Strength in depth

[jordanseagull]

Fringe players? that was a side of first-teamers with the exception of Dunk, Baz and Bridcutt. Just shows that we had an off-day, or that we really missed Kish and Bennett

Half of our team was a reserve side, no doubt about it.

No:

Ankergren
El-Abd
Greer
Bennett
LuaLua
Kishishev

 

[Lush]

Surely yesterday proved that without Bennett or Kazanga we run out of ideas, rathe than us not having cover for the strikers or full-backs?

I think this is right. Although I wish Jamie Smith had played an attacking midfield role from the start.

What has happened to Sparrow?

 

[BensGrandad]

Fringe players? that was a side of first-teamers with the exception of Dunk, Baz and Bridcutt. Just shows that we had an off-day, or that we really missed Kish and Bennett

How many of those that finished yesterday will be in the team on Saturday?

Calderon Barnes Dicker or Sparrow or Bridcutt 1 possibly but unlikely, 2 out of the 3, and of those that were substituted Painter Murray, so that is what is meant be fringe/squad players

 

[HP Seagull]

The most important of the many points to come out of yesterday, for me, was that we have NO creativity without Bennett. I think we'd struggle to maintain our form if he were to get injured and the biggest indication of Poyet's apathy towards yesterday was that he didn't bring him on.

 

[Husty]

Sparrow are first team regulars who had an off day.

I disagree on Sparrow having an off day, I just don't think he's that good, Swindon aside I havn't seen him put in a single decent performance, but maybe i've just been spoilt by crofts.

 

[BASINGSTOKESEAGULL]

Still don't see why we don't just bring back McNultly, not even playing for Scunthorpe at the minute and would offer cover at left back. As for the other positions we do need to strengthen January transfer window.

 

[Mellotron]

wrong account

 

[Chesney Christ]

Let me get this right.... Some people think that "fringe players" such as Bridcutt, Sparrow, Baz and Battipiedo are not good enough to beat Woking?!?!?

Has Bridcutt been shit this season then? Has Sparrow? Has Baz? Has Battipiedi? I can't my head round last night's result, but the conclusion that Matt Sparrow is out of his depth against Blue Square SOUTH opposition is not one I have reached just yet..............

 

[Chesney Christ]

I disagree on Sparrow having an off day, I just don't think he's that good, Swindon aside I havn't seen him put in a single decent performance, but maybe i've just been spoilt by crofts.

You didn't go to the Charlton game then?

 

[Husty]

You didn't go to the Charlton game then?

No I didn't so is that two? Out of how many performances? At best you can call him inconsistant

 

[Notters]

The players there ARE good enough, what was lacking was motivation, it was obvious that Gus didn't give a toss, and therefore neither did the players, I don't think we should assume that is how they would play in the league, and we have seen several of them put in much better shifts in the last couple of months.

Absolutely this. I'm struggling to comprehend how anyone can think this team weren't good enough when it was plain to see that they just couldn't be ARSED. Looked to me that they were trying to lose the game but that Woking weren't even capable of having a shot, hence 0-0.

 

[HP Seagull]

You didn't go to the Charlton game then?

To be fair the only really top class game I've seen him have was at Swindon. He did well at Charlton without being spectacular. When he signed some people seemed to think we had signed a better player than Crofts. So far this has not been the case.

He's a decent player but he's struggled to maintain the standards he showed against Swindon, and he was poor yesterday, although we won't hold that against him as the whole team was rubbish!

 

[Seaber]

It's a disappointing result, but I think it would be unfair to suggest releasing players based on yesterdays form. Before Lualua came back, I seem to remember Smith performing admirably on the left, and Baz and Battipiedi have had so few first team opportunities that I think it is somewhat unjustified to write them off after this cup game.

 

[Lush]

To be fair the only really top class game I've seen him have was at Swindon. He did well at Charlton without being spectacular. When he signed some people seemed to think we had signed a better player than Crofts. So far this has not been the case.

He's a decent player but he's struggled to maintain the standards he showed against Swindon, and he was poor yesterday, although we won't hold that against him as the whole team was rubbish!

Gus assumed, perhaps wrongly, that for the fringe players the chance of getting through and playing in the next round(s) was motivation enough.

 

[Kalimantan Gull]

Half of our team was a reserve side, no doubt about it.

No:

Ankergren
El-Abd
Greer
Bennett
LuaLua
Kishishev

How many of those that finished yesterday will be in the team on Saturday?

Calderon Barnes Dicker or Sparrow or Bridcutt 1 possibly but unlikely, 2 out of the 3, and of those that were substituted Painter Murray, so that is what is meant be fringe/squad players

I would consider Brezovan, Elphick and Sparrow first-team players, and arguably Bridcutt too, rather than 'reserves'

 

[Reinelt12]

We have just had 4 fantastic matches where pretty much every player has been on form... at some point a game was going to come along when they weren't...

From my point of view, the likes of Painter/Calde/Murray/Barnes/Dicker having a bad game yesterday isn't such a bad thing, get it over with and go up to Hartlepool and play like we have the previous 4... I seem to remember we were flying last season until Hartlepool away and then got beat in a poor performance... maybe this cup tie came at exactly the right time!

We aren't going to play badly very often - therefore for it to be a game that we can play very poorly and STILL be in the competition is actually a positive!

 

[theonesmith]

That's a really good point - not so much the left cos Smithy and Baz impress me but who have we got if Elliott Bennett ever died or summink? Hart?

edit: I suppose Kaz is a natural right footer

Gosh, think I may be alone in my opinions as I haven't seen them posted on this board yet! Whether that's a good or bad thing we shall see..

First, the match really highlighted to me the lack of wingers we have. Bennett has contributed to just over half the goals our team has scored with assists. But I disagree with Danny's point above- I don't see either Smith or Baz as wingers. Baz (who I see as a striker) was always looking to shoot instead of the Bennett/Lua Lua move of get to the byline and fizz one in.. Smith is much more of an attacking midfielder.

I'm not sure if we have any players in the development/youth team, or if Baz/Smith can be coached into wingers, but there was absolutely no width nor player running at pace and taking players on yesterday.

Which leads me to why it was 0-0 and such a crap game. With no width nor penetration on the wings, Woking let us pass back and forth along our midfield and made sure that when a pass came in to our forward line their player got there first. It really reminded me of us against 9 man Wallsall, when they literally camped in their box and defended everything coming into it.

Be interesting to see if anyone agrees with me.

 

[KneeOn]

Fringe players? that was a side of first-teamers with the exception of Dunk, Baz and Bridcutt. Just shows that we had an off-day, or that we really missed Kish and Bennett

Or we just coasted it.

Bennett is key to the team though. He's our spark. KLL is a spark be he's not our player and we might not have him second half of the season (but i really really really do want him to stay, he's got more potential than anyplayer i've ever seen at his age)

 

[theonesmith]

Gosh, think I may be alone in my opinions as I haven't seen them posted on this board yet! Whether that's a good or bad thing we shall see..

First, the match really highlighted to me the lack of wingers we have. Bennett has contributed to just over half the goals our team has scored with assists. But I disagree with Danny's point above- I don't see either Smith or Baz as wingers. Baz (who I see as a striker) was always looking to shoot instead of the Bennett/Lua Lua move of get to the byline and fizz one in.. Smith is much more of an attacking midfielder.

I'm not sure if we have any players in the development/youth team, or if Baz/Smith can be coached into wingers, but there was absolutely no width nor player running at pace and taking players on yesterday.

Which leads me to why it was 0-0 and such a crap game. With no width nor penetration on the wings, Woking let us pass back and forth along our midfield and made sure that when a pass came in to our forward line their player got there first. It really reminded me of us against 9 man Wallsall, when they literally camped in their box and defended everything coming into it.

Be interesting to see if anyone agrees with me.

Not to say a lot of our players didn't make mistakes. However, I thought our biggest threat against Exeter was ourselves and bad mistakes and we still turned them over. I also thought we really missed the back three of Ankergren, El-Abd and Greer- their vision with the ball is highlighted when you play the reserve three.

 

[BensGrandad]

I would consider Brezovan, Elphick and Sparrow first-team players, and arguably Bridcutt too, rather than 'reserves'

Squad players not first choice players however you like to describe or elevate them.