The Sandgrounders

[Baboo]

[quote=&quotAncient Colin&quot]I know I live in a parallel universe and watch completely different matches to others here quote]

I do too as I posted comments on last nights match under the Boot Heading.

For what they are worth in this thread:

I’ve thought for a while now that we would lose our unbeaten run to a crap team near the bottom of the table. So tonight was the night – 13th match into the season, JS Manager of the Month, Tuesday night, etc. But we didn’t get beaten did we so what a great result.

Lessons to be learned
1. How to defend corners
2. How to cope when your play maker is man marked
3. How to deal with over physical opponents when the referee sees fit to allow tackles from behind and through the man. (Don’t know the answer to this one)

Going a goal behind so early should have spurred us on to great things in the first half but it didn’t. There was, however, a spell in the second when we looked to be in total control and the football started to flow. I suppose we will never be in total control if we concede corners though.

What a totally terrible ref – but hey mate thanks for the second penalty. No way was it a spot kick from where I was sitting. At first I though he was going to book Yemi for diving, particularly as he gestured to the fallen one to get up. Then the lino intervened and Duffy had another opportunity to show what a cool character he is. Duffer motm by a mile. And not just for the goals. Won loads in the air, held it up well and some good touches and passes too. (What have you got to say to that Mally?)

I don’t like cheats but given Southport’s approach I think they deserved to have an iffy penalty given against them.


And a bit extra - having seen the TV replays the Yemi penalty might well have been.

And on the ref - have you ever seen an official whose positional sense was so crap - the number of times he got caught up in a gaggle of Oxford players trying to play neat short passes was quite astounding. Its a wonder he just didn't stick his hand up and shout, &quotover here to me. Please, pretty please let me play&quot

[Mark G]

Anaclet much improved.

I can't agree with that statement. He does make a nuisance of himself and he does give us an outlet down the right but his delivery is nothing short of useless. I didn't see one decent cross from him all night. Yes he got the first penalty but a right wingers job is to get past the left back and sling the ball in the mixer, he just doesn't appear to be able to do that.

Brevett wasn't much better either.

Pretty much agree with the rest especially the ref. You can always tell when the referee has had a bad game because the stewards get all excited about getting him off the pitch.

Extremely harsh on Anaclet as you pretty much dismiss the fact he got the first penalty. It is his job as well as defending to create chances for others so isn't the penalty a chance or does that ruin the point because he didn't actually cross the ball.

Anaclet often has little support from teammates (especially in the first half against Southport) where they will stand off and expect him to either punt it 70 yards or run the length of the pitch! Yet in the 2nd half last night Anaclet showed one way to beat that type of defending by running at defenders in their own penalty area (they obviously hated it) and the penalty came as a direct result. Last night it wasn't only Anaclet's crossing that wasn't particularly good but others (Pettifer/Burgess)yet they don't seem to get the same level of criticism for this.

IMO Anaclet's crossing is improving considerably as is his all round game as he gets use to playing against 2 markers each game. Furthermore without him in the team our attacking options reduce considerably.

[A-Ro]

Harsh maybe but not extremely so.

His role is that of a wing back and so it is unusual (but not impossible) for him to be in the position of getting a penalty. So, in the context of his role as a winger I think that getting a penalty is a bonus but not part of his day job.

My concern with Eddie is that he has lost the ability to &quotpull the trigger&quot, he doesn't do it when he should be crossing and he didn't do it when he had the chance of a goal in the first half Saturday. When he did get chances to cross the ball he never managed to get it anywhere near an Oxford palyer.

I'm sure it's only a confidence thing and I will be the first to get behind him when he gets it right. He didn't get it right on Tuesday, he didn't get it right against York and he didn't get it right at Stafford.

Pettefer and Burgess should not normally be on the wing crossing the ball in, so the analogy doesn't work. Why would I (or anyone) criticise them for not doing something they're not paid to do?

IMO Anaclet's crossing has got a lot worse since I first saw him at Didcot (when he was known as Odhiambo) and the subsequent pre season games when he really impressed me.