Sorry I got carried away typing again ........haha
This was my first game of the new season as I do not attend pre-season games it will be hard to give a solid opinion but from what I saw tonight I thought there were positives and negatives. Thought we played better in the second half, stepped the tempo up and in patches throughout the game we passed very well, especially in midfield.
My thoughts on the team and new players are good and bad. Ignoring the fact that he is a legend and putting history aside I feel we might need a more agile keeper. I still think Coburn is good, a great shot stopper, but his appears reluctant and maybe a lack of confidence at coming out for the ball or getting down to shots.
Defence – For me the sooner we get Leather and Havern back together the better. Marshall is still not fit enough and his distribution is woeful. I have previously said this but we need a stronger and quicker left back, I don’t like saying it but Griffin will get destroyed in this league and positionally he is poor. He only over lapped our wide man once in the whole game ( the penalty claim ). I personally think he isn’t good enough and there was no difference between him and buzz apart from a dodgy knee. I heard from pre season that Densmore has been off the boil and until he got injured he was getting beat too easily as well, it was cross after cross. I think we definitely need to look at a left back.
Midfield – Williams and Cavanagh will be our best partnership. The amount of energy Williams had was unbelievable even if he did run out of steam towards the end. Cavanagh is a calm character, which we need and will also put a tackle in. My only concern about this partnership is the big gap between them, Cavanagh sits very deep and Williams looks to run through up top, massive area between the two. There will be games in which we have to play three in midfield and that will make this partnership even more productive, but I was very impress with those two.
In the first half it seemed like we had no wide men, Lawrie and Crowther were not interested, there closing down was poor and neither wanted to take the full back on out wide. They both appear too soft for me,Lawrie did one challenge and won the ball in the second half. We were getting battered down our right side, for me Lawrie needs a permanent rocket up his bum to stay in this team and I think he doesn’t have the energy or determination to play wide at this standard. Lawrie is only dangerous in a central role, I think he will get bullied and basically doesn’t do enough over 90 mins. Their left back was jogging past in him in the first half. Crowther looked nervous in the first half but was brighter in the second with a couple of driving runs but I still feel from one game that is a sort of player who will let his head drop, a bit too softy softy.
Forwards – Really impressed with Gillespie, what a touch that lad has and close control is excellent. Again I am sorry to say this but Perry is a waste of time, he is there to hold it up and be the muscle but his ball retention percentage is awful. If he doesn’t win the flick on’s or even hold the ball up then it is pointless. The old fashioned big centre forward died 5 plus years ago, you need pace and energy up top. You need your forwards closing down the defenders, forcing errors or even winning the ball off the full backs like Gillespie did a few times in the first half. Perry is no where near good enough for this league and should have been released.
The physical condition of Perry and Marshall is disgraceful in my opinion, they are unfit and both over weight. Their condition alone does not warrant and team selection.
I think we showed that we can pass the ball around but we need to gain that extra energy and belief but I feel there will be a settling in period and I am not too disheartened. Sinnot please do not tinker each game unless you have too. I am still soooooo happy to be back in this league, away fans on a Tuesday night :-)
If we must play 4-4-2 then my team would be
GK Coburn ( or new keeper )
LB NO IDEA
RB Densmore
CB Leather
CB Havern
LW Clee
CM Williams
CM Cavanagh
RW Richman ( for his closing down and energy )
CF Gillespie
CF Reeves