Hmm a bit deflated - at least we won! (7 Viewers)

[johnwillomagic]

Just recovered from that performance. Very little positives to take from it bar the result.

Positives
As I rightly thought when arguing with others Thorn picked arguably the strongest xi at his disposal
We got the all important win!
Defence looked pretty solid

Negatives
No speed in our play
Very scrappy in posessio
Our midefield completely overran by a very poor but dominant Daggers Midfield.
No real attacking threat all game!!!

I am hoping we were just rusty and at least get some confidence ......hopefully have Fleck & Barton back for Sat. If we do not improve Yeovil will stuff us.

Player Ratings

Murphy - 6 Not a lot to do but was competent
Clarke - 6 Steady and Tidy with neat touch but nothing special
Wood - 7 Very solid good game
Brown - 7 Ditto solid game with Wood
Hussey - 5.5 Was our main outlet ball always willing to put himself available for the ball - unfortunately was woeful with it!
Daniels - 6 OK as back up but hopefully will only be sub when at full strength
Kilbane - 5.5 Looked slow and off the pace though showed some effort - vital spot kick aside needs to improve - maybe he should swtih positions with Hussey
Sheff- 5 - Hardly featured is and should produce so much more.
Baker 6 - Not as good as I hoped he would be at this level but applied more effort than Sheff
Ball - 6 Ran about a lot and put himself about but never really looked a goal threat
McDonald 5.5 - Very quiet, not good service but capable of more

Subs
Elliott 6 - Solid
Rod - 5.5 Not really on long enough to judge

Diasppointed with performance but happy with win....hoping for a lot better things to comne though!!

 

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[ggrady]

All the negatives can be solve with Thomas, Barton Jennings and fleck in the middle. Nothing to panic about just it's not gunna be an easy ride this year

 

[Astute]

We played with a midfield missing our best players. That is what it would look like if they all got injured. Not too bad considering.

 

[SydneySkyBlue]

We played with a midfield missing our best players. That is what it would look like if they all got injured. Not too bad considering.

Yup. Fleck and Barton are our only creative midfielders so we should get a better idea of what we can do on Saturday.

 

[SydneySkyBlue]

One thing that is being overlooked is the importance of the clean sheet.

 

[Macca]

One thing that is being overlooked is the importance of the clean sheet.

In terms of the 1-0 win the clean sheet was massive

 

[Diehard Si]

Look let's get some context here.

It was the league cup, it's not a priority and we've always been crap in it. It was away, let's see how our away record last season stacks up. Away cup matches at lower league often means the standard of footy drops to their level. Many Champ sides have been knocked out.

It was our first competitive game against a side that would he up for it and after our scalp ( we need to get used to this ). The players may still be a little unsettled from the wage bonus negotiations.

We were missing our entire 1st choice midfield. We kept a clean sheet. We managed to get a win despite playing crap ( this is important, I'd win crap all season if we could ). A defeat would of been a confidence blow. While this won't boost it massively it at least avoids the negative effect.

We did still create some good chances, so it wasn't as if we were totally devoid of ideas.

Yes we need improvements ( and lots ) but my god it's not the end of the world.

 

[Mary_Mungo_Midge]

Hard to judge with 3 of our favoured 4 midfield absent. They provide the out-ball from defence, and should be the creative pass for the offensive players. In essence, they should be central to everything

 

[CovisGod]

EVERY team we play this season are going to be out to beat us and treat games against us like a cup final, people need to get used to scrappy 1-0 wins because there's going to be a lot of them, as long as there 1-0 wins and not defeats I'm happy. Throw Barton and Fleck in the mix and I think we'll look a lot stronger in the attacking area of the pitch

 

[stupot07]

We're still too light in the midfield area, even if we sign Jennings we should be looking to bring another CM in to compete and provide cover.

 

[PVA]

It was a very scrappy game because neither team played with wingers and so there was constantly 8 midfielders all battling in the same space and you could throw a picnic blanket over them all.

 

[PVA]

We're still too light in the midfield area, even if we sign Jennings we should be looking to bring another CM in to compete and provide cover.

I would disagree.

Barton, Kilbane, Jennings, Thomas, Fleck, Brown, Daniels should be enough.

 

[stupot07]

I would disagree.

Barton, Kilbane, Jennings, Thomas, Fleck, Brown, Daniels should be enough.

Including brown is like saying Cranie can do a job in midfield, especially if he's first choice CB. There's very little competition 5 would be vying for 4 places but other than that not much to keep you on your toes.

We have 2 out and out CMs on the books - Thomas and Barton, 3 if Jennings signs. To me someone 'doing a job' isnt good enough.

 

[PVA]

Including brown is like saying Cranie can do a job in midfield, especially if he's first choice CB. There's very little competition 5 would be vying for 4 places but other than that not much to keep you on your toes.

We have 2 out and out CMs on the books - Thomas and Barton, 3 if Jennings signs. To me someone 'doing a job' isnt good enough.

I see where you're coming from, but I think Brown is more comfortable in midfield than Cranie is. And for Brown to play there 3 of Barton, Jennings, Kilbane and Thomas would have to be unavailable, and Malaga/Edge/Cameron would be able to take Brown's place at the back.

I think we will sign Jennings, a striker (Poloskey?) and that will be us done.

 

[covcity4life]

We played with a midfield missing our best players. That is what it would look like if they all got injured. Not too bad considering.

exactly.

also im not giving up on kilbane,baker and mcsheffrey just yet! even if they have to play saturday they are capable of doing the job.

 

[ampthill_sba]

Four consecutive away wins against L2 opposition...it's not pretty but this is our lowest league position since 1948; expectations fir results should be high but not the quality of football...

 

[SkyBlue_Bear83]

We're still too light in the midfield area, even if we sign Jennings we should be looking to bring another CM in to compete and provide cover.

I think you are right although CM isn't a completely alien position to Kilbane who has played there for huddersfield in this league I think

 

[covcity4life]

we do really need jennings and 1 more CM if possible.

 

[JWC]

Look let's get some context here.

It was the league cup, it's not a priority and we've always been crap in it. It was away, let's see how our away record last season stacks up. Away cup matches at lower league often means the standard of footy drops to their level. Many Champ sides have been knocked out.

It was our first competitive game against a side that would he up for it and after our scalp ( we need to get used to this ). The players may still be a little unsettled from the wage bonus negotiations.

We were missing our entire 1st choice midfield. We kept a clean sheet. We managed to get a win despite playing crap ( this is important, I'd win crap all season if we could ). A defeat would of been a confidence blow. While this won't boost it massively it at least avoids the negative effect.

We did still create some good chances, so it wasn't as if we were totally devoid of ideas.

Yes we need improvements ( and lots ) but my god it's not the end of the world.

We created some good chances? When?

 

[fernandopartridge]

Yup. Fleck and Barton are our only creative midfielders so we should get a better idea of what we can do on Saturday.

Nothing like relying on two kids who have barely played to save the day.

 

[Moff]

To be honest what with the end of last season, and waiting for the new season, I had forgotten what a real win feels like. It feels good!

I am not deflated, its a cup game we needed to win, and we did, and as everyone say's we need to get into the winning habit.

I would be happy if we did the same all season, as we would be going up.

 

[torchomatic]

Yep, I agree. Look at all those defeats last season and the "we'll never win away" attitude. Well, first game of the season and we won away, so let's be happy. We need to win whatever the performance.

 

[nicksig]

We've dropped down a level so we have to expect the standard of football to drop. But it's always good to get an away win early on in the season. And the team have hardly played together so hopefully they will improve. What worries me are injuries, especially up front

 

[thechase]

Ill take 46 1-0 ugly wins all season if it means we go up.

 

[sylus]

We've dropped down a level so we have to expect the standard of football to drop. But it's always good to get an away win early on in the season. And the team have hardly played together so hopefully they will improve. What worries me are injuries, especially up front

expect the standard of football to drop,cos we have dropped a level..:laugh:. any lower and even i could get in the team..

 

[nicksig]

Can you play on the wing?

expect the standard of football to drop,cos we have dropped a level..:laugh:. any lower and even i could get in the team..

 

[RichieGunns]

I listened to the game on the radio yesterday and left it on for about 30 minutes after the game had finished.

The amount of Sky Blue fans ringing up to bash the team and Thorn was dismaying to say the least.

Not one of them (not that i remember) said "It's great we won away".

No the minute they were given their few minutes they were off moaning about how the team didn't play well and that players went missing etc etc

And the worst thing was that most of them wrote us off for the season right there and then...Really? Its a Cup game and the first competative game of the season...you can't write off our season based on that!

I mean I was just happy that we won! Is that wrong? Should i be bashing the team about their performance bemoaning our "supposed" fate already...

*Shakes head* The amount of negative Cov fans astounds me :/

 

[TommyZoom]

I listened to the game on the radio yesterday and left it on for about 30 minutes after the game had finished.

The amount of Sky Blue fans ringing up to bash the team and Thorn was dismaying to say the least.

Not one of them (not that i remember) said "It's great we won away".

No the minute they were given their few minutes they were off moaning about how the team didn't play well and that players went missing etc etc

And the worst thing was that most of them wrote us off for the season right there and then...Really? Its a Cup game and the first competative game of the season...you can't write off our season based on that!

I mean I was just happy that we won! Is that wrong? Should i be bashing the team about their performance bemoaning our "supposed" fate already...

*Shakes head* The amount of negative Cov fans astounds me :/

I totally agree. Personally, I'm not too bothered if the games are 'unpretty', aslong as we get the win.

 

[johnwillomagic]

I agree it was great that we won ugly, hoping we get a lot more away wins and let's hope we win mnay more ugly this year......it was just given the repective line ups I was hoping for a slightly more dominant performance. Our team on paper was pretty strong though as people rightly are saying Fleck and Barton and hopefully Jennings will make a difference.

If you listened to the game on the radio and did not go to the game in a way you have no right to complain if people commented having been to the game that the performance was not the best surely nicksig? People who listened to the game on the radio and decided to call in then I have not time for as well to be fair. People who were actually at the game have a right to voice opinions on game good or bad not people who listened to it on the radio!

Hopefuly the result will be the filip we need and we should also have Fleck and Barton back for Yeovil which should make us considerably stronger.

I thought Brown and Wood both looked solid last night so Malaga and Edge may have a fight on their hands to get in which is good.