SAFCBLOG GUEST EXTRAVAGANZA
The game.
Pitch looks in better nick, the last Tuesday night fixture against Lincoln, it looked like it was competing with the aquatic centre for splash tots swimming club sessions. Saturday as we know from SAFCBlog was in-turn, crap. SAFC caught twice on the counter and the younger contingent look knackered.
The team.
As aforementioned, the younger lads look knackered, Neil gets a rest but Doyle starting. He looks exhausted and shot of confidence, a lad his age shouldn’t have played as many games, someone must have told the new gaffer this? He was there on Saturday as well wasn’t he?
Anyway, a first start for Defoe. Interesting to see how much of an impact he has from the off, I saw him as more of an impact sub (similar to McGeady) as that seems to be more effective for players of that criteria. Gooch returns, I can’t say that has filled me nor anyone around me with much optimism. As mentioned, Saturday was poor but Clarke looked relatively promising when he came on, he’s played at championship level, why isn’t he starting?
Burton
Famous for shite lager, cheap high street suits, Nigel Clough managed there once, other than that, nowt really. Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink the gaffer today, he was alright wasn’t he? They’re 12th in the league, 12 points from the p/o so probably looking at a nothing season, but after the string of recent SAFC performances, they’ll be coming here looking for a result, and who can blame them really?
1st half
A lively start, the lads were pushing forward and straight onto the attack. Stewart headed down in the box but Defoe a few yards off the pace is beaten to the ball by the defender.
Unfortunately, just below us in the west stand an individual had taken ill and had to be attended to by medical professionals after 2-3 minutes. Football always put into perspective whenever these things happen, life and well-being trumps all and we wish whoever it was the very best and a speedy recovery.
Play resumed after about 50 minutes or so
Matete started very well, he looks to be a shrewd signing
Stewart closing down well winning tackles, Burton number 3 struggling with Gooch.
Doyle cleared a shot off the line, their first shot on target, too easy to break through the defensive line. He saved a potential disaster but his passing has been way off and his decision making poor.
Defoe looked as though he’d pulled something to me, he didnt look to get into any sort of rhythm all half.
Burton looked to be taking control towards the end of the first half. 10 mins extra time.
Cirkin struggled most of the half.
The ref makes a poor decision and gives Burton a free kick. Initially I thought it was Neil but it turns out Canning shouts and tells him his hair looks nice, booked. L1 refs are generally shite as regularly referenced in SAFCBlog, exhibit A tonight.
Overall, a good start much better than Saturday, Burton got into the game late first half, best chance gone to Burton which was cleared by Doyle. Ref shite.
2nd half
First real break, Stewart holds the ball up well, it lands at Cirkin’s feet and he pelts the ball at light speed across the box, Linford Christie not getting to that one.
1-0 Burton. Doyle went in for the challenge and missed the ball, Burton retained possession, ball out to the left and slotted in the bottom right hand corner. Too much time and space to take the chance.
Hard to not be overly critical of Doyle, but he’s missing everything, they’ve got him sussed. Every manager going forward will be telling his forwards where the current weak link is and at this point it’s destroying a promising young footballer ‘s ability and morale. He needs a rest.
Burton in far too much space on the left hand side. Desperate start, back to Saturdays standard. Doyle mistimes a challenge and Burton striker through on a one-on-one, fluffs it, Doyle a lucky boy.
Clarke looking lively as predicted, running his nads off, and is having a go.
Really out of nowhere, the ball is lifted into the box and as he does best, Stewart heads it home. Couldn’t see at my end but there looked to be a call for a possible penalty before the goal, swings and roundabouts and all that.
Conclusion
Lacklustre really in all departments. Matete looks to be a good signing, he’s solid and chases the ball down well. Doyle is quite frankly fucked, it’s very easy to have a scapegoat in the team, most of the time it tends to be Gooch but he’s shite more then he’s good so fair enough, but this is a lad who’s played far too many games and at this stage looks out of his depth and a million miles from the player before Xmas, he’s a young lad, did Santa bring him a lump of coal or something? Cirkin was useless, Pritchard tried to create and snippets of his quality shone through, he set up the goal but he looked frustrated at times. On his day he’s the best midfielder in the league for me, he needs to be utilised In his best position. The crossing across the board was way off all night All in all, a point is a point, it’s not a loss and it’s better than a mid-table side taking all 3 and doing sod all with them. Play offs beckon, SAFC just need to get there by hook or by crook, win ugly, grind out the results and enter the play offs with a different attitude of not being disappointed at missing out on the automatics. Because I think we all know that ship has sailed now.
Guest X, SAFC Substitute Blogger
Song: Fontaines DC- I Love You
