S
Steve Gilbert
Guest
Seeing those highlights, what a challenge after the Eastwood parry save!
To comment on Woodburn I'd say I'm quite disappointed after today. Tranmere was very poor indeed. This was the game Woodburn should have at last shown what he can do. He didn't- very ordinary. I think Robbo should tell him either put a shift in or go back.
To comment on Woodburn I'd say I'm quite disappointed after today. Tranmere was very poor indeed. This was the game Woodburn should have at last shown what he can do. He didn't- very ordinary. I think Robbo should tell him either put a shift in or go back.
I don't think there is one, and I'm not sure why some want to suggest there is.
He has been building his fitness and was not expected to be featuring regularly yet anyway. The initial bench was balanced with a replacement keeper (Stevens), full back (Long), CB/CM (Mous), CM/AM (Baptiste), RM (Hall), LM (Forde) and Striker (Taylor). Not being in the match day squad doesn't mean that he is rated, but like Sykes before, it is more often a case of balancing the options to change all areas of the team if needed.
It's all about opinions, but I think Woodburn has looked a decent player this season. He has missed a couple of decent chances and been unlucky with a couple more, but could have been sitting on 5 or 6 goals already. He's also looked to hassle the defence and has come back into the middle to challenge back for the ball on countless occasions. All of this has been whilst playing behind Mackie, who does not play in the typical no.9 role and can often sit deep which can kill the no.10 position. I think once playing behind Taylor we will see the player that Woodburn is capable of becoming.
Tariqe’s best game so far.
Would like to sign their no.6
He is the only one out of their team I would want based on today's game, they were very poor.
Their centre forward (Stefan Payne?) was awful, only notable for his fouling.
Fosu's defensive work was good today as well as his attacking play.
Also a mention for Mous who settled in and had a reasonable game.
Agree, I don’t think Woodburn should be an automatic choice though he may well come good. Forde might be more effective in terms of goals and assists, which would let Henry play more centrally.I have to say, I’m really surprised by people saying Woodburn was either good today or looks a real prospect in general. I think he’s been totally anonymous and very disappointing virtually the entire time he’s been here, and today he was pretty dire. Needs to seriously up his work rate and start imposing himself on games. Sometimes you need to make things happen yourself and up your energy levels, close a few people down and put some sprints in to get yourself into the match. I’m yet to see it, and at League One level work rate and ability to get about the pitch really matters. He needs to put a bit more in - having a nice touch and being effective when you have lots of time and space counts for very little at this level.
Not trying to lambast the kid or chuck him in the bin by any means, but I think he’s got a lot of improving to do and just can’t get on board with the notion that he’s been playing well.
He was by far their best playerPlenty of teams would take Monthe...think he signed a new contract in the summer.
Dominant in the air, mobile and decent on the ball - plus left sided CB and left footed
Guardian reading football hipsters? Wow!Eastwood: 6 - He doesn't look himself still, although he did make a couple of good saves. KR mentioned him negatively in his post match interview which is never good!
Cadden: 8 - It's not his fault that we're rubbish from corners. If we had a Luke Garbutt swinging brilliant balls in then his multiple corners generated a game would result in a few goals. He gets so wide and so high up that he's just a constant outlet and teams can't seem to live with him. One ball he drilled across the box would surely have been tapped in by a poacher like Taylor.
Dickie: 7.5 - He just looks classy, composed, and so good on the ball. If only we had a left-sided CB as good as him
Mousinho: 6.5 - He did well enough having only just come in to the team before the game
Ruffels: 6 - Didn't look his usual self to me.
Gorrin: 6.5 - Sorry but I don't rate him as high as some do on here. I can see why Guardian-reading football hipsters would like him, he's very Spanish and tiki-taka, but he doesn't always put enough tackles in for me and I don't think it's a coincidence that we look so vulnerable at the back with him in the team. His passing is also very uninspired, usually slow and backwards. Possible weak link for me.
Brannigan: 7.5 - He's just a step above the other midfielders on the pitch. He's comfortable on the ball, can dribble, give and go, and now he's added goals to his game he's quickly becoming the most vital player in our team. Not his best game but popped up with another goal.
Henry: 7 - Took both penalties well and it's nice to have someone reliable to score them - even when both he had to wrestle off other players! But overall I only thought he was good not great. He tried to take on his man a couple of times and failed in the first half, but was decent in the second.
Woodburn: 6.5 - You can see he has ability but he never seems to take the game by the scruff of the neck or really impact it. Frustrating and to be honest if it was a straight choice (not saying it should be) I'd rather see Baptiste there.
Fosu: 8.5 - clear MOTM for me - Tranmere couldn't live with him at times, how he could be anything other than MOTM is baffling to me when he won the penalty for the first goal, set up the second and generally tormented the defence - and even tracked back well! Seeing him defending for the cause was great, you couldn't really ask for more from a wide man.
Mackie: 7 - He certainly worked hard but at times there is little end product. It's funny watching him run, arms pumping, gangling legs flying about the place, yet getting nowhere fast. I think a fit Taylor or Agyei take him place in the team.
Subs:
Taylor: Didn't have much time but good to see him fit
Baptiste: Involved as usual. Won the penalty. Hope he's not injured
Forde: He's got class, good ball for the pen
Some might think these ratings are a bit harsh but let's be honest, we were poor today against a very weak team. Still, 3-0 win and a clean sheet is a good day at the office.
Guardian reading football hipsters? Wow!
I have never read the Guardian and am most certainly am no hipster but rate Gorrin a lot.
See the highlights and his block which saved a goal. Says it all about Gorrin.
Both starting Tranmere full backs had hard games because of their formation and lack of pace in the back 4. The right back getting injured did him a favour as he looked like a fish out of water against a winger that didn't just go up and down. Their temporary change in the 2nd half to 352 exacerbated the problem out wide as it gave our wide players a lot of space and left them open to the counter attack.Tranmere’s CBs were decent but their left back was atrocious. Lost count of the number of times we got in behind him with relatively simple balls (and Cadden’s good enough to do that to any full back.....just not to today’s extent). Going forward, I thought they had nothing to offer. They’re lucky that only three go down this year, and Bolton are in such a complete mess. Gives them a fighting chance.
Didn’t think anyone on our side was terrible today, just mostly workmanlike. Fosu put in a great shift and was always half a step quicker than them - I’d have had him as MoM as well.....
Wasn't it Woodburn that did the closing down and block that set up Fosu for his run for the first goal?I have to say, I’m really surprised by people saying Woodburn was either good today or looks a real prospect in general. I think he’s been totally anonymous and very disappointing virtually the entire time he’s been here, and today he was pretty dire. Needs to seriously up his work rate and start imposing himself on games. Sometimes you need to make things happen yourself and up your energy levels, close a few people down and put some sprints in to get yourself into the match. I’m yet to see it, and at League One level work rate and ability to get about the pitch really matters. He needs to put a bit more in - having a nice touch and being effective when you have lots of time and space counts for very little at this level.
Not trying to lambast the kid or chuck him in the bin by any means, but I think he’s got a lot of improving to do and just can’t get on board with the notion that he’s been playing well.
Totally disagree. I reckon he adds loads and that block was fantastic (and dozens of our midfield players in the past would not have made that block)Yes he made a good block - the bare minimum for a defensive midfielder really. He's not awful and he does good things in a game, but you could just as easily pick out multiple times players go past him with ease. I think of the 2 or 3 long range passes he attempted all game one was hit badly out of play.
Not saying there’s an issue between him/management, just why he’s not even on the bench, especially when we’ve had/got striker issues and that’s what is odd.
Not saying there’s an issue between him/management, just why he’s not even on the bench, especially when we’ve had/got striker issues and that’s what is odd.