Match Ratings vs. Crewe Alexandra

[the_anticlough]

Slocombe 7 - Clean sheet, some good distribution, solid kicking, sometimes under pressure
Macari 6 - Better than last time, still needs to add more adventure into his game, especially for home games
Platt 6 - Solid as usual
Bedeau 6 - Good 1-on-1 defending, but a mixed bag with the ball
Abbott 6 - Physical and involved but not his usual high impact
Palmer 6 - Such lovely passing at times, but we need better in those key moments in the final third.
Gordon 4 - One of those ragged games, where once the defender eliminated his cross he was left with little to contribute
McGoldrick 7 - Carried the attack, never let up, sublime moments mixed in with a lot of waste.
Grant 4 - Just when we needed him to push on with his improved form, he lapses. Disappointing
Jarvis 7 MoM - Best player on the pitch in the 2nd half, provided our strongest threat
Whitaker 6 - Credit to him for picking it up in the 2nd half, did justice to himslef then

Subs
Tsaroulla 6 - Mixed bag, but did get involved quickly
Traore 5 - Didn't really impact positively
Edwards 6 - OK, gave it his best effort

[jackal2]

Grant 4 - Just when we needed him to push on with his improved form, he lapses. Disappointing

I'm giving up on Grant. I've tried to convince myself that there must be more to come from him, and in a couple of games recently there's been just a glimmer, but today he was back to his anonymous self on a day, as you say, when we really needed him to stamp his name on the match. It's time to call it: we would have been better to demand a money only deal for Aaron Nemane and leave Grant where he was at MK Dons. They just seem to have offloaded some of their deadwood on us.

[the_anticlough]

I'm giving up on Grant. I've tried to convince myself that there must be more to come from him, and in a couple of games recently there's been just a glimmer, but today he was back to his anonymous self on a day, as you say, when we really needed him to stamp his name on the match. It's time to call it: we would have been better to demand a money only deal for Aaron Nemane and leave Grant where he was at MK Dons. They've just seem to have offloaded some of their deadwood on us.

Yeah, he'd claimed the shirt but today he said 'here have it back, don't want it'. Back to the bench for him when Jatta returns

[maddogslater]

With you on that jackal, just when you think we're starting to see a player in there, he disappeared again.
Thought Tsaroulla looked good on the right, negative again from Maynard, starting to think about him the same as Grant, tick tok

[jackal2]

On a more positive note, there are signs that Will Jarvis is beginning to settle and show his ability. First half he was pretty anonymous and he still looks like he's playing with the handbrake on at times, but in the second half when he actually summoned up the courage to get more involved and run at his defender he seems to have an effortless and quite surprising burst of speed over a short distance, and decent vision to go with it. We will need to see much more before we can declare his signing a recruitment success, but there's definitely something there.

I suspect Jarvis doesn't really think of himself as a wingback, and that it's the fear of giving the ball away and not having cover that's been holding him back, but if that's the case then the manager needs to look at his tactics and how to get the best out of him.

[Could'vebeenacontender]

On a more positive note, there are signs that Will Jarvis is beginning to settle and show his ability. First half he was pretty anonymous and he still looks like he's playing with the handbrake on at times, but in the second half when he actually summoned up the courage to get more involved and run at his defender he seems to have an effortless and quite surprising burst of speed over a short distance, and decent vision to go with it. We will need to see much more before we can declare his signing a recruitment success, but there's definitely something there.

I suspect Jarvis doesn't really think of himself as a wingback, and that it's the fear of giving the ball away and not having cover that's been holding him back, but if that's the case then the manager needs to look at his tactics and how to get the best out of him.

I suspect he's one of those players who only wants to play in his specialist position
Those days are gone in the modern game - apart from the keepers everyone has to put the team first and do their best wherever they're asked to play

[BigFatPie]

Pretty close to Anticlough?s

Slocombe 7 Ive never been his biggest fan but he has done really well since coming back in.

Gordon 4 Just utter rubbish. Some fans behind us always used to slag Nemane off, I bet they wouldnt now.

Jarvis 6 Decent enough second half. Should have had a penalty and brought a good save out of their keeper. Id love to see him on the right but Maynard always has to complicate things.

Platt 6 Solid enough against little threat.

Bedeau 6 Defended well, not great going forward, and given one of the most ridiculous yellow cards you will ever see.

Macari 5 I just dont rate the bloke. Looks timid in the tackle and hesitant in possession.

Palmer 6 Bit more tempo and dynamism than recent performances but that would not be hard.

Abbott 6 Ok without really ever shining like he can. Should have done better with his chance in injury time.

Grant 4 Anonymous, ineffective, substandard. Epitomises home performances under Maynard.

Whittaker 6 Puts the effort in but he doesn?t start so regularly in any team seriously going for promotion. Looked a dive from my viewpoint but the camera obviously said differently.

Didzy 6 Herculean effort from him but does try to do much on his own and a lot didnt come off today. Thought the shot at the end was in.

Subs Tsaroulla 6 Only on Planet Maynard does Gordon start and Tsaroulla not. In a normal world he would start on the left and Jarvis on the right.

Can?t remember other subs doing anything. Traore needs a summer I think before hes gonna be any good.

[jackal2]

I suspect he's one of those players who only wants to play in his specialist position
Those days are gone in the modern game - apart from the keepers everyone has to put the team first and do their best wherever they're asked to play

Yes and no. I'd agree that players in the modern game need to be more flexible and willing to expand the range of positions they can play, and Jarvis may be making the first tentative steps towards becoming a proper wingback, but managers who try to drop square pegs into round holes will end up failing as much today as they would have done in any other era. You've got to be realistic about what a player can and cannot do.

[legs77]

Yes and no. I'd agree that players in the modern game need to be more flexible and willing to expand the range of positions they can play, and Jarvis may be making the first tentative steps towards becoming a proper wingback, but managers who try to drop square pegs into round holes will end up failing as much today as they would have done in any other era. You've got to be realistic about what a player can and cannot do.

Well this should be put at the door at the bloke who cleared off then, we play a wing back system so why sign a winger ?

We have messed up on a number of players and totally agree on Grant/Gordon both were awful today we are also missing Sam Austin a man who also got slaughtered but I’d play him over those two if fit without doubt.

[drillerpie]

I'm giving up on Grant. I've tried to convince myself that there must be more to come from him, and in a couple of games recently there's been just a glimmer, but today he was back to his anonymous self on a day, as you say, when we really needed him to stamp his name on the match. It's time to call it: we would have been better to demand a money only deal for Aaron Nemane and leave Grant where he was at MK Dons. They just seem to have offloaded some of their deadwood on us.

It's strange with Grant. I like him and want him to do well but he just doesn't affect games enough.

If you ask yourself the questions: 'is he clearly a skilful player?' 'does he do a lot of running?' 'does he have a decent finish on him?' the answer to all three is yes, but somehow that doesn't translate into many goals and assists.