Loan Watch - 2022/23

[alles ist gut]

1 hour ago, AngryOfTuebrook said:

The only thing I know about korfball...

... is that some teams contain top, top players

 

 

while others don't.

[alles ist gut]

Midweek match night special

 

Rhys Williams : Plunged back into the starting lineup for crisis club Blackpool’s game against crisis club Hull, which ended in a 3-1 defeat. Not obviously at fault individually for any of those goals, although when the ball was adjudged to have crossed the line for the opener after a goalmouth scramble, he was a fair way from the ball (and with a solid grasp of an opposition player). Will still be dropped for the next game.

 

Leighton Clarkson : Started the League Cup Quarter-Final against Partick, had a decent outing before being subbed at half-time with the Dons 3-0 up with an eye to the weekend.

 

Tyler Morton : Another assured performance in midfield in Blackburn’s 2-0 win over Sunderland; picked up a booking playing a slightly more defensive role in the absence of Lewis Travis.

 

Adam Lewis : Started the EFL Trophy game for Newport against Southampton Under-21s at left wing-back, made several good crosses that on another day might have been put away, picked up a booking (you do need a bit of that if you’re a League Two team playing a top-flight academy) and finished the full ninety minutes as County qualified for the Southern section knockout rounds.

Where the team go from here under their new manager remains to be seen.

 

Conor Bradley : Came on with 30 minutes to play in Bolton’s EFL Trophy win over Leeds Under-21s; created several chances from right wing-back, most importantly when his cross was fumbled by EFC reject keeper Joel Robles for Bakayoko (not that one) to score the second goal in the 3-0 win.

 

Owen Beck : Also subbed on at the same time as Bradley, saw comparatively less of the ball, still needs more time on the field.

 

Jakub Ojrzynski : Given a chance in goal by Radomiak in their last-32 Polish Cup tie away to third-tier Zawisza; survived conceding an early goal, when he came far too far out of his area to try to win the ball, as the visitors finished 3-1 winners, and there are worse things that can happen in the cup.

 

Billy Koumetio : Given a chance in the Austrian cup for Austria Wien at semi-professional Wiener Sport-Club; at fault for the first goal when not getting across in time to cut out a cross; nowhere to be seen for the second, and contributed to the third with both a weak clearing header, and then falling down, allowing a long-range shot that was deflected past his keeper, as the top-flight team were embarrassed 3-1. If that’s the last time I need to watch him this season, I wouldn’t be surprised.

[alles ist gut]

Games with fans that aren’t singing about us

 

Leighton Clarkson : Another start for Aberdeen at Motherwell in a 3-5-2 formation that seemed to offer more defensive support to the back three. Still got forward well, and created a good chance in the first half with a run down the left flank, when other players of both teams seemed to have stopped expecting a whistle, and a left-footed cross (not something I’ve typed about Clarkson at any point of the last five seasons) that should have been converted. Involved in the move for the winning goal, then subbed off with five minutes left. A solid day out as Aberdeen go best of the rest.

 

Tyler Morton : The return of Lewis Travis from his one-game ban allowed him more creative freedom against Birmingham. Created the opening goal with a daisy-cutter of a cross to the edge of the six-yard box for Sam Gallagher to tap in. The fifth home win in a row takes Rovers back into second in the Championship, behind some bloke called Beale.

 

Rhys Williams : Dropped to the bench with the return of club captain Marvin Ekpiteta (as predicted above); brought on as Blackpool attempted to hold on to their lead over Preston in the way they could not at Bramall Lane a week earlier. Missed his header at the free-kick into the box that led to Preston’s second goal, as did several teammates. Fortunately Preston failed to get an equaliser with their keeper sent up for a stoppage-time corner, and the goal scored on the counter to make it 4-2 finished things.

 

Fidel O’Rourke : Opened the scoring for Caernarfon in their 2-1 win over Aberystwyth with a fantastic overhead kick in a packed penalty area; then missed an easier chance with a header later in the first half. Played all 90 minutes, which is encouraging.

 

Marcelo Pitaluga : Conceded an early goal as moneybags Macclesfield fell to a shock 1-0 defeat at home to Northwich, and despite having numerous chances in the subsequent 89 minutes, the home time failed to convert any of them. Still top of the league though.

 

Jack Bearne : Played 70 minutes for Kidderminster in the FA Cup replay defeat at Fylde, then an unused sub in the home league defeat to Southport. Unpromising.

 

Adam Lewis : Stayed in the starting lineup for the first game of the Graham Coughlan era at Newport against Colchester, at left wingback; supplied the near-post cross that was headed in by Will Evans (good Welsh name that) for the only goal of the game, and created more chances throughout his 66 minutes on the pitch.

 

Vitezslav Jaros : Injured in a challenge late in the first half of Stockport’s win at Salford. No news yet about how serious it is.

 

Anderson Arroyo : Another game at right-back for Alavés in the 0-0 draw at home to Gijon. They stay second behind Las Palmas. Whenever I watch him, he looks just a little short of what we would need as a backup in the position, he’s not a great crosser and can get knocked around in aerial challenges, but I said something similar about Robertson.

 

Max Woltman : Back to the bench for Doncaster’s trip to Crewe, brought on with 25 minutes to play by new boss Danny Schofield. Played on the right side of the front line. As ever when a club changes manager, it remains to be seen how the situation works out for a loan player.

 

 

[alles ist gut]

Most of this is out of date but anyway

 

Leighton Clarkson : Given the full 90 in Aberdeen’s doomed trip to Ibrox in Jim Goodwin’s preferred 3-5-2 formation. Involved in the build up to the surprise opening goal, his through ball with the outside of his right foot into the box finding Duk , who was then bundled over before the loose ball was put in the net while the other 20 players were looking at the ref. Not really much use defensively when the opposition are hitting long balls to bypass the congested midfield, and not involved at the set-piece that created Rangers second, but did throw himself to the ground to clear a ball off the line with the score at 3-1. The final score of 4-1 flattered the visitors.

Aberdeen drop to fourth and Rangers don’t have to change their manager yet.

 

Marcelo Pitaluga : Not at his best as Macclesfield crashed out of the FA Trophy 2-0 at home to Guiseley, the club’s third loss in five games in all competitions at home. The ownership removed manager Danny Whittaker immediately. Not a pantomime, though. The Silkmen bounced back under their new boss in a 4-1 win over Workington last night and remain clear at the summit of the Northern Premier League (West Division).

 

Billy Koumetio : After being an unused substitute in Austria Wien’s European game with Lech Poznań, the Frenchman was pressed into action for Austria’s 2nd team against St. Polten the next afternoon, which resulted in a 5-0 defeat. I was amused to see FlashScore show him in a formation on the right of a front three ( sadly inaccurate). Whatever this is, ‘player development’ it is not.

 

Conor Bradley : Another full game for Bolton in their unexpected loss to crisis club Oxford United, who responded to a touch line ban for manager Karl “Mr. Popularity” Robinson with an energetic performance. Bradley not involved defensively in either of the first two goals Bolton conceded, then set up the Bolton goal with the through ball to Dion Charles for the easy finish before United scored again. Bolton still sixth.

 

Jack Bearne : Ten minutes off the bench for Kidderminster in their midweek win over Chorley, including a good chance that needed a top, top save, before not being used in their win at Banbury Saturday, or last night’s defeat at Scarborough. His hamstring is said to be an issue. Hmmm.

 

Adam Lewis : Now looking as if he’s the first choice at wing-back for Newport, playing the full game for County at Northampton. Had a free-kick on target in the first half, then should have had an assist from a corner that gave Omar Bogle a free header. Might have done better with the cross that led to the stoppage-time Northampton equaliser, but he wasn’t the only player outjumped for it. 1-1 away to a team in the top three isn’t a disaster, but it should have been more. County now four points clear of the relegation places.

 

Max Woltman : Not currently a first-choice player for Doncaster under their new manager, got a handful of minutes late on in their midweek loss to Stevenage, then about quarter of an hour in the win over Gillingham. Had a good chance that required a double save to prevent a goal. Might get more of a chance in the FA Cup tie next weekend.

 

Tyler Morton : Moved into a slightly deeper midfield role once again for the trip to Hull with Lewis Travis playing in defence; allowed him to sit back and ping passes, but get forward less. Most tangible contribution might have been in stoppage time, with Rovers sitting on a one-goal lead, when he dispossessed a Hull player after a set-piece on the edge of the Blackburn box and led the counterattack that used up the last moments of the game. Another full game last night in a sub-par team display in a defeat at Coventry. Blackburn still just two points off leaders Burnley.

 

Fidel O’Rourke : Played the full game in midweek as Caernarfon went down 3-0 at perennial league leaders TNS, where he had the first chance of the game with a header which went just wide, but the home side took control after that. “Rotated” to the subs bench for Saturday’s trip to Cardiff Met ( a real team, honest), brought on with 25 minutes to play, with Caernarfon already 1-0 up and added two more goals; first he got round the back of the defence to connect with a long ball from the right, slid under the keeper with his right foot, then rounded off the scoring with a header from a corner in a crowded six-yard box. In between he hooked a left-foot shot wide.

Also the commentator on Sgorio pronounced his first name as ‘Fiddle’. No class consciousness at S4C.

 

 

[sir roger]

Thought Cardiff Met might have policed Fidel a bit better.

[Bjornebye]

Leighton Clarkson tonight for Aberdeen 

 

 

 

 

 

[alles ist gut]

The magic of the cup and the other cup and maybe the league

 

Anderson Arroyo : 90 minutes for Alavés at right-back in their plucky 1-1 draw at Santander; not at fault for the goal they conceded, partly because of the quality of the strike from the edge of the box and partly because the chance only came about because two of his teammates ran into each other under a harmless-looking cross. Rotated to the bench for Friday night game against Zaragoza, brought on with ten minutes left when Alavés were defending a 1-0 lead while down to ten men; no real alarms. Alavés now three points clear at the top of “LaLiga2”, as we’re told to call it.

 

Billy Koumetio : Perhaps surprisingly in the squad for the final Europa Conference League game for Austria Wien at Hapoel Beer Sheva (I am not making any of this up), brought on for the last ten minutes, replacing the player whose own goal had made it 4-0 to the Israelis.

 Not in the squad for Sundays league game.

 

Leighton Clarkson : Named man of the match by the BBC Sport website as Aberdeen bounced back from their Ibrox battering to inflict PAIN on Hibs on Friday night. Completed the most passes, created the second goal with a pinpoint corner to the edge of the six-yard box and then rounded off the scoring in the 4-1 win with the piece of genius in Stig’s post above.

 

Tyler Morton : Unobtrusive yet effective in midfield again for Blackburn as they bounced back from their crap game at Coventry to beat Huddersfield 1-0. Had one decent shot from the edge of the box which their keeper couldn’t hold onto, but the flag went up as Szmodics put the loose ball in the net. Six straight home wins for Rovers and back into second.

 

Conor Bradley : Played the full game as Bolton crashed out of the FA Cup at the first hurdle, 2-1 at home to Barnsley, powered by former LFC Academy wonderkids Adam Phillips and Herbie Kane. Had a chance to equalise late on but couldn’t direct his header well enough.

 

Owen Beck : Came on as a second-half substitute for Bolton in the same game, making his first appearance for Wanderers outside the EFL Trophy. Started the move that led to Bolton’s goal.

 

Max Woltman : Used as a late substitute in Doncaster’s humiliating FA Cup defeat at home to sixth-tier Kings Lynn Town. 

 

Adam Lewis : In the starting lineup for Newport in their FA Cup win over Colchester. Played an hour; bright and creative down the left.

 

Fidel O’Rourke : Played the whole game in Caernarfon’s 2-0 home defeat by Pen-Y-Bont. You can’t be the hero every week.

 

Jack Bearne : Came on as a substitute for Kidderminster in their 2-1 defeat by the might of Darlington. Got Harriers goal with ten minutes left, getting round the back of the defence to meet a cross to the back post for a left-footed tap-in.

 

Marcelo Pitaluga : Clean sheet in Macclesfield’s 1-0 NPL win over Skelmersdale. One significant save to make in the game. Still top of their division. You can’t be the centre of attention every week.

[DaveT]

Morton and Clarkson to save FSG millions next summer? Or whoever?!

[alles ist gut]

You probably think this post is about you

 

Leighton Clarkson : Started in the midfield in Aberdeen’s game at Livingston. His main contribution was a shot from the edge of the box at the end of the first half which was adjudged to have been handled, giving the Dons a penalty, which was saved by ex-LFC keeper Shamal George. Subbed off with twenty minutes left in favour of an extra forward. You can’t be Man Of The Match every game, though.

 

Jack Bearne : Unused substitute in Kidderminster’s 2-1 defeat at Boston. You can’t rely on getting anything from Boston, though.

 

Adam Lewis : Started at left wingback in Newport’s League Cup game at Leicester. Played virtually the whole game (came off in stoppage time). Brilliantly prevented a goal early on when intercepting a ball from Vardy to Perez who would have had an open goal in front of him. Had a good chance - arguably County’s best of the night - in the second half with a header at the back post. You can’t beat Leicester every time you play them, though.

 

Rhys Williams : Brought on as a sub by crisis club Blackpool in the second half, by which time Middlesbrough were already 2-0 up. Let Chuba Akpom saunter past him for Boro’s third goal. You hate to see it.

 

Tyler Morton : Unused substitute as Blackburn knocked West Ham out of the League Cup on pens. You don’t have to get on the pitch to be a winner, but he is a winner.

 

Jakub Ojrzynski : Unused substitute (having played in the previous rounds) as Radomiak Radom were knocked out of the Polish Cup on pens. It’s not immediately obvious where his next game might be, as he doesn’t get off the bench in the league. You can’t predict football.

[alles ist gut]

The people not invited to Qatar, even as bricklayers 

 

Rhys Williams : Surprisingly recalled to the lineup for crisis club Blackpool’s trip to Wigan. The job was rendered infinitely harder when club captain Marvin Ekpiteta was sent off for a terrible challenge, although they did take the lead later in the first half.  Not to blame for the Wigan equaliser, a low corner that shot along the floor into the far corner of the goal, nor was he the defender outjumped for the set piece header that proved to be the 88th minute winner, but that is four defeats in a row for the Tangerines, and a change of manager before the next game in four weeks time wouldn’t be a shock.

 

Conor Bradley : 90 minutes for Bolton in the scoreless draw at Cambridge; a couple of shots on target and some good crosses that didn’t get the results they deserved, before having to be dropped into a back four after Wanderers had a player sent off.

 

Owen Beck : Brought on to play fifteen minutes in that back four for Bolton. No alarms, but not much chance to get forward either.

 

Leighton Clarkson : Another start in midfield for Aberdeen at home to Dundee United. Some good passing and one really good cross from the left-hand side of the box that was cleared virtually off the line before Miovski could tap it in. The win takes the Dons into third, two points clear of the rest going into the break.

 

Billy Koumetio : Assigned to Austria Wien’s second team to play at Rapid (not the shop); lost 2-0. The Austrian league system has now shut down until February. The club should assess whether this loan has any further merit.

 

Fidel O’Rourke : Caernarfon Town unlucky to be drawn at TNS in the FAW Cup; wasn’t involved as much as usual, although Town looked a lot better in going down 2-1 than they did when they lost the league game earlier in the season.

 

Jack Bearne : Twenty minutes off the bench for Kidderminster in their 3-0 defeat at FA Cup upset heroes Kings Lynn; didn’t see much of the ball in the highlights that I saw. 

 

Marcelo Pitaluga : Yet another clean sheet for runaway leaders Macclesfield as they beat Trafford 1-0. He doesn’t get much wrong at this level positionally, he has the strength to shift grocks out of his way at set-pieces, and you never see him making a mistake when kicking the ball. With the team being out of both FA Cup and FA Trophy, there’s no opportunity to see him against higher-quality opposition, so perhaps we might recall him in January and replace him with one of the other keepers.

 

Tyler Morton : Blackburn came off second-best in their derby defeat at Burnley. Morton didn’t see much of the ball in the middle of the park, apart from being involved in the sequence of hospital passes around their own box that led to Burnley’s second goal. Blackburn still third going into the month-long break, five points behind Burnley.

 

Anderson Arroyo  : Copa Del Rey success for Alavés, getting home 1-0 at third-tier Lleida. One really good cross in the first half that should have been headed home. Didn’t do much defensively and didn’t look to get tight to opposing wide players outside the penalty area, although, since nothing came of any of the crosses that resulted, maybe he was just following orders.

 

Max Woltman : Missed Doncaster’s trip to Grimsby, “ill”; unfortunate timing as Rovers won 3-1, a score line that flattered the fish worriers, and it won’t help Max get more time on the pitch.

[sir roger]

Thanks to the Mrs. I used to spend half my life in Rapid DIY.

[alles ist gut]

Apparently Top Gear is still a thing

 

Fidel O’Rourke : After struggling against the behemoth that is TNS, another tricky trip to Connah’s Quay for Caernarfon; Fidel opened the scoring with a back-post header at point-blank range which put both ball and opposition keeper in the back of the net,  then went close with another header from the edge of the box. In the second half, was involved in the build-up to the second goal with a nice bit of hold-up play, but, despite Town then stretching the lead to 3-0, they only came away with a draw after a ninetieth minute equaliser for the home team.

 

Conor Bradley : Still first name on the team sheet for Bolton at right wing-back, this week against Fleetwood. Grabbed an 85th-minute equaliser when he made a run in to the six-yard box to get on the end of a cross from the other flank for a tap-in. Also picked up a booking.

 

Owen Beck : Got a first start for Bolton on the left. Missed a really good scoring chance early on, as well as a couple of trickier ones later, and might have had an assist if Dion Charles hadn’t squandered a sitter. Also got a whack in the head from Fleetwood’s Shaun Rooney for no apparent reason; perhaps Beck compared him unfavourably to fellow ex-Queens Park player Andy Robertson. Came off with ten minutes left, with Wanderers losing 1-0 but still gets his win bonus after Bradley’s goal was followed by a 95th-minute winner.

 

Jack Bearne : A rare start in Kidderminster’s FA Trophy game at St. Albans, initially on the right of the front three. Moved to the left flank at half time; within two minutes he got the ball on the edge of the box in hectares of free space and delivered a low cross that was tapped in to make the score 1-1. Had a good chance at close range parried by the keeper. Unlucky not to get a second assist when another of his crosses led to a shot that was hacked off the line. Denied twice on a counter attack after Harriers took the lead. Subbed off with two minutes left to put on an extra defender.

 

Marcelo Pitaluga : Not at his best in Macclesfield’s 4-3 win over Mossley. Should have done better with their first, a looping header back across him after a corner hit to the man at the back post. Not as much at fault for their second, when a shot deflected off a team mate, but looked awful for the third, when coming to the near post for a cross and missing it completely. Fortunately for the Brazilian, his team mates scored twice in the extensive stoppage time (caused largely by numerous outbreaks of pushing and shoving after snidey fouls by both teams). The lads of Macc remain four points clear at the top.

 

Jakub Ojrzynski : Played the second half for Poland Under-20s Monday night against Romania; conceded the second goal in the 2-0 defeat. The Polish league is now on the normal winter break until the last weekend in January.

 

Leighton Clarkson : While Aberdeen are on a break from the SPFL, they have taken the opportunity to go to visit their ‘strategic partners’ (first I’d heard of it) Atlanta United and play a friendly, which took place in near-freezing temperatures and drizzle. Anyway, Clarkson was much the best player on the day and won the game with this volley from a corner :
 

 

 

[alles ist gut]

Started at the bottom, got worse…

 

Conor Bradley : Brought on as a late substitute in Bolton’s EFL Trophy tie with Barrow to help see out the 3-2 win. (Owen Beck unused substitute.)

 

Adam Lewis : In the starting line-up for Newport in their EFL Trophy tie at storied franchise MK Dons. Missed good scoring opportunities either side of the first MK goal in the first half, subbed off early in the second, Newport went on to lose 3-0.

 

Jack Bearne : Played the whole game as Kidderminster Harriers came from a goal down to win 2-1 at bottom-of-the-table local rivals Telford.

 

Marcelo Pitaluga : Had to go off injured in the second half of  Macclesfield’s 2-1 defeat at Runcorn Linnets; slipped while going to kick the ball, ankle ligament injury is feared, will be scanned later today.

 

 

[AngryOfTuebrook]

Once Runcorn has touched you...

 

Pitaluga is in the squad for the Dubai train camp. Is his Macc loan over?

[alles ist gut]

No, he’s rehabbing his ankle injury with the first team, as implausible as it sounds.

[AngryOfTuebrook]

27 minutes ago, alles ist gut said:

No, he’s rehabbing his ankle injury with the first team, as implausible as it sounds.

I suppose, for all we complain about them, our medical team are probably better than Macclesfield's.

[alles ist gut]

Round-up :

 

Jack Bearne : Two games for Kidderminster last week, 90 minutes in the 1-0 defeat by Gloucester, then, after being dropped to the bench for the trip to Alfreton, he was hurriedly summoned as a concussion substitute ten minutes into the game, and scored the opening goal with this masterpiece of efficiency :-

 

Sadly, despite Alfreton playing most of the game with ten men, as well as having to bring on their reserve goalie early in the second half, Kidderminster conceded a stoppage-time equaliser to draw 1-1. Next up, Chester - on the telly, as BT Sport extend their coverage to the sixth tier of English football for the first time.

 

Fidel O'Rourke : Also had an unsuccessful Friday night, despite scoring for Caernarfon against Newtown (a real place) :-

 

That is his eighth goal in total (seven in the league); unfortunately he had to go off five minutes later after sustaining an injury while creating another good chance for a team-mate, and the result ended 3-2 to Newtown. Hopefully it's not a serious problem, as Fidel has suffered regularly over the last five seasons.

 

Owen Beck & Conor Bradley : Both in Bolton's team for the visit of Bristol Rovers. Neither shown to great advantage as the away team took an early lead; Beck was out of position near the left touchline and got passed round for the cross that Bradley couldn't get to at the back post. They both played a lot better as Wanderers took control of the game from then on; Beck came off after 72 minutes and Bradley finished the match as Bolton levelled the scores in the 93rd minute. This leaves them in fifth place.

 

Max Woltman : Unexpectedly returned to the Doncaster Rovers starting line-up for the home game with Walsall in a three-man front line. Created the best chance of the game for the home team, which was squandered, and was substituted with ten minutes to play as they lost 2-0. While 13th in the table, they are actually only five points off fifth place, and if they can find the right system, there's still something to hope for.

 

James Balagizi : Talking of hope, James made his first appearance for Crawley Town since getting injured playing for England Under-19s on Saturday, in their 2-0 win over Swindon that marked the managerial debut of Tottenham legend Matthew Etherington, Played well in the opening period without creating anything significant, and came off early in the second half. Medical updates awaited.

[alles ist gut]

Valuable historical document

 

Jack Bearne : Played 90 minutes for Kidderminster at their home defeat by Chester. Didn’t see a lot of the ball on the left of the front three, as the visiting team controlled the middle of the park with their extra player.

 

Tyler Morton : Played the full game in Blackburn’s woeful home defeat by Preston. Got knocked off the ball a couple of times early on by the opposition who seemed to be more enthusiastic about a Saturday morning in driving sleet. Had one shot, which was drilled low and hard into Scott Gallagher’s back. That sort of day.

 

Rhys Williams : Well, Blackpool kept a clean sheet at home to  Birmingham City with Williams in the centre of defence, although it wasn’t a commanding performance by any means; the visitors contributed by apparently deciding to ignore the offside law and hope that the assistant would eventually get it wrong. Troy Deeney spent a lot of time moaning. Diddums.

 

James Balagizi : Another step along the road back to full fitness, managing the whole game for Crawley at home to last-place Hartlepool. Missed their best chance of the first half, shooting over the bar from fifteen yards out; this turned out to be their best chance of the whole game, as they lost 2-0.

 

Conor Bradley : Played the full game for Bolton at Shrewsbury ( Owen Beck missed the game, ill). Partly to blame for the mix-up that led to the first Shrews goal; not so for either of the other two (both at set-pieces) as Wanderers lost 3-2. Still sixth, somehow, even though they seem to get beat every other game.

 

Max Woltman : Another start on the left of o front three as Doncaster travelled to Newport (for whom Adam Lewis was once again an unused substitute). Created Rovers best chance of the first half with a driving run and low cross to the back post that evaded defenders and teammates alike. Came off a couple of minutes after Rovers scored the only goal of the game in the second half. Doncaster up to 10th and only a couple of points from the playoffs. It’s nice to have something to look forward to at this time of year.

[Lee909]

Leighton Clarkson has just scored a belter to put Aberdeen 2-1 up over Rangers

 

 

 

 

[sir roger]

I think this gives a much better idea of the goal.

 

 

[Creator Supreme]

16 minutes ago, sir roger said:

I think this gives a much better idea of the goal.

 

 

And sadly all for nothing, blueturds score 2 in injury time! Fucking devil's team!

[sir roger]

Not bothered either way once Stevie left,

[alles ist gut]

Tube of seasonal Pringles

 

Anderson Arroyo : Returned to the Alaves back line in their 2-0 home defeat by Levante. Could have done more to cut out the crosses from his side of the pitch that led to each of the goals. Booked in the first half, subbed off with twenty minutes left. Dropped for the next League game, another defeat at Malaga. Brought back for the Copa Del Rey tie at Merida, played all 90 in the 1-0 win, involved early in the move up the right flank for the goal. Did not have a lot of defending to do, either.

 

Jack Bearne : In the starting line-up for Kidderminster in the FA Trophy replay at Fylde, and opened the scoring like this :

 

Not sure who Bearne is gesturing to there. (Perhaps being called an Scouse bastard by some species of lower primate that lives in the arse end of Fleetwood, I couldn’t possibly say.) Anyway, Fylde equalised in the second half, and Bearne was subbed off in the last few minutes before Harriers won the ensuing shootout. A trip to Dorking awaits in the New Year.

 

Conor Bradley : Played the full game in the EFL Trophy as Bolton saw off the MUFC Academy 4-0, including the fourth goal in stoppage time. Then put up another top effort back in the League in the 2-0 win over Exeter, scoring the first goal from ten yards out - with his weaker left foot - on his way to being named in the League One Team of the Week. Also missed a free header, but let’s not get too picky. Did not have a lot of defending to do, either.

 

Owen Beck : Unused sub against MUFC, got about ten minutes against Exeter, squandered one decent opportunity when over hitting a cross in roughly the direction of Bradley. Did not have a lot of defending to do, either.

 

Tyler Morton : Blackburn back on form in their winning trip to Norwich, and Morton created the first goal with his quick free kick that caromed off defender Ben Gibson and into the net. Also booked late on, but you need a bit of that. Rovers still third.

 

Rhys Williams : Got 90 minutes for crisis-club Blackpool at Cardiff, a game that finished 1-1 despite the home team dominating possession and having virtually all the chances. Not at fault for the Cardiff goal, which came from a counterattack after a Blackpool set piece. The point leaves the Tangerines just 10 points off the playoff positions at the halfway point of the season, or third from bottom of the league, if that’s how you want to look at things.

 

Leighton Clarkson : Two Old Firm games for Aberdeen in four days. The Celtic game saw the Dons set up very deep and unadventurous; Clarkson had their only attempt at goal in the first half, a free kick that didn’t really threaten. Subbed off with 15 minutes left, long before Celtic scrambled their winner. There was a more positive approach to the game against Rangers, even after Rangers went in front - at least until Clarkson put the home team 2-1 up early in the second half ( see Lee’s post above). Leighton came off with twenty-five minutes to play, and the visitors scored twice in stoppage time to keep them nine points off the top of the table. Aberdeen are still third, a further fourteen points in arrears. It will be a close thing for that automatic Europa League group spot.

[alles ist gut]

Fleece the world

 

Leighton Clarkson : Started in a five-man midfield for Aberdeen at St. Mirren. Didn’t see much of the ball in the congested middle of the park. Taken off with a knock at half-time after Aberdeen had a defender sent off;  they went on to lose 3-1. Missed the game against Kilmarnock, which the Dons also lost 2-1, and are now three points behind Hearts.

 

Adam Lewis : Returned to the Newport line-up after a spell of illness for their game against league leaders Swindon; had what was reported as ‘a lively creative game’ in the 0-0 draw. County now 18th, nine points above the relegation places.

 

Jack Bearne : Clinched all three points for Kidderminster in their Boxing Day 1-0 win at Hereford with a clinical left-footed finish from the edge of the box midway through the first half. Gets the chance to repeat the dose in the return fixture on New Year’s Day.

 

Tyler Morton : On the wrong end of both games this week. Despite creating the opening goal at Sunderland with his free kick causing Ross Stewart to propel the ball into his own net, and having a shot well saved in the second half, the Wearsiders grabbed a 2-1 win in a stoppage-time goalmouth scramble. Played 65 minutes in the game against Middlesbrough; subbed off as part of a formation change after fellow midfielder John Buckley was sent off for the softest “ball thrown at opponent” imaginable. The game finished 2-1 to Boro, but Rovers are still somehow third with a negative goal difference.

 

Conor Bradley : Chosen by Sky as their man of the match in Bolton’s 0-0 draw with Derby, where he had the best chance of the first half, a shot just wide of the right post, and then created the best chance of the second half with a cross that Dion Charles couldn’t keep on target. Not such a good game in an overall poor team performance in the 1-1 draw at Lincoln; picked up a booking, his ninth in the league. 

 

Max Woltman : Back on the bench after illness for Doncaster against Rochdale; brought on for the last seven minutes to help keep possession in the frankly daft 4-3 win. Rovers up to 12th, but now just two points off the playoff places.

 

James Balagizi : Half an hour off the bench for crisis club Crawley Town in their 2-1 home defeat by Sutton on Boxing Day. By the time of their next game at Stevenage, Matthew Etherington had quit as manager. The caretaker bosses picked Balagizi to start, and he played 83 minutes in the 3-1 defeat. Crawley now 20th, six points ahead of Rochdale. Perhaps Frank Lampard will be available by the time they appoint a permanent replacement.

[sir roger]

Impressive by Crawley to be deemed the Crisis Club in amongst the nest of Back Entry Diddlers our future stars find themselves wasting their time at.