Post by WyomingWhite on Feb 4, 2006 20:39:01 GMT -1
Stephen Crainey has come in for a lot of criticism since stepping in for Harding, (a lot of it from me admittedly too.)
His first few games he looked like a rabbit in headlights and totally overawed by the position he found himself in. That he had talent was not in question, but it only takes one mistake to give a goal away, and he was making several of errors a game.
He has been improving a little with every game under his belt, but the last couple of game he has taken a huge leap forward. Today he was the best player on the pitch in my view. He was reminiscent of David Batty in his superb distribution of the ball today. His passing was world class today without exageration, and his 50+ yard pass in to Lewis to cross for the second goal was one of the best pieces of play I've seen all season.
It may have taken time, but Crainey has elavated his game so much that today I thought he was the man of the match. Defensively he was great, (only failed to stop an attacker getting by him once and even then stayed at it and forced the attacker out of play for a goal kick to us). His passing was inch perfect and he looked very sharp, creative and aware. He instigated some great pieces of play by finding players in space, looking to create an attack rather than just offloading the ball, (I lost count of the number of inch perfect cross pitch 30-40 yard passes he made today).
If Crainey continues playing like this I can see we'll have real competition for the left back place once Harding is fit again!
I thought the whole team gelled today in a way that has been rarely seen this season and am feeling a re
newed sense of optimism that we can move forward from here and get ourselves out of this division on the second attempt.
His first few games he looked like a rabbit in headlights and totally overawed by the position he found himself in. That he had talent was not in question, but it only takes one mistake to give a goal away, and he was making several of errors a game.
He has been improving a little with every game under his belt, but the last couple of game he has taken a huge leap forward. Today he was the best player on the pitch in my view. He was reminiscent of David Batty in his superb distribution of the ball today. His passing was world class today without exageration, and his 50+ yard pass in to Lewis to cross for the second goal was one of the best pieces of play I've seen all season.
It may have taken time, but Crainey has elavated his game so much that today I thought he was the man of the match. Defensively he was great, (only failed to stop an attacker getting by him once and even then stayed at it and forced the attacker out of play for a goal kick to us). His passing was inch perfect and he looked very sharp, creative and aware. He instigated some great pieces of play by finding players in space, looking to create an attack rather than just offloading the ball, (I lost count of the number of inch perfect cross pitch 30-40 yard passes he made today).
If Crainey continues playing like this I can see we'll have real competition for the left back place once Harding is fit again!
I thought the whole team gelled today in a way that has been rarely seen this season and am feeling a re
newed sense of optimism that we can move forward from here and get ourselves out of this division on the second attempt.