I thought it was a brave decision dropping JFH, one that i agreed with but i thought he was going to give him one last game.
Highlight of the game was Diawara making that slide tackle in the 2nd half, and then getting up and running away with the ball. If he continues to play like that, we've made a decent signing there.
I would echo the sentiments of most regarding Diawara. I thought he was excellent. Every time the ball cam into our box he seemed to be in the right position and had the strength to deal with the ball when put under pressure too. Reid played well in the middle, but we so clearly lack someone to play the final ball. The only time we split them open was when Young went through but his touch let him down. On so many occassions we got to 30 yards out and kept going sideways or backwards. Also, I don't think we gave enough service to Thomas and Romm, so they started to drift inside to get the ball, which only succeeded in congesting the midfield.
One point that I'm sure I heard on Football First was that Bent was carrying an injury and that it was a gamble playing him. Did anyone else hear that or was I imagining it after a few ales on Sat night?!?
I also thought that Reids pass through to Jerome to pick out Darren before Shittu blocked was an excellent move...... a bit more of that and being one up will be a real joy to watch, we wil build a decent result and maybe two decent results out of three and we could start to fix this........... I am feeling a lot more positive today.......just after watching the highlights.......
I totally agree. I just felt the longer it went, the less likely we were to score as we started to panic a bit second half. If we could have got an early goal, I firmly believe that the nerves and tension would have gone and we would have taken Watford apart. I still can't quite believe we didn't get a goal, but Watford will feel the same. Is Henderson the same one that played on loan at Gillingham a couple of years ago? Makes Bartlett and Lisbie look world beaters!
Did anyone else notice how many times Shittu collided with his own team mates? He was a big presence at the back, but with only one up front we didn't get the chances to isolate him too often to get at him on the floor.
Lots of positives to take from the game, but the worry for me is that Watford were a pretty poor side and we failed to take the points from them. At least Newcastle are struggling too, but we will of course need to score at least two to win next week after Parker gets the obligatory old boy's goal. (P.S. Was anyone else hoping for Powelly to stick the ball past the keeper when he chested it back? Obviously no chance of it happening as he showed all his class and composure to just gently guide it to Foster - Absolute Class and a true CAFC Legend)
I thought we were excellent in the first half but then the longer the game went on the less likely it was that the players would want to play a risky ball and potentially concede. Which in my oprinon is completely understandable in the current situation. If we'd been mid table we'd have probably pushed on and won the game.
Players
Carson - Little to do but did it well
Diawara - Excellent. Reminded me so much Rufus with excellent positional play and reading of the game and the pace to get himself out of trouble. High praise indeed
El Kak - Poor as usual. When is Gibbs available? Move Herman to CB and Gibbs on the left?
Herman - Decent game. Tried to get forward, but has lost what little pace he had.
Luke - Poor for him, but solid. Didn't really try to take on the LB. Is he carrying an injury?
Thomas - Few tricks. Good shot in the 1st half. Needs to work on end product
Holland - OK. Quiet but solid. Didn't do a lot with the ball but gives us solidity which is what I think would have been asked of him
Faye - Gave the ball away a few times and should have been awarded a pen. Solid
Romm - See Thomas
Reid - Best game in a red shirt? Thought he looked great for the first 60 mins then faded. Will be great for us when hes fully fit
Bent - Quiet. Seemed a yard off. Injury?
Cant remember the subs doing anything, but why is JFH still getting a game? Fuk off if you cant be arsed. I'd have played Marcus instead.
Overall "solid" performance, should have had 3 points, but Andy Reid aside non of our "flair / creative" players performed and that possibly why we didn't really create too much. Similar story to Monday really....
ID needs to work on the final ball as the rest of the depts seem to be doing their job. If we can stay solid at the back and actually deliver some telling balls we'll be OK.
I agree with virtually all of that Dan, which is unusual for you :-)
As for the booing, i think it has been overplayed to be honest. I think it was no more than 300, which is minimal out of 24,000. And part of that i think was done to general frustration.
There will always be a small percentage at every club who turn when things are not going well, we are certainly no different.
As for the booing, i think it has been overplayed to be honest. I think it was no more than 300, which is minimal out of 24,000.
i was in north upper and also heard it on various highlight shows.
if that was only 300 cafc fans making that noise, then a thousand behind the team would make galatasary look about as intimidating as a croquet match.
perhaps in my mind i'm just looking for a positive spin.
Does always seem the case though that more people seem willing to boo and barrack than sing and support the team, and that isn't a recent phenomenom...
Comments
I think he should have taken off Thomas sooner as well.
Highlight of the game was Diawara making that slide tackle in the 2nd half, and then getting up and running away with the ball. If he continues to play like that, we've made a decent signing there.
One point that I'm sure I heard on Football First was that Bent was carrying an injury and that it was a gamble playing him. Did anyone else hear that or was I imagining it after a few ales on Sat night?!?
What a great goal that one would of been if it had come off, terrible touch by Luke.
Did anyone else notice how many times Shittu collided with his own team mates? He was a big presence at the back, but with only one up front we didn't get the chances to isolate him too often to get at him on the floor.
Lots of positives to take from the game, but the worry for me is that Watford were a pretty poor side and we failed to take the points from them. At least Newcastle are struggling too, but we will of course need to score at least two to win next week after Parker gets the obligatory old boy's goal. (P.S. Was anyone else hoping for Powelly to stick the ball past the keeper when he chested it back? Obviously no chance of it happening as he showed all his class and composure to just gently guide it to Foster - Absolute Class and a true CAFC Legend)
Players
Carson - Little to do but did it well
Diawara - Excellent. Reminded me so much Rufus with excellent positional play and reading of the game and the pace to get himself out of trouble. High praise indeed
El Kak - Poor as usual. When is Gibbs available? Move Herman to CB and Gibbs on the left?
Herman - Decent game. Tried to get forward, but has lost what little pace he had.
Luke - Poor for him, but solid. Didn't really try to take on the LB. Is he carrying an injury?
Thomas - Few tricks. Good shot in the 1st half. Needs to work on end product
Holland - OK. Quiet but solid. Didn't do a lot with the ball but gives us solidity which is what I think would have been asked of him
Faye - Gave the ball away a few times and should have been awarded a pen. Solid
Romm - See Thomas
Reid - Best game in a red shirt? Thought he looked great for the first 60 mins then faded. Will be great for us when hes fully fit
Bent - Quiet. Seemed a yard off. Injury?
Cant remember the subs doing anything, but why is JFH still getting a game? Fuk off if you cant be arsed. I'd have played Marcus instead.
Overall "solid" performance, should have had 3 points, but Andy Reid aside non of our "flair / creative" players performed and that possibly why we didn't really create too much. Similar story to Monday really....
ID needs to work on the final ball as the rest of the depts seem to be doing their job. If we can stay solid at the back and actually deliver some telling balls we'll be OK.
PS Thought the booing at the end was despicable
As for the booing, i think it has been overplayed to be honest. I think it was no more than 300, which is minimal out of 24,000. And part of that i think was done to general frustration.
There will always be a small percentage at every club who turn when things are not going well, we are certainly no different.
i was in north upper and also heard it on various highlight shows.
if that was only 300 cafc fans making that noise, then a thousand behind the team would make galatasary look about as intimidating as a croquet match.
Does always seem the case though that more people seem willing to boo and barrack than sing and support the team, and that isn't a recent phenomenom...