Rage Online

Tonight was a classic example of the thin line between success and failure.

They missed an open goal and 30 seconds later, we're one-nil up. They equalise and seem to have the impetus going into half time, we restore the lead due to a complete lack of marking on their part and Jim's half time talk is easier!

The ball somehow stays out off both posts for them (which would have made for an interesting finish) and we end up thumping them.

The extra quality and fitness we have got in certain areas made the difference between drawing tonight's game and winning it 5-1.

Player assessments:

Turley - At fault for their goal but a rare mistake in a good season so far

Anaclet - Don't know what to make of him, I want him to be in the side because I think he's promising but find myself very frustrated by the decisions he makes

Gilchrist - Good performance, assured, took a 'good yellow card' when needed

Wilmott - Solid as usual

Quinn - Apart from the shocker backpass that almost gave FGR a goal, he was ok but he is prone to mistakes

Day - Like him a lot, good defensively and gets forward well, not afraid to put in a good cross

Hargreaves - I am a 'Greavsie hater' and tonight he again wasn't great but I'm not sure there is anyone better to take his place

Peteffer - Huge fan of this guy, such energy and passion and the ability to play the sensible simple ball unlike Hargreaves who gives it away too much

Burgess - Seemed a bit out of it on the wing but it was good to see his skills close hand from the terrace, makes you appreciate how technically gifted he is

Basham - Good link-up work, Duffy must enjoy playing with him

Duffy - What can I say, looked dangerous all night, a hattrick despite seeming to be injured for most of the second half, won lots of flickons, 11 goals in 10 starts, 6 goals in 6 days - excellent

Obudabe - Did well, beat their defenders for pace on a couple of occasions and made it count to kill the game at 3-1

Well done boys - keep it up.

I agree with most of that, although I think you are kind to Turley, and harsh on Hargreaves. I'm not quite sure what Tardiff needs to do to get an outing. Turley's judgement doesn't look solid to me, as demonstrated in the second minute when FGR nearly took the lead. Hargreaves hasn't got much class, but battled hard and did make the extra man going forward rather well. I did think Odubade looked sharp and dangerous, and he got better service than usual.

The line between success and failure is thin, partly because it appears that sides in the Conference can all play well, at least in patches. I was in the 'Home' section (I have FGR friends), and their supporters were delighted by how well they played, and certainly in Clist and Brough they had two talented and committed midfielders whom I'd pick ahead of Greavsie (sorry!). The unanswerable but tantalising question is whether we would have come back if their second goal had gone in...

I agree with most of this too.

Pettifer and Duffy are players right at the top of their games at the moment.
Pettifers work rate has been mentioned many a time but I also like the way he beats players in a no nonsense, non flashy way. He is a bit like Bobby Ford in the way he lets the ball run across him before he takes the first touch in order to create space in which to work.

Duffy is looking to be a real qulaity striker at the moment. He won almost everything in the air and if things carry on as they are we’re not just looking at our first 20 goal a season man for ages and ages. No lets be sensible and make that 30 ||.

What a different sort of place Nailsworth is. When we were visiting Old Trafford and Anfield who would have though 20 years later we would have been playing league football in such a setting. We nearly got lost in the woods between the pub and the ground.

When was the last time we took so many supporters to an away league game?

&quotBaboo&quot wrote: When was the last time we took so many supporters to an away league game?

Errr - 28th August 2006 to Weymouth. If you mean League with a capital &quotL&quot then I can't think when it was - I'm pretty sure it was before we moved from the Manor though.

Port Vale is the answer to that!

At which away ground would you spend 30 minutes queuing to get into (not served mind, just into) the only establishment within about a mile of the ground selling beer?

&quotMally&quot wrote:

&quotBaboo&quot wrote: When was the last time we took so many supporters to an away league game?

Errr - 28th August 2006 to Weymouth. If you mean League with a capital &quotL&quot then I can't think when it was - I'm pretty sure it was before we moved from the Manor though.

Errr indeed. How silly of me.
How about for an evening league (League) match.

5 goals away - no idea.

I don't think the establishment we were in was further than a mile away from the ground. It was just a case of finding it.

I reckon the last time we scored 5 goals away was at Walsall, Richard Hill getting 4 of them in 15 minutes.

We won 5-1 having been 1-0 down at halftime.

Anyone beat that?

&quotRadley Rambler&quot wrote:I reckon the last time we scored 5 goals away was at Walsall, Richard Hill getting 4 of them in 15 minutes.

We won 5-1 having been 1-0 down at halftime.

Anyone beat that?

Boxing Day 1988.

And no, I can't beat that.

It's a pity that Andy Howland does not support the U's any more, because he'd be able to give out that kind of information as quick as a flash.

&quotSnake&quot wrote:

&quotRadley Rambler&quot wrote: It's a pity that Andy Howland does not support the U's any more, because he'd be able to give out that kind of information as quick as a flash.

I was surprised when Andy didn't return to the flock once FK departed &amp the bald eagle returned.

&quotOld Abingdonian&quot wrote:I agree with most of that, although I think you are kind to Turley, and harsh on Hargreaves. I'm not quite sure what Tardiff needs to do to get an outing. Turley's judgement doesn't look solid to me, as demonstrated in the second minute when FGR nearly took the lead. Hargreaves hasn't got much class, but battled hard and did make the extra man going forward rather well. I did think Odubade looked sharp and dangerous, and he got better service than usual.

The line between success and failure is thin, partly because it appears that sides in the Conference can all play well, at least in patches. I was in the 'Home' section (I have FGR friends), and their supporters were delighted by how well they played, and certainly in Clist and Brough they had two talented and committed midfielders whom I'd pick ahead of Greavsie (sorry!). The unanswerable but tantalising question is whether we would have come back if their second goal had gone in...

I got the impression that Turley struggled with the low floodlights when judging crosses as I noticed that their keeper was as equally reticient to come out for crosses and seemed as slow judging the ball in the air.

I can forgive him mucking up the cross for their goal (especially if problems with lights) considering he has made some key saves in other games when the score has been close.

Half of my point is that in Chris Tardif, I had always thought we had a very good keeper for a (somewhat) higher level. If memory serves me right, in 2004 -5 he was not only fans' player of the year, but 'Goalkeeper of Div 2' or somesuch. When Billy joined us, he was clearly Talbot's man and there was much discussion of whether Chris would get a fair chance.

I assume Jim Smith is above personal favouritism, and so what keeps Tardif out of the team, especially with so many games in a short space of time? Is it Turley's relationship with the defence? Is there something about Tardif we don't know?

&quotBaboo&quot wrote: How about for an evening league (League) match.

Last time we went to Slumdon mid-week, presumably. I don't ever rememebr us taking fewer than 2,000 there. Except for that ZDS match.

As for Friday's game, I pretty much share Radley Rambler's views, except I think he is kind on the defence as a whole, who looked fallible throughout.

Pettefer does the work of three people in the midfield, which is why Hargreaves' weaknesses aren't shown up as much as they might be. From what I've seen this season, we look much more creative and generally proficient when Hargreaves isn't playing.

Duffy is on fire - brimming with confidence. If that lasts, I can see him getting a whole lot of goals this season. But is he good enough to keep doing it for long enough? Let's hope so.

&quotOld Abingdonian&quot wrote:Half of my point is that in Chris Tardif, I had always thought we had a very good keeper for a (somewhat) higher level. If memory serves me right, in 2004 -5 he was not only fans' player of the year, but 'Goalkeeper of Div 2' or somesuch. When Billy joined us, he was clearly Talbot's man and there was much discussion of whether Chris would get a fair chance.

I assume Jim Smith is above personal favouritism, and so what keeps Tardif out of the team, especially with so many games in a short space of time? Is it Turley's relationship with the defence? Is there something about Tardif we don't know?

Taking the season as a whole Turley has done well for us. Tardif is a good keeper but I recall him making mistakes too when he was in the team. I don't think it does much good to keep changing goal keepers.
Turley may well get sent off, injured, or suspended then Tardif will get his chance. It is good to know we have got someone of his calibre on the bench. I feared for us when it was little Cox and Brady Clarke.

I get the impression that Turley is far more vocal (however high pitched) than Tardiff. Turley seems to be much more of an extrovert character than Tardiff - perhaps thats why Jim Smith prefers him.

&quotSnake&quot wrote:

&quotRadley Rambler&quot wrote:I reckon the last time we scored 5 goals away was at Walsall, Richard Hill getting 4 of them in 15 minutes.

We won 5-1 having been 1-0 down at halftime.

Anyone beat that?

Boxing Day 1988.

And no, I can't beat that.

It's a pity that Andy Howland does not support the U's any more, because he'd be able to give out that kind of information as quick as a flash.

How come Andy Howland stopped supporting United? Has he gone on and supported somebody else?