Really down about today... We were terrible! My personal analysis of the game... Goalkeeper - Unlucky for first goal, could of done better with second? Defence - Connolly was too average, didn't get forward much and didn't defend that greatly either. Lees I thought was out-muscled and out-paces by their no.9, not a bad game though tbf. Kisnorbo, oh dear me... Love the guy, his attitude and personality, but shouldn't be near the X11. Too slow and dreadful on the ball. White, best defender by far, again looked good attacking, seemed unlucky with decisions... Was it a peno? Midfield - Snodgrass, probably our best player, one of few that looked dangerous and creative. Unlucky not to get a goal. Howson, again outshone Clayton. Good on the ball, good positioning and great tackling, massively unlucky to be booked. Clayton, looks a shadow of his former self, whats wrong with him? Off the pace and flying into tackles missing the ball completely. Sam, why play him LM again? Terrible positioning, too predictable on the ball, poor defensively. Forwards - McCormack, team not playing to his strengths whatsoever. All this hoof ball is not his game. Looked to get the ball on the deck and play, not his best game at all, but a peach of a free-kick. Becchio, absolute garbage I'm afraid. Doesn't look fit or interested, seems fed up. Poor in the air, poor touch, no creativity or threat whatsoever. Subs - Pugh, didn't do much, cant say much. Nunez, seemed to have right intentions, didn't get on the ball enough, can't tackle, but again looked a threat. Keogh, good movement, again struggled to get in the game, smashing it up to him isn't his game despite being a big man. Should start ahead of Becchio. Referee - Disgrace. Shocking cautions for our players, inconsistant, no flow to the gam at all. Derby matches are always fiesty, referee seemed content on ruining the game. Poor decisions both ways, however more so ours (admittedly probably biased). Grayson - Sam should not have started. Poor again I'm afraid. Feel for him though, square peg in a round hole. Taking McCormack off was a joke. Even though he wasn't having the best of games he's our top scorer, should be playing a full 90 mins especially after scoring! Tactics seemed hoofball, stick 4 players level with their back 4 and pump it up, shocking. On the rare occasions we played football and moved it quickly, they looked clueless. Our build up play was desperately slow. No tempo to the play, players started hiding, not what we want. Thought Howson played like a captain, but still doesn't seem to communicate enough. The teams crying out for pace. Lloyd Sam is not fast! Aidy White is the only player with pace. When you have no tempo in the build up, and no pace to play on the counter, you rely on what? Luck. A good free-kick and a massive injection of belief from the croud had us back in it. But once this impetus faded, we looked puddled. Rabbits in the headlights. Pacey RB, proper CB (captain material), a pacey LM and perhaps a loan forward till Somma is fit.
