Team selection remains a mystery...
FAN'S EYE VIEW by Phil Smee from Dartmouth – he's supported United all his life, but has been watching regularly in recent seasons after returning from work in the Middle East:
"Well, very frustrating again is probably the verdict.
"We faded near the end, and that's happened a lot this season.
"I don't know what the reason is – I don't think it's fitness, but we just seem to get so nervous whenever we're trying to protect a lead.
"I thought Benyon worked very hard, and it was good to see Scott Rendell back.
"I think we've missed him a lot, and I wasn't impressed with (Ashley) Barnes (on loan).
"(Guy) Branston stood out in our defence – he's been an excellent signing.
"But I'm afraid I still don't understand Paul Buckle's team selection.
"(Lathaniel) Rowe-Turner did better as the game went on, but what's happened to Kevin Nicholson and Adam Smith?
"And why does Buckle keep playing Zebroski on the left wing?
"He said he brought him back to play as a striker.
"We've got more wingers than any other position, yet he keeps playing Zebroski out there.
"When we were in a good run up to Christmas, Zebroski was with Rendell and Benyon coming off the bench.
"Danny Stevens has got a contract next season, but since then he seems to be completely out of it.
"When we know we're safe, I'm hoping that those younger players will get more games.
"We should be all right, yes I know, but you can never be sure with us.
"We need to beat Lincoln (next Saturday) before I'll start to relax."
4 Comments
by Mark Hellyer, Torquay
Monday, March 15 2010, 8:19PM
“@Keith
Judging by your address you already have ensured you are out of the country! Seriously though - a round trip from Cardiff to watch Buckle's brand of football? That's dedication bordering on masochism. Well done that man!”
by Doug Aldrich, Kingsteignton
Monday, March 15 2010, 12:05PM
“I can't believe all these guys!
They are talking perfect sense!
I agree with everything. How Rowe-Turner got away without a booking after barging their winger into the wall, then sything him down beggars belief. I'd happily put Smith or Nicolson in, in front of that guy.
And we did fade.....it was plain to see. Why oh why only 1 sub....we should have made 2 subs on the hour and seised the initiative.....as the game went on, there was only gonna be one team to win the game.....
.....we rode our luck and got away with it!”
by KEITH WILLIAMS, CARDIFF
Monday, March 15 2010, 11:26AM
“One cannot disagree with a word of Phil's summing up and it is most frustrating to see time and again a team that takes the lead, cannot put the game to bed, and then you know by experience that the opposition will be allowed to get stronger as the second half developes, when the equaliser will be inevitable, or worse! And on Saturday it would have been worse had the penalty not been squandered. Certainly Barnes was too lightweight and inexperienced for League 2, and we now need someone big and strong to hold the line who the likes of Rendell and Zebroski can work with. The skills of Danny Stevens are being wasted. He ripped Cheltenham apart in September and should have had an hatrick that night. It is a long day setting out from Cardiff to return and find that not only did Grimsby draw away, but Cheltenham won at Burton having scored SIX. We clearly have no room for complacency, the warnings are there for all to see. Much as I shall be delighted to see Newport County come up to the Conference tonight, I don't want their ground to be my nearest derby next season! We desparately need another signing of the quality and know-how of Branston, who really has been the pivot of the unbeaton run of six games. An injury to him and are chances would be much reduced.The bottom teams are gaining strenghth and we must get some early points as there are some tough away games to come at Northhampton and Bury, and we can no longer rely on winning the home games, however easy they may look on paper. On Saturday, a number of our team looked out of their depth and despondent in the second half. It must be said that the mid-field is the weak est part of the whole. Whilst Mansell is a much better player in this department and does very well in breaking down the opposition, Wroe has not been the player we know for a long time. Maybe the captaincy has affected his game, but many of his passes are going astray and putting us under pressure. Also, the defence is putting itself under pressure by playing too deep, they need to dictate the middle of the park, and frankly we don't have an Alex Russell to do that with any authority. I prefer to think positively, and I have believed all season that we would improve and consolidate our position after last year's promotion but, with ten games to go, we are sadly no more than hanging in there at the moment, and noone can be confident of the final outcome. I shall be at the Northampton Aldershot ,and Bury games, and only hope we shall all be able to relax well before May 8th and the visit of Notts County. Going down to the wire against them will be no fun at all. I think I shall ensure that I am out of the country!”
by geoff, bodmin
Monday, March 15 2010, 11:02AM
“Phil. I agree with just about every word of what you say. I went away feeling very dissappointed because we had let slip a game we should have had won. benyon was good and I am not sure why he was taken off with 10 minutes left. Crewe looked just the sort of team that Danny Stevens could have tormented as an impact substitute. Why did we go from teking the game to Crewe to letting them pile the pressue on us. I don't feel it was them getting any better, so what was it. Whilst we were not bad, we were not great either. A lot of the distribution from midfield was poor. I think we will be OK as far as missing relegation, but we need to be a lot better if we are not going to have another season of struggle next time round. We are good enough to survive, but we are not a lot better than that.”