Finham
Well-Known Member
Don't think he was fit. Adi had a word as he seemed pissed off.
Play off final ratings (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter Nick
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shmmeee
Well-Known Member
Hard to score
Never seen a team so nervous first half. Doyle, Sheaf, Allen and Fadz all having moments of the type we thought were past them.
Thought Vik was poor, Kelly too, Hamer great until he went off, gonna miss him so so much next year, hardest player to replace. BNC grew into the game and looked dangerous at points. Bidwell was OK. Wilson had the odd moment.
Never seen a team so nervous first half. Doyle, Sheaf, Allen and Fadz all having moments of the type we thought were past them.
Thought Vik was poor, Kelly too, Hamer great until he went off, gonna miss him so so much next year, hardest player to replace. BNC grew into the game and looked dangerous at points. Bidwell was OK. Wilson had the odd moment.
shmmeee
Well-Known Member
Yeah but would we have chucked Eccles on for a defender last minute or something anyway? He’s got a decent pen record IIRC.
Hobo
Well-Known Member
I think we gambled on him when Hamer went off injured. Just to try and give us a bit of flare to try and snatch it in last 10 mins of normal time. I was surprised he even made the bench.
Marty
Well-Known Member
Why?
Finham
Well-Known Member
Arguably because he's been immense since coming back into the side and is a leader. Plus, got to keep someone!
SeaSeeEffCee
Well-Known Member
Thought Hamer had one of his worst games in ages today apart from his goal. Was gifting them possession constantly in that first half. Saying that I think we’re probably a Premier League club right now if he’d played 120 minutes.
Martin180
Well-Known Member
Gus was doing what he does , trying to start quick counters . Problem first half was Allen was too easily bullied and Vik was totally isolated
Marty
Well-Known Member
He's had like 5 good games on the bounce, not immense by any stretch of the imagination, usually spends half the season out injured too. It's a player we need to improve upon. Same goes for the likes of Allen, Dabo, Godden.
nicksar
Well-Known Member
The way the team was set up in the first half was a balls up by the management,much better in the 2nd half with the change made.In terms of ratings it's tough tbh and irrelevant, several of today's team have played their last game for the club be it loan players or those out of contract or the two that will almost certainly be sold (Gyokeres & Hamer). It will be an interesting summer for sure.
covcitycroydon
Member
Allen and Kelly both are poor and need to be replaced, Kelly easily gives away possession whenever iv watched him not just today. Godden seems a fraction of the player he was a few years ago, dont see him scoring 10+ a season, but he wouldnt be the first out for me. Dabo also is too slow and sluggish now, again his peak was 2 years back when u had confidence he would never be beaten by the attacker.
Martin180
Well-Known Member
So setting up the same as we did beating Boro at their place and was a large part of us making the playoffs was a balls-up?
Not like we had many different options
nicksar
Well-Known Member
Yes it was a complete balls up,we were playing a totally different team....but as with all things football (fan wise) it's all about opinions, you have yours I have mine ,having two upfront in the second half made a huge difference and actually gave us a foothold in a game that we were getting completely outplayed in, thankfully the management team changed the set up for the 2nd half.
shmmeee
Well-Known Member
I think last ten mins if the first half we’d already started getting control of the game TBH. All we needed was to settle our nerves. That said Allen was poor and the change was needed.
nicksar
Well-Known Member
Very true and as I posted on the match thread moving Norton Cuffy into a central midfield role for the latter part of the first half made a difference... Jamie Allen was piss poor.
Martin180
Well-Known Member
It's not about opinions ,you as I am are both posting with hindsight.
We played two up front first leg against Boro and didn't have a shot on target , we played today as we did when we beat Boro so it's hard to argue about the starting line up
Cov kid 55
Well-Known Member
Just back in Northumberland. A real sickener, but honestly, we didn’t do enough to win. It’s been a great season for our small squad. Thanks to Makala for the ticket, and good to meet you. Next season may be difficult, if we lose players, trust in Robins/Viveash to work miracles again….
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Deleted member 5849
Guest
Allen is not poor, Allen had a poor game. There's a difference.
SkyblueDad
Well-Known Member
One thing I hope is learnt today we must start with two strikers we were much better when Godden came on for the second half.
Just one up front encourages opposition midfield forward.
I’m not criticising any individual player they all put shifts in and we didn’t lose, we drew.
Allen worked his nuts off as he usually does but is light weight and was getting swatted by the big Luton midfield, the half-time change worked.
Just one up front encourages opposition midfield forward.
I’m not criticising any individual player they all put shifts in and we didn’t lose, we drew.
Allen worked his nuts off as he usually does but is light weight and was getting swatted by the big Luton midfield, the half-time change worked.
stupot07
Well-Known Member
It's a hard one to score, given how poor we were first half. I wouldn't score anyone about 5 in the first half, every was poor. Allen's already been mentioned, but the back 3 were awful.
Second half the change in shape was better. Luton weren't playing through the midfield like Middlesbrough do so we didn't need the extra man in there, and it meant we could also go a bit longer. It was an improvement by all but probably Sheaf or Kelly were MOTM.
For all our dominance, we didn't really create a lot. Hamers goal could be described as a half chance, and Godden had a half chance that blazed over the bar. Whereas Luton had the ball in our goal 4 times (thankfully we had VAR!).
As soon as Hamer went off we had no chance. I know Vik has been brilliant this season but he has been so disappointing this last right of 6-8 games - it's hard to decide whether he is tired or teams have worked him out.
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Second half the change in shape was better. Luton weren't playing through the midfield like Middlesbrough do so we didn't need the extra man in there, and it meant we could also go a bit longer. It was an improvement by all but probably Sheaf or Kelly were MOTM.
For all our dominance, we didn't really create a lot. Hamers goal could be described as a half chance, and Godden had a half chance that blazed over the bar. Whereas Luton had the ball in our goal 4 times (thankfully we had VAR!).
As soon as Hamer went off we had no chance. I know Vik has been brilliant this season but he has been so disappointing this last right of 6-8 games - it's hard to decide whether he is tired or teams have worked him out.
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stupot07
Well-Known Member
Horses for courses.
Luton go back to front quickly and dont play through midfield, so 2 up top was the right call. They also play 3 at the back so they could push 1 up into midfield leaving 2v1 at the back allowing midfielders to get even further forward
Middlesbrough play through midfield want to dominate the ball, and therefore you need the extra man in midfield. We were terrible and overrun against Middlesbrough in the first leg with 2 up top, and then were the better side in the second leg with the extra man in midfield.
Also add into it, that we have no O'Hare, who buzzes around Vik. Hamer, Sheaf, Allen (or Palmer) and O'Hare with one up front is not negative.
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Deleted member 5849
Guest
We've been generally better this season with one up front. It's simplistic to say it's negative, it can be more fluid and dynamic when done well.
SkyblueDad
Well-Known Member
I agree, I like the system but the back up behind needs to be better and more productive.
Essexrobbie
Well-Known Member
Credit to robins for changing it at half time. i was afraid he'd leave it 20 mins before putting two up front but it had an immediate effect on the game, and they looked as bad second half as we did first. hamers long stoppage and eventual substitution gave them a breather and time to regroup. If he had stayed fit, i think we were good for a quick second, but it wasn't going to be.
Thought Hamer was going to create the winner. His injury was crucial. My man of the match. Considering we had a number of players not long back from lengthy injury - Sheaf, Allen and Palmer, it was an incredible effort. The penalties didn't lose it for us, the first half did.
Rather than focus on the sudden death part of the shoot out, I will try to remember Josh Eccles stepping forward and keeping his nerve, Sheaf too and Liam Kelly taking the 5th. For Kelly to have lasted 120+ minutes and keep up the pressing was incredible. He deserves another year.
It is going to be a tough job piecing together a squad for next year but there will be more players keen to join after this season.
Finally, on Dabo, my heart goes out to him. It must be so hard to deal with. There are many who feel he isn't good enough anymore. I disagree, if he can keep fit. He seems a big part of the spirit of the team. Whatever is his next step, I wish him a successful career.
Rather than focus on the sudden death part of the shoot out, I will try to remember Josh Eccles stepping forward and keeping his nerve, Sheaf too and Liam Kelly taking the 5th. For Kelly to have lasted 120+ minutes and keep up the pressing was incredible. He deserves another year.
It is going to be a tough job piecing together a squad for next year but there will be more players keen to join after this season.
Finally, on Dabo, my heart goes out to him. It must be so hard to deal with. There are many who feel he isn't good enough anymore. I disagree, if he can keep fit. He seems a big part of the spirit of the team. Whatever is his next step, I wish him a successful career.
SkyBlue_Bear83
Well-Known Member
Nah let's be serious he's shit at this level.
He's out performed his ability this season so all credit to him for getting every last drop from his limited ability but he needs to be replaced.
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Deleted member 5849
Guest
Bollocks
covcity4life
Well-Known Member
Not shit. But agree with him that he needs to be replaced if we looking to go for promotion consistently.
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Deleted member 5849
Guest
He's just been a key part of a team that's been looking for promotion!
Terry_dactyl
Well-Known Member
The first half was terrible…from then on I thought we all played well. Almost a microcosm of our season…important, creative players getting injured at crucial times.
Kelly was decent again…unfortunately he has limitations. As with Allen, just not got the physical attributes needed to carry us through…I also doubt his durability to contribute over a whole season. Allen was really poor btw.
Dabo has to go im afraid. He’s a shadow of the player he once was/promised to be.
As has already been said…it’s gonna be a busy summer!
Kelly was decent again…unfortunately he has limitations. As with Allen, just not got the physical attributes needed to carry us through…I also doubt his durability to contribute over a whole season. Allen was really poor btw.
Dabo has to go im afraid. He’s a shadow of the player he once was/promised to be.
As has already been said…it’s gonna be a busy summer!
covcity4life
Well-Known Member
Yeah he's played his part in an over achieving team. Hats off to him
All I mean is we can't rely on over achieving every year and getting some luck. If we serious about promotion we need to try make the best squad we can possibly have in the league somehow. No room for sentiment