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EEL and Graham looked like a solid centre back partnership to me. Aside from the corner, where they and RO’D may have been impeded.
Quigley started brightly, but faded as the game went on. Unsurprisingly given it was his first game back. Henderson still has a wonderful touch when given the chance to show it.
Tend to agree that the problem is in midfield, who aren’t creating the chances for them. I’d thought Ball at least gave you a bit more of an aerial threat in the side, but even that wasn’t on offer today.
First time I’ve watched Brierley play the full 90 today and it was a pleasure. Some comments saying he underperformed on this thread. If so, would like to see him have a good game. What a passing range. Head and shoulders above the rest of that midfield on today’s evidence.
Seems like one of the problems, irrespective of formation, is that we’re not well equipped to play it out from the back or play it long when we get the ball under possession.
EEL and John don’t seem confident passing or carrying it out, which looks to have extended to Nelson today. Diagouraga is calmer and can see the pass but slow. So we rely on Seriki and Odoh to dribble it forward if we can get it to them in any space. The opposition quickly limit those opportunities though.
We can’t go long either because our forwards rarely win it in the air. And O’Donnell’s distribution isn’t great, despite some exceptional shot stopping in the last few games. Playing Ball further forward helped a bit with this today. He won a few of the aerial battles but offered little else.
Probably just an illustration of others points about the mish mash of players which don’t fit into a coherent system.
Find it hard to be too critical of that performance.
You can’t be relying on the officials to defend corners or win games for you, but there was a series of bad decisions today at critical moments of the game (which others have already highlighted). The corners were particularly infuriating given how far out of the D they were each time.
Thought any of the three centre midfielders could have been subbed at halftime. Credit to Stockdale for the changes he made then though, we came out much better second half and Morley and Kelly were probably our best players from thereon.
Was also impressed by Dorsett’s performance having seen very little of him until today. O’Keefe and Odoh probably the other players meriting specific praise.
Beesley and Andrews should be scoring at least one of the chances created for them mind.
Despite that, I still have the belief we’re a team on the up and look more organised an outfit than last season. Perhaps the video package on Cloughy pre-match has made me overly sentimental though.
Fair. I’d much prefer a O’Connell and Roberts partnership in central defence too. And agree that can bring more than just stability at the back for the team.
I’m just not convinced that was the most significant problem today, worthy of highlighting above the other issues I mentioned.
For me, their first goal was something spectacular out of nothing and the second fell kindly for them. A deserved lead though as they came out looking much more up for it.
We’ve grown into the game since then. Lund continues to carry the team goals wise with Newby the main creative force. Stockport have been given O’Connell far too much space to carry the ball down the middle too, which has also provided a few openings.
Feel we can still win this but Stockport look dangerous on the counter, aided by our sloppy passing and lack of bite in the tackle at times.
Would like to see Roberts on for McNulty to give us a bit more protection at the back with O’Connell venturing forward.
Exiled Dale fan who is keen to order a shirt online. The club don't want to make it easy though, it seems. There's no size guide online, so I'm wondering what chest size a medium is? Have a couple of the fila kits and always went medium, but a browse online suggests errea kits are a tight fit generally.
- It's less than Milan paid for him a year ago and he was their top scorer last season! - His idiocy is of a different kind to Suarez from what we've witnessed. - Falcao was never going to happen for Liverpool, he is the highest calibre striker they were realistically going to be able to attract this season.
All very sensible stuff as usual. Every confidence that Hilly will make a decision, with regards to a new striker, which is best for the club over the next few weeks.