Dave
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Post by Dave on Mar 6, 2010 18:32:12 GMT
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Post by chrish on Mar 6, 2010 18:39:52 GMT
Dave, Although I am a big fan of Ellis and would always pick him ahead of Robbo, your assertion that it has been a mistake not playing him much this season ignore the impact Branston has had on the team. Ellis (and others) has been crying out for someone to take control of, and organise, the back four. It has been a great week, just hope we can continue the move up the table. It makes you wonder if Guy Branston has had a private word in PB's ear about Mark Ellis. |
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Post by ohtobeatplainmoor on Mar 6, 2010 18:48:58 GMT
That's the thing - we've looked clueless so many times this season and while I'd be very confident that we will cement our league status if we continued this until the end, we could still just self-destruct! Anything can happen in the next few weeks!
I am sure that we won't see the sort of upheaval that saw several players depart the squad as they did in the last few weeks - maybe the "green shoots of recovery" are strengthening and we have better times ahead of us. I didn't feel that at the time that it was the right thing to lose so much experience at such a crucial time of the season, but I'm most happy to be proved wrong - and the last 5 games suggest that I will be!!
I've no doubt that the next two months are going to be very tough, but I think we've got enough to see us though. The sooner we can put the season to bed in a positive way the sooner the club can plan for next season - and I think with the lessons learned this season it will give us far more to get excited about.
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keyberrygull
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Post by keyberrygull on Mar 6, 2010 18:52:18 GMT
Damn - I had 2 -1 in the prediction League  Get in I had 3 -1 in the prediction League ;D |
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rjdgull
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Post by rjdgull on Mar 6, 2010 19:03:59 GMT
A feeling of relief today with Grimsby winning and both they and Cheltenham to play Darlington towards the end of April when they will have almost certainly been mathematically relegated. I suppose the only consolation for them is that we have shown it is possible to bounce back quickly from the BSP but it is tough down there and we did better than most! Eight points from the last four games and we now have more points than games played again. Also nudged up another place to 19th! If we can keep the point score ticking over and stay clear from the epicenter of the relegation dogfight then that will be a satisfactory finale to the season for me. Good to see Rendell back and hopefully we can go into the next two home games with a fully fit squad. Two months of the season left now and for once no fixture pile up.  |
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chelstongull
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Post by chelstongull on Mar 6, 2010 19:12:45 GMT
Damn - I had 2 -1 in the prediction League Get in I had 3 -1 in the prediction League ;D Pah League Two..........  |
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chelstongull
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Post by chelstongull on Mar 6, 2010 19:16:32 GMT
Well, it's time for a bath, some Jethro Tull to get me in the mood for Tuesday and then a couple of ice cold Stella's and a Glass of wine with Mrs Chelston. Oldest son gone out, if only the youngest would go............ |
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seventyseven
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Post by seventyseven on Mar 6, 2010 19:20:45 GMT
Get in I had 3 -1 in the prediction League ;D Pah League Two.......... I had 1-3 too..... League One!  |
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chelstongull
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Post by chelstongull on Mar 6, 2010 19:52:02 GMT
Pah League Two.......... I had 1-3 too..... League One! What were the chances of winning by 2 goals when all games won or lost since away at Accy have been by the odd goal. It was my fault, I should have strengthened the squad rather than give the previous players a chance. |
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Dave
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Post by Dave on Mar 6, 2010 20:13:49 GMT
Dave, Although I am a big fan of Ellis and would always pick him ahead of Robbo, your assertion that it has been a mistake not playing him much this season ignore the impact Branston has had on the team. How can we ignore the impact Branston has had on the whole team and its a good job we did not listen to those Burton fans or those that were happy to knock his signing before he even kicked a ball for us. That does not change my view that Ellis should have been started in so many more games, the few he did get a start he was our man of the match. I have been calling out for Ellis to start for some time before he was started again and simply because we are in a relegation dog fight and Ellis is the fighting sort of player needed in such situations. Swangull made the point about how many of our own players are now getting starts and the fact results have been improving, maybe there is something in that? |
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merse
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Post by merse on Mar 6, 2010 20:45:10 GMT
Although I am a big fan of Ellis and would always pick him ahead of Robbo, your assertion that it has been a mistake not playing him much this season ignore the impact Branston has had on the team. How can we ignore the impact Branston has had on the whole team and its a good job we did not listen to those Burton fans or those that were happy to knock his signing before he even kicked a ball for us. That does not change my view that Ellis should have been started in so many more games, the few he did get a start he was our man of the match.  I think it is all a question of picking a balanced back four.................. Robertson and Ellis are the "right" siders and Branston and Charnock the "lefties" ~ that's how it often is in the lower levels of the game, and that's how it is for us. I would guess endless post mortems and re runs of goals conceded have convinced the manager to go for horses for courses, and now it's more simply a question of Ellis v Robbo for one spot and The Pickler v Charnock for the other. Of course Bucks has also reverted to type with the selection of the tall Robertson now as right back once more to add to the artillery with which to defend ceremonial re-starts ~ another vital component when making up a side. LRT's inclusion at the expense of Smith also lends credence to that theory, but the FACTS are that we have had to play away on some pretty dreadful playing surfaces during this rather heavy winter and that too has had to be factored into the equation with the answer that defensive size and strength has been given preference over superior footballing and passing ability...............not pretty, but necessary in the circumstances and something most experienced relegation fighters at all levels of football would opt for as a means to an end. In an ideal world I would wish to see two footed and naturally two sided players who could be relied upon keeping posession and creating constructive moves from the back, but not at the expense of some of the dreadful marking (of which Ellis had repeatedly been guilty judging on TV re-runs) and perhaps it is the arrival of the vocal and more pro-active Branners that has alowed Ellis to re-establish himself again. Certainly if Ellis had been a "leftie" he would still be languishing out of the starting line up. It's obvious I think that defenders who are both two footed, two sided and good distributors simply move on out of the levels at which we are playing and that should we acquire or develope one in the future he should be looked upon as a really valuable and saleable asset and as such not subject to the reactionary and unreasonable instant judgement of the crowd such as that suffered by LRT since he was given his opportunity. |
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wolfie
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Post by wolfie on Mar 6, 2010 21:22:36 GMT
Nice 1 well done Torquay
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keyberrygull
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Post by keyberrygull on Mar 6, 2010 21:28:18 GMT
Dave, Although I am a big fan of Ellis and would always pick him ahead of Robbo, your assertion that it has been a mistake not playing him much this season ignore the impact Branston has had on the team. How can we ignore the impact Branston has had on the whole team and [glow=red,2,300]its a good job we did not listen to those Burton fans [/glow]or those that were happy to knock his signing before he even kicked a ball for us. That does not change my view that Ellis should have been started in so many more games, the few he did get a start he was our man of the match. I have been calling out for Ellis to start for some time before he was started again and simply because we are in a relegation dog fight and Ellis is the fighting sort of player needed in such situations. Swangull made the point about how many of our own players are now getting starts and the fact results have been improving, maybe there is something in that? I still remember the day he was introduced to us and booed by certain knowledgeable sections of the plainmoor crowd. |
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Post by stewart on Mar 6, 2010 22:31:33 GMT
In an ideal world I would wish to see two footed and naturally two sided players who could be relied upon keeping posession and creating constructive moves from the back, but not at the expense of some of the dreadful marking (of which Ellis had repeatedly been guilty judging on TV re-runs) and perhaps it is the arrival of the vocal and more pro-active Branners that has alowed Ellis to re-establish himself again. Certainly if Ellis had been a "leftie" he would still be languishing out of the starting line up. Perhaps the truth is that Branston, who knows far more about the technique of being a central defender than Mr Buckle, has persuaded the manager that Mark Ellis is far and away the best choice to partner him for the rest of the season ? |
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Post by littgull on Mar 6, 2010 22:52:05 GMT
A very worthwhile 200 mile round trip to Darlo it turned out to be. I would estimate the Yellow Army following to have been about 100. Strange game in a way, we scored all our 3 goals at critical times in the game and excellent goals they were too. But in between despite the occasional attacking flurries Darlo did the lions share of the attacking. However, their first touch in the final third of the pitch and finishing was well below football league standard (thankfully)
A dream start with Ellis scoring a fine hook shot from 10 yards out after his header from a corner found it’s way back to him. Ellis had a very good game and is maturing nicely.
I can’t make out all the negativity about LRT in the full back position. Yes, he makes mistakes but he is quick, has a determination about clearing his lines and links up well with his winger. We had looked quite poor after the Ellis goal and up to 10 minutes before half time but all this was forgotten about as just before the interval young O’Kane cut in from the wing with a fast well controlled dribble and hit a tremendous angled shot in the back of the net. 2 – 0 up at HT and against the run of play! O’Kane looks a real gem, he has a fantastic first touch ,a great work rate and seems to make the right decisions. We have some tasty fayre to come from him!
Second half and we began playing far too deep and Darlo after two appalling misses pulled a soft one back on 55 mins. Bucks then made good substitutions with first Benyon for Thompson then Carayol for Barnes. Benyon provided a good outlet and kept their defence occupied in some attacking spells and Carayol quickly demonstrated he had the beating of their full back. If only he had more composure in front of goal he would have scored a hat trick in a 15 minute spell that included his well taken goal. Barnes should be sent back – his attitude is all wrong, constantly shaking his head when decisions go against him and looks slow and lethargic. Back chats the ref after being deservedly booked for a bad tackle and failed to make any real impression (not for the first time). We now have Rendell back so Barnes is really superfluous to requirements.
Branston once again marshalled the defence well although did give the ball away a lot more than on the previous times I’ve seen him. Wroe, though working harder than in recent away performances continues to disappoint and I would not be sorry to see him gone in the summer - for a good fee of course.
Man of the match for me was Zebroski. He had a quiet first half but in the second period was hugely influential towards us gaining the victory. In fact due to substitutions and tactical changes he played in 3 separate positions, central striker, winger and for the last 15 minutes defensive midfielder. His unselfish work for the team was a key factor and in the last 5 minutes he made a great run to cross superbly after beating the full back for Carayol to strike the crucial 3rd goal.
So although Grimsby and Macca won we have maintained the gap and have risen to 6th from bottom.
A good day out and looking upwards.
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