Forest Green at home - player ratings

I suppose when your career’s on the line and you are fearing for your job – this can result in the tactical approach and team selection we’re seeing at the minute. It’s not just about winning, it’s about how you win – and today was embarrassing. Five defenders at home against a team of the caliber of Forest Green is completely unnecessary, as was the kick and rush approach and the majority of the second half spent time wasting and making sure the ball was in play as little as possible. Yes, you can win that way against some of the lower end tier four sides – but it’s embarrassing to have to resort to this approach, plus it’s horrible to watch. Yes we won today, but playing “football” like this we are going nowhere, it’s good enough to keep us in the division (at the minute) but not good enough to get us into the top seven.

Paying supporters are not going to continue to stump up significant amounts of hard earned cash to watch this sh!t, however. When you need people to keep on coming back and to convince others to attend – we need to play more actual football.

Anyway, the front two may have been different but the script was exactly the same. We lack support for our forwards in the final third because we play too many defensive players and the balance of the side is still wrong. In honesty, we’d have probably have won if we’d started Bennett and Cosgrove. In fact, we might have actually won more in the air had Cosgrove started (especially as we are still obsessed with the quick, hopeful, long punt). A decent piece of technique by Devitt was enough to win us the points, but we were wasteful with the opportunites we did manage to create and our decision making in the final third is still poor (although our attacking options on the pitch are few). The most frustrating thing for me is we have two decent wingers now (Twaderk & Devitt) we should play them on the wings...

Bonham – 5 – Yes a clean sheet, but flapping all over the box like a huge, manic, heron. His use of the ball was abysmal and his juggling, at times, reminiscent of an octopus trying to catch a bar of soap. Again, our ultra-defensive approach ensured he didn’t have a save to make, however my confidence in him remains paper thin.

Brown – 5 – Decently solid defensively, worked his touchline well and tried to play a little football. He’s settling a bit better into the five man defence and learning when to sit back and when to overlap.

Grainger – 5 – In fairness to Grainger, he actually did ok defensively today – however his use of the ball was far short of where a real left-sided midfielder should be. Indeed it was a delivery from his free-kick which led to the goal, but the rest of his distribution and ponderous lumbering was way short of where a footballer should really be.

Liddle – 5 – Not an awful lot wrong defensively, despite melting away a few times. Unconvincing with the ball at his feet however, and some really stupid pointless fouling.

Hill – 6 – A much needed improvement from Hill, he must wish we could play Forest Green every week. Never looked in much trouble against what the opposition could muster and dealt with any threat solidly.

Parkes – 6 – Much improved with the ball at his feet in the second half, some excellent surging runs from the back and some tidy passing. However, he was too quick to smash the ball forward in the first half, with little care on a windy day. Our best defender again.

Joyce – 5 – All effort and some decent defensive work, but questionable with the ball at his feet and some really awful shooting into the bargain. I suppose it’s difficult when you have so little to aim for upfront but when we’re in possession of the football you need to make yourself available more.

Jones – 5 – See Joyce, without the shooting and some horrendous technique. I’m not sure where the Jones from last season has disappeared to. Defensively, Joyce and Jones tend to be invaluable – and I suppose with an extra attacking player they’d have more to aim for upfront, but they need to adapt better to the formation the manager chooses to employ.

Devitt – 5 – Splendid finish for his goal but the rest of his performance had it all – wild shooting, heavy passing, losing himself in no-man’s land. At least he was getting involved, but he still looks like a winger playing out of position.

Twardek – 6* - Energetic and committed with reasonable success chasing lost causes. His best moments came on the right-wing, unsurprisingly as he’s clearly a winger. Has decent pace and a good bit of skill to him – and his crossing was excellent. Was less effective when asked to fight for headers and hold the ball up (understandably as he’s not a striker) – but if we can consistently get him wide and get the ball to his feet he looks (on one performance) a decent prospect.

Stockton – 3 – On this performance, looks no better than either Bennett or Cosgrove. Maybe he’s not match fit and is a bit rusty but he needs to up his work rate and performance levels considerably. Looked a bit weak in the air, not too bad with the ball on the ground and caused a few problems in the first half with his weight. However, I’m not sure he deserved to walk straight into the side or deserves to keep his place. Hopefully he’ll improve as he settles in – and would definitely benefit from having an actual striker alongside him and if we properly utilised the width of the pitch.

Subs:

Cosgrove – 2 – Stiff as board coming off the bench to little effect.

O’Sullivan – 1 – Still not coming to the party. This season he’s been one of the least influential substitutes in the history of football.

Etuhu – 1 – Just when you think things can’t get any worse technically, Etuhu enters the fray.

A horrible game ruined by the strong wind. Punting the ball ling was therefore never going to work - and it didn't. Woeful refereeing too meant that FGR were denied a penalty and other decisions were laughable. The Canadian ran hissocks off and I'd play home wide too, in a 4-4-2. That's the only formation that will get us enough points to get us out of the league - next season - but it'll take a different manager because KC isn't seemingly in favourr of it. A fit Stockton may be target man that we need too, but he's not fit enough yet. Parkes played well but there were no standout performances for me. Thanks Piglet.