[ Sat 25th Feb ] v Basford Utd, KO 3pm NPL1S AWAY

[Curly]

Well I've waited a while so I could write this whilst not still fuming but here's my thoughts.

Losing a game of football in the manner we did yesterday is completely unacceptable, losing every header, every second ball and every 50/50 shouldn't happen at any level. The lack of leadership from the dugouts in that situation was staggering. When the management team are stood having their mothers meetings in the dugout what are they talking about as it's clearly not tactics or substitutions, making a triple sub and keeping the same shape made no sense whatsoever.

Another thing that is really starting to wind me up is the way we as a team moan at the ref as much as we do, in fact it's the only time you ever hear our management shouting from the bench. Look at the difference in the benches yesterday, their manager was constantly up cajoling his players even at 3-0 up constantly wanting more, I sometimes thinks peaksy puts the team out and just expects them to sort out any problems themselves without any input /guidance from the bench. I may be completely wrong on that but it's just the impression I get.

I've been saying for a long time now that if our away form goes that we'll have to improve our home form or there'll be no playoffs for us. We go into a big week now where Imo we have to pick up 4 points at least.

[TheIncognitoKid]

As good as a job peaksy's has done you'll only ever hear him shout at the ref. You'll never hear him or lamb shout at the players. Seems to me that if they had a go at the likes of bunts or dolman, then they'll fear that they'll be off somewhere else.

[Curly]

[quote="TheIncognitoKid"]As good as a job peaksy's has done you'll only ever hear him shout at the ref. You'll never hear him or lamb shout at the players. Seems to me that if they had a go at the likes of bunts or dolman, then they'll fear that they'll be off somewhere else.[/I

I would hope that isn't right as no player no matter how important should have that level of power and certainly not more than the manager.

I think it's just the way they are but I'd rather see them shouting at underperforming players than at a ref, we all know that they're never going to change a decision anyway

[real diamond]

Having just read the article in the ET I'm even more angry, it reads like all the blame is put with the players and Andy is not accepting any himself.

His team selection was poor, the game plan was poor and as normal the motivation / coaching looks nonexistent.

[Curly]

Having just read the article in the ET I'm even more angry, it reads like all the blame is put with the players and Andy is not accepting any himself.

His team selection was poor, the game plan was poor and as normal the motivation / coaching looks nonexistent.

Spot on. Yes the players have to get the blame but to deflect it onto them completely is a joke.
He did nothing to ever change the way the game was going, a whole half time to change a shape or take off underperforming players but nothing done and then when he did do something kept the same shape and the worst player on the pitch! Unbloodybelievable

[fentiger79]

We have had a lot of luck go our way so far which I think has hidden how average we are. Yes on our day we can mix it with the best and have some quality players in the likes of Dolman and Oulton (when fit), but normally we look average. The 433 formation is awful but we have never sorted the winger shortage to allow us to play 442 at this level. I'm sure its not through lack of trying but we do not have much chance when most players don't want to travel or are getting more money elsewhere or both. Apart from the formation we have major issues around our strike force, which s they are not at the standard to mix it with the best in the division. Who is the player we can rely on to get the goals that makes the difference in the tight games, score the goals to get us back in the game when we go two down early. Unfortunately the moment we went 2 down yesterday the game was lost. We have only scored more than 2 in the league 6 times if I am correct (Stockbridge, Gresley, Rugby and Loghborough x 2). The highest placed team out of those is currently 13th! Here lies the pressure on Dolmon and the defence every game, play well and we may get something from the game. Concede once then it's a maybe, twice or 3 times then forget it. Hopefully we can get a new striker in and combine this with Oulton coming back we may just have enough to get us into the play offs. Long way to go but by the time we come out of this run of tough games we could be playing catch up.

[BartonRaz]

I appreciate that nobody has a divine right to do anything, but is it wrong of me to expect us to be better than this?

We've been seriously inconsistent and actually pretty mediocre (with the odd bit of restbite here and there) since we beat St Ives at home at the start of February last year. That's over a year ago now. Or am I being unfair?

[TheIncognitoKid]

I appreciate that nobody has a divine right to do anything, but is it wrong of me to expect us to be better than this?

We've been seriously inconsistent and actually pretty mediocre (with the odd bit of restbite here and there) since we beat St Ives at home at the start of February last year. That's over a year ago now. Or am I being unfair?

As long as the players are giving their all every game, you can't ask for more than that regardless of the result. I haven't been to many away games this season, but from what I hear and the home matches there has been some performances that have been lacking. I don't think your being unfair even if this is a tough league. Like I posted yesterday, if we don't start winning at home they'll be no play-offs this season

[sussexdiamond]

The changes made for the game were exactly what most fans had been calling for, namely leave out Koriya and Shariff.
Kyle McNulty had played extremely well in his 2 previous games so deserved to be recalled.
I was keen to see what difference Ollie Brown Hill could make, but he never got into the game.

For Tuesday I expect an immediate recall for Joe Curtis and somehow the introduction of Jamie Tank.

[Curly]

I appreciate that nobody has a divine right to do anything, but is it wrong of me to expect us to be better than this?

We've been seriously inconsistent and actually pretty mediocre (with the odd bit of restbite here and there) since we beat St Ives at home at the start of February last year. That's over a year ago now. Or am I being unfair?

Not unfair at all Imo, as yourself I've been to the majority of games this season and Imo apart from a few games we've been nowhere near good enough.

Our unbeaten run covered up a lot of cracks in this squad which is massively unbalanced, I know that players have been approached and not joined for whatever reason but something has to give. In fairness we've had injuries to important players but most teams will pick these up during a season.

Not that I would know but surely our budget would be sufficient to be a play off team at our level and Imo anything below that would be an underachievement.

We keep on saying that our return home will bring in better crowds but they won't be coming if we continue to serve up poor fayre