MATCHWATCH : Wrexham (a)

[Mid Sussex Royal]

What did we think of Sam Smith last night?, long gone are the days of kissing the badge here, yes I know he has a new club now and we only sold him because we had too, but his lack of empathy for us was clear to see, fist pumping when he thought he had scored the second goal.
I found it a little uncomfortable given we`ve virtually made him what he is now with two spells here.

He owes us nothing ect ect ect ect...........

He works for Wrexham now

Of course if you were equally upset about his celebration last year against Cambridge then your point might stand

He applauded the away fans after the game, as did Parky.

[Mr Optimist]

What did we think of Sam Smith last night?, long gone are the days of kissing the badge here, yes I know he has a new club now and we only sold him because we had too, but his lack of empathy for us was clear to see, fist pumping when he thought he had scored the second goal.
I found it a little uncomfortable given we`ve virtually made him what he is now with two spells here.

He owes us nothing ect ect ect ect...........

He works for Wrexham now

Of course if you were equally upset about his celebration last year against Cambridge then your point might stand

He did look up and applaud us in the away end as he was going down the tunnel after the game last night. So did Parky.

Personally, I’ve no problem with former players celebrating when scoring against us for their new or latest club, so long as they are celebrating with their current team’s supporters. The only time it would wind me up is if a player had scored and then ran straight to the Reading fans giving it the biggun instead.

[URZZZZ]

Story of our season so far in that we played well in patches but poorly in other patches. Unlike Saturday, we didn’t capitalise through our dominant period and their quality eventually shone through

Fair amount of criticism for MOM about but thought he did OK. Admittedly a fairly low barometer but thought that was his best performance so far, was unlucky not to score. Jacob and Garcia played well and Savage had a better game, the others so-so

Looking for more from our wide players. On paper, Ritchie, Kyeweraa, Lane and Kelvin as our main options should be more than good enough but it isn’t quite happening for them. Ironically Ritchie’s 20 minutes on Saturday was probably the strongest showing we’ve had out the four of them. Kyeweraa is busy without achieving a lot and Lane seems to be on the periphery of most games. Still early into the season and plenty of time for improvement, but need to see something productive from them and soon

[stealthpapes]

Thought Big Kelv was dangerous first half. Made a few chances, kept his defender on his toes, worked well with Garcia.

[URZZZZ]

Thought Big Kelv was dangerous first half. Made a few chances, kept his defender on his toes, worked well with Garcia.

Agreed somewhat

I think he’s someone that leaves you wanting more as the raw ability is there but the application…not often. Started on fire under Selles but his goal return has been underwhelming for almost two years now!

[MartinRdg]

Doing the work i couldn't be bothered to do. I was at the Vale game as well

Piece of piss to look him up on Soccerbase.

He looks like his confidence is shot, and as you say, no standout attributes. He's leathered a few good shots, but none of them have really got that close to going in between saves, blocks and the woodwork.

It's how easily hes knocked off the ball, and that it keeps bouncing off him that is the real concern for me.

Who knows, he might have one go in off his arse and turn into a player, strikers are a funny bunch... and he must have something about him to be on Brighton's books at 20..

I'd say we are yet to see whatever that is though.

Anyway, decent first half but we really needed a goal from it. Doyle was very unlucky that his shot didn't sneak in, decent save from Kelvin, but generally our final ball was not up to scratch.. game was over the second that corner hit the crossbar and we panicked.

I seem to remember when I first saw Shane Long playing and had very similar views and he turned out ok!

[Whore Jackie]

Garcia coming off injured just before half-time; Ryan on.

Sounds precautionary, but would've liked it to happen at half-time - we've used up one of our substitution slots now.

Don't think it was precautionary. He twisted something when he pirouetted nicely away from Smith. Tried to carry on, but couldn't. He was still hobbling at the end of the match as he made his way from the bench to the tunnel.

Agree with the positive comments on Jacob. Best game for us by some distance, obviously bar the second goal. Garcia, Savage, Elliott and Doyle had good games too. Thought Kelvin looked a little flat. And O'Mahony struggled. He seems to lack almost anything you'd want from a striker. Perhaps a goal will get him going, but he's not displacing Marriott anytime soon. Apart from Ryan, the subs really didn't add anything. Was a bit disappointed not to see Patton in action or Reece Evans involved again.

[The Cap]

Piece of piss to look him up on Soccerbase.

He looks like his confidence is shot, and as you say, no standout attributes. He's leathered a few good shots, but none of them have really got that close to going in between saves, blocks and the woodwork.

It's how easily hes knocked off the ball, and that it keeps bouncing off him that is the real concern for me.

Who knows, he might have one go in off his arse and turn into a player, strikers are a funny bunch... and he must have something about him to be on Brighton's books at 20..

I'd say we are yet to see whatever that is though.

Anyway, decent first half but we really needed a goal from it. Doyle was very unlucky that his shot didn't sneak in, decent save from Kelvin, but generally our final ball was not up to scratch.. game was over the second that corner hit the crossbar and we panicked.

I seem to remember when I first saw Shane Long playing and had very similar views and he turned out ok!

+1 And with that early shot going in, we could have been talking about a completely different game. Okay we lost 2 nil, however we had a lot of good spells and slowly but shirley, the lads are starting to click.

[South Coast Royal]

It's how easily hes knocked off the ball, and that it keeps bouncing off him that is the real concern for me.

Who knows, he might have one go in off his arse and turn into a player, strikers are a funny bunch... and he must have something about him to be on Brighton's books at 20..

I'd say we are yet to see whatever that is though.

Anyway, decent first half but we really needed a goal from it. Doyle was very unlucky that his shot didn't sneak in, decent save from Kelvin, but generally our final ball was not up to scratch.. game was over the second that corner hit the crossbar and we panicked.

I seem to remember when I first saw Shane Long playing and had very similar views and he turned out ok!

+1 And with that early shot going in, we could have been talking about a completely different game. Okay we lost 2 nil, however we had a lot of good spells and slowly but shirley, the lads are starting to click.

Only for parts of games-they need to do much more and in particular create more chances.
Whenever people talk about their own team they always seem to take the positive view such as this "-if that shot had gone" in but tend to forget the opposition and in last night's case if their point blank shot had gone either side of Stevens it would have been 3-0.

We all want this team to do better but I don't see massive improvement from week to week , there again regarding our club I am always pessimistic, but hopefully also a realist.

[Hound]

Didn’t get to watch but sounds like a lot of our games this year - one decent half or so, one poor half - not necessarily in 45m chunks

It’s continuing to feel for me that we have about 22 players of similar standard - all pretty good and no one really exceptional. Even Wing’s all round game isn’t the strongest atm

Shame to be knocked out though - season quickly becoming pretty dull and slow progress on all fronts. Still wish we’d signed less and played more from the academy….

[Snowflake Royal]

Didn’t get to watch but sounds like a lot of our games this year - one decent half or so, one poor half - not necessarily in 45m chunks

It’s continuing to feel for me that we have about 22 players of similar standard - all pretty good and no one really exceptional. Even Wing’s all round game isn’t the strongest atm

Shame to be knocked out though - season quickly becoming pretty dull and slow progress on all fronts. Still wish we’d signed less and played more from the academy….

Are you ok Hound? You seem to have got fed up very quickly. Especially seeing as you seemed to manage all the Dai shit fairly well.

[Hound]

Weirdly I really enjoyed the football in those last 18 months of Dai

Guess when we were playing 16 year olds because we had no one else, half of team of other academy lads and still pulling off results it was good fun

Also Mbengue, Bindon, Knibbs - quality players who were fun to watch

Just seem to have become like every other average L1 club this year. The football isn’t interesting, can’t really get excited by the likes of journeymen like Marriott, Fraser, Kyeweera etc even if they are ok players in their own right

Maybe we can turn it round but it feels such a nothing season atm

[traff]

Weirdly I really enjoyed the football in those last 18 months of Dai

Guess when we were playing 16 year olds because we had no one else, half of team of other academy lads and still pulling off results it was good fun

Also Mbengue, Bindon, Knibbs - quality players who were fun to watch

Just seem to have become like every other average L1 club this year. The football isn’t interesting, can’t really get excited by the likes of journeymen like Marriott, Fraser, Kyeweera etc even if they are ok players in their own right

Maybe we can turn it round but it feels such a nothing season atm

Likewise

[MR. CYNICAL]

Yes, last season, there seemed to be a special bond between players and fans unseen for years, despite the off field drama and it was great to see the academy lads step up and almost nick a play off spot against all odds, no wonder this season feels so flat.

[Clyde1998]

Yes, last season, there seemed to be a special bond between players and fans unseen for years, despite the off field drama and it was great to see the academy lads step up and almost nick a play off spot against all odds, no wonder this season feels so flat.

I agree. I think there was also the element of 'we're all united against Dai' going on leading to connection between all areas of the club that wouldn't've existed otherwise. This connection has rapidly dissipated as people's attention has shifted towards transfers and with the new expectations as a result of the ownership change.

It's not impossible to get back to where we were in terms of connection, but it will take effort from the various stakeholders in the club.

[Snowflake Royal]

Yes, last season, there seemed to be a special bond between players and fans unseen for years, despite the off field drama and it was great to see the academy lads step up and almost nick a play off spot against all odds, no wonder this season feels so flat.

I agree. I think there was also the element of 'we're all united against Dai' going on leading to connection between all areas of the club that wouldn't've existed otherwise. This connection has rapidly dissipated as people's attention has shifted towards transfers and with the new expectations as a result of the ownership change.

It's not impossible to get back to where we were in terms of connection, but it will take effort from the various stakeholders in the club.

Mainly it will take effort from the fans themselves

[stealthpapes]

Yes, last season, there seemed to be a special bond between players and fans unseen for years, despite the off field drama and it was great to see the academy lads step up and almost nick a play off spot against all odds, no wonder this season feels so flat.

I agree. I think there was also the element of 'we're all united against Dai' going on leading to connection between all areas of the club that wouldn't've existed otherwise. This connection has rapidly dissipated as people's attention has shifted towards transfers and with the new expectations as a result of the ownership change.

It's not impossible to get back to where we were in terms of connection, but it will take effort from the various stakeholders in the club.

cough

Perhaps perversely I can see us struggling a bit. I cannot help but think having someone external for the squad to focus on has raised efforts in some places. While I trust in the people who brought in the League 1 squad two summers ago, we saw how hard it was to find appropriate players this Spring - Bodin might still come good, Carroll barely figured. There's huge holes in the squad - at least one striker, at least one winger, at least one centre back. We've stripped the youngsters out to plug gaps this year, so I can see a relative lull in players coming through for maybe a season.

So yeah, 20% chance of a perfect storm of failing to replace, energy levels slump after two years of backs against the walls efforts, lack of effective youngster cover.

It's a risk I think the club management has to prepare for.

[stealthpapes]

I still think we'll be alright-to-good this season, fwiw

[The Cap]

I seem to remember when I first saw Shane Long playing and had very similar views and he turned out ok!

+1 And with that early shot going in, we could have been talking about a completely different game. Okay we lost 2 nil, however we had a lot of good spells and slowly but shirley, the lads are starting to click.

Only for parts of games-they need to do much more and in particular create more chances.
Whenever people talk about their own team they always seem to take the positive view such as this "-if that shot had gone" in but tend to forget the opposition and in last night's case if their point blank shot had gone either side of Stevens it would have been 3-0.

We all want this team to do better but I don't see massive improvement from week to week , there again regarding our club I am always pessimistic, but hopefully also a realist.

Mate, pessimism, optimism. Glass half full, half empty. Your choice on a daily basis and, for the record, didn't mention the word 'if' once in my reply.