White Noise (Wimbledon away)

Back down to Earth with a bump, then.

I had no issue with the XI selected by Conor. With no forward options, and none of the injured lads any nearer to a return, I guess the only debate was who from Kelly, Russell or Yoganathan would start in midfield. And following a good performance midweek, Patrick rightfully - for me - got the nod.

Unfortunately, we put in a very similar first half showing as produced at Peterborough, but this time it was us who were a goal down at the break. A very off the pace and ineffective McG somehow missed from a yard out after a perfect ball into him by Ogbeta.

The Wimbledon opener came about after a poor Cooper kick out, which led to him having to soon make a good save, but the hosts recycled the opportunity and I've no idea how Earl didn't stop the flick-on and then somehow two defenders and the 'keeper were stood in the same spot of grass as Stevens hooked in from close range.
He could have had more than one, Stevens. He bullied Shepherd in particular who looked nervous every time the ball came near him. And nobody is going to feel settled alongside Earl who after a surprisingly decent start to the season (for me at least) reverted to last season's version.

Despite Callum on commentary suggesting it was a better Barnsley in the second half, I didn't see that. We were wide open and I don't think it was by design. It's alright being behind so needing to be braver, but the spaces for Wimbledon to play in as soon as we lost the ball was painful to see.
The second goal was another tough watch. Was it Vimal giving it away? Can't remember, but one ball and they're in. Great finish to be fair. And they had two or three other chances like that.

Yeah, McG hit the post, and we coughed up a few other half-chances. But nobody watching that of a Reds, Wombles or neutral persuasion would have argued with the result. Very reminiscent of some of the tripe served up last term.

Biggest disappointment for me was DKD. He was here, there and everywhere and was rank in each position. Pushed Earl close for dimwit of the match.

It's the first loss, first bad performance (I think we did well Tuesday eventually, second half). So I'm not going to worry about it. Hopefully lots of learning from it. But as I've said in a couple of these noise threads, and as one or two others have also pointed out - the other four games could easily have gone a different way. I think Hourihane knows that too. Fine margins in them all. But we seemed to impress against the odds at times. Lots of graft. So it felt doubly disappointing this afternoon as I think Wimbledon wanted it more. Which happened too often last year for me. In both boxes, the opposition seemed cleaner and clearer.

Oh well. I'd have taken this return from the first five games. I had us to finish mid-table after all!

Ratings:

Cooper 8
Watson 6 (Bland 5)
Shepherd 5
Earl 4
Ogbeta 5 (Farrugia 5)
Connell 5 (Russell 5)
Kelly 5 (Yoganathan 5)
Phillips 5
Vickers 5
McGoldrick 5 (Cleary 5)
Keillor-Dunn 4

 

How you've marked Farrugia above Earl is beyond me.

In fact how you've marked Farrugia is beyond me.

 

Earl can't defend. But he played three superb balls down the line that set up our attacks. Watch the ball he played for the McGoldrick miss. Shepherd can't defend. Or pass. Or anything.

 

That's how I see Earl. Defensively pretty suspect, but offers us a lot going forward. Very harsh on Shepherd though. Not his best display today but I'd have him in the side over MDG every time. Just needs the steadying influence of a better defender than Earl next to him.

 

WhoScored not quite as harsh as me.

And a reminder, I appreciate the opinions etc and won't be arguing the toss. Or in this case, arguing over toss.

 

I'm not seeing it. I haven't seen anything from Shepherd at all.

 

We don't concede a lot of goals with him on the pitch. Before today, the only league goal that had gone in against us with him playing was when Bolton scored against us with 10 men. Also , I'm sure I remember reading that the league games he played in under Collins were the ones in which we had the best goals conceded to minutes ratio of the season (feel free to correct me if I'm wrong here).

 

Had a conversation with eldest lad after Peterborough regarding Sheppard. I do wonder if last season in league 2 is his natural level, which considering where he started is still good going. He also still has plenty of time to improve more

 

Typical performance from us in London. No-one in a Tarn shirt turns up, London team decides to play ok and takes their chances. Southern nonces

 

So far I’m not seeing DKD and McG as a unit able to ply together. DKD is our best player. We need to play to his strengths.

 

Yep, he's looking a bit lost at the minute.

 

Jury is out on Shepherd but we should give him the benefit of the doubt until he plays on the left side of the centre halves. It can’t be easy being asked to do the job essentially with the wrong foot and the jump up from where he was to league 1 is still significant. His apparent lack of pace is a concern. Older, more seasoned defenders can get away with it with know how but that comes with experience.

Earl is lucky to get a 4 in the scores. Any more than a 3 is generous. A couple of decent passes don’t mask rank bad defensive actions, amateurish reading of play and the inability to pass the ball
5 yards the vast majority of the time.

I’m not at all convinced Ferrugia is a footballer. I how absolutely no idea what he offers or what he does well. Maybe he’s the best at warming up.

We’re into first test territory. For CH, it’s to not let confidence become an issue and let the wheels fall off a fragile team. For MS to find 3-4 players of high enough calibre to improve us. For the board, to create the financials to bring in that quality. For the fans to keep up the positivity, particularly at home. One early blip can’t derail what has been a predominantly half decent start.

It might all seem negative but it isn’t. Cooper could be a loan gem, Vickers is very good for this level, Kelly is exceptional for his age, Watson is capable, DKD will improve on current form. There are certain green shoots there we just need to iron out the obvious issues.

I’ll stop waffling. Excellent read as always @YT

 

That’s the problem. DKD is not being used in his best position cos of McG. Bit of a conundrum for Conor….

 

Said it before and I'll say it again. Mdg is a poor defender but earl is absolutely atrocious

 

Farrugia needs moving on. Another of our pointless signings last season.

 

I don't think it's so much that they can't play together as it is that we don't have a midfield capable of controlling a game without sacrificing a striker to compensate. Was the problem last year too. Connell isn't mobile enough and Phillips doesn't do enough dirty work. Means we need to drop extra players back and wide to compensate and sadly did is one who's performances are being sacrificed to aid others.

Not really sure what the manager can do either

 

They are different players for me, McG by far the better link man between defence and attack, first touch under pressure is unreal at this level, I have mates who are Sheff U fans and they said same but unfortunately his chances per goal ratio let him down(that was premier league tho), he will definitely score more at league 1 level. DKD a better finisher but doesn’t do the spade work as good as McG for me. Also I think we are too quick to mention McGoldricks age when he misses a chance, he his definitely fit enough to make an impression this season.

 

You have to drop Phillips and play a left winger. Let DKD do what he wants and let him form a partnership with McGoldrick and run beyond him. McGoldrick can be the focal point and DKD will get you the goals

 

That's what I'd do personally but Philips scores and gets assists so it's hard to drop him

 

Just noticed that’s 31 shots in two away games which is more than impressive but only 1 goal to show for it which is not