The crowd.
I hear a lot of people talking about why they boycott this competition. You can't help but hear it, they bang on about it continuously. Quite why they feel the need to do that rather than simply not turn up is a constant mystery to me (much like people who "don't do" MK away), but both teams were well supported last night and both sets of fans got behind their teams. It felt like a proper game and so it should, it was two steps from Wembley.
On this point I'm not saying folks should or shouldn't go, it's up to them. But I don't need to know every five minutes what their reasons are.
Our performance
Johnny looked pretty angry after the game, particularly with the first half performance. I didn't think we were great there myself, and aside from bits of Junior NKeng inspired excitement there wasn't too much going on.
The manager alluded to the team not looking the same as it had in the last two and a half games and it was hard to argue. The most significant and obvious difference was in midfield, we very obviously lacked the drive and running power which has made us look a much better team. Added to that the captains natural "sitting" point is a good ten paces deeper than that of Ali Smith. The result of that is firstly that we aren't able to put anywhere near as much pressure on the football in the centre circle, and our passing becomes stilted because Jake is standing next to the centre backs rather than in front of them.
In fairness to "Skip" he did play our best pass of the game into NKeng for our goal, but my suspicion is that if he IS going to get back into the team he is going to have to adapt to the fact we need him 15 yards further up the pitch. The danger from there is one of mobility and the likelihood that he would get exposed for pace. It's precisely because of this and the fact that he can read that danger that he sits so deep in the first place. It's a proper conundrum that one.
Jake is an excellent footballer though who always gives 100% whatever the situation. He reads the game like a book and is no doubt fully aware that if we go back to a more "wait & see" style, he has a much bigger opportunity to get regular minutes. That or he'll come back as a Franz Beckenbauer sweeper or something.
Patrick Bauer
I do wish football fans would be a bit more understanding and think twice before they call players "Shit" online. Patrick will know last night wasn't his career highlight, but nor was he "shit" either. For the first goal he would have gotten the alarm bells even quicker than the fans that have a clue did once he was left one on one with the centre forward. That's a team failure though that he was left like that, he's there to head it not be Virgil Van Dyke. If he had his time again he'd show the fella onto his left rather than letting him come inside and hit it, but it was a good finish in fairness.
Before the second he might have broken his nose a couple of minutes earlier when the ball hit him on the underside of it. I don't know if he did as I'm not in touch with the medical team, but even if he didn't I can tell you that is unbelievably painful. His eyes will have been streaming like a little kid, and moments later they scored. He isn't the first centre half to get out muscled by Tom Eaves, but it's the moment he froze and didn't follow him in which will sting the most. ALL centre halves make mistakes though, it doesn't mean they are shit in my opinion and definitely doesn't mean they deserve disrespect. This lad has been a great pro, still is, and though his powers may have finished a bit he is still giving it 100%.
Junior NKeng.
Any Wimbledon fans who haven't seen him yet, you'd better come down to Plough Lane soon. My guess is we are going to fielding multiple offers for this lad in the Summer and he'll be off. Given that, we may as well guess at the price.
I'll go first, my STARTING point (I wouldn't answer the phone for less) would be £800K & a 20% sell on clause. We'll have to take a lot less than that if there's only one club in for him, but there won't be. I think even a Bournemouth or an Everton might take a punt at a million quid then loan him out. Players that can beat people & excite fans are worth their weight in gold, and this kid will obviously get MILES better. Reminds me of that Rio Ngoma kid at Liverpool.
Matty Stevens
I thought he had his best game since he came back from injury and capped it off with a typical Matty Stevens goal. The difficulty for him is that in our new style Marcus Brown (if he is to remain up front) and Omar Bugiel as good as pick themselves. Our most natural finisher is going to have to wait for his chance then take it when it comes, but that's his game.
Callum Maycock.
Thank God Johnnie took him off last night. Not because he wasn't playing well, but because he has morphed into a vital part of our midfield and we need him on Saturday. Our only midfielder that consistently gets ahead of the ball and our only one with Duracell endurance. I hope he realises it (I'm still not sure he does) but right now he is surely one of the first names on the team sheet.
Joe Lewis.
Cannot catch a break for love nor money. One of our very best players when fit, right now he just can't seem to get there. I hope this ones not too serious, we need him and he's nearing the end of his contract. My guess is at that point he'll be offski, but beating the injuries works for everyone. We get a brilliant defender & an inspirational leader, Joe gets a good deal wherever he goes because he's proved he can stay fit.
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