Reserves

[Douglas Higginbottom]

Back to some football and the game last night v Blackpool. An experienced side put out by the Pool with Brett Ormerod and Marlon Harewood up front against a real reserve side for us.

Looked ominous when BPool took the lead after 9 minutes with Ormerod scoring from just inside the box . Ben Mee gave him a little too much room and he shot first time past Gonzalez.We took a while to properly get into the game but when we did it was Donal McDermott who basically tore them apart. He was given the space to play and made the most of it with a goal and an assist as City went in 2.1 up at half time.His goal was aided by a keeper who it seemed to me went for a cross but McD just smashed it in from an angle.
He was terrorising his full back and in another run smashed a shot which the keeper touched onto the post and away.Then he cut in and across the edge of the box before slipping Poole in for a very well taken goal.

Inevitably Bpool made sure McD wasn't given the space to run at them in the same way in the 2nd half. Although he still saw enough of the ball it was a mixture of being crowded out or trying to do too much that saw him much less effective. Not that City didn't have chances but somehow they never really looked like adding to it despite some great breakaway opportunities. At the other end I thought overall we defended well and when called upon Gonzales was excellent. One point blank save from Jason Euell was his highlight but there were a couple of others. Closest of the lot though was a miss from Harewood when he hit the bar ( should have scored) and Ben Mee blocked the follow up shot.

Best players for City on the night I thought were Ben Mee ( first goal apart) Logan ( one misjudgement late on apart) and I guess McDermott for his first half performance.Etuhu on the other hand had a mare. His passing touch and basic control was shocking and I just can't remember him doing anything right in an attacking sense. Some good suuport defending stuff though.

I am now going to have a go at McD despite what he did for us to win the game.I don't know what his role is in supporting the defensive left side but he wasn't very good at it.It was like watching Petrov in the effort he put in getting back to support his full back.And as I said before he does overdo it a little and sometimes last night he was so intent on showing some tricks that he lost control and all but fell over.I felt he needed to get his head up a bit more and find trhe right pass at the right time.

[WIBLEY]

Excellent summing up of a good match
The Blackpool forward was Jason Ewuele

[jelly&icecreamblue]

Thought Benali showed class and Wabbara had potential.Agree about Etuhu and sorry to hear that Steve Eyre who helps Andy Welsh with the team is sidelined for a bit coz of hip or hernia operation or somethin.Or maybe on recievin end of a NDJ challenge in training? hope he gets back soon and we see more of Benali with EDS and hope Ben Mee gets another go with the first team.I have honestly never seen him ave a bad game.Was hopin to see more of Harry Bunn last night but think we have a lot of potential in that squad..

[Mike J]

attacking wise i really like the look of mcdermott. I think he will be a very good player eventually.

[jelly&icecreamblue]

Mcdermot seems to be unbeievably talented and we bemoan lacks of creativity in players then bellyache when we see some but its not consistent.Surely we can accept that at times failure with these types of players is as certain as a SWP failed cross but we should encourage that altho low on percentage success these types of player are gonna do somethin special and bring home a win and some points ...or who knows even a trophy? it annoys me that certain people see no bad in watchin a player acheive nothin in the game other than workin hard and passing regular ten yard passes all match and scorin 7 out of ten every week in the paper but would prefer to get irritated and use the word "lazy" far too often about players puttin in a 5 out of ten but who in next game is gonna be unplayable and win us the game with a ten out of ten wizard like performance.Waddle Peter Barnes John Barnes Vladi Wiess,Kinkladze,Robben,Reyes etc and of course this player Donal MCdermot lets cherish what they have and what they bring even though they are a dying breed instead of always champoining our own SWP walcott Lennon types where if you lifted the stadium up as they start running they would prob just keep running onto the main road instead of crossing.SKILL is vital and remember i think he has missed lots of fooball through injury and that prob be about his 3rd game in six months.Give the kid a chance and celebrate skill instead of chasing back for once altho part agree if he adds this it will obv help the team more.

[Douglas Higginbottom]

I understand what you are saying re the skill part of the game but I just don't see at as that simple.I suppose if somebody is mega talented and consistently shows that talent then ok we can forgoe the other part of the game. But if you are just a good player you really do have to do a little more then beat the full back from time to time and get a cross in or score the odd goal.

I know I am being a little over critical but last night I think McD looked sensational in the first half but that was when BPool allowed him to be.They didn't properly mark and cover him so he had a field day but once they sorted that out and put that big number 7 in his area with the full back his threat seriously diminished . At the same time their threat down our left ,where Chantler was left exposed, was significant.

I am also not one who believes that a winger like McD( or Petrov or whoever) has to be a great defender and good tackler but it is important that he sees danger and gets back into the right positions to stop passes being made easy.It's not that he doesnt ever do it but just not enough imo.And being in that main stand at Hyde its very close to the action and easy to see what's going on on the near wing.

[Douglas Higginbottom]

Thought Benali showed class and Wabbara had potential.Agree about Etuhu and sorry to hear that Steve Eyre who helps Andy Welsh with the team is sidelined for a bit coz of hip or hernia operation or somethin.Or maybe on recievin end of a NDJ challenge in training? hope he gets back soon and we see more of Benali with EDS and hope Ben Mee gets another go with the first team.I have honestly never seen him ave a bad game.Was hopin to see more of Harry Bunn last night but think we have a lot of potential in that squad..

Agree re Wabara. Looks a decent prospect. I also agree re Ben Mee.He is a very good player but I just suspect he isn't quite good enough for a top prem side.Benali has class for sure but I didn't see that much from him last night.I will be looking forward to seeing more of him as I think he has something.

[nick (duki blues)]

how about Logan he got a short run in the first team a couple of seasons ago and looked quite useful but doesnt really seem to get much of a mention these days and i just wonderd whatr your thaughts on him are especially with all the defensive problems we have had recently do you think he could of been given a chance

[jelly&icecreamblue]

points accepted and respected but give me Mc D anytime from what ive seen as opposed to the one on the other side who has actually done 2 astonoshing things at our club.Kelvin Etuhu has actually played and scored for our first team??????? i know its a different era and climate but what a shame if Eastlands and not Hyde never get to see McDS wing play but it has seen wide play from Croft Flood AND Etuhu. I think even Cunninghams had ten minutes on the wing there? i dream and still will of seeing Mcdermott and Weiss on opposite flanks in prem league allla youth cup final and youth footy? i will never dream about sprinters with clumbsy touches and no skill or vision.

[The Man In Blue]

From what I've seen of McD he seems to tire in the second half of games. After about the 65th minute of the Arsenal game he looked totally fucked and almost unable to run at all. Maybe this will improve as he gets older, or maybe he needs to do some work in the gym?

[Douglas Higginbottom]

points accepted and respected but give me Mc D anytime from what ive seen as opposed to the one on the other side who has actually done 2 astonoshing things at our club.Kelvin Etuhu has actually played and scored for our first team??????? i know its a different era and climate but what a shame if Eastlands and not Hyde never get to see McDS wing play but it has seen wide play from Croft Flood AND Etuhu. I think even Cunninghams had ten minutes on the wing there? i dream and still will of seeing Mcdermott and Weiss on opposite flanks in prem league allla youth cup final and youth footy? i will never dream about sprinters with clumbsy touches and no skill or vision.

In McD's support I am not sure he was 100% fit last night based on seeing him stretching a few times. The comparison with Etuhu is remarkable. Last night he seemed devoid of anything close to talent with the control of a ....( insert whatever you like ) and the passing ability of nil out of 10.

[13021J]

Why don't Jo and RSC play in these games? They need game time surely to get up to speed seen as they are on the bench every week? I know youth need games too but how rusty will they be if they only play once every three months?

And why is Etuhu even still at the club?!

[Douglas Higginbottom]

Why don't Jo and RSC play in these games? They need game time surely to get up to speed seen as they are on the bench every week? I know youth need games too but how rusty will they be if they only play once every three months?

And why is Etuhu even still at the club?!

I expect Jo and RSC are in Abu Dhabi if they aren't on international duty but it is rare for such players to get reserve outings. I have seen that happen though. Last year I saw RSC and Benjani feature in a game at some time.The one I want to see is Michael Johnson when he starts his comeback.

[HeyMark]

Why don't Jo and RSC play in these games? They need game time surely to get up to speed seen as they are on the bench every week? I know youth need games too but how rusty will they be if they only play once every three months?

And why is Etuhu even still at the club?!

Because nobody else in professional football is stupid enough to take him! Really has to be the worst professional footballer i've ever seen

[Ted Hughes]

Etuhu has got gradually worse each time I've seen him. Imo he's taking the shirt of a player & blocking someone's route to the 1st team.