Dimi_Konstantflapalot
Well-Known Member
Burge 6 - Reasonable handling except for one awful spillage in the first half which he was lucky to get away with. Few routine saves. Kicking seemed ok.
DKE 7 - Battled so well for a guy his size and wins more than his fair share aerially. Their left winger Barcham didn't get much change out of him all night. Distribution also seems to be improving
Rawson 5 - Awful first 10-15 mins, panicked in the air and on the ground. Got better in the second half and won most of his battles as AFC ran out of ideas. Far too many slices clearances and botched headers for a player at this level. Hopefully sack him off on Sat when Willis is back.
Clarke 7 - Very vocal and led the back 4, could hear Slade shouting at him to talk to the others. Won countless aerial battles, though lacked composure with the ball on occasions (aimless hoofs). Clearly a solid centre half at this level and exactly the player we needed back in August.
Turnbull 5 - Like Rawson, poor first half but grew into it much more in the 2nd. He looks so awkward in challenges and with the ball at his feet, his balance and body shape really is all over the place most of the time - it really makes me wonder what Mowbray saw in him. Solid enough defensively but offers ZERO going forwards from left back.
Foley 5 - Expected him to offer more composure than he did in that holding role, wasn't that impressed by his use of the ball. However was vocal and allowed Reilly to play further forwards.
Rose 6 - Ran all night, won stuff in the air and played simple enough passes in midfield (when the ball was on the deck). He's very good at closing down and shadowing players without actually winning the ball back or being strong in the tackle which works to the advantage of oppo midfield runners if given space (see Oldham 3rd goal from Sat).
Reilly 6.5 - He's a clever player and good on the ball technically. Some nice interchanges with G Thomas and Jones down the right. Worked hard with Rose. Set pieces need improvement.
G Thomas 6 - Missed a glorious 1v1 chance in the 1st half. Also worked hard and tried to use the ball intelligently whenever it was on the deck in the first half.
K Thomas 5 - Didn't provide much threat, though spent more of the night contesting headers than with the ball at his feet
Tudgay 5 - Sloppy with his hold up play, lost the ball too often which failed to relieve any pressure on the defence or calm the nerves we showed in the first 20 mins. Few nice flicks, including to G Thomas for 1v1 chance.
Yakubu 7 - Clearly unfit but changed the game for us along with Jones. Valued the ball more than Tudgay and created some openings with his lay off play and movement. Didn't look overweight and should be a valuable signing if he can get up to speed sharpish.
Jones 7 - Great finish. Was a good outlet for us, showed more intelligence with his dribbles and clearly frightened the AFC defence with his pace. Needs to show that more consistently to be a threat for us.
Game played between 2 poor sides on a poor pitch not even remotely conducive to any sort of pretty, passing football. We started the game like we were defending the lead in the last 10 mins vs Wycombe - jittery defending, botched clearances and aimless hoofs downfield. AFC were much more composed on the ball than us and offered some threat through midfield and down the flanks but we gradually grew into it and managed to hit half time without too much incident. Yakubu and Jones changed the game 2nd half for us. Thought the defence stood up well but still clearly lack confidence, too many heart in mouth moments where players are unsure who is meant to clear what ball, 2 players going for the same challenge etc. Boils down to communication and leadership, some of which Clarke and Foley showed tonight.
Disappointed in Slade's defensive tactics from 75 mins on and think this partly rubs off on the players - they go into Wycombe mode and retreat deeper and deeper until the inevitable happens. Would have been such a good win tonight for morale. 11 points off safety with 15 games left - no chance now.
DKE 7 - Battled so well for a guy his size and wins more than his fair share aerially. Their left winger Barcham didn't get much change out of him all night. Distribution also seems to be improving
Rawson 5 - Awful first 10-15 mins, panicked in the air and on the ground. Got better in the second half and won most of his battles as AFC ran out of ideas. Far too many slices clearances and botched headers for a player at this level. Hopefully sack him off on Sat when Willis is back.
Clarke 7 - Very vocal and led the back 4, could hear Slade shouting at him to talk to the others. Won countless aerial battles, though lacked composure with the ball on occasions (aimless hoofs). Clearly a solid centre half at this level and exactly the player we needed back in August.
Turnbull 5 - Like Rawson, poor first half but grew into it much more in the 2nd. He looks so awkward in challenges and with the ball at his feet, his balance and body shape really is all over the place most of the time - it really makes me wonder what Mowbray saw in him. Solid enough defensively but offers ZERO going forwards from left back.
Foley 5 - Expected him to offer more composure than he did in that holding role, wasn't that impressed by his use of the ball. However was vocal and allowed Reilly to play further forwards.
Rose 6 - Ran all night, won stuff in the air and played simple enough passes in midfield (when the ball was on the deck). He's very good at closing down and shadowing players without actually winning the ball back or being strong in the tackle which works to the advantage of oppo midfield runners if given space (see Oldham 3rd goal from Sat).
Reilly 6.5 - He's a clever player and good on the ball technically. Some nice interchanges with G Thomas and Jones down the right. Worked hard with Rose. Set pieces need improvement.
G Thomas 6 - Missed a glorious 1v1 chance in the 1st half. Also worked hard and tried to use the ball intelligently whenever it was on the deck in the first half.
K Thomas 5 - Didn't provide much threat, though spent more of the night contesting headers than with the ball at his feet
Tudgay 5 - Sloppy with his hold up play, lost the ball too often which failed to relieve any pressure on the defence or calm the nerves we showed in the first 20 mins. Few nice flicks, including to G Thomas for 1v1 chance.
Yakubu 7 - Clearly unfit but changed the game for us along with Jones. Valued the ball more than Tudgay and created some openings with his lay off play and movement. Didn't look overweight and should be a valuable signing if he can get up to speed sharpish.
Jones 7 - Great finish. Was a good outlet for us, showed more intelligence with his dribbles and clearly frightened the AFC defence with his pace. Needs to show that more consistently to be a threat for us.
Game played between 2 poor sides on a poor pitch not even remotely conducive to any sort of pretty, passing football. We started the game like we were defending the lead in the last 10 mins vs Wycombe - jittery defending, botched clearances and aimless hoofs downfield. AFC were much more composed on the ball than us and offered some threat through midfield and down the flanks but we gradually grew into it and managed to hit half time without too much incident. Yakubu and Jones changed the game 2nd half for us. Thought the defence stood up well but still clearly lack confidence, too many heart in mouth moments where players are unsure who is meant to clear what ball, 2 players going for the same challenge etc. Boils down to communication and leadership, some of which Clarke and Foley showed tonight.
Disappointed in Slade's defensive tactics from 75 mins on and think this partly rubs off on the players - they go into Wycombe mode and retreat deeper and deeper until the inevitable happens. Would have been such a good win tonight for morale. 11 points off safety with 15 games left - no chance now.
