A battling performance that was similar to what was offered against Gillingham. Credit must go to GR for putting some fire in to the players and getting them to fight hard and compete for 90 minutes. We are now extremely hard to beat based on the evidence of the last 2 games.
I don't know what has happened to Bolder. GR has transformed the guy. He was brilliant. Not as good as his midfield partner Jack Dyer. He is an excellent player for the future and awesome today.
The back four was brilliant again. Stanno and Rhino had incredible games.
As a spectacle it was very ugly. Crawley are the worst hoof ball, long ball and kick and rush outfit I have ever seen. Effective perhaps but lacking in finesse.
We looked like we would be happy with 0-0 right from the start. If we're honest we didn't really look like scoring all afternoon. And yet Crawley did not create much either. Great free kick save from Ross Atkins but that was about it.
Upfront we are lacking at the moment. Richards looks like a shadow of the guy who kicked off the season with us. Someone commented at the game that he is famous (or infamous) for doing this wherever he goes - fades game by game through the season. I am not qualified to comment on anything pre-Brewers.
With the passing of time and somewhat belatedly, I am now finding Maghoma's comments pre-season and mid-season more and more hilarious. It started with 'I have unfinished business at Burton' before the season kicked off. Mid-season he stated that he was 'the best player at the club'. Priceless.
Extremely happy with a point. We have some big players injured and we should not forget that. Billy, Calvin, Lego and Macca being out is some loss.
Brewers 0 Crawley 0
posted on 1/4/12
Well done Brewers for showing some fight , I am happy with a point against Crawley as most teams in this league would be. A win or even a draw might seal league safety.
posted on 1/4/12
I'm also happy with a point. I actually thought Crawley were a much better footballing side than their reputation suggested. They cut through our defence at will early doors. As someone near me said, reminiscent of Swindon, who played us off the park for half an hour (before we turned them over 2-0)
Much better after the break, though I thought we allowed Sergio Torres far too much room - he was running the game for long periods.
But we suddenly much much safer at the back. Agree that Rhino earned the MOTM though another strong show from Stanno.
I read that the Fat Scotsman thinks they dominated from end to end and that the martians could see the clear penalty.
Wonder if he saw the blatent shove on Rhino when he was attacking a corner late on, or the constant falling over to "win" free kicks. (a.k.a. cheating). No 2 & No 9 were the worst offenders with one lovely comedy moment when Mags tried to tackle the substantial centre back (Dempster?) and over he went like a giant redwood.
Someone on another thread suggested that Evans was linked with the manager's job here? I've not had much sympathy for those that have stayed away in protest at Pesch's prolonged stay of execution, or at Gaz's pitch for promotion to the hot seat but I have to say short of signing Lee Hughes, I can't think of anything more likely to cause me to walk away. Don't even think about it, Ben.
So is that it now? Is 47 points enough? Well, statistically, not yet, of course, though with eight teams behind us, seven of which would need two wins more than we achieve to overtake us, it will take an extraordinary set of results to send us down now.
We're done with the contenders as well - three of the relegation battlers and three of the end of season mid-tablers to go, I'd like to think we can get 2 wins and 2 draws at least.
So where do we go from here. Whatever April brings, our second half of the season will have been relegation form so we surely can't delude ourselves that it was all a blip and carry on as we are.
A change in the driving seat? Well I'm as impressed as the next man/woman at the spirit shown in the last two, but what will happen when we goal a goal behind? ISS the Wimbledon collapse really behind us yet? Already said, a good point yesterday but we gave a lot of ball away, and never really looked like scoring did we?
Some big decisions due on the playing side.
Correct me if I'm wrong but decisions needed on the following contracts: - Tony James, Jimmy Phillips, Jack Dyer, Kevin Poole, Danny Blanchett, Adi Yusseff, Nathan Stanton, Ryan Austin, Aaron Webster, Adam Bolder, Greg Pearson, Andres Guerrerri.
First pick? Jack. Excellent in March. He said it was a big season and he's grabbing his chance with both hands. Sign him up NOW before someone else nips in. Do not want another James Collins.
Stanno? Was beginning to wonder but he was immense on Tuesday and solid yesterday. He can stay.
Aaron & Rhino. Both part of the furniture. Can't remember a time without them. I'd keep them, but hope that we've a strong enough squad not to need them every week.
Kev will stay on as a coach, I hope, but can't really see him between the sticks now.
Jimmy's given it a go this week, but nowhere near often enough over three years.
Blanchett,Yusseff & Guerreri haven't given us anything new. (Bit harsh on the latter, but ultimately too lightweight for this league)
TJ & Greg? Eternally grateful and honorary induction to the Brewers Hall of Fame for their part in gaining league status. But that was three years ago and it's time to look forward.
Which leaves Adam Bolder as the toughest choice. Could come down to budget. Jack's the future. Macca's still got a year to go and we've got Chrissie Palmer and Mags on two year deals as cover / itching to play in the middle. If we want to attract a quality creative midfielder as well I just can't see how we can fit them all in. Sorry, Adam. Sometimes it just comes down to timing.
Just for the record, I have Macca, Ronnie, Mags, Calvin, Cleveland, Chris P, Justin & Billy already signed up, so my shopping list would have to be -
Goalkeeper (or 2)
Full Backs x 2
Centre Back (must be 6ft +++)
Creative Central Midfielder
Apprentice striker to learn from Billy, Calvin & Justin
Over to you, guys..........................
posted on 1/4/12
I thought they were a good solid side,very strong on and off the ball.We did very well to get a precious point due to some resolute defending.That said i will be glad to get to the end of the season remaining in league 2.Looking forward to a lot of changes in playing staff and of course management,in fact im very excited about that coming event with the hope there will be a breath of fresh air through the club of which has gone very stale.Lets hope we can get 4 or 5 points more to make things look a little bit more respectable.
posted on 1/4/12
Sorry, but I can't agree about the strikers. It can't be said enough -
Kee - the jury's out. Great start, but then.. prior to this season, has never got into double figures. If he can stay fit and find his feet again, great. But to coach apprentice strikers.. he's still learning himself.
Richards - one goal since boxing day. Everybody seemed to conveniently ignore this until the team got dragged down because nobody else was scoring either.
Apparently he didn't want to come here - I certainly didn't want him to, but hey ho, who am I other than yet another mug (in theory) with cash to spend on the turnstiles. Long barren spells seem to be a part of his game.
I've always been mystified by the strange hold he has on the imagination of many people connected to this club; this seems to go back to his Woking days, when Nigel Clough announced loudly and repeatedly to anyone who would listen that he was going to sign him, despite repeatedly being knocked back. Maybe it's just a coincidence that Peschisolido acted when Port Vale kicked him out last summer..
Zola - injury prone and inconsistent. Is it three goals in 2012? At least he's got more than Richards.. Peschisolido fed the press the line that he just needed a full pre-season of training to be a world-beater. You could be forgiven for thinking that at several clubs over several seasons of professional football he's never done that before. What he has done more than once before is flatter to deceive.
How long before he gets back to full fitness this time?
The lack of goals is a major contributing factor to the club's post-Christmas slump. They have not pulled their weight over the course of a full season.
If you only need to perform for four months of the year, then the club could save a lot of time and hassle and offer Peschisolido his job back; after all, he's got a track record of bluffing it out for the first half of the season.
posted on 1/4/12
Surprised you thought highly of Crawley guys. Strong, well organised and driving forwards in numbers but it was extremely ugly. It was long high ball and route one every time. I would not want to watch that every week.
And maybe Crawley fans are not that impressed either. That away support was pathetic for a side 3rd in the table. How many were there - 200? Absolutely pathetic. It was a nice sunny spring day for a 3pm kick off. Not a winter Tuesday night 7.45pm affair. I would like to think that had we been 3rd in the table we would show more support in numbers than that.