The midfield and strikers

[steve@dcfd]

Whoever gets the managers job the midfield and striker blend must be the priority to sort out.


Rob must look long and hard for next Saturday.

Will have to wait and see if Williams and Tyson are fit to play. N'Guessan showed today he is definitely ready for a starting place.
Gobern and Main showed the opposite they are not.

Keegan did his job and he deserves to start again.

So let's hope he can get it right because today he got it wrong for majority of the game.

[bedale rover]

Thought that Keegan only got going when wellens came on before that he barely made a successful pass!

[Lesonthewest]

Thought that Keegan only got going when wellens came on before that he barely made a successful pass!
[/quote

Agreed, they play well together & Wellens isn't as exposed with Keegan behind him.

[Big MAC]

used to moan at Keegan always going sidewise or backwards with his passing. after today's performance I would gladly put up with it as his forward passing was truly woeful!

[GazLaz]

Wellens has made a lot of his midfield partners look better than what they are throughout his career.

[DRNaith]

I think a midfield four of Stewart, Wellens,  Keegan and Evina, and a front two of N'Guessan and either Williams or Tyson is a high quality selection for this league. Also, that is on the foundation of a reasonably solid defence and GK

[IDM]

I think a midfield four of Stewart, Wellens,  Keegan and Evina, and a front two of N'Guessan and either Williams or Tyson is a high quality selection for this league. Also, that is on the foundation of a reasonably solid defence and GK

Agreed. We looked dangerous with Wellens and N'Guessan on the pitch.  A shame for Main as I believe he will come good more often, but if fit I expect Williams to start with Dani next game.

If Lund is out, we need a RB on Loan.  Evina has been playing well IMHO but was out of place yesterday.

[Rovers91]

I think a midfield four of Stewart, Wellens,  Keegan and Evina, and a front two of N'Guessan and either Williams or Tyson is a high quality selection for this league. Also, that is on the foundation of a reasonably solid defence and GK

Agree with that, looks very strong would be pleased to see that line up at Sheff Utd.

[RedJ]

Thought that Keegan only got going when wellens came on before that he barely made a successful pass!

In part because Gobern was shite.

[IDM]

I agree, Gobern was anonymous.  If anything Wellens should have replaced him at half time.

[DonnyBazR0ver]

We lack a ruthlessness in front of goal highlighted by Copps mare. Of all players, with the skill and experience he has, he should be hitting the target.

If Tyson's fit next week, then Mr Adkins might underestimate us on what he saw yesterday, although he'll try and snuff Wellens out.

[RedJ]

Coppinger isn't a striker and never will be.

[Sammy Chung was King]

We might yet have the right midfield combination in the club, don't write Gobern off yet, it's early days, Stewart i think could be a good signing, fresh start for him, N'Guessen could prove to be a real plus for us.
Evina it doesn't surprise me that he is doing better further forward, he was one of the best wing backs in the championship, put him in a flat back four though, and you won't get his best.
If Keegan isn't to be replaced, you at least need another player directly in competition for his place so you can rest him, here and there.

[Ronnie Dovers]

It's going back 18 months i know, Wellens especially has aged since then, but there was a spell in the Championship from Jan/Feb until Wellens got injured for the last few games that the Wellens/Keegan central midfield two looked very solid, and we scored some goals. I still have hope for that partnership now, in league one.

[DRNaith]

Remind me, of these new players we have, which are loan signings and which are permanent?

[dickos1]

Am I cracking uo . That's two people that have suggested evina didn't play full back on satyrday?  But he did

[big fat yorkshire pudding]

Am I cracking uo . That's two people that have suggested evina didn't play full back on satyrday?  But he did

A big part of our positive play was the full backs getting much more involved on Saturday, which was good to see.  I actually thought Evina had a good game.  He's a bit shaky defensively at times but caused a lot of problems.  He has certainly improved.

[bpoolrover]

Don't think you can blame keegan he has hardly played for months

[idler]

The problem with Evina on Saturday was he was giving his winger far too much room. He must have been playing to orders surely as after the first long ball found his winger in acres of space he carried on the same.

[dickos1]

I don't think Jones would give orders to give their winger all the time and space he requires

[The Red Baron]

I wasn't at the game but was the Oldham winger getting space on the outside, I.e. Evina's right?

If so I would say that is a hazard of playing a left footer at right back.

[grayx]

I wasn't at the game but was the Oldham winger getting space on the outside, I.e. Evina's right?

If so I would say that is a hazard of playing a left footer at right back.

I'm still baffled why Evina was playing right back.

[Alan Southstand]

I'm still baffled why Evina was playing right back.

Because we havn't got one that is fit. In fact, we only have Lund who is supposed to be a right back, the other was a square peg in a round hole. Something we seem to enjoy doing (playing people out of position that is).

The front two we couldn't comment on as a pair, due to AW's misfortune so early in the game, but I can more or less guarantee whoever plays alongside Main will not have as good a game as when partnering someone else. Its quite simple, Main is, and has been for some time, a shocking excuse for a striker. I have no idea what he did on Saturday and I witnessed it! If RJ thinks he's OK then I seriously have to question Rob's judgement of a player.

Hat's off to Dany, who worked tirelessly and was only really found wanting because of his lack of match fitness and he will get better with games. So, hopefully we'll have Tyson and Williams and Dany to pick from, or all 3 depending on what the manager thinks. One thing is for sure, RJ somehow needs to make a big impact in the next 2 or the job will not be there.

Personally, I'd prefer a more experienced manager who will allow RJ to be his assistant. That would be the best outcome all round IMHO.

[Mike_F]

I wasn't at the game but was the Oldham winger getting space on the outside, I.e. Evina's right?

If so I would say that is a hazard of playing a left footer at right back.

Correct, RB and that was my take on it at the time.

[Mike_F]

Another thing about Evina playing on the right: He had to check back and cross in-swinging balls which he invariably overhit every time. His crossing isn't consistently great from the left wing but it was woeful on Saturday.

[Alan Southstand]

In other words Mike - we need (and have needed since we kicked off the season) a proper RB - who has the confidence to get up and support and get in the occassional cross

[Sammy Chung was King]

Stephen Kelly-experienced, solid defending and attacking, poor management after last season not to recruit a specialist, we made do, now we have a totally left footed playing there, makes sense doesn't it?.

[steve@dcfd]

Stephen Kelly-experienced, solid defending and attacking, poor management after last season not to recruit a specialist, we made do, now we have a totally left footed playing there, makes sense doesn't it?.

At the Age of 32, was offered a contract at Reading in July, is he without a club? You keep bringing up his name.

He should be better than what we have. But why sign another thirty year old player.

[BillyStubbsTears]

Alan

The Saturday before must have been an aberration then, because Main had a good game in the hole, finding space and moving the ball quickly and intelligently, in adding to one excellent 40 yard run and 25 yard shot that was a coat of paint wide of the post.

Main has the potential to be an excellent player. He'll not be if we use him as a line-leader to have balls lumped up to. Use him in the hole and he could be very useful.

[grayx]

Alan

The Saturday before must have been an aberration then, because Main had a good game in the hole, finding space and moving the ball quickly and intelligently, in adding to one excellent 40 yard run and 25 yard shot that was a coat of paint wide of the post.

Main has the potential to be an excellent player. He'll not be if we use him as a line-leader to have balls lumped up to. Use him in the hole and he could be very useful.

Sorry BST but I was at Walsall and watched a different Curtis Main to the one that youve just described. Yes he had a decent long range effort in the first half, yes he found a team mate with a couple of passes in the second half. That was it. The remainder of the game he did his usual labrador impression, running around without any purpose or end product. The fans  who were sat near us were as mystifed as me  how he wasnt taken off.