After watchin last nights game

Thought id give my opinion on our performance and how we should fair this season.

KEEPER
Keeper wise, neither Flinders or Colgan had much to do. For me im happy with those two and dont believe we need any more signings. Some people criticise Colgan (sometimes justifiably) but often not. I think with the two battling for the one place it could improve both players.

DEFENCE
Defence. Well this area is need of major improvement.
Tonge looks ok at right back and i'd be happy with Austin there too. Left back is not Ozzys best position, and i think we do need another left footer. Tom Williams doesnt impress me at all (though currently injured anyway).
In the centre, Vaughan made a couple of errors and Reid doesnt fill me entirely with confidence there either.
Carbon? Is he injured? Sadly he often is. As for other contenders, Kay can be great one game terrible the next, Hassell has had a few decent games there as has Austin in the centre. I also wouldnt mind seeing Conlon tried out in the back four. Atkinson, Laight and Harban are all a bit too young to throw in. I think we desperately need an experienced centre half. Taggart could have been a really good buy who could have brought through one of the others alongside him.

MIDFIELD
In the centre of midfield, Burns played great last night. He seems to be the set piece taker now too and delivered crosses quite well. Nicky Wroe did well alongside him and looks to have gained from his summer break. Kay and McPhail for me as a partnership didnt work as well but either could probably do ok alongside Burns. Reid could also be an option as well as Richard Kell when fit.
On the right Shuker played another blinder last night and will surely be hard to dislodge from the right midifeld position. On the left Robbie Williams did a good job and scored too. A bit early to tell but he did fine last night. We will have to wait and see on Howard due to him currently being crocked.

STRIKERS

Nardiello will most likely be guaranteed a starting place. He looked sharp and scored. Sometimes makes the wrong decision but did appear up for it. Hayes is a tall striker who isnt really a target man. He has a good first touch and tries to impress. Bazza Conlon showed something we have been missing. A presence in the air. Very unlucky not to score 3. We appear to do better to get the crosses in from the wing than just hoofing the ball up to him though.
I think i'd currently alternate Bazza and Hayes depending on who we are playing. For Jarman and Joynes it might still be a bit early for these two, so we only have 3 expereinced strikers and could be short if we suffer injuries. Possibly one with a bit of pace is required.

Overall we played a passing game for most of it and created a lot of chances. The players look like they now know each other which must be a good thing. Defensively i think we still have a few worries. We are probably 3 players short of a top six finish, but im reasonably optimistic for next season.

 

were you at the same game????????/

another completely biased match report :S

 

eh? It's not even a match report

 

Didnt go, but the 3 players short bit reminds me why I still havent got a season ticket. lacking composure at the back, take Nardiello out and we wont score many, have we really progressed since last season?

*shiver*

has tykeman found us yet?

 

Agree again with vast majority of that. I think Hayes and Nardiello will be first choice strikers for most games with Bazza a different alternative. Shuker and Burns were very good but the real question is still over McPhail. Once again I thought he looked a class player and maybe he has upped his attitude as I counted at least three tackles in his own half! I think he is another that can really come good if he can keep fit.
Defence? We looked better at end of last season with Hassel in the middle. Kay will always make at least one major gaff in a game so I don't mind Vaughan/Carbon/Reid who could all do OK given a confident winning start to the season! Ozzy isn't a left back so Robbie will have to play there at the moment (not sure he's one either!)

 

I disagree. I think we are strong enough to mount a challenge.

Up front - Hayes, Conlon, Nardiello - I'd back those three combined (no serious injuries permitting) to get 50 or so goals. A handful from Shukes, Williams, McPhail and we'll be there or there abouts for goals scored.

Midfield - Shuker winning POTY was testament to the fact we looked much stronger down the right wing than the left. Answer - Howard, a specialist left sided midfield player. McPhail, although tragically one-footed, did his best work down the middle. Kell could also be a good acquisition when fit and don't forget Reid, Kay, Burns - all competent midfielders.

Keepers - Flinders and Colgan: I'm hopeful for Flinders from what I've seen. As for Colgan, he looked ace in preseason last year but lost his confidence after a couple of gaffes. To be at his age and have the respect he has earned in the game there must be more to him than we've seen.

Defence - and herein lies the key to the season for me. We have Tonge, Hassell, Austin, Kay, Reid, Carbon, Vaughan, Williams R and Williams T. It is my opinion that somewhere in there is a first-choice back four plenty good enough for this league. The difficulty is finding the combination who work best together and getting them match-practised as a unit. If Ritchie can do that, we can do it.

Get your ticket and get behind 'em. It's the fourth time in four years but I'll say it again - I've got a good feeling about this season

 

I can think of 6 teams better than us

Oldham, Forest, Bristol City, Doncaster have all made significant moves in the transfer market, whereas we lost our top scorer and have a smaller squad. Nardiello wont play every game, we still lack height and physical presence, we're prone to errors at the back and are keeping our fingers crossed that the continutiy gained from making the caretaker manager permanent counteracts the disappointment a large section of fans feel.

two wins in first 2 games and I will gladly eat humble pie and be straight down the box office. a draw and a defeat, particularly against Scnuthorpe, and I'm afraid I will be warming this board up for a new manager campaign.

tykeman?

 

RE: I can think of 6 teams better than us

Agree on Oldham and Forest.
On paper, no-one else looks to have any significant edge over us. I think if we keep it simple - 4-4-2, no frills, we can get that lot playing.

Even if we took your 6 as all being better, that means you'd still bet on us to finish 7th! We wouldn't need much luck (or perhaps a move in the January window) to make top 6!

Personally, I think Taggart would have made a good signing, both as a leader of men in the back line and a competent defender with 100% commitment.  But there you go.

 

Taggart, Beckett and Crossley = promotion

beat DH to it.

 

RE: I can think of 6 teams better than us

Presume you must mean in this division cos I can think of shitloads otherwise ff

 

You reckon Hayes, Nardiello and Conlon will get 50+ between them? I like that positive attitude, but I'd be surprised if it was anymore than 30.

 

Get away

10 goals each? They'll do better than that.

OK, 50 may be pushing it but 40-some I'd say.

They managed 34 between them last year when Conlon and Nardiello didn't start 30 games between them.

Even Saville and Rammell used to knock 25 a season in between em!

 

I hope you're right

But I honestly can't see those three bagging any more than 30.

 

I'd be amazed if these three don't score over 30 goals

next season........

If Nardiello plays the majority of games next season his goal per game ratio suggests he will getting well over 20 goals.

Hayes got twenty goals last season in League 2, and judging by the teams that have come up recently (Donny, Huddersfield, Hull etc.) I really don't think there is too much difference between Leagues 1 and 2. So again I think Hayes will be pushing twenty goals (depending on appearances).

Conlon got eight last year and missed half the season. So even if he is a bit part player you would expect him to get a similar total.

So I think between them they will get between 40 and 50 goals.

 

tek thi blinkers off then!!

Well Jay tha usually spouts a bit of sense but..

my prediction (for what its worth)

Conlon..9 goals from abart 25 apps (inc subs)
Nads....22 goals from abart 35 apps (inc subs)
Hayes...15 goals from abart 36 apps (inc subs) nivver sin im laik like

Optimistic..possibly but what does pessimism get thi eh?

 

Thanks for the reports guys

Good to have an idea of things before season starts

 

One of the reasons I think that

Is that I don't see Nardiello staying fit in order for him to play the majority of the games.

I hope I'm wrong.

 

RE: I can think of 6 teams better than us

Losing our top scorer, you really dont understand do you?

He was never our player and was always going back, how difficult is it for you to understand.

Nads and Hayes IMO will get 40 goals between them and Kell will protect the defence.

SM?

 

Was Chopra not our top scorer then?

 

RE: tek thi blinkers off then!!

Nardiello to get 20+ goals(babyhaha) (lol) ff