A brief match report from the LNER

I really enjoyed the game against a York side which took 96 points in finishing last season 2nd in the National League, 13 points clear of 3rd, with a goal difference of +54.
Admittedly, our defence looked very dodgy indeed, the lack of pace being exposed time and time again. However, young Vickers had a cracking debut and I am expecting him to provide the kind of excitement on the wing that has been sadly missing since the departure of Adam Hammill. Yoganathan also was very impressive with his skill on the ball and unflappability in possession. Like most truly classy players, he always seems to have time on the ball. We had pace from Ogbeta and Cleary and great willingness to run with the ball. Ogbeta was unlucky with his shot which struck the post, after his fine run into the box. I thought Farrugia also looked good on his appearance from the bench. McGoldrick's sublime pass to Phillips for our second equaliser was a thing of beauty. DKD was not on top form, though he did improve in the second half. Bland and Barratt struggled a little, and tonight wasn't one of Roberts' best games.
Overall, it was a very entertaining game, but defensive weaknesses definitely need to be remedied, if we are to accumulate the points total which our attractive attacking play could be capable of producing.

 

Cheers. Good report. Nice to have two good reports. It adds balance.

 

Maël must have done well as he’s not had any reference in any of these write-ups.

Young lads like Bland, Vimal and Barratt shouldn’t be starting this season. Bench options or loans in the league below. I guess how much work we do in the market will dictate that, or any outgoings.

Staggering that we’ve not yet signed a right back or seen fit to address the complete lack of pace at centre half. I love Robbo. I think Conor does too. But I worry about that position this season especially if Luca goes so we end up with no protection.

Appreciate the reports.

 

Not the best neight i've had in York but non the less an enjoyable one, keep the faith, C,O,Y,R.

 

It's like in the car discussions mate; folks will discuss Alfa Romeo rust problems or Ford Fiesta power issues, but Rolls Royce barely get a mention. ;-)

 

MDG has the quick feet and balance to excel in a 2-2.

 

I didn’t want to join the pile on!
He struggled massively, out of position and exposed badly, especially with York’s pace.
There’s lots of work to be done, currently we’re nowhere near a top six team.
Minimum of three players needed, ideally five as the bench looks extremely weak, even if you add Earl and Connell.

 

He also played a superb through ball to put DKD clean through and made Ollie Banks look a right mug skipping past him and Banks had to resort to hacking him down.

 

I should have said more about that incident with Banks in my report. You’re right, Mael did make him look a mug with a clever run down the right. If only his defensive work was as good as his breaking forward adventures. He looked like he had got clear down that right hand side and was about to put in a cross when he was cynically chopped down. Luckily there was no injury involved but it was a bit of movement to be applauded.

 

Re De Gevigney, he started terribly, as I had just commented to my daughter, but then his next three or four involvements were all impressive. That's what you get with him. He's certainly got some footballing talent, but he is very suspect defensively. I agree with you about Bland and Barratt, but I think Yoganathan could well play a significant role in our midfield this coming season. He looks a lot stronger now and obviously has masses of talent. Central defence is my main cause for concern.

 

He should play defensive midfield. He's too slow to be a right back and too much of a calamity to play centre half.

 

Id say that might be a good shout. Sitting Infront of the back four.

 

I think he'd be a disastrous midfielder. His general awareness around him is often poor, and that's with everything being ahead of him, so he has full vision. In midfield, he could have players in all directions, and given his over confidence in dwelling on, and carrying the ball, I think it would cost us hugely.

If he's not good enough in his core position, I see little point trying to shoehorn him elsewhere.

 

Exactly, if he ain’t good enough at centre half then get rid of him. I wonder what young Bland and the likes would think think of trying a failed centre half in their midfield position.

 

Id rather we didn't have him at the club at all if truth be told.

Certainly not as any of the defender positions.

But he may have some ability to be in front of them. That's all.

 

He’s sometimes too aggressive when harrying his opponent. There was one instance last night where he gave away a silly foul in the York half when all he had to do was stand the player up forcing them to play backwards. Instead he pulled and pushed the player, ragging him to the ground.