Ratings for Halifax

[gazooks74]

most of their chances came when we gave the ball away too easily from attacking positions. last 20mins they looked knackered all over the pitch, there for the taking but just couldnt create any real clear chances. very difficult side to break down well organised. dont think their keeper had a save to make. couldnt fault effort commitment of players just lacked that bit of extra quality final third. fantastic turnout by fans again.

[davewilli]

Originally Posted by gazooks74

most of their chances came when we gave the ball away too easily from attacking positions. last 20mins they looked knackered all over the pitch, there for the taking but just couldnt create any real clear chances. very difficult side to break down well organised. dont think their keeper had a save to make. couldnt fault effort commitment of players just lacked that bit of extra quality final third. fantastic turnout by fans again.

Spot on, we shaded it overall, we tried to play through midfild and were far more positive when Beavon came on but they pressed the ball excellently and we looked vulnerable particularly first half to giving the ball away too cheaply. We didn't make the most of them doubling up on JMD and we saw how much our front 3 are WiP, but used correctly they will only get stronger and better

[1975 red]

Lainton 7
Jennings 6
Carrington 8
Pearson (or Stuart as he was called when nominated as MOM) 8
Lawlor 5
Summerfield 7
Wright 6
Rutherford 6
Pyke 7
Fondop 6
JMD 5

Beavon 6
Young 6

[Foxy]

Lainton 8

Carrington 8 - defended well against the problematic Lawlor
Lawlor 5 - you could go all season and not see Manny lose a header between the 18 yard box and half way line. Lawlor missed 5 of them in one match
Pearson - his best game this season 9
Jennings 6

Wright 6
Summerfield 8
Rutherford 6

Pyke 5
Fondop 7
JMD

Only Fondop looked a threat from the front 3 . As at Solihull, once he went off we became less of a threat. Don’t understand it.

[krux]

Lainton 7 Good saves, sound handling

Carrington 7 developing into a really good full back, especially defensively. Didn't get forward
Lawlor 6 Thought he was fine, if a bit rusty
Pearson 8 Strong game, and contender for MOM
jennings 7 Mixed as usual but his crosses were our main threat second period.

Wright 6 Does his main job really well, needs to pass better
Summerfield 8 MOM Absolute heartbeat of this team
Ruthers 6 quieter than normal

JMD 5 Struggled, mainly because he doesn't compete physically
Fondop 7 thought he played well, but looked for fouls too often#
Pyke 7 superb first period agaist a smaller RB, faded second

Subs
Beavon 7 good player, but I'm not sure Ricketts has worked out the best way to use him, given he won't be able to play 90 mins twice a week
Young 7 Better than ruthers I thought
Holroyd not really involved but not on long

[krux]

Originally Posted by gazooks74

most of their chances came when we gave the ball away too easily from attacking positions. last 20mins they looked knackered all over the pitch, there for the taking but just couldnt create any real clear chances. very difficult side to break down well organised. dont think their keeper had a save to make. couldnt fault effort commitment of players just lacked that bit of extra quality final third. fantastic turnout by fans again.

I think our first half passing along the back line contributed to this

[Danny Boy]

Lainton -7- Not troubled, kicking decent...smart save second half to keep us level.

Carrington -7- Apart from the once when he hesitated (and then recovered well) dealt with a difficult threat with relative ease.

Lawlor -5- Rusty I think, some okay passing but some terrible....makes you appreciate how good Manny is in the air.

Pearson -8- Needs to play an even bigger role in Manny's absence and he did it last night.

Jennings -6- Left footed outlet makes a big difference, control let him down a bit and forced him to slow a few attacks, needs another game or two to get up to speed.

Rutherford -6- Not in the game much, again will need a game or two to re-find his feet, worked as hard as ever.

Somerfield -8- Always wants it and best player we have on the ball last night, looked more likely to make something happen when Young came on.

Wright -7- He is there for a job and he does that well, doesn't allow for him to impact the game too much in attack, and when he did last night his first touch was poor.

JMD -6- Put up to a 6 for 3 awesome balls in that we should have got on the end of, wasn't given enough space hence was forced out of the game.

Pyke -6- Was everywhere for the first 20 mins, not involved too much after that and ineffective once Fondop went off.

Fondop -6- Didn't have the best of games but we are no threat without him, he distracts the defence if nothing else.

Subs
Young -6- Linked well with Somerfield, not on long enough to make it tell though.
Beavon -6- Hindsight is great but he should have started and JMD come on for an impact.
Holroyd -5- Feel sorry for him, not match fit and confidence must be low, couldn't get in the game.....a goal could change everything for him though.

MOTM either Pearson or Somerfield, though we shaded it over all.

[Prodigal Dragon]

Lainton (7) Great last minute save to avoid embarrassment.

Carrington (8) Unsure why Roberts did not start but Carrington did a very good job against a good striker.

Lawlor (5) Looked rusty but he has the confidence to carry the ball out of defence, albeit his passes weren’t always ideal. Worth persevering with.

Pearson (8) Very good performance and just about my MOTM.

Jennings (5) Tried to get forward but he is slow and ponderous. Nearly threw the game at the end when knackered.

Rutherford (6) Was expecting a massive impact but was his usual self: lots of energy but little quality.

Wright (7) The Curate’s egg. Positional play and woeful passing limits his game.

Summerfield (8) Best midfielder but can he maintain such a high work-rate for 90 mins?

Maguire-Drew (4) His ability is masked by his lack of application. We cannot afford to carry passengers.

Fondop-Talom (6) Works hard but poor control and lack of focus limits his impact. Shame his early shot didn’t go in.

Pyke (7) Our most effective striker but he was burnt out after all his efforts in the first-half.

Subs:

Beavon (6) Good player but struggling to manage 90 mins at the moment.

Young (6) Should start ahead of Rutherford.

Holroyd (4) Lost whatever he had.

I can understand why we played the ball across the park so often, because we had to drag Halifax players out of position to make space - which we did quite well. Where we failed was quickly transitioning to forward balls when space was created. The linkage between midfield and strikers is still not working, and needs improving.

I would rest Maguire-Drew on Sat and play Hinds off the bench.

Plenty of games to play, and we can do this.

[redavid]

Originally Posted by pagl

The tempo isnt right as some players not busting a gut to get to the ball first.
Pike did a few times but I felt MTF and Drew both played well within themselves and were a luxury last night when we needed the effort put in.

Sam still shuffling the pack at the moment. Will Walker get a go next?

Got to feel sorry for Tharme , and Beavon , Niether deserve to be dropped