Post-Match Thread and Ratings Northampton Town 2-1 Southend United

[Cricko]

Post your Match Reports and Ratings here please.

 

[BrettieAngell]

Everyone 1 apart from Grant 9. :whistling:

 

[West Stand Benfleet Blue]

Granty 8 rest of team at 6's and 7's!! Seriously Granty 8 all the rest 6.

 

[fredheim_holm]

Morris - 6 - Couldn't do much with either of the goals really.
Clohessy 7 - Looked decent and a nice cross for Grants goal.
Mohsni - 6 - Looked quite scatty at the back, clearly has talent but not his best performance for me.
Barker - 6.5 - Did reasonably well, looked solid at the back.
Gilbert - 6.5 - Took the abuse he got reasonably well but had a bit of a crazy moment where he lashed out a little at a Northampton player, don't think the ref saw that one. Average performance from the left back.
Easton - 7 - Did a decent job in the holding role.
Grant - 8 - Looked good as per usual driving forward, plus got the goal. MOTM.
Simpson - 7 - Did a good job going forward.
Soares - 6.5 - Didn't see him do too much, looked alright but nothing special.
Hall - 7 - Probably looked a bit better than Soares and looked like he could beat his man.
Sturrock - 6.5 - Won a bit up front but his limitations were obvious. Could hold the ball up most of the time but never managed to drive forward.

subs:
Corr - 6 - Won a few headers in the air but most didnt fall to a Southend man and didn't manage to get in behind at all.
Paterson - 6 - Had a tough job being asked to play on the left side of the front 3, meaning he had to drop into left mid when we lost the ball. Not his best position.
Spencer - 6.5 - Tracked back and put himself about but didn't look like scoring.

TBV: 3. Not the blue voices fault as such, but the atmosphere was quiet for 80% of the game. Most people seemed intent on sitting down though so that didn't help.

Summary: We've got an alright goalie (average league 2), pretty good defence, good midfield but lack up front. We've got half of a partnership with either Sturrock or Corr up top but we need someone who can pick the ball up and run at defenders, neither Sturrock or Corr really have this in their locker.

 

[JoshC]

Just got back from my first chance to see the new team, not going to do ratings but in all honesty it wasnt a very good performance at all. Nobody looked out of their depth at all just a bad day at the office. With a quick/clinical striker we could do some damage this season...
Sturrock: No wonder he divides opinion, sont really know what to make of him, works hard and does some things well but lets himself down at vital moments
Grant: Not much to say, clearly our best player, everything good goes through him, looked understandably knackered for the last 10 minutes.
Moshni: Interesting player, manage to look both very comfortable and clumsy. At fault for the second goal.
Simpson: Was looking forward to seeing him after his reviews... Forgot he was playing in the second half.
Clohessy: good delivery of the ball, very comfortable on the ball.
Gilbert: DODGEY!

 

[Lord Football]

First half we were better, much better, than Northampton; but again never really created good chances. Sturrock should have done better with his. In fact we were better until Grant scored. Then we just stopped. Both goals were down to poor defending - their second from a corner was unbelievably bad. One or two of them needed to take more responsibility but instead hid.

Some ratings

Morris 7 - He is a good keeper for this level and wont let us down. Not sure if he could much with either goal but I can't help feeling a taller keeper (ie Mildy) would have got the first.

Clohessy 7 - A grafter

Gilbert 7 - Clearly up for it against his old side

Mohsni 5 - I think he is going to be great. Really do, but I also accept that he is going to have bad days. Today was one. He seemed to loose the plot towards then end preferring to moan to anyone rather than getting stuck in.

Barker 7 - He is going to be a real asset

Easton 6 - Seemed to go missing second half. Sprayed the ball around nicely but too often to a claret shirt

Grant 8 - Best player by miles again. Another goal for our free scoring midfield man.

Hall 7 - Does some really good stuff, but seems unable to do the easier thing of crossing well.

Simpson 6 - Fairly annonymous this week.

Sturrock 6 - He is clearly limited, but ... his role is to hold the ball and give it to an on coming midfielder or a strike partner. He gave the ball away too often today and his reflexes weren't that good. A bit slow tbh.

Soars 5 - Not sure if he did anything at all if I am honest. Seems a bit lost playing in this position.

Subs

Corr 6 - Ran around a bit, but no service

Paterson 6 - Not really sure what his role is. He doesn't seem to be any good at anything. Am I missing something here?

Spencer 6 - Better hair, but too late to get involved

Crowd 5 - **** poor if I am honest from both sets of fans.

In general I would agree Fredheim's assessment of where we are, but I would add that we need to work on our concentration and fitness. For the second week running we ran out of steam towards the end. We got away with it last week, this week we didn't.

Today Northampton were there for the taking, and at times were dreadful. We just made them look like world beaters for the last 20 mins.

 

[RobM]

Q1.How many corners did we get? Q2 How many looked dangerous?

A1 About 12 A2. None.

 

[mfurok]

Playing one upfront and five in midfield for most of the game was a mistake.

At the end we had four up front which was just as big a mistake.

We desperatately need a forward who knows where the goal is.

 

[Tinks]

Today really was a game of the old cliche "A game of two halves". 1st half we dominated and stopped Northampton from playing (if that is what you can call it). Granty as per usual shone above the rest and I thought Easton had a very good first half. Just seemed to go to pot in the second half, allowing Northampton the space and time and subsequently they kept pushing forward and got their reward.
Moshsni-I am a fan of but I am afraid to say his in-expierenced showed today and judging by his body language on the pitch after the two goals went in he himself was annoyed.
I fell asleep midway through the second half for about 10 mins so canot coment on that period.
All I will say is that we DEPERATLY need an out and out solid built striker

 

[Andy_S]

I'm quite surprised that Mohsni has been thrown in at the deep end like he has to be honest. Even from pre season it was very apparent that he'd produce a few days like today and last week.

 

[BrettieAngell]

Didn't go today but Soares is standing out as a weak point at the moment, doesn't seem to be producing anything.

 

[yogi bear up the cagire]

I'm quite surprised that Mohsni has been thrown in at the deep end like he has to be honest. Even from pre season it was very apparent that he'd produce a few days like today and last week.

I think that I ended up quite relieved that he managed to remain on the pitch for the whole match. It seemed touch and go near the end, as to whether he would pick up a second yellow.

 

[Clinton Baptiste]

Luggy not happy on bbc essex, slating the team for the goals we conceded.

 

[Andy_S]

I think that I ended up quite relieved that he managed to remain on the pitch for the whole match. It seemed touch and go near the end, as to whether he would pick up a second yellow.

I think an awful lot of his problems stem from the mental side of things. The Torquay game last week made that quite apparent. If he gets into a certain mindset, he finds it very hard to shake off. With Prosser falling to pieces and Phillips not being able to shake off injuries, Mohsni probably is going to have to do a little more of his learning on the pitch. Ideally I'd like to see him get a little learning time out of the limelight and have Phillips and Barker as the first choice pairing, so the quicker Phillips can get fit, the better.

 

[Angell Delight]

We desperatately need a forward who knows where the goal is.

Nail. On. Head.

 

[Angell Delight]

Ideally I'd like to see him get a little learning time out of the limelight and have Phillips and Barker as the first choice pairing, so the quicker Phillips can get fit, the better.

Exactly what I said to Stats on the way home.

 

[Tommy2holes]

A strange quite boring and at times frustrating game really.

Morris : 6 Im quite a fan of his but dont think today was his best game and im sure that he could have got a stronger hand to there first goal which wasnt a particularly powerful.

Gilbert : 5 It was obvious that the crowd had an affect on him and he just doesnt offer the same going foward that clohessy offers on the other side and didnt have a great game today.

Barker : 7 Pick of the defense. Solid and assured and dealt with most of the problems that came his way.

Bilel : 5 Not a great game from him today. Poor distribution and looked an accident waiting to happen. Was involved in both goals and we nearly conceded a third due to his static defending. It looked like he was clearly fouled for the second . There player had both hands all over him and climbed on him.

Clohessy : 6.5 Did nothing of not other than his world class ball in which was top draw. His problem was that soares left him exposed and he didnt seem to know where he should be in the formation we played. Think he is a decent player its just he is knowhere near the class of simon francis which makes it hard to like him.

Soares : 6 Looks lively but has very little affect on the games in which he plays.

Grant : 7.5 MOM scored again for 3 on the bounce and nearly scored again with an outrageous attempt from a silly angle and if we were to increase the lead it would have been most likely to come from him. Given his goalscoring record before this season it highlites our need for a goal scorer.

Easton : 6.5 Same as every other game . Never poor never great just does the donkey work

Simpson : 6 Had a hard game today and it was obvious that northampton had done there home work and he was targeted and given no time on the ball. He will have better games as he is a talent

Hall : 7 Looked good when he had the ball and pumped the ball into the box , but still doesnt get enough shots away and wasted a great chance to cross by blazing it out for a goal kick

Sturrock : 5 Wasnt blairs day today and it just didnt work for him. Last week he was able to shield the ball and work it to the midfield whereas today he just could keep hold of it and rarely found a team mate and missed a very good chance to score from 2 yards. TBF he was just man handled by the lump of a centre half which is to be expected at this level.

Corr : 5 Came on and if anything we got worse as we resorted to long ball which played into northamptons hands and the headers he did win didnt meet any blue shirts.

Paterson : 5 Fast becoming the forgotten man and his body language suggest his heart is not in it. Needs a start and soon to show what he can do, but had no influence on todays game and was played out wide instead of upfront.

Spencer : 5 I saw scott in the reserves in the week and thought he looked poor. It just shows our lack of options when a poor reserve performance can get a place on the bench. Cant see see screech getting much game time in the league anytime soon.

TBV : 4 Very quiet today and didnt have much to sing about , but must have been 7-800 odd which is a good turnout.

We deperately need to sign a pacey goalscorer and i thought mckenzie did really well for them today and looked a handful throughout . I also thought there left back was a class act and look very very tidy.

All in all not best performance against a very average northampton and we conceded two very sloppy goals where weak defending both technically and physically cost us the game.

Bottom of the table morcambe at home next and i am expecting a big response.

 

[Maroon Blue]

Are we not the best 60 minute team in the league, cost us big time today, Northampton had to do nothing special to win that game, we threw it away with two mistakes at the back, apart from that and the header that hit the post, we were comfortable, well for the first hour. That game was their for the taking, could have been three up before they scored.

Morris 6.5, had nothing to do apart from pick the ball out of the net, both past him before he could move
Clohessy 6.5, Good crosses again, especially for the goal, steady game
Mohsni 5.5, the quintessential 60 minute player, hope the mistakes do not ruin him, needs careful managing
Barker 7, our best defender, solid as always, also could have scored.
Gilbert 6, thinnk the occassion abuse got to him, seemed to be trying too hard, not as assured
Simpson 6.5, quieter than normal, but still put a shift in and had to cover for Soares on the right.
Easton 6.5, steady, unfussy game, always finds the easy pass and tried to keep us going.
Grant 8, A colossus again , nearly scored twice, tired towards the end understandably.
Soares 4.5, sorry I know you should not change a winning team, but must make way next week, can not recall anything of note, wandered infield and dissapeared, leaving Simpson to cover on the wing
Sturrock 7, usual tireless work without any goal threat, could have scored twice in first half if was a bit more of a poacher
Hall 7, worked hard lots of unselfish running to create space for Grant in an inside left position.

Corr 6.5, did not hold ball up aswell as can but in last 20 mins we were on the back foot.
Patterson 6.5, chased and harried, has a good touch on the ball, maybe deserves a start
Spencer 5, looked totally lost on the right wing, did not win anything and got pushed off the ball, needs to be in the centre on the shoulder of the last defender.

Summary - Could not see us losing this after we scored, do not think Northampton are that good. To progress we must cut out the errors at the back and play for 90 mins, is it fitness or am I expecting too much to soon and they need more time to gel.

 

[TravellingBlue]

I am usually a very positive poster, however, tonight I am going to say it exactly as I saw it.

Firstly, 4-5-1 against a very strong Torquay is fine, against a very poor and defenisvely weak Northampton it just played into their hands. Sturrock you got it wrong.
I just cannot believe we lost this game to one of the poorest sides we have faced this season.

Morris 4 - did not command his area on the very few occasions he needed to.
Gilbert 4 - did not protect his area, and was caught out of position on a few occasions
Moshni 2 - worst game he has had for us. At fault for the first goal, at fault for the second goal and at fault when they hit the post and went close late in the match. Sturrock should have substituted him after the first goal, his head went. Coughlan should have come on.
Barker 8 - a rock, tried to hold it together but Moshni was just having a mare beside him.
Clohessy - 3 too slow, caught out time and time again, didn't not put one decent cross into the box.
Soares 2 - little boy lost, don't see what he brings to the table, poor performance - again.
Hall 6 - tries hard, has that turn of pace but needs to start delivering.
Simpson 6 - not up to his high standards
Easton 7 - battled, spreads the ball well, looks like he picked up an injury towards the end
Grant 9 - really got stuck in, wants it.
Sturrock 6 - tried, constantly fouled, but then started looking for it, seriously needs a supporting striker.

Subs:

Corr 2 - why did he come on, not fit
Paterson 7 - got stuck in, a few good crunching tackles and won a fair amount of headers - he is not a left winger - needs to play up front before he packs his bags and leaves us to score goals for some other team.
Spencer 4 - didn't touch the ball.

Sturrock/Widds 2 - uninspiring, 4-5-1 with Blair up front just didn't work, you could see it after 10 minutes - didn't change it, no plan B.

As you can tell I'm a little ****ed off tonight. Spent a lot of time and money in taking 11 people to the game today, sorely disappointed by a very lacklustre performance.

 

[Strykr]

shame , threw it away, some people think to have success you dont need a striker who scores lots of goals, I couldnt disagree more. this is league 2, all the teams are fairly **** poor and all are gonna have good days and bad days. It appears that on our day we can compete and this should hopefully keep us up,but with the current strike force nothing more then that. You only have to look to last season where we played poorly (for many reasons), yet with Barney we won games. I know some of you think they might be good prospects/still young etc. I dont quite see that myself , plenty of games left for them to prove me wrong though!