Broadbent

[Butchers Red]

After a few MOM displays earlier this season - that first half has shown how much we rely on George mopping up the area between the centre backs and midfield, both goals wouldn't have happened and instead of staring down the barrel of another battering we should be exposing their problems at the back. Sbarra buzzes around offering absolutely nothing, come on Grant ffs get it sorted at half time, not when its too late.

[Cramby10]

Absolutely spot on

[DRFCMach2man]

Agree - can’t understand why Broadbentis out of favour regarding a starting 11

[Bills view]

It looked like Close missed his header that led to the McGrath miss kick for their third. I tend to agree that we probably are more secure with Broadbent.

However, how many goals have we given away this season so far by incredibly poor mistakes?

[grayx]

I thought he was poor when he did come on but they were all chasing shadows by then tbf.
I need someone to explain to me what S’barra offers.

[Padge_DRFC]

It's like that 1 silly little flick v Wimbledon has cost him his place.

Based on today McGrath will never play for us again mistake wise

[Sprotyrover]

I thought he was poor when he did come on but they were all chasing shadows by then tbf.
I need someone to explain to me what S’barra offers.

I just mentioned in another thread as well!

[GazLaz]

I thought he was poor when he did come on but they were all chasing shadows by then tbf.
I need someone to explain to me what S’barra offers.

Playing Joe over Gotts was a horror call.

Also, taking so many “first teamers” to Grimsby can’t have helped. Two away game weeks are tough, possibly a bad call to take so many who were likely to play today.

[grayx]

[quote author=GazLaz

Also, taking so many “first teamers” to Grimsby can’t have helped. Two away game weeks are tough, possibly a bad call to take so many who were likely to play today.

Agree. I dont  know why hes playing so many first teamers in the less important competitions.
Our priority needs to be the league& maybe a decent F.A . Cup run

[Chris Black come back]

Think Orient had given up by time he came on but Broadbent looked good in his relatively brief spell.

[roversdude]

McGrath looked shocking today his body language even before kick looked like he was beaten surprised he wasn’t hooked at half time especially being on a yellow

[grayx]

Think Orient had given up by time he came on but Broadbent looked good in his relatively brief spell.

Really? I thought he was poor, kept giving the ball away.

[Move DRFC]

I can’t remember Joe Sbarra really doing anything of note in his whole time here. Not once after watching him I’ve come away thinking that was a good performance.

I didn’t watch yesterday but he’s so uninvolved every time.

Gotts needs a run in that position and he can share it with Clifton when he’s back. Sbarra needs binning off.

[dickos1]

People were calling for close to come into the team a long time before he was given his place.

Also how many first teamers played at Grimsby ?

[GazLaz]

People were calling for close to come into the team a long time before he was given his place.

Also how many first teamers played at Grimsby ?

10 players that played a part today played at Grimsby.

[dickos1]

Only 4 players started at Grimsby that started today. We’re really not in a position to be doing many more changes than that

[andyst79]

Close wasn't to blame for yesterdays performance but we just don't seem to win many games when he's in the side & our best spells coincide when he's been injured or out of the team. As others have mentioned Sbarras just not good enough, having said that who actually plays well in that 10 role?  because the way we play it just doesn't work and nobody gets near enough to Sharp especially as he's not a lone striker. I feel sorry for him as he's trying his b*llocks off but gets no support. Grant needs to take some responsibility, The system and chopping and changing of personal for the sake of it isn't good. Having said that he can't account for silly mistakes and players hiding in games , I've never seen anything as slow and ponderous, too many taking easy options and nobody brave enough on the ball. Passing and first touches all over the pitch were absolutely abysmal. Nothings won or lost in October but looks like we need to rely on the January window to inject some life into us again.

[Padge_DRFC]

Maybe time to have 2 strikers on the pitch.

[andyst79]

Maybe time to have 2 strikers on the pitch.

We're so predictable to play against, negate our wide players and we're not able to play through the lines. I'd definitely be tempted to play 2 strikers especially as the 10 role isn't amounting to much at present. Can't understand our tendency to go direct with only Billy up top?! Middleton needs a prolonged run in the side as his crossing looks dangerous especially if we had 2 strikers in the box.

[drfcsteve]

Close wasn't to blame for yesterdays performance but we just don't seem to win many games when he's in the side & our best spells coincide when he's been injured or out of the team. As others have mentioned Sbarras just not good enough, having said that who actually plays well in that 10 role?  because the way we play it just doesn't work and nobody gets near enough to Sharp especially as he's not a lone striker. I feel sorry for him as he's trying his b*llocks off but gets no support. Grant needs to take some responsibility, The system and chopping and changing of personal for the sake of it isn't good. Having said that he can't account for silly mistakes and players hiding in games , I've never seen anything as slow and ponderous, too many taking easy options and nobody brave enough on the ball. Passing and first touches all over the pitch were absolutely abysmal. Nothings won or lost in October but looks like we need to rely on the January window to inject some life into us again.

Our results this season have been about the same with or without Close being involved. At least when he plays though we look like we might actually produce something from midfield.

[GazLaz]

Yesterday it was obvious how better coached Orient were than us. Out of possession they were fantastic. They forced us into to mistakes. On the ball the broke lines with forward passes and linked up brilliantly in the final third. Wellens is a serious operator.

[Ian Nimmo]

Maybe time to have 2 strikers on the pitch.

We're so predictable to play against, negate our wide players and we're not able to play through the lines. I'd definitely be tempted to play 2 strikers especially as the 10 role isn't amounting to much at present. Can't understand our tendency to go direct with only Billy up top?! Middleton needs a prolonged run in the side as his crossing looks dangerous especially if we had 2 strikers in the box.

This has been a problem for quite sometime, it happened last season as well. Playing two players wide we are too predictable, but this is grants preferred system and he doesn’t like to change. Perhaps we’re getting to a point where he has to accept some change is required.

[andyst79]

Maybe time to have 2 strikers on the pitch.

We're so predictable to play against, negate our wide players and we're not able to play through the lines. I'd definitely be tempted to play 2 strikers especially as the 10 role isn't amounting to much at present. Can't understand our tendency to go direct with only Billy up top?! Middleton needs a prolonged run in the side as his crossing looks dangerous especially if we had 2 strikers in the box.

This has been a problem for quite sometime, it happened last season as well. Playing two players wide we are too predictable, but this is grants preferred system and he doesn’t like to change. Perhaps we’re getting to a point where he has to accept some change is required.

People on here called out our style of play & form around Xmas last year & rightly so, although it didn't sit right with some. What I will say about our manager is that he realised it too and adapted accordingly, bringing in Street and changing our style of play to be more direct. Also the previous season we adapted and brought in Adelakun to similar effect. Maybe his hands are tied with budget restrictions but he doesn't help himself bigging up the squad saying he's more than happy. However GM is a great man manager & seems willing to learn from mistakes and  be progressive going forward so I have faith that he will address the issues.

[DonnyBazR0ver]

Close had earned his place but, when I saw Broadbent on the bench it made me nervous. Close doesn't really suit the anchor role. He didn’t excel at that when Wellens was here either so I think he's better when given the freedom to be creative rather than the more disciplined role of the midfield anchor. That means of course, he's then in completion with Bailey, Gotts, Clifton and Sbarra for one of the other two midfield spots, unless we change our usual shape.

[GazLaz]

It was really hard to read what our plan was yesterday due to conceding first and being generally terrible but I’ll give it a go…

I felt that the plan was to play through Close and keep Bailey and Sbarra pretty high to support Billy and hit them and the wingers pretty quickly. The problem was that Orient put a squeeze on us, Charlie Wellens (and others at times) pushed on to Close not allowing him space and Bails and Sbarra were too far away from him so we became out numbered in the middle of the park.

Mols and Gibbo were high and wide to try and push their wing-backs back but that just resulted in creating more space in midfield. Connelly was allowed a free roll for them and he is unplayable when he’s got time to pull the strings.

We are better away from home when we are more compact and play on the counter. The problem with this is that Billy isn’t really suited to that style. It does feel like we have tried to control possession more this season than we did last. That’s fine if you have the players to do it. I think we need a bit more pragmatism.

[Usher wide.]

What ‘bemused’ me is that Grant chose to play McGrath alongside O’Riordan when they’re facing a front two of the quality of Ballard & Connelly.

Pearson (unless he was carrying an injury) should have been nailed on with his experience to have played instead of Jay (yes hindsight etc) surely?

I’m sorry but you play with Sbarra you might as well play with 10 men.

Broadbent, Gotts & Bailey are our ‘best midfield’ players currently fit. Don’t please anyone talk to me now about ‘No. 6’s & No. 8’s’, you play your best midfielder’s, coach them before they come into a game & then trust them to perform.

They have to be fluid, intelligent, tenacious, physical, capable of reading the flow of a game & trust one another enough in order to affect a game. We’re still searching for that ‘perfect trio’ imo, but you go with what you’ve got in the meantime.

Mols is not affecting games as he did last season so far. But as Grant relies so much on his wide players given he plays one up front (which at this moment in time cannot in all seriousness be anyone but Billy) then Middleton’s crossing of the ball into the box far out ways what Gibson & Mols have been able to produce thus far, he has to be a ‘must start’ at our home game against Northampton.

Nixon’s surges down the right hand side plus his ability to cut inside & surge on with pace give us that impetus & ‘output’ going forward. Maxwell is the best we have on the other side, but not too in front of Senior, so we persevere with him imo.

After Saturday, TLT needs to come in. If we’re choosing our keepers on performances game by game that surely seems the thing to do?

Olusanya, Ajayi, Crew. Have they really ‘upped the quality’ of the group this season? I think not. For me they can return to Spurs & Leeds to ‘continue their development’ & ‘the roadster’ can ‘whoooosh’ his way back to Houston. We can’t afford to carry any passengers or ‘develop’ teenagers who may or may not leave any lasting impression on our club this season. I would defer to the latter.

Come January, if we’re still ‘in the mix’ & having shed the chaff, let’s sign a ‘decent partner’ for Billy & by decent I don’t mean a Brandon Hanlan whose goal tally for his last club Wycombe was 16 goals in 111 appearances over 4 years. He’s 27 years old, not a 22 year old Kitchen or Elwiss.

We need, if not this season then absolutely the next if we’re serious about Championship football, a striker in the mould of Aaron Connelly (he went to Orient on a free) or we ‘push the boat out’ & sign a Rob Street.

This is the area where we are lacking game after game.

A goal scorer.

Easier said than done I know. But as we step up in class division wise, we need ‘the group’ as Grant refers to his squad, to step up too….or be replaced by better.