Centre Midfield...

[Blue Army]

Comfortable performance today and in control the whole game, but special praise has to go to Bentley and Big Kev, after the talk this week they are definately the best central midfield partnership.

Benno creates space going forward for our strikers to move in to, he does not stop working and causes problems for the opposition all over the pitch, especially today, thought he was everywhere.

Maher does not deserve any of the stick he receives, certainly the player with the most football knowledge and reading of the game is exceptional. Passing may tend to be sideways rather than forwards but this stretches the opposition and he is always available to recieve the ball and start an attack.

Just my views, but no other partnership would combine to cause problems at one end and break up attacks at the other like these 2 do.

 

[Xàbia Shrimper]

Agreed. There was some concern about Maher walking back into the squad after his two-match suspension but, by most if not all accounts, his return was fully justified.

WS

 

[Beefy]

I don't think anyone was having a go at Maher before today. Personally I felt that McCormack had done enough to keep the shirt, but Kev has come in and done a good job so fair play.

 

[Upminster Blue]

Quote[/b] (Blue Army @ Mar. 28 2005,22:51)]Comfortable performance today and in control the whole game, but special praise has to go to Bentley and Big Kev, after the talk this week they are definately the best central midfield partnership.

Benno creates space going forward for our strikers to move in to, he does not stop working and causes problems for the opposition all over the pitch, especially today, thought he was everywhere.

Maher does not deserve any of the stick he receives, certainly the player with the most football knowledge and reading of the game is exceptional. Passing may tend to be sideways rather than forwards but this stretches the opposition and he is always available to recieve the ball and start an attack.

Just my views, but no other partnership would combine to cause problems at one end and break up attacks at the other like these 2 do.

Couldn't agree more.

Bentely must have run 10+ miles out there today and stood up to Cambridge's physical style.  Was back to his best.

 

[sufcintheprem]

Was going to make a similar point. Wasn't surprised to hear suggestions of Maher's place being questioned but he really did prove beyond doubt why he's there. Was completetly in control today apart from one spell in the second half where a lot of mistakes made in midfield put pressure on the defence. Very tempting to do a wiggy style defence of Maher

Bentley too was excellent. Not back to the level of some performances I've seen from him but played as though he were both attacking and defensive midfielder. Lost count of the number of times he looked like he was going to crop one of their players but, thankfully wasn't nearly that rash!!

 

[The Artful Shrimper]

Whilst not arguin the point about Maher, someone said he definatly should get his place as he creates something special. Well, yeah but without him in the last two games we created 6 goals!

 

[Leeboy]

agreed - scored 6 goals without him, only two with him. Disgusted, I feel for McCormack

 

[shrimper magic]

Yesterday was the best game i've seen Bentley have, as said on this thread he covered every blade of grass and won numerous tackles, headers and also got forward well .

To be fair it was a very scrappy game and he adapted well and so did the rest of the lads.

 

[* ORM *]

Quote[/b] (Leeboy @ Mar. 29 2005,08:18)]agreed - scored 6 goals without him, only two with him. Disgusted, I feel for McCormack

Is this the same Kev Maher that chalked up another two assists ? (seen comfortably from my armchair

)

 

[Jonesy tap-in]

Maher was good today and in the end it was his set-piece delivery, combined with the aerial threat of bentley, barrett and prior's predatory instincts

that made the difference, what with freddy and gray not quite fully firing.

I said before the game, i thought it would be a tad harsh form mccormack to lose his place, but on today's team performance you can't really complain. And bentley, i don't know how he does it! he was everywhere on friday (in the sun) and again yesterday (again in the sun) working immensely hard. He must be knackered today, i tell you!

 

[Hong Kong Blue]

Quote[/b] (Blue Army @ Mar. 28 2005,22:51)]Comfortable performance today and in control the whole game, but special praise has to go to Bentley and Big Kev, after the talk this week they are definately the best central midfield partnership.

Benno creates space going forward for our strikers to move in to, he does not stop working and causes problems for the opposition all over the pitch, especially today, thought he was everywhere.

Maher does not deserve any of the stick he receives, certainly the player with the most football knowledge and reading of the game is exceptional. Passing may tend to be sideways rather than forwards but this stretches the opposition and he is always available to recieve the ball and start an attack.

Just my views, but no other partnership would combine to cause problems at one end and break up attacks at the other like these 2 do.

I wouldn't say that outplaying Cambridge proves that they are the best partnership. Cambridge lived up to their position as the worse team in the football league.

Bentley and McCormack outclassed better teams in Cheltenham and Rochdale and was going to be a tough act to follow, but full credit to Maher he upped his game and was a thorn in Cambridge's midfield, regularly pressuring Cambridge into mistakes and getting stuck in and justified his recall.

Bentley merely played the way he has been playing for the last few weeks (if not months), but seems to be getting some credit at last. He would be a deserving winner of the PFA player of the month.

 

[BoyWonder2]

Beno was immense today. One moment in the game summed it up perfectly. He chased a defender down in the 2nd half, resulting in the defender giving the ball back to their goalkeeper. Beno fell over, got back up and put pressure on the goalkeeper who very nearly gave it straight back to us.

 

[sufcintheprem]

Quote[/b] (BoyWonder2 @ Mar. 29 2005,12:28)]Beno was immense today. One moment in the game summed it up perfectly. He chased a defender down in the 2nd half, resulting in the defender giving the ball back to their goalkeeper. Beno fell over, got back up and put pressure on the goalkeeper who very nearly gave it straight back to us.

That inicdent almost turned in to a hilarious goal.

From my view, he chased it down, pretty much bundled the defender, checked he was ok (or possibly said, watch this goal), patted him on the back then came very close to closing the keeper's clearance down. If he'd got a boot in, I'd have been surprised if it didn't go in!

 

[JIMSDAD]

I think yesterday highlighted an important point.
That Maher and McCormack are not as similar in style as some were saying. Indeed, I think that McCormack style would compliment Maher's and that he would be a very useful addition to the squad, particularly if Jay Smith's comeback doesn't materialise.
Also, with Maher and Bentley's propensity for getting themselves suspended, it would be great to know that we have what appears to be a mixture of the two in the shape of McCormack.

 

[Draft Shrimper]

It will be interesting to see if Guttridge will force his way into the side bacause at the moment i don't think he will.