Pearce & Bongani

[leon]

Every opposing teams tactics will involve shunting the ball down the lines and their wingers out run Griff/Harte, the centre backs cover leaving a gaping hole in the middle

And repeat

When's Cummings back?!

spot on. both our full backs are too slow, immobile and are easy to go past. Griffin particularly has declined at an alarming rate. The centre backs were getting pulled out all over the place to cope with the constant traffic down the flanks.

[CayeneMatt]

Having watched the goals again (3 times), pearce and feds were to blame for the 1st. Bongani was in no mans land and could've done better to block the header for no.2.

Going back to my original point, i've never seen Gibbs persistently shout at anyone for so long. He knew from the 1st minute.

I hope it improves.

[Royalwaster]

One of Bongani's problems is that he leads with his shoulder when trying to head the ball and consequently keeps missing it - first few times I thought it was just unlucky, but I think it's a quirk he's got that clearly needs sorting.

[manny96]

I didn't think Bongani or Pearce were particularly bad yesterday at all. Harte and Griffin's positioning and lack of pace meant the two central defenders were being pulled out of position all the time. As far as I can remember, none of Harte's free kicks cleared the first man either.

Federici was utterly, utterly at fault for the first goal (and he knew it). And then produced 3 or 4 match winning saves. Sublime and ridiculous.

[sandman]

I didn't think Bongani or Pearce were particularly bad yesterday at all. Harte and Griffin's positioning and lack of pace meant the two central defenders were being pulled out of position all the time. As far as I can remember, none of Harte's free kicks cleared the first man either.

Federici was utterly, utterly at fault for the first goal (and he knew it). And then produced 3 or 4 match winning saves. Sublime and ridiculous.

No he didn't. Pearce knew who was at fault for the first goal yesterday he was looking around wondering where Henderson came from.

[manny96]

Well, he shrugged, looked around for someone to shout at and then sheepishly decided not to as that was his ball to claim. The fact that Henderson slipped his marker (whoever that was meant to be) shouldn't have mattered. A tricky ball to deal with but no doubt in my mind that it was the keeper's responsibility. There's no guarantee Pearce would have won the header either had he been closer to Henderson

[sandman]

Well, he shrugged, looked around for someone to shout at and then sheepishly decided not to as that was his ball to claim. The fact that Henderson slipped his marker (whoever that was meant to be) shouldn't have mattered. A tricky ball to deal with but no doubt in my mind that it was the keeper's responsibility. There's no guarantee Pearce would have won the header either had he been closer to Henderson

So how is there a guarantee that Federici would have got the cross how is there a guarantee that McCarthy would have got the cross. Pearce lost his man and when the ball went in looked around and wondered where Henderson came from. If it was Federici's fault surely Pearce have had a go at him?

[Ian Royal]

The point is sandman, if the ball's between the goal posts and 5 yards out, it's the keeper's to come and claim making himself big. If he doesn't get it, fair enough, but the closer he is the bigger obstacle he is. It was a hard one because it was up and under admittedly. There's also the chance that you put the attacker off by coming out at him, maybe clattering him.

Stay on his line and he's got no chance if the attacker gets a head to it, unless they put it straight at him. Henderson isn't going to do that.

[sandman]

He didn't need to come out because Pearce had his man and then lost him. Once Pearce had lost him Federici tried to make himself big with the old Schmeichel style star jump.

[Ian Royal]

He didn't need to come out because Pearce had his man and then lost him. Once Pearce had lost him Federici tried to make himself big with the old Schmeichel style star jump.

Federici's all the way should never have been relying on his defender getting to the ball first. That's stupid.

And I think Hoop Blah has a point in that it looked like Harte who should have been picking up Henderson.

[Sir Dodger Royal]

Only RFC could sell a centre half £5mill+ who could actually head a ball with someone who quite frankly was pathetic. The African Geezer's positioning was terrible and his in ability to head the ball was embarrassing. Some how he always seem to be trying to head the ball sideways. No wonder he was 5/6 choice at Spurs. The defence is crap and the midfield has no creative juices what so ever.

Mid table at best unless that tw** of a Chairman spends some money before the deadline closes. Some hope on that frontttttt

[sandman]

The African Geezer's positioning was terrible and his in ability to head the ball was embarrassing.

I thought Pearce was from Oxford.

[Bacon Double Cheese]

The African Geezer's positioning was terrible and his in ability to head the ball was embarrassing.

I thought Pearce was from Oxford.

[loyalroyal4life]

The worry with the pairing is the lack of pace from the full backs will expose the CBs

[CayeneMatt]

Having watched that 1st goal again, the cross wasn't exactly whipped in to Henderson, so I've come round to the idea that Feds was to blame as he had plenty of time to come for it.

But if we're going to slag Feds off, you could argue that Forde should've done better with Manset's rocket. From my seat I thought it went top corner, but the replay shows it was more central. But i digress..

[Platypuss]

He didn't need to come out because Pearce had his man and then lost him. Once Pearce had lost him Federici tried to make himself big with the old Schmeichel style star jump.

Watch the i-player of last night's FLS from about 30:50 - Pearce initially goes with the other Millwall striker as Khumalo is badly positioned and he thinks Harte has Henderson - (which he originally did, before stopping his tracking run ). Once Pearce realises Harte hasn't tracked back and the ball is deeper to Henderson he is lost. Bad team defending only compounded by Federici's reluctance to come, but the key error was earlier.

[sandman]

Watch it as many times as you like. Maybe Harte can shoulder some blame but Pearce is still a CB charged with marking the CF. Can't see Pearce blaming anyone else or looking accusingley at Harte.

[cmonurz]

Watch it as many times as you like. Maybe Harte can shoulder some blame but Pearce is still a CB charged with marking the CF. Can't see Pearce blaming anyone else or looking accusingley at Harte.

So you accept then that Harte's actions had an impact in the goal, and as such the comment that it was poor defending all round absolutely stands.

I won't say I told you so, yet, as both should improve as they get match sharp and more of an understanding, but this is why I couldn't understand the crowing and hilarity when we shipped by far our best central defender off to Leicester.

[Hoop Blah]

Watch it as many times as you like. Maybe Harte can shoulder some blame but Pearce is still a CB charged with marking the CF. Can't see Pearce blaming anyone else or looking accusingley at Harte.

Pearce not moaning at someone isn't a sign of blame. If anything it's a sign that Pearce is mature enough not to start stamping his feet and having needless pops at his team mates.

[Sarah Star]

Pearce certainly had a go at Federici for one of the goals... can't remember which.