Match Thread Home V Leyton Orient 23/02, 7pm kick off.

I agree with Stevens. I noticed a couple of times again last night where he either gave up the chase, or avoided committing into what would have been a 50/50. I'm less than convinced by what I've seen of him so far.

 

Sorry if this may have passed me by, but are they still announcing the MoM at the end of the match?

 

I agree, looking forward to the return of Clarke.
He will graft his knackers off and provide support for AOC.
Also has that little extra quality on the ball.

 

His legs did not do too bad chasing down Brophy as he broke - a lad with pace.

 

As I say, he's fine for brief cameo's when hard work and experience is all that's needed. We've seen how ineffectual he now is over longer periods in games.

 

When fans wonder why a club decides to move a player from a div 1 club to a div 2 club its mainly to highlight to the player if you don't sort yourself out you will end up down the leagues.

Yes, the club hopes the player gets more game time but football is about levels and Stevens isn't doing himself any favours at this moment.

 

Although I agree with much of that, there was a situation just after he was brought on where he actually chased down one of the Orient players making him play the ball rather than getting a shot off.
I dont think there was any intention of Donaldson being a regular starter unfortunatly we had little choice when the likes of Guthrie, Novak, were out injured and the kid from Wolves offer little, at best he was a 70 minute sub IMO.

 

Vernham is a decent player very direct and with an eye for goal and he tracks back but I don’t like the way he seems to disappear in games he has done it in every match he has played. I don’t know if it is a lack of Stamina but I hope it improves otherwise I think Crankshaw is going to be the better bet

 

No keeper could get at that even in slow motion...brilliant pen..

 

Maybe, he is a 60-70 minute man but you have said he has an eye for goal and tracks back. I am not getting why fans think players are like superman and wanting this full on 90 mins wonder show.

How will Crankshaw be better out of interest? Not a trick question. I just want to know why you think that.

 

I did say maybe but from what I have seen he has a lot of energy tracks back well he also has an eye for goal and whilst Vernham is probably a bit more direct Crankshaw seems a bit more tricky. I like Vernham as I say but a match last 90 minutes

 

I thought Vernham was the only one in the first half who was showing any real danger with his pace and ability, but he seemed to fade out as the game progressed. Hopefully, it's merely a fitness thing and we'll see more from him over longer periods of games.

 

Cook can't play against Mansfield

 

The ref last night as well!!
I mean talk about poor.
Thought they were clamping down on tugs and defenders impeding attackers?
No wonder Cook was fuming after his header went wide.
Had he not had his shirt pulled off his back we might have been a bit more comfortable.
ref isn't even looking.
At least no29 was found out later with Crankshaw.

 

Vernam I feel was at his most dangerous when he was central against Exeter. A few times against Cheltenham and last night he got the ball right on the touch line with very little room. I'd like to see him come inside more and get involved particularly if we are playing Rowe upfront on his own who seems to leave that central area more often than not

 

I agree like any lower league players he’ll have good and bad patches even during one game. We’ve been the top scorers in the league in the last 6 games and he’s more than played his part, no need to change something that works, which is why I believe Cook should have started last night but thankfully we won.

 

And I also thought our comedy commentary duo, Andy and Jamie, supplemented the incident quite well, with schoolboy sound effects and equally amusing banter. Well it made me giggle, a little!