MK Dons (H)

[Rudy]

Dapo should not be in a wall as well ffs not when Doyle Is outside the box 

Anyways onwards and upwards 

[DomRepWanderer]

I love Evatt as our manager, but I can't help think he's created an old boys network, and he needs to move away from sentimentality, Dixon looked more than adequate against Blackburn, and Gilks at nearly 40 will only be a liability with better and stronger teams against him.

[Johnnyrotten]

22 hours ago, Tonge moor green jacket said:

Glad you thought so, and it wasn't just me. Especially at the end, I was worried when they countered as he looked shot. He passed the ball well and did what he does though. Doyle also behind but he showed good movement and I hope they can get him coaching at some point as he clearly has the brain.

I thought isgrove looked sharp when he came on, but didn't realise he was as short as he appeared! 

 

Fitness and athleticism could be a concern in this league compared to last, it was clear that MK Dons looked fitter and sharper than last year's opponents, on top of greater skill levels.  Williams was never a particularly fit or athletic player but his reading of the game, anticipation and accurate distribution made up for it.  A few others are in the same bracket eg Doyle and Sarcevic, they have to stretch every sinew to get amongst some stronger opponents.  We didn't have any games last season that were so physically demanding and high intensity as MK Dons, its understandable they look goosed by the end so to equalise late on was a massive achievement.

[Johnnyrotten]

21 hours ago, ianofcleveleys said:

I think it's going to be a fitness awakening having less possession and control of the pace of game as we had last  season, was easy for us to conserve energy by keeping the ball for long periods and dictating whether the game was slowed down or speeded up.

Not likely we'll have such a luxury at this level, the only concerning bit for me wasn't that we blew up late on (we kept going till the end hence the equalizer) but that we had a few that looked short of speed, in and around their box but more concerningly when we lost it and were countered on. First half hour we struggled to get about their midfielders and pressure them enough, later in game, as they tired a bit, it evened up and we started to force errors and Sheehan got on ball more, in more space than he was operating in first half. 

It's a strange one. Overall, fitness wise, we arguably lasted the 95 minutes better than them but in a one paced sort of way, where we lacked speed in some key areas but kept boxing on and finally exploited them getting a bit ragged at the end. 

MJ not the quickest off the mark, Sarce not enough pace two or three times to exploit situations in their box, Doyle same, half a yard short. Some mitigating circumstances for him but nagging issue that he'll just be that half yard short at this level, at his age, anyway. With that bit more sharpness over short distances we could have had three first half when their calamity keeper and centre backs kept gifting us the ball

If we bring any more in before end of window I'd like to see them be nippier, speed merchants who can get about, cover ground quickly and seize on errors more ruthlessly. 

Don't want that to all sound like a load of moaning, I hugely enjoyed yesterday and there was so much to like about us and how we tried to play, and how we scored 3 in our first game at a higher level

 

Good summary that, only just read it after being away yesterday, you put it better than me!  I think IE has already started to address the physicality/pace with the 2 new strikers.  I also have no concerns over Politic in that respect, once he gets established in the squad, he won't be found wanting physically. 

[Mounts Kipper]

19 hours ago, Rudy said:

That’s retirement for you 

Im thinking he might of got the M&S back to front. 🤣

[Leyther_Matt]

2 hours ago, Smiley said:

2nd. He just didn’t move. And I don’t get it. Only seen the goal from ESL and then on Tv from the opposite side. So impossible to see if it deflected. He was shaking his head afterwards though. Which, to me, looked like he was having a dig at himself. 

From my point in the middle of NSL it looked like the ball moved about all over the place in mid-air tbh. Would have expected at least a flailing attempt at a dive, but I just saw it as a good hit.

[Mounts Kipper]

I thought our fitness was excellent, we had less possession than we had last season and our high press lasted all game, I watched on iFollow and it was noticeable how high up the pitch we were pressing and how quickly we closed down, exemplified by Declan John stealing the ball for one of our goals. 

[MickyD]

1 hour ago, Mounts Kipper said:

Im thinking he might of got the M&S back to front. 🤣

Ha ha! So much funnier than Traf’s effort 20 hours earlier. 🤣🤣🤣🤣

21 hours ago, Traf said:

i prefer s & m these days

 

[Mounts Kipper]

5 hours ago, MickyD said:

Ha ha! So much funnier than Traf’s effort 20 hours earlier. 🤣🤣🤣🤣

 

It’s all about delivery. 😉 

[RONNIE PHILLIPS]

30 minutes ago, Mounts Kipper said:

It’s all about delivery. 😉 

You must work for Hermes then 😊

[Traf]

14 hours ago, RONNIE PHILLIPS said:

You must have Herpes then 😊

 

[Rudy]

15 hours ago, RONNIE PHILLIPS said:

You must work for Hermes then 😊

DX were last years deliveries. Sheehan is a UPS man

[Breightmet Boy]

IE saying "Gilks has come in for unfair criticism for the goals, hes allowed a bad day".  Well im happy to say ill put my two penneth on here, but wont cry all across social media about performances, some has been a tad harsh what ive read.  Some of our fans need to calm down, to still get a result after a few mistakes in a game is even more pleasing, theyre out the way now, yesterdays chip paper.  We move on

[DazBob]

20 minutes ago, Breightmet Boy said:

"Gilks has come in for unfair criticism for the goals, hes allowed a bad day". 

Shirley if IE is admitting he had a bad day then he too is being critical of his performance?

Anyway, he WAS at fault for all three IMO, and the 2nd one was just awful ... BUT... he has plenty of credit in the bank for me and I'll not be demanding he gets dropped just yet.

Edited August 10, 2021 by DazBob

[MickyD]

12 minutes ago, DazBob said:

Shirley if IE is admitting he had a bad day then he too is being critical of his performance?

Anyway, he WAS at fault for all three IMO, and the 2nd one was just awful ... BUT... he has plenty of credit in the bank for me and I'll not be demanding he gets dropped just yet.

Better man-management than with Crellin when he told him to man up!

[DavidLeesMullet]

35 minutes ago, DazBob said:

Shirley if IE is admitting he had a bad day then he too is being critical of his performance?

Anyway, he WAS at fault for all three IMO, and the 2nd one was just awful ... BUT... he has plenty of credit in the bank for me and I'll not be demanding he gets dropped just yet.

Yes he has a bad day...and don't call me Shirley!!!

[RUREADY2ROLL]

11 minutes ago, DavidLeesMullet said:

Yes he has a bad day...and don't call me Shirley!!!

Ok Susan 

[Breightmet Boy]

1 hour ago, DazBob said:

Shirley if IE is admitting he had a bad day then he too is being critical of his performance?

Anyway, he WAS at fault for all three IMO, and the 2nd one was just awful ... BUT... he has plenty of credit in the bank for me and I'll not be demanding he gets dropped just yet.

exactly, pulled some stunning saves last season and bossed our defence superbly.  

[DavidLeesMullet]

2 hours ago, RUREADY2ROLL said:

Ok Susan 

Only at weekends my dear 😂😂😂