Wed Mar 12, 2008 9:44 am
God, we were awful again last night. Second to every ball over the pitch and just didn't look interested in competing with Brighton. Very similar to what happened against Northampton and to have that happen twice in a row against mid-table sides when we're chasing promotion is just not on. I said on another thread yesterday that we don't have the right to expect promotion, but as long as everyone's trying their hardest to do their best then we have to be happy. Well, I just don't see that as being the case last night. We've won so many games over the last 18 months by grinding away, doing the hard yards to stay in games and then taking our chances to grab the three points. We've had a taste of our own medicine twice over the last few days - and it'll happen time and time again if we don't get back to outworking the opposition.
I can see the point DD was making about our chances and having more of the ball than Brighton - but if anything that just frustrates me more. They weren't as good as us (or even as Northampton), but their commitment and desire to win more than made up for it, just as we know it can do from our own results. I don't think that we did anywhere near enough as the home side to win that game, so we can't have any complaints about losing it.
Hardly anyone played well, but some players need a proper kick up the backside, starting with the captain. If Mooney's not interested then he ought to just **** off right now. All he's doing at the moment is trying fancy flicks for the highlight reel his agent's sending round to other clubs and gurning at the crowd in an effort to convince us that he's Mr 100% and start singing his name. Well, Tommy, it's not working. We can all tell that you're not trying and the scouts who come to see you are going to realise just how much you're giving the ball away and just how little effort you're making to win it back.
What's the point of Stefan Moore? I was led to believe (despite my scepticism about his goalscoring record) that he's offer us pace up front that we don't otherwise have. Well, I'm sorry, but I just don't see him having any pace at all. And seeing as he doesn't get involved in link up play and he's not going to win any headers then I don't get what he offers us. We looked far better with the genuinely quick Betsy up front at Swindon.
Roper was poor, but maybe not as poor as some are making out. The first goal he was turned too easily, but someone in the midfield should have picked up the second ball from Murray's knock down (foul?) well before it became an issue (Bradley didn't look interested in tracking back quickly enough all night, is this a confidence thing? - he needs a spell out of the side) and - of course - Ince should've saved it. The second goal he dived in on the half way line, but only after Brighton had won a series of headers and 50/50's - just as they did all night. We do need another centre back, but the problems over the last two games have run far deeper than Roper not being Scott Dann.
As I say, Bradley was poor again and needs a rest, but Wrack once again didn't step up. I don't expect him to drive us forward and get goals these days, but in that role he needs to put his tackles in and make and receive simple passes. He's just not doing that and is back to the hiding of early in the season. It's understandable (if unacceptable) for a young player to go missing when the going gets tough, but for a senior pro like Wrack (who's been captain on occasion this season) it's totally unforgivable. Let's have Dobson in on Saturday and let Wrack start thinking about a new club for next season.
Speaking of Wrack not driving us forward, we're just not direct enough when we go forward. Not in terms of pumping long balls into the box, but by not driving in at the goal when we're four on four going forwards. So many times Holmes, Betsy or Moore would pick up the ball with just the defenders ahead of them and instead of running fast towards the goal and trying to commit a defender or two they'd drift slowly out towards the wing, make a couple of casual passes between each other or lay it back into the congested midfield. All of this time the Brighton midfield was regrouping and getting in behind the ball. By the time we finally did actually look to create a chance they were set up to repel us. We need to show a bit more urgency going forwards. Do we want to win games or not?
Finally, DD. He must have known that his comments were going to get the reaction that they did. I don't think he was actually slagging off the fans (he sounded at a loss to understand the atmosphere at the ground rather than critical of it) and the question was certainly asked with the intention of getting him to say something silly. Of course, he shouldn't have given them a soundbite (although he didn't say all that they accused him of, for example the exchange "are you thinking of walking away?" "No," was reported as "hinting at resignation") but equally we shouldn't bite at WM's rabble rousing either. We all need to pull together between now and the end of the season.
