Well

[i_ateallthepies]

A bit disrespectful saying they lump it up. I thought they had much better players technically than us last night.

I agree. I also thought Anderson & Sterry had great games, Sterry seemed to be our main threat going forward. I just dont get what people see in Broadbent. He just seems to play the simple ball all the time & still makes a mess of it.
Anyone else think TSL could have done better with the first goal?. Looked to me like he could have took a step to his right before diving.

The ball came from our Left and the keeper's correct positioning is biased to that side, so he wasn't positioned wrongly.  He had no chance of reaching the header which went just inside the post.

I do think he could have done better with the 2nd goal, he should have palmed it over the bar instead of back into play.

[EasyforDennis]

Broadbent yellow card was harsh. Think the ref was getting paid per yellow card last night

Broadbents yellow card was one of the few things the ref got right last night. Looking back at his performance  over the whole game maybe we should be happy it was only a yellow.

[oggycompton]

I thought Broadbent was really good again last night. My concern is there seems to be a retisence to play a forward ball through the lines which ironically was when we looked the most dangerous. Senior was solid defensively but terrified of playing a risky ball. Our midfield is too workman like with next to no creativity.

I thought Walsall were pretty decent to be fair but us... don't know... we don't look on top form to me like Grant says, its moments of skill that are scoring goals, it doesn't appear to be tactics. How going up 2-1 against top of the league with 5 minutes left doesn't warrant throwing on another defender or putting Bailey in the back line is baffling to me. They were happy withus having the ball I the backine rolling it across the back 4 for 10 minutes then knocking an awful pointess diagonal ball into Gibson who can't head it or Molyneux that can't head it. Seems odd to me. Crying out for some creativity in Kelly or Crew but he seems set on Sbarra or Clifton who for me barring a few glimmers of quality are easily in the area of the pitch where we look weakest.

[GazLaz]

I thought Broadbent was really good again last night. My concern is there seems to be a retisence to play a forward ball through the lines which ironically was when we looked the most dangerous. Senior was solid defensively but terrified of playing a risky ball. Our midfield is too workman like with next to no creativity.

I thought Walsall were pretty decent to be fair but us... don't know... we don't look on top form to me like Grant says, its moments of skill that are scoring goals, it doesn't appear to be tactics. How going up 2-1 against top of the league with 5 minutes left doesn't warrant throwing on another defender or putting Bailey in the back line is baffling to me. They were happy withus having the ball I the backine rolling it across the back 4 for 10 minutes then knocking an awful pointess diagonal ball into Gibson who can't head it or Molyneux that can't head it. Seems odd to me. Crying out for some creativity in Kelly or Crew but he seems set on Sbarra or Clifton who for me barring a few glimmers of quality are easily in the area of the pitch where we look weakest.

The reason we don’t play as many forward passes as we should is because Broadbent isn’t that good at passing and a lot of play goes through him.

[DonnyBazR0ver]

Bar a couple of stray passes from Broadbent, he did well and completed most to get things moving. It's the next pass from the tip of midfield where we could be better. That no 10 role that Sbarra and Clifton have been playing, where we need better quality to pick the right threaded pass, cross or shot, as many suggest. There were occasions it worked, highlighted by the Moly's goal with a great pass from Bailey but too many times promising moves just fall flat with overhit or inaccurate passes.

I don't think Broadbent is the main problem, we just want him to keep it simple and find a player who can be more creative or threatening.

[Bristol Red Rover]

A bit disrespectful saying they lump it up. I thought they had much better players technically than us last night.

I agree. I also thought Anderson & Sterry had great games, Sterry seemed to be our main threat going forward. I just dont get what people see in Broadbent. He just seems to play the simple ball all the time & still makes a mess of it.
Anyone else think TSL could have done better with the first goal?. Looked to me like he could have took a step to his right before diving.

A class player on his day, I thought Sterry was disappointing and was a notable missing piece from what we usually see - either an off day for him or his style was stifled.

He did well getting into positions coming forwards but his passing was particularly bad last night. Hi defending was okay, his movement forwards with the ball was poor by his standards. Maybe he gad less space, maybe Walsall's pressing and defending didn't allow him the usual options he finds.

[oggycompton]

I'm genuinely surprised at the Broadbent hate, he is the only player who comes to get the ball off of the defenders and full backs, he tries to playthrough lines etc. Bailey didn't do that nor Sbarra. Last couple of months he has improved every game for me. Opinions eh?

[drfcsteve]

A bit disrespectful saying they lump it up. I thought they had much better players technically than us last night.

I agree. I also thought Anderson & Sterry had great games, Sterry seemed to be our main threat going forward. I just dont get what people see in Broadbent. He just seems to play the simple ball all the time & still makes a mess of it.
Anyone else think TSL could have done better with the first goal?. Looked to me like he could have took a step to his right before diving.

I thought Broadbent was decent again, the only thing that bugs me is he keeps picking up early yellow cards, he walks a tightrope for the rest of the game

If THAT’S the only thing that bugs you about Broadbent……I’m speechless.

It really bugs me that he has no left foot whatsoever. So many times he could play an easy forward pass but instead he cuts back on to his right and plays it backwards. He’s not the only one to be fair.

Take a look at Mollys goal. It was started with a great through ball from Broadbents left foot!!

The pass was from Bailey with his right foot but ok.

[Plumbster]

Way I see it Broadbent is the only player who picks up the ball from defenders because that’s part of his job. The other part is to get us moving up the pitch- after a few bad mistakes earlier in the season he is now much tidier but generally playing it very safe, and often back to the defence for them to either hoof or play it to Luke with three players on his back and nowhere to go.  Combine that with a 10 who too often cannot retain possession and you have our midfield.  In the last 10 mins last night it was striking how much more threatening we became when Bailey stepped forward- it’s probably bonkers but I wondered last night whether Bailey and Broadbent should swap roles- atm we are not getting the most from far and away our best midfielder and I think it’s George’s defensive game where he has been most effective. Appreciate Bailey might not be known for his range of passing but we are not getting that from George anyway. What you do get from Bailey is energy and intent, and the ability to combine with others to get us up the pitch.

[JonWallsend]

A bit disrespectful saying they lump it up. I thought they had much better players technically than us last night.

I agree. I also thought Anderson & Sterry had great games, Sterry seemed to be our main threat going forward. I just dont get what people see in Broadbent. He just seems to play the simple ball all the time & still makes a mess of it.
Anyone else think TSL could have done better with the first goal?. Looked to me like he could have took a step to his right before diving.

I thought Broadbent was decent again, the only thing that bugs me is he keeps picking up early yellow cards, he walks a tightrope for the rest of the game

If THAT’S the only thing that bugs you about Broadbent……I’m speechless.

It really bugs me that he has no left foot whatsoever. So many times he could play an easy forward pass but instead he cuts back on to his right and plays it backwards. He’s not the only one to be fair.

Take a look at Mollys goal. It was started with a great through ball from Broadbents left foot!!

The pass was from Bailey with his right foot but ok.

The pass to Bailey  was from Broadbent  with his left, although  it was a fairly routine ball and Bailey's subsequent pass to Mols was definitely more incisive in terms of opening  Walsall  up.
I thought  Broadbent  did alright, some excellent  defensive cover and he's always looking to be inbetween  the lines. Sometimes he gets a bit squared up and needs to try and play on the half turn but I don't  think he's as bad as he sometimes gets labelled, there is often not a great amount  of movement  in front of him and so.he has no option  but to keep it moving sideways or backwards, and he is worth persisting  with as a 'number 4,' albeit in the 8 shirt.

[GazLaz]

Way I see it Broadbent is the only player who picks up the ball from defenders because that’s part of his job. The other part is to get us moving up the pitch- after a few bad mistakes earlier in the season he is now much tidier but generally playing it very safe, and often back to the defence for them to either hoof or play it to Luke with three players on his back and nowhere to go.  Combine that with a 10 who too often cannot retain possession and you have our midfield.  In the last 10 mins last night it was striking how much more threatening we became when Bailey stepped forward- it’s probably bonkers but I wondered last night whether Bailey and Broadbent should swap roles- atm we are not getting the most from far and away our best midfielder and I think it’s George’s defensive game where he has been most effective. Appreciate Bailey might not be known for his range of passing but we are not getting that from George anyway. What you do get from Bailey is energy and intent, and the ability to combine with others to get us up the pitch.

People claim we play 4231 but last night was a clear 433/4141 depending how you look at it. Bailey and Sbarra as the 8s with Broadbent sitting.

[Copps is Magic]

I thought Wood was very soft for their second goal last night, and that's a surprising thing to say about him.

[Alan Southstand]

Our midfield has been the weak link in the team for most of this season. Walsall romped through quite a few times last night, usually after we’d gifted them the ball straight back after first taking it off them. S’barra was largely anonymous while he was on the pitch and should have been subbed earlier.

The frustrating thing for me, though, was watching Walsall moving left to right with (almost ) 2 banks of 5 and the defensive 5 leaving a 20 to 30 yard gap for a quick forward to run through, which Street kept attempting but never once having the ball lobbed over into space. Surely, GM could see it, so why not send instructions on?

Cracking game to watch, though, overall. Just very disappointed we didn’t shore up after Billy’s great striker.

[dickos1]

I thought Broadbent was excellent last night, probably the best I’ve seen him play.

[big fat yorkshire pudding]

I thought Broadbent was excellent last night, probably the best I’ve seen him play.

So did I. But I also see the point that he has a bit of work to do with his creative passing.  I thought defensively he was excellent though and he covers ground very well too. Undoubtedly improved.

For me I would like to see Sbarra taken out to give more attacking minded players in that role. Clifton offers more there for me with runs in to the box for example.

[drfchound]

Interesting games this weekend.

Us away early kick off against Cheltenham who have nothing to play for really, we need a win to keep pressure on others.


Walsall vs port vale also an early kick off, maybe a draw would be best for us, would leave Walsall on 73 points and Vale on also on 73.

Bradford away to Crewe, Crewe on the edge of the playoff race so will be going all out for the win, which we need Crewe to win by hopefully a few goals to bring Bradford goal difference down.

AFC Wimbledon home to Harrogate can they do us a favour, Harrogate need a win to clear the relegation dogfight.

Notts county away to Colchester a draw here or Colchester win for the best

Reference the bit highlighted in red, a draw on Saturday would leave Vale on 71 points, not 73.

[Red wizard]

I think this team would fair better in league one. Not as scrappy. I still think it's wide open and any of the top 5 could still win the title. Win our game in hand is a must, fail that and the Bradford game is a must win. I still think we will get automatic either win it or 2nd.