Wilson 8
Great save to stop a certain goal, kept a cool head when he came to stop that run to his wide left and didn’t dive in. Good game management and discipline. Improving all the time.
Eccles 7
He’s still young but a great prospect. Got caught out a couple of times and panicked a couple of times when he really got forward. One instance where he was clear in box and faltered comes to mind. He’s young, he’s playing against top Champ players - he’s entitled to a couple of wayward moments. Overall - good, but room to keep learning.
Bidwell 8
Bidwell did well. A few months ago I thought “HTF has he played hundreds of games at this level - he’s bang average.”
Today he was assured. Ran the line well. Tackled and marked well, did his job, stopped his opponent.
Doyle 7
Clean sheet as part of a team. Kid did well and showed a few beautiful plays to get out of trouble. Experience will improve him and he’ll go far. Big test in a few weeks with no Fadz to hold his hand.
Panzo 8
That was a great display. A skilled defender that can use the ball in such a way as to make space away from danger. That’s a talent. Good hit and hope, got some dip on the ball and I’ve seen those bounce and hit keepers and go anywhere.
Fadz 9
A goal away from a 10. Imperious at the back. Went down injured when QPR were building up momentum at a vital stage in the game - not suggesting it was wise game management at all. There might be as good CBS in this league but they won’t be climbing 40 like Fadz. He might have a couple of seasons in him - those who have their early 20’s non-league tend to play longer as he alluded to himself.
Hamer 8
Why pass that way on the break?
No matter, his tackling and passing and movement was absolute quality. Great performance but I’ve got to admit, that sliding tackle in the box at the very very end had me looking away. He gets that wrong and it’s a pen, a red and whatever ban. Brilliant madman.
Sheaf 8
Better again. Had the confidence to have a shot from the edge of the box - charged down but no matter - could have gone anywhere, see Gus on Tuesday for details. Good interception tackles to get ball off opponent toes (not sure if these are stat-counted as tackles if the resultant ball gets picked up by an opponent, hence why stats shouldn’t be treated as gospel).
Allen 7
That airkick in front of the goal before Vik scored was Allen in a nutshell. Great running and positioning but goes to pieces when it counts. (Yes two goals earlier season but both of them when defender was tackling through). Having said that, he presses opponents well and has good body positioning when shadowing and marking back. Tidy play, good positioning but needs to work on calmness in front of goal.
O’Hare 8
Not back to his best and nearly only a 7. Great kind-of assist for first and brilliant for second. Needs a break to fully recover and go again.
Vik 10
Enough said.
Subs 0
Mark, what’s going on here?
You’re 2-0 up against a team of players who have got 5 fresh / worked up players and 5 tired ones. A tired tackle or frustrated tackle on Cal or Vik could have caused an unnecessary injury. Plus we’ve got tired players like Cal who have just got back from injury and it’s times like that that pulls and sprains happen.
You’ve got Doyle on a yellow so another yellow means no him and no Fadz next game.
Plus, subs run the clock down.
Why oh why no subs. It seems a madness?
Is it to not pay appearance fees or win bonuses? Trying to prove a point to TF/ Joy?
Got away with no extra yellows or injuries but to me was fuzzy logic.