Shrewsbury Reports and Reactions

[Artixbee]

First of all, credit to them, they were the best footballing team I've seen so far at GP this season by some distance, and their manager was very astute in setting out a team to exploit the spaces left by our diamond.

However, they also showed that maybe we have got a little carried away with our own style of football, and that there are teams in this divisionnot expected to get promoted, perfectly capable of matching us playing football. It was a slight reality check on our aspirations tonight.

Our midfield played well and was well organised. Our defence was mostly ok. Though their number 10 was finding too much room between our wing backs and centre backs. KOC and Adeyemi had fantastic games doing the simple stuff.

We are starting to take great Moore saves in every game for granted.

Why was Farid playing soooo far back? The midfield was doing an ample job at winning the ball and breaking up the play. We need him in the box. Too many times, good deliveries were met by nobody. Harry came on at the right time to torment their defence, but all too often, there was nobody at the end of his deliveries. We are still weakest in the final attacking third.

We didn't play badly, but at the same time, in a funny kind of way, we had a reality check tonight as to how good we think we actually are, and our promotion credentials.

[Artixbee]

Ratings: Moore 8, Logan 7, Legge 6, Craig 6, Bidwell 5, O'Connor 8, Adeyemi 7, Douglas 6, Forshaw 7, Donaldson 6, El Alagui 5. Subs: Forrester 8, Hayes 6, Fredericks - Came on too late to have an impact.

[Brentford_till_die]

We started the better and rather well considering were normally slow starters. First 5-10minutes we were pressuring them and passing the ball well.

Then Shrewsbury strung a few passes and from then on we couldn't get near them. They played some very good football and Morgan was wasteful for them upfront.

Not sure on the formation 4132 as we looked really narrow and often Logan and Bidwell would have the ball with no one in front of them to pass to.

We need to shoot more and gamble more outside of the box. Too many times we over pass the ball or lose it.

We also need to up the tempo of our attacks, we seem to take just an extra crucial 2/3 seconds to switch the play or make the killer pass. By that time the other teams player has clocked our player in space and then the defence is all back and we struggle to break them down.

Second half was a bit more lively and we had more of the ball than the first half. Bit more end to end and chances at both ends.

Harry came on and played really well. Some good skill, good runs and crosses into the box. Always looks a threat. Must start for me!

Crucial decision by the ref, did he award a penalty or free kick originally? Looked like hit gig Craig on the head. I wasn't sure if it was inside the box. Linesmen didn't flag for a foul or penalty and to me was the correct decision was a corner.

Moore made a brilliant save on 30minutes to keep it 0-0.

Also Craig made a brilliant tackle in or the edge of our box first half, after a bad pass to him.

Legge won all of his headers.

Logan and Bidwell got forward well considering and got crosses into the box no one on the end of them.

Forshaw was quality on the ball, some great skill and some amazing passes in the first half.

Hayes had some good touches on the ball and a miss from about 5 yards out, that was about it.

Kevin played well, distributed it well and made some good interceptions,

People are reacting way OTT. Some of the stuff I heard being shouted was ridiculous.
lm pissed off we didnt win dont get me wrong but hey ho its done, nothing can be changed and its another point towards the total and on to the next one. Really need a win and a good performance against a strong Cralwey side who are doing well. Bring it on, should be a cracker COYR BEELIEVE

[Les Beeavinu]

I went out with this lovely girl for a while when I was about 18. Really, really pretty, well turned out and a fabulous figure. Way above my usual batting average. After 3 months, we'd had a few snogs but nothing else. And I mean nothing - not even a grope or a flash. Used to drive me mad. That's Brentford 2012 / 2013 as far as I can tell.

[beebopalula]

First of all, credit to them, they were the best footballing team I've seen so far at GP this season by some distance, and their manager was very astute in setting out a team to exploit the spaces left by our diamond.

However, they also showed that maybe we have got a little carried away with our own style of football, and that there are teams in this divisionnot expected to get promoted, perfectly capable of matching us playing football. It was a slight reality check on our aspirations tonight.

Our midfield played well and was well organised. Our defence was mostly ok. Though their number 10 was finding too much room between our wing backs and centre backs. KOC and Adeyemi had fantastic games doing the simple stuff.

We are starting to take great Moore saves in every game for granted.

Why was Farid playing soooo far back? The midfield was doing an ample job at winning the ball and breaking up the play. We need him in the box. Too many times, good deliveries were met by nobody. Harry came on at the right time to torment their defence, but all too often, there was nobody at the end of his deliveries. We are still weakest in the final attacking third.

We didn't play badly, but at the same time, in a funny kind of way, we had a reality check tonight as to how good we think we actually are, and our promotion credentials.

This is a good report. Too many seem to think we have a right to roll over teams. Shrewsbury played well. For me the turning points were missed chances again. Farid somehow completely mistimed his jump when he had a clear chance. He was subbed afterwards. Hayes should have directed a Harry cross into an open goal and Clayton fluffed a great opportunity to cross to two unmarked players. These were clear opportunities. I think a couple of things were clarified for me. Firstly Hayes must start ahead of Farid . Those who maybe wanted a Legge/Dean partnership [ I am guilty] saw quite clearly that Legge is prone to errors and Craig should start ahead of him. A frustrating night in many ways as no-one IMO played badly but 36 games to go. I expect to see Harry and Hayes starting on Saturday ahead of Farid and O'Connor [ and a reaction from the team].

[beebopalula]

I went out with this lovely girl for a while when I was about 18. Really, really pretty, well turned out and a fabulous figure. Way above my batting average. After 3 months, we'd had a few snogs but nothing else. And I mean nothing - not even a grope or a flash. Used to drive me mad. That's Brentford 2012 / 2013 as far as I can tell.

But you've only been going out for 6 weeks mate. Plenty of time yet

[Les Beeavinu]

But you've only been going out for 6 weeks mate. Plenty of time yet

Ah but after 3 months, she still hadn't gone down and I got relegated.

[Scott "tap in" Fitzgerald]

Huge reality check tonight. That was a dire performance and we were lucky to get the point.

Too many punts up field tonight. Shaleum, Bidwell and Legge were all guilty of aimless balls up fields that Farid and Donaldson were never going to have much luck with - hugely frustrating to watch as well. The midfield itself is too static. Plenty of balls out wide but the final ball is either poor or there's no one in the box to finish them off. We looked far better when Harry came on and started running at their defenders.

Donaldson is one of my favourite players, but I can't remember too many strikers worse at one on ones. Shame, as he makes so many of them for himself.

Uwe needs to sort out our attack quickly. We have no bite and until we do we'll won't get past mid table.

[Southern Bee]

Positives:

- Craig seems to be getting better and better
- Adeyemi looked very good for 60 minutes despite running out of steam towards the end
- Moore had another top game
- We're still creating chances (even if we're not scoring)
- We look a much solider team with KOC in it

Negatives:

- We can't score.
- Donaldson and Farid don't seem to work as a partnership.
- Legge was poor.
- Douglas isn't the player he was last season.

We didn't deserve more than a point tonight, but I thought Shrewsbury looked a good side, so we shouldn't be too down hearted.

We've got to remember we have only lost 2 all season in the league, and despite drawing too many games we should've won, we're still right there. Now the emphasis is on Uwe to get the team scoring chances, if he fails, we're in for another very average season and I highly doubt he'll be here at the end. Massive couple of months coming up, but i'm largely optimistic he can turn it around.

[Les Beeavinu]

We didn't deserve more than a point tonight, but I thought Shrewsbury looked a good side, so we shouldn't be too down hearted.

With the greatest respect, I'm not going to be bigging up Shrewsbury, no matter how well they played. We should be better than them and it's a worry we're not. Did like their right back a lot though - looked a quality player.

[sonofabee]

Sorry see it differently to the man above.

We have a far stronger squad with better quality players in every position but played poorly with no width and the only wide men were the two centre forwards.

No way against a side like Shrewsbury should we line up with Kev patrolling in front of defence.

Leon showed why Uwe prefers Harlee and TC at the back and don't imagine on his performance tonight he'll figure much unless injury demands.

Craid did well tonight and last 2 or 3 games he's started to look like the player UR expected.

Midfield a mixed bag for me, little or no width but first half Adeyemi won lots of challenges, marauded forward but wasted final ball and Forshaw oozed class.
Sadly Douglas who I always defend was gash and looked sluggish, disinterested and should have been hooked at half time.

Up front was a disaster and although I laughed several times at our finishing it was a nervous laugh covering my embarrassment!
It just about summed things up when the only shot on target was intercepted and turned in by Hayes who was offside. The three forwards are all the peak of their trough so to speak and currently I don't think any of them even want the ball to come to them in the box.

Uwe has always had my vote and I'm not calling for his head but he needs to acknowledge that he has to play the players in form and get the forwards to play as a pair, clos enough to link up and pose a threat in or around the box.

The most annoying thing is that this squad of players should be capable of much better results than we're seeing and I really hope it doesn't cone back to haunt us at the end of the season. We've thrown away far too many points this season and on paper it looks to get tougher now.

[readingbee]

Ratings: Moore 8, Logan 7, Legge 6, Craig 6, Bidwell 5, O'Connor 8, Adeyemi 7, Douglas 6, Forshaw 7, Donaldson 6, El Alagui 5. Subs: Forrester 8, Hayes 6, Fredericks - Came on too late to have an impact.

IMHO your being very generous giving Donaldson a 6 .5 at best maybe 4 from me.

[Greenholme Bee]

I must be watching the wrong game then because I don't see anything before me to make me the slightest bit excited.
Shrewsbury were poor but had more chances on target than us and produced save after save from Moore.
We managed one or two half efforts on target but honestly would have been out there all night and we wouldn't have scored.

I simply fail to see how people are expected to turn up to watch this standard week in week out unless they have already bought a season ticket - the quality in the division is dire and we are at best on the form we have shown a mid table side.

Farid and Hayes want the ball in the air, we signed them on that SO PLAY SOME F***ING WINGERS you idiot...

Sorry Donaldson fans but the bloke is a joke, the one on one in the first half went about ten yards wide and the second half chance (yes the one when Forrester called him a **** for not passing) was embarrassing because he waited and waited until he was bundled off he ball with a clean tackle... the only slight entertainment was when he took the towel to wipe the ball dry for thirty seconds and then proceeded to launch it six yards... what a joker.

Didn't enjoy tonight, no longer enjoy the matchday experience (the supporters vocally have given up) but all we hear is that all is rosey off the park...

I actually think Rosler is out of his depth at this level and managing in Norway is far far from managing in the English Football League...

As for MOTM tonight? I'd give it to O'Connor for his first half cool head - and that is dissapointing as taking nothing away from King Kev, he's about 48 and I thought we'd moved on from relying on him...

[sonofabee]

I went out with this lovely girl for a while when I was about 18. Really, really pretty, well turned out and a fabulous figure. Way above my usual batting average. After 3 months, we'd had a few snogs but nothing else. And I mean nothing - not even a grope or a flash. Used to drive me mad. That's Brentford 2012 / 2013 as far as I can tell.

Les,

Worryingly like Holloway type analogy!!!!!

[scruff puppy pup]

Massive couple of months coming up, but i'm largely optimistic he can turn it around.

What are you basing this optimism on? What is about to change?
Donaldson is not a finisher, IMHO he never will be at this level.

[Owlsmoor_Bee]

IMHO your being very generous giving Donaldson a 6 .5 at best maybe 4 from me.

Take the misses out and he contributed ten times what Farid did though and wasn't the worst Bees player IMO. I'm not defending him - he was poor and misses two very good chances but it amazes me how often he's suggested as the worst player or the sole reason we didn't win. There are plenty of other players who've missed chances over the past few games. Douglas and Farid missed two equally good chances, Douglas's from all of 3 yards.

[Markybee]

Les,

Worryingly like Holloway type analogy!!!!!

...yes, I thought just the same.

Enjoyed it though

[BedfontRed]

Worst home performance of the season. Shrewsbury were better than us. They had more shots than us and they passed the ball better than us and they deserved to win. Never seen so much hoof ball from a Rosler team ever. The strikers were clueless. Donaldson is bereft of any confidence and needs to be on the bench but what have we got to replace him an out of sorts Farid and Hayes who takes longer to turn than it takes to get round hanger lane roundabout. Forshaw o connor Forrester Craig and the keeper were good tonight. The rest mediocre and just plain shit. Massive improvement needed for Saturday.

[Les Beeavinu]

Take the misses out and he contributed ten times what Farid did though and wasn't the worst Bees player IMO. I'm not defending him - he was poor and misses two very good chances but it amazes me how often he's suggested as the worst player or the sole reason we didn't win. There are plenty of other players who've missed chances over the past few games. Douglas and Farid missed two equally good chances, Douglas's from all of 3 yards.

Be fair, it was with his left foot so 3 yards will have been a big ask for him ......

[Stanley]

An entertaining game of many half chances for both sides. Shrewsbury were a surprisingly decent side but we still did enough to win it, once again taking chances is our problem at the moment.

Starting to quite warm to Craig, another decent game, but Legge showed why Dean is a clearly above him in the starting 11. Legge is so powerful in the air but he struggled on the ground and doesn't really fit with the style of play that UR wants.

Donaldson did a lot right but not his night this time. Hayes looks a better bet to start that Farid at the moment.

[super J]

A frustrating night, disappointed not to win but given the large slice of luck we received with the penalty incident, it wasn't such a bad point in the end.

I didn't like the shape of the midfield as soon as I saw the lineup, I'm never a fan of four central mid fielders playing across a flat midfield. We were too narrow and it asked a lot of Bidwell and Logan. Too often Bidwell pushed forward with little support instead of having a natural wide player to work with. I was crying out for a Fredericks or Forrester to try and stretch them but instead it was a little one paced.

The conditions didn't help, the surface water meant balls over the top were bouncing and gaining pace and being overhit and I don't think we really adjusted to it. That said, we could have been a couple of goals up, Douglas fluffed his lines when well placed and Clayton got in behind it screwed his shot wide.

Forrester came on and showed his class with a livewire display cutting in from the left and showing good skills. You almost felt we'd wear them down eventually but we couldn't find that final ball or finish and suddenly a crazy period followed where both sides will feel hard done by. Their forward hammered a shot into Craig(?) or was it Douglas, my first thought was handball but I looked straight at the ref and cold tell he wasn't sure, he looked at the linesman who didn't flag so not sure why he then gave it. Protests followed and after consulting his assistant, a corner was given instead. I thought it was a penalty but could tell the ref wasn't sure, and if the linesman didn't give it then maybe in the end they got it right.

Then our 'goal'. Harry fired in a low shot through bodies that Hayes flicked in on the line. I'm sure from the original shot he wasn't offside but I think there was a small touch from a Shrewsbury player on the way that may have confused the linesman.

In the end, neither side could force a win. I felt we looked and played the better football but arguably didn't do enough to say we deserted to win. I'm starting to think we are really close to being a very good side but are just missing that crucial something.

Let' stop the tinkering and get our best side out. No way either Harlee or Harry should have been left out tonight. The strikers are a concern but I think we have to back them, once the goals start to coming we could take some stopping.

[sonofabee]

Ratings-

Moore 8
Logan 6
Legge 4
Craig 8
Bidwell 6
Kev 7
Douglas 5
Adeyemi 6
Forshaw 8
Farid 3
Charlie Caroli 3

[To Bee Someone]

I would say Shrewsbury were an effective side tonight not necessarily a "good" one. The way they played was very much like Scott did for so long with us, with their no2 very much like Dickson. Bar the shot that hit the bar, the rest of their opportunities were half chances and shots from distance.

We started brightly and Shrewsbury looked there to for the taking but our pressing soon went out the window and Shrewsbury were allowed too much time on the ball.

We were better in the second half and looked more threatening when Harry came on and start making chances.

Don't think it was a penalty anyway, hit Craig square on the bonce and Morgan only appealed because he thought he was still on Hackney Marshes.

All in all though, Shrewsbury were well worth their point and given how poor we really were, should accept it as well

[JTofBFC]

Ref thought the lino had put his flag across his chest when in fact he had pointed it to the corner. After checking the lino put him straight so no dramas it wasn't a pen. Not sure about our offside goal tbh.

Very disappointed with the game tonight, as others said we need to be winning against teams like Shrewsbury. It is all very well saying "we have no divine right" etc etc we know that but if we are serious promotion contenders then we have to make it happen. We never really looked like much of a goal threat and in fact rarely do. 8 goals in 9 games apart from Crewe should be ringing alarm bells.

Far too many negatives. I won't dwell on CD who frankly isn't up to it but why oh why are we persevering with this crap long throw routine. So we scored one at Tranmere so what. Maybe we should realise we have now used up the quota for the season.

Why didn't Forrester start?
Why is Farid playing so deep?
Why is Douglas unsubbable?
Whay was Dean dropped?

Hindsight is a wonderful thing I suppose but it won't be hindsight when we finish below mid table because that is where we are heading if changes aren't made up front. Maybe we should just be happy with that?

[The Pipe]

I like Leon and he gives his all for the team however with him in defence we lose a lot of our passing game from the back, allie this with players taking the easy option of punting the ball long to Clayton and Farid and our performance at times had an Andy Scott look to it

We know the players can perform far far better and it is worrying that 2 of our better performers were Craig and Kev

I believe the manager got his tactics/ team selection wrong however he can't be held fully responsible for virtually all the team having a collective poor performance. I worry that he sets out the team to negate the opposition rather than having the confidence to let his talented players off the leash

I hope that tomorrow he reviews that performance and determines that for a while to play a 4 4 2 system which can accommodate both Harry and Fredericks and give us real attacking options. Under no circumstances should Leon play to counteract Alexander, Dean is more than capable of dealing with him and I hope that those posters who have continually argued for Leon to play will now appreciate the reasons why he shouldn't

What he does up front god alone knows, I think that Hayes has something to offer but at present I can't see which formation would get the best result and that is a real worry