Thetownend.com

Predictably frustrating - individuals rather than a team, some of them virtually invisible. Will be marks for effort rather than achievement today.

I went for Payne.

Difficult one. Wollacot, McKirdy, Iandolo and KKH were the only ones who performed!

Think I'll go for Wollacott.

Wollacott 7
Two good saves and an awesome claim under pressure from a cross. Couldnt do a lot about the goals. Looked solid

Hunt 6
Pegged back and struggled with his defensive duties. We looked so much better when Iandolo came on

Critchlow 6
Did well for his goal. Distribution was abysmal. Prefer to see Baudry with the ball at his feet – and he scares me!

Conroy 5
Climbed high to head down for the goal. Passing abysmal. Glenn Hoddle you are not!

KKH 7
Should never have been sent off. So, so quick. Defended very well. Got in so many superb and dangerous positions. Can’t believe he blasted 5-6 chances over the bar and chipped the keeper to put it wide.

Reed 4
Far too deep for the whole game. How can we have 5 players passing it around in between their 2 CFs? Good delivery for the head down for the goal. One other good pass I noted. But nothing else! Grant plays the position much better

Grant 6
Started well. But then seemed to be in the same position as Reed. Broke up play there. Second half he was push out right where he was ineffective.

Payne 6
Bright in spells, but not as dangerous as he should be.

Gladwin 4
He had a shot. He overhit a cross. He did nothing else.

Simpson 5
Poor. Couldn’t hold the ball up. Controlled it once then shot when he should have passed.

McKirdy 7
He was the only creative person on the park! Had to come far too deep to get the ball. Looked a different player later in the match when Iandolo came on.

Subs:
Parsons 6.5
Thought he put himself about a bit and drew a defender to create space for others.

Iandolo 7
Threatened down the left, which Hunt didn’t. Brought McKirdy back into the game.

Anguiar -
Only on for a couple of mins

We were poor, Carlisle were average but made to look better. Can't see them challenging tbh.

2 votes for Critchlowe? What fucking game was I watching? Nobody really sparkled but Critchlowe, reall?

I wouldn't go for Critchlow either, he made too many mistakes. (Which is understandable).

But he did defend well.

Kkh, if you ignore the final ball/shooting

KKH for me (barring the sending off and a couple of misses!), I thought he looked very good, quick, good feet and got involved high up the pitch. Payne had a good first half, I’m not sure about Simpson, he did t do much at all, no shots from what I could see - start Parsons instead

McKirdy did nothing until Iandolo came on. I went for Payne because he was the only one looking to try and make something happen it seems, dropping deep to get the ball etc. I know he wasn't captain but I thought he showed leadership today.

Crichlow could spend 90 mins winning headers it seems (he basically did that today) but it's where they go he needs to work on, I think.

i went for Crichlow as i thought he looked our best defender,looked comfortable on the ball and good in the air,funny how people see the game differently,i got more and more frustrated with Mcgready as the game went on,seems like a luxury player we don't need at the moment,and he's got a man bun,so minus points for that straight away,anyway,on to Tranmere. :pint:

yeah I thought McGreedy had some good touches but was ultimately ineffective

Really? McKirdy was the one playing KKH in most of the time. He had no service and noone to pass it too much of the time. He looked better towards the end because of the interaction with Iandolo and Parsons.

Simpson didn't show for him. Gladwin didn't get into the game and Reed was so deep he was nearly in goal!

Not read the match day thread yet so I may be alone in this opinion but I thought they were two blatant yellows and he was deservedly sent off. His post match apology seems to back this up.

That said, he was by far our biggest threat and for that he gets my vote. Looks a superb talent.

An extremely wasteful display, improved slightly towards the end but I thought he constantly ran into trouble and looked lost most of the time.

How much of that was down to the system and the support (or lack of) around him, time will tell.

McKirdy has something, and he came to life once Iandolo came on and offered a forward threat out wide.  I think Hunt stays back far more at left back and as a result their right back could just sit knowing McKirdy would have no real support and run out of circles top go in.  I presume Hunt will switch to right back, so Iandolo may start the next game and offer a bit more.

Crichton, KKH and Parsons were the only ones that performed to their high levels. Bit disappointed that garner left it so late to fix the midfield as for the first 60 minutes it was non existent

I think what is more shocking, is the seemingly endless iterations of Crichlow that have already appeared on the TEF (and no doubt elsewhere). Even though RF has provided the correct spelling too!

"Paolo. It's Paolo."

SingingIffy, no excuse for essentially naming Michael Crichton as one of our players though. He'll be good for a few books I guess...might come in handy for Woolacott whilst Town become HMS Piss The League. As long as the whales don't come ;)

I listened to the Carlisle commentary on ifollow - sounded like they knew of Crichlow from Huddersfield and mentioned he’s been sent here to learn how to play out from the back - if that’s the case then despite his mistakes he was still pretty solid.

Commentators also had a lot of opinions on Gardener - he’s trying to be the next Pep’, got sacked at Bristol Rovers’, ‘I don’t think the players believe in him or the system’…

They seemed to ‘know’ an awful lot and it was good to see Crichlow score the goal in a manner more a-kin to a striker.

First home game nerves. I think. More to come from newly signed players. Still feel very confident - especially if we can get a striker or two this week

Garner its Garner  :D

NMH pretty spot on for me, except: KKH two clear yellows; Payne better than McKirdy I thought; certainly for fist 60 minutes; he was trying to make things happen. McKirdy just dribbles and then nothing, although later in the game McK was better.

Autocorrect, it’s autocorrect!

Everyone did ok.
Room for improvement for all of them.

Not sure I'd want a rookie right back to end up as the star man this season.
Hopefully someone will take him to one side and work on the decision making in the box.
The lad has an impressive leap on him.

Good 30 minutes from Iandolo.
Put some good crosses in.
Would like to see him kept at left back and hopefully the defensive side of his game will then improve.

McKirdy was more of a threat when he moved inside and played a bit closer to Simpson.
Simpson is ok, could have scored in each of the three games. Looks isolated at times though.
The link up play and understanding between the front 4 should improve with each game.

Crichlow was very good again as was the keeper.

Voted for Payne.
Thought that he was the most consistent over the 90 mins.

I voted Critchlow. Home league debut playing alongside a shaky centre half and finished the hame looking the more experienced. I would have voted Kesler but can't excuse that diving and the silly lunge at the end. He is here to learn though and we have to expect these things

Am still in two minds about McKirdy, but as already said he needs to get a hair cut and also pull his socks up. I reckon he thinks he is a bit of a Geroge Best, danger is he might turn into Pete Best.  And I thought shin pads were compulsory, looks like he doesn't wear them, fashion icon that he is.

As I say though, obvious sartorial criticisms aside, am open minded on him, think there could be a good player in there trying to get out.