Crawley post match

[Piglet_Phoenix]

It's typical really, after the half hour last Saturday where Beech finally got things right tactically, this week it's back to the same old faces. Our best players on the bench, the ineffective long ball game, vacant defending, dismal football of the worst degree.

Even when we put our best players on the pitch and get back into game, we still aren't professional enough to see the game out for a point. Promotion looks a million miles away while Comedy Chris is ringmaster of the circus and our first team is this much of a shambles. The concept of "learning from your mistakes" looks as far away from Comedy Chris' vocabulary as describing trigonometry in Mandarin.

Norma - 2 - Doesn't command his box well enough and really struggles with any shot placed to his right. So far he has not looked league standard. Why isn't Jensen being given an opportunity - we might actually save a few shots from distance.

Mellor - 4 - Some great defending but completely AWOL for the first goal.

Whelan - 1 - He's been told to hoof it and the reluctance to pass the ball makes him look half the player. Struggled though the afternoon and was also guilty of evaporating for the first goal.

McDonald - 1 - Turning circle of the Titanic, back to the same pace he was last season. Hoofed it forward lots.

Armer - 1 - Lucky to stay on the pitch for the tackle which led to his booking. His attitude was stinking today and he was positionally random, I wonder if anything off the pitch has made him grumpy?

Guy - 1 - Guy's role in the team is to waste free-kicks and corners, chase after the referee crying like a baby, lose possession of the ball in excruciating fashion in the middle of the park and commit pointless petty fouls. He should be the fulcrum of our team, but with this garbage in the engine room it's no wonder we're struggling to play any football.

Riley - 3 - Trying to play football but with precious little help it's a struggle for him.

Mellish - 2 - Great finish for his goal, but sitting on a sofa having a nice cup of tea, resting on his heels while the man he should've been picking up smashed home the winner. Loads of pointless running, and to be far he did win a few headers and tackles but overall, pretty poor.

Dickenson - 0 - Firmly proving last week's performance was the exception rather than the rule. At least Mellish is involved but I can't think what Dickenson's excuse is. Shameful effort.

Alessandra - 2 - Barely involved, got more into the game when the substitutes came on.

Abrahams - 0 - Didn't look bothered. Obviously we're not playing to his strengths but to throw in the towel is inexcusable. Sulking like a little child.

Subs

Young - 6 - Tireless running, looked more likely to score (almost immediately) when he came on, shame we provided him with so little service. Needs to start.

Gibson - 6 - Brilliant piece of play to put the goal on the plate for Mellish. Not everything he tried came off, but a lot more of it did than any player who was in the starting XI. Needs to start.

Clough - 6 - Suddenly we had a footballer on the pitch who could pass the ball to blue shirts. It was like hearing angels sing when the clouds parted. Needs to start.

[howoldboy]

Spot on Piglet.

Post substitutions we finally started to look like a team.

Having said that I thought Whelan was at least worth a 2.