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Match Report: City pay the penalty in second-string shoot out


Olé

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Football is sometimes a predictable game - for example when 2 semi-reserve sides are put out for a first round cup game you can guarantee chaos and goals. Today we got both in an end to end game that even had reserve quality match officiating too.

City rode their luck in a match that swung back and forth, but appeared in control at 3-2 up, only for increasingly disinterested linesmen to be compounded by a referee picking and choosing his moments, finally  deciding to award the tamest of penalties.

QPR duly claimed their late lifeline back in the game as Johnson protested furiously but in truth City were always second best in the shoot out bar a brief leveller at 3-3, form being decisive as sluggish Diedhiou and out of sorts Wright, blew their lines.

It started so well for much altered City as Semenyo, Szmodics and Eliassson offered mobile threat around Diedhiou, and it was Semenyo the pick of the bunch, collecting a pass from Hunt to thread Diedhiou clear on goal, to round the keeper and score.

But within a minute QPR were level as with little or no danger the hosts probed on the edge of City's box and with absolutely no challenge incoming, Nahki Wells had time and space to curl an early low shot into the bottom corner - as if in slow motion.

The game was end to end and Semenyo wriggled away from a marker to sting the keepers hands via a dipping shot from the edge of the box that was hacked away. At the other end Moore slid in brilliantly as Pugh pulled the trigger from close range.

But midway into the half, villain to hero to villain Walsh - in a distinctly mixed outing - made the key error of an energetic but poor first half, giving it away cheaply in his half, exposing City down their right, Pugh squaring to Chair to crash it past Bentley.

City struggled to settle again at 2-1 down, but Semenyo was always a threat, and on 40 minutes he ran at the defence, feeding Famara who was tackled, Walsh picking it up to spread right to Hunt, who cut in, ran on and fired sharply into the top corner.

City were just about worth their leveller at the interval despite carrying a number of their side, and it was similar fare after the break, a poor Szmodics wasting the ball twice, then Eliasson letting Manning get in to square into Chair to miss an open goal.

Eliasson made amends quickly, slipped in on the right he hit a vicious cross that City tried desperately to convert, Rowe finally meeting it at the far post only to fire back across the face of goal. By now a steady Massengo had started to influence things.  

The young French starlet did brilliantly to retain possession under pressure from the QPR defenders and having worked it to Diedhiou, the striker was cut down, Walsh turning hero as after a long wait he curled a perfect 30 yard kick into the top corner. 

City threw on O'Dowda and Baker for two of the harder working players in Hunt and Semenyo, as the visitors tried to see out the game. With 20 left the increasingly dangerous Eliasson got clear and drilled into the box but Szmodics couldn't turn in.  

From the corner short to Eliasson, the ball was looped to Diedhiou who could only head back across goal and over. But by now poor officiating was an unwelcome sideshow, the near side linesman oblivious to QPR throw ins repeatedly taken 15 yards forward. 

This was beginning to rattle City and with ten minutes to go QPR got the ball upfield with a long ball and Wells hit a sensational first time shot at the edge of the box that crashed down off the underside of the bar,  somehow bundled away without a goal.

But the brief respite didn't last long and minutes later Wright was aggrieved not to earn a free kick on the touchline in front of the dreadful nearside linesman, QPR then spreading play crossfield, racing away on the right and crossing to Wells in the box.

The QPR dangerman tumbled theatrically off the most negligible pressure from hero and villain Walsh, but by now the series of desperate appeals for fouls by the hosts had probably had an effect on the ref who obliged, allowing Manning to fire home.

This controversial leveller took the fixture to a penalty shoot out, but with Johnson's fury at the officiating ringing in the ears of the referee it was hardly good preparation for a tense set of kicks, albeit they were conducted in front of City's travelling fans.

In truth the away side looked shattered by the equaliser and unprepared for the spot kicks - always second best throughout the deciding set pieces, starting with Diedhiou blazing over wildly at City's first kick of the shoot out, Bentley claiming little in return.    

It wasn't until after QPR had hit the cross-bar and then Eliasson contrived to waste a chance to level at 3-3, that QPR nerves finally told as Bentley produced a save to deny a match winner and allow Moore to emphatically sent City into sudden death.

But after both sides converted to make it 4 a piece, QPR again edged in front and City captain Wright took responsibility to step up but having been poor throughout - and in his prior outing - he was obviously short of confidence, firing straight at Kelly. 

City crashed out of the league cup at the first hurdle after a typically experimental clash of two largely second choice sides produced end to end football, two fine City goals, but also yet more loose defending, and decisively, second class officiating too.

 

Bentley 6 Didn't do much to stem the tide in the match, and would have wanted to get closer to QPR'S tame final penalty

Hunt 6 Worked hard, got forward well, screamer of a goal, but too often the danger was in behind us down our right

Rowe 6 Ditto Hunt, QPR showed more movement than us in possession and were getting in behind our full backs too often

Wright 5 Continued where he left off on Saturday, in really poor form, beaten at the back often and gave away free kicks

Moore 6 Unlucky to be moved to right back, the best of our defenders with one brilliant sliding goal-saving challenge

Massengo 7 The highlight of the day, was tidy and composed throughout, always on the look out for a pass, kept it simple and surprisingly strong on the ball for his age

Walsh 6 Looked busy and energetic and always showed for the ball but made a big mistake for QPR second, unlucky with the penalty, redeemed by brilliant free kick

Szmodics 4 Was simply never in the game, looked out of his depth throughout 

Eliasson 6 Anonymous for most of the first half and didn't help Hunt out in defence, grew in threat as second half wore on, by which point best stuff went through him

Semenyo 6 Easily the most dangerous of our forward players, always looking for an angle to pass or run, even if rarely given the space or the movement of teammates to give him options - largely played solo

Diedhiou 5 Took his goal well and was always physical but rarely moved or rolled his marker, didn't link up with Semenyo or bring others in. Poor penalty too.

 

O'Dowda 6 Worked hard mainly in a defensive capacity

Baker 6 Didn't have much to do

Nagy 5 Not involved much when on and very surprised he didn't take a penalty before Wright

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21 minutes ago, Olé said:

Football is sometimes a predictable game - for example when 2 semi-reserve sides are put out for a first round cup game you can guarantee chaos and goals. Today we got both in an end to end game that even had reserve quality match officiating too.

City rode their luck in a match that swung back and forth, but appeared in control at 3-2 up, only for increasingly disinterested linesmen to be compounded by a referee picking and choosing his moments, finally  deciding to award the tamest of penalties.

QPR duly claimed their late lifeline back in the game as Johnson protested furiously but in truth City were always second best in the shoot out bar a brief leveller at 3-3, form being decisive as sluggish Diedhiou and out of sorts Wright, blew their lines.

It started so well for much altered City as Semenyo, Szmodics and Eliassson offered mobile threat around Diedhiou, and it was Semenyo the pick of the bunch, collecting a pass from Hunt to thread Diedhiou clear on goal, to round the keeper and score.

But within a minute QPR were level as with little or no danger the hosts probed on the edge of City's box and with absolutely no challenge incoming, Nahki Wells had time and space go curl an early low shot at the far corner - almost as if in slow motion.

The game was end to end and Semenyo wriggled away from a marker to sting the keepers hands via a dipping shot from the edge of the box that was hacked away. At the other end Moore slid in brilliantly as Pugh pulled the trigger from close range.

But midway into the half, villain to hero to villain Walsh - in a distinctly mixed outing - made the key error of an energetic but poor first half, giving it away cheaply in his half, exposing City down their right, Pugh squaring to Chair to crash it past Bentley.

City struggled to settle again at 2-1 down, but Semenyo was always a threat, and on 40 minutes he ran at the defence, feeding Famara who was tackled, Walsh picking it up to spread right to Hunt, who cut in, ran on and fired sharply into the top corner.

City were just about worth their leveller at the interval despite carrying a number of their side, and it was similar fare after the break, a poor Szmodics wasting the ball twice, then Eliasson letting Manning get in to square into Chair to miss an open goal.

Eliasson made amends quickly, slipped in on the right he hit a vicious cross that City tried desperately to convert, Rowe finally meeting it at the far post only to fire back across the face of goal. By now a steady Massengo had started to influence things.  

The young French starlet did brilliantly to retain possession under pressure from the QPR defenders and having worked it to Diedhiou, the striker was cut down, Walsh turning hero as after a long wait he curled a perfect 30 yard kick into the top corner. 

City threw on O'Dowda and Baker for two of the harder working players in Hunt and Semenyo, as the visitors tried to see out the game. With 20 left the increasingly dangerous Eliasson got clear and drilled into the box but Szmodics couldn't turn in.  

From a resultant corner short to Eliasson, the ball was looped to Diedhiou who could only head back across goal and over. But by now poor officiating was an unwelcome sideshow, the near side linesman oblivious to QPR throw ins 15 yards further forward. 

This was beginning to rattle City and with ten minutes to go QPR got the ball upfield with a long ball and Wells hit a sensational first time shot at the edge of the box that crashed down off the underside of the bar,  somehow bundled away without a goal.

But the brief respite didn't last long and minutes later Wright was aggrieved not to earn a free kick on the touchline in front of the dreadful nearside linesman, QPR then spreading play crossfield, racing away on the right and crossing to Wells in the box.

The QPR dangerman tumbled theatrically off the most negligible pressure from hero and villain Walsh, but by now the series of desperate appeals for fouls by the hosts had probably had an effect on the ref who obliged, allowing Manning to fire home.

This controversial leveller took the fixture to a penalty shoot out, but with Johnson's fury at the officiating ringing in the ears of the referee it was hardly good preparation for a tense set of kicks, albeit they were conducted in front of City's travelling fans.

In truth the away side looked shattered by the equaliser and unprepared for the spot kicks - always second best throughout the deciding set pieces, starting with Diedhiou blazing over wildly at City's first kick of the shoot out, Bentley claiming little in return.    

It wasn't until after QPR had hit the cross-bar and then Eliasson contrived to waste a chance to level at 3-3, that QPR nerves finally told as Bentley produced a save to deny a match winner and allow Moore to emphatically sent City into sudden death.

But after both sides converted to make it 4 a piece, QPR again edged in front and City captain Wright took responsibility to step up but having been poor throughout - and in his prior outing - he was obviously short of confidence, firing straight at Kelly. 

City crashed out of the league cup at the first hurdle after a typically experimental clash of two largely second choice sides produced end to end football, two fine City goals, but also yet more loose defending, and decisively, second class officiating too.

 

Bentley 6 Didn't do much to stem the tide in the match, and would have wanted to get closer to QPR'S tame final penalty

Hunt 6 Worked hard, got forward well, screamer of a goal, but too often the danger was in behind us down our right

Rowe 6 Ditto Hunt, QPR showed more movement than us in possession and were getting in behind our full backs too often

Wright 5 Continued where he left off on Saturday, in really poor form, beaten at the back often and gave away free kicks

Moore 6 Unlucky to be moved to right back, the best of our defenders with one brilliant sliding goal-saving challenge

Massengo 7 The highlight of the day, was tidy and composed throughout, always on the look out for a pass, kept it simple and surprisingly strong on the ball for his age

Walsh 6 Looked busy and energetic and always showed for the ball but made a big mistake for QPR second, unlucky with the penalty, redeemed by brilliant free kick

Szmodics 4 Was simply never in the game, looked out of his depth throughout 

Eliasson 6 Anonymous for most of the first half and didn't help Hunt out in defence, grew in threat as second half wore on, by which point best stuff went through him

Semenyo 6 Easily the most dangerous of our forward players, always looking for an angle to pass or run, even if rarely given the space or the movement of teammates to give him options - largely played solo

Diedhiou 5 Took his goal well and was always physical but rarely moved or rolled his marker, didn't link up with Semenyo or bring others in. Poor penalty too.

 

O'Dowda 6 Worked hard mainly in a defensive capacity

Baker 6 Didn't have much to do

Nagy 5 Not involved much when on and very surprised he didn't take a penalty before Wright

will be glad when Lee has settled on his best 11, at the moment all this chopping and changing is having a very negative effect well on me it is anyway.

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Thanks Rob, excellent write up as usual.

I'm not sure whether a cup run would have been useful or not. Although we've got a lot of players to keep happy, I think LJ will need to focus quickly on his main eleven. The instability of life after Webster calls for decisive action. I'm concerned he's going to have another 'tinkering' season and change the team week to week.

Absolutely delighted to hear that Massengo was able to influence the game. His talent was obvious but at €8M he cannot be one for the future.

And if Semenyo is starting to show then we could finally have a decent number of viable striker options again.

This feels like it's going to be a tough season when in real terms this is most even Championship of recent years - and could have been our best chance since Johnson snr to make the top 6.

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Fair write up Ole but I can't let your criticism of Walsh (for their 2nd) go uncontested. Yes he gave the ball away but he did so from a starting position of a hospital ball to him in no-man's-land from the true culprit - Wright. He had the whole of the field in front of him, had the vision to see what was around him and decides to give the kid THAT to play with. Yet another needless and shocking pass from a night he sooner forget, as I wish I could his performance (sic).

We should have won, created chances so to do  and I thought lost it when WeeLee introduced CoD for Semenyo, who I thought kept them busy and honest at the back until that point. CoD's like the Irish border, an utterly self created problem we could do without. I note you thought he worked hard but other than that one trek back to stop a dangerous attack what else did he do? I thought he was supposed to be a smooth and tricky winger? Well he hasn't pace for one thing and demonstrated last night he didn't have the touch to sidestep, or attitude to combat, a fairly pedestrian defence.

Defensively we, too, were all over the shop, though perhaps not that surprising with reserve centre halves in. I don't get the Taylor Moore love in. He did OK(ish) back middle (though still contrived to let far too many balls over and past him uncontested, though in supporting his cause he he was not provided support from Wright.) When pushed to full back he twice got caught wrong side leading to dangerous chances for them. His reading of the game isn't good enough for Champion standard.

Didgeridoo hasn't deserved the criticism of late for his performances in isolation, but he wasn't isolated last night so is (again) deserving of both barrels. The chance he converted was very well taken from a difficult angle, or at least difficult when compared with the two 'sitters' he passed over prior to that point. Irrespective of height and weight he plays as a 4 foot weakling. I've no idea who the grandad was who snuffed him out the game last night, let alone why the fella didn't keep his slippers on for all the threat the man from Knowle posed? Diggeridoo won no more than 3 headers all night including the sitter high over the bar, the other two virtually in his own half. Hunt and our coaches take note - TRADE SECRET: you get higher and more momentum in the aerial challenge if you run to meet the ball than when doing so from a static position. Final third Didgeridoo offered little threat, save as with his penalty to those in the upper reaches of Row Z.

And the positives. I thought we passed and moved and were far more sprightly than witnessed in the latter Pack era. Thought Szmodic and Walsh were better than you rated and in Massengo we've acquired a baller. His movement and positioning alone shows he's a cut above, his vision and ability to deliver far better than one should expect from a kid his age and is the benchmark against which all those faux 'he's still only a kid' comments should be dismissed when our 23 year old 'one for the future' criticisms are rightly levelled.

Like the competition itself last night was an irrelevance. Saturday won't be.

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6 minutes ago, BTRFTG said:

Fair write up Ole but I can't let your criticism of Walsh (for their 2nd) go uncontested. Yes he gave the ball away but he did so from a starting position of a hospital ball to him in no-man's-land from the true culprit - Wright. He had the whole of the field in front of him, had the vision to see what was around him and decides to give the kid THAT to play with. Yet another needless and shocking pass from a night he sooner forget, as I wish I could his performance (sic).

We should have won, created chances so to do  and I thought lost it when WeeLee introduced CoD for Semenyo, who I thought kept them busy and honest at the back until that point. CoD's like the Irish border, an utterly self created problem we could do without. I note you thought he worked hard but other than that one trek back to stop a dangerous attack what else did he do? I thought he was supposed to be a smooth and tricky winger? Well he hasn't pace for one thing and demonstrated last night he didn't have the touch to sidestep, or attitude to combat, a fairly pedestrian defence.

Defensively we, too, were all over the shop, though perhaps not that surprising with reserve centre halves in. I don't get the Taylor Moore love in. He did OK(ish) back middle (though still contrived to let far too many balls over and past him uncontested, though in supporting his cause he he was not provided support from Wright.) When pushed to full back he twice got caught wrong side leading to dangerous chances for them. His reading of the game isn't good enough for Champion standard.

Didgeridoo hasn't deserved the criticism of late for his performances in isolation, but he wasn't isolated last night so is (again) deserving of both barrels. The chance he converted was very well taken from a difficult angle, or at least difficult when compared with the two 'sitters' he passed over prior to that point. Irrespective of height and weight he plays as a 4 foot weakling. I've no idea who the grandad was who snuffed him out the game last night, let alone why the fella didn't keep his slippers on for all the threat the man from Knowle posed? Diggeridoo won no more than 3 headers all night including the sitter high over the bar, the other two virtually in his own half. Hunt and our coaches take note - TRADE SECRET: you get higher and more momentum in the aerial challenge if you run to meet the ball than when doing so from a static position. Final third Didgeridoo offered little threat, save as with his penalty to those in the upper reaches of Row Z.

And the positives. I thought we passed and moved and were far more sprightly than witnessed in the latter Pack era. Thought Szmodic and Walsh were better than you rated and in Massengo we've acquired a baller. His movement and positioning alone shows he's a cut above, his vision and ability to deliver far better than one should expect from a kid his age and is the benchmark against which all those faux 'he's still only a kid' comments should be dismissed when our 23 year old 'one for the future' criticisms are rightly levelled.

Like the competition itself last night was an irrelevance. Saturday won't be.

Re Semenyo, on commentary they referenced he'd taken a knock and was holding his hamstring. They were almost imploring LJ to take him off. So might not be a fair criticism of LJ's substitutions.

Thanks for your summary though.

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1 minute ago, mozo said:

Re Semenyo, on commentary they referenced he'd taken a knock and was holding his hamstring. They were almost imploring LJ to take him off. So might not be a fair criticism of LJ's substitutions.

Thanks for your summary though.

Didn't look it from my vantage. Sure you weren't confusing with Massengo who looked like he'd done his groin after a heavy challenge and they didn't even get him checked over?

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3 minutes ago, BTRFTG said:

Didn't look it from my vantage. Sure you weren't confusing with Massengo who looked like he'd done his groin after a heavy challenge and they didn't even get him checked over?

Pretty sure they mentioned both (Massengo later on?), but happy to be corrected. Commentators were pretty enthusiastic about both Massengo and Semenyo. 

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1 hour ago, BTRFTG said:

Didn't look it from my vantage. Sure you weren't confusing with Massengo who looked like he'd done his groin after a heavy challenge and they didn't even get him checked over?

No, from where I was sitting semenyo was holding his thigh and stretching out his leg. He tried to run it off and the bench gestured towards him, then brought him off some minutes after. 

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Spot on @Olé. Wouldn't disagree with any of that. Disappointed with Szmodics, I only realised he was on the pitch when he appeared in the box in front of us at a corner after about thirty minutes!

Diedhiou deserves some credit for winning the free kick that resulted in our second. An example of how he can just be such a nuisance to opposing defences, and an element of knowing when and how to go down!

I think we have seen last two games that we now have a completely revamped midfield with a hugely more creative look to it. We just have to make sure we have defenders who can get the ball to them! 

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3 hours ago, mozo said:

Pretty sure they mentioned both (Massengo later on?), but happy to be corrected. Commentators were pretty enthusiastic about both Massengo and Semenyo. 

You are correct.  RB definitely thought Semenyo has tweaked his hamstring and needed replacing.

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I think the 4 for Szmodics is reasonable but I liked the things he was trying. Maybe it was the step up or maybe one of those games but he tried some clever balls that did not come off. The margins matter in football and I am not making excuses but because he didn't play well but I don't think it would take very much at all for him to start to get those passes right and put in some very good performances. Given time and a chance I think he will come good. 

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15 minutes ago, LondonBristolian said:

I think the 4 for Szmodics is reasonable but I liked the things he was trying. Maybe it was the step up or maybe one of those games but he tried some clever balls that did not come off. The margins matter in football and I am not making excuses but because he didn't play well but I don't think it would take very much at all for him to start to get those passes right and put in some very good performances. Given time and a chance I think he will come good. 

Radio were saying he just trying too hard to make an impression and rushing his work. That happens. A few more games will tell us more. 

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Anyone else think Taylor Moore ducked and got out of the way instead of blocking the first goal? Can a centre back be scared at this level? Or am I being harsh. He doesn't try and block it and looks scared of getting hit by the ball 

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Disappointed we lost mainly because we have a big squad and the cup games provide invaluable experience for the peripheral players and insights for LJ.  A cup runs also keep the players not getting regular league games a bit happier and match sharp. The likes of Szmodics, Walsh and Moore need these games for a development experience that playing in the under 23's doesn't offer.

We seemed to learn a lot last night including that Massengo and Semenyo are knocking on the first team door and suit the type of game LJ wants to play, we're lacking a centre back and our defence in general is weaker than it's been for a long time. It's a pity that, from this cup at least, it's the end of the learning lessons.

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14 minutes ago, JonDolman said:

Anyone else think Taylor Moore ducked and got out of the way instead of blocking the first goal? Can a centre back be scared at this level? Or am I being harsh. He doesn't try and block it and looks scared of getting hit by the ball 

Nonsense.

Did you not see him throw himself into a block right of centre to keep out a shot from 8 yards that would almost certainly have gone in?

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2 minutes ago, Fatalist said:

 

Did you not see him throw himself into a block right of centre to keep out a shot from 8 yards that would almost certainly have gone in?

I did! Very impressive. What he needs is games, and the confidence that would come from playing regularly. In the absence of anyone significantly better I'd be starting him alongside Kalas regularly in the expectation (or perhaps hope!) that he would learn and improve.

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5 hours ago, BTRFTG said:

Fair write up Ole but I can't let your criticism of Walsh (for their 2nd) go uncontested. Yes he gave the ball away but he did so from a starting position of a hospital ball to him in no-man's-land from the true culprit - Wright. He had the whole of the field in front of him, had the vision to see what was around him and decides to give the kid THAT to play with. Yet another needless and shocking pass from a night he sooner forget, as I wish I could his performance (sic).

We should have won, created chances so to do  and I thought lost it when WeeLee introduced CoD for Semenyo, who I thought kept them busy and honest at the back until that point. CoD's like the Irish border, an utterly self created problem we could do without. I note you thought he worked hard but other than that one trek back to stop a dangerous attack what else did he do? I thought he was supposed to be a smooth and tricky winger? Well he hasn't pace for one thing and demonstrated last night he didn't have the touch to sidestep, or attitude to combat, a fairly pedestrian defence.

Defensively we, too, were all over the shop, though perhaps not that surprising with reserve centre halves in. I don't get the Taylor Moore love in. He did OK(ish) back middle (though still contrived to let far too many balls over and past him uncontested, though in supporting his cause he he was not provided support from Wright.) When pushed to full back he twice got caught wrong side leading to dangerous chances for them. His reading of the game isn't good enough for Champion standard.

Didgeridoo hasn't deserved the criticism of late for his performances in isolation, but he wasn't isolated last night so is (again) deserving of both barrels. The chance he converted was very well taken from a difficult angle, or at least difficult when compared with the two 'sitters' he passed over prior to that point. Irrespective of height and weight he plays as a 4 foot weakling. I've no idea who the grandad was who snuffed him out the game last night, let alone why the fella didn't keep his slippers on for all the threat the man from Knowle posed? Diggeridoo won no more than 3 headers all night including the sitter high over the bar, the other two virtually in his own half. Hunt and our coaches take note - TRADE SECRET: you get higher and more momentum in the aerial challenge if you run to meet the ball than when doing so from a static position. Final third Didgeridoo offered little threat, save as with his penalty to those in the upper reaches of Row Z.

And the positives. I thought we passed and moved and were far more sprightly than witnessed in the latter Pack era. Thought Szmodic and Walsh were better than you rated and in Massengo we've acquired a baller. His movement and positioning alone shows he's a cut above, his vision and ability to deliver far better than one should expect from a kid his age and is the benchmark against which all those faux 'he's still only a kid' comments should be dismissed when our 23 year old 'one for the future' criticisms are rightly levelled.

Like the competition itself last night was an irrelevance. Saturday won't be.

Imagine going to the effort to spell Szmodic correctly and insisting on calling Diedhiou "Didgereedoo" 

Condescending and unfunny at best. 

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1 hour ago, Fatalist said:

Nonsense.

Did you not see him throw himself into a block right of centre to keep out a shot from 8 yards that would almost certainly have gone in?

No I was talking about the first goal.

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6 hours ago, exAtyeoMax said:

No, from where I was sitting semenyo was holding his thigh and stretching out his leg. He tried to run it off and the bench gestured towards him, then brought him off some minutes after. 

In which case I hope it was precuationary as I thought it a good effort from him last night.

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5 hours ago, JonDolman said:

No I was talking about the first goal.

OK, but the block he did make hardly supports your theory that he is scared of being hit by the ball. If you look at Hunt's goal, their defender does the same thing you accuse Moore of. I think they are just trying to avoid deflecting the ball when the keeper might have saved it.

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14 minutes ago, Fatalist said:

OK, but the block he did make hardly supports your theory that he is scared of being hit by the ball. If you look at Hunt's goal, their defender does the same thing you accuse Moore of. I think they are just trying to avoid deflecting the ball when the keeper might have saved it.

Yeah you might be right. We will see as the season goes on

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58 minutes ago, Davefevs said:

Out of interest what did everyone think of Moore’s position for the second goal?  He seemed to be defending the runner to the far post, rather than the danger in the middle of the goal and the eventual scorer.

Am I being over critical?

No, I think he could have done better. Mind you, our defenders often seem to do that, covering a player who might get the ball rather than the one who had it and is running towards goal.

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