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Thread | MATCH REPORT
at 19:33 30 Aug 2014
MATCH REPORT
I am leaving the New Den bitterly disappointed. I along with the other B/pool fans who have watched the first five games we will be glad to see the back of August. Since my first game in 1968 I have never seen my side lose 5 games on the trot.
We did not deserve to win the game. Did we deserve to get a draw, possibly but we should be under no illusion causing panic pressure by throwing men forward at the end of the match is not the answer.
We lack any quality and do not put sides under any real pressure. Also we fell foul of a well worked training ground free kick but the annoying thing is we continually concede soft goals in this way.
Riga probably put out our strongest side. With the return of Orlandi I expected to see some quality and creativity. However, he was very anonymous and did not get involved.
The first half was pretty even. Millwall did have plenty of possession but were not looking to dangerous until we conceded. We had some very good chances but failed to take advantage of them.
I am not normally a ref basher but he was definitely a homer.
So half-time 1-0.
We were out early for the second half, sadly in presence only, as we did not compete and it was no surprise that Millwall went further ahead. Delfouneso and Perkins failed to clear our lines in the left corner of our penalty area. The Millwall player crossed the ball for the left back Malone to side foot home. Zoko was caught ball watching or sleeping which allowed the full back to get in front of him. In the next 15 mins we were very poor and Millwall could have gone further ahead. Although Delfouneso missed a sitter with his head in the six yard box. He was removed moments later with Ranger coming on.
We started to look far more lively with Ranger's introduction.
We broke down the right on a number of occasions but Zoko was guilty of not releasing the ball early enough. Then we scored, again Zoko nearly messed it up. He should have put Ranger through but delayed far too long fortunately Ranger managed to jink past the centre half and with a little reverse shot slotted it home.
We pushed forward and had some decent chances. Davis came on for Miller and perhaps should have scored. Zoko hit the side netting when other players were in better. Positions. Davis did test the keeper who made a good save low down to his left.
The game finished with another loss.
Player rating
Lewis: didn't do anything wrong and could not prevent either goal.
McMahon: flatters to deceive. Lots of effort but little quality. He again took a dangerous set piece free kick just outside their box in the first half and failed to get it over the wall. His crossing often failed to get past the first defender. Not good enough I am afraid.
Clarke: solid performance and probably MOTM. He handled Fuller well before he was subbed. And worked hard all game. A good day at the office for him.
Daniels: did OK. He has clearly learnt from his mistake against Brentford as if there is any doubt his clearances end up in row Z. He will retain his composure as his confidence improves in the mean time you won't score from the back row of the stand.
Oriel: had a far better game than last week at Wigan. However, he did not have a traditional winger against him but he did OK. But the jury is out whether he is good enough, defensively.
Overall defensively we are shipping too many soft goals.
Perkins: I have said it before tenacious, industrious but not god enough to boss a midfield and gets caught in possession too much.
Lundstram: a quiet game for him and was unable to influence the game.
Orlandi: anonymous and failed to stamp any authority or quality on the game.
Overall as at Wigan we were unable to boss the midfield or put the home side under any concerted pressure.
Miller: another quiet game, where is the striker that terrorised us a The Hawthornes when we were in the prem. needs to offer far more.
Zoko: got in some could positions but failed to produce anything meaningful. He is not good enough at Championship level.
Delfouneso: I feel I am beginning to sound like a broken record. Very indifferent game. Should have scored with a point blank header just after they scored their second. It was a dreadful miss. Again not good enough at this level. Possible as an impact sub but then again I am unconvinced.
Overall up front we are powder-puff but bizarrely we created some very good chances but wasted them all which we can ill-afford to do in our position.
Ranger looks a handful. Let's hope we can get him fit physically and mentally. If we do we might have a chance that apart we are deep in the smelly stuff and have a long hard winter ahead of us.
Riga: did his best, put out his strongest side, made the subs at the right time, took the right players off, pushed Clarke forward at the end in a desperate attempt to get an equaliser, sadly to no avail.
The Millwall fans chanted foul and abusive songs at Ranger every time he touched the ball. I found this ironic as I didn't realise that the Millwall scum had standards. Sadly they did not articulate it very well, you live and learn.
There is only one man to blame for the miserable August we have had to endure and that is the chairman.
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Thread | AN ASSESSMENT OF TODAY
at 22:51 23 Aug 2014
Jose got it wrong in the first half with the set up and with the player selection. At least he had the foresight to change it at half time. However he made further mistakes by waiting far too long to bring Ranger on and leaving Zoko on until the 90th min.
Defence
Lewis: didn't do a lot wrong.
McMahon: did OK.
Clarke: was his usual combative self but is guilty of ball watching too often. He is also too flat footed and allows the player he is marking to lose him, esp in the box.
Daniels: was the pick of the defenders. One fantastic goal line clearance in the first half and a brilliant recovery tackle in the second half. He bounced back well after Tuesday's mistake.
Oriel: had a mare at left back he did not win a meaningful header all match, he did not make a decent tackle all afternoon, he continually dived in unsuccessfully, the forwards kept using their bodies to turn him, he was too narrow which gave the winger too much time and space.
Overall, we defend to narrow that exposes us to old fashioned wing play and we should really have been 3-0 down at half time with most of the danger coming from the wings.
Midfield
Rentmeister: woeful, the game passed him by and his distribution when he got the ball was dire.
Perkins: where do you start, you gets lots of endeavour, industry and tenacity, however little or no quality. He plays with his head down so cannot pick a pass also he gets caught in possession too much. He has no creativity and does not boss the midfield. Hence the responsibility falls on Lundstram.
Lundstram: worked his socks off and has real potential. It is a shame that he does not get the support of the midfield players around him. He cannot boss the midfield on his own. Saying that he did well today and can be pleased with his days work.
Overall our midfield always gets overrun and bossed by the opposition. Therefore we never get any sustained possession and never put our opponents under pressure nor create chances for the forwards.
Attack
Zenjov: he was a passenger and contributed zilch apart from wasting a great opportunity at the end of the first half. He is not good enough technically or physically for the Championship.
Zoko: his first touch is dreadful. A league 1 player masquerading as a Championship player. He is not good enough and seems unable to hold the ball up or bring other players into the game. Moves continually break down when he gets possession.
Delfouneso: light weight and continually flatters to deceive. He gets in a position where he can knock it past the full back and for some reason keeps turning round and the move loses momentum. His shooting is dreadful.
Overall we are very poor up front and create no goal threat.
The manager: a bad day at the office. He needs to stop complaining and concentrate on working on the team shape and playing our better players. I don't buy into players our tired excuse. A tired Miller and Cwzka are far better than a poor Zenjov or Zoko.
The only positives was the introduction of Miller and Ranger. If we can get them both fit and firing we may have a chance. If not that side, I am afraid to say, will get relegated.
ps. The atmosphere was toxic and very unpleasant. It must effect the players. it was not an enjoyable afternoon.
See you at Millwall.
UTP |
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Thread | My thoughts from yesterday
at 09:42 10 Aug 2014
I was so angry last night after the registration debacle that I decided to wait until this morning to pen my thoughts. We started 4-5-1 with Perkins at left back and Delfouneso as the lone striker. Forrest applied all the early pressure however we were undone by a speculative long range shot that surprised Lewis who I have to say seemed a little flat footed. The rebound off the post was put into the goal by Antonio which was far from easy. The second goal was an excellent curling left foot strike by Burke from outside the box which Lewis could do nothing about. This could have led to an avalanche but the score remained 2-0. This was primarily due to it being hot and the first game of the season as well as Forrest tiring. But we changed formation to a 4-4-2 in the second half and enjoyed more possession and competed far better. I am still seething at the lack of registered players, heads must roll for this calamitous school boy error. A worry that Riga thought it was better to play a midfielder, in Perkins, who does not know how to play left back than a poor left back in Dunne. Overall, it could have been far worse with some flashes of how Riga wants the team to play which is far better than last year but the fact we are suffering from a lack of pre-season there is no doubt. You could see that they wanted to pass and move which was encouraging but not knowing each other caused a lack of understanding and some passes went astray. Lewis came for some crosses which we have not seen in a Blackpool keeper for years, hooray. Also his distribution was sharp and confident if not always executed well but keep it up I was impressed. The fact we didn't ship 5/6 goals is a bonus. Get the signed players registered to add quality to the side otherwise it could be a pointless August. MOTM was McMahon who also captained the side well followed closely by Lundstram who had a very impressive second half. Some nice one touch stuff which was pleasing on the eye without too much penetration or causing Forrest too much trouble. Their CHs will not have an easier afternoon all season. We need to attack with more pace at home and especially against Blackburn. A lovely passing move in the second half resulted in Orlandi curling a left foot shot just wide. The biggest worry is where will the goals come from? Bizarrely, all the signed unregistered players came and sat with the away fans and were in front of me in the first half including Cubero, Orion twins and their agent which was interesting, let's hope the other one signs, three others and Davies. UTP |
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