Wasn't to be tonight. Was ultimately our greatest weakness that did us in at the end - corners. We quite often looked like conceding from them throughout the season and we never looked like we would score from ours. And that's what happened tonight, they got one and we didn't.
I will say though that van Hattum looks like the best corner taker we have and the silver lining to potentially all 3 of our best forwards leaving is that he will be a likely starter next season. He had a poor game overall but played a big part in our goal. Maybe with regular minutes he can find some consistency.
And I know I'm weird for this but I'm glad Rufer missed that pen. It was surely never a pen in a million years, unless there has been a rule change or interpretation change recently? It doesn't feel nice to get an advantage from such a call.
I will say though that van Hattum looks like the best corner taker we have and the silver lining to potentially all 3 of our best forwards leaving is that he will be a likely starter next season. He had a poor game overall but played a big part in our goal. Maybe with regular minutes he can find some consistency.
And I know I'm weird for this but I'm glad Rufer missed that pen. It was surely never a pen in a million years, unless there has been a rule change or interpretation change recently? It doesn't feel nice to get an advantage from such a call.
But we should have had a pen given with Kosta dragged down. Could have been should have been, but feel Rufer would have been more relaxed taking that pen if given, being sooooo early in the game. Might have been a different outcome.
We all felt the huge pressure of the 2nd half pen (63 mins in), as it really felt like then one goal may have been enough. Feel for Rufer. Two dumb pen decisions aside, I thought Elder had an okay game.
Corners were bad as everyone has commented on. But so was the crossing in general. Especially down the right edge. Payne can frustrate me. I know he gives his all, but tonight his crossing was mostly awful. Salas no better. Unless the Tico was cheap, I think the Nix should let him go. Rather see Sheridan & Conchie get mins. Yeah agree OVH looks our best at crossing or on corners. Another that will be better next season.
Credit to the VUC. Their older experienced players stood up. They have a very tough back 4 plus Izzo. Traoré what a strike. They had better more experienced options off the bench than us. It wouldn't shock to see them win the GF. But yeah I won't be sad if they have to unload players plus Poppa in the new ALM pauper environment.
Chief & the whole club, what a season. They so deserved to be in the club's first big dance. They will be hurting. But the foundations are there for a solid future. Even if some/all of Zawada, Surman, Old etc are now gone.