Newport Match Thread

[Bertie]

+1

[WasRambo]

Tozer wasn't blameless, but he was left exposed by Amankwah pushing up (when we were already 3-0 up in injury time). He probably should have made the first challenge outside the box but, once their player was inside the box, he also had a good chance of giving away a penalty and quite possibly being red-carded (when we were already 3-0 up in injury time). Just saying, like...

I thought that otherwise Tozer had a very good game at CB - just as well as Lee Collins probably had about his poorest for us (but Collins is a very good player, despite the several errors!).

Not absolving Amaankwah of blame for his part but part of any defenders job is covering the back line. Tozer had the wherewithall to get across and had the lad over on the touchline. The simple job then is to Row Z it, he didn't, allowed the lad to get in the box which then meant he had to be careful not to foul.

I'd give the same analysis whoever the defender was, I'm not saying it just because it was Tozer.

And as for this bo11ocks that it doesn't matter as we were 3-0 up, since when did it become OK to let the opposition score, just because we have a decent lead?

[Carlo Corazzins Corduroy]

Tozer wasn't blameless, but he was left exposed by Amankwah pushing up (when we were already 3-0 up in injury time). He probably should have made the first challenge outside the box but, once their player was inside the box, he also had a good chance of giving away a penalty and quite possibly being red-carded (when we were already 3-0 up in injury time). Just saying, like...

I thought that otherwise Tozer had a very good game at CB - just as well as Lee Collins probably had about his poorest for us (but Collins is a very good player, despite the several errors!).

I agree about Collins. Was disappointed as I tipped him to be our stand-out player this season, but he made a number of errors that better opposition would have capitalised on. Only one game though, like you say.

Tozer though...I mean... he actually got to the ball first, but took a clumsy touch that allow the attack to run onto it, failed to make a challenge down the line, then gets outmuscled twice. I don't mean to get at him, as he clearly took it to heart judging by his body language afterward. But even so, I don't understand why people make excuses for him. He's adequate cover at CB, and has a long throw that we haven't really scored from in a long while now. Just seems like better players are left out to accommodate him at times.

[TbananaG]

And as for this bo11ocks that it doesn't matter as we were 3-0 up, since when did it become OK to let the opposition score, just because we have a decent lead?

Not what I was saying. But he's been slated for making a mistake that led to a goal: if that goal had been a penalty and he'd been red-carded, I can only imagine that would have led to a ceremonial crucifixion such is the balanced view of young Mr Tozer held by some of our number.

[Montgomery Eypoke III]

Striker gets past defender. It happens quite often.

Alton it doesn't happen that often. Striker opens up half a yard to a yard to get a shot away or whip a cross in,  yes. But striker beats defender twice, actuslly runs around defender the second time and leaves him trailing in his wake. That doesn't happen that often and isn't meant to happen at all. You're a smart fella and you know that.

To be fair, I didn't start turning this into a Tozer bashing and I don't want to. He did ok on Saturday after a ropey first five, but he gave away a goal and there's no point in blindly trying to deny it. Blaming a full back for pushing on and supporting the attack on his wing is just b*llocks. I want to see our full backs get forward a lot more, and we'll need them to if we are genuinely going to change the way we play.

Tozer isn't the long term solution at CB. He could be the new Paul Trollope here. Much as its frustrating when people get on the back of a player unfairly, it's equally frustrating when others then start defending said player at all costs, regardless of what has happened on the pitch. It's not personal, he's just not good enough.

[A view from the east]

Wherever you stand on Ben Tozer the fact is that his manager considers him to be a regular first teamer
and has given him another contract on the back of that.
Personally I believe that if he had stayed at centre back after Sammo went he would have made that position his own.
He wasn't really in favour under GJ and Aidy seems to use him as a stop gap wherever he sees fit.
Leave him at CB , maybe alongside Langers and perhaps he will show some of that potential that made him a valuable player in the first place.
Meantime isn't it time some on here cut him a bit of slack ?

[defender]

Wherever you stand on Ben Tozer the fact is that his manager considers him to be a regular first teamer
and has given him another contract on the back of that.
Personally I believe that if he had stayed at centre back after Sammo went he would have made that position his own.
He wasn't really in favour under GJ and Aidy seems to use him as a stop gap wherever he sees fit.
Leave him at CB , maybe alongside Langers and perhaps he will show some of that potential that made him a valuable player in the first place.
Meantime isn't it time some on here cut him a bit of slack ?

Good post, I agree 100%

[Montgomery Eypoke III]

I don't understand is the basis for claiming he is a decent centre back. He's never looked like one in all his time with us, so what exactly is it that makes people think he's good there.

Better than Collins? Or Heath? I don't think so.

Paul Turnbull's best position was centre midfield. Perhaps we should have just persisted with him there and he'd be playing like Roy Keane now.

[GillysM8]

If you say so fella.

[Bertie]

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

[southofthecounty]

Yes he was to blame (mostly) for the goal, but I bet he learns from it.
I look forward to the next winger that tries that to join me in row F.

[sixfields starling]

I don't understand is the basis for claiming he is a decent centre back. He's never looked like one in all his time with us, so what exactly is it that makes people think he's good there.
 

Had a great game at centre half at anfield!

[bungle]

I don't understand is the basis for claiming he is a decent centre back. He's never looked like one in all his time with us, so what exactly is it that makes people think he's good there.

Better than Collins? Or Heath? I don't think so.

I think the point is that centre back is his best and most natural position. That doesn't mean that he is necessarily a 'decent' centre back as it stands now, only that he has more potential as a central defender than as a central midfielder or a right back.

He came to us as a centre half with potential, and given a proper run of games with a decent, experienced partner I think he could still make a success of the position. People forget that he's still only 23 and has plenty of time on his side. Unfortunately, GJ decided to remodel him as a central midfielder and ever since then he has been landed with the tag of 'utility player'. As a result he has had to learn several different positions without really being able to master any of them.

The problem is that his long throw makes him undroppable in AB's eyes which means he will always be shoehorned into the team somewhere even if it is to the detriment of the overall shape of the team (and his own development).

[Cordwainer2]

Does anyone remember the young John Gregory. He used to make one terrible blunder per game and we were all releived if we got away with it. A great player though. Perhaps Tozer is allowed the odd blunder?

[Montgomery Eypoke III]

Had a great game at centre half at anfield!

Even in that game he air kicked to let Jovanovic in for their first goal.

And he had a decent run at centre back during that period. He also played a lot of games at centre back under Johnson. He never looked like a centre back.

[MKMal]

The problem is that his long throw makes him undroppable in AB's eyes which means he will always be shoehorned into the team somewhere even if it is to the detriment of the overall shape of the team (and his own development).

It looked like Morris had just as long a throw against Newport so maybe he is droppable?

[TbananaG]

Much as I like Lee Collins, I'm staggered that nobody has mentioned his several mistakes against Newport or how Eastwood just walked past him to score Southend's second - if that had been Tozer, he would have been absolutely crucified on here. Not saying he's perfect, but Tozer has definitely been our better centre back in the last two matches (and Heath stood out at York).

[A view from the east]

Much as I like Lee Collins, I'm staggered that nobody has mentioned his several mistakes against Newport or how Eastwood just walked past him to score Southend's second - if that had been Tozer, he would have been absolutely crucified on here. Not saying he's perfect, but Tozer has definitely been our better centre back in the last two matches (and Heath stood out at York).

Still say he was brought in as cover for Widdowson when he was about to be suspended and
personally I have always thought of him as a full back rather than a central defender.
He is only playing there because we have lost Langmead and CC and have basically failed to bring in a full time replacement.
Both of them were streets better than Collins in that position and Heath is only a stop gap.
Cant say I have ever really been impressed with him at CB and would like to see Tozer alongside our captain when he is fit. 

[tcobb]

Is this the longest ever "Match Thread " 

[everbrite]

1)Alton it doesn't happen that often. 
2)You're a smart fella and you know that.
3)I didn't start turning this into a Tozer bashing.
4)Tozer isn't the long term solution at CB.
5)It's not personal, he's just not good enough.

When you want to you don't 'ave spout utter tosh - as exemplified above with possible exception that Tozer is not the long term CH. It was the  responsibility of Am'waah as a RFB to mark the winger, no wonder Duke shouted at him