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Thoughts on today. (1) poor old Blackman. he did literally everything badly wrong. Looked like he’d forgotten how to play. Worst debut I’ve ever seen I think. But he’s been out ages, right? So this was going to be a bigger game in his head than on the pitch #rufc
And he was playing the game in his head. So he wasn’t acting on instinct, but overthinking. Hopefully, with it out of the way, he’ll settle down. Not sure if he can be risked v Wycombe (we left Roos in the line of fire too long). But not a write off yet. Keepers have nightmares.
(2) we played like a pre-season game. Too deliberate, too slow. No change of pace. Too willing to settle for a lump into the box.
(3) Ladapo’s general play’s improved. Ball sticks better. And he’s more dynamic. Smith had one of those days when it wouldn’t work. Vassell continues to play like what a crap footballer thinks a good footballer plays like.
(4) the team sheet tells me Lindsay started. I keep remembering that it took Vaulks ages to get to the pace of the game here, and I love the guys energy and willingness, but he’s not actually contributed anything yet.
(5) I thought we were entirely ok. I’d guess we could do tons better. We deserved to win by at least 2 clear goals. Their keeper played a blinder. We just were that sliver off it.
(6) we’re better off out of this cup overall. There’s no money in it, really. And we don’t have the squad to prosper or benefit from it. I hate losing, but missing out on the chance to play Fulham’s reserves I can live with.
(7) Sadler isn’t as good as he thinks he is. But he’s still good. Needs to avoid falling into the Williams trap of being the best player you’ve ever seen who never actually contributes.
(8) was the pitch weird in some way? So much stumbling in control of the ball. Harding, MacDonald, Smith all seem to trip over the ball so often. Like brains ahead of body.
(9) it was OK. We did alright. We were miles better than them. They hung in and got a break. They’re no mugs and if you played that game 10 times we’d win 8. We were nowhere near as good as we could be and now we know what we need to step up.
