Back from the game - Doncaster

[John Madejski's Wallet]

Fed- 7
Griffin- 8 my RFC MoM
Mills- 6
Zurab- 7
Harte- 5
Jobi- 6
Robson-kanu- 5
Karacan- 7
Howard- 4 (totally with Mags on this one)
Tabb- 6
Long- 7

Donny completely threw that game away when they took off Oster. He was pulling the strings no end in that game

[Maguire]

Fed- 7
Griffin- 8 my RFC MoM
Mills- 6
Zurab- 7
Harte- 5
Jobi- 6
Robson-kanu- 5
Karacan- 7
Howard- 4 (totally with Mags on this one)
Tabb- 6
Long- 7

Donny completely threw that game away when they took off Oster. He was pulling the strings no end in that game

I could bitch here and there (I don't think Griffin did enough going forward for an 8 and I think HRK was a mark higher), but overall you're close enough not to quibble. Decent summary.

[LoyalRoyal22]

As much as we may miss Harte from set pieces, i would be tempted to put Armstrong in for the next couple of games, as Harte is getting raped for pace

[Maguire]

I thought the ref was fairly even handed in his uselessness but how the hell that bloke stayed on the pitch, and Noel got a yellow after converting the head-lock into a body-slam.

Actually I think the Donny #4 calmed down a lot after scoring (unfortunately as I was sure he was going to be 1st in the book). Noel's Irish rugby tackle was just awesome, although he didn't get the yellow for that but blocking the subsequent free kick. I was starting to wonder if the ref had forgotten his cards in the changing room until then...

'greed 'greed

Martis was dreadful though. And Hunt got in the good book for not retreating 10 from the freekick after the body slam

[Maguire]

As much as we may miss Harte from set pieces, i would be tempted to put Armstrong in for the next couple of games, as Harte is getting raped for pace

One set piece resulted in a goal, one was smashed into the net, two were headed over (Long and someone in the second half I coulkdn't see). I know he gifted the goal and struggled somewhat but he is a weapon.

[Wycombe Royal]

I'm not sure why there is all this criticism being aimed at Harte. Yes he was at fault for the third goal, but he won more headers than anyone else in the back line, he cut out lots of passes and won numerous tackles. Don't let the mistake cloud your view.

In an attcking sense he obviously scored and also put in a number of dangerous set pieces that were just asking to be put away (but no-one in the box could finish with the same quality as the delivery).

[Snowball]

Howard is a good player, did you deluded lot miss the ball that sent antonio away to set up the winning goal? majority of games Howard plays for us we seem to win

THIS IS WHY I LIKE STATS

League Games with Howard (STARTS)

1-1 Pompey
1-1 Forest
2-1 Leicester
3-0 Palace
0-0 Millwall
1-3 Boro
4-0 Burnley
4-3 Doncaster

P8 W4 D3 L1 16-9 15 Points 1.87 ppg

League Games without Howard

1-2 Scunthorpe
3-0 Barnsley
1-0 Ipswich
1-1 Preston
0-1 Swansea
0-1 Bristol

P6 W2 D1 L3 5-5 7 points 1.17 ppg

We get 0.7 points per game when Howard plays, that is THIRTY-TWO extra points per season!!

Snowball you ledge

Sorry, mate, crap stats. He also played 2 cup games so his overall games-stats are:

P10 W5 D4 L1 20-12 "19 Points" 1.90 ppg

[Snowball]

I'm not sure why there is all this criticism being aimed at Harte.

Because "it was decided" he was old and slow, and no matter how few goals we conced
and how many we score, they have to keep saying "he was rinsed".

It was said he was rinsed at Burnley, when in fact he won the ball.

Exactly how many times was he passed today by a winger with the ball?

Yes he was at fault for the third goal, but he won more headers than anyone else in the back line, he cut out lots of passes and won numerous tackles. Don't let the mistake cloud your view.

Agreed. He was at fault. it was silly, but in a way it happened because the defenders are good and confident.
he dwelled on the ball when he could have wellied it like a League 1 lump.

You're right he wins loads, wins tackles too.

In an attacking sense he obviously scored and also put in a number of dangerous set pieces that were just asking to be put away (but no-one in the box could finish with the same quality as the delivery).

Yes, some of his deliveries today were awesome.


COUNT, guys.

He has played ten games. He has been fully responsible for ONE goal, partly responsible for another (Bristol)

In those ten games we have let in 9 goals. He himself has scored 3 and had a hand in a few goals.

The goal v Ipswich (Church) came from his corner, Karacan's screamer came from his corner, McAnuff at Burnley came from his free-kick.

That's six goals at least, from 17. From a full-back.

[Snowball]

F
Donny completely threw that game away when they took off Oster. He was pulling the strings no end in that game

I thought the whole game was about the losing sides "surrendering".

When we were on top for the first twenty or so, I thought 3-0 or 4-0 as Doncaster looked clueless, not trying.

Then when they started to play we started to watch (ie didn't compete)

Then, when we went 4-4-2, when they should have had MORE mid-field control
they seemed to give up the idea of going for a good win, and just went with our
"great fight-back" script.

They should have buried us when we gifted them the third.

[Avon Royal]

Howard had a good game. Unfortuantely too many of our "fans" seem to let their petty prejudices get in the way of objective assessments.

[Pseud O'Nym]

Howard had a good game. Unfortuantely too many of our "fans" seem to let their petty prejudices get in the way of objective assessments.

No he didn't. Seriously, I have nothing against the bloke, I knew nothing of him before he joined us, and sadly I still know just as much. He is Mr Anonymous, even the post-decent Harper had Pointing and Shouting in his repertoire, Howard is just who?

[Ian Royal]

Mills looked to be in the thick of two of Donny's goals from the Beeb highlights... I'd like to take a closer look at those goals but he seemed to be the defender that got beat, or lost his man for them from the brief glance I got.

Harte dropped a clanger, but the criticism of him does seem a little on the harsh side. As does that for Howard, how people can't see the passing quality he brings to the side I don't know. Yes he makes some poor ones. But I don't think it's a coincidence we've started creating and scoring much more comfortably since he's come back into the side.

[Kitson12]

I think my beef with Howard may have been a little harsh. He is undoubtedly a good passer of the ball, the number of times he can slip a ball behind the opposition defence is very very good. However, overall today, yes he passed the ball, brilliantly to Antonio for the winner, but he was second to nearly every ball, every other pass seemed to go to a red and white hooped shirt. He missed many of his attempted tackles when he dived in and the Donny player just jinked past him. And for much of the second half, he seemed to be ball watching and marking thin air.
That's how I saw it today, and I've seen that some people agree and disagree, but overall, for his performance I would have given him 5, maybe a 6, and for his pass an 8, because that was pretty good.
He needs to improve though.

[Ian Royal]

I think my beef with Howard may have been a little harsh. He is undoubtedly a good passer of the ball, the number of times he can slip a ball behind the opposition defence is very very good. However, overall today, yes he passed the ball, brilliantly to Antonio for the winner, but he was second to nearly every ball, every other pass seemed to go to a red and white hooped shirt. He missed many of his attempted tackles when he dived in and the Donny player just jinked past him. And for much of the second half, he seemed to be ball watching and marking thin air.
That's how I saw it today, and I've seen that some people agree and disagree, but overall, for his performance I would have given him 5, maybe a 6, and for his pass an 8, because that was pretty good.
He needs to improve though.

Obviously I can't agree or disagree with any of that because I didn't see all of this game. But I've seen him a few times and I didn't really like him to start with. He seems to be another one of these players who keeps things ticking in midfield. Like Harper did, but less athletic and more creative.

Some superb interchange with Tabb against Burnley and some top challenges to.

[Basingstoke Royal]

I disagree about Howard. He is a good player and we got the better deal when we swapped him with harper.
Feds 6
Griff 8
Mills 6
Kish 7
Harte 6
Kanu 4
Karacan 8 mom
Howard 7
Tabb 5
Mcanuff 7
Long 4

Church 7
Hunt 7
Antonio 7

[Kitson12]

I think my beef with Howard may have been a little harsh. He is undoubtedly a good passer of the ball, the number of times he can slip a ball behind the opposition defence is very very good. However, overall today, yes he passed the ball, brilliantly to Antonio for the winner, but he was second to nearly every ball, every other pass seemed to go to a red and white hooped shirt. He missed many of his attempted tackles when he dived in and the Donny player just jinked past him. And for much of the second half, he seemed to be ball watching and marking thin air.
That's how I saw it today, and I've seen that some people agree and disagree, but overall, for his performance I would have given him 5, maybe a 6, and for his pass an 8, because that was pretty good.
He needs to improve though.

Obviously I can't agree or disagree with any of that because I didn't see all of this game. But I've seen him a few times and I didn't really like him to start with. He seems to be another one of these players who keeps things ticking in midfield. Like Harper did, but less athletic and more creative.

Some superb interchange with Tabb against Burnley and some top challenges to.

Certainly agree with that, he had a better game up there than today.

[Tony Le Mesmer]

Im not going to knock or priase any individual players after today.

All i will say is that there is so much to love about our team at the moment.

Man for man we arent that good. What we've got is a squad of players, who never let themselves down and can never be accused of not giving their all. And with plenty of home grown players as well. EVery game we play, win or lose, the team is full of spirit with a positive approach and a never say die attitude.

We have the complete opposite of the god awful trash we had to watch under Tommy Burns.

Im more than happy with that.

[Maguire]

Howard had a good game. Unfortuantely too many of our "fans" seem to let their petty prejudices get in the way of objective assessments.

`
What prejudices? He's not black

I don't have any feelings about Howard one way or another, but he just wasn't particulalrly good today, that's all.

[Wimb]

Howard's a decent player and puts in a good shift, his problem is that he's just 'decent' in all areas and doesn't have 1 standout feature that makes people sit up and notice him. He's not the best midfielder we've ever had but he's one of the best 3 centre mids we have at the moment.

[toppy]

The shoddy defending continued right up until the very final kick where holding on to a lead we got the offside trap all wrong and two Doncaster players practically tripped over each other.....and missed

Donny's number 4 was a treat of ineptitude all game, so glad he got himself in that position at the end

Greed. I thought the ref was fairly even handed in his uselessness but how the hell that bloke stayed on the pitch, and Noel got a yellow after converting the head-lock into a body-slam.

got the yellow for not getting back 10yards.