Defence

You do realise that one of the signings that was criticized is now about 6th choice right? So at best he's got it 50% right if you're generous enough to suggest that Baldwin has been a roaring success?

 

You're being very disingenuous. Only Byrne and Baldwin were heavily criticized at the time they were signed but now you've even limited in someone who signed in October?

 

As an aside,I think Baldwin and Critchlow seem similar players.Both willing to try stuff, which doesn't always come off, not afraid to get forward and join the attack,and yes both have a mistake or two in them. Baldwin more powerful in the air but maybe Critch has a bit more pace. With Shep in the middle I do like this combination but think we will have one or two hairy moments with them.

 

From memory Crichlow did a “ hairy” pass ( but came to nothing) in the first half and can still occasionally get pulled out of position, however he doesn’t seem any different from the day he left?

I think Kelly is maybe a month away yet ( GA ) , so we certainly have an able deputy. Quite an astute signing? Collectively the three at the back for average L2 defenders ( whoever fills in) are doing well for me.

 

I like how many times Crich's headers are to another team mate not just up and hope

 

Byrne is shite as most of us identified before he kicked a ball. Baldwin has missed half the season and done about as well as expected. Diabete was found out early and sent back.

Crowing now about something 6 months ago makes no sense. Crichlow a superb addition IMO, Johnson back as an option and nobody was evrr against Shepherd.

 

You may not rate Diabate, but he wasn't sent back. He was recalled by Exeter and has been playing for them, although their results have been fairly horrific recently.
He had a couple of very good games for us, MOTM once, then his form nosedived.

 

Our defence has done well this season so credit where it's due.

I think it's Sarc and Pattison that have been our star players lately, so big shout to them too.

 

Which has meant Smallwood can concentrate on breaking up the opponents play rather than “forcing” ours all on his own in the middle.?

 

Ga didnt rate him. He didnt play. He got recalled.

 

He's not been playing too well either from Exeter match reports. Already had a brain fart moment lead to a goal.

 

Yep, which is what RS is best at and what he should focus on.

Last season he kinda had to do it all and it showed a few deficiencies - but he's clearly a good Defensive Midfielder for me.

 

Sam Walker tellling the young fan to hold the ball to waste time yesterday then recognising the fan after the game was class to see

 

Huntington was only signed because of all the injuries at the back. Now, fair play for finding him when we needed him but he was not on the list in the summer when we signed the others.

And let's see if Wright can keep it up. Two games isn't the same as twenty and Lewis Richards has been great down our left side until injured.

 

I think it was Baldwin in the second half, under a bit of pressure, who made a pass to Pattison that took out about four of their players and gave Pattison acres of space. A bit risky, but superbly seen and executed.

There will, no doubt, be the odd nightmare moment, but the back three can all pass a ball and absorb a press. That was a very encouraging aspect from yesterday.

 

Shepherd has really come on. He was clunky and bad on ball when he first came, but he’s been defensively rock solid of late, albeit still a bit uncomfortable on ball.

crich is a great ball carrier though. Shout out to Baldwin, too, who has buried his bad game at Barrow and also been solid in our recent upturn.

 

Yes remember that one…..very good it was too.

 

And he didn’t need to utter “ Up the effin chickens”