Subs today

[Padge_DRFC]

Massive fan of Moore, not too much the personnel but our biggest goal threat and it always going to be more so from the left Sadlier being moved to the right was a poor choice. Would have personally took Ramsey off today also ahead of Taylor.

[POD]

I think that going 1-0 up so early gave us a false sense of security.  We never had any real domination of the game.  The obvious substitution to make was to bring on Coppinger at half time in place of either Gomez or Ramsey who were both ineffective.  I know it’s not nice to knock the confidence of young players, but it was obvious that we were struggling in midfield and Copps would likely have given us that steadiness and ability to hold on to the ball which we were clearly lacking. 

[karldew]

I guessed the subs would be
On - Ennis, Fey and Copps
Off - Taylor, Cole, Gomes

Only one I got wrong was Copps. If he’d of come on we would of probably walked away with 3 points!

[Cbrover24]

Agreed with most on here, think the game was screening out for Copps to come in and unlock there defence!! I like Sheaf and he has done well while been here, put like a few of the other comments, I think big Daz got it wrong with sheaf instead of Copps! We move on, hopefully 3pts against Bolton on Tuesday! 👍

[BillyStubbsTears]

Sheaf was the right one to put on. It was just 30 mins too late.

If he'd come on for Gomes or Ramsay, we might have filled that hole in the middle of the park before they scored.

Bad, bad mistake by Moore. But he hasn't made too many to be fair.

[5minstogo]

I was surprised he took Taylor off.  Both he and Sads had the measure of their full backs and then swapping Sads to the right was a double whammy. Ennis barely did a thing and we lost a bit of momentum in that respect.

[drfchound]

......and yet I thought Ennis looked lively and added to our threat.

[bedale rover]

I was surprised he took Taylor off.  Both he and Sads had the measure of their full backs and then swapping Sads to the right was a double whammy. Ennis barely did a thing and we lost a bit of momentum in that respect.

Taylor was poor
His free kicks and corners were meat and drink for their goalie
The right side was poor all day

[DonnyOsmond]

Sadlier was the only one who tried today minus the subs. Okenabirhie looks decent.

[Campsall rover]

Massive fan of Moore, not too much the personnel but our biggest goal threat and it always going to be more so from the left Sadlier being moved to the right was a poor choice. Would have personally took Ramsey off today also ahead of Taylor.

Disagree Padge. I like Sadlier on the right and he had one of his best games this season playing on the right at Tranmere on Tuesday on the sand.

The fact is we just didn’t put the intensity into our play as we did in those 2nd half 45+ mins at Prenton Park.
When 2 of your midfielders have a bad day at the office the the team isn’t going to function as it should.
Both Gomes & Ramsey had poor games. Whiteman was having to do all the work. Hence lack of quick precise distribution to the wide players and that had an effect on the service Devante Cole received.

Look it was a bad day it the office. We can’t afford more than one or two at most from now to the seasons last game or we won’t achieve top 6.
It’s all about consistency now. We need a serious run of 3 point results. Can be done. I think we have a squad capable. Will we do it?  It’s up to the players now to show how much they want it.
Still like to see Copps play as many mins as he is capable of.

[Campsall rover]

It’s amazing how many different views there are on yesterday’s game.

Just shows whatever the manager does some will think he got it wrong unless we win.

It’s all about the result. Good teams win when they have an off day.
We haven’t done that enough this season. That’s the difference between 2012/13 and this seasons team.

Still 15 to play. Win 10 and should get a play off place. It’s achievable.

[Donnywolf]

I was told (by lots of Fans) both during the Game and on the long walk to the Car that Copps should have been on to revel in all the empty space available and I was surprised that he never arrived

Maybe he was being "saved" for Tuesday but one day we wont have the luxury of saving him because he will have retired so I agree with all the people telling me that he should have been brought on and let Tuesday take care of itself

Have to agree though its fine margins because had we have been given the Penalty AND scored from it we would have saved Copps AND had three points. Who would be a Manager ?

[selby]

  The subs yesterday were no way as important as the starting line up. Coppinger and Sheaf are better players than Gomes and Ramsey.

[i_ateallthepies]

Ramsey scored two on Tuesday, I can just see the reaction on here had he been on the bench for yesterday's game and we got the result we did.

[Padge_DRFC]

For me Gomes can't be played unless Sheaf and Whiteman are playing. He's too weak. To me he's got technical ability. But something missing between the ears.

[Campsall rover]

Ramsey scored two on Tuesday, I can just see the reaction on here had he been on the bench for yesterday's game and we got the result we did.

It worked on Tuesday yes. But Gomes and Ramsey in the same team is a luxury we can’t afford in most games. Both very inexperienced young players and it showed yesterday.

Don’t like criticising the manager but he got the starting 11 wrong yesterday. If they were injured fair enough but they were on the bench! So assume not.

[The Red Baron]

Moore said he didn't want to bring Copps on due to the injection in his ankle last week- he wanted to give him more time to recover.

If that's the case, fair enough, but in that case don't take up a space on the bench.

I agree completely about Sheaf- he should have been on much earlier and if he had been we'd probably have won.

For Tuesday, Copps, Sheaf and Okenabirhie need to be starting.

[drfchound]

Agreed TRB.
I made the same suggestion on another thread.

[selby]

  Going back to the Gomes Ramsey game at  Tranmere, Ramsey was described when he first signed as an attacking mid field player, I think we can all agree Gomes is better as a defensive mid fielder.
  At Tranmere, and in the first half yesterday both players were played in the complete opposite positions, and in neither game did they play well. Ramsey scored two in the second half at Tranmere but in the first half was like yesterday in the first half looked like a little boy lost. Gomes in both games in the first half pushed further forward distinctly average.
  Are we asking them to play a game foreign to their ability? I don't think anybody on here would expect Gomes to dictate play further forward, he was completly overpowered and outplayed that first half at Tranmere by McCullough who looked the best midfielder on the park in that first half.
  In the second half Ramsey scored two very good goals following the ball into the box for the cross, great play. But the second half was completely dominated by Whiteman who had his best game for quite some time.

[dickos1]

i don’t think gomes is a defensive midfielder, he very rarely wins tackles and is far too lightweight to be in the side as our defensive midfielder winning the ball back.
I see Ramsay and Gomes as almost identical players which is why I don’t think we can play both.
Anyhow on Tuesday if drop them both and play copps with sheaf

[BillyStubbsTears]

He hasn't played as a defensive midfielder recently. Certainly not yesterday. His primary role yesterday when we didn't have the ball was pushing forwards and trying to close down the opposition back line.

As I've said, I don't think he played well yesterday, but he was far from alone. I'd be interested to see the distance run stats, because I suspect he'd be at or near the top of the list.

I'd also point out for the record that, re-watching the iFollow footage, there was one 90 second period in the first half in which he won three tackles. I'd hazard a guess that he wouldn't have been far from the top of the tackles won list yesterday, if only because there was precious little competition.

[Padge_DRFC]

We're just better off playing with 2 holding midfielders. Sheaf is so underrated without the ball. We know he's mostly good on it already.

[BillyStubbsTears]

We're just better off playing with 2 holding midfielders. Sheaf is so underrated without the ball. We know he's mostly good on it already.

Agreed. Been a strange decision to drop him.

[bobjimwilly]

  The subs yesterday were no way as important as the starting line up. Coppinger and Sheaf are better players than Gomes and Ramsey.

Do we know why Coppinger didn't feature?

[drfchound]

  The subs yesterday were no way as important as the starting line up. Coppinger and Sheaf are better players than Gomes and Ramsey.

Do we know why Coppinger didn't feature?

Well, one story is that he was carrying a knock.
If that is the case then it was a silly move to put him on the bench.
It could be argued that he was there in case we “needed” him but according to some (including me) he was needed later in the game as we had lost control of the midfield.
I have seen elsewhere where people have said that he had got over his ankle injury.

[BillyStubbsTears]

I don't think Coppinger was the answer at any time on Saturday. When we got the ball,we had little trouble creating very good chances. Apart from the goal, we had:

Sadlier hitting the post
Taylor through with a one-on-one shot
The kerfuffle in the goalmouth at the start of the second half
The close-range chance for Sadlier from the left wing move that was hacked away off the line.

Those were all Grade A chances and efforts and we'd have expected one of those at least to go in on a normal day.

So we had no problem causing them problems when we had the ball. The problem was us getting the ball and breaking up their attacks. Which is why Sheaf should have been on at half-time.

[selby]

Billy, we have rarely this season in any match, had so much room or possession of the ball in midfield, and that was without two of our best three players in Coppinger and Sheaf being on the field.
  The fact that we did not capitalise on that possession and the two players who were playing were seen as fairly poor by most who attended, was the reason for us only getting a draw from the game.
  Also the fact that Rochdale's mid field were recognised as playing well in the game, suggests that their play when the opposition were in their pattern of play when we did not have possession of the ball was a weakness, and to disrupt the other teams play is just as important, as when we have the ball.
   Sheaf is better than Gomes both in possession and being in the right areas of the field and winning it back, and Coppinger takes care of the ball and is more creative than Ramsey, and dominates space better, the starting places and substitute positions should have been reversed.
  Just gets down to poor team selection in my eyes. mistakes happen, but with games running out we need our better players to start games, and looking for economy of energy for such as Coppinger by using tactical substitutions when possible, not for the sake of it.

[Colin C No.3]

I don't think Coppinger was the answer at any time on Saturday. When we got the ball,we had little trouble creating very good chances. Apart from the goal, we had:

Sadlier hitting the post
Taylor through with a one-on-one shot
The kerfuffle in the goalmouth at the start of the second half
The close-range chance for Sadlier from the left wing move that was hacked away off the line.

Those were all Grade A chances and efforts and we'd have expected one of those at least to go in on a normal day.

So we had no problem causing them problems when we had the ball. The problem was us getting the ball and breaking up their attacks. Which is why Sheaf should have been on at half-time.

Disagree about Copps.

When fit (others on here have said he was carrying an injury, which would explain Moore’s decision not to use him...perhaps) Copps is our best creative midfield player by a country mile.

Having the creativity he brings to the team puts the opposition on the back foot, breaks up their momentum & creates more for the team going forward.

The chances you mention were all goal scoring opportunities, I just feel that with Copps on Sadlier, Taylor, Halliday, James,Ennis (when played) & hopefully soon we can add the new players to those, know that when he has the ball they can start their run, take up an attacking stance, regroup defensively, push on, go wide, stay deep, in other words, when Jamie Coppinger has the ball, ‘time stands still’ therefore 4 goal scoring opportunities becomes 6 or 7 or 9.

We have no one else like him.