PART TWO;
MILNES;
One of the first to re-sign for this year, and we all feel he has had a very in and out, stop and start season. No doubting that in the early part of the year he was the most mobile of our midfield three, but for some reason has never really shone as many were hoping. We like his commitment and the fact that when playing, normally with Ross and Marshall he was the one person who at least carried the ball and looked the one player who may create some chances, an area in which as a team we have failed miserably this season, (which we will come on to|) Injuries didn't help, nor did the arrival of Hall and since he got his injury and with the form shown of the new arrivals, it is doubtful, like Ross perhaps, if he will be able to re-establish himself as an automatic starter before the season ends, but if he does, we are all confident he wont let anyone down because he never really plays badly, just perhaps inconsistently?
6.5 out of 10
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RYAN SEMPLE
Not been back long and perhaps it's a bit unfair to offer a judgement because of that. I am sure we all welcomed him back, and since his arrival has done little wrong, but it is probably fair to say, he doesn't appear as quick as he once did, struggling at times to go past the last defender with sheer pace as he used to. It can be obviously overcome with an earlier delivery, but we need bodies in the middle for that, which we rarely have, and he certainly puts a full shift in, but we were actually discussing the possibilities of perhaps moving him to full back? Putting McGhee on the right wing and Connor back sitting in front of the back four. He's certainly experienced enough to adapt, good to have him back in the squad though isn't it?
6.5 out of 10
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MCGHEE
AGNEW
DIXON
Only been here just over a month, and again would be hard to offer any real judgement other than we like them all and for slightly different reasons. Collectively what they have given us is a new midfield work rate. They all tackle like demons, in fact I'm sure the first tackle McGhee ever did in a Boston shirt saw the Solihull centre forward stretchered off!
They are all quick, they are all comfortable on the ball and if we only changed the tactics used we all think their arrival will cement our play off aspirations. The last two games though and with the ball continually flying back and forwards over their heads, whilst not being over run, they really haven't managed to get a strangle hold on the game and that's disappointing. Certainly nullifies all their strengths.
We were also discussing the possibilities of DG moving McGhee out to the right wing regardless, which everyone says is or was his normal position at Grantham, and with his pace and determination it could be a good, positive move. Of the three Agnew is just and by the slimmest of margins our favourite and purely because the youngster appears to create a bit more space for himself on the ball, but equally between the four of us we cant find anything negative to say.
If they keep fit, keep putting in the performances so far witnessed and we keep (should that be start) feeding them the ball on the floor so they run through the middle with it we will have a very capable, very mobile and very fit mobile engine.
7 out of 10 (for all three)
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SWD
What's happened to Spencer? Obviously can't speak for others but we look at him, look at his body language and don't know if it's just us, but he just doesn't look as though he enjoys playing football at the moment. Whether Millers arrival and the form he's shown has put his nose put of joint somewhat we dont know, but there is certainly something missing from his game, something we assume DG agrees with as even before his injury, which must have been frustrating for the lad, he was regularly put on the bench.
People say Miller can be too greedy (and we will come onto that) but our shared opinion is that SWD doesn't appear to want to pass to anybody, especially his striking partners.Even more frustrating, even allowing for the fact that he's never been known for his strength on the ball is the amount of time he loses it, and worse the areas in which he loses it. If he loses it taking on full backs fine, we don't have any problem with that, but to do so, and so often, when trying to dribble across the pitch without laying it off, is akin to schoolboy behaviour. Its a real no no.
His goal at Histon was brilliant, and it reminded us all of what he can do, but even though he's approaching double figures for the season, his finishing has been..........inconsistent.
Most of the time we certainly cant knock his work rate, but at this level is that enough, on the evidence of this season probably no. Maybe he thinks he has to prove something, be it to the manager, the players or us lot. Well he doesn't, we just want the old SWD back. Give me the SWD of a couple of years ago and he would unquestionably be starting every game, but this year he has in the main been quite disappointing, or do others disagree?
We do concede where he is being asked to play, like Miller presently and Newsh earlier in the season, hasn't helped him, as so much of his time is now spent tracking back opposition wingers rather than taking on opposition centre halves as he has previously been used to, but even so.
6.5 out of 10
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MILLER
Do we think he is a greedy bugger? At times most definitely. Should he lay the ball off more frequently? The same answer applies.
But whatever you think, we all agree Miller is now our undoubted talisman. When he is on the ball we all start shifting that closer to the end of our seats wondering what will happen next and we cant remember the last player we had who made that happen. Yes like most forwards he is greedy at times and it bloody frustrates us as much as any, but many, certainly in the seats around us also seem to ignore the positive consequences of that greed.
By being greedy, by taking players on he is probably the most fouled player in the league, by being greedy he is the only player who regularly gets down to the by line, and think back about how many goals we have scored form those resulting corners and free kicks? By being greedy he has also earned what,9,10 penalties, he's probably also got the most assists and more MOM awards than anyone else, probably double in fact, so it's no wonder so many clubs are watching him. Forgetting his undoubted greed at times, which we cant dispute, he does however have one priceless bullet in his armoury though that few can boast, in that he can make things happen, out of nothing. Work rate, commitment, and attitude (something many heavily criticised him for at the start of the season, I wonder if those who did, still think he's no better than a journey man now?) are all first class, we just hope along with Pidge and Newsham that he stays fit as we badly need him in the team.
9 out of 10
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NEWSHAM
Is almost becoming Mr Boston isn't he, 100 goals for one team at this level is something to be really proud of, and lets hope there are many more to come. Okay he is a completely different player to Miller, but of all our strikers, none of us dispute the fact that he is our best finisher.
Okay he doesn't get many wonder goals, but so what? A 30/40 yard effort like Bores wonder strike against Telford means no more than a two foot tap in and that's where Newsh excels. He has this knack, it's almost like a sixth sense of being in the right place at the right time and why as the season proves he is our top goalscorer, on target to hopefully bag another 30 goal seasonal tally which would be truly magnificent.
The only criticism we have, and its not his fault is how is asked to play. For two thirds of the season, like Miller and Semple/SWD is now he was asked to be another defensive midfielder, how on earth is that playing to his strengths?
Well it isn't, any more than the role he's now being asked to do, as a lone striker with his back to goal trying to win headers against 6' 3" defenders. We need to see Newsh arriving in the box to get on the end of crosses, midfield passes and the like, and we are dismayed he isn't being played in a manner which allows him to do just that.
We are also staggered that his hat trick the other week was his first for Boston, we argued all the way home trying to remind each other the previous games where we were all confident he had did the same.
He currently leads the conference scoring charts and who would bet against him finishing top, like Pidge, Garner, Miller, and a couple of others, please don't let our master goal poacher get injured as we so badly need him as well.
We all further agree that if we were to play two up front as opposed to the lone striker DG unfortunately always opts for, that Newsh and Miller would terrorise defences and if that happens, with The Nesh in particular would add significantly to his already outstanding 'goals' return
8.5 out of 10
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DG
Oh dear, the timing of this couldn't be worse could it? I only want to dwell briefly on recent events which no doubt divided opinions. We have only discussed it once and that was Sunday in the pub, and we were split down the middle in the should he stay should he go debate, but the chairman has made his decision and we all accept it and if its the best thing for the team, which without considering other factors it has to be doesn't it we all support it?
On to football matters without knowing the man, we rarely stay post home matches, he seems to be a very personable very likeable individual and you cant argue considering how dire we were performing at the end of last season that the performances and most certainly results have been better than any of us could have hoped for.
However we have surely thrown away many points this season and against some pretty poor opposition, Stalybridge, Harrogate (who can forget that game?) and particular Histon and Oxford to mention just some, because we feel of the rather negative tactics DG uses. I know before you ask that with our goals for record such a comment perhaps gives weight to the contrary, but we don't think so.
We've played one up front all season and consistently used a long ball up to whoever our forward is in the 'hope' that something positive will happen. Sometimes it does but alas what normally happens is the opposition defenders and with some ease, win the header which then comes straight back, normally over the heads of the midfield who are regularly almost playing on the shoes of the back four and in doing so put ourselves under, on occasions almost constant pressure.
When we do get the ball back, certainly when the back four win it back, because the midfield are all so deep, not to mention at least one mostly both of our two other alleged forwards, they have no one to give it to, so naturally they too resort to clearing their lines and the pressure starts all over again. Come on Dennis, if we can see that mate........
When that happens it also gives limited chances for the midfield to get up and support the forward(s) The only time they do is when we have free kicks. We simply have to get our midfield away from the back four and closer to and hopefully in the opposition area which all season hasn't happened. So many times The Newsh or particularly Miller break free and there is simply no-one to pass to as they are invariably just crossing the half way line. We have to use them more, and if anyone needs any evidence that our observations are true look at the quite pathetic goal return from the whole of the midfield this season. Ross has four (at least one, I think two were free kicks and one a penalty!)
Agnew (0) McGhee (1) Dixon (0) Hall (1) Marshall (1) Fairclough (1) Indy (0) Milnes (0) Semple (2) I guarantee the defenders have more which frankly whislt great for the team is surely a joke. We cant keep relying on The Newsh and Miller, the team needs the midfield to start scoring but for them to do that DG has to allow them to get forward, has to instruct them to be more offensive rather than as happens every week drag everyone behind the ball to form what looks at times a back seven or eight.
As a team we don't even think of pressing the opposition until they cross into our half which is now congested by ten outfield players dropping deeper and deeper. For goodness sake, allow them to press at least 30 yards higher up the pitch Mr G.
I think you have assembled a cracking midfield trio, now lets use them, lets use their fitness and energy. Let them loose. Play two up front to compliment what could be a marauding midfield, and take the game to our opponents. Let them be concerned with what we do rather than be somewhat fixated about stopping what the opposition may do. I don't want to sound too critical because we are obviously in a great position thanks to DG and of course the lads but we all feel a play off place, even the league itself is there for the taking, and why couldn't it be us that takes it?
We have many hard games coming up, unfortunately a lot are away, with some horrendously journeys thrown in among them so lets go out intent on winning and not as appears to have happened in many games in almost Sam Allardyce fashion, intent on not losing.
There is a huge difference.
One thing we all credit DG is the length his contacts spread to, and to get people like Garner, Agnew, Dixon, and especially Marrs who was our real favourite has been a great coup. He has also shown himself, as he had to, to being quite ruthless in moving many under achievers out, so just take the bull by the horn Mr G use that same conviction and let the lads loose, do that and we are all confident you could carve yourself put a little bit of Boston United history.
If we don't go up, don't let it be because we didn't give it everything. The lads you have assembled, look together, look a unit wishing to play for and with each other so play to their strengths.
One last thing, (two actually) and again on behalf of our little quartet I put it out there for your opinions. Billy mentioned it a few months ago, and we have been watching ever since, and he was right. How many people have noticed the amount of times we lose possession from our own throw in's?Don't take our word for it, watch them next week, or this Saturday for those who go. We reckon we lose the ball up to 70% of the time we have throw in's. What a waste, if it mean going backwards, then so be it. We have no big players to flick throw in's on so why do we keep doing it. If anyone has the ear of DG please mention it, as we now scream out every week trying to make our case, but not surprisingly our pleas fall on deaf ears from the bench!
Lastly before I retire back to the obscurity of the cheap seats, could anyone offer any logical reason why all three of our keepers used and in what is surely the smallest team in the league appear hell bent on kicking the ball high and long straight down the throats of the eagerly waiting opposition centre halves?
We can only remember one game, BPA where after getting passed to death for 45 minutes the keeper continually rolled the ball to defenders following which they then brought the ball out with a degree of control. Why cant we do that all the time? Why throw possession away so cheaply, so needlessly when a logical alternative to the size of our squad is available, and then if it needs to go long as at least we can deliver it down the wings and not down the middle.
Anyway marks our of ten for MR G
To where we were at the end of last season 10 out of 10. Where we are in terms of seasonal expectations 8.5 out of 10 Could yet be 10!) Tactics used this season 6.5 out of 10
Good luck to everyone for the rest of the season, lets hope we have a great finish, we all feel it will be
