49 minutes ago, darren1810 said:

Think myself, Powerline and Valiant 593 been often derided for our views on Debs. 

It's alright folk saying it's only 45 minutes. 

He lost his place last season as he turned to crap in a lower division. 

Of course he came back fantastically and gave some excellent performances, without which we may not of gone up.

However you cannot escape the fact much like Smithy, if we want to progress as a football club we need league one quality. Debrah isn't. Smith went, he stayed. Both limited players with a football. 

That's not based on 45 minutes today it's based on the previous relegation season and bits of last season. 

I have to agree with you darren, I said we’re a good keeper short as not liked what I’ve seen of this marosi. 
Centre back short aswell as Debrah big ???? Over if he can hack it in league one I’m not sure.  he’ll be given his chance but evidence from today’s goal alone suggests he’s defensive awareness an positioning not good enough and against sides in this division you will get caught out. 
 
were an attacking midfielder an striker short aswell but the keeper and another centre half needs addressing an quick time. 

8 minutes ago, theresonlyonemcphee said:

Croasdale changed the game

 

He's that steady 7 out of 10 player every team needs. He also has legs which is important when playing Byers, as he's far from the most athletic. Once we get Garrity back, play him in a slightly advanced role ahead of the above two in the middle of the park so he can offer his goal threat and we're laughing.

Edited August 2, 2025Aug 2 by Valiiant

6 hours ago, Rory said:

Thought Croasdale looked technically poor on the ball and it cost us a few times.

It was my opinion on today and not about him more generally. I think there's probably a time and a place for him at this level and I'm not sure that was it.

We are all entitled to opinion and I think everyone would agree that Croasdale is no Pele but neither do any of expect him to be. You seem to be judging him by a metric that’s not achievable. I thought he showed he could compete in league one to be honest and he 100% deserves his chance. Moores decision to not play him cost us the game imo. He is the first name on the team sheet in that midfield. He was excellent when he came on at what he does best. Getting about people, breaking play and giving us that guts and drive to allow others to get on the ball and play. It’s a team game and Croasdale personifies TEAM. 
 

I’m no fan of Ojo but actually thought he helped us with a bit of calmness on the ball.  I don’t think is was ever really a question of ability but his obvious attitude issues. But if he wants to play  and is in the right headspace then that midfield 3 of him Byers and Croasdale looked promising in that second 45 and deserves another run out imo. 

Tough game this. I’d happily take a point . Cardiff will be top 2 this season, and possibly even finish top. Come on Tolaj , prove me wrong on Thursday night. 

1 hour ago, dantheman said:

We are all entitled to opinion and I think everyone would agree that Croasdale is no Pele but neither do any of expect him to be. You seem to be judging him by a metric that’s not achievable. I thought he showed he could compete in league one to be honest and he 100% deserves his chance. Moores decision to not play him cost us the game imo. He is the first name on the team sheet in that midfield. He was excellent when he came on at what he does best. Getting about people, breaking play and giving us that guts and drive to allow others to get on the ball and play. It’s a team game and Croasdale personifies TEAM. 
 

I’m no fan of Ojo but actually thought he helped us with a bit of calmness on the ball.  I don’t think is was ever really a question of ability but his obvious attitude issues. But if he wants to play  and is in the right headspace then that midfield 3 of him Byers and Croasdale looked promising in that second 45 and deserves another run out imo. 

Fair enough. I suspect Croasdale can compete in League One, he's a good man.

33 minutes ago, SS Vale said:

Tough game this. I’d happily take a point . Cardiff will be top 2 this season, and possibly even finish top. Come on Tolaj , prove me wrong on Thursday night. 

Prove me wrong?  Are you saying that Tolaj is not any good?

12 hours ago, JoeB2 said:

He can’t do it again. Surely to Christ. I am being super positive these days but I’d despair if it’s two in midfield and Tolaj out wide again.

I think most fans were hearted by our second half performance especially when it was still 10 v 11. From last season the one thing I learned from DM is not to expect the expected. He was very reluctant to go 2 upfront and seemed to be missing what every one else could see. Finally the penny dropped and I hoped this season he wouldn't have to go through the same painful learning curve  again. No more I don't know this division, he does. So come on DM let's just do the bleedingly obvious. We have better players, just do what we know works.

8 hours ago, valefan79 said:

I presume you put Croasdale as a negative due to him being on the bench and not his performance when he came on as I thought he was superb and him and Ojo bossed the midfield.  If we had played those 2 and Byers as a midfield 3 from the start, I have no doubt we would have got something out of the game, think the game was lost at 1.45pm when the teams came out.  Repeating what everyone has said before 343, we get overun in midfield especially at this level, was amazed when I saw it was going be Shipley and Byers as a 2, if you are going to have only 2, Croasdale is a must though I do hope we are back to a 3 man midfield on Thursday.

i honestly thought he would start with ojo byers and croasdale. and look what happened when all 3 were eventually together. but hey ho apparently you cant have 2 holding midfielders in the same team 

 

no need to have a meltdown valiants. this game wont define our season. and if somehow we beat cardiff thursday this result will already be long forgotten.

What surprised me RW40 is that usually DM is cautious , even more so away from home. Genuinely surprised when we didn't start with 3 in midfield , whoever the 3 were.

10 hours ago, Jacko51 said:

I was very disappointed with Shipley today. I thought he was poor in all aspects of the game and his departure at half time to be replaced by Croasdale/Ojo was one of the reasons we were so much better in the second half. I very much hope there is better to come from him. 

TO be fair though it was a completely insane decision to play him as one of the midfield two. If he was to play, it would be as one of two numbers 10’s (as opposed to the ridiculous way we play it). He was in the wrong position. Square peg in a round hole, which makes the decision to put actual round pegs on the bench, and leave the best one out of the whole squad. 

The only things you could criticise Croasdale for yesterday are things that he's not really in the team for.

A couple of times he made decent forward runs down the right and he either couldn't get past his man or his first touch let him down.

9 hours ago, theresonlyonemcphee said:

Croasdale changed the game

He put to bed any doubts that he can't hack it in League one by playing like he did most of last season. 

Energetic, driving the team on. He was really good, and Ojo did well too.

 

A really peculiar omission from the starting eleven. Random. 

11 hours ago, Guppys left peg said:

This is a similar one with Sang to me. On that occasion against Accy I think it was he won the ball but if your studs are showing like that it’s a red. Sounded DM was more irritated with it from our perspective than at the ref so am going have to go with it being the right call on this one.

First time I've seen it.  Immediate reaction was a yellow and an Oscar for the striker.  After watching it a few times I remain of that opinion.

Moore said that Walters just didn’t make the squad and there was no fitness issue?

Christ. That is concerning.

Very harsh red card and not one IMO. If that had been given in a Premiership match there’d be uproar and the commentators would jump on it.