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Yesterday was only the second game of the season that I have been able to get to, due to location issues and I thought it might be interesting for me to post up my views on what I saw!!
Firstly, it was a poor pitch and a pretty poor game, but we battled supremely well. I hadn't seen us battle like that under Richardson, and in a way it took me back to the Duncan Era
However now we do look very good when we get the ball on the floor and pass it about, and we do have some talented individuals.
Let me go through the team
Lee - I don't particularly rate him as a goalkeeper, he has to follow in some big footsteps between the sticks for us, and for me he is a fair way behind the Pollitt's and Mercer's of the past. Yesterday he made a couple of good saves and kept the important clean sheet. He however wasn't commanding of his area, he let the defence fall back almost onto his line when defending free kicks and couldn't come out for corners due to the positioning of Hayles. He did his job but I think Sheridan will be getting a new keeper in the summer.
Gray - The lad needs a hair cut, and he needs to be told that if he is going to make it in football that he has to dig in more. He had a pretty poor game, but he is one who has time to develop. I am worried whenever someone with a bit of pace or trickery runs at him. That said we kept a clean sheet, so he did his job too.
Brecks/Page - The key area of the team which has experience and a lot of passion for the fight. Yesterday was an ideal game for the pair and they kept Chelts aerial bombardment at bay. Brecks and Page were not as vocal as I would expect, with Gray especially. However they lead by example.
Goodall - A revelation on previous matches I have seen. He looks determined and offers the out ball on the left. He has a bit of pace and he is useful on the ball. His defending was pretty good too.
Whalley - Best player on the pitch by a mile for me. He was very dangerous on the counter attack and has loads of skill. What I really liked was his willingness to put the ball in the box for the big lad Conlon. He gave their left back a torrid time when he got the ball. Shame we didn't get the ball into his feet as much as he had liked. If he keeps this up he will create and score plenty.
Niven - One of my favourite players, he has an attitude of a terrier and just keeps biting away. He wasn't at his best yesterday for me, but he broke play up and helped the team no end.
Allott - didn't dominate the game with his passing but was very determined and played well in the conditions
Rundle - A new fans favourite, he is very useful on the ball and has pace. Good player
Conlon - Didn't impress me, not up to the class of a Fletcher. He however is another who does a job and on a pitch like that you need a target man. They defended against him well and he didn't have much of a say.
Small - Interesting one, as he clearly has pace and a decent touch. He however has this Robinho sense of looking disinterested, and that can be off putting. He played reasonably well and caused problems, however I was expecting a little more from him.
Subs
Boden - I like this lad, very direct and has a good touch. He is learning and is also willing to put in the hard yards. I think he will test many a defence if given the chance.
Madine - Built like a future star, however I didn't think he was very effective in his brief run out. He needs to add a bit more muscle for this league. Hard to give a view.
All in all its a good team who did a job yesterday. I think they will need to improve against County but we might be able to play more of a Sheridan sort of game. Ball on the floor and wide men bombing forward.
