Player ratings at the break Bentley - 7 Simpson - 5 Mariappa - 5 Baker - 6 Dasilva - 5 Bakinson - 6 Massengo - 5 Palmer - 6 Scott - 6 Wells - 6 Conway - 6
Brentford are the 3rd best team in our division and they have had a lot of possession, but hey with a 17 year old and 2 19 year old and for a change every single player actually putting in 100%. Defensively sound, 2 wing backs attempting to supply width, a midfield holding their own, just the final ball missing. But happy with the effort.
didn't expect to be home for last day and was hoping for excitement, usually in NW Scotland.. pretty boring stuff although Conway and Scott look a bit green 2 potential above average prospects just wish Massengo would calm down a bit more!
well glad it was raining … don't feel like I have wasted a day! …. All I need is FGR to win and win play off's in the 60's - 70's followed them as one of the team I worked with [ not football team ] had his son playing for them and on Saturday 6-2 shifts he used to slope off early to watch them! It would be nice to see them in the division above Bristol Rovers!.. as the support back then was equally between City and Rovers. None of us were against going to others ground for the odd match!!!! and FGR was a sort of forfeit ….
Let’s be honest Brentford are exactly the type of team that we need to be to be serious contenders, boy do they work hard, they are in your face, don’t give you time to take a touch and are seriously dangerous on the break with their one touch football and have quality all over the pitch. All that said, for me today the turning point of the game was losing Mariappa, I haven’t been a big fan but when he went off the dynamic of our defence which had coped really well up till then with Brentford’s striking threat, changed for the worse. Vyner for me switches off far too often especially in our box, the loss of Mariappa was later exacerbated by the loss of Simpson for Sessegnon. But pluses and for a change there were some pluses. Every player who took part in the game gave 100% of effort, nobody not even the kids were frightened to put their foot in, they never shirked from the physical challenge. Scott is going to be an exceptional player and in Louis Britton we have a proper physical striker, who really put himself about and probably won more in the air than Diedhiou in his last couple of games and was rightly rewarded with a proper strikers goal, in that he actually gambled on the ball coming to him and made his run, something Diedhiou never does. Conway is going to be a top player too and Massengo, Scott, Conway and Massengo need to beef up for next season and Massengo has to work harder on his distribution, it is really poor. I have enjoyed seeing the kids and I am enthused for the future. Today yet again showed the disconnect between midfield and the strikers, the need for that midfield leader has to be for once a huge priority and a right back. DaSilva looked good today as did Baker, let’s hope they can both stay fit. A better result than last season from a far more committed 11 players + subs.
We’ve already got an all round midfielder and someone who is tough tackling. Hopefully come August he is fit and ready to start his career with us. Looking at Scott I would promote him to first team squad not a starter but he is there ready to be in the squad. Briton I really liked but I think he has suitors already and is OOC this summer, from what I’ve read.
We have 12 month option on Britton that was triggered a couple of months ago, the trick is now to get him to sign a longer deal during the next year. I obviously haven't seen enough of Williams to make a judgement, I suppose the question about him is threefold, firstly like DaSilva, Martin, Weimann, Walsh, ODowda and Baker they have to prove their fitness. Secondly I suppose it depends on whether he wants to stay, given the balls up with his injury and thirdly whether the club might view his going outside of the club for his 2nd opinion and subsequent operation as a breach of contract. As for Scott it all depends on Walsh and his position at the club because he is out of contract and we don't know about his fitness.