Question for people in the North Stand on saturday

[Lady Whistledown]

I sit in the middle of the South Stand, and when the Man Of The Match award (to Paul Reid) was announced at the end, the general consensus of people around me was one of disbelief.

So the question is this: did the game really look so different from the North side of the pitch?

I thought David Martot had a really good game, and Andy Whing in support wasn't bad either, whereas Paul Reid was our worst player- not particularly bad as such, just completely invisible by the standards of the rest of the side. Yet Reid got MoM, and a 7 rating by Andy Naylor in the Sports Argus, while Martot rated a distinctively average 6.

It was a surprise to me when Martot got taken off: Elder for Revell made sense, but to bring on Hart for Martot, who'd made more tackles than I can remember in all his previous games together, and who passed and generally worked it really well up the wing all game, didn't make much sense.

So was Reid really that good to you North Standers, or are the fumes of weak beer drifting across from the Sportsman cellars starting to affect your judgement?

 

[Wienergull]

I sit in the North Stand, and in the first half he was neat and tidy in possession, but hardly spectacular. Perhaps MoM was for his through ball for Forster's chance in the second half, since it was one of the few bits of vision in a largely uninspiring match?

Funny how you get a different perspective of the match depending on where you sit. Martot, for instance, played the whole match in front of the South Stand, and I must admit I didn't rate his performance as highly as those sitting on that side. But that may have something to do with the fact that you get a very low perspective of the game from the third row (or any row for that matter) of the North Stand.

 

[BensGrandad]

I sit in the North Stand and nearing the end of the game I said to Ben that the MOM should be either Reid or El Abd usually I disagree with the sponsors choice, but then I would, but this week I didn't.

 

[SeagullEd]

I sat in the South Stand and I had that same feeling on disbelief! If you're in the middle of the south stand I must sit SO near you!

I like Paul Reid as a bloke, and sometimes a footballer, but he's one of those players who could quietly do a job, he's not a leader or inspirational.

 

[Lady Whistledown]

E block, as it happens.

As we were walking out, some bloke met up with his mates and shouted "Paul f***ing REID??" at the top of his voice, causing much amused nodding and agreement around us

 

[Knotty]

I sit in the middle of the South Stand, and when the Man Of The Match award (to Paul Reid) was announced at the end, the general consensus of people around me was one of disbelief.

So the question is this: did the game really look so different from the North side of the pitch?

I thought David Martot had a really good game, and Andy Whing in support wasn't bad either, whereas Paul Reid was our worst player- not particularly bad as such, just completely invisible by the standards of the rest of the side. Yet Reid got MoM, and a 7 rating by Andy Naylor in the Sports Argus, while Martot rated a distinctively average 6.

It was a surprise to me when Martot got taken off: Elder for Revell made sense, but to bring on Hart for Martot, who'd made more tackles than I can remember in all his previous games together, and who passed and generally worked it really well up the wing all game, didn't make much sense.

So was Reid really that good to you North Standers, or are the fumes of weak beer drifting across from the Sportsman cellars starting to affect your judgement?

I couldn't really tell you if Martot had a particularly good game as I sit quite low down in the North Stand. I will say that I thought Reidy had a good game (as did others around me) and much improved on Mansfield. I probably wouldn't have chosen him, but his MOM was not a surprise.

It seems ridiculous that where you sit should influence your view on a player's performance, but you may be right. Although I thought Martot had a decent game, I simply couldn't tell you if it was a MOM performance or not.

 

[Mr Blobby]

My MOTM from D Block was Martot! I thought it was probably the best game he has had for us. No idea why Elder wasnt given more than 120 seconds plus injury time. No idea why Hart came on before him when Elder did all that was asked of him at Oldham!!!

 

[ATFC Seagull]

My MOTM from D Block was Martot! I thought it was probably the best game he has had for us. No idea why Elder wasnt given more than 120 seconds plus injury time. No idea why Hart came on before him when Elder did all that was asked of him at Oldham!!!

I wouldn't say Elder's goal at Oldham was particularly indicative of his ability to make a difference towards the end of the game, fair play it fell to him in a bit of a scrappy play and he stuck it away, but I don't think it follows he's therefore gonna make a difference coming on. However, why make any change that late is a bit beyond me really...

 

[NMH]

I wouldn't say Elder's goal at Oldham was particularly indicative of his ability to make a difference towards the end of the game, fair play it fell to him in a bit of a scrappy play and he stuck it away, but I don't think it follows he's therefore gonna make a difference coming on. However, why make any change that late is a bit beyond me really...

You'll be amazed how many times a goalscorer is lauded and applauded for one lucky moment the ball falls to them and they whack it from 5 feet away (sometimes mis-kicking it as well) - then suddenly they are the best thing since sliced bread and a crowd favourite, definite starter for the next match etc.

The keeper can make 20 amazing saves, and his defenders go missing or hunting for glory up the other end - and one goal sneaks past him and he's a useless bumbling fool.

 

[Tubby Mondays]

I was man of the match for staying all the game and not going back to the pub. I was even in my seat for kick off.

 

[NMH]

My MOTM from D Block was Martot! I thought it was probably the best game he has had for us. No idea why Elder wasnt given more than 120 seconds plus injury time. No idea why Hart came on before him when Elder did all that was asked of him at Oldham!!!

There ya go! He swung at a loose ball, and it squeezed in. Great - and everyone was entitled to feel relieved and to pat him on the back for it.
However, if he can't get past one player or pass a decent ball in training, falls over himself near goal, and can't place a single spot kick past the keeper - do you still advocate giving the guy a lot of time in a league match?

Okay, so that's an extreme, and Bars Mar will be along any minute to tell me so - but let's not get carried away.

 

[bristolseagull]

Glad i wasn't the only one who thought Reid was toss.......

 

[The Oldman]

I sit in South Stand and made Martot my MOM. In the first half it was a choice of Martot or Richards but Richards fell to pieces in the second half , I presume due to his lack of match fitness and recent chest infection. Reid was OK and did make one lovely pass to Forster. He is getting better each match but was very surprised he got MOM. So, it does seem where you sit determines your judgement. I have sat in the North Stand but did not like the view. Much prefer being above the pitch even in the rain.

 

[binary]

Sitting in Row B of the North Stand, Martot had a very good game and I have no idea why Wendy took him off. Cox had another shocker but of course he palys the full 90!

Reid was good in the first half but faded away. He was much better than Mansfield but then he wasn't ill was he?

I thought MOM was probably El Abd with notable mentions for Whing, Thomson and Elphick.

Have to say I thought the ref was one of the worst I have had the misfortune to come across. He had no idea how to ref the arial ball!!

 

[Lady Whistledown]

Another North-South divide then, as I thought Cox was marginally better this week than normally!

From where I sit, he has a bad habit of completely vanishing for the second half of games. On Saturday, I thought he remained visible at least, without necessarily being brilliant, for the second 45 minutes. No MoM performance by any means, but a definite improvement on recent months.

 

[Storer68]

Cox was dreadful on Saturday. So bad that I nearly started a "Cox Out!" chant during the second half, after he had whacked a thirty yard cross field pass to no one in particulsr.

 

[Marc]

I thought David Martot had a really good game, and Andy Whing in support wasn't bad either,

from where I sat those around me (including myself) thought Whing had a poor game, later on when meeting up with others they also thought he was gash!

 

[supaseagull]

I was slap bang in the middle of the north stand on saturday and was surprised by Reidy's MOM. Thought Cox worked his socks off, but nthought Richards was man of the match by a mile.