What price Dan Crowley?

[Mud Pie]

I reckon DC probably perfectly played out a lot of the back and forth of this thread in the game today.

His ball for Austin in the build up to the goal was superb. Perfectly timed and waited. At home, we will dominate the ball and territory. Often, we have bemoaned a lack of penetration but it is the moments like that that really count. Even earlier in the move, when we broke down the left, he, Martin, Bedeau and McGoldrick kept the ball brilliantly, which enabled DC to recycle it centrally and then get himself in the position to feed Austin. Bar McGoldrick, no one else has the ability in our squad to do that.

He pressed well too, often being the central forward, with Jatta drifting over to the right. His ability to carry and keep the ball too was delightful. At one point (from a Swindon corner I think) he travelled half the length of the pitch, down the right hand side. He was eventually boxed in by three defenders but was able to keep the ball, and recycle possession. That sort of stuff is invaluable. Pretty much every other player would have got that far down and tried to get a throw in or been dispossessed.

Early in the second half he became a little ponderous, generally centrally and near the half way line and was dispossessed on two or three occasions. These led to breakaways, but thankfully Swindon had zero about them going forward. They are the moments where he needs to improve. I do not think he is being greedy. He is waiting for the right movement ahead of him. Swindon were obviously told to get tighter and that worked for a brief spell.

There was a moment about midway through the second half where the play was tight and a bit scrappy over by the Pavis until the ball broke to Crowley who was on the periphery of it. In a flash, we were 20 yards higher up the pitch, creating a chance. A short while after he was brought down twice in quick succession in and around the D. Again, chances created.

Not to mention some of his one touch stuff with runners around him throughout the game.

Not for one second do I think today was DCs best game for Notts, nor did he run the show. He drifted a bit and lost the ball a few times, but he is a genuine talent who is now playing in his best position.

I would much rather have a risk taking 10, than a safe 10. He will win us far more points than he will lose us.

DC seemed more muted today - clinical passes and drawing fouls in their D aside. A very different player than in the Walsall 2nd half. imo this is a really sound read of his value to the side that isn't just an emotional response to a few meh passages of play. Needs to be said.