Cambridge (H) - B Team / Chuckletrade Trophy

[The Rauldinho]

4-4-2 was a slight improvement, however....
I don't recall Coddington playing the ball out once. Far too many long balls from defence and the midfield was anonymous. Thought Rev's did OK and got his goal. They looked far livelier and had the best chance of the second half. We are clearly devoid of any real ideas and confidence, including JE who was hibernating.
No pattern or real style of play in evidence. It was just a depressing reminder of how far we've got to go to stay up this season.

Cheers, appreciate it. Was hoping we had all got it wrong and a good performance was in there, shame it wasn't.

[Saint Cobbler]

He's in the dugout apparently. Keeping a very low profile.

Going to be very interesting to see if he speaks to the press and if he does, what he says.

'Yeah, no' plus a load of tripe.

[everbrite]

4-4-2 was a slight improvement, however....
I don't recall Coddington playing the ball out once. Far too many long balls from defence and the midfield was anonymous. Thought Rev's did OK and got his goal. They looked far livelier and had the best chance of the second half. We are clearly devoid of any real ideas and confidence, including JE who was hibernating.
No pattern or real style of play in evidence. It was just a depressing reminder of how far we've got to go to stay up this season.

More or less spot on. All our penalties were good, theirs not quite so good with Coddington getting his hand to some of them plus of course the one he saved. Second half was poor; Waters ran well with the ball, but he runs into trouble and seems unable to pass. Midfield was not in the game, although Grimes and McWilliams showed a few L1 quality moments. Barnett and Taylor ok as defenders but cannot pass a ball out of defence for toffee. Powell bit of a nearly man! Perhaps things will improve when JJOT and Foley get involved. On this showing we need a winger, a decent number 10 and somebody who can score an odd goal or two. We had nobody on the pitch who looked capable of scoring; apart maybe from Revell who show a neat turn of mis control , recovered and slotted the ball home. On this showing we don't look good enough and the "good" signings are looking anything but good.
MOM Coddington

[andycobbler]

More or less spot on. All our penalties were good, theirs not quite so good with Coddington getting his hand to some of them plus of course the one he saved. Second half was poor; Waters ran well with the ball, but he runs into trouble and seems unable to pass. Midfield was not in the game, although Grimes and McWilliams showed a few L1 quality moments. Barnett and Taylor ok as defenders but cannot pass a ball out of defence for toffee. Powell bit of a nearly man! Perhaps things will improve when JJOT and Foley get involved. On this showing we need a winger, a decent number 10 and somebody who can score an odd goal or two. We had nobody on the pitch who looked capable of scoring; apart maybe from Revell who show a neat turn of mis control , recovered and slotted the ball home. On this showing we don't look good enough and the "good" signings are looking anything but good.
MOM Coddington

Agree with all the above. we looked like an average L2 side which doesn't bode well for the rest of this season. Cambridge were on the whole better going forward and at times our 'back 4' couldn't decide if they were a 4 or a 3 which begs the question what do they do in training. Jury's out, JED has to go.

[Cobbler78]

Anyone at the game give us a run down of exactly how poor a performance this was?

Hoping McWilliams did well after his good performance on Saturday.

Pretty good 1st half, high energy and plenty of pace. Much better than recent weeks.

Awful 2nd half, McWilliams (who I like as a player) got a little lost and bullied with only Grimes alongside him, better in a 3. Powell and Waters looked lively but no end product or natural width. Taylor and Barnett, both heads on sticks, can't kick a ball. Buchs and Moloney poor crosses and distribution. No subs til 80th min, Iaciofano for Long, not sure Joe had a kick, Long also anonymous for his 80 mins. Why Revell played another 90 mins after 90 Saturday I'll never know, if ever two players should job share it's Rico and Revs.

Overall, slight improvement on recent weeks with the tweak in formation but still plenty to work on, we need a couple of wingers in and to ship out Bowditch, Kasim and 'maybe Hoskins til he is fit.

[Parklands Cobbler]

Agree with most of the above.We did look like a mid table division 2 team.Thought Waters had a good game but would like to see him up front playing off Revell who won many flick on headers and had a decent game.Other than a good run that finished with Revell's goal thought Long struggled to get in the game.Grimes is quality, always wants the ball just need to find the right players around him.Coddington made a couple of good saves but do think we need an experienced keeper in our current plight.There endeth the good comments.On the negative side Barnett looks awful when any ball is played just behind or to the side of him.Moloney got forward many times but his final ball was poor and he got stranded up front when Cambridge then broke away.As usual both center half's just hoofed the ball upfield even when they had time to control it and look for a midfielder.Powell showed some nice touches first half but never looks like he can get himself in the game and not very interested.All i can remember of Iaciofano 10 minute appearance was him chasing back to his own corner flag to help defend, other than that dont think he touched the ball.Should have been given a longer run out.Unless KT makes a bold decision soon I fully expect us to be hosting Cambridge again in the league next season.

[lordjord]

Agree on the keeper point, didnt think Coddington could do anything with the goal but he seemed to be glued to his 6 yard box as I thought he did against Posh. His starting position is so deep it means he dosnt come for any crosses or through balls.

Waters looked dangerous when running with the ball, needs to be upfront though. Grimes looks very classy, would like to see a midfield 3 of him crooks and kasim/JJOT when he is fit. Only problem is he often has little options when he was on the ball, the fact that after 14 signings we still have to go direct to Revs shows how unbalanced the recruitment has been.

It was a shame we didnt get to see more of Joe Italian and that George Smith (a player that actually said he loves to bomb forward like a wing back) didnt get on the pitch.

[The Rauldinho]

Watching the highlights, the goal came from a similar situation to Posh where everyone backed off and let players run at them.

Amazing last ditch tackle by Buchs on what looked like a 2 on 0, saved us for sure there.

[Joes Sweet Left Foot]

O.K. I confess I went last night, partly because it was cheap and partly because I thought he'd change the system and introduce some fringe players. First half played well with good shape, a marked improvement on Saturday. Waters and Long running in behind Revell to get to his flick ons. Revell himself had a pretty good first half but tired badly in the second and should have been subbed. Long missed a glorious opportunity to put us ahead in the second half but overall the team lost their shape in the second half with Powell particularly clueless. Don't believe Barnett and Taylor are our best central defensive partnership as both look error prone. Moloney did O.K. but short of match fitness, Buchanan defensively sound in back 4 included a superb last ditch tackle after Barnett weak back header. McWilliams was terrific having to do the defensive work for Grimes who was good on the ball. Powell has pace but little else, Crooks would offer more.
 
If he stays JED must stick with this system. McWilliams looks like the best defensive midfielder to cover the back 4 which might be improved with Pierre and Poole. Crooks can tackle and create and Grimes is needed as best creative midfielder and dead ball specialist. On last nights evidence playing Revell might work so long as Waters and Long are also included, but he can't last the full 90 minutes, so Richards will be needed off the bench.  JJOT will provide strong competition for Crooks, likewise Hoskins for Waters, and Foley when fit will provide good option from the bench.

Overall not too disheartened but I think escaping relegation may be the height of our ambition this season, and with the players we have got and the right system we should be able to achieve this.

[Coolcat]

See EFL Trophy table has us level with Posh on 3pts (with Cambridge on zero!) Great...sure we're on 2pts and Cambridge on 1pt though!

[606 Parklands_Cobbler]

There's nothing wrong with going 'Jose'. You just can't go to the game against an U21 team.