Blergh

That was AFTER the fuss had taken place but no point in arguing about it. Have to agree to disagree on this one. Hopefully next time we’re in this position hardheadness will overrule sentimentality. We’re going down whatever but the fanbase and team badly needed and deserved a win. To chuck it away like that was just abject stupidity.

For me it’s not so much his finishing. As you say, he’s scored pretty consistently at most levels for a young player. What worries me is the seeming absence of growth in his wider game. When he first came in he was a proper kid and very lightweight, so it was totally understandable that he wasn’t winning headers, leading the line, etc. Two years on though he’s bulked up considerably but he’s still not showing any signs of being able to link play. He keeps getting caught under high balls and doesn’t seem to know how to ether play with his back to goal or run the channels. It’s something he’s going to have to figure out if he’s going to stick.

I don’t think, I know. I have eyes, I saw it. What do you think all that fuss with the ball was before it was taken? Pedersen even confirmed in his post match interview that there are three designated penalty takers, and that McNeil is not one of them. This is a professional football team. Unless we were numerous goals up, the designated taker should always be taking the pens. Judging from his comments I suspect Pedersen will be gently making that point this week.

I’d need to see him to it A LOT more regularly before we start talking about revelations but on today’s showing I’ll absolutely concede there’s at least some potential there if he can repeat today’s efforts more often. Whether he can remains to be seen but he at least showed a bit of something today. It’s one good outing against numerous poor ones but all power to his elbow. He’s set a standard now, go out and do it again. Possibly an odd comment after two goals but I’m not really sure he’s an out and out striker. His link play was probably his strongest point today.

For what it’s worth, I’d remembered it wrongly too until I looked it up.

He’s definitely more of a no.10 like Windass who links things up, rather than an out and out striker. What I did like today was that he was finally taking a touch and getting his head up. Needs to work on that body strength though.

McNeil played far, far better today and to be honest I was gearing up to come on here and eat a large portion of crow because I’ve been highly critical of him but today he finally showed something, not just the goals but in his general play. Unfortunately he then does the selfish thing taking the penalty off Bannan and really took the gloss of things. Still if he can repeat the wider performance he’s got a chance to contribute. I think I must be watching a different Cadamarteri to some of you. If Ugbo had turned in the performance he did today he’d have been getting absolute pelters.

Even by our current squad’s standards that is a seriously, seriously pants lineup.

I don’t think that’s especially surprising really given the HMRC, et al were always due to be paid as part of the club sale / admin exit.

I’m pretty sure that Derby negotiated their period down when their new owners took over. I want to say some of it was changed to the football equivalent of a suspended sentence.

Cadamarteri gave Aziz the freedom of the park there.

I suspect the issue is that a knackered starter is still probably better than what is on the bench.

Based on his performances in the cup games I’m a little surprised we’ve not seen more of Thornton.