Tyrone Shoelaces

We need to translate the 20 minute spells of high tempo pressing football into 30 minutes spells and to be able to do so in both halves not just one.

Yeah, nice change of pace there. Drew the guy in and then he was away on the outside. I described him as a " poor man's Rodney Marsh " a while back. Maybe Marsh was before your time but he was a real class act on the ball. He's got the same quick feet for a burly guy as Marsh had , uses his physique well and he has the willingness and confidence to try the unexpected. If he carries on like this he'll be the steal of the season. It's significant it appears he's up to full fitness now to be able to make that burst down the wing right at the death. I'd give a pat on the back to whoever managed to keep the ball under real pressure and then get the pass out to Samuel that led to Dacks second goal as well. It would have been easy just to put the ball out but he didn't't.

Was it Dack who made the burst down the left touch line that drew the yellow and red card for their guy to get an early bath ?

Yeah, he seems to be the heartbeat of the team. When he plays well the team plays well.

I've not seen a lot of Tomlinson but what I have seen I like. His attitude is good. He strikes me as the sort of player that rolls his sleeves up and just gets on with the game. Get's it and gives it, pass and move. He'll bring a youthful athleticism and attitude to the team. Earlier this season I was expecting him to stand in for either Smallwood when he gets suspended or Evans when he's injured but it never happened. Now he's got his chance. I can't see either Whittingham or Evans being back for Tuesday. He's already had more impact than Harper as far as I can see.

I think we could be good enough. When we put it together we look a good side. We just don't do it for more than 30 minute spells at the moment.

That was great work to rob their player and then slide a pass out wide for the Dack shooting opening early on. Very tenacious player. Everything that Jason Lowe should have been but never was.

Yeah that was a bad miss, his body shape was all wrong. Great powerful run and a sublime pass for Dack's second goal though.

You could argue he should have been out quicker to the long ball. As for the corner goal, lots of people at fault there but you've got to look at your goalkeeper when someone is heading in from 3 yards out. Having said that the one they conceded from a corner was worse.

Antonnson's decision making is good. Just the right amount of pace on the ball. It came with a message " Here, put this in ! ". Samuel missed a great headed chance early on. Dack hit the target twice with his early chance. Good goalkeeping more than a miss in my book.

I can't agree about the second goal. Nyambe stayed with his man. Who was marking the no 10 ? He had a free run into our box. Some excellent unselfish interplay for our 2nd and 3rd goals. Dack's good to watch.

Harper will be back after a one game suspension but I'd rather have Tomlinson in there.

I can't argue a great deal with that. I'd have gone with Evans for Whittingham but to be honest it won't make a lot of difference either way. Somehow I feel our weak links may let us down today but I'll still go for a score draw.

That's the problem, if you could roll the two of them together into one you might have a decent player but neither of them has earned the shirt this season. We are were we are and I'd pick Evans. Score -2-2.

Of course we should go all out to win at this level but if we've got a draw at 4.55 it's not the end of the world.

I'd always take a point in away games. Of course In that equation I would be hoping our home form would be more robust.

Very clever Phillip. If he plays and does well you can say you selected him. If he plays and plays badly you can say you would have given him a wide berth. You should be in politics.

Team selection will be crucial for this one. My team. Raya Nyambe, Downing , Mulgrew, Williams. Conway, Smallwood, Evans, Antonnson. Dack. Samuel.

Tell your pal we've been poor for the last 7 years.

Mm, Mystic Baz ? Funny old game cricket. The Aussies should have made us follow on like we should have batted first. Two strange decisions. I think we'll fall short in the run chase, we let them get a 100 too many in the first innings.

Pulis would get them up eventually.

Nothing new there Jim. They'll do anything to win irrespective of the ethos of such sports as cricket. Anybody in any doubt of that I refer you to Trevor Chappell " bowling " against New Zealand. It makes me laugh when you think about that " Bodyline " tour. At least we were bouncing the ball at guys who were acknowledged batsmen.

Yep, we need a captains innings tomorrow.

Obviously we could have done with more runs, the tail didn't wag as I hoped it would. We need to separate these two ASAP.

It's not at that point yet. We need a good first session tomorrow though.