No Kayal + No Stephens = No Creativity

[Mellotron]

really really missed them today. We looked like a completely different team. Ince and Crofts put as a shift in but don't have a creative bone in their collective bodies so the only option was for the ball to go wide, which Preston dealt with comfortably.

Preston were properly shit on the ball and we gave them far too much respect towards the end.

 

[martin tyler]

They were not great. They were for the taking down the wings unfortunately Murphy looked rusty after the ban an March was not brilliant when he came on. Ince and Crofts is solid and I think missing 1 we would be ok but both we would struggle

 

[Diablo]

.

No Kayal + No Stephens = No Creativity,,,,,And sadly no goals ....

 

[Eeyore]

Definitely a malfunction in the engine room. Made harder against a five man defence.

 

[RM-Taylor]

I imagine if JFC was still here he would have started today with Crofts, could have done with his creativity today it seems.

 

[El Turi]

Let's hope that's the only time this season we're missing both of them as it's hard to see us winning a game with Ince and Crofts in central midfield.

 

[Mr deez]

Not sure about ince at all. Good stopper but loses possession just as readily.

 

[Quinney]

Any team in this division would miss Kayal and Stephens.

 

[saafend_seagull]

'won't be out for long' that probably means not back for reading

 

[Silverhatch]

Any team in this division would miss Kayal and Stephens.

a few teams in the division above would miss those two. Both great footballers.

 

[Stat Brother]

I don't think we should get too bent out of shape about today.

Name a team that can lose both its (by some distance) first choice centre midfielders, for the same game, and not struggle.

Today was the worst case scenario, that was reflected in the game yet the team still walked off with a point.

 

[sllugaes]

Have we not also looked at how weak our forward line has been in putting the ball in the net, apart from Zamoras last gasp efforts we have just scrapped two victories (leeds + bristol) yes we missed the midfield par (despite stephens being average at leeds and v bristol) previous games he has been excellent. Our issue for me hidden behind the midfield pairing today is a strike force.
Still not convinced. Tes we have won the last few although could have very easily been draws by not being clinical in front if goal.

 

[Ⓩ-Ⓐ-Ⓜ-Ⓞ-Ⓡ-Ⓐ]

I imagine if JFC was still here he would have started today with Crofts, could have done with his creativity today it seems.

Yep

 

[dangull]

Its all over, the dream has died. This result will produce a run where we will maybe get 2 points from next 10 games.

 

[Dave the OAP]

I think that today actually showed the apparent weakness of the squad. We had no creative midfielders out there, and the wingers were both woefully off form.

I am really not convinced with baldock and hemed. I hope barber comes back from South America with a striker or two and a creative midfielder or two.

That game really showed our weaknesses, however, we didn't lose and move onwards.

 

[Lush]

Neither Ince, Murphy or Crofts seized their opportunity or even looked 'match fit'. i suppose it's the price you pay for having such a settled team.

 

[Hornblower]

Have we not also looked at how weak our forward line has been in putting the ball in the net, apart from Zamoras last gasp efforts we have just scrapped two victories (leeds + bristol) yes we missed the midfield par (despite stephens being average at leeds and v bristol) previous games he has been excellent. Our issue for me hidden behind the midfield pairing today is a strike force.
Still not convinced. Tes we have won the last few although could have very easily been draws by not being clinical in front if goal.

I agree. Hemed is not what I was hoping he would be, Baldock has a much better first touch but doesn't have the physique. Hemed gets barged off the ball far too easily and doesn't seem to have a strikers clinical finish. We still need a top class striker.

 

[BensGrandad]

Both Crofts and Ince did ok but they are both well behind Kayal and Stephens and just show that we should have signed Kevin Nolan a month go.

 

[Meade's Ball]

Ince doesn't seem to have the character or confidence to boss a midfield with just one ally, and Crofts might look to have certain characteristics to be our centre of the park fugleman, but , in spite of coming back from injury, is not a good ball player. Our missing two can kill a ball dead and know where to ping it to. Our two replacements can do neither, seeming like two sportsmen but not all-conquering footballers. Was a tough game, both to watch and play, with Preston being strong and clean sheet minded. Maybe Holla on for longer would have helped, whilst keeping Murphy on.

 

[1066familyman]

Definitely a malfunction in the engine room. Made harder against a five man defence.

Exactly this. I wouldn't be too hard on Murphy as a result.
I'm not overly dosappointed with a point all things considered, as everyone knows just how crucial Kayal and Stephens are.