Just Got Home From Tranmere

[Ralphy]

I thought we played well today we just lacked that finishing touch.

4-5-1 worked well in the first half but i felt the 2nd half we needed two strikers up front.

Ifil had a better game and i'm very, very impressed with Tom Heaton.

Roberts looked dangerous when he came on Pooky was ever present again.

I'm sure the others who went will add to this (Whits, Sonic, DV85, Magic, Marie and Asher)

[Asher]

Too tired to write and my pizza's just arrived, no finishing product today - good to meet a few more of you

[Ralphy]

I feel the same ash, just cooking cheese on toast  

[magicroundabout]

have to agree there.

thought first half we played very well.
Heaton was outstanding and for 19 looks very very good.

Second half we should have gone 4.4.2. from the off as Tranmere wern't that good.

when king did change it he fucked up roayaly. why bring on 2 strikers and still keep 4.5.1.??
he should have put heath on the right with roberts on the left and cureton up front.
why he didn't i don't know.
we had no width and even i was joining in the WIDE shout with sonic.

[sonicyouth]

I'll write something really long-winded in a minute.

[santini]

I'll write something really long-winded in a minute.

Bassoon?

[TheKingCY]

Andy King? Why i ask myself? Why haven't you got a fucking clue how to change a formation for the better!?!   Need to get in someone natural on the left, and encourage Shakes to go past players on the right. He didn't fancy it today and just played everything back to Gurney(Shit)!

Heaton looks a very good keeper if we can look to keep him long term.

Cureton should be put down. Useless Cunt...!

And don't get me started on Patrick Collins!!

RED ARMY! RED ARMY! RED ARMY! RED ARMY! RED ARMY! RED ARMY! RED ARMY! RED ARMY! RED ARMY! RED ARMY! RED ARMY! RED ARMY! RED ARMY! RED ARMY! RED ARMY! RED ARMY! RED ARMY! RED ARMY! RED ARMY! RED ARMY! RED ARMY! RED ARMY! RED ARMY! RED ARMY! RED ARMY! RED ARMY!

TRANSIT/LDV BOYS ON TOUR....

[sonicyouth]

Despite losing today I left the ground with my head held high and the journey home wasn't depressing at all, I think there are quite a few positives to take out of today's game and I can't understand why people who didn't go were texting in to Wiltshire Sound and calling for King's head and moaning, it really wasn't that bad.

The decision to play 4-5-1 was quite surprising as we don't really have the personnel to play the system properly and we're not the sort of team who can narrowly win games 1-0, so generally it'd be more sensible to play a formation where we are more attacking. However, it did work to an extent - for the first time in ages, we bossed the midfield, won the ball and used it well. We played some good football and created chances using slick passing, getting the wingers involved in the play and unfortunately we simply lacked that final killer pass/cross. Pook, Miglioranzi and Whalley were probably three of our best players today and whilst I'd personally choose a 4-4-2 lineup for Walsall, I'd find it difficult to drop one of those three.

Fallon put the effort in up front - as you'd expect - but despite winning his fair share of headers, there was nobody there to receive the ball when he won it. As a result, the ball often came back at us very quickly. Fallon has the quality to play as a targetman, his hold-up play is improving and his control is also looking much tidier, we simply need to get other players involved quicker - preferably the wingers.

Whilst our central midfielders looked excellent today, I wasn't terribly impressed with Shakes who didn't manage to get many crosses in and rarely took players on. To be fair, he wasn't supported too well by Gurney who was reluctant to get forward as much as you'd expect - I'd presume due to lack of fitness - whereas Heath and Smith got forward to good effect, combining well and other than his lack of crossing ability Heath was excellent today, much more impressive than he was against Yeovil. I'd like to see him up front, he's good with the ball at his feet, he creates space and has good vision.

Defensively we were fairly solid, Gurney was unspectularly solid, strong in the tackle and I'm glad he's back despite my previous concerns. Ifil and Collins looked useful and Ifil's pace was handy against Hume, Collins looks much more comfortable at centre-back.

Finally, Tom Heaton - what a player. Single-handedly kept us in the game early on making a string of vital saves and looks assured, confident, comes for crosses and quite frankly he's far better than Evans has been lately. I'd dearly love it if we could get him here permenantly but I can't see it happening.

Overall the game wasn't terrible, we played some good football and I'm confident we can build from here. The lack of any goals in three away matches  is concerning and we need to get an away goal soon, if only to stop the rot. We were unlucky not to score today and we didn't deserve to lose, nor did Tranmere deserve to win.

On a related note, Tranmere's fans were all deaf and mute I think. There was probably only 250ish of us there but we made a fair bit of noise and it was a good day out, well up for Walsall now.

p.s. Scousers are dead friendly, I've never been to a ground where the stewards actually talk to you as if you're not filth.

[richiestfc]

Andy King? Why i ask myself? Why haven't you got a fucking clue how to change a formation for the better!?!   Need to get in someone natural on the left, and encourage Shakes to go past players on the right. He didn't fancy it today and just played everything back to Gurney(Shit)!

Heaton looks a very good keeper if we can look to keep him long term.

Cureton should be put down. Useless Cunt...!

And don't get me started on Patrick Collins!!

RED ARMY! RED ARMY! RED ARMY! RED ARMY! RED ARMY! RED ARMY! RED ARMY! RED ARMY! RED ARMY! RED ARMY! RED ARMY! RED ARMY! RED ARMY! RED ARMY! RED ARMY! RED ARMY! RED ARMY! RED ARMY! RED ARMY! RED ARMY! RED ARMY! RED ARMY! RED ARMY! RED ARMY! RED ARMY! RED ARMY!

TRANSIT/LDV BOYS ON TOUR....

totally agree with him!well said!!

[Ben Wah Balls]

Thanks for the report sonic, very informative. Good to hear Heath did ok, not a complete waste of money then and Heaton is ace.

[sonicyouth]

I'd still rather have Summerbee but he's a quality footballer, just not very good at crossing the ball.

[Spencer_White]

All I can say is...........

Merseyside is the only place in the world where people still think Lacoste tracksuits look good.

And most of them were fake.

Scousers.  :roll:

[Spud]

All I can say is...........

Merseyside is the only place in the world where people still think Lacoste tracksuits look good.

Good night.

 

[Spencer_White]

Go easy on Curo KingCY.

Least he's got the right attitude (unlike some other ex Brizzolians, ahem).

[normy]

Thanks for the constructive report sonic.
Having only Fallon up front is negative and wastes our best attacking options, when he is so good at laying off  and holding it, but needs support close to him.
Although they gave a good display, and I don't like commenting on games I don't see, in general I don't think we are a team who can set out to grind a goalless draw, we might as well go for the win which means 4-4-2  in my opinion.