Why the feck bring on Judge, he is ****! Why make the double change so early, leaving no more subs available if we get an injury...oh hold on.....ffs!
Well I guess we'll just have to take the point then. We played a decent first half against a Dons team that showed us we still need some practice at playing out from the back, they were so much better at it. Ward going off injured was a blow, not only because he has been playing well both defensively and offensively on the left but because Kenlock is a poor replacement and we were a worse team after that change. Dozzell had a good game again, so did Nolan. The two CBs played well, Wilson making a couple of driving runs from the back as well as some no nonsense clearances, Toto was solid and Chambers did ok again at right back. Second half was all MK Dons. Lambert made a double change and brought Downes and Judge on. Like Spanish, I think Judge is **** and I would have preferred Lankester or Jackson instead. The game was crying out for somebody to run at the Dons defence. The Downes sub I did agree with, thinking that Flynn would bring some extra bite to a midfield that couldn't keep hold of the ball. We were guilty of poor long balls forward and inaccurate goal kicks that put us under unnecessary pressure as we struggled to retain any meaningful possession. Downes then went off injured, leaving us with ten men to see the game out, as Spanish said, poor management to use all our subs with half hour to play. In the end we come away with a point and stay undefeated in the league. This match showed me that we are weak at LB if Ward can't play and Lambert keeps persisting with Judge when Lankester makes more of an impact. We still need to work on our possession retention and playing out from the back and the overall speed at which we execute passes.
Very good defending and goalkeeping but apart from that an absolute horror show. No possession inviting constant pressure. Only so long that we can get away with a single isolated forward and today we were found out.
Lessons learnt, a draw on the road, poor management decisions costing us dear. Either Jackson or Lanks could have done better. Life was good on top!
The way i see it our shortcomings all stem from our lightweight midfield, Dozzell, Bishop, and Co are not capable of disrupting the opposition and just get pushed off the ball when they try to, also they supply very little quality ball to the front players when we have got possession resulting in Holy lumping long balls up the pitch rather than risk giving it to the midfield. Its early days with a lot of teams still to get going so we have time to get players back from injury and actually play a first choice starting X1, is Jackson staying or not ? if we still dont know then get him out the door, the same with Downes, hes the combative midfielder we need but if hes going to kick everyone in sight and get carded when he comes on and get himself injured because hes sulking then get him out the door too. This is a terrible division but bloody hard to get out of so theres no room for posers and tantrum throwers, we need grafters then the pretty stuff can come later.
Agree with all of this. MK Dons moved the ball well today so that in itself is not going to get us out of the division. The most disappointing performance of today for me was Sears, who we know can do it but just doesn’t seem to be all that bothered. Credit to the defenders for earning us a point today.
