SnowballStranded3points Thought it was very telling to bring on Loader instead of Baldock or McCleary that early in the game. Shows how Gomes is thinking of the future. Also a massive kick in the teeth for Baldock who surely will now be shipped out in the summer.
My view on this was that the injury happened so early it would have been too early to introduce Baldock. He's only just back from injury and was clearly on the bench in case we needed something different in the last 30 mins. To bring him on after 5 mins would have almost undoubtedly meant he would have had to have been substituted after 60 or 70 mins, Loader was the obvious choice to bring on being the other striker on the bench.
I thought he did OK - absolutely needs a goal in "mens" football and did have a couple of chances, you could tell from his reaction after he put a header straight at the keeper that he should have done better and if that had been a game against WBA U23s he probably would have done.
I think he'll come good.
But the bad miss was his free-shot before the header. I was right behind the goal. It was a "can't miss" moment. He had the whole goal to aim at and shot almost straight at the keep and at a good height.
Was that the one from around the edge of the area? If so, yes I was expecting to see the ball nestle in the corner but I think he had to get it out from under his feet first so ended up hitting the shot in a bit of a rush hence lost direction.
I also think he'll come good, but I do feel that maybe 6 months at say Charlton (or another top 10 L1 side) would do him the world of good - as he is one of our own maybe a little bit of time developing away from the club will help.