A very fortunate point on Merseyside

1

1988ib

Vital Newbie
First half I thought we were abysmal, lethargic, couldn't string two passes together.
Cann has to be dropped, how many shots does he have to parry straight to an opponent for a tap in? & don't get me started on the near comedy og involving Rafferty.
Better second half but yet again defensively vulnerable & Cann again culpable for Ince's goal but our newly found team spirit got us back into it & kudos to Bradshaw for having the guts to convert it after Saturday.
Fitzgerald looks a find, Gore like, thoughts?
 
I don't like picking on individuals but you cannot make meaningful observations of a performance if you don't.
Way back when we signed him I posted that the razzmatazz over Ted Cann was inexplicable as nothing in his record suggested he was a first choice league standard GK.
I was wrong about Bradshaw who is performing much better than I expected. If he's fit enough he should play paired with one of the new lads. Which brings me to Mullin. I have long suspected there is an influential voice in RUFC recruitment that gives too much weight to performance in the past. I was against this signing. Mullin isn't a disappointment to me because after reading fans views from previous clubs we have got exactly what I thought we'd get. The two year contract is a worry. So too is the answer given by George Mallory when asked why he wanted to climb Everest: 'Because it's there.' I expect for exactly that reason we will persevere with Mullin even when it weakens the side. We'll see.
 
Adam2052 said:
It's a minor point, but, after over a year, the RUFC website team page has finally stopped listing Martha in the defenders section! No doubt just a coincidence, but maybe the effort to track their overlapping runner for Tranmere's second goal was the final straw.
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The Martha saga remains a mystery. I am reliably informed that Hamshaw asked the recruitment team for a wing back. Having watched several videos of him at the time of acquisition I can only assume it was a case of mistaken identity.
 
A fortunate point or the ability to keep going to the final whistle. Heads didn’t go down when we went 2-1 down. We would most likely have lost that game last season so credit to the players. I agree the first half we never got going. The substitutions second half changed / improved our style of play. In my opinion Jayce Fitzgerald is better than Dan Gore but only time will tell. He wanted to be involved as soon as he came on, busy in midfield and coming deep to collect the ball. J.F. In the starting 11 at Bristol Rovers for me , Bradshaw to start in a 4-5-1.
Doubtful that will be the formation and it should be an entertaining game with Stevie Evans doing us no favours.

EDIT : a few clean sheets along the way would be appreciated as well.
 
All keepers make mistakes but I’m afraid Cann is a mistake waiting to happen. He has a habit of neither holding the ball nor pushing it wide. He makes defenders (and supporters) nervous and his distribution is awful. I don’t have anything against the young man but it’s professional sport and it’s all out there to see. If Eyestone isn’t better then we shouldn’t have brought him in.

Martha’s failure to track a runner was shocking. He had only been on the field ten minutes and he had just made the equaliser - such a shame that he switched off or couldn’t be bothered (only he knows which it was).

Once again there were positives. We recovered from a terrible opening and improved as the game went on. The list of players who look quite good is longer than the list of players who don’t.
 
Ps my wife doesn’t like football but all the cynical delaying of the taking of the penalty was getting even her wound up. Her suggestion was that the defending team should be given a short period of time- say ten seconds - to clear the penalty area and have the keeper ready on the line. If they fail in that, a goal is awarded without the kick having to be taken. I’ve got to say I think it’s a genius idea.
 
I think in the end we deserved at least a point. Mention to Brandon Cover, who I think has been quite effective in a holding midfield role and improved game on game. We certainly now have good options in that midfield area.
 
CleanSweeper said:
I think in the end we deserved at least a point. Mention to Brandon Cover, who I think has been quite effective in a holding midfield role and improved game on game. We certainly now have good options in that midfield area.
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There were a lot of mumbles and grumbles before Cover before the game and there were some who groaned everytime he got the ball.
I'm with you, Clean, I think he has improved each game this season.
 
CleanSweeper said:
Something needs to be done. Penalties take five minutes now with crowds of players around the spot. They’ve all been watching the World Cup!
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Yes, I agree something has to be done. It's ridiculous how they all crowd around the ref as soon as he points to the spot (mind, he took his time last night, wasn't sure he was going to give it).

Not sure Mrs Clean's idea would be allowed though! But why not!
 
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