Vs. Cambridge - Review

[Big A 0]

Just got back from the game and thought I’d note down my

take on things, it’s the first time I’ve seen the team play since January because

of Uni commitments but here goes

Lewis - looked sharp in the warm up but was never really called upon

other than the PEN.

Spillane - must admit I didn''t even notice the guy.

Drury - best player in the first half, he was the only player who looked

comfortable on the ball.

Safri - slick passing as ever.  I personally think he is the only

guy who warrants his place in the starting 11 week in, week out.

Fleming - just looks slow, I saw Rob Newman in the warm up and he looked

like he was about to keel over after running the length of the pitch, Fleming

didn''t look much better, this guy must be dropped this season.

Shackell - looked very fit and did what was asked of him

Ryan Jarvis -  I still have massive question marks over this guy

(like so many of our youngsters), looks quite sharp but his movement is random,

drops deep when he really doesn''t need to (whether this is the managers wish is

anyone’s guess), I can''t see him ever being a consistent goalscorer

Thorne - looked like he had found his level to be honest, I have seen

this guy play a number of times pre-NCFC and he looked like a different player

(for the worse)

Etuhu - takes a deep breath........I just cannot work this guy out, his

is big and relatively fast and yet he got muscled off the ball a couple of

times by a conference player (a trialist at that), a chance fell to him first

half that I think I could have taken and instead he just bottled it and

couldn''t wait to get rid of it.  One of many players who clearly has ZERO

confidence.

Huckerby - A clear indication that our tactics will never change whilst

huckerby is on the pitch, even Cambridge had figured us out after 10 minutes......goal

keeper to drury, to huckerby who attempt to skin the winger and full back

before either losing the ball or crossing to Jarvis (short), Thorne (shorter)

or Earnie (midget) there is no variety and i''m starting to think that this guy might

be hampering our team, either that or (shock horror) Worthy should change the

tactics (if we have any, a point I will elaborate on shortly).

First Half - overall disappointing, no rhythm, no direction and

still, no midfield (Safri aside)

Gallacher - difficult to say as I don''t think he really touched the

ball, I don''t think he endeared himself to the referee though :)

Colin - looked rusty but made some runs forward and overlapped with

Henderson well (something I would love to see on the left side)

Doherty - seems to train well and

will probably make a good coach when he retires, was talking to Jarvis for a

long time and was training with him at half time going through some

drills.  looked solid overall.

Rossi Jarvis - did everything that

was asked of him in defense but please play him in midfield, the guy likes to pass

it on the ground and that , at the moment, should not be overlooked

Bexfield - small, first time I’ve

seen him and that was my only though really, number 16, is that his age!?!!?

Robinson - looked good, good

passing, tracked back, started the offence on a number of occasions, good

performance.

Hughes - felt SO sorry for this guy

today, whilst training somebody started cheering him and he looked

appreciative, at which point a ‘fan’ decided to shout abuse at him and he

clearly looked shocked, another player with ZERO confidence, I REALLY hope he

has a good season this year to make certain people eat humble pie, my fear

though is that he will never reach his potential (I don’t know what his

potential actually is) at NCFC.

McVeigh – get your

bloody hair cut

Henderson – I’m

not this guys biggest fan but he did ok today, the trouble is though, I don’t

think either the club the manager or even Hendo himself knows where his best

position is.

McKenzie – looked

focused and surely has to score goals as a partnership with Earnie right!?!?!

Earnshaw – first touch wasn’t the best but the third goal

showed what he can do when we play his style of football, through the middle

and to feet, he likes to drop deep sometimes and we should embrace this every

know and then

El Ouargui.(aka Theo

Walcott, aka Big nose) - ran about 15 miles today……..backwards and forwards

behind the goal

Worthington –

sporting a Steve Irwin/ Safari chic today I think I saw him shout tactics out

twice the whole match.

 

Hunter – didn’t

see him, was he there?

Now I don''t want to slate the players because I appreciate it is only a pre

season game but there is most definitely an ''atmosphere'' around the club that I

had hoped would have disappeared over the summer period.

[FU MAN SHOE 0]

A fair assessment Big A - a good turn out by fans, though nothing to get fired up about and certainly no reason for singing...far too hot anyway.

I thought Henderson looked good and much stronger in stature...he could make that right wing his. Was it my imagination or has Mcveigh put a bit of pork on despite his massive mop top...

[InLambertWeTrust! 0]

The McVeigh comment should have mentioned how little the guy did overall. Apart from a little back heel and a few little runs he didnt do an awful lot. I appreciate its only a friendly but surely you have to try and prove yourself to the manager. I like you hated McVeighs haircut. I must say well done to Cambridge who played well with support from their fans (like a certain team used to).

[apprentice 0]

COULDN''T GET TO GAME TODAY AS HAD TO WORK BOO!!! DID WE PLAY WITH 10 MEN IN FIRST HALF OR WAS OUR 11TH MAN SO ANNONOMOUS YOU FORGOT ABOUT HIM?

[Citizen Journalist Foghorn 0]

McVeigh looked like a girl and played like a girl...  GET YOUR HAIR CUT MATE.

Also he was rubbish - I am not sure where he was meant to be playing however - was he in the centre of midfield?

 

I may have been harsh on Hughes previously (which will stop now) but he did ok yesterday.

Also Henderson and Jarvis both looked bigger in stature - they have both previously looked lightweight, and both played pretty well.  Shackell was solid.  Neither Drury or the Doc would make a great captain, but out of the two it HAS to be the Doc.  How Drury is even considered is a joke.

[FU MAN SHOE 0]

[quote user="Paul Rankin"]

McVeigh looked like a girl and played like a girl...  GET YOUR HAIR CUT MATE.

Also he was rubbish - I am not sure where he was meant to be playing however - was he in the centre of midfield?

 

I may have been harsh on Hughes previously (which will stop now) but he did ok yesterday.

Also Henderson and Jarvis both looked bigger in stature - they have both previously looked lightweight, and both played pretty well.  Shackell was solid.  Neither Drury or the Doc would make a great captain, but out of the two it HAS to be the Doc.  How Drury is even considered is a joke.

[/quote]

I was looking forward to seeing McVeigh play some tight skilled passing with Earnie on the right hand side and opening up the Conference side well and truly but it just didn''t happen, ...no real energy or application seen, and as you say, it wasn''t clear where he was supposed to be playing...Can do a lot better!

Hughes applies himself with gusto but sadly it doesn''t make up for his woeful lack of skill...nice bloke though!

Doc for captain...100%

[AJ 1,230]

[quote user="Paul Rankin"]

Neither Drury or the Doc would make a great captain, but out of the two it HAS to be the Doc.  How Drury is even considered is a joke.

[/quote]

I remember, Worthy said Drury was chosen as captain to ''lead by example'' or ''set an example'' i cant remember the exact choice of words.