Tonights Ratings

misterb2001 · **Posted:** Tue Aug 12, 2008 10:30 pm

7 ALB made one good save. NOTHING else to do thanks mainly to......
8 Humphreys, very good game, controlled the left hand side, set up plenty good attacks
9 Collins, Won 99% of all headers/tackles, Captain Marvel
8 Nelson, Back to his best, culminating in breaking from the back and legging it down the right wing at one point, Class!
7 Sweeney, did well as an attacking full back, won plenty headers
7.5 Foley. Yes i said SEVEN.5. quiet 1st half, had a stormer of a 2nd half, scored, had one cleared of the line.
9 Liddle, never seen such an energetic performance. another who appears to be back to his best
7 Power. A bit hit and miss, made a few stray passes before growing as the game went on
7 Robson. Some quality crosses. does the hard things well but the easy things poorly. not bad though!
8 Porter. Another hit and miss performance, but scored 1 and set 1 up so cant complain.
8.5 Brown. Quieter than normal but still tore them to shreds. Scored a beauty from the edge of the box.

A quality performance after a slow start. Always in control. We have now played two ex-championship teams and looked a league above them both. long may it continue.

i thought we would be in for a rough ride tonight looking at our midfield, but we were fcking mint. If i were the FA i would drugs test our squad because they all looked like they were on something!!!

clappp

mouldy old dough · **Posted:** Tue Aug 12, 2008 10:34 pm

Very fair report and to add my three penneth ALB looked so confident tonght.

Fetish_Bob · **Posted:** Tue Aug 12, 2008 11:11 pm

misterb2001 wrote:

7 ALB made one good save. NOTHING else to do thanks mainly to......
8 Humphreys, very good game, controlled the left hand side, set up plenty good attacks
9 Collins, Won 99% of all headers/tackles, Captain Marvel
8 Nelson, Back to his best, culminating in breaking from the back and legging it down the right wing at one point, Class!
7 Sweeney, did well as an attacking full back, won plenty headers
7.5 Foley. Yes i said SEVEN.5. quiet 1st half, had a stormer of a 2nd half, scored, had one cleared of the line.
9 Liddle, never seen such an energetic performance. another who appears to be back to his best
7 Power. A bit hit and miss, made a few stray passes before growing as the game went on
7 Robson. Some quality crosses. does the hard things well but the easy things poorly. not bad though!
8 Porter. Another hit and miss performance, but scored 1 and set 1 up so cant complain.
8.5 Brown. Quieter than normal but still tore them to shreds. Scored a beauty from the edge of the box.

Shows how football is a game of opinions. Although brown had good game I actually thought Porter had a better one. So would probably change those markings around. Porter scored good goal and laid Foley's on a plate by leaving their defence for dead.

Rest of report I agree with and as I have said in previous posts I believe even more now that we can surprise a lot of teams in this league.

Saturday will be a test as of yet the defence has yet to come under any pressure though they have coped well with what they have had to. ALB has been well protected and looks more confident and has only had two saves to make in two games.

misterb2001 · **Posted:** Wed Aug 13, 2008 7:10 am

ADG wrote:

Talk about rose tinted specs.

We played the first half with nine men last night. Foley and Robson were absolutely appalling in that first half.

We matched Scunthorpe in what was a very dull first 45 minutes. Infact we played far too many long ball, especially in the first 20 minutes, which didnt allow Power and Liddle to get involved at all.

Poor Alan Power, at first couldnt get a touch, then had very little options wide due to the poor players either side.

Tony Sweeney was under pressure all half, as he no support in front of him whatsoever. Even Humphreys was a shadow of his former self after saturday.

Porter and Brown didnt get hardly any quality ball in that period.

After that Brown created his own chances, save for one superb cross from Robson. porter ran his socks off.

And if you didnt notice just how many times Porter covered the left and right midfield spots last night in the first half then you are blind as well as deluded.

Collins and Nelson were superb all night, as was ALB. All three never put a foot wrong......except for ALBs inability to get off his line for a few early crosses. Thats still a concern.

The second half got off to a joke start with Foley actually gently running the ball out for a goal kick on the right wing. :roll:

Alan Power was growing in confidence by this time, and played a superb through ball for Porter whose cross just eluded Brown running in.

Then Power crossed for Joels header.

And then Joel superbly set up, the, until this point, ineffective Foley, for the easiest goal he or any one else will ever score.

At this point the game was over.....Joel was running riot, and suddenly Foley and Robson looked good players. IT WAS ONLY AT THIS POINT LADIES. NOT BEFORE. :roll:

Brownie then scored another superb goal, and Foley missed a sitter, then had another good effort. Final score could have been 6-7. I dont know how many SCunny rested but they really did give up in the second half, really unproffessional.

I was very disappointed with Wilsons substitutes again.

Maybe Power asked to come off.....but why not stick Rowell on? The game was over.

Why not give MCunnie a run out? Joe Tait?

Instead we got Barker again. And how bad did he look?

Whn we signed Barker he was a great striker, a great target man. He took the knocks, but was always available for the ball. The Barker we have now, came on, and ran round like a little kid chasing players all over the place, then when we won the ball he couldnt get back up front to support the attack. Absolutely pointless. Proven by two attacks, the first of which was a great move that went for a corner, and Barker got in the box, after the ball had already gone out. The second was when Barker vey nearly scored, but he was coming from way too deep. Barker stay up front and do what you do best. Act your age. :laugh:

Overall a very easy win, and some tremendous performances.

ALB 7. Would have been an 8, but for some crosses.
Sweeney 6. Needs a better player in front of him as he continues to learn the role.
Humphreys 7. A quality player.
Nelson 9. MOTM. Outstanding. Back to his very best.
Collins 8.5. Slightly outshone by his partner.
Foley 6. Great to see him get a goal, but like I explained above....... banghead

Robson 6. Should have been taken off at half time. Better second half.
Power 7. Got better and I love the way he is always looking for the ball. I think he tried too hard early on, and gave the ball away too easily. Is still carrying too much weight.
Liddle 6. Quiet game, but there again......the midfield was none existant early on.
Porter 8. Gret game.
Brown 7.5. Great goal but didnt get involved enough overall. But we did resort to too many early long balls....AGAIN.

Subs:

Boland 6. Wasnt needed.
Barker 5. I dont see the point any more.
Mackay 5. I have serious reservations about Mackay now. Tried hard but ran offside and kept falling over.

Wilson 8. Managed the team very well. The changes were made due to slight niggles. Let himself down again slightly with the subs. I think its good that he has a small squad to work with. He cant tinker as much. But no complaints so far. :shock:

sorry ADG but it shows your Vendetta against Foley, Robson & Wilson more than my 'rose tinteds'

to suggest we were playing with 9 men first half is nothing short of pathetic. the whole team looked a little disjointed not just 2 players.

And as for the rest of your post, well, i think you have provoked the response you were hoping for, well done ADG and your ability to manipulate. Sad

jish · **Posted:** Wed Aug 13, 2008 7:53 am

not one player deserved a six last night. We were so in control in the second half it was unreal. I hope none of the players are taking your comments seriously. Strewth! You just can't win with some people!

Mr Ripper · **Posted:** Wed Aug 13, 2008 7:58 am

The first half was very very average at best last night.

In the second half we played very well and deserved the scoreline.

Our keeper looked as solid as owt you can expect in this division.

Our defence was excellent.

In midfield I agree that they carried Foley but disagree about Robson who I thought did ok.

I was watching Power after ADG's recent rave reviews but was a little disappointed but I think that he'll improve. Once he gets to know the squad a little better he'll realise that he's wasting his time playing perfect passes to Baby David. His cross for the first goal was superb though, it made that goal with the help of Joel's movement.

The Scunny defence were shite scared of our front two in the second half, which was nice.

tREE_wiTH_hAMStER · **Joined:** Sat May 19, 2007 11:00 am **Posts:** 20758

I thought Liddle was poor again too. Glad your here to talk sense and say it how it is ADG. Some clown gave him a 9!! :roll:

Really not the Liddle of old at the moment.

Tax Paying Poolie · **Joined:** Sat Aug 19, 2006 8:18 am **Posts:** 9053

Tree_With_Hamster wrote:

I thought Liddle was poor again too. Glad your here to talk sense and say it how it is ADG. Some clown gave him a 9!! :roll:

Really not the Liddle of old at the moment.

I thought he was much better than Saturday, especially going forward. Him and Power hassled their midfield all night and as a result they never got going.

We won't see the Liddle of old again because the Liddle of old was playing against pub league footballers in League 2. Liddle does everything very well without doing anything outstanding. Him, Boland, Power and Jones competing for the centre midfield places will ensure we see the best of them this season.

Mr Ripper · **Posted:** Wed Aug 13, 2008 9:22 am

I thought that Liddle did ok last night.

I agree that it wasn't a "stand out" performance but he did well nonetheless.

scotty-pools10 · **Joined:** Mon Jul 28, 2008 9:49 pm **Posts:** 178

Liddle was solid and usually is very consisent as he plays every thing the simple way and makes it look easy, rarely puts a foot wrong

Hugh's Left Foot · **Joined:** Wed May 07, 2008 5:45 pm **Posts:** 130

ALB - 7 – Not a lot to do, but looked comfortable enough

Sweeney - 7.5 – Another solid display, good going forward.

Nelson - 8 – Strong & aggressive, looking more like the player we know.

Collins - 8.5 – Same as Nelson, kept it simple and won pretty much everything in the air.

Humphreys - 7.5 - Looking more like a proper left-back.

Foley - 7 – Average 1st half, managed to get a little more on the ball than usual and a couple of good little runs, but average none the less. 2nd half, started well and looked like he could do something. Once he got his goal (not an open goal as some suggest) – placed it with good power under the keeper after great play & pull back form Porter. Could have scored a few more, but for slightly wayward finishing & good goalkeeping.

Power - 7.5 – Kept it simple and moved it round well. Only one really wayward pass of note – but harassed the Scunthorpe midfield well.

Liddle - 8 – Pretty much the same as Power, worked hard.

Robson - 7 – 1st half, put in some decent crosses, but average on the whole. 2nd half - better and kept wide to give Humphreys options.

Porter - 8 – Put in a very good shift and pulled out wide to stretch Scunthorpe. Good header for the goal and linked well with midfield & Brown. At 2 –0 he tried twice to score Van Basten goals against Russia when he’d have been better off holding the ball up instead of going for the spectacular - but that’s strikers for you!

Brown - 8 – Another strong display with good movement. Fantastic finish for his goal.

Subs

Mackay - 6 – Note a lot of time to impress, but needed a cooler head to lob keeper, rather than to blast it.

Boland - 6 – Again, not a lot of time, but moved it well and kept it simple.

Barker - 6 – Looked OK when he came on. Held it up a few times and provided some good lay-offs when dropping deep.

The Game

Scrappy 1st half with Scunthorpe being fairly direct in their style, so the ball spent too much time in the air. 2nd half, we got the ball down and played football the way it should. Those who stayed away for football reasons are running out of excuses after the last two performances. A good result at Tranmere and I hope the crowd for the Stockport game is in the mid/high 4,000’s – otherwise you start to wonder how IOR will look at the future.

Pleased Wilson kept the back 4 together & strikers were not changed. It appears only one change was on his mind – Power for Boland – but with Jones & Monkhouse carrying slight niggles, he did the right thing.

Two very good team performances & playing good football bodes very well for the future – plus we seem to be a more physically stronger side than we have done in the past.

ptbap · **Posted:** Wed Aug 13, 2008 10:24 am

ADG wrote:

I dont know how many SCunny rested but they really did give up in the second half, really unproffessional.

Well they didn't rest anybody, only player missing from their opening day defeat to Leeds was striker Paul Hayes who picked up an ankle injury. Jonathan Forte replaced him.

Reading the Scunny official site this morning Adkins was fuming with his side. Gave them a right dressing down after the came. Bringing in a new midfielder today. Highlights Liddle and Brown as our danger men.

misterb2001 · **Posted:** Wed Aug 13, 2008 10:48 am

see i disagree. i thought he controlled midfield from start to finish. he won 90% of his tackles and headers. passed intelligently, defended well and made some good forward runs. and the main reason for me giving him a 9 was the fact that everytime their midfield had the ball he was in their face, for the full 90 mins. if we can keep that sort of tempo going for the full season then we are destined for a better season than last. now the big test on saturday, i wish i could go because im feeling confident

PJ_Poolie · **Posted:** Wed Aug 13, 2008 4:41 pm

I thought Foley was absolutely hopeless until his goal, after that he did well. It's amazing what a tap in can to do. Anyway;

ALB 7; Little or nothing to do but looked confident and assured which pleases him. Looks in better shape than last year to me, and better without the shan do. He's improved his hair without a doubt.

Sweeney 8; I don't think we need a right back, the more he plays the better he'll get and on last nights evidence he's already very good. I scratched my head when he was named at right back at Donny last season it could turn into a masterstroke.

Humphreys 7; Good game especially second half.

Collins 8; Faultless

Nelson 8; Ditto

Foley; First 58 minutes 3, I actually commented that he'd gone backwards from last season it was like watching the Forest game again at the end of last season no touch and lightweight :shock:

Last 32 minutes 7; Goal did his confidence the world of good.

Power 8; Struggled early doors and the game passed him by but got better and better as the game went on. Looks a good signing.

Liddle 7; I thought he has an excellent second half made some good surging runs and used the ball well.

Robson 6; He ran dead fast, which did stretch them. Brilliant until he gets the ball.

Brown 7; A quiet night from the young genius but a superb finish to score.

Porter 8; Would be a 9 if he wasn't wasteful on a few occasions in wide areas but ran his nuts off down the channels scored one and layed one on a plate.

PJ_Poolie · **Posted:** Wed Aug 13, 2008 4:51 pm

ADG wrote:

Now if I had said that PJ there would be hell on. :roll:

It's the truth though isn't it. Foley was bereft of confidence (he must read the Bunker :laugh:

) until he scored he didn't do a thing right, then he was bright and lively. Hopefully it will see an upturn in his form as ultimately we all want him to do well, I'm sure everyone would love him to prove us wrong.

ashleypoolie · **Joined:** Wed Aug 13, 2008 5:33 pm **Posts:** 198

Sweeny and Collins were the two ebst players form me. Foley did well after his gaol but little before that. Maybe that goal will give me a bit off confidence and he can score a few more!

misterb2001 · **Posted:** Wed Aug 13, 2008 5:53 pm

PJ_Poolie wrote:

ADG wrote:

Now if I had said that PJ there would be hell on. :roll:

It's the truth though isn't it. Foley was bereft of confidence (he must read the Bunker :laugh:

) until he scored he didn't do a thing right, then he was bright and lively. Hopefully it will see an upturn in his form as ultimately we all want him to do well, I'm sure everyone would love him to prove us wrong.

No it's not true! Had was having an OK game, at least a 5, until he scored, then he was bordering on excellent

TickhillPoolie · **Posted:** Wed Aug 13, 2008 5:57 pm

There is an interview with Foley on Poolsworld. He actually berates himself for his first half performance, but thought his second half was ok. Out of the horses mouth..........

misterb2001 · **Posted:** Wed Aug 13, 2008 6:00 pm

TickhillPoolie wrote:

There is an interview with Foley on Poolsworld. He actually berates himself for his first half performance, but thought his second half was ok. Out of the horses mouth..........

theres no doubt he performed better in the 2nd half but my argument is the same as always.

If Porter had the 1st half that Foley did, he would have been rated a 5 or 6, but because its Foley then people rate him a 3.

People have their favourites and people they don't like. They find it difficult to praise the people they don't like, even when they perform well.

PJ_Poolie · **Posted:** Wed Aug 13, 2008 6:04 pm

TickhillPoolie wrote:

There is an interview with Foley on Poolsworld. He actually berates himself for his first half performance, but thought his second half was ok. Out of the horses mouth..........

Credit to him then he's honest he was having a nightmare. Just about every time he got the ball first half he lost it by either being let down by his touch or being out muscled.

misterb2001 can you tell me anything positive he did in the game before his goal? You cannot be serious about the Porter comment? If he lost the ball everytime he got it he'd get slated. He might have a bad game but he wouldn't look out of his depth. I don't have favorites as such I'd take great pleasure in Foley having a blinder and if he did I'd say so.

misterb2001 · **Posted:** Wed Aug 13, 2008 6:20 pm

PJ_Poolie wrote:

TickhillPoolie wrote:

There is an interview with Foley on Poolsworld. He actually berates himself for his first half performance, but thought his second half was ok. Out of the horses mouth..........

Credit to him then he's honest he was having a nightmare. Just about every time he got the ball first half he lost it by either being let down by his touch or being out muscled.

misterb2001 can you tell me anything positive he did in the game before his goal? You cannot be serious about the Porter comment? If he lost the ball everytime he got it he'd get slated. He might have a bad game but he wouldn't look out of his depth. I don't have favorites as such I'd take great pleasure in Foley having a blinder and if he did I'd say so.

He didn't do anything of note, like most of the team for the 1st 30 mins or so, but he lost the ball, what twice? Three times? i've seen a hell of a lot worse in a half an hour spell than that.

Personally i don't think he looked 'out of his depth' at any point last night. In fact, he showed signs last night that he is learning how to deal with his inferior height and weight.

Jonny · **Posted:** Wed Aug 13, 2008 7:08 pm

Just a few points

When Collins has started our record must be fairly impressive.

Antony Sweeney is a farbetter right back than a central midfielder, I'm really starting to believe that he can do a job there - I thought he played really well last night.

Lets give Foley and Robson a break eh? i thought they both played reasonably well if you analyse the game as a whole.

We certainly seem more capeble of keping the ball although it is early days this season. Long may it continue.

Cowboy · **Posted:** Wed Aug 13, 2008 9:58 pm

Jonny wrote:

Just a few points

When Collins has started our record must be fairly impressive.

Antony Sweeney is a farbetter right back than a central midfielder, I'm really starting to believe that he can do a job there - I thought he played really well last night.

Lets give Foley and Robson a break eh? i thought they both played reasonably well if you analyse the game as a whole.

We certainly seem more capeble of keping the ball although it is early days this season. Long may it continue.

Fair comment

Whole team was struggling a bit 1st half, can't single out Foley & Robson, for me weren't any worse or better than the others. Brilliant second half to a man (Foley & Robson included)

Tonights Ratings

Gadgies online