Stockport County (H)

[Mounts Kipper]

13 minutes ago, Tombwfc said:

 

That's quite an Evatt-esque statement. We had 50.3% possession and had one shot on target in the second half.

Probably the most predictable result of the season that we'd draw after winning at Plymouth. That's the debate about our defence in a nutshell, relatively untroubled overall, but when teams need a goal we're usually on hand to gift them one or two.

Positives - ACD is back and Kenny took his goal well (given Hardie is injured again that really did turn out well).

And if we hadn't lost to a team for 30 years, I'd definitely be worried about playing them in the playoffs

 

Schumacher picked wrong starting team again…. Perhaps he’s saving the better players legs for the play offs. Once we put on our better players on we were streets ahead of Stockport… given we only had 2 centre half’s meaning our wing backs were employed as full backs and were lightweight on midfielders I don’t think we should be massively concerned about Stockport. 

[gonzo]

17 minutes ago, Tombwfc said:

 

That's quite an Evatt-esque statement. We had 50.3% possession and had one shot on target in the second half.

Probably the most predictable result of the season that we'd draw after winning at Plymouth. That's the debate about our defence in a nutshell, relatively untroubled overall, but when teams need a goal we're usually on hand to gift them one or two.

Positives - ACD is back and Kenny took his goal well (given Hardie is injured again that really did turn out well).

And if we hadn't lost to a team for 30 years, I'd definitely be worried about playing them in the playoffs

 

It wasn't really meant to be positive comment.

We need to do much more with all the possession and attack play we have.

Been a problem all season hasn't it.

 

[Lostock Whites]

Good game that between the 2 strongest play off sides in my opinion.

Good Easter weekend, but just wish we'd tighten up at the back, the defence is very faulty as of late, constantly making it hard for ourselves. I can't see that changing any time soon, we've just loved chasing in games all season long. 

There's absolutely no reason why we can't win at Cardiff this Saturday. They're in some awful form and frustratingly it's most likely too late for 2nd due to our inconsistencies. 

[woolli]

7 minutes ago, gonzo said:

You've been well on the bevvies today sat in the Sun down in Los Cristianos

Ive had a few mate, probably to many, just so fuckin frustrated. Lovely and warm here!😜

[gonzo]

1 minute ago, woolli said:

Ive had a few mate, probably to many, just so fuckin frustrated. Lovely and warm here!😜

Nothing wrong with that bud

I've had to take the dog out to get some air and clear my mind as cant even wallow in ale.

[Ani]

Thought Stockport started ok, but we were improving at round the time we scored , just a stupid give away so late in first half. Never got going second half till the subs, once we did looked miles better. 
 

See a lot of critics of Conway on here for being out of position, but we want him to press on, other players then giving the ball away makes him look worse. 
 

Thought Sheehan was poor today, summed up by the over hit pass in the last minute. 3 or 4 times gave possession away that left us exposed. However Apter was simply awful, at one point they have a throwing, he was stood with his hands done the front of his shorts, looked a kid playing on a Sunday because his dad is trying to relive his youth. Cissoko was doing ok then had that so called shot in first half then disappeared that Madeline McCann on Tapas night. 
 

The difference when ACD came on was someone actually wanting the ball and working non stop to find space. 
 

I can see lots of reasons to revert to 3 or 5 at the back. But not sure how we balance the non back 5 players . 2 upfront Kenny and Dalby. Then the midfield 3 has to include ACD, which does not feel natural. 

[Zog1]

7 minutes ago, Ani said:

Thought Stockport started ok, but we were improving at round the time we scored , just a stupid give away so late in first half. Never got going second half till the subs, once we did looked miles better. 
 

See a lot of critics of Conway on here for being out of position, but we want him to press on, other players then giving the ball away makes him look worse. 
 

Thought Sheehan was poor today, summed up by the over hit pass in the last minute. 3 or 4 times gave possession away that left us exposed. However Apter was simply awful, at one point they have a throwing, he was stood with his hands done the front of his shorts, looked a kid playing on a Sunday because his dad is trying to relive his youth. Cissoko was doing ok then had that so called shot in first half then disappeared that Madeline McCann on Tapas night. 
 

The difference when ACD came on was someone actually wanting the ball and working non stop to find space. 
 

I can see lots of reasons to revert to 3 or 5 at the back. But not sure how we balance the non back 5 players . 2 upfront Kenny and Dalby. Then the midfield 3 has to include ACD, which does not feel natural. 

I think it has to be a 3421/ 3412, which he won the league with at Plymouth. 

We have the players for it and many who would be playing in their natual position for the first time under SS.

 

[Burndens Bogs]

There's a simple reason why we keep conceding shit goals - 2 of our defenders can't defend.

[ianofcleveleys]

14 minutes ago, Mounts Kipper said:

Schumacher picked wrong starting team again…. Perhaps he’s saving the better players legs for the play offs. Once we put on our better players on we were streets ahead of Stockport… given we only had 2 centre half’s meaning our wing backs were employed as full backs and were lightweight on midfielders I don’t think we should be massively concerned about Stockport. 

It's starting to be as if we might as well have another pint or two then turn up after an hour for the good bit.

I didn't fancy that line up one bit at 2.00. It was better than expected for 40 minutes, to be fair, then the flaws in the set up were badly exposed. 

We were fortunate they didn't make it 3-1 before the Harlem Globetrotters came on for another instalment of late heroics.

It'd be nice to think we could find a way of having more control of even parts of games, though in the play offs it could also be that, if better opponents have more of the ball, we could be dangerous on the counter. First half today we had less than 50% of the ball but caused them quite a few problems.

 

[Jol_BWFC]

Apter was poor, again. But ACD being back hopefully means he never starts a game for us again. No need to try the Burstow wing experiment either.

Full backs are a concern - if I was playing against us I’d be putting long balls in behind them, as I’d fancy my chances against either Tutu or Conway.

The play offs will be tight. 

[Stig]

Came away from that pretty positive, good exciting game between 2 of the best teams in the division and we were the team pushing for the winner.

Yeah we've got some issues to resolve (defensive lapses and not really particularly clinical up front) before the play offs but to play like that against a play off rival you've got to come away feeling positive.

[waffer cup 07]

Again built up a good head of steam for the last 20 minutes, but why do we always have to go behind before we start playing at a high tempo.

[Johnnyrotten]

2 hours ago, Leyther_Matt said:

Nothing to fear from Stockport in the play offs, but with Cardiff dropping points again it really should have been us looking to really put in a chase for second spot for the final few games. I do have a concern that we’ll drop off with the idea of having nothing to play for, and lacking momentum going in to the play offs really isn’t a good idea. 

Maybe "fear" is the wrong word, but I'd say if we had 7 out of 10 confidence before today (as an example), its gone down to a 6 for me today.  They were impressive for most of that game, and above the levels we've been hitting.  I'd love us to go away to a top 5 team and be stroking the ball around effortlessly for large parts of the 2nd half while 2-1 up.  Norwood didn't break sweat and ran the midfield (an off day for Sheehan as others have said).  Their strikers gave us loads of trouble physically and with pace, and that was without Olaofe (presumably injured as he started and scored on Friday).

I thought before the game they'd be the best team in the play offs and I saw nothing to change my mind.  It doesn't mean they'll win them (they blew it last year v Orient) but we need to improve if we play them either over 2 legs or at Wembley because they were better than us today.  

[bolton va va]

Stockport were one of the best teams we've played this season, well drilled & hard working (for a spell they seemed to have more men than us ) but a draw was a fair result.

For a period after their 2nd goal I feared for us but at the end we were the team pushing for a winner & they were hanging on.

Once again, our strength was the quality of players we brought on as subs & ACD, Rodrigues & Burstow all made positive contributions that turned it around.

[Not in Crawley]

Couldnt go as i had to be back for work tomorrow. My mate puts uo lads from the academy so currently in our local dressed head to foot in a ton of training gear he's given us.

The lads in the academy maybe a size or two smaller - look like ive been forced into a Bolton Wanderers balloon.

[London Wanderer]

2 hours ago, gonzo said:

We didn't bottle anything.

They're a good team and have been in the top 5 pretty much all season.

Sure folk forget we are actually playing an opposition.

They are our level and we are theirs hence our league positions.

Draw was probably the right result but we had more than enough intent and possession to win 10 games, especially after the subs.

Two soft wank goal conceded too, but that's just us in general isn't it.

It was a proper game of football between two proper play off standard teams.

Apter can fuck off forever mind. And so can Toal and his sideways slow ponderous passing.

You’re right

 I’m just being a grumpy pessimistic bastard.

 This felt like a chance to put some pressure on Cardiff & go to their place. But in reality we bottled second a long time ago.

I do worry about our mentality in the play offs. Maybe that’s just past failures & how shaky we’ve become at the back. 

[Johnnyrotten]

2 hours ago, waffer cup 07 said:

You mean we gifted them to goals, then they scored for us.

Yes, we can't complain about the goals in the last 2 games overall!  2 OG's and a needless pen in 2 games, I wonder how long ago it was since 3 out of our 4 goals came like that.

Great goal from Kenny, one of our best of the season.

[gonzo]

5 minutes ago, London Wanderer said:

You’re right

 I’m just being a grumpy pessimistic bastard.

 This felt like a chance to put some pressure on Cardiff & go to their place. But in reality we bottled second a long time ago.

I do worry about our mentality in the play offs. Maybe that’s just past failures & how shaky we’ve become at the back. 

It's weird innit.

I fancy us to pull off the Remarkable. We never look like we are beaten and even on 92 minutes I'd thought we'd bag a winner.

But I equally fancy us to shoot ourselves in the foot with some balderdash weak as fuck defending and some bad goalkeeping.

Play offs won't be good for the ticker either way

[bolty58]

1 hour ago, gonzo said:

It wasn't really meant to be positive comment.

We need to do much more with all the possession and attack play we have.

Been a problem all season hasn't it.

 

16 fucking draws confirms this. If it was 13 and 3 more wins we'd have it all to play for.

[Leyther_Matt]

37 minutes ago, Burndens Bogs said:

There's a simple reason why we keep conceding shit goals - 2 of our defenders can't defend.

Think you’re being a bit generous to suggest it’s only 2 of them that can’t defend 😬

Their second goal was like watching slow motion. Doesn’t get any better on the replay, either. 

26 minutes ago, Johnnyrotten said:

Maybe "fear" is the wrong word, but I'd say if we had 7 out of 10 confidence before today (as an example), its gone down to a 6 for me today.  They were impressive for most of that game, and above the levels we've been hitting.  I'd love us to go away to a top 5 team and be stroking the ball around effortlessly for large parts of the 2nd half while 2-1 up.  Norwood didn't break sweat and ran the midfield (an off day for Sheehan as others have said).  Their strikers gave us loads of trouble physically and with pace, and that was without Olaofe (presumably injured as he started and scored on Friday).

I thought before the game they'd be the best team in the play offs and I saw nothing to change my mind.  It doesn't mean they'll win them (they blew it last year v Orient) but we need to improve if we play them either over 2 legs or at Wembley because they were better than us today.  

With the right intent I’d actually fancy us to stuff Stockport on today’s evidence. They left so much space in behind that they would have been really vulnerable to balls in behind if only we had players taking notice of the runs of Kenny, Dalby and then Duberry and Burstow. 

13 minutes ago, Johnnyrotten said:

Great goal from Kenny, one of our best of the season.

Actually reminded me of prime Dion Charles, watching it back. 

[Stig]

48 minutes ago, Ani said:

Thought Stockport started ok, but we were improving at round the time we scored , just a stupid give away so late in first half. Never got going second half till the subs, once we did looked miles better. 
 

See a lot of critics of Conway on here for being out of position, but we want him to press on, other players then giving the ball away makes him look worse. 
 

Thought Sheehan was poor today, summed up by the over hit pass in the last minute. 3 or 4 times gave possession away that left us exposed. However Apter was simply awful, at one point they have a throwing, he was stood with his hands done the front of his shorts, looked a kid playing on a Sunday because his dad is trying to relive his youth. Cissoko was doing ok then had that so called shot in first half then disappeared that Madeline McCann on Tapas night. 
 

The difference when ACD came on was someone actually wanting the ball and working non stop to find space. 
 

I can see lots of reasons to revert to 3 or 5 at the back. But not sure how we balance the non back 5 players . 2 upfront Kenny and Dalby. Then the midfield 3 has to include ACD, which does not feel natural. 

I'm not getting the Conway hate on here. First half all of their attacks came down the right with Tutu having no protection from Apter whatsoever. 

I'd need to watch their first goal back but to me he looked offside (from an unopposed cross on our right yet again) so I'm not sure how that's Conway's fault.

And then the second he was miles out of position because he's told to get forward when we have the ball and someone lost it out on our right (possibly Toal) and noone could reset in time.

First half especially, Conway was excellent. I'm not sure what people are watching sometimes.

Aside from Conway, thought our main issue was the lack of a midfield. Both Sheehan and Dempsey were sitting too deep so there were a number of occasions when their defenders won the ball and Norburn or another Stockport midfielder had an age to gather the ball and turn and start an attack. Whether we go 3 at the back or 4, getting 3 in midfield is a must for me. 

And if we keep playing wingers, it can't be Cissoko and Apter. Like playing with 9

[Matt Lofthouse]

Got to stop starting apter, he couldn’t give less of a fuck if he tried, offered nothing going forward and gave no protection to his full back, may as well play with 10 men. 
 

Decent finish from their lad for our 2nd missed it live as I was having a piss.  
 

Too many draws and why we are where we are. 

[Johnnyrotten]

2 hours ago, auckland_bwfc said:

An enjoyable afternoon in the sun. Credit again to come back from behind, its almost expected now. 

Its all about us in the playoffs, bring our A game we'll blast anyone out of the water, including these,  you could feel their fans edgy at 2-2, and even at 1-2.

 

If we do have an A game, we obviously haven't shown it this season other than maybe Wigan.  We know by now we aren't thrashing anyone, we're hoping for 1 goal wins if it all goes to plan.

Not sure how you could sense their fans were edgy, if they were on edge god knows how we came across to them 😀

[Matt Lofthouse]

4 hours ago, noxid said:

Tu2 is a total liability as a defender. Almost caught out five minutes earlier then missed a tackle twice for the goal.

He's definitely the weak link in our defence and that just might cost us the autos 

Would help if the winger in front of him gave a single fuck. 

[Tombwfc]

10 minutes ago, Johnnyrotten said:

If we do have an A game, we obviously haven't shown it this season other than maybe Wigan.  We know by now we aren't thrashing anyone, we're hoping for 1 goal wins if it all goes to plan.

Not sure how you could sense their fans were edgy, if they were on edge god knows how we came across to them 😀

 

Aye, on the blasting teams out of the water front... we've won one game by more than a goal since the start of November (Exeter).

We've actually done a remarkable job winning as many as we have considering how close every single game is.