Alfie May and Blair

[Alan Southstand]

I thought Blair was our most creative midfielder yesterday. Not bad for someone who is playing right back. Mason apart, the other 3 leave a lot to be desired. Copps was way off yesterday and looks totally out of sorts, MacSheffrey improved things no end when he came on. Agree about midfield looking unbalanced and Rowe looks disinterested to me (walked straight off at the end whilst the others walked round applauding the fans). Some work needed from the manager before Tuesday.

Young Alfie was my motm yesterday, just edging Blair and Mason. His work rate was simply head and shoulders above everyone else's and, with a bit more luck, he could have had a couple of goals. Room for improvement, but I'd rather have him than have to play against him!

Disappointed that Mandy wasn't back yesterday, as the bench would have had a very solid look about it.

Another tricky game to manage on Tuesday.

[idler]

Our bench is starting to look very strong now.
To be able to bring Williams and McSheffrey on must dishearten opposition managers and defenders.
Copps's paying radar seemed a bit off yesterday but he wasn't the only one.
Rowe looked to be carrying an injury to me at Crawley so maybe dashed off for treatment or physio.
Plenty of positives from yesterday though.

[the vicar]

It was a mixture of great keeping and poor finishing.

Copps and May made a mess of the one before half time, can't really say that was great goalkeeping we messed it up.

The one he tipped over the bar from Marquis second half was outstanding though.

I don't blame May as the keeper closed hin down quick and brilliantly but Copps had an open goal

[ravenrover]

I'm no manager but I'd put Copps on the right of the diamond, Grant on the left and Rowe on point. Better balance for me.

That said I thought Grant had his best game since coming back. Copps was off it today.

Fully agree RB, been saying it for months but not your last sentence

[RoversAlias]

As well as making the second out of nothing, was it not May's quick flick on from the Blair cross that got it to Butler for the first? He was outstanding, as was Blair and particularly Mason too.

So easy for people on here to criticise players for the smallest things. I wonder what the hell these people go to football for because they're seemingly never satisfied.

[drfchound]

It was a mixture of great keeping and poor finishing.

Copps and May made a mess of the one before half time, can't really say that was great goalkeeping we messed it up.

The one he tipped over the bar from Marquis second half was outstanding though.

I don't blame May as the keeper closed hin down quick and brilliantly but Copps had an open goal

Copps shot was prevented from being a goal by a brilliant piece of defending.
If one of our lads had done that I don't think it would have been viewed as a bad miss by a Cheltenham player, we would have been raving about the clearance.

[ravenrover]

Back to Blair well as he has played is he wasted at right back/wing back?

[RedJ]

Yes.

[ravenrover]

Go on then RedJ as it's a Sunday, where would he be better playing in your opinion? You know mine

[RedJ]

As a right winger, which is what he is. Just that we can't fit him in there as there are other players that come before him in the pecking order.

I'm not disagreeing that he's done well there, but you asked if he was wasted, and he is.

[Alan Southstand]

As I said above, all our most dangerous moments came from Blair. It's his running with the ball, much like Alfie's which led to the 2nd goal. Teams can be as organised as they want, but having someone grasp the nettle and take the responsibility, it creates problems and sucks opposition players out of their comfort zones. The rest of the midfield could do it, they are all talented, but they simply do not seem to want to do it. Maybe it's the incessant need to keep possession, but yesterday we were guilty of giving the ball back through poor passing, so why not try something different now and again. It's certainly a lot more exciting to watch.
I will take the 3 Points all day, but the midfield just need a small amount of tweaking and it will click into place, I'm sure. And then someone can get ready. Hopefully it's v Plymouth!