Ratings vs Hartlepool

[Back of the Kop]

The midfield is a joke.Summerfield is the only decent one we have.

Deverdics - only plays sideways or back
Wright - can't control a ball or tackle
Young - As weak as a 10 year old
Walker - poor first touch and fades badly

When Summerfield is in there he drags half a performance out of the others but if he's not you get what you had Saturday and last night.Hope to god he's back Saturday but we need to bolster midfield in January and get a bleeding goalscorer in !!

[BillEBadass]

Interesting assessment by Prodigal Dragon on Mike Fondop Talom - rating 0, 'a donkey with the touch of an elephant'
My seat last night was in line with the half way line so it offered a much closer view of Mike's performance.
A few weeks ago I thought he was a raw talent with the potential to benefit from being a full-time professional and the coaching which accompanies it. I have changed my mind.

He doesn't 'look ' like a professional footballer, his balance and body shape when in contact with the ball is uncomfortable and his hesitation, based on not knowing what to do next, makes this even worse. His reactions are always a second too slow and his positional sense is non existent, he is not aware of the opposition playing him off side.
I'm sure he is a nice guy and I don't question his attitude but he has shown no improvement over the last three months and will not help us gain promotion - it would be kinder to find him a loan placement in a lower league.

[Bryn Tirion]

Originally Posted by Prodigal Dragon

Not a fan of Jennings but I would play him further forward if Carrington is fit.

Hinds surely deserves a start.

I would never have guessed that you are not a fan of Jennings!!!!!

I would also play him further forward with Carrington at left back. He’s much better going forward than defending. Try it at WSM in the cup.

Hinds must be truly crap if he can’t even get in the squad with the forwards we have in the team. Rickets needs to put him out of his misery and send him back.

[sparky12353]

Originally Posted by BillEBadass

Interesting assessment by Prodigal Dragon on Mike Fondop Talom - rating 0, 'a donkey with the touch of an elephant'
My seat last night was in line with the half way line so it offered a much closer view of Mike's performance.
A few weeks ago I thought he was a raw talent with the potential to benefit from being a full-time professional and the coaching which accompanies it. I have changed my mind.

He doesn't 'look ' like a professional footballer, his balance and body shape when in contact with the ball is uncomfortable and his hesitation, based on not knowing what to do next, makes this even worse. His reactions are always a second too slow and his positional sense is non existent, he is not aware of the opposition playing him off side.
I'm sure he is a nice guy and I don't question his attitude but he has shown no improvement over the last three months and will not help us gain promotion - it would be kinder to find him a loan placement in a lower league.

total agree, we need to change things up!! yes we keep on winning but most of last nights Wrexham side looked like we had 9 men and they had 12, J M-D thinks he's too good for us and behaves like it, he keeps backing away from any challenge, fancy feet yeah but !!!
pyke just didn't want to be there, last to react looked sleepy had Jenning's screaming at him to get forward,
Fondop is too slow to react, never on the shoulder of the last defender, yeah can hold the ball up but a touch like a baby rhino
and whats with the throwings? we are shite at them, don't let the ball go out nine times out of ten we give the ball to them and I'm sorry but, why don't we have a player on the halfway line when they have a corner or free kick??
takes two defenders away from goal, better chance of hoofing the ball to that player when we do get it, fewer people in the box, ok we have got more clean sheets but

[sparky]

Originally Posted by BillEBadass

Interesting assessment by Prodigal Dragon on Mike Fondop Talom - rating 0, 'a donkey with the touch of an elephant'
My seat last night was in line with the half way line so it offered a much closer view of Mike's performance.
A few weeks ago I thought he was a raw talent with the potential to benefit from being a full-time professional and the coaching which accompanies it. I have changed my mind.

He doesn't 'look ' like a professional footballer, his balance and body shape when in contact with the ball is uncomfortable and his hesitation, based on not knowing what to do next, makes this even worse. His reactions are always a second too slow and his positional sense is non existent, he is not aware of the opposition playing him off side.
I'm sure he is a nice guy and I don't question his attitude but he has shown no improvement over the last three months and will not help us gain promotion - it would be kinder to find him a loan placement in a lower league.

I have similar views on him. I feel for him in a way because this is team and a system in which most strikers would struggle but last night was a bit like watching Usain Bolt try and play football, but without the pace.

[Danny Boy]

Second half performance, at home, against 10 men was very poor....I would be concerned but we got away with the 3 points and I am backing Sam to put it right for Saturday, he was going ballistic at times and we know he is not afraid to make changes, hopefully Summerfield is one of those.

Lainton -7- Poor kicking but made a few good saves
Roberts -7- Thought he was good and mostly untroubled
Pearson -7- Got done a few times early one but adjusted accordingly and was solid at the end
Lawlor -7- looked comfortable, possibly the best I've seen him for us
Jennings -6- Stupid foul and booking (then mouth off) otherwise would have been a 7, decent going forward at times
Young -6- Had a few decent strikes, best midfielder but that's not saying much 2nd half
Wright -5- Got in great positions, if he could play football when he was in them he would be dangerous
Walker -5- Started neat and tidy but fell apart and was disappointing 2nd half when we needed someone to put there foot on the ball.
JMD -5- Not great but was an outlet late on and should have stayed on instead of Pyke, bit unlucky not to score last night
Beavon -6- Played well and won a lot up top but was doing it on his own, 6 seems harsh but he had no support so couldn't get anything going
Pyke -4- Lack of effort or knackered? Or both?!....either way not good!

Fondop - Looked unplayable for 5 mins, then just looked unable to play ha-ha!
Rutherford - Was always just going to be added legs to see it out
Deverdicks - Did ok in the seeing it out style we adopted, same as Rutherford

[dixienormous]

Lainton-7 Did what needed to be done with some dodgy kicking at times

Roberts-7 Played quite well I thought tried to make things happen

Pearson-7 Won everything in the air but looks dodgy against pacey strikers

Lawlor-7 Didnt do much wrong

Jennings-6 Needs to shut his mouth and for some reason he's always coming too far inside leaving huge gaps down the right

Young-7 This lad is getting better and has the potential to score 10plus goals

Walker-6 Not his best game. I personally don't think Wright and Walker work together.

Wright-6/7 Simple passes are difficult at times but breaks up play very well, should have scored.

Maguire Drew-6 Doesn't work hard enough. If he'd scored after doing all the hard work it's a different game.

Beavon-6 Works hard but Im not sure if that's enough for a title chasing side, if that's what we are

Pyke-4 Drop the cock, no effort, pussied out of everything and always turning back slowing play down.

Sub

Fondop-0 Up there as one of the worst displays I've ever seen by a striker. Can't control, pass or run with a ball. A donkey personified. Raw my arse, he just cant play football very well.

[pagl]

Originally Posted by BillEBadass

Interesting assessment by Prodigal Dragon on Mike Fondop Talom - rating 0, 'a donkey with the touch of an elephant'
My seat last night was in line with the half way line so it offered a much closer view of Mike's performance.
A few weeks ago I thought he was a raw talent with the potential to benefit from being a full-time professional and the coaching which accompanies it. I have changed my mind.

He doesn't 'look ' like a professional footballer, his balance and body shape when in contact with the ball is uncomfortable and his hesitation, based on not knowing what to do next, makes this even worse. His reactions are always a second too slow and his positional sense is non existent, he is not aware of the opposition playing him off side.
I'm sure he is a nice guy and I don't question his attitude but he has shown no improvement over the last three months and will not help us gain promotion - it would be kinder to find him a loan placement in a lower league.

I slightly disagree here and think Fondop does have an attitude problem and I think you can see from his body language that something isn't right and if something doesn't go right then it immediately becomes a problem. In addition you then have the penalty debacle where it must be clear who the designated taker is yet the ball has to be prised from his grasp.

I was hoping Sam and Barrow could work on this and improve it but sadly it seems to have gone worse. The booking last night was about as farcical a booking I have ever seen. I mean to grab the player and fling him out of the way is beyond comical.

I think a goal or 2 would calm him down but he just isn't getting into positions and last night Drew created a chance from the left put the ball in where you would expect any half decent CF to be and he was nowhere. Then the miscontrol incident and then a general lack of awareness of other players and it all adds up.

As I keep saying Basics, basics, basics and if things are not going so well for a player then get back to basics. Ball control, passing, make space, work hard...…………….

Same goes for Drew as well. He is too often out of position when he should be out wide and the few glimpses last night where he did apply himself then he looked dangerous but fk me he isn't doing it often enough and for a player with his talent and pace it really is a shame and he will never make it any higher.

Pyke last night was the same but are 2 games so close too much for him. I don't understand why Sam left him on and he should have been replaced.

Second half we should have changed to 442 and not allowed them to dominate the midfield as they went 432.

[noisy1]

Beavon is great, if everyone else put in half as much effort as he does, we would be unplayable.

MOTM for me last night would be Lainton, he made several important saves and I don't think that any outfield player deserved it on that 2nd half performance.