Saw the match from the Lower Loft (sorry, "family stand" as we should now call it) for the first time in ages as took my 4-year-old son. Four rows from the front, smack in front of the goal, brilliant position. Couldn't resist putting my son on my shoulders and dancing up and down when Lopez scored. Even better when the winner came in - we cd see it was going to be a goal before the cross came over. Loved the way the lad who scored it - Trabant? or was that an East German car? - looked so ****y when he scored - their keeper was furious! However, missed long periods of the match as kept having to take my Fred to the kazee (check sp ed).
Positives:
1) Lopez was really good, v tidy, really good at nudging the ball from the back and to the attacking players, bit like a Wilkins. But don't he should be taking so many corners etc - don't think I've ever seen him clear the first man. Still, v gd performance and hope he remains part of the set up next season.
2) Gorks was a tower of strength putting in some great last ditch tackles. I feel sorry for Stewart because he has played his heart out this season but surely Kaspars and Connolly have got to be the centre pairing.
3) Ramage (and I never thought I'd say this) but another good game, v solid and came over countless times to help the centre halves out. Minus is that he has zero presence going forward.
4) The last five minutes: amazing to say this as an R but I wasn't that nervous. If anything with a bit more confidence we cd have gone and snatched a third. So often in those circs we have conceded a soft late goal but just looked stronger and stronger as the game went on.
Negatives:
1) Too many players were quiet for too long. Hogan looked great when he had the ball but went long spells not being involed. Tarabat (or however you spell his name) is a class apart and got better as the game went on but took too long to come into the game.
2) DiCarbuncle. Still think that local newspaper hack nailed it when he said that old Sammy "does nothing v badly but nothing v well" - just don't see the point of him when we have Dex, Helguson and even Vine on the bench. Worked hard, got stuck in, one decent shot but always if he scores it is a surprise.
3) Dex on the bench - clearly he has no future at the club. I'm not an uncritical fan of his but his goal scoring record is the best at the club and think he cd have caused some problems today. Yes he looks cack for large periods but he does score goals - isn't that what strikers do?
4) Helguson. I'm not one of the knockers and as with Dex think he has a gd strike rate and wd like the two played together but despite coming on as sub he just seemed to amble about and not really chase many balls down. Still believe in him but thinks he needs a kick up the backside.
5) Ref - joke.
Great day out, great sunshine, great result. If only we had started doing this about two games earlier the end of the season cd have been v v interesting...
Positives:
1) Lopez was really good, v tidy, really good at nudging the ball from the back and to the attacking players, bit like a Wilkins. But don't he should be taking so many corners etc - don't think I've ever seen him clear the first man. Still, v gd performance and hope he remains part of the set up next season.
2) Gorks was a tower of strength putting in some great last ditch tackles. I feel sorry for Stewart because he has played his heart out this season but surely Kaspars and Connolly have got to be the centre pairing.
3) Ramage (and I never thought I'd say this) but another good game, v solid and came over countless times to help the centre halves out. Minus is that he has zero presence going forward.
4) The last five minutes: amazing to say this as an R but I wasn't that nervous. If anything with a bit more confidence we cd have gone and snatched a third. So often in those circs we have conceded a soft late goal but just looked stronger and stronger as the game went on.
Negatives:
1) Too many players were quiet for too long. Hogan looked great when he had the ball but went long spells not being involed. Tarabat (or however you spell his name) is a class apart and got better as the game went on but took too long to come into the game.
2) DiCarbuncle. Still think that local newspaper hack nailed it when he said that old Sammy "does nothing v badly but nothing v well" - just don't see the point of him when we have Dex, Helguson and even Vine on the bench. Worked hard, got stuck in, one decent shot but always if he scores it is a surprise.
3) Dex on the bench - clearly he has no future at the club. I'm not an uncritical fan of his but his goal scoring record is the best at the club and think he cd have caused some problems today. Yes he looks cack for large periods but he does score goals - isn't that what strikers do?
4) Helguson. I'm not one of the knockers and as with Dex think he has a gd strike rate and wd like the two played together but despite coming on as sub he just seemed to amble about and not really chase many balls down. Still believe in him but thinks he needs a kick up the backside.
5) Ref - joke.
Great day out, great sunshine, great result. If only we had started doing this about two games earlier the end of the season cd have been v v interesting...
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