Thetownend.com

Not sure about a messiah, but there was certainly a very naughty boy.

Sobowale for me by a country mile.

Sobowale was outstanding today closely followed by Smith who was an absolute workhorse and won pretty much everything

We decided it was a toss up between Wright & Sobowale.
A goal saving tackle by Wright & a peach of a cross by Sobowale.

We thought that they were all decent (except for Hall :) ), even Freckleton played ok when he came on.
Was also noticeable that Holloway kept tweaking the formation to try and get something from the game.

Sobowale at fault for the goal imo. Went for Wright.

Will Wright for me.  Solid in defence and always available and looking to be creative. 

Sobowale always at least 2nd best player every game and nailed on player of the 1/2 season.

Could have done better for their goal, but worked his socks off and was a threat with some decent crosses. The one for the goal (include timing his run and staying on side) was sublime!

I haven't decided on my man of the match vote yet, but wanted to highlight 2 individuals. I thought Will Wright took the game by the scruff of the neck yesterday. A goal saving challenge comes to mind, but his ability to step into midfield and use the ball effectively I felt kept us on the front foot. I think he played the ball into Sobo for the assisted equaliser, which looked easy but at that stage could have been overhit.

And this will potentially come with some scorn but I thought Drinan was really good yesterday. He was shifted out to the right hand side and didn't hide at all. He put an absolute shift in and I thought played really sensibly. It's a shame some of the others in red shirts thought he was hiding, and ignored him on multiple occasions. In the first half he made a lung bursting sprint forward, only for Bycroft to completely ignore the opportunity to release him. He never shirked his responsibility.

Drinan always works hard, I just don't think we really know what to do with him at the moment (similar problem to Glatzel really, the tactics are clearly "hit Smith" and if you're not Smith, then you really do have scraps to feed off)

Sobowale. The assist trumps the uncertain touch leading to their goal.

Him along with Wright & Kilkenny have been our best & most consistent players so far this season.
Need another 3 or 4 to step up from 4-6 levels to 6 or 7 every week and we should climb the table with relative ease.

Smith should join the club but to a degree he is dependent on others to do their bit for him.

The keeper whoever it is will also need to step up and probably Butterworth also.

It's still a learning season for McGregor and I wouldn't expect too much from an 18 year old, so every solid performance from him is a bonus.

Fans of Port Vale and Carlisle both said they weren't exactly sure what Butterworth is. Given his performance yesterday I can see what they mean. He's not really a number 10, not really a central midfielder, not a winger etc etc.

Yeah, he's got decent pace and has made some good runs down our left but it's only been once or twice per game.
Maybe a change of formation would benefit him or a change of formation & Holloway seeing something in McGurk could be a better solution.

For me he flatters to decieve, he has good technical skills and quick feet and control and he has a bit of a turn of pace but with zero end product.

I'm probably one of his biggest critics but Freckleton yesterday was decent with his range of passing. Not enough to win my vote but much improved. Couldn't fault the effort and commitment from them all so opted to sit o the fence and not vote.
If that is what heart and desire does then we will be pulling away from the drop zone I'm sure.

 Don't think Smith is getting enough credit personally. He played the No 9 role to perfection, won pretty much everything and before scoring had probably our second best effort. Drinan was excellent and for me he's afar far better option than Tshimanga

If we do transition to 4-3-3, which sounds like that’s Hollaway’s preferred formation, that might actually suit Butterworth

I agree. My issue, and it's not Smith's fault really, but it's the other players who never seem to be able to read where his flick is going to go. Quite often Smith and A N Other are right next to each other and his flick on is just easily picked up by the defence

There is a good chance he's going to win his header so I think the other players need to be a bit more intelligent and 'gamble' that the header will be won, and run in behind.

Also with Smith, we could vary corners by getting him to try the front post flick on sometimes

Agreed, especially Butterworthh