my take

[stainrodisalegend]

Lots of pretty, intricate passing particularly in the first half. Positives were that Watson looked really assured, running box to box, hitting one cross ball pass that was reminiscent of Tony Currie. Only disapointment from him was the mistake for their goal, and perhaps faded a bit second half. But the tackle he did to run back the length of the pitch to stop a run on goal when it wd have been one on one, then to set the move going from which we scored was top, top quality.
Also thought Legs looked good at right back and moved well into midfield. Connolly also looked assured. Tarrabt showed some v nice touches in the first half.
Negatives? Simpson did nothing really. I don't even criticise him from the two chances he missed near the end because at least he was involved at that point. Prior to that he might as well not have been on the pitch. If we are just writing this season off by not signing a decent striker we may as well develop our own young players like Balanta. On this showing - and I confess its the first time I've seen him - wd rather have Balanta. Perhaps it was an off day, but not convinced so far. Funny to say but who we really cried out for was Helguson. We had no one up front who cd hold the ball up. Think we lost every ball in the air, certainly up front.
The other negatives? We played with no cohesion. Is it just all the chopping and changing or is the coaching at fault. Tarabt has to be made to pass. Hoagan looked dreadful - don't know how he can be preferred to Buz, who looked really good when he came on.
We actually looked really good in places, really good passing in patches, but yet again - and I hardly need to say it - no cutting edge.
No clue as to why their goal was disallowed. Think our players looked as surprised as anyone by the decision.

[winalotto]

So you'd write Simpson off after two games ? can't believe some people.
Helguson would be the perfect foil for Simpson just what he needs someone to hold the ball up for him and try to play him in.

[stainrodisalegend]

No Winaloto, I said maybe he had an off day. But today didn't see anything from him, nor if I'm honest did I see anything he might develop into. Maybe he will come good. But at least with Tarabt he might be selfish and too fancy but he at least does stuff and there is maybe a 10% chance he will score a magic goal. Do you remember a single time Simson shielded the ball and laid it off, ala Furlong? I don't. I'm not dissing the guy. Routledge didn't really do anything either, other than tap in the goal. But Simpson isn't a target man and that is clearly what we need.

[Hertford Hoop]

My take is that we looked good in small patches and we seemed to want to play ourselves into trouble.
Cerny, was OK made a couple of good saves but should of helped out the defence a couple of times.

Borrowdale, for me was not good, didn't win much in the air and gave a free kick late in the game that could have killed us.

Stewart, was another OK, won a lot of headers but on a couple of occasions seem to get stuck with the ball in danger zones.

Connolly, was good he was dominant most of the time, for me our best defender.

Legs, an off day not confident or maybe too confident.

Routledge, not bad but did keep giving the ball away

Benny Boy, looked good for most of the game. A couple more games and I can see him being the dominant force in our side.

Faurlin, did some decent work but again seems to lack confidence

Ephraim, not good enough for me, wasted lots of possession

Simpson, not one of his best I think he would admit but again once he settles in I can see him scoring a few goals

Taarabt, has some silky moves but does go that bit too far and ends up losing the ball

Rowly, started off well but nearly cost us with some dodgy defending

Buzz, for me he looked the best of the subs, looked dangerous when he had the ball

Viney, one of my favourites but alas looked well short...of confidence and form

The support was very poor for a Saturday 3pm sunny day, but what do you expect with the mediocre performances we seem to be dished up.

In summary, we looked like a team who had met at lunch for the first time. We need to have a team spirit which was definately missing today.

The next match is the beginning of the rest of the season.

[stainrodisalegend]

Cambridge, you have hit the nail on the head when you say it looked like a team that had met at lunchtime. I know the team is massively changed, but they have had a two-week international break. Its high up where I sit so don't get to hear that much, but it didn't look like our team were talking. I was never a great footballer - far from it - but I always thought if you were playing with guys you didn't know that much, you have to communicate. We didn't. This is basic training ground stuff. And so frustrating when we have so many good players.

[Hertford Hoop]

Very true Stainrod

[rangers74]

I actually thought Simpson held the ball up well today - i can remember on quite a few occasions he looked like being second best to the ball, used his strength to win it and laid off a nice pass. Granted he should have scored with that late chance.
Thought Legs had a good game in general, Connolly looked assured as usual and Buszaky looked great when he come on. Watson (apart from their goal) promising debut, but not man of the match (should have been Legs or Connolly)

NEGATIVES:
Cerny - thought he had a poor game - let two balls whizz across the six yard box in the first half when he should have come and claimed and was VERY lucky with their disallowed goal. Good keeper but poor today
Borrowdale - Has this guy EVER won a tackle??????????? and when he does try to make a challenge he misses the ball. URGENT LEFT BACK NEEDED - BORROWDALE NOT GOOD ENOUGH
Ephriam - powderpuff. Everytime he is given a chance to stake a claim for a run in the side, he produces a performance like that. Will be cutting the oranges Tuesday night

Substitutions - Agreed with Rowlands for Faurlin. But then should have Vine for Ephraim, play Tarrabt wide left and Vine up front with Simpson. And then Buszaky for Watson, and into the middle of midfield alongside Rowly. Fair play to Madge for early changes, but wrong selection IMO

We need to learn when to pass and when to put a foot through it (namely down by your own corner flag - so many times we gifted Peterboro on the edge of the area)
But more concerning to me is the lack of tempo, desire, hunger. At half time, that game was there for the taking, and to me we lacked passion and desire to go and win the game. With the players we have at our disposal, we should be winning todays game comfortably. We were lucky that we were not playing a half decent side today or we would have been looking at a 2 goal defeat IMO

Do we have too many loan players who are not up for the fight? and who dont realise what it means to wear a blue and white hooped shirt??......

[stainrodisalegend]

Paninis aren't all they are cracked up to be, either...

[stainrodisalegend]

Oh, and BTW I'm going to stop moaning after this - but how come we manage to sign the one striker in the recent history of Arsenal FC who looks completely useless?

(Usual caveats: I'm sure he will eventually turn into the next Theo Walcott/ will score 20 goals a season etc etc - but purely going on today's showing, I'd rather have had Devon White up front).