[frearsghost]

Just noticed that Page is easily beaten in the air for the goal. For me it has to Hall every time. Is this good enough for a centre-half?

[Skywalker]

frearsghost, on Aug 10 2009, 12:15 PM, said:

Just noticed that Page is easily beaten in the air for the goal. For me it has to Hall every time. Is this good enough for a centre-half?

It was a good cross into the box but Page was slow to react and did get easily beaten in the air.

[Pride of the North]

lets see how he does in forcoming games

[evospire]

lowry was half asleep before the cross came in he reacted far to slowly to cut out the cross similarly picken on the 1st goal

[DIFH]

frearsghost, on Aug 10 2009, 12:15 PM, said:

Just noticed that Page is easily beaten in the air for the goal. For me it has to Hall every time. Is this good enough for a centre-half?

It didn't take Rico long to decide who his top 2 defenders were, give Sheridan time. The players destiny is in their own hands.

[Beelzebub]

frearsghost, on Aug 10 2009, 12:15 PM, said:

Just noticed that Page is easily beaten in the air for the goal. For me it has to Hall every time. Is this good enough for a centre-half?

The thing that strikes me about the goal is that the scorer looks two yards offside, you can't blame the players too much when the officials cock things up. The problem with TV highlights is that they always show the defensive errors but don't show all the things the defenders get right.

[onlyonefinfolan]

Definitely offside, thought so at the time, know so after seeing replay

[moondog]

frearsghost, on Aug 10 2009, 12:15 PM, said:

Just noticed that Page is easily beaten in the air for the goal. For me it has to Hall every time. Is this good enough for a centre-half?

I too would have Hall in for Page

[Ernie Ernie Ernie]

djs, on Aug 10 2009, 04:47 PM, said:

Why does everyone insist that Hall is the answer to our defensive problems. He's very hesitant when under pressure and 9 times out of 10 he's half a yard behind the attacker and lack the strength needed again the big attackers that most teams we will play in this league. He can head a ball I'll give you that, but thats about it.
He had a chance to make his presence felt at the back end of last year through injuries ect. But he did'nt take it in my view. The responsiblity got to him and he made mistake after mistake which contributed to us missing out on the playoffs. He's ok as a stand in for injuries for 1 or 2 games but as part of our long term defensive plans and a first team pick, he's a long way from that. Page, Breckin and Austin are in front of him

I agree with you Hall isn't the answer but Page is a liability. We aren't going to play ANY teams that don't either have big forwards or big centre backs coming for set pieces. He combats his lack on inches by trying to have a go at the more physical players and beat them that way it's a penalty or sending off waiting to happen

[Ernie Ernie Ernie]

djs, on Aug 10 2009, 05:00 PM, said:

Page is what we have and he's a better bet than the other two. Although he's not ideal, with his and Breckin's experience in the middle at the back we do look really solid. 2 shots 2 goals don't say that, but as each game comes they will get better as a partnership. The real test for him will be the County game 10 days time or so.

I think we look anything but solid, every time the ball comes in the air we look vulnerable

[h again]

djs, on Aug 10 2009, 04:47 PM, said:

Why does everyone insist that Hall is the answer to our defensive problems. He's very hesitant when under pressure and 9 times out of 10 he's half a yard behind the attacker and lack the strength needed again the big attackers that most teams we will play in this league. He can head a ball I'll give you that, but thats about it.
He had a chance to make his presence felt at the back end of last year through injuries ect. But he did'nt take it in my view. The responsiblity got to him and he made mistake after mistake which contributed to us missing out on the playoffs. He's ok as a stand in for injuries for 1 or 2 games but as part of our long term defensive plans and a first team pick, he's a long way from that. Page, Breckin and Austin are in front of him

Because he was last season?

Our recovery coincided almost exactly with the dropping of Page and the inclusion of Hall. It steadied the defence and dried up the soft goals we were conceding. I certainly don't recognise Hall from the picture you paint, but even if it were somewhere near correct the performances when he came into the team last season argue a very different picture.

It may be that this time round Page has put his problems behind him and will give us something back, but I'd go with Hall every time.

[BlueRover52]

Ernie Ernie Ernie, on Aug 10 2009, 05:10 PM, said:

I think we look anything but solid, every time the ball comes in the air we look vulnerable

True, so you'd think we would concentrate on closing opposition down and stop them getting so many crosses in. Simples!

[dim view]

Beelzebub, on Aug 10 2009, 03:58 PM, said:

The thing that strikes me about the goal is that the scorer looks two yards offside, you can't blame the players too much when the officials cock things up. The problem with TV highlights is that they always show the defensive errors but don't show all the things the defenders get right.

I think the tv showed that Picken stopped tracking on their first goal because he thought the winger would be offside. That may or may not have been his fault, depending what he was expecting from his felow defenders; and that Picken played their goalscorer onside for the second, taking up a position that was far too deep. In other words, defensive errors.

[Wooden Spoon]

dim view, on Aug 10 2009, 09:29 PM, said:

I think the tv showed that Picken stopped tracking on their first goal because he thought the winger would be offside. That may or may not have been his fault, depending what he was expecting from his felow defenders; and that Picken played their goalscorer onside for the second, taking up a position that was far too deep. In other words, defensive errors.

Looking at the TV replay, I would say you are still defending the former manager and blaming PP for everything.

1st goal was a good cut inside and give and go. A good move my the `chip nickers`.

2nd goal was from the opposite side of the pitch, so how PP was to blame?

[Spired]

Hall gives away too many fouls around the edge of the box.

[spyright]

djs, on Aug 10 2009, 07:06 PM, said:

Which games were you watching for the last six weeks of the season. We were odds on for a playoff place until the injury to Downes. Then it was left to Hall and what happened. History tells the tail. I may be in a minority here but Hall lacks strength, possitional sence and the ability to make a decision. Downes was excellent at covering for him and hid his frailties. Which made the partnership look good. Time and again he was caught too far forward drawn out of possition leaving Downes on his own and the Ozzie told him on more than one occation. When it was up to Danny to make those decisions he was lacking, so we failed to even make that playoff place. Sorry chaps but Danny Hall is not the answer. He will be a stop gap in times of nesessity.

Don't agree 'djs'. If it was Downes that made Hall look good then why didn't Downes do the same for the more experienced Page? Why was the defence better with Downes/Hall than with Downes/Page? Hall may not be brilliant but he deserved his place in the second half of last season for the simple reason that he was better than Page or Austin in the CB slot. The season tailed off as a result of losing Downes, Talbot and Montrose and as the effects of playing all those games in March/April took its toll so it's unfair to put the blame on Hall.

I didn't get to Torquay so I can't judge the performance from Page. I thought he looked to have improved pre-season but a number of those who went on Saturday seem to think he reverted to his style from last season (out of position, poor in the air, leading with his elbow, arguing with the rest of the defence ...). If so, that's disappointing and worrying but if he does slip back to that poor level then I would expect to see Hall recalled to the defence after a few more games. Hopefully, JS won't put up with poor performances and IF Downes was able to 'marshall' Hall as you suggest then surely Breckin could do the same?