Sun Apr 08, 2007 8:54 am
Better get my views in before the drunken hordes return from the English Riviera!
Defence
Ince - back to his best, without those "Incey moments" that have blighted his game recently. Torquay had 3 on-target shots, all in the second half, which produced their goal and two fine saves from big Clayton.
Pead - had a nightmare game, lacking in pace and self-confidence. He will surely be replaced by Westwood with Smith or Picken coming into the defence?
Gerrard - whole-hearted and committed as ever; won most of his headers and tackles but it is, as ever, his distribution that lets him down. He seems to find it almost impossible to find a team-mate with a pass, either giving it directly to an opponent or hoofing the ball wildly upfield.
Westwood - see comments re Gerrard, above, although he was less commanding in the air. Looked happier when he switched to right-back.
Taylor - generally a sound game and an excellent cross, with his RIGHT foot, to lay on Benjamin's goal. However, he still does not support the attack enough for me, as he is one of our more skillful players. Perhaps he is playing to instructions or maybe the presence of Fox, in front of him, inhibits his play?
In all, the defence was rarely troubled in the first half and coped quite well with continual Torquay pressure, after the interval. However, we bring a lot of pressure on ourselves by the poor passing skills of our defenders (Taylor is the least guilty, in this respect, but by no means innocent of the offence!). If we don't give possession back directly to the opposition then we just wildly hoof the ball upfield to play the "percentages game", bypassing our midfield in the process.
Midfield
Wrack - total waste of time. He contributed NOTHING to our play. Even Wright was an improvement, when he came on which just shows how poor Wrack was!
Dobson - another anonymous performer, although, in his defence, it was never going to be easy, playing in the middle of the Pead-Wrack-Benjamin (our 3 worst players) triangle. Dobbin has shown what he can do, when he really tries, in the home game v. Barnet, and that is the standard he should aspire to, each week. However, he has taken on the Osborn mantle, playing in a very restricted area, in front of the back four, and rarely succeeds with a pass of more than five yards! If you think that that is all that he needs to do, leaving Keates to do all the running, then I'm sorry but that, imho, is total cobblers. We need BOTH central midfield players to be box-to-box players. Dobson is a one-paced plodder, lacking in stamina, who relies, more than most players, on the players around him. When they are poor, as in yesterday's game, then he is poor. When they play well (as against Barnet), he plays well. As a captain, he should be imposing himself much more on play and setting an example.
Keates - typical performance by the wee man. He is in a rich vein of form at present and, without being truly outstanding, he was our man-of-the-match, yesterday, by quite some distance.
Fox - looked just what he is - a left-back, playing out of position. Good tackler but, in saying that, you've said it all.
Our midfield has been a major concern, all season, and yesterday was no exception. In fairness to them, as I have stated above, their jobs are made difficult by the VERY poor passing skills of our defence who, all too often, bypass the midfield with aimless punts upfield, invariably dealt with by the opposition.
Attack
Benjamin - I just don't see how this guy is an improvement on Sam or Cederqvist (or Constable and Nicholls, for that matter). He spent most of the game conceding fouls and he has absolutely zero skill on the ball. Took his goal well, though.
Butler - still works hard but I think that the ravages of the season and the responsibility of carrying our attacking threat, on his own (thanks to a succession of useless partners), is beginning to tell on him.
We rarely troubled the Torquay defence, after the first 10 minutes.
Substitutes
Smith - a very encouraging start, continuing his recent outstanding form in the Reserves. Could well have a rôle to play in the last few matches.
Wright - put in 2 crosses - the first was over-hit and missed out everyone and the second landed on the roof of the net. However, he was more lively than the turgid Wrack!
Deeney - nearly scored with his first touch. Plays without inhibitions. He could be a future prospect, if handled correctly (oo-er, missus!).
All in all, three very lucky points gained. If I were a Torquay fan, I would feel well p****d off about taking nothing from that game. However, as Willy-Nilly remarked to me, after the match, there have been similar games (e.g. MK Franchise, away) where WE have not taken away our just rewards, so I suppose it's a case of "swings and roundabouts" for us. Like most fans, I will be sorry to see the Gulls drop out of the League (as they surely will, after yesterday). I hope that they take Boston with them.