Daylight Robbery

[steve@dcfd]

It’s painfully obvious what we need and it was in the summer! We should never be in this position, if someone had got their finger out and got one of the 2 selected strikers ‘over the line’.

That result was an absolute travesty today, but I can see it happening again if we don’t get something sorted. And don’t get me started on the new striker being ineligible!

So who are you blaming? You seem to want to opportion blame as if it was a simple matter of clicking fingers and hey presto we have a striker!

We have to deal with the here and now, we can't keep wishing we can change history. Any one of 10 outfield players could have made enough difference today to win the three points. We have Ennis and Sterling who could also have made a difference today but alas, they're both injured. It's unfortunate.

We had Ennis and Sterling and DM wanted another striker by the end of the transfer window we hadn’t signed our own striker. The CEO and Chairman did not get them over the line, for whatever reason. The two young lads are injured unfortunate but we could not bring in our own striker to the first team.
If and when both young lads are fit and the our short term signing becomes eligible then we should be ok till January. But the club must get a striker over the line in the next transfer window, if like the CEO said at a supporters meeting the cream are to rise to the top.

[jmt23]

Sadlier was poor today, but it is a tough job being upfront on your own. We were desperately unlucky not to score a hat full AGAIN, and I agree Pompy were strangely poor, their second goal was a great header though.

[dickos1]

Imagine if Moore had the squad mccann had at his disposal last season.
Add Wilks , marquis, to this side we’d be unbeatable

[Bentley Bullet]

Is it just me that thinks the squad is better this season than last?

[vaya]

Imagine if Moore had the squad mccann had ya it’s disposal last season.
Add Wilks , marquis, to this side we’d be unbeatable

Only if they were fit.

[DonnyBazR0ver]

Is it just me that thinks the squad is better this season than last?

Not at all. It's plain to see the standard in open play has gone up another notch.

The teamwork, work rate and quality is exceptional for this league. Brilliant football at times.

[since-1969]

Imagine if Moore had the squad mccann had ya it’s disposal last season.
Add Wilks , marquis, to this side we’d be unbeatable

Why do you think we have the squad we have ? Imo it because it was decided to cap  the wage bill for contracted players and it resulted loosing all our goal scores Marquis Rowe ANDREWS etc as a result . DM brought in quality but less expensive loans .We have similar budget to last year but more bodies for your bucks .in return the owners get  Liabilities removed from the balance sheet and it’s a fresh start for everyone. Facts are , the we are ahead of where we should be with 10 new faces and a new manager. DM is performing to his abilities and has got players understanding and their commitment. Luck is what we are missing and a half decent striker who can convert chances . It’s good times ahead if we all keep ours . 

[Chris Black come back]

We lost today because of two poor defensive errors. First one down to Reece losing ball and the second one the guy was virtually free to head. As a unit they have done well this season but two lapses today proved very costly.

[since-1969]

We lost today because of two poor defensive errors. First one down to Reece losing ball and the second one the guy was virtually free to head. As a unit they have done well this season but two lapses today proved very costly.

Its fine margins when you consider that our defence is our best quality at the moment but its over worked and under rewarded by our forwards who are weak and underperforming! 

[dickos1]

Is it just me that thinks the squad is better this season than last?

Not at all. It's plain to see the standard in open play has gone up another notch.

The teamwork, work rate and quality is exceptional for this league. Brilliant football at times.

That’s not because the squad is better, that’s because Moore has got them playing like that

[Padge_DRFC]

The second goal is why Portsmouth will finish above us this season. 1 really difficult chance 1 goal. Quality goal.

[Padge_DRFC]

As for the starting 11 it's debatable. Kane is better than Sheaf. Marquis would obviously walk back in.
The back 5 are better all of them than last season and all new. Anderson quality.

[dickos1]

Anderson ain’t new

[Pancho Regan]

A little perspective chaps.

Our injury list currently includes 2 centre forwards, 2 centre halves and a wing back, all of whom would be in the match day squad. We e also got an excellent centre half only just back from long term injury.

We've just made the pre-season 3rd favourites look like Wild E Coyote trying to keep up with 11 Roadrunners. They scored from one slight mistake by James and one scuffed mistake of a cross that couldn't be repeated one time in 100.

Have some patience. We'll be fine.

And we lost 2-1

[NewDonny]

Sadlier was poor today, but it is a tough job being upfront on your own. We were desperately unlucky not to score a hat full AGAIN, and I agree Pompy were strangely poor, their second goal was a great header though.

Poor? Criticising a player being asked to play out of position and do a job for the club, especially CF is poor form.

Take a look at the attached link (text commentary on BBC Sprts) and see how many chances Sadlier setup today, I count at least 6, for someone playing out of position I would take that:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/49861295

[Pancho Regan]

I shouldn’t post for a while because I am absolutely gutted at losing that game.

50 years supporting this team and it still hurts like hell when we lose like that

[drfchound]

Sadlier was poor today, but it is a tough job being upfront on your own. We were desperately unlucky not to score a hat full AGAIN, and I agree Pompy were strangely poor, their second goal was a great header though.

Poor?

Take a look at the attached link (text commentary on BBC Sprts) and see how many chances Sadlier setup today, I count at least 6, for someone playing out of position I would take that:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/49861295

I would agree that KS wasn’t  poor today, his overall performance was quite good.
But......he did miss the best chance if the day, it was a sitter by any standards.

[Jonathan]

I wouldn’t say anyone was poor, although Taylor was very frustrating with his awareness and decision making. Sadlier worked hard in an unfamiliar role and created space and opportunities. May had his moments but lacks conviction at times when he’s in good positions. Coppinger was simply brilliant.

The team played well, it was as entertaining as it was frustrating and we’re doing what we can with what we’ve got. The fact is we need a focal point in attack, we miss it terribly and we’re paying for the fact it wasn’t addressed in the summer. That much feels sadly predictable.

Everything else is great. If today we’d been able to field the same front four as we had against peterborough then we’d have won the game. But we’ve no depth and an injury screws us. 

[karlos]

Just look at Peterborough for example, yes we beat them however there strikers are clinical in most games and that is the difference between a promotion and a nearly ran.

[jmt23]

Poor was the wrong word, but he looked like a fish out of water, he is far better out wide, or just behind.

[Campsall rover]

Just look at Peterborough for example, yes we beat them however there strikers are clinical in most games and that is the difference between a promotion and a nearly ran.

Yes maybe but their defence is poor. Ours is much better. No one gets promoted conceding goals.
Well not very often.

[NewDonny]

I wouldn’t say anyone was poor, although Taylor was very frustrating with his awareness and decision making. Sadlier worked hard in an unfamiliar role and created space and opportunities. May had his moments but lacks conviction at times when he’s in good positions. Coppinger was simply brilliant.

The team played well, it was as entertaining as it was frustrating and we’re doing what we can with what we’ve got. The fact is we need a focal point in attack, we miss it terribly and we’re paying for the fact it wasn’t addressed in the summer. That much feels sadly predictable.

Everything else is great. If today we’d been able to field the same front four as we had against peterborough then we’d have won the game. But we’ve no depth and an injury screws us.

Copps was excellent today, his ability to turn players in small areas of space is quite superb. Also agree that Sadlier needs to be playing wide, the problem with him up front of course though is that whilst he is making runs to take players away and creating space for Copps as he did today, we miss that link up play between the two of them that opens sides up. Its a double whammy in my book, we need a recognised CF and we need Sadlier out wide where he does he best stuff from.

 

[PDX_Rover]

As for the starting 11 it's debatable. Kane is better than Sheaf. Marquis would obviously walk back in.
The back 5 are better all of them than last season and all new. Anderson quality.

Kane is different to Sheaf. I think Sheaf has improved and quietly breaks things up. His decision making is improving too.

[drfchound]

As for the starting 11 it's debatable. Kane is better than Sheaf. Marquis would obviously walk back in.
The back 5 are better all of them than last season and all new. Anderson quality.

Kane is different to Sheaf. I think Sheaf has improved and quietly breaks things up. His decision making is improving too.

He still gives the ball away too often with casual lazy passes.
Obviously he is a good player but needs to remove these instances from his game.

[DonnyBazR0ver]

Just seen highlights of the other games and deary me, there were some gifts served up on a plate, particularly by Coventry at Rotherham. If only we were so lucky.

The amount of goals scored today by midfielders from the edge of the box also highlights where we need to improve. It's a shared responsibility to practice, practice, practice striking the ball. Too many times we're guilty of wanting to score the picture book curler in the top corner instead of putting the laces through it.

[BillyStubbsTears]

We lost today because of two poor defensive errors. First one down to Reece losing ball and the second one the guy was virtually free to head. As a unit they have done well this season but two lapses today proved very costly.

Second one wasn't a defensive mistake. The defenders were well.placed for a normal cross. Their lad mishit the cross. He couldn't possibly have put it where he did if he hadn't mishit it.

It's one of those things. It happens. That's why we live football and not Rugby Union.

[colincramb]

We lost today because of two poor defensive errors. First one down to Reece losing ball and the second one the guy was virtually free to head. As a unit they have done well this season but two lapses today proved very costly.

Second one wasn't a defensive mistake. The defenders were well.placed for a normal cross. Their lad mishit the cross. He couldn't possibly have put it where he did if he hadn't mishit it.

It's one of those things. It happens. That's why we live football and not Rugby Union.

What if you live both?

[drfchound]

If we flip the goalkeeper arguments that people have, if Lawlor had been on the pitch he would just have walked across his line and saved the header.
All goals are preventable, their keeper pushed a cross into a dangerous area and James had the chance to score.
If we had conceded that goal our keeper would have got flack for not catching it or for not pushing the ball into a safer area.

[bobbymax]

The second goal is why Portsmouth will finish above us this season. 1 really difficult chance 1 goal. Quality goal.

To quote the great Eric Morecambe to Andre Preview - 'Rubbish!'

[DonnyBazR0ver]

There was one in the first half when Dieng raced out to the edge of the box to smother a through ball. Lawlor wouldn't have got anywhere near it. The header was a wonder header that no keeper could be blamed for. The cross was from deep and the guy intended to put it on the penalty spot but Harrison checked his run and guided the header using the pace of the ball and put it in the only place available to score. Centre halves blameless.

James will be disappointed he ran under the ball to set up their breakaway but made up for it with the equaliser. Only ever going to be one winner after that wasn't there.

I thought Sheaf was excellent, often more advanced than Whiteman moving the ball quickly. There was the occasional misplaced pass from Whiteman, Sheaf and Copps but when they're trying to thread balls through you can forgive them for that as collectively their completion rate must be very high.

This defeat was different to the Blackpool game in that we were slicker in our passing as we were getting through them like a knife through butter but at times we overplayed it a la S'OD era trying to walk it into the net. That said, we still had enough efforts to win the game 3 times over and Portsmouth should be grateful their blocks didn't fall to us until late on when James scored.

There was plenty of evidence that we're playing great football up there with the best of S'OD's team but also share the same weakness in front of goal. That extra little ingredient, whoever it comes from will turn us into a relentless force.