McGrath

[Butchers Red]

Is it just me whose getting tired and in fact bored of reading some of the shite on here about his performance on Saturday, yes for sure he's struggled a little in some games this season but in the first half he was immense, won every header and they were pumping in lots of difficult,angled crosses in and around that difficult 12 yards out area which he mopped up easily. His distribution was much better than in earlier games.

Second half again for me he was steady as and it was only the penalty where he could be criticized but having said that with the lad charging at him into the area something had to be done ffs.

Give the lad a break

[GazLaz]

Is it just me whose getting tired and in fact bored of reading some of the shite on here about his performance on Saturday, yes for sure he's struggled a little in some games this season but in the first half he was immense, won every header and they were pumping in lots of difficult,angled crosses in and around that difficult 12 yards out area which he mopped up easily. His distribution was much better than in earlier games.

Second half again for me he was steady as and it was only the penalty where he could be criticized but having said that with the lad charging at him into the area something had to be done ffs.

Give the lad a break

He’s been poor this season but wasn’t terrible on Saturday. His distribution wasn’t good but his defending was ok.

[Spud]

The aerial stuff suits him, as you say ge won every header Saturday. He's had a tough few weeks, like the rest of the squad tbf.

[roversdude]

Made to look worse due to the lack of movement in the attacking third meaning he resorts to “Hollywood passes”

[steve@dcfd]

This is the highest level he’s played in like the majority of our side they are learning what League 1 is about. Because we are not scoring enough it is easy to pick on defenders.
We haven’t got 22 players who will be the same level in  league 1.  We can hope the team / squad can turn this dip around and Jay will have to learn quick along with a lot of our squad

[danumdon]

This is the highest level he’s played in like the majority of our side they are learning what League 1 is about. Because we are not scoring enough it is easy to pick on defenders.
We haven’t got 22 players who will be the same level in  league 1.  We can hope the team / squad can turn this dip around and Jay will have to learn quick along with a lot of our squad

Agreed, its a learning curve for players like JMcG and a steep one at that. I think there are good odds to be had that he will learn from this and become a better player for it.

As mentioned previously he's come a long way in a very short period of time, all young players have their dips and troughs, if he continued at the rate he was we would struggle to hold onto him, he's that important for us going forwards.

[scawsby steve]

Jay was appalling at Leyton. So was O'Riordan, but he'd been superb all season before then, and should have started last Saturday IMO.

Jay's playing crap at the moment, but in mitigation to him, so are most of the rest of them, which won't help.

[Canadian Rover]

Made to look worse due to the lack of movement in the attacking third meaning he resorts to “Hollywood passes”

Very little movement of midfielders showing for him either, little to no options for him. Jay would have been better off carrying the ball forward given the poor Northampton press at times. We missed the Joe/Street options up top and certainly the Broadbent option in the middle, this is where Crew should really be looking to have an effect on this team.

[Fal]

This reminds me slightly from when i used to play Sunday league when i was younger, i played in a team that was doing well and i felt i was performing good too with goals and what not, the moment i played for a team that was bottom of the league all of a sudden i looked like a terrible player for the standards and couldn't hit a barn door and only lasted one season.

All our players looked like world beaters and got praised when we the results are going well, however everyone one of them is getting criticised and overly analysed due to a poor run of form.

On Saturday McGrath had no one to pass too most of the time he tried to play out and did win a lot of headers. For me it comes down to that we are missing the Sterry/Molyneux link up, a settled CB pairing rather than chopping and changing and Clifton getting stuck in and going beyond Sharp otherwise Sharp wouldn't come in as much.

[jmt23]

I really like McGrath, but he looked rushed back into the Middlesbrough win, and has looked well short of fitness and form since (IMO)

His default pass is a Hollywood diagonal, not because he has no other options, i watch him and think it pains him to pass it short, there’s a time and place and he needs to learn this, a lot quicker than he seems to be - Grant doesn’t like this either, just watch his expression every time he does it ( he actions the short pass to him)

He is still learning and at a higher level, so no worrries, but when we are in the worrying position, I think it should Pearson and O'Riordan.

[selby]

  The way he is playing he isn't up to it either technically or fitness wise. When he has started we have not won a league game since February, and teams know to run at him.
 His lack of speed doesn't help him, and he has a lot to do on his positional sense to mitigate the problem which might or might not come with experience.
  In the mean time he needs to get super fit and work on his athleticism  and suppleness, go ball room dancing and get lighter on his feet

[steve@dcfd]

Quote
When he has started we have not won a league game since February,

Did not realise that
The partnership of ORiordan and Pearson was our best since Wigan game Grant has swapped and changed. If fit on Saturday we need to get back to those two.

[Bills view]

I thought he was pretty solid one v one or when players ran at him but he looks shaky at the minute. Opposition seem to be skipping by him too easily an example being the first at Leyton Orient. O’Riordan made a mistake but Jay should have done much better and got his mate off the hook.

Confidence is a huge thing and somehow Grant has to restore that across the whole team.

[Bailey Vickerage]

  The way he is playing he isn't up to it either technically or fitness wise. When he has started we have not won a league game since February, and teams know to run at him.
 His lack of speed doesn't help him, and he has a lot to do on his positional sense to mitigate the problem which might or might not come with experience.
  In the mean time he needs to get super fit and work on his athleticism  and suppleness, go ball room dancing and get lighter on his feet

Don’t know where u have got this from as he played the full 90 vs Bradford and started against Port Vale this season.

Also won 3 games when he started from Feb to end of last season.

[DonnyBazR0ver]

  The way he is playing he isn't up to it either technically or fitness wise. When he has started we have not won a league game since February, and teams know to run at him.
 His lack of speed doesn't help him, and he has a lot to do on his positional sense to mitigate the problem which might or might not come with experience.
  In the mean time he needs to get super fit and work on his athleticism  and suppleness, go ball room dancing and get lighter on his feet

Maybe there's a few further forward who could be more nimble on their feet. Not such a bad idea to send them to dancing classes to learn the jive or fox trot. I'm sure there'd be plenty of willing female dancers who can show them the ropes. Plus, it would be a good break from normal training and be good community work.