Is it too soon to pinpoint why they scored twice and we scored just once ? Having seen only the tv version, I could be way off the mark with the areas where I think we could have done better.

But if it's too soon, just ignore this.

-- Anonymous, April 10, 2000

Answers

It would be churlish to try and apportion blame on individuals but ...

Solano didn't track Poyet for the first goal Second goal Poyet got between defenders

All our misses were just one of those things, other days we would have got half a dozen.

Room for improvement ...

need to play with a more mobile pairing than Ferguson and Shearer, we looked far better with Dyer and Shearer as it made us play on the ground

need a taller goalie, like 7ft tall

need a tighter centre of defence

need a real left back, Hughes is a great defender, but he's right footed and most definitely not an attacking left back

a bit more pace, Dyer has it but that's it really ... Solano doesn't lose the ball, and Lee and Speed cover well, but there is no real pace

-- Anonymous, April 10, 2000

Sure, we could have done better. But we could also have done a lot worse. We created enough chances, and limited them to just a few. 9 times out of 10 that would end up with us winning. Yesterday it didn't. We camn blame poor finishing on our part, and defensive lapses, but it really wouldn't have taken much of a swing in fortunes for us to have won 2 or 3 nil.

-- Anonymous, April 10, 2000

To be very specific, the reason they scored both of their goals was the Banbury Blockhead.....Dermot Bliddy Gallagher, that well known black and white hater (just look at his bliddy awaful performance at Selhurst Park earlier this season)

He completely ignored a rolling ball at the free kick for their first, and a blatant hand ball by the Baldy French puff just as they broke and countered for the second.

If either of those decissions had gone in our favour then we would be at Wenbley next month and not the Child Molester XI.

You said BE SPECIFIC.....

-- Anonymous, April 10, 2000

Ok, to make it worse, perhaps Howey should have got the header for their 2nd goal.

It's just plainly obvious that no matter what we did yesterday we were going to lose. The Place Beginning With W must go and I'll happily p**s on the ashes went it does.

-- Anonymous, April 10, 2000

Big Dunc not fit.
We play predictable muscle football.
The Old Gits had more savvy in the Midfield.
We couldn't handle Poyet.

-- Anonymous, April 10, 2000

I think it was a mistake to play Given, although not at fault with either of the goals, the CB's can not have confidence when he's behind them because of his kicking, it really had me worried yesterday. Harper is much more capapble when it comes to back passes.


-- Anonymous, April 10, 2000

If we'd had their goalie and they'd had ours, we'd have walked it, going off how it looked on tv. De Gooy must be among the top two or three keepers in the world.

The points about the rolling ball and the handling were fair comment, but wouldn't have mattered if De Gooy hadn't had a blinder, cos we'd have had at least four.

-- Anonymous, April 10, 2000

When De Goey saved from Dyer....you just knew that it wasn't to be....absolutely top drawer save that!

As for decisions not going our way, rolling ball etc.....this crap happens....we'd not be complaining if we'd won :(

Personally I was screaming for the ref to blow when Dyer was down....however maybe I was wrong cos he was soon up and running about again so he couldn't have been THAT injured....

Ignore the crap I'm babbling.....I'm wrecked and depressed....

-- Anonymous, April 10, 2000

I disagree, I reckon that Given was in no-man's-land for both goals, neither coming for the ball or staying on his line. Our front boys should have done better with the chances created and our defence shouldn't have concentration lapses at key points in the game. I was well hacked off with the lot of them yesterday, too much high ball stuff and not enough guile.

Please Bobby, can we get knocked out in the third round next season?

-- Anonymous, April 10, 2000

Dread

I'll see what I can do mate, but I can only assure that if I go to the game :-)

-- Anonymous, April 10, 2000

Given was in no-man's-land for both goals
I was thinking along those lines at least for the first goal.

If Given hadn't been off his line, Poyet couldn't have lobbed him - he'd have had to blast it. The height the ball was at was tailor made for a lob, but it could have gone anywhere from an attempt at a hard hit shot. And Given would have probably pulled off another of his blinding reflex saves.

Eee it's great having 20/20 hindsight.

-- Anonymous, April 11, 2000