Passengers

[Super Steve Earle]

We played some decent stuff today, kept a clean sheet, yet should have battered Forest. Why didn't we? And why aren't we every match?

Because we play with two or three passengers every game. Today it was Crofts (the prawn sandwich brigade Man of the Match ) CMS who rarely got involved today and David Lopez (or Spanish Harley as he looked today). Goodness knows how some fans thought David had a good game when he wasted every deadball, apparently his specialist area, and disappeared after about 40 minutes, not to be seen again until he was substituted.

If only we could get all our players doing what they are good at at the same time, we really will be one helluva team.

 

[Bladders]

I actually thought Crofts imposed himself more on the game than Hammond has recently

 

[Mellotron]

Crofts was good, as Gus mentioned after the game.

 

[Foolg]

Crofts had a very good game, Lopez was a passenger for far too much of the game though, and for a set piece specialist his delivery was shocking.

 

[kalinski]

Think you were watching a different game...crofts had a cracking first half

 

[Albion Robster]

Crofts had a decent game today. Involved himself a lot in the play. Should have done better with his shots in the first half.

 

[gripper stebson]

There is a rose in Spanish Harley...

 

[essbee]

I think we have 4 or 5 players who are not really of a standard sufficient at this
level to help close out matches etc. I don't mean the strikers either.

 

[Davey Boy Smith]

We played some decent stuff today, kept a clean sheet, yet should have battered Forest. Why didn't we? And why aren't we every match?

Because we play with two or three passengers every game. Today it was Crofts (the prawn sandwich brigade Man of the Match ) CMS who rarely got involved today and David Lopez (or Spanish Harley as he looked today). Goodness knows how some fans thought David had a good game when he wasted every deadball, apparently his specialist area, and disappeared after about 40 minutes, not to be seen again until he was substituted.

If only we could get all our players doing what they are good at at the same time, we really will be one helluva team.

Agree that Lopez didn't do a great deal today but I concur with the sponsor's man of the march today - I thought Crofts had a good game particularly in the first half.

 

[Ali_rrr]

Crofts played very well today, his best game for us in my opinion. Lopez was okay, isn't as bad as some people make out. Although the person 2 seats away from me doesn't stop slating our players and probably has a Barnes doll which he punches every night. Even called for Poyet to resign against Birmingham. Others have told him to shut up, however he still continues. Bloody annoying!

 

[1066familyman]

How odd from the OP. Crofts clearly the right choice for MOTM. Played really well in the first half especially.

 

[Super Steve Earle]

I'll take the criticism like a fan. I struggled to see what Crofts brought to the team today, but maybe that says more about my observations than his contribution. Don't see any disagreement about CMS and David really though and my point is that we have a couple of players not on their game for one reason or another in each match, yet play some decent football, concede few goals and are maintaining our position in the league. We just need to get them all buzzing at once and we'll be really flying.

 

[Ninja Elephant]

Crofts was fantastic, been anonymous since his return but brilliant today and fully justified his starting place. Not getting involved with the Spanish Dave debate, the man needs games and a run of them. I hope he starts tuesday, there is a footballer in there. Same team tuesday for me, worked first half and just need to convert. We have nothing better to come into the team.

Unless Bruno or Vicente are available.

 

[T soprano]

Some players in football are unsung heroes They do a job without having flair that sometimes goes unnoticed
Think it was Eric Cantona that said every team needs a water Carrier ( no not talking about bobby bouche
The waterboy ) like a crofts , Hammond & bridcutt it's just as important what you do without the ball than what you do with it

 

[BRIGHT ON Q]

crofts was superb today,we all called him as mom before the prawn sandwich brigade confirmed it.

 

[1066familyman]

I'll take the criticism like a fan. I struggled to see what Crofts brought to the team today, but maybe that says more about my observations than his contribution. Don't see any disagreement about CMS and David really though and my point is that we have a couple of players not on their game for one reason or another in each match, yet play some decent football, concede few goals and are maintaining our position in the league. We just need to get them all buzzing at once and we'll be really flying.

Fair play to you

And any excuse to work this tune into a thread will do for me

YouTube

 

[New Carpet?]

We played some decent stuff today, kept a clean sheet, yet should have battered Forest. Why didn't we? And why aren't we every match?

Because we play with two or three passengers every game. Today it was Crofts (the prawn sandwich brigade Man of the Match ) CMS who rarely got involved today and David Lopez (or Spanish Harley as he looked today). Goodness knows how some fans thought David had a good game when he wasted every deadball, apparently his specialist area, and disappeared after about 40 minutes, not to be seen again until he was substituted.

If only we could get all our players doing what they are good at at the same time, we really will be one helluva team.

I both agree and disagree with you on this one.

Crofts was excellent, well worthy of his man-of-the-match award, closing the ball down quickly and helping contain a combative Forest midfield as well as being part of many attacks (especially in the first half).

As for Spanish Dave, all these the comparisons to Harley are ridiculous (see the other thread about him). In the first 55 or so minutes I thought he made a really good contribution - best passer of the ball on the pitch, and with a few really good ideas (such as the quickly-taken free-kick down the right early on and a really slick cross-field ball to Bridge also in the first half). But, he did fade badly in the second half and had trouble finding space in the 15-20 minutes before he was substituted (a mix of tiredness and Forest changing it around after the Halford booking to cut out our supply to Buckley on the right). Yes, his delivery from corners and free kicks were dealt with fairly easily, but the movement of our players from most set-pieces was in the main very predictable and everyone was man-marked out of them. Definitely something the Albion need to concentrate on in training ahead of Tuesday.

It was frustrating that the Albion ran out of ideas in the second half, and after the Halford booking the game went completely stale for almost half an hour. Hopefully, Tuesday we'll see a game where it doesn't go so quiet in midfield and that everyone is on their game at the same time.

 

[4-p]

I'm not in agreement the Crofts was MOTM,
Yes he worked hard, but he didn't win a header all first half, it was so frustrating to watch Crofts jump like Greer, and lose every header while the tiny Bridcutt, leaps like a point guard and dominates.

Crofts defo got more involved in the 2nd half and had a good game...

BUT i can't understand how Adam El-Abd didn't with MOTM,

he was awesome: hungry, no fear, didn't seem to lose a tackle or header and the Billy Sharp thing at the start was hilarious.

 

[grummitts gloves]

Glad to see Crofts perform yesterday. Much more like his old self. As for Spanish Dave, he showed a few nice touches but just looked rusty to me. Think he will improve. Either way, I'd prefer to see these 2 starting over Hammond who has been very average IMHO since his return.