Man of the Match - Bristol Rovers (H)
Congratulations to Dodds and Simons, especially.
MOTM
- MOTM?109 votes
- Norris0.00%
- Back6.42%
- Low3.67%
- Taylor1.83%
- Harvie1.83%
- Scowen10.09%
- Simons53.21%
- Humphreys17.43%
- Onyedinma0.00%
- Udoh3.67%
- Lubala0.92%
- Leahy (sub)0.00%
- McCleary (sub)0.00%
- Kodua (sub)0.92%
- Lowry (sub)0.00%
- Bakinson (sub)0.00%
0
Comments
Simons obviously. Although I thought Scowen was class as usual, Fin Back had a good first start, and the Low/Taylor CB pairing is a brick wall again. Not that Rovers gave them much to do
Simons, Humphreys and Scowen all brilliant and complementary in midfield
Simons
I gave it to Humphreys but all mentioned above are fair shouts too.
Simons
Gave it to Simons but close seconds were Back and Humphreys
If he keeps the lads playing like this. .. we can Christen him
"The Dodd Father"
...they already have. There was a flag to that effect in the Valley End tonight.
That would have been a 5-0 with kone on the pitch , defence very solid xavier the new improved morley . Feeling positive again
Meh.... I'm too slow
Almost any other occasion I’d have gone with Scowen who I thought was absolutely outstanding for 90, but the fact I’ve voted for Xavier just shows how incredible he was tonight. Signing him will be season defining and is the reason I think we will get promoted.
I really don't know who to give it to. Simons was superb, but so was Back on Debut, Scowen was, well, brilliant ! And what more can we say about Low and Taylor !?!? They are a formidable pairing, colossus, tonight confirms to me that they should be our first choice center back pairing
Xavi
Exactly the player we needed
Back to tricky decisions at last. I gave it to Humphreys...positive throughout, tenacious out of possession and scored...but lots of good performances out there tonight.
Humphreys was superb all game. Workrate phenomenal. Back, Scowen and Xavi close
First time I think I’ve ever been really surprised by one of these. Simons was good, yes. But Humphrey’s was absolutely outstanding
Humphrey’s just edged over Simons.
New players tend to get a novelty bump, as we are all giddy about having another great player on the books!
...that actually gets into the team or on the bench.
Humphreys could not have played as well as he did had Xavi not had the game he did
I don’t disagree. I’m excited by Simons. But Humphteys was still outstanding
Strange game, comfortable but unspectacular. Some good spells where certain players really stepped up.
Simons, Scowen, Humprhries looks like it brings back both the quality and balance to our midfield so desperately needed since Morley left. All three were very good. Scowen just edged it for me.
Shout out to Udoh too. To lead the line for the second time in four days and retain the same energy, whilst also grabbing another goal, is really impressive.
Simons. The player we've been missing for nearly 2 months.
I voted Simons purely because that was the first time in almost 2 months we’ve really looked the part again. however, that was also due to the return of Taylor as well. He is so good at getting us up the pitch.
Those two released Scowen to do Scowen things. Humphrey’s was absolutely outstanding because he finally had a platform behind him to do what he does best.
I think the vote for Simons was because he is the final piece in the jigsaw to get us back on track.
Nail on head re: Taylor.
As good as Sonny has been (very) Taylor and Low together are solid and start the attacks, with attacking fullbacks and cover from midfield the goalie can concentrate on keeping, and drop the ball short to defenders to play through the team rather than having to constantly go long. Then Scowen and Xavi owning midfield allows Humphrey to play further forward where he is best and link with Dan Udoh.
Only note of caution is that Rovers aren't any good, others will pose more of a challenge but to be 5 points clear in second with all of the changes, drama and some ropey performances is brilliant, well done to all the players and staff.
Back to the point though, Cam might not make it to play for England or be a Prem regular, who knows, but right now at this level, he's an absolute diamond.
I kind of jumped on the Simons bandwagon last night, who was excellent, but having slept on it I think Low and Taylor totally dominated the opposition
The vote spread confirms what I felt last night, that it was the best midfield performance for almost 2 months. Long may it continue.
I went for Scowen. Making some great runs from midfield. But Simons was also very worthy and and I think he will be the key player for us as we move forward. We know how brilliant Humphreys and Scowen are we just need someone next to them. And it doesn't harm that he can knock a defence splitting pass from midfield.
The last few weeks has really confirmed to me why we had that 1 win in 17 run under MB and then turned it around after Xmas 23 and the amazing run we've had first half this season. To then go backwards for a few weeks and hopefully now turned a corner again.
Square pegs in square holes in all 11 positions across the park, for the system you want to play, makes a massive difference - well at least 9 of the outfield 10!
The sum of the parts is what is most important. We had too many back ups or people out of position the last few weeks.
Skura is an able deputy but Back showed what a proper right back can do.
Bradley has been magnificent but Taylor is rolls royce for how we want to play on the front foot and dictate the play.
Leahy/Scowen - only one of them can really play if we want to play this way. If both play, we need to accept it maybe more long ball.
Morley/Simons - with how they play the team can really tick, without them we look fairly average and devoid of ideas. Small sample for Simons I know.
Fred as been a little disappointing recently but a disappointing Fred tends to still be better than a great Lubala and Udoh out wide.
Lowry really looked good last night in his little cameo.
Fred on his day is unplayable...but not on his day and Udoh or Lubala offer more in my opinion.
The problem is...we never know if it's Fred's day or not until about 60 minutes in.