Blackpool match report

bpl234 said:
It was 4 at the back
Click to expand...

Not really 4 at the back more 3.5!

With Mepham basically restricted to staying in his own half it was up to Zemura to venture forward in pacy runs up the left flank. Quite often at goal kicks he was taking a forward position halfway in our half.
 
Sadly Stan is like one of those Christmas tree decorations. Very nice to see but they tend to shatter if treated a bit roughly. Tough for the lad who must be really frustrated with his numerous injuries. Wish him a speedy recovery followed by a long injury free period.
 
For all the grumbling (not at him but in frustration) about Junior's injury record without it he wouldn't be here. He was regularly excellent in the PL. If he'd have been able to keep that up for season after season with 35+ league appearances someone would have come in for him.
 
London Cherry said:
Blackpool rock Cherries with second half fight back:

It was a momentous day in the LC household as it was LLC (Little London Cherry’s) first Dean Court game. With an excited 7 year old in tow we made our pilgrimage to the south coast. Close to 3 1/2 hours later we made it!! No hope of selfies for the boy but the players were ready and so were we!

The game started at a breakneck speed with Zemura having an early chance after good work by Anthony. A fit again (or so we thought) Stanislas then carved his way through the Blackpool defence to offer a chance to Solanke. He still had a lot to do but Dom drilled a right footed shot which nestled into the net. A great start!

David Brooks seemed to have the infamous (well on here anyway!) Luke Garbutt on toast and once again the welsh wizard ran at the defender following an excellent cross field ball by Kelly. Brook popped the ball to Marcondes (on for the stricken Stan) who subsequently played a delightful ball into Dom who made it two with a stooping header! Quote from LLC at this stage “This is easy”. Bless him he hasn’t watched Bournemouth much!

For some reason we then seemed to take our foot off the gas. Blackpool had a whipped free kick saved by Travers and then from the resulting corner (I think) the ball pinged around the Cherries six yard box and luckily just wide of the post. This period of pressure should of woken us up and it did briefly after a surging run by Brooks created an excellent chance for Phil Billing. However, the Danes left footed shot just missed the front post when a right footed whipped shot could have made it 3. Despite a bit more Blackpool pressure the half time whistle sounded and we were off for a chocolate half time treat!

The start of the second half brought with it the turning point of the match. An excellent through ball by Brooks gave Dom a 1:1 chance to make it 3-0 and surely game over. We held our breath as we expected the net to bulge but (from our view) Dom fatally hesitated with the Blackpool defender getting a toe end clearance on the ball. The chance had gone. I wondered whether this would be the turning point and unfortunately it proved to be.

A poorly timed tackle by Zemura (I think) resulted in a whipped Garbutt free kick which hit Billing, then the post, before a gleeful James Husband prodded home into the top of the net. Could we have reacted better? Could someone had taken command of the situation? Perhaps an ex England international (aka Gary Cahill) might have made the difference.

The Seasiders (of the northern variety) tails were up. Another through ball had Ibsen Rossi caught the wrong side of his marker. An ill timed tackle saw the Blackpool player fall to the ground. Initially we thought we’d got away with it but the ref (after what seemed an eternity) pointed at the spot. Yates’ penalty was blasted down the middle and suddenly from 2-0 up and cruising it was 2-2. LLC wasn’t enjoying the second half nearly as much but at least he had his curly wurly’s still!

Anthony (who had been quiet second half, but so had most of the midfield) had half a chance straight after the goal but scuffed his effort. Ben Pearson (on as a sub for Kilkenny) then played a delightful ball over the top for Solanke but another last ditched tackle prevented the ex England man from restoring our lead. As the time ticked down one more Cherries corner gave us a final chance to snatch victory. A good delivery by Marcondes gave Dom another chance. For all the world we thought it was in, but as I envisaged curly wurly’s being thrown in the air, the Blackpool keeper managed an excellent finger tip save. One more corner came to nothing and the referee blew his whistle. 2-2 was the final score.

Player ratings:

Travers 7: Didn’t do much wrong but I feel as though he needs to be more commanding at times especially from crosses.

Mepham 6: He’s not a right back but he’s giving it a good shot for his team. Still has me on edge though with his occasional lack of focus with wayward passing.

Zemura 6: I thought Jordan had an excellent, rampaging first half but was caught out on more than one occasion in the second. Hopefully a learning experience.

Ibsen Rossi 6: He’s come from nowhere so I’m not surprised he looked a bit shaky at times. Has a good leap but was culpable for the penalty.

Kelly 6: Some good passing mixed in with some dithering. Would like Cahill/Cook alongside him to reassure him in the future.

Kilkenny 6: Another one who faded badly second half after an excellent opening period. This game was crying out for a character such as Lerma to help support the excellent talent that is our young Irishman.

Billing: 5: Off the pace for me yesterday. Needs to bully opposition more and for me he was the one that was bullied by the Blackpool midfield.

Stanislas 6: Our made our glass midfielder only lasted 15 minutes but did set up the first goal for Solanke.

Anthony: 6: Part of an excellent opening period but his form dipped during the second half. Needs to work on his decision making in the final third.

Brooks: 8 (first half) 5 (second half). Average 6.5: Had Garbutt on toast first half and pulled our strings. Second half we needed his creativity and he went missing.

Solanke: 8: Two well taken goals but he could have had five! I thought he led the line really well and gave the Blackpool defence a torrid time. He’ll be kicking himself he hasn’t gone home with the match ball though.

Subs:

Marcondes 5: On for most of the game due to Stan’s injury and despite a good assist for the second goal he was mostly ineffective. Need to see more of his undoubted talent.

Pearson: 6: Thought Ben was ok when he came on and Norwich gives Parker the chance to give him more game time.

Davis: 6: Didn’t see Leif do too much so will give him my favourite rating from today!

MOTM: For me it was Dom today but oh it could have been a 10/10 performance!

Final thoughts:

LLC perspective: Long journey down south (Daddy should have left earlier). Lunch rushed in the car and no selfies with players. Note to Daddy leave earlier! “The ground is quite small Daddy”. “Welcome to Dean Court my boy, let’s show you the family brick outside the stadium”! Game is easy at 2-0. “When is half time, I want some chocolate!”. “Why are Blackpool fighting back and spoiling the game”. “At least we won a point, I’m pleased I came Daddy”. “Where can we eat nuggets for dinner?!”

LC thoughts: If ever there was a game of two halves this was it. We started superbly with our fluid front three causing all types of havoc to the Blackpool defence. If Dom could have made it three it could have been game over but it was not to be. Were we naive? Probably. Will this team learn from this? I hope so. One thing is for certain we must stay with them and keep supporting Scott and the team as it could be an exciting year. Ultimately it’s great to be back!
Click to expand...
Thanks LC - a really great match report that I fully agree with - superbly written. Please also thank LLC, his perspective has brought some catharsis and a smile to someone still stinging from the loss of two points. Genuinely.

Yesterday my lad, 35 years old now, also came down from London for our first real game together in 18 months. It's about 32 years since his first match (mum picked him up at half time!), we have STs together and do plenty of aways, but yesterday was incredibly special for all the obvious reasons.

It's a great feeling...
 
In All Departments said:
Thanks LC - a really great match report that I fully agree with - superbly written. Please also thank LLC, his perspective has brought some catharsis and a smile to someone still stinging from the loss of two points. Genuinely.

Yesterday my lad, 35 years old now, also came down from London for our first real game together in 18 months. It's about 32 years since his first match (mum picked him up at half time!), we have STs together and do plenty of aways, but yesterday was incredibly special for all the obvious reasons.

It's a great feeling...
Click to expand...
Thank you IAD this message has made me smile. I loved going with my boy but my next aim might be to go with my old man, who started me off on this glorious adventure back in 94! Those were the days! Enjoy the season with your boy.
 
Waz afcb said:
Great report, thank you. A common consensus seems to be that we needed another midfielder to drop deeper and help out Kilkenny when building play. Think this is pretty obvious and hopefully Parker can see it. If we are to persist with this system then more pace at the top end of the pitch might be vital, giving us the option to go direct and mix it up.
Click to expand...
Parker doesn't see the sort of manager to admit and then rectify a mistake.....his answer to Neil Critchley working out that the way to stop us playing was to stop the supply to our number 6 was to do absolutely nothing different other than replace one no.6 for another one!......I said after Wednesdays game that this would be a tactic that other manager's would quickly cotton on too... I'm only surprised that it took Critchley a half to do it.
I think this is his system and he's going to stick to it .

What do you think of Marcondes btw.... it's fair to say he's not the workaholic midfielder you thought he was is he?.....those neutrals who described him as a luxury player had it spot on tbf.
 
Topfarrier said:
Parker doesn't see the sort of manager to admit and then rectify a mistake.....his answer to Neil Critchley working out that the way to stop us playing was to stop the supply to our number 6 was to do absolutely nothing different other than replace one no.6 for another one!......I said after Wednesdays game that this would be a tactic that other manager's would quickly cotton on too... I'm only surprised that it took Critchley a half to do it.
I think this is his system and he's going to stick to it .
Click to expand...

I think it’s too early to judge that. It wasn’t that long ago...a few days maybe...that the signing of Cahill was an indication that Parker’s preferred choice was a back three and we’d be switching to wing backs as soon as we actually had one to play down the right...

Personally I think Parker will prove to be open to switching formations and systems rather than rigidly sticking to one regardless.

The problem isn’t the system, it’s just the balance of the midfield with Billing and Marcondes/Stanislas. Did Parker instruct them to get a bit closer to Kilkenny or not? Can’t see how we’d know the answer to be able to be so dismissive about it?
 
DJ said:
I think it’s too early to judge that. It wasn’t that long ago...a few days maybe...that the signing of Cahill was an indication that Parker’s preferred choice was a back three and we’d be switching to wing backs as soon as we actually had one to play down the right...

Personally I think Parker will prove to be open to switching formations and systems rather than rigidly sticking to one regardless.

The problem isn’t the system, it’s just the balance of the midfield with Billing and Marcondes/Stanislas. Did Parker instruct them to get a bit closer to Kilkenny or not? Can’t see how we’d know the answer to be able to be so dismissive about it?
Click to expand...
I'd imagine if he had instructed Marcondes and Billing to drop in closer to Kilkenny against Birmingham and Blackpool they would have done so.....I can hardly see why he'd let them get away with just ignoring his instructions.
 
Topfarrier said:
I'd imagine if he had instructed Marcondes and Billing to drop in closer to Kilkenny against Birmingham and Blackpool they would have done so.....I can hardly see why he'd let them get away with just ignoring his instructions.
Click to expand...

Its not a case of the players ignoring him. It’s a case that it takes a while to work on these systems and for the players to know, when to drop deep, when to push up, depending on the scenario.

Will always remember Eddie Howe saying that it would take 18 months to get the team to play how he wanted. Of course lower level of football, different standard of players etc, but it does highlight that progressive managers cannot just pick up a blue print, drop it in and expect the players to be completely fluid and comfortable with it straight away.
 
DJ said:
Its not a case of the players ignoring him. It’s a case that it takes a while to work on these systems and for the players to know, when to drop deep, when to push up, depending on the scenario.

Will always remember Eddie Howe saying that it would take 18 months to get the team to play how he wanted. Of course lower level of football, different standard of players etc, but it does highlight that progressive managers cannot just pick up a blue print, drop it in and expect the players to be completely fluid and comfortable with it straight away.
Click to expand...
Well I suppose we could wait 18 months for the penny to drop or Parker could just instruct Billing or Marcondes to drop in next to Kilkenny when it's clear he needs help....... manager's have been known to issue instructions during a game apparently.
 
Topfarrier said:
Well I suppose we could wait 18 months for the penny to drop or Parker could just instruct Billing or Marcondes to drop in next to Kilkenny when it's clear he needs help....... manager's have been known to issue instructions during a game apparently.
Click to expand...
****************, what are you going to be like when we lose a game?
 
One luxury player on the pitch
One luxury player on the treatment table

2 players for each position is happening.

Billing was not at his best in either half of this match
Kilkenny was excellent first half with great cross field passes tobrooks who was staying wide.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

;