Thoughts on the match v Derby

The old cliché of if we had taken our chances comes to mind. It would have papered over the cracks of a bang average mid table performance. As it is, the few good team moves are all there is to cling on to from the game. That plus Ryan Christie who consistently oozes class. That word. consistency marks him out from most of the others today.
 
I haven't seen us play at all this season. I can't remember the last game I watched last season other than the first playoff semi, which was hardly a prime example of how we looked.

So with my fresh eyes, I'd say we looked excellent for the first 30 mins or so (not the goal, obviously). Lots of movement, each player in posession being supported and having lots of options around them to pass to, Solanke aside, what with him being fully up top on his own.

That said, Solanke's touch, movement and ability on the ball is night and day from the last time I saw him. Like a different player. Like someone who can actually play football and strike a ball properly.

However, it seemed Billing has inherited Doms old touch and the ball seemed to bounce off his foot every time it came near him. He didn't have a great game.

Chrstie looks a handful and Davis put in a great shift first half, looked dangerous and covered back.

Mepham looked poor with questionable passing, low urgency levels and poor positioning. Has always struck me as a player who is recovering rather than reading well and being in control of what they're doing, if that makes sense?

Cook was pretty anonymous, too, though understandable. Stacey didn't have a great game at all today, though I've always liked him and his workrate and assume this is an off day. Also note that the fouled Derby player was several yards offside before the penalty was given.

Anthony looks incredible, what a player and some great touches. Was loving Christie's cross field balls over to him.

Defence for the goal, shocking. 3 AFCB players marking 4 or 5 Derby players camped in the D. Cahill totally missed his jump.

Noted quite a few poor passes at the back. Mepham throughout (he's like Berbatov in terms of nonchalance but without the sudden bursts of ability) and in fairness Kilkenny and Stacey later on.

When the 2 subs came on at the end it was just far too many touches and poor decision making. Nothing much positive to say about them.

It's also been so long since I watched us that it took some good time to figure out who everyone was. There have been a lot of changes!

Actually quite an enjoyable game but obviously the wrong result. Incredible second Derby goal, fair play to him. A draw might actually have been fair but we were pretty abject second half so can't complain too much.

I've been saying to friends for a few weeks that I can't imagine we're good enough to win the league given how much Fulham are smashing it but hopefully this isn't the start of a slide and we can keep up the pace and stay in the auto places. I've no idea how good the teams around us are but it sounds like we can play together better than we have for a while so my fingers are crossed.
 
Kilkenny's pass to Stacey was ill judged and then Stacey gave away an unnecessary penalty. Maybe harsh but he should know better.

On to Wednesday. Based on the response to PNE, Millwall had better watch out.
 
Is Billing being suspended for Wednesday actually a good thing after that performance? I accept when players perform badly, but his blatant lack of application and energy and application today I find it really hard to swallow. He got knocked off of the ball a number of times simply because the opposition wanted in more than him, for me that is simply not good enough. As good as he can be on his day, the bare minimum I ask as a fan is that each player fights for the cause. Christie was also below par today (by his standards) but I am still pleased with his work because at least he fought like his life depended on it.
 
Just arrived home and before I read any threads I guessed Merpham would be the fall guy it is a mantle he seems to wear well.

I think that we lost the midfield when Lewis Cook went off although that was only to be expected.Kilkenney took time to get into the swing misplaced pass or not. The substitution bringing on Rogers added nothing. Anthony switched wings, Christie came inside and we gained nothing. Billing was awol for a lot of the game and deserved his silly booking.

We don't seem to have a leader on the pitch to rally the troops but credit to Derby for their second half display no doubt aided by a Fergie style half time team talk from Wayne.
 
Neil Dawson said:
Then get Steve Cook match fit. Or try Mepham on the right side of CB at least.
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I don’t disagree with starting Steve cook over mepham but I reckon his logic would be mepham has had more game time , been involved in a our games and therefore a natural fit to come in .
 
bpl234 said:
I don’t disagree with starting Steve cook over mepham but I reckon his logic would be mepham has had more game time , been involved in a our games and therefore a natural fit to come in .
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Yes I get that, it just shouldn’t be the case. The top three centre backs at this club list has Cook in it.
 
Waz afcb said:
Is Billing being suspended for Wednesday actually a good thing after that performance? I accept when players perform badly, but his blatant lack of application and energy and application today I find it really hard to swallow. He got knocked off of the ball a number of times simply because the opposition wanted in more than him, for me that is simply not good enough. As good as he can be on his day, the bare minimum I ask as a fan is that each player fights for the cause. Christie was also below par today (by his standards) but I am still pleased with his work because at least he fought like his life depended on it.
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Christie is a class act . The type of player if we had last season on the right with danjuma on the left we would have been pretty close to going up ( top 2 that is )
 
Neil Dawson said:
Yes I get that, it just shouldn’t be the case. The top three centre backs at this club list has Cook in it.
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Totally agree . Kelly and Cahill as we know are sure starters. I personally would have cook next like yourself but I don’t know why just thinking of Parker’s possible logic .
 
bpl234 said:
I don’t disagree with starting Steve cook over mepham but I reckon his logic would be mepham has had more game time , been involved in a our games and therefore a natural fit to come in .
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Lack of match fitness didn't stop Parker starting Lewis over Kilkenny tbf.
 
bpl234 said:
Totally agree . Kelly and Cahill as we know are sure starters. I personally would have cook next like yourself but I don’t know why just thinking of Parker’s possible logic .
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I think the logic is Parker decided he was surplus to requirements soon after joining. Therefore as he has no future with the club, players that may be seen as inferior by some (but perhaps have more potential, longevity, stabiity, style that suits Parker?) Are going to get picked ahead of him, as like back in the summer,he'll be touted around again in January. So Parker would rather not involve him, unless absolute last resort.

I don't think it has anything to do with match fitness, or only a minimal amount.
 
MB1980 said:
I think the logic is Parker decided he was surplus to requirements soon after joining. Therefore as he has no future with the club, players that may be seen as inferior by some (but perhaps have more potential, longevity, stabiity, style that suits Parker?) Are going to get picked ahead of him, as like back in the summer,he'll be touted around again in January. So Parker would rather not involve him, unless absolute last resort.

I don't think it has anything to do with match fitness, or only a minimal amount.
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Can’t we tout Mepham in January instead?
 
my non-pro opinion is that too many bormuff players suffer from the same thing as me - they are not morning people. from the start we looked slow, were mis-placing passes, couldnt get the ball under control - all the basics had gone awol enough for us not to be a top team. it was a terribly scrappy game, like kids football at times. fair play to derby for doing enough to win, they deserved it - we weren't at the races today.
 
It seems that Mepham just doesn't fit being supported by this ' Fans ' ' Forum '..
....if I was him I'd get the f√ck away in January to ANY other club...Like Surridge and Gosling things just didn't click right .

And ..and..let's face it..if Steve Cook is no longer appreciated by the Elite...what chance has Meps ..eh.. eh ?
 
Old Cherry said:
It seems that Mepham just doesn't fit being supported by this ' Fans ' ' Forum '..
....if I was him I'd get the f√ck away in January to ANY other club...Like Surridge and Gosling things just didn't click right .

And ..and..let's face it..if Steve Cook is no longer appreciated by the Elite...what chance has Meps ..eh.. eh ?
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Zzzzz
 
I like Jack Stacey ,but the way he conceded the penalty was very poor play. Ignoring the fact that there was a near certain off-side by the player who went down Stacey clattering into the back of him was a schoolboy error! Mepham always blows hot and cold but don't think he deserves the continual criticism he gets.
 
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