Player ratings v Port Vale

Such a frustrating loss. Yes, Johnson made an error for the goal but what worried me the most was the drop in performance between the 15 minute break at half time, again. They weren?t anything special but they got the press right and we couldn?t cope at all with it?.where?s Saunders when you need him?!

The midfield basically collapsed. Grant and especially Edwards were chasing shadows, nowhere near the pace of the game, and Palmer and Abbott stopped showing for the ball from defence, and when they did they didn?t move it quickly or intelligently enough.

It?s very concerning because even at full strength we have become prone to these types of 2nd half performances. What is happening. For what it?s worth id rewarded Jarvis with a start at LWB after a good game on Saturday and kept the same back line. Jarvis showed he could receive and carry the ball, which something we needed the other night, one cute touch can totally negate the press of the opposition.

Bit gutted really. Ahhh, football.

If Edwards starts on Tuesday until he proves his fitness I would recommend taking the lead weights out of his boots.

There is a decent player in there but to me he doesn?t seem fully fit and despite our injuries there must be fitter players who could have started at Port Vale.

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Originally Posted by forwardmagpie

If Edwards starts on Tuesday until he proves his fitness I would recommend taking the lead weights out of his boots.

There is a decent player in there but to me he doesn?t seem fully fit and despite our injuries there must be fitter players who could have started at Port Vale.

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I feel a bit for Edwards.
He?s been out a similar length of time as Jodi Jones.
We?ve all seen how short of match fitness Jones has been, and the team have virtually carried him at points. Yet he?s been afforded that time by the fans.
However, the expectation on Edwards is he?s supposed to walk straight back in the team at 100%
I actually thought he had a decent first half and faded in the second, as you would expect.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by forwardmagpie

If Edwards starts on Tuesday until he proves his fitness I would recommend taking the lead weights out of his boots.

There is a decent player in there but to me he doesn?t seem fully fit and despite our injuries there must be fitter players who could have started at Port Vale.

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He looks way off it when you think about that Grimbsy game where he was running around like a 20 year old. The facts are he?s 30, been out for 3 or 4 months we shouldn?t expect anything else, JJ hasn?t been any better, it?s a long while out.

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Originally Posted by matt_magpie

He looks way off it when you think about that Grimbsy game where he was running around like a 20 year old. The facts are he?s 30, been out for 3 or 4 months we shouldn?t expect anything else, JJ hasn?t been any better, it?s a long while out.

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I?m not excepting anything else, I do feel he should have been eased back into the team rather than thrown in the deep end when he isn?t ready.

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Originally Posted by kill_the_drum

I feel a bit for Edwards.
He?s been out a similar length of time as Jodi Jones.
We?ve all seen how short of match fitness Jones has been, and the team have virtually carried him at points. Yet he?s been afforded that time by the fans.
However, the expectation on Edwards is he?s supposed to walk straight back in the team at 100%
I actually thought he had a decent first half and faded in the second, as you would expect.

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I dont know what game you were watching, but he was poor through out and equally as bad in the previous game. He may be ok in walking football, but he is not good enough in the physical game..

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Originally Posted by durhampie

I dont know what game you were watching, but he was poor through out and equally as bad in the previous game. He may be ok in walking football, but he is not good enough in the physical game..

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I was watching the same game as you but I call it as I see it, not based on whether I like the guy or not.
I don?t think anyone had a bad first half. We pressed from the front and Edwards/Grant contributed.
The performance is ripped apart because we lost the game and we lost the game for the exact same reason we lost twice to Walsall and drew with Doncaster; we didn?t take our chances when we were on top. We should have been 3-0 up at half time, simple as that.
We aren?t going to dominate every minute of every game, especially when we?ve got injuries. Although I?m sure you think McGoldrick being injured as a good thing!
But thanks for proving my initial point. Jones has largely been a passenger since returning, and understandably so, yet he hasn?t come in for the same criticism after a long layoff.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by durhampie

I dont know what game you were watching, but he was poor through out and equally as bad in the previous game. He may be ok in walking football, but he is not good enough in the physical game..

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So what do you put his performance down to against Grimbsy then Durham when he was everywhere with pace too, it?s as if he hasn?t played for 4 months when I?ve seen him play the last couple of games.

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Originally Posted by matt_magpie

So what do you put his performance down to against Grimbsy then Durham when he was everywhere with pace too, it?s as if he hasn?t played for 4 months when I?ve seen him play the last couple of games.

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He?ll just deny he ever had a good game the same as McGoldrick, Nemane, Crowley??.insert countless names here?..apart from Cedwyn Scott

Quote:

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Originally Posted by durhampie

I dont know what game you were watching, but he was poor through out and equally as bad in the previous game. He may be ok in walking football, but he is not good enough in the physical game..

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He has had one good game since his arrival. He has been poor in all of the others, even before he got injured.. We all see things differently, otherwise life would be boring..