Crewe Alex v MK Dons

[JJH]

Shall we agree on a draw as long as Swindon lose?

This could be arranged.

 

[Scumarmy.]

http://www.crewealex.net/news/article/a-game-to-really-look-forward-to-2236608.aspx

This article makes for amusing reading now. Sorry Crewe fans.

 

[Luke_ciderhead]

Shall we agree on a draw as long as Swindon lose?

No deal banker! Ill gamble on the win and take the risk!

 

[Alex_BCFC]

Thanks Crewe!

 

[TrinidadsNumberOne]

When your gameplan is hoofball and you don't have a big striker up top this was bound to happen. No Plan B from Davis and one of those days where everyone had a shocker.

Just worried we'll lose to Colchester and Yeovil now on the back of this nightmare result, hoping for a big target man type striker to be signed asap!

 

[TimeyWimey]

MK won at a canter, eased off to keep the score as it was, and Uche would have made absolutely no difference to the result. Their movement and passing is far better than anyone in the league imo and was always going to bamboozle the likes of George Ray, who was no less a spectator on the pitch than he was in the second half.

I thought we actually adapted ok to playing without Uche but I'll wait till next week against usual League One quality to judge.

 

[JJ1532]

Erm, no. Hopefully we'll stop playing garbage football instead. You know full well what will happen if we get another big man like Oliver/Haber = Hoof. Sorry, but if Davis can't see that hoofing the ball up to 2 small men is the wrong game plan, then he needs to take a walk. Ness, Tate, Davis and Ajose were all utter garbage today. The rest weren't much better. Garratt did as best he could, Grant kept going in midfield and LDV fed off scraps. But other than that, wow we were shite. I mean, seriously shite. Wrong game plan and almost every decision the guys on the pitch made was the wrong one. Pressed when we should have sat off and vice versa. Took too long to shoot in good positions, player movement at times was non-existent. Cooper was really bad when he came on, Stewart wasn't too bad bar the 4th goal.

Going forward, you accept that this was just one of those really bad days(and I mean seriously bad) and move on I think.

Saying that though, you have to be in awe of how good MK Dons are and were today. You can see the change in them between this season the previous 2 in that they are more direct, but not in the hoofball sense. In previous years, they would often pass for passing sake, but now they head straight for goal with a clear emphasis on scoring and creating chances. They were so far ahead of us in individual quality, style of play and organisation its scary. There wasn't 17 league places between us at times today, it felt like leagues of difference. There is still a nasty streak that they don't need, but they were streets ahead of us today. Despite their origins, you can't help but admire their style of play and root for them to go up. Move on from this one VERY quickly I think.

 

[Bcfc@downend]

From highlights.... Crewes defending absolutely dire and looked half hearted and uncommitted, obviously mk are a good team, but Crewe made them look like world beaters

 

[JJ1532]

I know trying to dissect the mistakes of each goal is largely pointless, but just to get it off my chest:

1st goal, George Ray simply gave up once the ball went in behind him, which is shameful and embarrassing. At 0-0, with only 20 odd minutes gone?! Feel for Tate, he just missed the rebound off Garratt, then got a leg on the 2nd shot but the spin of the ball took it past him. Compare his attempts to stop the goal to Ray's. Poles apart. So unprofessional from a young lad who is supposed to be learning the game.

2nd goal, how can we be getting done by a chip over the top, at home, in the first half and only being 1-0 down? Tate badly to blame for that one. Garratt again unlucky to see him attempted save loop in.

3rd goal, Davis gets pulled out of position and he misses the ball. Tate tries to cover, Leigh doesn't try hard enough to make up the gap, Tate can't stop the cross and Stewart seemed to be far too far behind Cole, seemed to put in a feeble effort in getting back.

4th goal, Tate again not stopping the shot and Garratt I feel was beaten too easily be a straight shot which wasn't in the corner. Felt watching it back that he could have gotten something on that.

5th goal, why on earth was Tate letting the ball go over his head and drop onto the strikers foot like that? Pretty sure he didn't earn his reputation defending like that.

I doubt Steve Davis will take too much stock of the individual or group mistakes yesterday and move on to preparing for Colchester next week, but he has to look at some of those players who gave up yesterday, who sacrificed personal and club pride just because they couldn't be arsed to work hard.

 

[Wootball]

Thought we were alright, just outdone by a much much better side. Onto the next game, no point dwelling on that one.