[theo_luddite]

Danny, Danny Ward

[Lord Snooty]

Another game, another penalty conceded.

Soft.

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Iorpenda flattened in the area. No penalty.

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Simply not good enough.

[Lord Snooty]

Iorpenda the man of the match, though some say Ward.

He seemed to excel in having other kids in midfield. As soon as Evans and Wiles came on, he looked like he was taking a back seat like saying that the senior players are on now, need to let them have the ball.

No, son. You're as good as them. In Wiles's case, you're much better.

Talking of Wiles, how on earth is that a penalty? He's got eyes on the ball, the Donny player comes on his blindside and dives in. Never a penalty in proper football but refs see rubbish that gets penalties with VAR and just go with that instead of judging the situation.

[jjamez]

Having been yesterday and sat through it all, my report/ratings

The press is incoherent, it's neither a full press nor half press. We don't see to commit to it and it leaves an out ball. One of the out balls is over the top and we seem to play with too high a back line for us to be able to defend it. Think back to how spurs could bypass us with one pass back in the premier. Except this isn't kane and ericksen, it's league one players and on this occasion league two. One punt and the player is through. It's a massive issue that will cost us in more games as the season progresses if we don't address it.

For the players,

Chapman- touched the ball more than some outfielders in the first half, don't think he could do much more for their firsts, a bit of luck and it bounces away from the striker I guess. Don't think he fully likes it at his feet, but then again he's a keeper for a reason

Nigel- I thought he was iffy to start off with but got better as it went on. If he toe poked a shot we might have got something, I don't think it was a penalty. Has a bit of pace which is useful for us defensively.

Pearson- missed a free header late on but other than that I thought he was man of the match for us , was reading the game a whole lot better yesterday than in other games. Played like he had a point to prove

Ruffels- thought he was poor, got caught for their goal and a few other times, also did a nice air kick in front of the town fans to endear himself to them even more. Not good enough aerially to be a centre half for me and his passing isn't the greatest either.

Turton- very defensive minded overall and wants to turn back quite often. It'll have done him the world of good to get a full game under his belt. Came close with a header and got the assist when we were chasing the game. Ended the game as left sided centre half.

Iorpenda- one of our better players, seemed composed on the ball and looking for the pass. Maybe could do with a bit more strength when protecting the ball, but his close control will earn him free kicks in the meantime. First half he had a few chances to drive forward which he ignored, but when he started to in the second half we started to look threatening

Headley- after the Morecambe game where he constantly attacked the full back, yesterday was another game when he seemed afraid/reluctant/ under instruction not to. When he did they struggled with him but he took fancied an easy pass. Although his partnership with ruffels and Voss leaves a lot to be desired

Aisha- slowly came into the game, wanted to drive forward more than do the defensive side of the game. A few neat link up plays down the right, could be considered guilty of wanting too many touches before passing or getting a shot away, but definitely one for the future, maybe a touch further up field

Voss- nervous showing from the youngster, not helped by having ruffels and headley on his side. Kept losing concentration and his man early on and his more experienced peers didn't help too much to begin with. Once the nerves settled he did better but I don't think he's ready yet

Thomas- missed a good chance when he capitalised on a Doncaster mistake and did link up down the right fairly well initially. After a while he looked to be running through treacle and his decision making in the second half was a bit odd. Another young lad that will get another chance in the future probably, but at the moment needs more b team minutes or a development loan to a local non league side for a bit more senior practice

Ward- started off as his normal self. Few missed headers a bit of running around and link up play being a bit off. As the game wore on he started linking with iorpenda more and the more experienced players when they came on. Popped up at he back post for his goal but didn't have any other chances in the game.

Subs

Hogg- hard to really say anything, his pace or lack thereof is starting to show but he didn't really do anything positive or negative to impact the game

Evans- had a good chance but elected to pass it back to their keeper, tried getting a few crosses in at the end but nothing came off. Not a great cameo but not as bad as some of his more recent performances

Wiles- me and the people around me thought it was a penalty, yeah he didn't see him but he wiped him out, he was also guilty of turning his back on the man at the corner so probably deserved that punishment. If he'd been facing where he should have been he clears, or gets wiped out himself for a free kick

Lasse- tried attacking but wanted to be the one crossing it in, which he did quite often. Otherwise he didn't have that much to do

Duff- still not full taken by him, he says the right stuff but the football itself is very moore esque just against lower standard opposition. I'm still wondering how we can go from needing a clear out with a lot of bad apples to keeping the vast majority of them and having a professional squad. Something seems amiss there, but I guess a fair few are in the last year of their deals so it will be interesting to see what happens come the end of the campaign