and dozens of crosses but once again our final ball was lacking. I lost count of the number of crosses that either went straight to a yellow shirt or into no man's land. That needs to be sorted.
The much-maligned defence kept a rare clean sheet but weren't particularly threatened. They've got the spots now and it'll be up to them to keep hold of them. Opoku is waiting in the wings to take someone's shirt.
Moore was much more involved and grabbed a deserved goal. GC was also very good on the other flank, though was taken off because Burton were having too much joy down his side and we needed to tighten up (another indication of how cautious RL was today once we went 2-0 up).
Reeves must start as soon as he's up to full fitness. He was everywhere: pass-and-move, pass-and-move. His introduction pushed Burton back and pretty much ended their attacking threat. We have a real player there.
At the other end of the scale was Frank Nouble. Someone commented on the match thread that he looked like he was playing in flip-flops and that about sums him up for me. I get that we're playing longer and need an outlet, but surely we could have done better than him?
We looked like what we probably are today and that's a mid-table side, and that'll do fine for me.
Solid enough and good to chalk up a win but I'd have liked to have seen Argyle hitting four or five past that team - they were crying out to be tonked.
Byron Moore is mister consistency and much underrated. Fornah looked good on first view, kept things simple, kept it ticking over. Mayor was as usual superb at turning midfield possession into dangerous attacks. The rest were sixes. Hopefully something to build on.
Byron Moore is mister consistency and much underrated. Fornah looked good on first view, kept things simple, kept it ticking over. Mayor was as usual superb at turning midfield possession into dangerous attacks. The rest were sixes. Hopefully something to build on.
I think it is much too early to forecast where we will end up this season.
We have played 5 teams so far. 3 of them are in the bottom 5, including Blackpool who most supporters seemed to think would be near the top. Wimbledon are 2 positions below us and Hull, who most believe will be challenging for promotion, were beaten 4-1 today.
I think that we have made some shrewd signings and RL is still not certain what his best team will be.
We have seen ‘flashes’ from McLeod, Camara, Nouble, Reeves and now Fornah; we still don’t know who will establish a position between Watts and Opoku; Hardie will, surely, start to fire soon and Grant is starting to show that he can challenge for a place. Mike Cooper is gradually earning the respect that he deserves and Jephcott has scored 2 in 2.
It will be interesting to see where we will be at the end of November.
At least we only have one cup competition left.
We have played 5 teams so far. 3 of them are in the bottom 5, including Blackpool who most supporters seemed to think would be near the top. Wimbledon are 2 positions below us and Hull, who most believe will be challenging for promotion, were beaten 4-1 today.
I think that we have made some shrewd signings and RL is still not certain what his best team will be.
We have seen ‘flashes’ from McLeod, Camara, Nouble, Reeves and now Fornah; we still don’t know who will establish a position between Watts and Opoku; Hardie will, surely, start to fire soon and Grant is starting to show that he can challenge for a place. Mike Cooper is gradually earning the respect that he deserves and Jephcott has scored 2 in 2.
It will be interesting to see where we will be at the end of November.
At least we only have one cup competition left.
Balham_Green":si8yhphi said:
Crikey, I think this is the second time in the history of PASOTI that I agree with you BG :greensmile: :greensmile:
I said the same thing yesterday during the match. We often only have just the two players in the box to aim at when a cross is made (free kicks and corner kicks apart). Whilst our midfield looks much tighter with Fornah, Camera, Reeves etc, none of those players seem to be the box to box midfielder that gives us extra options in the oppositions penalty area.
I don't think it's essential in this system to have a centre mid charging into the penalty area. We need them to offer some support the attack, sure (as Mayor and Grant do), but I think its more of a requirement of the wing back opposite to where the ball is to get into the box. Look at two of our big chances yesterday - Cooper has the ball out on the left, and it's Moore making the late run to the far post. On these two occasions, it resulted in a very good chance and a goal.
I think the idea behind it is, if the opposition quickly counter, better to let them have the ball in wide areas (exploiting our wing backs pushing up) than it is to have them running at our middle centre back.
Both goals had elements of fortune, but they came about due to really good wing play. That's why George Cooper needs to play at wing back - he'll give us so much more in attack.
I think the idea behind it is, if the opposition quickly counter, better to let them have the ball in wide areas (exploiting our wing backs pushing up) than it is to have them running at our middle centre back.
Both goals had elements of fortune, but they came about due to really good wing play. That's why George Cooper needs to play at wing back - he'll give us so much more in attack.
Just watched the highlights on Quest. Respect to Colin Murray after his gaffe, announcing the game with a Tourist Board summary of the wonderful county of Devon!
- Feb 24, 2007
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Dreamgreen":j8wwt4je said:
I think Reeves will muck in with some assists and goals.
I’m just struggling to see who gets dropped out of Grant, Camara, Reeves and Macleod because Mayor and Fornau are starters. That leaves one available space.
None have done anything wrong so difficult to pick for and against.
saxman":3uvoan97 said:
The save from the free kick was pretty routine, wasn't exactly in the corner. As for the 1-on-1, yes he was out quick, it was good goalkeeping. Other than that, everything was straight at him. He did what he had to do well, but this was one of the easier days Mike Cooper will have this season. It's not a criticism of Cooper, simply an acknowledgment that we defended well and Burton were pretty bad.
Tugboat":1ordr0oe said:
I agree with your analysis but we will need to rest Fornah and Mayor at some stage when the back to back Saturday Tuesdays kick in so having depth is v useful...
