The first of three tough matches coming up starting with Orient.

They seem to have hit some form but hopefully lessons learnt against Shrewsbury should get us a win.

19 minutes ago, Stig said:

Holdsworth was 12 from 12 with us. Just seemed inevitable he'd score every time the ball was directly in front of goal... And stationary 

And not at Wembley 😩

3 hours ago, BWFC_LOVE said:

I actually did not feel remotely confident in Davies funnily enough. 

Remarkably ALF never missed for us, despite hitting every single one straight down the middle. 

Absolutely. 

His body shape always worried me, but he knocked them in!

16 hours ago, desperado said:

Spot on.

All this talk of I don’t want to see 5 at the back again is just nonsense.

It was absolutely the right way to manage the game at the end.

And to see 4-5-1 starting was refreshing, even more so the change to 4-4-2 at half time.

Another worry we can put to bed is Sheehan and Morley not being able to perform as a pair in midfield.

Not all the time, as SS alluded to last week, but in that situation today, and no doubt in other games to come, we shouldn’t be worried if that’s the way SS goes.

Nobody guaranteed to start, even Collins, listening to his post match comments, he’s going to insist that players are doing what he expects, otherwise there’s someone else waiting in the wings to take their place.

They didn't really in the first half, as part of a three. Still a concern, and as yet, hasn't been completely sorted.

Huge difference when two wide men are closer, effectively making more of a 4 in there, and with a second striker to provide an outlet. 

Turn their back line, and make them defend facing their own goal for a bit.

Having the wide men further away, almost part of the front three, didn't help, and they were also not around to help defensively neither. 

The initial set up didn't work, but the changes did.

Reduced the effect of their wide me men, and occupied defenders, which freed up our midfield.

2 hours ago, Matt Lofthouse said:

And not at Wembley 😩

To be fair to him, he took the 1st kick in the shoot out IIRC and buried it.  That took some bottle after his horrendous miss.

I Watched Mcatee and Collins go for up for headers numerous times yesterday whilst not once attempting to look at the ball, basically just jumping into the defender.  Charles did it a lot and I’ve just seen Diaz do it. It Seems to be the modern way of going up for a header. Why aren’t refs pulling them up? Very rarely you see a foul given. 

2 minutes ago, royal white said:

I Watched Mcatee and Collins go for up for headers numerous times yesterday whilst not once attempting to look at the ball, basically just jumping into the defender.  Charles did it a lot and I’ve just seen Diaz do it. It Seems to be the modern way of going up for a header. Why aren’t refs pulling them up? Very rarely you see a foul given. 

Robbie Fowler was an expert at it.

Backed in, didn't really challenge, but made it awkward for defenders.

Plenty of players just aren't comfortable with the aerial stuff.

2 minutes ago, royal white said:

I Watched Mcatee and Collins go for up for headers numerous times yesterday whilst not once attempting to look at the ball, basically just jumping into the defender.  Charles did it a lot and I’ve just seen Diaz do it. It Seems to be the modern way of going up for a header. Why aren’t refs pulling them up? Very rarely you see a foul given. 

Similar to that, i've noticed our players blatantly shove the opposition player when challenging for a high ball.

Not seen anyone penalised for it yet.

14 minutes ago, Tonge moor green jacket said:

Robbie Fowler was an expert at it.

Backed in, didn't really challenge, but made it awkward for defenders.

Plenty of players just aren't comfortable with the aerial stuff.

Dean holdsworth was the best at backing into players but these modern challenges they’re not even looking at the ball, blatantly looking at the defender. 

15 minutes ago, Tonge moor green jacket said:

Robbie Fowler was an expert at it.

Backed in, didn't really challenge, but made it awkward for defenders.

Plenty of players just aren't comfortable with the aerial stuff.

In the days of yore I could go whole seasons & not head the ball.

A point that has been largely overlooked; just how good was McAtee's finish?

One touch and complete the stride, one more stride and bang.

Really good technique, in a fairly tight area.

Just keep them coming.

Just now, Dr. Feelgood said:

In the days of yore I could go whole seasons & not head the ball.

I couldn't head the ball for toffee.

Used to hurt like fuckery, even on the forehead, on the odd time I did head it, so avoided it.

I do wonder if my epilepsy was there all the time, and the grey matter couldn't tolerate it.

No wonder I preferred 5 a-side.

 

8 minutes ago, Tonge moor green jacket said:

A point that has been largely overlooked; just how good was McAtee's finish?

One touch and complete the stride, one more stride and bang.

Really good technique, in a fairly tight area.

Just keep them coming.

Loved every part of that goal 

Cogleys ball

Collins run and pass 

McAtees touch and finish 

Proper football

42 minutes ago, Tonge moor green jacket said:

Robbie Fowler was an expert at it.

Backed in, didn't really challenge, but made it awkward for defenders.

Plenty of players just aren't comfortable with the aerial stuff.

McAtee has a pathological hatred of heading it so does nothing other than run into them or stick his arse out to try and put them off. Collins isn't much keener though did actually head two or three yesterday. 

Aerial combat definitely not McAtee's forte but his finish yesterday was top class, one quick touch, one more to fire it through the keeper's legs. To be fair to him, first half was really not his thing and he gave it a go, he thrives on other players being close to him, not miles away. Second half, with Collins in close proximity, much better for him

These are the things that the new manager will be seeing.

Can't complain so far, on how he's reacted to his observations. 

Two complimentary posts in one thread about Dean Holdsworth. This place has gone to the dogs. 

10, which became 12, added minutes, yet if Im correct, only 1 booking for timewasting

Refs need to get a grip

Its not good enough just adding the time on

And this goalie coaching break, if the keeper cant go off, then the oppo manager nomiates a player to leave the field for 2 minutes

That would stop it

1 minute ago, Casino said:

10, which became 12, added minutes, yet if Im correct, only 1 booking for timewasting

Refs need to get a grip

Its not good enough just adding the time on

And this goalie coaching break, if the keeper cant go off, then the oppo manager nomiates a player to leave the field for 2 minutes

That would stop it

I would make them change keeper for 2 minutes then change back. Fucking around soon stop 

12 minutes ago, Casino said:

10, which became 12, added minutes, yet if Im correct, only 1 booking for timewasting

Refs need to get a grip

Its not good enough just adding the time on

And this goalie coaching break, if the keeper cant go off, then the oppo manager nomiates a player to leave the field for 2 minutes

That would stop it

Too complicated. I'd have the 4th official issue a yellow card to any player that runs over to the technical area for a drink and a chat with the manager (possibly with the exception of the Captain). That's the only reason they do it. Probably end up with 10 yellow cards each and a couple of reds when the rule is introduced, but it'd soon put a stop to it.

Edited February 23, 20251 yr by Cheese

1 minute ago, Cheese said:

Too complicated. I'd have the 4th official issue a yellow card to any player that runs over to the technical area for a drink and a chat with the manager. That's the only reason they do it. Probably end up with 10 yellow cards each and a couple of reds when the rule is introduced, but it'd soon put a stop to it.

Yeah but all ours have a chat and a drink too

Some seem almost to be expecting and are ready for it they're over that quick

22 minutes ago, Zico said:

Yeah but all ours have a chat and a drink too

Some seem almost to be expecting and are ready for it they're over that quick

I know. They'd get a card too. End the farce altogether.

Re: my edit - I really think Captains should have more responsibility in football. Only the Captain is allowed to talk to the ref etc. It's always been a fairly meaningless ceremonial role. Make it count. I'm only talking about the current farce of Goalkeepers feigning injury, just to make it clear. There are already rules in place that separate them from outfield players, so wouldn't be breaking any precedents.

Edited February 23, 20251 yr by Cheese

50 minutes ago, Cheese said:

I know. They'd get a card too. End the farce altogether.

Re: my edit - I really think Captains should have more responsibility in football. Only the Captain is allowed to talk to the ref etc. It's always been a fairly meaningless ceremonial role. Make it count. I'm only talking about the current farce of Goalkeepers feigning injury, just to make it clear. There are already rules in place that separate them from outfield players, so wouldn't be breaking any precedents.

Works in Rugby Union .

I suggested on here a few months ago that the two teams effectively pre-arranged whose turn it was for the keeper to go down injured, and now I’m absolutely convinced of it.

We certainly shouldn’t have given the ball back, for one, but the ‘booking everyone who leaves the pitch’ idea is a good one. Technically, that’s actually already the case but is one of those long-overlooked rules. 

Id like a clock to count 30 seconds following a goal, too

Once 30 seconds is up, you can kick off

Bring in time outs 2 per team 

10 minutes ago, Casino said:

Id like a clock to count 30 seconds following a goal, too

Once 30 seconds is up, you can kick off

Could each set of fans have an assigned sniper for any opposition player who overdoes a celebration ?