[sophocles]

Quaker, on 24 September 2023 - 06:01 PM, said:

Jones is pivotal. His contribution this season so far has been nothing short of fantastic. I hold my hands up and acknowledge that I thought he would only play a bit part this season but he looks in great shape with a very strong engine. I really do hope we can use him most of the season but I can imagine he will need to be managed.

He was my MOTM yesterday by a furlong. I didn’t think Berry had a great game but he did on. A couple of times I thought his positioning wasn’t great and he seemed to be awkwardly getting under Jacobs’ feet at times rather than finding space but when he got the ball he was a massive threat.

I really enjoyed that game yesterday and can honestly say, hand on heart, there wasn’t a time when I thought we wouldn’t win.

I'm not sure what instructions Berry was playing to. He seemed to be staying more central than usual, even when there was space out on the left wing. He still managed to score one and be involved in another goal though, so we can't really be too critical.

[Rogerwillis]

Anyone know who the new coach in our dugout is?

[dart in the crossbar]

I thought that they looked a decent side to be fair. Looked dangerous up front.

[h again]

Ernie Ernie Ernie, on 24 September 2023 - 05:09 PM, said:

That’s the spirit h, don’t let some poor young fan dying spoil your view for a few seconds ffs get a grip man.

You'll notice I mentioned a minutes silence in the post which seems to have upset you. It's the respectful way to deal with loss, and would have been faithfully observed by me if it had been announced before hand. Don't try to crank up the emotion to score a point - it devalues the gesture even more.

[ronpowellsbutler]

According to the Vanarama website Tom Whelan scored one of our goals …..

[h again]

Quaker, on 24 September 2023 - 06:38 PM, said:

Absolutely agree, the lad did good.

I thought that for his first start he had a brilliant game, only marred by a bit of dodgy positioning at times, and that will soon change with experience. It wasn't just the clinically taken goal or pass to Grigg for the second; one of his passes in the first half that put Grigg through on goal was absolute quality. He also seems to know exactly when to pass and when to keep running at a defence, which is a skill Dobra doesn't always manage. He knows where the others are without having to pause and look, which is massive.

[Blue95]

h again, on 24 September 2023 - 12:43 PM, said:

Every time. Eight out of ten performances week in and week out. All we need from him is a goal, but he seems to hate shooting.
On the subject of Banks, I'm reserving judgement. He certainly has a habit of slowing things down, which I don't like but the coaching staff perhaps do, and his defending leaves a lot to be desired. Good range of passing most of the time, but nothing out of the ordinary. It'll be good to have Naylor back for Rochdale, and take a bit of weight off Jones, who needs a bit of TLC if he's facing two games a week.

Why do we need a goal from him? We absolutely don’t, just let him do what he’s been doing. Just talking rubbish for the sake of talking rubbish now.

[Bobby Darling]

dtp, on 24 September 2023 - 05:48 PM, said:

I felt most players were on a par and contributed both good and bad. Mandeville was relatively quiet at times but showed alertness for his goal. Berry showed naivety and calmness. Jacobs scored a great goal but faded in and out of the game. None of the subs impacted proceedings much but Quigley did get involved and on another day might have had a couple of goals. I really like Jones but he still frustrates me when he gets close to the opponents penalty area and I really want him to join our long list of goal scorers nevermind have a shot.

However, my MOM was King who brought a worldie from their keeper with his first free kick and showed some good attacking intent throughout whilst looking a bit more like his old self. Hope he can keep it up now and find the consistency required.

Jacobs pass all but made the 2nd goal and sadly on another day Quigley would have missed. If Jones frustrates you I’m not sure what to say apart from like you I’m very pleased for King.

[Bobby Darling]

h again, on 24 September 2023 - 08:15 PM, said:

You'll notice I mentioned a minutes silence in the post which seems to have upset you. It's the respectful way to deal with loss, and would have been faithfully observed by me if it had been announced before hand. Don't try to crank up the emotion to score a point - it devalues the gesture even more.

The minutes silence / applause has been devalued for me. Pele, ex Town player, fan, whatever... it happens every game. For fans we should celebrate their lives at the end of the season. Pre publicise time, faces and names on the screen and invite the families. I’m sorry but yesterday didn’t give the stadium’s respect.

[ronpowellsbutler]

h again, on 24 September 2023 - 08:32 PM, said:

I thought that for his first start he had a brilliant game, only marred by a bit of dodgy positioning at times, and that will soon change with experience. It wasn't just the clinically taken goal or pass to Grigg for the second; one of his passes in the first half that put Grigg through on goal was absolute quality. He also seems to know exactly when to pass and when to keep running at a defence, which is a skill Dobra doesn't always manage. He knows where the others are without having to pause and look, which is massive.

It was his second start.

[Bonnyman]

Mike Jones was superb I think it was about the 88 minute when he misplaced his first pass and he knew it, he is Mark Allott reincarnate and he is the captain in that area of the park.

[dim view]

anybody notice this?

King's second freekick. Grimes and Freckleton make dummy runs and Berry is left completely unmarked. Should have been spotted.

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[JonB]

King was always shooting from there even if there were loads stood unmarked.

[dim view]

JonB, on 25 September 2023 - 08:35 AM, said:

King was always shooting from there even if there were loads stood unmarked.

I'm sure that's what their entire defence thought.

[JonB]

dim view, on 25 September 2023 - 08:39 AM, said:

I'm sure that's what their entire defence thought.

When you see the actual video of the incident from behind the goal Berry is quite wide of the post and i suspect it would have taken a decent ball to find him. Had King floated it the keeper or a defender is getting across to cover it, had he tried to drill it its not an easy pass to make and Berry still has plenty to do from angle he is at. Possibly a better option to pick out one of Grimes or Freckleton perhaps but i think 9 times out of 10 whoever is on that free kick is shooting direct.

[dim view]

JonB, on 25 September 2023 - 08:43 AM, said:

When you see the actual video of the incident from behind the goal Berry is quite wide of the post and i suspect it would have taken a decent ball to find him. Had King floated it the keeper or a defender is getting across to cover it, had he tried to drill it its not an easy pass to make and Berry still has plenty to do from angle he is at. Possibly a better option to pick out one of Grimes or Freckleton perhaps but i think 9 times out of 10 whoever is on that free kick is shooting direct.

Yep, it's obvious Berry wasn't expecting to be involved. The pass/cross would have been easy imo cos Grimes/Freckleton only had to block or distract 1 player. Next time maybe, after practice and a signal.

[DerbySpireite59]

Bobby Darling, on 24 September 2023 - 11:10 PM, said:

The minutes silence / applause has been devalued for me. Pele, ex Town player, fan, whatever... it happens every game. For fans we should celebrate their lives at the end of the season. Pre publicise time, faces and names on the screen and invite the families. I’m sorry but yesterday didn’t give the stadium’s respect.

I agree. Tbf, it was primarily supported by members of Facebook's Kop Choir, which has 3.7k members. It was supported following a rally call by a fellow fan, someone close to Steve, who felt rather alone, and in pain, following the Dagenham game. Steve's death went up on screen, and there had been no reaction from the fans. So I'd say between 25-40% of the stadium were ready to stand up and support this fan in the 40th minute. I certainly was.

[Siberian Spireite]

I've only just realised that Wealdstone had Jedward in nets.