A home game at last and one we would surely win after Tuesdays performance, I arrived at BP in Optimistic mood. Of course I should have known better. When the team was read out we looked for the surprise Wilko had promised and took bets on who was getting the move from defence and where, we had a great laugh when some one suggested Brightwell as centre forward. Surely for Brightwell to play up front we would have seen some glimpses of his goal mouth ability before. All the corners he's come up for that resulted in goals? Those neat quick passes he's reknowned for? His ability to look and place the ball? His breakneck speed? He did set up the goal when his balled dropped to Halliday but against that everything else he did just didn't work, he looked unfit, out of place and unhappy, got yellow carded and could have got another for persistant argueing. Such experiments may be worth a go in the AWS but not in a vital league match.
Of the newbies Halliday is certainly a class act, he's not going to waste energy hunting for the ball, he needs players that can feed him. If he gets the ball near the box you feel goal chance, not as of late, hows this one going to be wasted.
McKinnon, very unfit, drifted out of the game for long periods. Had one chance on goal which he took with confidence making the keeper struggle to save. That was enough for me to say we'll keep him! At the back Teale was masterful, he has supreme confidence, offputting to the oposition, runs the back line Franco Baresi style (well ok a division 3 version ) and even in difficult situations usually manages to place not just hoof the ball. Teale and Reid a combination that musn't be split up. Van de Kwaak had so little do his ability couldn't be judged, a very dubious penalty was taken well. He certainly looks imposing. From pre match reports I had visions of a big Nev on stilts, he's certainly not overweight, just a big bloke.
Of the others Hopper (not usually one I would include in a team) had a reasonable game but was limping when he came to the touchline. Serle didn't have the best of games and was often to be seen screaming in acres of space on the left whilst the ball went through the crowded middle. Clarke had a couple of runs and no awful defensive lapses, phew! Barr kept it simple and did ok til taken off with a bad knee injury. Dobie had an awful game, never seems happy off centre. Time and again he did a neat turn and lost his man only to hold the ball too long and give it away. Pitts on for Barr made no real impression either way. After screaming for Wilko to sub Brightwell for Durnin through three quarters of the match, Durnin came on and promtly gave his first three balls away! He did show some good touches though and I still think the game could have been won with him on from the start. Anthony came in for Hopper, didn't know how he'd cope against a big awkward Shrewsbury team but he amiediately started to put accurate balls to the forwards, he may yet be what Halliday is looking for.
Shrewsbury were a very poor team, one of the worst this season, we should have won. Effort 8, tactics 0.
Bumble
Much better than a defeat, though. I thought the performance was an improvement as well apart from one or two. Brightwell as target man up front paid off for the goal but the rest of the time he showed his lack of match fitness - bring back the Reserves. Dobie was awful - I found myself wanting him replaced by Tracey; sez it all! Halliday and Teale impressed me very much whilst the jury's still out on McKinnon and van der Kwaak didn't have that much to do (apart from concede a dubious penalty and get fouled by Mr "I'll show you how crap big target men can be" Gayle). Red card? Ref had no hesitation. Durnin doesn't improve with age. Hopper and Reid were very good - for Prokas, read Hopper! I can see why Leeds are reputedly ready with £2m for Reid - far too soon, though. Shrewsbury were awful - possibly the worst team up here this season although there's plenty of competition for that title. So why are we where we are?
Any news on Billy Barr? He was carried off with his legs strapped together - some say broken leg, some say broken ankle. Either way, that's him for the season - my wife says he can spend lots of time bonding with his new baby!!
The doughnuts were lovely - thanks Dave!
Rob Scott-Buccleuch
Thoroughly depressing. I can't understand why we're so bad with the players we've got. Reid, Teale, Dobie, Halliday, McKinnon are all good enough to play at a higher level yet between equalising and Gayle being sent off we just let Shrewsbury play.
We need a leader on the pitch. Did you see Brightwell throw down the armband when he was substituted? Then Johnny Lager gave it to Dobie. What a farce. There's no-one telling them not to defend so deep or to keep the ball instead of hoofing it. We need a Saddington, a Saunders, an O'Riordan, a Davey, or a Balderstone.
Oh, and we don't need Kevin Francis. Halliday is miles better - if we'd keep the ball he'd score 15 before the end of the season.
Andrew Ashbridge
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