Whelan & Diao

[katjam7]

Now......before I get my point aired, I'm not having a dig, just got abit squeeky arse time last night, and i am SO GLAD we won !!

But............

1st half the midfield looked quite solid, some good tackling and passing - nice balance. 2nd half = completely cack !!!! Whelan looked knackered and pulled out of every tackle, Diao ( normally Mr. Calm & reliable ) was like bambi on ice, although he did put in that pearler of a tackle on the w4nker of a centre half !!! ;D

It made me relise last night how much ground Creswell covers when he plays ( like the Newcastle game in the cup ) every blade of grass is covered, similar to Lawrence. Although we won last night there were alot of things that need to be worked on in training this week before Friday. I won put Whelan on the bench and start with Gally on the left and Cressy up front in place of Mamma...........and he's finally off the mark !! YEY !!

[hoopty]

I think these guys are being dumped on unfairly.

Once they'd scored in the second half Lawrence and Delap went awol, hiding behind the full backs.

Diao and Whelan were left to defend against Southamptons entire midfield along with their full backs coming up. 6 against 2 is no competition.

I have to say that Whelan was fairly anonymous but Diao had some great touches - some cracking sliding tackles and breaking up of play and without doubt the pass of the night - the defense splitting pass out to Pugh (who should have done better).

[a.d.faye.god]

i agree with hoopty - i think when these two get to know each other and diao is fit we'll have a pretty good midfield for this division
certainly in wheelan we have the most creative midfielder at the brit for a long time

[northantsmike]

A fully fit Diao and a Whelan who is used to the players around him will be a great central midfield. They both defend well and both can pass a ball. Neither are a six yard box poacher as well but whelan can certainly hit a cleared ball with venom from 25/30 yards. The defence too - Cort/Shawcross - need to communicate. One of them - I think it will be Shawcross - has to take charge of the line. Griff started to look last night as good as he is but his midfielder must not go awol so often - same in the support of Pugh.
We forget that this team does not know each other very well yet - and so we lose goals at silly times whilst they are still shaking hands. We also defend everything except balls bouncing in the 6 yard box (and wonder goals like John's last night - not bothered about them). We are getting better with each game - we actually look better away from home than at home - they do not "switch off as much" - so we now have a 14 game season - I am trusting that we will continue improving and be Champions at Colchester.

[katjam7]

Agree with points made - and of course the 'getting to know each other' is a massive fact, but it just worries me, how different the 2 halfs were. I hope Friday we get behind the boys again, and give them that little extra lift......

There's going to be some tired legs and heads out there come second half - thats when we ned to step up the volume.

I deffo agree with you northantsmike about Shawcross.....he needs to take charge of that line.....it'll come in time, sooner rather than later though would be nice !!