BFTG - Newport County (H)

[chilipepper91]

Not overly impressed tbh - for most of the game we were played off the park by them, and bearing in mind we played a full-strength side that wasn't the best omen.

Pog's goal was taken well, and they should have had a red card when he was let in on goal by Cox but the ref only gave a yellow.

Blackman and Pog our best players for me, the former could (should) have had a hat trick whilst Pog did the hard work up top.

3-1 looks comfortable but it certainly wasn't. Fair play to Newport, and they deserved a goal to celebrate.

[genome]

I wouldn't read that much into the performance. Chances are they took it easier than usual tonight considering the level of opposition, whether consciously or subconsciously. Bit of a risk from Adkins to play a first team considering our luck with injuries at the moment.

[blueroyals]

McCarthy - 6, a few decent saves but looked lacking in confidence with ball at feet & distribution
Cummings - 7, solid
Pearce - 7, solid
Morrison - 7, solid
Gunter - 7.5, was a decent attacking threat
Blackman - 8, great goal, should have had another, could have been played through on goal about 4 times in second half if Pog had layer it off
Hector - 7.5, no nonsense - tackle, play ball to creative players. Take note Akpan.
Obita - 7.5, set up attacks well, made some well timed tackles. Much more effective on the wing (or at LB) though
Taylor - 6.5, quiet game (didn't do anything wrong though)
Cox - 6.5, unlucky not to score. Very promising player...
Pog - 8, won lots of balls, great chip, great hold up play, looks like he's gained some pace too, needs to keep his head up more when he receives the ball.

Akpan - 4, he looked lost, couldn't pass, missed an open goal, a complete passenger, completely lacking in confidence and needs to find a new club
Edwards - 6, lots of running
Tanner - 7, cos he scored

Ref - 0, he had his 90 minutes in the spotlight tonight and now he can go back to being a brick layer tomorrow morning. Shocking.

Performance was excellent, 100x better than anything under McDermott. We created chances and were in control of the game. Players looked confident in their passing. What more can you ask for? Roll on Ipswich.

[winchester_royal]

Yeah didn't think we played particularly well. Hector had a shocker in the middle, and Obita didn't offer much in there, so we were completely overrun. Desperately need to get players back from injury in there, or bring someone in (*cough* Deano *cough* Clayton *cough*). Taylor was invisible out on the left again. Really don't think that's his position. And Cummings really irrit8s me at left back, always going back onto his right foot and passing backwards rather than taking it forward. Should move Obita back there ASAP.

There were positive moments though. Blackman was excellent imo. Cox looked bright again, and seemed to work quite well with Pog. AND of course, Tanner's goal. A gr8 moment for him, and thought some of his touches in those last few mins were quite sublime (but then again...I would). A shame we didn't see more of him, or any of Kuhl. But probably the right decision not to chuck them in against a very physical and impressive Newport side.

[SCIAG]

Never a red, Pogrebnyak didn't have the ball under control. The referee made a good call.

I thought Pogrebnyak was offside for his goal watching it live but I could well be wrong.

I would have really liked to see more from Tanner, as well as appearances from Kuhl and Tshibola.

I didn't have a very good view, but my ratings were:

McCarthy 6 - dwelled on the ball a few times and miscontrolled a backpass
Gunter 7 - got forward well at times
Pearce 6.5 - meh
Morrison 6.5 - ibid
Cummings 6.5 - looked a bit uncomfortable and checked back onto his right a lot
Hector 6 - not a midfielder, miscontrolled a few passes
Obita 6.5 - great delivery at set pieces but a bit quiet
Taylor 6 - also quiet, and too narrow at times (to be expected as he was out of position). Very good delivery at set pieces as well.
Cox 6 - in and out of the match
Blackman 8.5 - very good indeed. Great goal.
Pogrebnyak 7.5 - excellent finish

Subs:
Akpan 6 - meh
Edwards 6 - meh
Tanner 1- terrible. No but really, classic Craig Tanner goal. Should have come on earlier. Really pleased.

[Angry Shed Sex]

Performance was excellent, 100x better than anything under McDermott.

Are you really suggesting the team performance tonight was, for example, 100x better than Wes Ham away in our Championship winning season?

[winchester_royal]

Performance was excellent, 100x better than anything under McDermott.

Are you really suggesting the team performance tonight was, for example, 100x better than Wes Ham away in our Championship winning season?

Think he was being flippant m8

[Unbelievable Jeff]

McCarthy - 6, a few decent saves but looked lacking in confidence with ball at feet & distribution
Cummings - 7, solid
Pearce - 7, solid
Morrison - 7, solid
Gunter - 7.5, was a decent attacking threat
Blackman - 8, great goal, should have had another, could have been played through on goal about 4 times in second half if Pog had layer it off
Hector - 7.5, no nonsense - tackle, play ball to creative players. Take note Akpan.
Obita - 7.5, set up attacks well, made some well timed tackles. Much more effective on the wing (or at LB) though
Taylor - 6.5, quiet game (didn't do anything wrong though)
Cox - 6.5, unlucky not to score. Very promising player...
Pog - 8, won lots of balls, great chip, great hold up play, looks like he's gained some pace too, needs to keep his head up more when he receives the ball.

Akpan - 4, he looked lost, couldn't pass, missed an open goal, a complete passenger, completely lacking in confidence and needs to find a new club
Edwards - 6, lots of running
Tanner - 7, cos he scored

Ref - 0, he had his 90 minutes in the spotlight tonight and now he can go back to being a brick layer tomorrow morning. Shocking.

Performance was excellent, 100x better than anything under McDermott. We created chances and were in control of the game. Players looked confident in their passing. What more can you ask for? Roll on Ipswich.

Think you need to calm down a bit.

Give Akpan a break, was only on for 25-30 minutes and his "open goal" was from 40 yards out.

Also I can't see how you can say 100x better than anything under BMAC considering we got to Wembley and also promoted as champions under him compared to this mickey mouse game against a league 2 Newport.

[Lower West]

I wouldn't read that much into the performance. Chances are they took it easier than usual tonight considering the level of opposition, whether consciously or subconsciously. Bit of a risk from Adkins to play a first team considering our luck with injuries at the moment.

Better to establish a team early in the season and allow the players to keep their shirts on merit.

[Ian Royal]

Cheers chaps, looks like it was less good than perhaps it sounded.

Still most of the concerns seem to come from playing a centreback + left sider in central midfield, with an AM out left and a right back at left back.

Guthrie + A Midfielder into the centre with Obita out to the left wing (or into left back and someone else left wing) and things should look a little better. Great to see Blackman getting such positive reviews after such a disappointing previous 18 months.

[DaveBanana]

Just got in now - something seemed to have happened at the ground as we got on the bus, must have been 7/8 Police cars and a few vans fly past, saw a fella have to pull his small daughter out of the way of one (or witnessed a kidnapping. either way.)

The game itself was a little disappointing - we looked very sloppy considering we were using first team players. For the opening stages, they looked the superior team; they were however playing a very high line, preventing us putting much consistent pressure on, though whenever we did we looked much more likely to score. Pogs finish was superb, and I'd have to say I thought it was a red-card, whilst Blackman was fantastic again - I feel like there must be an alternate universe where goals are an inch wider and he's already on seven this season, but alas, he put a great solo effort away toward the end. Ryan Edwards was non stop once he was introduced, really harried them, and there was some great passing work down the flanks between himself, Obita, and Akpan. Speaking of which, I thought Akpan had a fairly good cameo, and would have been delighted to see his long range effort drop in!

On the other hand, it really does feel like we're only a few seconds away from a howler at the back - at one stage we went from a promising break, to playing it across the park, back to McCarthy, and then straight into a Newport player The man can stop shots, but really does fall behind Feds in terms of composure with the ball!

For what it;s worth, I thought Newport were extremely good, and could well have been a championship side - there fans were also fantastic, regardless of what may have happened outside at the end.

[paultheroyal]

Quick fire summary.

I am a Hector can but he had a shocker tonight.

Back 4 looked solid and impressed. Shame to concede late goal.

McCarthy kicking and control is no better. Poor again from him. Federici is number 1 at mo for sure.

Sat in lower west tonight... Won't be going back. Adkins surprised me from dugout.... Very animated and also irritated with his players at times.

Hats off to Newport County fans. Good number and decent noise.

Oh and Sassima, thanks for the wave and blown kiss. Appreciated.

[JakeTheRoyal]

McCarthy- So hessisatant to distribute the ball short, had a few saves to make. But Federci is the better of the two
Gunter- Show good pace up and down, but his lack of technique on the ball was evident
Morrison - Won everything in the air looked quick at times as well
Pearce - Decent, actually looks better than Morro on the ball
Cummings - Never closed down the right winger and lack of left foot is obvious. But great ball for Pogs goal
Blackman - Looked strong and had a great turn of pace, excellent run for the goal
Obita - Looked to get on the ball but is just a bit light weight against strong players
Hector - Had a shocker gave the ball away countless times, but showed good touches at times
Taylor - Non existent, worked hard witg Gunter but didn't do much
Cox - Showed good touches in the first half and looked to run off Pog. Dwindle out in the second half probab due to fitness
Pog - Great goal, good touches but cant win headers for shit

Akpan - Was trying to hard to impress but made some good challenges
Edwards - Scared the Newport defenders when he was pressing high, set up Tannera goal
Tanner - Very impressive, looked quick great touch and excellent finish

[chilipepper91]

Ian - My main concern was that for most of the game we were backs to the wall, and Newport stroked it around at ease. Our only real chances came on the counter when we went directly at their back four.

Agreed with most comments about Hector tbh - great tackler, not a passer. Also agreed about McCarthy, whose distribution was awful as ever.

When you consider that almost our entire midfield were playing out of position tonight, perhaps it's excusable that we completely gave up that zone. But then, it was League Two Newport County - which is equally a compliment of them as a derision of us.

[winchester_royal]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TO9hEfgkiME&feature=youtu.be

<3

[MmmMonsterMunch]

Bless. That's made your night I'm guessing Winch...

In all seriousness though, we wouldn't be seeing this if we were in the PL.

[St. Brynjar]

£5 well spent. Pog, Blackman and the defence were all pretty decent. Cox was invisible. I'm usually an Akpan fan but he was woeful when he came on tonight. Shoutout to the massive Newport fan who bizarrely kept gesturing to his watch.

[paultheroyal]

Not getting the hate for Akpan. Unnecessary scapegoat. Far worse out there.

[Pseud O'Nym]

Sat in lower west tonight... Won't be going back. Adkins surprised me from dugout....

Shocking, I hope he at least wore a rubber.

[winchester_royal]