Steve Sidwell

[HAILSHAM SEAGULL]

Sidwell and Stephens were both playing the same role tonight and both far to deep. Bannan absolutely controlled the midfield, he had so much time and space and he ran the game.
Kayal would have played a lot further forward and closed Bannan down and restricted his time and room.
Very poor team selection for me.

 

[LamieRobertson]

Sidwell and Stephens were both playing the same role tonight and both far to deep. Bannan absolutely controlled the midfield, he had so much time and space and he ran the game.
Kayal would have played a lot further forward and closed Bannan down and restricted his time and room.
Very poor team selection for me.

Or they didn't play as asked? Totally agreed re Bannan

 

[jamie the seagull]

Sidwell played just like Crofts, pedestrian,no pace.
Would rather have had Ince or JFC.

 

[8ace]

G
A
S
H

 

[Harry Wilson's tackle]

Firstly, he was atrocious tonight. It just is what it is.

Secondly, he was brave enough to go on the radio tonight and say he wasn't happy with his performance, which players rarely do. Sometimes it just doesn't click, but I respect him for that honesty.

Thirdly, the guy basically didn't play football competitively for 2 years before rejoining us yet he was heralded as the excellent back up/alternative we needed. Unfortunately, tonight proved yet again what a number of us said when he resigned... He needed time and space to regain his match fitness and to blend in - he hasn't been afforded that due to the form of Kayal and Stephens, so he's looked out of place when he has played. I really haven't yet seen a thing from Sidwell that Ince, Crofts or JFC couldn't be doing for us.

Fourthly, the fault tonight lays with CH rather than Sidwell - we have a week for players to rest after this game and rotating the midfield, which is what he said he'd done on the radio, proved to be a stupid idea. That's no reflection on Sidwell per se, just a reflection than, given the circumstances, Kayal should've been playing as he's probably our best player.

Fair enough. But Kayal has a niggle. Let's move on . . . .

 

[sussex_guy2k2]

Fair enough. But Kayal has a niggle. Let's move on . . . .

CH said on the radio that it wasn't that - he just wanted to use his squad.

But I agree, move on.

 

[darkwolf666]

Wasn't great but hardly anyone stood out. Stephens looked lethargic and poor

Stephens took a nasty knock to the ankle and spent about the next 15 minutes hobbling and bending down touching it. I am sure he was injured last night and struggled through it.

 

[darkwolf666]

Zamora was very poor as well only seemed interested in pushing and pulling shirts and fouling their players

You beat me to this one. I wanted to start a thread to say exactly this but thought I would be hung out to dry. Without beating about the push his performance last night was embarrassing and simply not good enough. Last nights ref didn't need an excuse to give free kicks against us so Zamora thinking he could get away with such blatant fouling was quite sad to see.

 

[One Teddy Maybank]

Zamora was very poor as well only seemed interested in pushing and pulling shirts and fouling their players

Quite. We were worse when he came on, and we were pretty poor to begin with!

 

[highflyer]

CH hinted somewhere that Towell has been doing well in training. We may see something of him before season is finished I think.

 

[worthingseagull]

we let Ince go and brought in Sidwell

 

[Prince Monolulu]

we let Ince go and brought in Sidwell

Ince is hardly blossoming at Fulham, got 7 minutes last night. They rate him too it seems.

Sidwell has looked pedestrian at best so far.

 

[Pinkie Brown]

I wasn't at the game last night. I'm always a believer that you pick your strongest eleven first no matter what. The whole rotation idea has never sat comfortable with me. 'Resting' a central midfielder who is your best player in that position by a mile is crazy in my view. If Bayal was fully fit he should have started. No question.

 

[dazzer6666]

You beat me to this one. I wanted to start a thread to say exactly this but thought I would be hung out to dry. Without beating about the push his performance last night was embarrassing and simply not good enough. Last nights ref didn't need an excuse to give free kicks against us so Zamora thinking he could get away with such blatant fouling was quite sad to see.

Me too, didn't want to risk having my ST suspended and being banned from the city as some sort of heretic, but he appears to have lost it. Daft fouls, no pace, caught offside too easily - if it was Manu there would be a thread flaming him.

 

[Bold Seagull]

I wasn't at the game last night. I'm always a believer that you pick your strongest eleven first no matter what. The whole rotation idea has never sat comfortable with me. 'Resting' a central midfielder who is your best player in that position by a mile is crazy in my view. If Bayal was fully fit he should have started. No question.

I don't think Kayal is fully fit. He's carrying something hence we appear to be managing his appearances as best we can. Subbed v Hull and Leeds, rested for Cardiff and last night. These decisions have been spread over an equal period suggesting he has some form of niggle that perhaps settles down after some rest.

He is a massive miss when not in the team, I doubt anyone realises this more than Chris which is why I don't think he is ever leaving Kayal out by choice.

 

[darkwolf666]

Me too, didn't want to risk having my ST suspended and being banned from the city as some sort of heretic, but he appears to have lost it. Daft fouls, no pace, caught offside too easily - if it was Manu there would be a thread flaming him.

Personally I think Bobby still has a place but only in the starting line up, he is no good coming into a game where his lack of pace show him up. It's fine if he is brought on to hold the ball up but that wasn't the case last night, we were going for the win and we're just launching the ball up to a big front man, who didn't do his job, sorry! Start By but don't chuck him on to chase a game and then launch long balls at him!

 

[happygull]

Steve Sidwell frustrated the hell out of me last night, every time it was Stockdale, to Goldson, across to Dunk , forward to Sidwell !!! now if that had been Kayal it would have been turn, drive forward, link up with the forwards. But with Sidwell his initial thought was back to Goldson, retain possession. The only ones to try and drive forward with any real enthusiasm was Goldson and Dunk to a lesser extent which was ok until their final ball and showed why they are defenders.

 

[Tony Meolas Loan Spell]

Steve Sidwell frustrated the hell out of me last night, every time it was Stockdale, to Goldson, across to Dunk , forward to Sidwell !!! now if that had been Kayal it would have been turn, drive forward, link up with the forwards. But with Sidwell his initial thought was back to Goldson, retain possession. The only ones to try and drive forward with any real enthusiasm was Goldson and Dunk to a lesser extent which was ok until their final ball and showed why they are defenders.

I presume it was like a Gus and Oscar side. Sideways/backwards stuff.

 

[happygull]

I presume it was like a Gus and Oscar side. Sideways/backwards stuff.

Sideways/Backwards Dunk near halfway line, has an area 44 yards across to find stockdale with a back pass but only managed to put it out for a corner .... a good summing up of backwards lol

 

[rippleman]

I recall a quote in the paper when he came back that he was going to put the "nastiness" in our side because "you need a bit of nastiness to get promoted out of the Championship.". Really?

He has either lost it ie his legs have gone or he is yet another loanee who is only here for the money. Shocking, shameful performance last night.

Fit to wear the shirt? Barely. Better than Ince? Certainly not.