One of the most turgid matches since, well, two weeks ago. Really dull game in which we were second best to a Swindon team that looked like they'd do well to go up. Then, for about ten minutes, we controlled the game and almost scored (I thought it was over the line but had an awful view) and then they scored. Poor defensively from both full backs and we failed to create anything else. New boys - Winnall looked excellent, Collins not so much. Not 100% impressed, but Winnal was the pick of our strikers today; good technically with a poacher's movement. James Collins - I didn't boo him (or clap) but I was surprised at his awful miss - he tried to leather it, suggesting the crowd got to him. Missed another good chance but then clapped the Town fans. Swindon fans - Large number made the trip, no noise until they scored. Also, hilariously, sang the BRITISH national anthem as an attempt to imply that we're Welsh. Dim twats. Also noticed one dickhead brought a banner of Di Canio in Nazi uniform. Disgraceful.
Would like to thank all who gave to the Dean Holden collection an excellent response, will let you know at a later how much we have raised.
I must admit I completely forgot to bring my money along, I was going to stick a fiver in but I don't take my wallet to matches to avoid the temptation of the overpriced food and forgot. Is there some way I can sort something out over the next few days?
Plenty of missed chances throughout the game especially in the first half, although Swindon were fractionally the better team overall based on what they did in the second half. Our Collins did a good job at being able to be agricultural and skillful in defending, altough sometimes he should of just cleared it out instead of running with it. Winnal looked good but perhaps needing some game time before we see his full potential. He had a fair shot on goal from distance that, if it had more power behind it, might have beaten the keeper who instead just collected it up. Richards had another great game on the left and caused lots of problems, GT moved him in to the centre to help control that area as we were being overun. I would perhaps have brought Hall or Purdie on instead of Wright, or perhaps just brought Taylor on first. Taylor did some good work when he came on and looked a better threat than Wright who only offered a few opportunities including an excellent cross/high ball from the corner of the box across to the far post that Summerfield almost connected with. Radio said that Hector was at fault for the goal and mentioned something that my friends and I had talked about - he makes one mistake every game that could cost us, yet the rest of his game is excellent. He has a terrific jump height for headers too! the mid to late part of the second half was frustrating as our team seemed to be dithering as to who should go for the ball, and occasionally no one made effort to run to get the ball - a prime example was that the ball came out from our goal and bounced between four of our players, not one made an effort to run to it and a Swindon player just scooted through them all and collected it and then took it back to shoot at goal
Funny how opinions vary. I thought Richards had his worst game in Shrewsbury's colours. Summerfield held any semblance of midfield together. Jones and Hector were the pick of our team with the odd mistake particularly from the latter. I thought our Collins did well and would be a reasonable addition to the squad. On the other hand, although Winnall showed a few neat touches, his general play was as weak as Bradshaw's and short of the work rate of Gornell. Morgan had his least effective game of the season. Again, mystifying substitutions (Wright and Taylor) and it was no surprise that Swindon scored after GT made them. If he thought the midfield were tiring, why not bring on Hall to tighten it up? PS I saw no one collecting for Dean Holden. I was told that they were not allowed inside the main gates. If that was true, it was a disgrace.
Matster, I agree about Hector - generally very good but I counted three serious errors, any one of which could have cost us a goal. Jones is pretty consistent and I do not think we can blame the centre-backs too much as the main problem is that area in front of the full back on the left hand side. The opposition is getting men in far too easily there and they have plenty of time to pick a man out on the far post where it is headed back across goal to make a good chance. . Overall I thought Swindon were clearly better than us and carved out several good chances while we only had a couple of scrappy efforts. Lenny, I cannot agree with you about Winnall - he tried hard and was tidy but I thought our front line was uniformly pathetic today - even Morgan was off the pace. However good he might be it is completely unrealistic to expect a young reserve team player from a Championship club to come in and make a difference in League 1- we desperately need two experienced strikers to come in and provide some competition up front. I think we have major problems at the moment - our squad has too many players who simply do not look good enough for this league. Other teams are bringing on players (or even leaving them on the bench like Benson) who would walk into our team and it looks like we are heading for a fight for survival. Come on GT - get rid of the players who cannot cut it in this league and get some in who just might.
Kasule, When I got to the ground at 2 there was a group of three collecting for Holden just to the left of the ticket office so they were around inside the gates.
Hi yes there were 8 of us around the inside of the car park from 1.30 - 2.50 but if anyone who didn't give but would like to there is a bucket in the club shop or recrption for the next couple of weeks leading up to the Walsall game. Thanks very much, very pleased with response. As for the game good first half but disappointing second, Di canio entertained us again & also gave to the collection & had a whip round in the away dressing room so I will lay off him for a while!! Bit harsh for people to criticise new lads as they probably don't even know other players names yet let alone know how they play! So overall too early to judge. Looking forward to Tuesday new day, new game .
For me the goal was more the fault of the full backs, both were out of position. I agree that Richards was pretty quiet, but I thought he was better than Ritchie who just fell around on the floor a lot. Jones and Hector completely dominated Jimmy Collins and Andy Williams. I also thought Taylor did well but Wright looked really poor, a shame after he started the season so well. As for Winnall - personally I felt his first touch, dribbling ability and mobility were excellent and better than Gornell, although he's weaker, doesn't work as hard and doesn't hold the ball up as effectively. However, I think he's someone that could do very well in a partnership with Gornell and he has the knack of moving in behind their defence which could lead to a few goals. Morgan is, for me, someone with whom it's virtually impossible to get an understanding with and as such is best up front on his own, or coming from the bench if we stick with a 4-4-2. Winnall didn't quite seem to have an understanding with others in the team, chiefly Parry who I felt was our standout creative spark. There was one moment when Parry mis-hit a pass and then had a go at Winnall - I felt a little for the lad but I can see where Parry's coming from. Overall though, I thought he was the player who looked most likely to make something happen from our team. For the next game, I'd like to see one or two changes, but nothing necessary. Richards needs to come into the centre for me, as he adds more defensive ability than Wildig (who is a very good player) and he prevents other teams from controlling the middle of the park. I would be tempted to start Gornell and Winnall, but dropping Morgan is harsh after such an excellent start to the season. I probably would go with a 4-2-3-1 formation that was used in the second half at county, with either Hall or Wildig in the hole off Morgan, with Parry and Taylor or Wright out wide. Back four and keeper should be unchanged (not that we have much choice!). I will put some money in the collection for Holden before the Walsall game then, if that's OK. Assuming they'll be out until shortly before kick-off, otherwise I'll have to do something else.
Re Holden collection, hopefully I will contribute before Walsall also if the collection remains open. Winnall, I have on good authority, did little to impress when on trial with Preston who as a result turned him down. Is it any surprise that the 2 home games that we haven't started with Morgan / Gornell are the 2 we have lost?
Kds - don't you think Richards (and Collins) managed to keep Ritchie quiet for a good part of the game before the subs happened?
Absolutely. As I said previously the subs baffled me (not for the first time this season), particularly Wright. We were crying out for someone else to battle in midfield at that time. Put simply, Wright is not that player.
I don't think Wright is ever going to influence a match from the bench, similar to Gornell. Taylor/Ainsworth/Bradshaw (before he lost all semblance of form) are the kind of impact subs we need to change a game, although Ainsworth is struggling with Rotherham.
Once in ten games. He's not set the world alight like he was for us at the start of last season and has been in and out of their starting XI, though.
Got to disagree with the criticism of the substitutions. When they were made, we'd been pegged in our own half since the 2nd half kicked off and couldn't stop giving the ball back to Swindon. Their passing and movement was far superior to ours. Turner had to change things and we actually got back into the game after they were made. The subs gave us more natural width (Wright) and energy (Taylor & Gornell - as Parry & Winnall had faded). I disagree that we needed a battler - our passing had disintegrated and the midfield was too deep, resulting in the ball coming straight back at us when we cleared it. We needed to get some passing and moving going again which, until we got caught out of shape and they scored, we managed to do. After that we seemed a bit demoralised and they were more likely to get a 2nd.
I don't disagree about Gornell and Taylor but Wright was simply dreadful and exposed Collins which resulted in their goal.
