Thetownend.com

Having seen, or at least heard, most of what has passed for our season so far I thought I'd add my two penenth on who's done well and who hasn't. All marks out of 10 starting with the keepers:

Phil Smith - 7 Hasn't let anyone down. Deservedly got his chance and probably merits keeping the gloves
David Lucas - 6 Essentially a solid keeper, his reluctance to release the ball for quick counters is prob why I marginally prefer Smithy in the pecking order. It hasn't been at GK where our problems are.

Defenders:

Sean Morrision - 6 Deserves thanks for his his contribution and some timely goals. Think he will thrive at the Plastics
Scott Cuthbert - 5 Not as commanding as last year but still our best defender
Lescinel JF - 4.5 Hasn't had the run in the side needed to build his confidence...I thnk there is a proper player there but can DW bring that out?
Andy Frampton - 5.5 What he has done has been fine enough but if he's gonna be in and out of the side through injury how does that help continuity wise?
Callum Kennedy - 5 A standard mark because we have barely seen him though I think he is a good player
Micheal Rose - 4 And that's just for his free kicks...his defending is suspect to put it mildly
Alan Sheehan - 4 I don't understand why we have so many players who are left backs and this one is much of a muchness
Kevin Amankwaah - 5 Blighted by injury I know and constant tinkering of the defence. Is our fittest player when healthy and, as last year showed, makes a great combo with JPM.
Paul Caddis 5 - Is this guy a defender or a midfielder? Answers on a postcard to DW plse! I like his energy going forward.
Nathan Thompson - Again a standard mark of 5 as he has been barely seen.

Midfielders:

J.P 5.5 - When he plays on the right hand side effective, when he doesn't he isn't...Simples
Jonathan Douglas - 5.5 Nowhere near his level of last year when he was outstanding but has at least showed desire.
David Prutton 4 - An enigma wrapped up in a mystery. Thought he was the mfinal piece in the jigsaw pre-season. Has more ofthen played like the missing link. Appears to be almost bullet proof in selection terms..why?
Matt Ritchie - 6 Commendable energy and creativity since he has arrived. On form the best of a sorry midfield bunch.
Alan O'Brien - 4 For that game against Charlton
Simon Ferry - 5 Feel very sorry for Ferry. Hasn not been treated well since being signed and his morale has understandably plummetted. A capable and classy player on his day
Micheal Timlin - 5.5 Great work ethic if a tad limited. His attitude has been first class since returning from loan
David Ball - 3 Was as bad as Ben Hutchinson was last season
Billy Bodin 5 - Not been given a chance but he would merit one

Strikers (or should I say striker)
Charlie Austin - 7.5 Easily our standout performer. I know his petulance is annoying at times and it looks like he's leaving but is still banging them in while playing evry formation under the sun.
Vincent Pericard - 3.5 I so want to love big Vinny but it's just not working for him or for us
Thomas Dossevi - 4 Is better than Pericard and, again, has not been given a run in the side. However has been poor also.

Manager: DW has become the tinkerman of League 1. I fear he's starting to lose his grip on things and his substitutions and tactics have been rather odd. For this season he has been very disappointing 3.5 (at best) Hasn't replaced Grer and not enough strikers in the squad though may be aiming to field a side completely made up of left backs!

Over to you fellow Townenders. Am I being too harsh or not mean enough? It is, after all, half term as it werre :badmood:

Agree with all of that bar the comment on David Ball, bit harsh. Doesn't help that Wilson played him out of position most of the time.

Agree apart from Ball tbh.

What about Vic Morgan?

Can't disagree. :nod:

Let's hope the end of year report is better.  ::)

:D
Beat me to it

To compare Ball to Hutchinson is an insult.

They couldnt actually have been more different. Ball seemed a very humble hard working boy who loves football.

Bit harsh on Sheehan as well.

Vic gets an overall 6 for a noticeable improvement in his passion and ability to stay awake during DW's post match int!

On reflection I think I was a bit harsh on Ball think I was annoyed by his latter performances which were poor but I am happy to bump up his mark to a 5

Cant see Morrison doing anything at Reading.

Have to disagree with Spencer on that. He's young and has the game already he can only get stronger and better and the next division will be part of that education...hope we inserted a whacking sell-on clause.

Agree with most of that except Ball.

Perhaps adding 'could do better' as a summing up ?

At least a 9 for Austin.

I stopped reading after Billy Bodin. How do you conjure up a mark for someone who hasn't played? Does he wear his tracksuit in an exceptional way?

Poor old Will Evans didn't get a mark and he actually got on the pitch at one point.

I don't think Vic's passion has ever been in question.

Didn't bodin come on at daggers?

I take it all back, 11 minutes is ample time to make a judgement.

he showed urgency which warrented his mark...

Not for me. The last few weeks he hasn't been as good. Eyes set elsewhere.

7.5 is about right.

Apologies Will Evans gets a 5 for having my surname and for playing...Billy B has also featured this season....