(or at least from me before I go back to the pub)
I can't get pissed off with today's result. The Palace score pisses me off more. Today was always going to be a difficult match. At least we now know where we need to improve - in our marking, and we need to be sharper up front.
Thought Marcus Bent had a fine match, actually - he seemed to be more mature and was livelier than the lazy sulk we had last season. Really liked Moutaouakil too.
But we will improve, while Scunthorpe will always be a team of time-wasting hoof merchants. There might be a sticky few matches ahead, but I reckon we've got a handy side for this season.
0
Comments
Plusses for me were Moo2, Lloyd-Sam (first half) and Bent (looked much better at this level).
We played some nice football and looked a class above Scunthorpe I thought. Just no cutting edge and not taking of chances. Hopefully this will change when Varney is back as I feel he will be our first choice forward.
I am worried about us defensively though. Bougherra looked far too laid back I thought and we looked vulnerable from set pieces.
p.s the palace result has really pissed me off!!!! if jordan tries to take the mick, then lets wait for September 1st and see whos laughing!!!
Needed to create more chances, too many crosses not finding their way to the target. Worrying that the central midfield had trouble against a newly promoted team.
Reid seems to want to move into the middle instead of playing wide. McCarthy seemed to be caught for pace a couple of times
Toderov didn't seem to get into the game.
Good points:
Moo2 looks great and seems to work well with Sam.
Bent looked good, needs to form a partnership.
McLeod and Owleumo look like they were up for it as soom as they came on.
Overall a disapointing result . I think most of us would have expected us to beat a team playing two divisions below us last season. Two points lost
Knock it on the head, Charlie ...... how can you jump to that conclusion already?
We should have had a cricket score today with the chances created - so we didn't take them.
If we've got a brand new team showing lots of flair and enthusiasm - then give them a little time to integrate.
Once we get going, we're going to scare the living daylights out of a lot of teams.
[;)]
I agree 100% with Oggy on this one.
And how Charlie can come to that conclusion after one game is beyond me.
So many new players who have to learn to gel together. I'd be happy with play off's this season, pushing for top two. Has there been a bigger period of transition with so many players coming and going?! Have faith in Pards. Let's get Zheng and Varney into the mix along with a few others and judge it then.
In the mean time, we are two points off the top of the league. I'll take that even if we should have murdered Scunny.
It would be worrying if we hadn't had most of the possession or failed to create any chances - as it was, we played some good stuff at times and with a bit more luck (Reid's free kick hitting the bar etc) we'd be off to a good start.
On the negative side, the final ball into the box invariably seemed to hit the first or second defender, and the centre back pairing is a cause for concern. McCarthy reminded me of Phil Chapple, and that's not necessarily a good thing.
Finally, you could tell we're in the Championship - the building supplies company on the Woolwich Rd can afford to advertise on the pitchside electronic hoarding, and we don't seem to be able to afford to run the clock on the big screen!
The clock will return, trust me. Just a few technical snags to iron out, but it will return!
Marcus bent played fairly well i think but he certanly was bent with his shots, that's why he kept running with it most of time (instead of shooting) waiting to be fouled.
Ambrose didn't look anything special, Pard's seems to like playing him though (-;
Bent still pisses me off with his moaning. Semedo was impressive
As for the wankers that booed WEAVER hang your head in shame - his 1st half save in the end got us a point.
Scunthorpe stuck to their game plan manfully, we had more than enough chances to have won 5-1. Plenty of positives with Holland, Thomas, ZZ, Varney to return.
Liked that Mouta fella, Bougherra won me over too
For me the positives today were Moutakil, Samedo, Bent (shock!), Sam (first half - faded in the second). Negatives were Todorov, Ambrose (was he playing?) Reid and Magic - looked all at sea at times.
All in all, a very very disappointing result. The game itself was everyting I expected it to be.
A lot of posters are saying Sam had a good game . I felt he was very poor I don't remember him delivering a single decent cross, I also expected Ambrose to influence the game . I felt he went missing/hiding from the play.
The points I would make about today are to remember that we had a lot of new players playing their first competitive game together, Scunthorpe were up for this one rather like we were back in 98/99 and with a little bit of luck and their keeper not having a blinder we would have scored two or three.
I can't really fault any of our players today, other than allowing their centre half a free header for the goal, and would give Scunthorpe, especially the keeper, some credit for sticking to their game plan and working hard.
Stoke are a good top half Championship side and a serious promotion chasing side should be capable of picking up at least a point there.
I'll think about moaning maybe if we fail to do that.