So much seems to have happened since last Sunday
Wednesday's cup tie against Bury was an opportunity for the squad to give Nigel some selection headaches, but in my view this didn't really amount to much. Calum Butcher was selected as a striker but despite his late, and ultimately winning goal, he didn't look much like a striker. Very few headers won and his hold up play was lacking. Similarly Callum Reilly scored a good goal, but did little else to mark him out as a must pick for the Championship games. The exception was Tom Naylor. Selected at centre back he looked every inch the part and as he is also our top scorer he must be pushing for a start.
Bury are never easy to beat and so it proved, with the turning point coming when Stuart Beavon spun and unleashed an early goal of the season contender. Beav did as he always does, 100% but didn't have the supply or support that his effort deserved until after the introduction of Matty Palmer and Lucas Akins.
Nice to see a good round of applause for Zeli Ismail as he was withdrawn.
The result paled into insignificance once the draw for the next round was made. Liverpool at the Pirelli. One to savour, though watching them destroy Arsenal either side of half time today will be a source of nightmares given our current vulnerability either side of the interval!
And so to yesterday. Deja Vu. A good performance against a team in red spoiled by a brace of goals from a striker whose surname begins with "A"!
Apart from the two scrappy goals the defence looked solid enough and we created a number of exciting opportunities. The flowing move down the left in the first half where Irvine released Dyer who put in an early low cross that just evaded Akins would have been another goal of the season contender had Lucas made a connection.
That we need to convert good play into points is a given, but not far away and no reason to make wholesale changes to the formation or personnel just yet.
I think the view from the Pop Side would be Naylor for Flanagan on Tuesday. I see that Ash Wilkinson's comments in the Mail take exception to the reaction to his substitution. This can be my 'gripe of the week'! We pay our money and do not need an "excuse" to voice our opinions. Mine, with the benefit of fifty years of watching football at various levels is that Tom was having a nightmare of a second half. This doesn't make him a bad player overnight but Nigel was completely right to pull him out of it to save him and the team further embarrassment. Defensively, the Bristol full back, Bryan, had the freedom of the borough and was making a nuisance of himself. Kodija was also finding lots of room on the left flank. Offensively, Tom got himself into three good positions but was on his heels when a smarter reaction would have given him a far post tap in, he shot tamely at the keeper when put through one on one, and needlessly tugged his opponent over to earn himself a yellow card.In pre-season it looked like the switch to right wing back would prove to be a winner, but for now, the need for points dictates that all eleven have to operate at the peek of their powers and we need to utilise the squad to ensure that any loss of form or confidence is covered.
Finally,my "Brewers on the Box" watch spotted former Gary Rowett loanee Rob Kiernan playing SPL for Rangers at Dundee on Saturday lunchtime. And a brief late cameo at Arsenal for Kevin Stewart who is clearly becoming part of the regular match day squad at Liverpool. I hope we get to see him a week on Tuesday with whatever XI Herr Klopp selects. There is certain Mr Sturridge in need of game time. For the sake of the occasion I do hope they play in their traditional red but please, no more strikers beginning with "A"!
Browse:
Steve's Sunday Summary - Week 2
comment by stuart44 (U13408)
posted on 14/8/16
Excellent Steve and spot on. Looking forward to your weekly summary , this season was always going to be tough , i think we need to have a reshuffle team selection wise and go 4-4-2
RATE THIS ARTICLE
ARTICLE STATS
Day
Article RankingNot Ranked
Article ViewsNot Available
Average Time(mins)Not Available
Total Time(mins)Not Available
Month
Article RankingNot Ranked
Article ViewsNot Available
Average Time(mins)Not Available
Total Time(mins)Not Available