KLP - outstanding Smallwood Elder final 2 named for doing the unglamorous stuff brilliantly, Smallwood won so much in midfield yesterday, fouled at the right time (something we did not do at all well last season) and used the ball well too, Elder similarly so, as soon as their right winger got the ball he was right up his arse never game him a moment to think, and great at getting forward too. To be honest, could have named any of the starting 11 in the top 3 and made a case, cracking performance all round.....noticable that we had no 'footballing passengers' on the pitch, everyone could control, pass and move.......
Aside from the obvious one.....we're in a lower standard league.....Smallwood makes a big big difference to the other CMs, and indeed the rest of the team, the most under rated role in football that DM destroyer, you look at all the best teams they have someone who sits there, wins the ball recycles it and takes someone out when needed. Last season we didn't have anyone doing the ****housing role in midfield, I'd mentioned a couple of times in that horror run that we were barely picking up any yellow cards, a pretty shocking stat for a team supposed to be fighting for their lives. Having a proper DM in that position allows the other players around them to play a more effective game, Honeyman has more license to run around like the Duracell bunny knowing there's someone there to pick up the pieces.
Clearly Honeyman has benefitted massively from the incomings, just as we have. Last season he had Lopes, Stewart and Irvine as midfield partners, and let’s face it they were gash. Would any of us have them back, or replace our current midfielders with any of them? I know I certainly wouldn’t. Last season I think George was trying to make up for the lethargy around him in midfield, which gave the impression that he was a headless chicken. All the plaudits must go to the club for replacing the outgoing midfield with the quality players that have replaced them.
Funny how he found a home A 100 miles from his actual home and there is literally a 100 miles between the quality of the two teams...
Honeyman was absolutely top class and that was a return to form. Lewie Coyle because he's taking his opportunity with both hands and he looked equally adept going forward as he did defensively. Alfie Jones for keeping Marquis under wraps for the entire game.
