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JJpool

JJpool

Well-known member
I thought we were very wasteful today.

We were the better side and got some good opportunities but were very wasteful with them or failed with the final setup.

The penalty, clear though on goal and fluffing a simple pass or failing to have a shot.

Some players looked well off it, CJ had some really poor moments missing the ball or it bounching off him, Rhodes looked well off the pace, not his usual self.

2 unbelievable hits from Albie Morgan, he's really showing his class now.

Good to get the win though but sadly nothing gained on the teams directly above.

It's going to take a run of many wins to do so and it means winning the next few away really.

Can we do it?
 
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JJpool said:
I thought we were very wasteful today.

We were the better side and got some good opportunities but were very wasteful with them or failed woth the final setup.

The penalty, clear though on goal and fluffing a simple pass or failing to have a shot.

Some players looked well off it, CJ had some really poor moments missing thr ball or it bounching off him, Rhodes looked well off the pace, not his usual self.

2 unbelievable hits from Albie Morgan, he's really showing his class now.

Good to get the win though but sadly nothing gained on the teams directly above.

It's going to take a run of many wins to do so and it means winning the next few away really.

Can we do it?
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We’ve got enough decent players if we use them correctly and in a different formation.
 
Considering the fixture pile up, today was good news for us.

I agree regarding the wasted opportunities @JJpool. First 35 mins or so we had chances but missed the mark, and especially having had the pen saved. I thought ‘we’d better put a couple away today, because Exeter are really poor’.

Thank God we did. Morgan decided that with Kenny (rumoured to be) going, he became the seaside Iniesta for the afternoon.
 
A_Tense_Grin said:
There were one or two moments but because it's CJ, it gets highlighted more. I'd happily take a couple of poor first touches considering everything else he brings.
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More like 4 or 5. But yes he remains a threat but I wish he was playing in more and earlier and also that he would be on yhe shoulder of the last man rather than at time just stand on the touchline.

He is good defensively and not many get past him.
 
Thought Rhodes had a really poor day. His first touch let him down almost every time and he didn't look confident for the pen. I imagine the whole "is he staying, is he going?" hasn't helped him. Hopefully he bags one soon and gets that confidence back
 
What I also noticed is there's quite a few with absolutely no pace we saw a few balls go over the top and suddenly were nearly undone.

It's not a pacey back line.

Norburn isn't quick either.

Rhodes looked particularly slow, maybe he always does but his finishing is just amazing, usually, not today.

Dembele tried but not a lot of his work seemed to come off like we know it can.

A few annoying occasions where we worked the ball back from a promising position all thr way back and for no good reason too.

There were some good performances, Casey looked solid. Morgan as mentioned is really showing his worth.

He has a brilliant shot on him.

We weren't at our best but still won comfortably.

Clean sheet.
 
Athers said:
That touch on the byline when he shinned it out for a throw in was hilarious
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Yep there were a few bad ones today. A throw went through his legs didnt it near the south, out for a GK? The shin on the byline was ridiculous.

On the east side he won the ball back and looked like he went to do a cruyff turn but seemed to forget the turn and their man was off on the break 😆
 
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Bit like the crowd today...didn't need.to get out of 2nd gear to beat arguably the worst team we've played this season.

Not easy to just "turn it on" so we can put that one in the "3 points and we move on" category.


Not one for the purists.....
 
A_Tense_Grin said:
Joseph was decent. Just needs something to come off. Almost trying too hard.
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Yeah I agree, although nothing wrong with trying hard, so it's not like he shouldn't try.

He's got enough about him to be a decent striker but doesn't excel in any 1 area.

Tall but not enough to be dominant in the air. Decent pace but not blistering. Fairly strong but not like Kouassi etc. A food finisher when at it but not like Rhodes...yet.

Still relatively early days as he had no pre season and was way behind, coming into the system and new club, it can take time.

Hopefully he'll come good.
 
Marcusbeansontoast said:
Surprised nobody has mentioned Connolly, really missed Penington’s distribution today, Connolly was chopping it in all directions
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Mentioned it in the match day thread. His distribution stood out a mile today and not in a good way. It's not a big deal as defenders are there to defend but it wasn't great.
 
In the past I've posted that we don't shoot from the edge or outside the box enough, but in recent games we've seen Norburn and Morgan scoring well taken goals when they had the opportunity to shoot. Don't know if it's a training ground thing, but long may it continue. Chuffed for Morgan, who took his goals very well.

Casey had another impressive game, Joseph worked hard, but I'd like to see him playing in the 9 role, unlikely while Rhodes is playing so well (although today was probably JR's worst game for us, but it's an exception, so surely he can be forgiven for one poor game). Coulson had a solid debut, CJ had a few good moments, but he'll be remembered more for his poor ball control and allowing the throw in to go through him for a GK

It didn't quite happen for Dembele today, but he's an exciting player who I hope keeps his place v Forest.

Overall, not a great game, but brightened up by 2 brilliant goals. A comfortable afternoon, the 3 points being the important thing but it won't help much unless we improve our away form
 
20togo said:
his very first touch of the game was abysmal. Their defender passed straight to him and the ball bounced about ten feet off him.
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Yep his touch today was very poor, which tbf he did get better at in other games.

As someone who usually calls out some OTT criticism against him, hard to ignore some of it today.
 
Marcusbeansontoast said:
Surprised nobody has mentioned Connolly, really missed Penington’s distribution today, Connolly was chopping it in all directions
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He's not great on the ball is he. A huge area of pitch to aim for amd was hitting the stands.

Husband has gone downhill too with his distribution.

Really annoys me when we work it back, sometimes for no real reason and then hoof it aimlessly. I understand and support working the spaces and moving teams around, but there are times when we've advanced and will we cross, try a through ball? Or maybe not even turn and go back...

Through balls... that's another thing to improve, over hit, under hit, hesitation.

All things we need to improve on if we're to catch and beat the better sides in the league.
 
Great result and 2 outstanding strikes worthy of winning any game. However overall our final ball in dangerous positions is woeful and even against poor opposition it has come back to bite us on the arse for not making the most of the chances.
Again in defence we look clueless and wtf has happened to Husband? Exeter corner in the first half they should have scored as it was defended so poorly ( a half hearted header) from Joseph that went from the six yard box to an Exeter player on the penalty spot. Had they not been as nearly as poor up front than us then they would have definitely at least scored today.
The biggest problem however with us is the fact we're so slow getting the ball forward. It's OK saying teams come here to defend and hit us on the break, so it's very hard to break them down, but honestly wether it's lack of movement up front or our back line just hasn't the talent to pick a pass and move the ball forward I don't know. Then the conundrum about defending corners and free kicks not leaving anyone up top inviting the ball if cleared to come straight back. Grimshaw unsure if it's down to him or just following Critchley's instructions doesn't like to release the ball early EVEN as today ..... following an Exeter corner with everyone within 18yds of our goal Grimshaw got the ball and Joseph maybe CJ made a brilliant run but guess what?. Yes Grimshaw still had the ball and was walking around the box 30 seconds later. Don't care whatever you think about Maxwell but he didn't mess around and loved getting us on the front foot as quickly as possible. Once again what is the problem, players just not good enough even in this league to play fast attacking football or following the managers instructions.
Probably the latter as I doubt the players want to look as bad as they do and get shed loads of criticism. Someone on the playing side needs to step upto the plate and tell Critchley the style,system he wants them to play is either beyond their capabilites or its just ** shit and makes them look like useless footballers.
 
Whilst we're having a bit of a moan, that clearly wasn't Hoggy on the drum today.

Can someone tell whoever it is to wait 10 seconds after scoring before going into the celebration tune.

You're still jumping around and he's off drumming.

Needs to hold for a bit.
 
Seasider1 said:
Great result and 2 outstanding strikes worthy of winning any game. However overall our final ball in dangerous positions is woeful and even against poor opposition it has come back to bite us on the arse for not making the most of the chances.
Again in defence we look clueless and wtf has happened to Husband? Exeter corner in the first half they should have scored as it was defended so poorly ( a half hearted header) from Joseph that went from the six yard box to an Exeter player on the penalty spot. Had they not been as nearly as poor up front than us then they would have definitely at least scored today.
The biggest problem however with us is the fact we're so slow getting the ball forward. It's OK saying teams come here to defend and hit us on the break, so it's very hard to break them down, but honestly wether it's lack of movement up front or our back line just hasn't the talent to pick a pass and move the ball forward I don't know. Then the conundrum about defending corners and free kicks not leaving anyone up top inviting the ball if cleared to come straight back. Grimshaw unsure if it's down to him or just following Critchley's instructions doesn't like to release the ball early EVEN as today ..... following an Exeter corner with everyone within 18yds of our goal Grimshaw got the ball and Joseph maybe CJ made a brilliant run but guess what?. Yes Grimshaw still had the ball and was walking around the box 30 seconds later. Don't care whatever you think about Maxwell but he didn't mess around and loved getting us on the front foot as quickly as possible. Once again what is the problem, players just not good enough even in this league to play fast attacking football or following the managers instructions.
Probably the latter as I doubt the players want to look as bad as they do and get shed loads of criticism. Someone on the playing side needs to step upto the plate and tell Critchley the style,system he wants them to play is either beyond their capabilites or its just ** shit and makes them look like useless footballers.
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yep, noticed that with Grimshaw - it was Joseph haring forwards and yes the ball was on to throw it for the counter attack so I get what you're saying. However, we're 2-0 up so no need to chase the game. Stay calm and let the players get back into their positions and shape. And that's what Grimshaw did. So on balance for me he made the right call.
 
JJpool said:
Whilst we're having a bit of a moan, that clearly wasn't Hoggy on the drum today.

Can someone tell whoever it is to wait 10 seconds after scoring before going into the celebration tune.

You're still jumping around and he's off drumming.

Needs to hold for a bit.
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Premature bashing the skins 😂
 
20togo said:
got a bit of a knock too.
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I saw that. He lost his temper too and I thought it good management because I thought he might give the lad who gave him a whack a bit of something to think about if he got the opportunity, if you know what I mean.
 
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