Sun Jan 12, 2014 1:14 pm
One of the more frustrating Jekyll & Hyde performances in recent times.
First half, we controlled the game. Dominated the ball, the territory and possession. Tranmere put what can only be described as one of the worst performance of a home team I can remember seeing since we returned to league 1. They didn't attack or threaten, frequently hoofed it aimlessly out of play under no pressure and didn't register a shot on target, they were horrific and correctly boo'd off at half time. I knew at half time the second half wouldn't be the same and I also knew a proper playoff team would have had the game won at half time. We didn't create anything again despite being in control, bar the goal (a wonder goal) and a Westcarr chance 1 moment later, that he did well with but should have buried. Lalkovic had so much time in the first half, I knew the second half would see him man-marked by 3 or 4 Moore oafs.
Second half, they won all the 50-50's, we started bottling challenges, getting beaten in the air, beaten to every second ball and Tranmere rightfully, without creating a great deal took a point. O'Donnell was absolutely crap for there goal, no mistake about it - it's his fault we didn't win the game, but it's the teams fault for playing with an attitude in the second half like we'd won the game or were out of sight - with a 1 goal lead. We lost control of the game in the middle of the park and I thought Chambers in particular was absolutely anonymous in there.
On to the players. Hemmings finally got his start, but pranced around doing sweet FA all afternoon. One of his angering lazy, performances which are precisely why he was dropped last season. I see why Smith doesn't want to play him if he's going to do that. Taylor seems to have lost some of his zest going forward which makes him look about 50% the full back. I have noticed however, when Lalkovic wants the ball he doesn't want to work down the line, he CONSTANTLY wants to cut in and either pass into the centre or run with the ball, it leaves us a little flat down the left hand side and it's why a left footed player should play there - that's no criticism of Lalkovic who continues to look our only outfield threat. Westcarr ran hard and played a nice ball to Sawyers in the first half, but was totally anonymous otherwise - and floaty corners? Sawyers tried getting into the game, but kept giving the ball away. Sawyers plays in a languid style, when it comes off it looks classy and brillant, when it don't, he looks like Michael Ricketts number 2, a lazy lump. Downing and Butler were fine as normal, James Chambers tried attacking. Chambers was anonymous, whilst Mantom ticked things over nicely. Our attacking players bar Lalkovic were all horrific yesterday. Hemmings, Westcarr, Sawyers, Taylor, Mantom, Chambers.
What really griped me about yesterday is, for the first time in a long time we seemed to believe our own hype. That we'd dominated the first half and didn't need to turn up for the second half. We bottled challenges, didn't scrap or win any headers and then lost all attacking urgency. I can handle being beaten by a better side, but 'giving up' and playing asif you'v won at 1-0 is inexcusable. Butler seemed really pissed off at the end. Shrugging his shoulders to the other players asif to say 'what the fudge was that' and then discussing something with 3 or 4 coaches as he walked off. I suspect he may have unleashed in the changing room. Hope that provides fire for some sort of 'fightback' next week.
Given our late Feb and March fixtures, I had ear-marked yesterday as a MUST WIN 3 points and to gift those points gift wrapped back to them is precisely why, we will finish between 11th and 8th rather than higher.