“Highlights” v Arsenal youth team

[The Reverend]

Howlers plays a role in both of those goals. First one is the kind of thing you see up power leagues when playing rush goalie. The second one is primarily Curries fault, but why on earth is Howlers having to come rushing across from what looks like the position the right CB should be. An absolute calamity of a GK who I don’t think should even be on the bench for league games let alone anywhere near the starting line up.

[Adz]

The first is the problem when you expect a lower league keeper to be able to play from the back like a top flight keeper. The second was not his fault, he was in a position to allow Currie to play it back to him, Currie made a complete mess of it leaving him stranded.

[Hoover Attack]

The first - he read the play really well, got to the ball (after ONeill I think?) let his man go, then tries to be too clever when he should have just put his foot through the ball. No idea what he was thinking.

The second - looks like after taking the free kick, he switched off and stood where he was, instead of moving to a central position. There's no way he should have been coming across from that far right.

There were others to blame in both but that is awful keeping for both goals. Which isn't surprising, he's a non-league standard keeper who has played bugger all football for a year.

[Hoover Attack]

I hope there weren't any scouts there last night looking at him.

[Long slender neck]

Donley open goal miss absent from the highlights.

Here it is though, at about 0:45

[Lifelongfan]

It wasn't their youth team btw

[Proposition Joe]

Donley open goal miss absent from the highlights.

Here it is though, at about 0:45

Looks like he was actually missing the target completely there, dragging it past the near post.

[Hoover Attack]

Zero positive contributions in that reel. The only good bit is where he scraps for the ball in the box, wins it back, but then passes it straight to their keeper.

[Proposition Joe]

Not jumping on his back but apart from counting the number of times the commentator mentioned the colour of his boots, I really don't know what that reel was meant to be highlighting? Or was it just every touch he had after coming on? Weird.

[EliotNes]

I said to Mrs NES last night on my return home, that "It's painful to watch the Os now" and I don't remember ever saying that in the period of the Mad Italian, who shall rename nameless.

Watching the highlights just increased the pain.

[Proposition Joe]

Recency bias is a real illness.

[EliotNes]

I hope there weren't any scouts there last night looking at him.

There were scouts galore sitting in the Gallery area. I counted 8 writing furiously and then leaving anything from 20 to 10 mins before the end. Alex Revell was also there, with presumably whoever is his No.2.

And Super Kevin Lisbie was watching - though not scouting.

[Hoover Attack]

Or was it just every touch he had after coming on? Weird.

Think that's what it was. (Total guess, didn't see the game).

[gshaw]

Spurs blog... "Donley might find League 1 too easy"
Arsenal U21s... here's an open goal...

The Tottenham loanees end up in one of two categories

1) hard working committed players who kick on in their career
2) prima donnas who think they've made it by being in a Prem academy

I do wonder if he might end up being more of the latter variety if he doesn't start influencing games

Also yes awful goalkeeping positioning and kicking. It appears none of the current Orient keepers can play with their feet so just cut it out already

[SineadO Connor]

The first is the problem when you expect a lower league keeper to be able to play from the back like a top flight keeper. The second was not his fault, he was in a position to allow Currie to play it back to him, Currie made a complete mess of it leaving him stranded.

Don't, understand this. Unless the goalkeeping coach is Darren Anderton it's totally on Howes that the position he took up was an overlap on the right wing.

[LittleMate]

I said to Mrs NES last night on my return home, that "It's painful to watch the Os now" and I don't remember ever saying that in the period of the Mad Italian, who shall rename nameless.

Watching the highlights just increased the pain.

You must have dementia!

[LittleMate]

1. I didn't think at the time that Howes committed 100% to the clearance leading to the first goal. Having seen it he barely committed.

2. He gets sold down the river for the second one. Currie, who otherwise looked decent, has to answer for that one.

[essexfootball]

Prem academy football is non-league standard, it's a shocking standard, all the best youngsters will be on loan or with the first team

[Proposition Joe]

1. I didn't think at the time that Howes committed 100% to the clearance leading to the first goal. Having seen it he barely committed.

2. He gets sold down the river for the second one. Currie, who otherwise looked decent, has to answer for that one.

Re 2, Howes' positioning is ludicrous, he's barely in shot, somewhere towards the right touchline, when Currie begins his eff up.

[Cheshunto]

1. I didn't think at the time that Howes committed 100% to the clearance leading to the first goal. Having seen it he barely committed.

2. He gets sold down the river for the second one. Currie, who otherwise looked decent, has to answer for that one.

Re 2, Howes' positioning is ludicrous, he's barely in shot, somewhere towards the right touchline, when Currie begins his eff up.

Yes, I would put the first goal down to Howes, but the 2nd was down to Curry, who otherwise looked good.
Howes went onto to make one excellent save later in the 2nd half.
Overall I thought we were the better team and once again it’s silly errors that cost us the game.
The Arsenal youngsters looked technically good but I don’t think they created many clear cut chances.

[LittleMate]

1. I didn't think at the time that Howes committed 100% to the clearance leading to the first goal. Having seen it he barely committed.

2. He gets sold down the river for the second one. Currie, who otherwise looked decent, has to answer for that one.

Re 2, Howes' positioning is ludicrous, he's barely in shot, somewhere towards the right touchline, when Currie begins his eff up.

PJ from your comment you are judging him from TV/highlights coverage. If you'd seen the bigger picture - as I did being at the game - then you would not be putting blame on Howes. If Sweeney had made the mistake that a rusty Currie made then not only would he have been thrown under the bus but it would have braked, reversed and run back over him.

[Proposition Joe]

It's Currie's error but even from the video highlight, Howes hasn't got back into a proper position after clearing the ball upfield. Unless you're saying otherwise and actually he got straight back into centre of the pitch? In which case how did their striker have 80% of the goal to aim at?

[Hoover Attack]

More than 1 person can muck up.

Currie got caught out, obviously. But Howlers positioning is absolutely criminal at this level. What the f*** was he still doing all the way over on the right?

[Sid Bishop]

More than 1 person can muck up.

Currie got caught out, obviously. But Howlers positioning is absolutely criminal at this level. What the f*** was he still doing all the way over on the right?

Interesting that the manager reckoned the team played very well and absolved Howes of all blame for the two goals conceded. Sorry, I do not agree with you Richie. Also an appalling penalty miss by Dan Ageyi. My own verdict, we have had plenty of time to get a competent permanent goal keeper in and like it or not, we are a weaker team than last season.

[Adz]

More than 1 person can muck up.

Currie got caught out, obviously. But Howlers positioning is absolutely criminal at this level. What the f*** was he still doing all the way over on the right?

Watch it again, he isn't positioned way over on the right, he is right of centre on the D. It's a standard position for a keeper to take to allow the defender to play the ball back to him so it isn't directly at goal, but across it in case the pass is overhit.