Another relegation haunted team on the horizon, should be a home banker.

 

3-1 home win.

Darcy I thought played quite well, not a fan of Graham so far. We probably need around half a dozen new recruits to have a chance of staying up, could be more depending on who goes back to their respective clubs.

Edited December 7, 20196 yr by Blondi

A few gripes after today, though few of them about individual players or the team generally.

Unless Verlinden wasn't fit to do more than half a game why leave him on bench? As last time at home when O'Grady started as left side of a three we were too narrow and lacked pace. Not O'Grady's fault, far better as one of a two up front. When Verlinden's on Chicksen plays better, has space to get forward and put crosses in. 

Keith Hill is not as good a tactician as he thinks he is, especially defensively. A honeymoon period of a few clean sheets early doors is a distant memory unfortunately. Not easy with all the enforced chopping and changing but basic set up and marking issues not being seen and dealt with in the game. We had been wide open at back post on our right at least 3 times before their second goal, still left the lad an acre to have two bites at it. Brought Politic on and insisted on him being out side, shoving Verlinden inside where it was more congested. Politic showed early season he can play in a free role behind the strikers, why not let him do that? 

We stuck at it, got a late goal (again) and something out of the game despite the bulk of our support, not with it's help. Folk were far too quick late on to jump on the back of young lads who are making their way in the game if they mis control a ball or misplace a pass. Give them a chance and an ounce of patience FFS. A particular handful near me in North Upper would better off stopping at home. 

Some of our support, including some on here, have some pretty unrealistic expectations from the teams we are able to turn out. 'this league's shit, we should be burying these, how can we not get 3 points against these', etc etc. Some of the teams we're facing aren't that special, but we really aren't either. Too much talk from too many about staying up clouding judgement about what they're seeing. Have the tactical gripes with the manager if the shape isn't right,  we don't create or give poor goals away but back the young lads in particular and take some enjoyment from the good things they do. Young Darcy was as good as anyone on the pitch for 70 mins, should have scored a couple but kept finding spaces, used ball well, got stuck in and took some good corners. I enjoyed that, if the game as a whole wasn't great, especially first half. However naive Zouma may be at times, he's better than Earl and Graham did well, despite making a costly error. He knew what he'd done and was visibly upset , needed support from everyone to help him shake it off. 

It's going to be a long season yet if the stadium slips into the sort of negative malaise I saw and heard today. 

21 minutes ago, Casino said:

How verlinden doesnt start, fuck knows

Because at Accrington he played in midfield in a side that conceded 7 and still managed to be the worst player on the park. And I’m not sure he offered much today either to be honest. Chicksen put in far more decent balls than Verlinden did. 

Wimbledon were the better of 2 poor teams & the number of free headers they had in our box was a big worry

but......at least we competed today, young Darcy is a bit lightweight but showed some very nice touches & was good with the set pieces, & MOM was Lowe who showed real leadership in a captain's performance.

Wimbledon will be pig sick so i'm calling it a point gained rather than 2 lost.

( & i know it's their choice but the early leavers must be slow learners. There isn't that much traffic to beat nowadays anyway )

The alternative to verlinden is ogrady on the left

So, i repeat, how verlinden doesnt start is beyond me

More positives

We didnt give in

Dodoo scored

Murphy scored again

I'm with Casino, we kept on, and didn't cave in. Still nobody hiding from the ball, everyone seems to want to get involved. Their keeper made what looked like (from Z224 NSL) two decent saves in the first half.

I thought Darcy had a decent game, Verlinden should have started on the wing, and it was a good time for Dodoo to open his account.

I think we are still shot shy by the way.

I think our tempo has dropped significantly over the last few games, and we’re back playing square and backwards, get the ball forward quicker and even if it’s a sideways pass keep the ball moving quicker, that way we pull around the opposition and hopefully create more chances. 

2 minutes ago, Mounts Kipper said:

I think our tempo has dropped significantly over the last few games, and we’re back playing square and backwards, get the ball forward quicker and even if it’s a sideways pass keep the ball moving quicker, that way we pull around the opposition and hopefully create more chances. 

The team is like Pratley from our last promotion season. Great for a bit, adrenaline has got them through.

Adrenaline gets you so far but needs a few to come out the other side now. 

Verlinden on meant their right wing back was fully occupied defending and hardly got in our half. Before half time he could have played with a dinner suit on and was charging up the wing putting crosses in without a care.

Last couple of games have been similar, first halves out of Parky's book, second halves far more entertaining. Time Verlinden is on the pitch is the difference. An odd rash decision or loose ball now and then yes, but that's why he's not playing in the Championship (yet)

Poor game I really do think we miss Crawford thought darcy did well .

Their left back was, according to wiki, making his 4th appearance

I thought he was prob on loan from Chelsea!

And that centre forward can play

As much as we gifted them the chance for goal one, there's no way we score that

We are missing the movement and creativity of Crawford.  

Thought the young lads did well in the circumstances and find it bizarre people having a go at them.  

Darcy's set piece delivery was good.  Passed it well and took both of his chances early, and on another day one or both would have gone in.

Graham was 17 in June .  He wouldn't be playing if we had a full squad and senior pros weren't injured.  He didn't play badly and he'll have learnt big time from today.  He's only going to get better, if fans give him the chance.

I thought Graham was playing fairly well up until his error. After that his head dropped and he just didn’t want to put a foot wrong again which is understandable. 
 

As Tricky’s said, the lads just turned 17, let’s give him a break. 

Not sure where this lucky not to be 4 down comes from. They were poor. We were poor. 
 

Their first was a howler from a lad not old enough to buy a pint. The second a stupid foul when they were down to 10 men with no threat. 
 

We lack a creative or driving presence in center midfield. Let’s see what Father Christmas brings. 

2 hours ago, Casino said:

The alternative to verlinden is ogrady on the left

So, i repeat, how verlinden doesnt start is beyond me

I can understand why he didn't today. We had a central midfield of Lowe, Graham and Darcy. It's not unreasonable that Hill thought having the physical presence and experience of O'Grady and Dodoo either side would be necessary.

Don't think it's as bad as some make out. Yes we weren't great and it was a frustrating afternoon but their keeper made a couple of top saves and their two goals were totally avoidable. Don't get the Parkinson football thing. Murphy won every header/flick on so why wouldn't we keep doing that. Thought Darcy was tidy and Lowe was his usual steady self. I've got a funny feeling we'll nick sumert at Peterborough.

2 poor teams

we keep being carved open at will

thought Murphy was excellent

2 hours ago, Leyther_Matt said:

Because at Accrington he played in midfield in a side that conceded 7 and still managed to be the worst player on the park. And I’m not sure he offered much today either to be honest. Chicksen put in far more decent balls than Verlinden did. 

Think Verlinden is best from the bench but I think he played in the cross for the equaliser. 

Which was undefendable,  fantastic delivery.

But yeah, he frustrates. 

4 hours ago, kent_white said:

Weird how we all read the game. I thought Murphy was really poor prior to his goal. Second to everything, poor with the earlier chances and bottled a few challenges he should be winning. Thought both of the younger lads did ok. 

Really missing Ali Crawford as I thought he made us tick.

I agree Murphy was average at best other than his goal.   But I sort of accept that.  He scores goals, he wins a few headers but not loads, and he holds the ball up sometimes but not all the time.  If someone said we could attract a real goalscorer in our situation we would take that all day long, we dont expect him to be a box to box player at the same time, otherwise he wouldnt be here.  Has he been worth the effort to get him?  All day long.  

3 hours ago, Blondi said:

Darcy I thought played quite well, not a fan of Graham so far. We probably need around half a dozen new recruits to have a chance of staying up, could be more depending on who goes back to their respective clubs.

Only allowed 5 loans and under a transfer embargo I think 3 signings would be optimistic.  Not that I'm too bothered as new signings = expense = can we afford it?

7 minutes ago, Johnnyrotten said:

Only allowed 5 loans and under a transfer embargo I think 3 signings would be optimistic.  Not that I'm too bothered as new signings = expense = can we afford it?

Thought you could sign as many loan players as you wanted but only 5 are allowed in the squad. So sign 8/9 then rotate them. 

3 hours ago, Leyther_Matt said:

Because at Accrington he played in midfield in a side that conceded 7 and still managed to be the worst player on the park. And I’m not sure he offered much today either to be honest. Chicksen put in far more decent balls than Verlinden did. 

Got to agree.  Verlinden has been a real disappointment, but his cross for the goal was top quality.  Prior to that I'm sure he didnt put one cross in, he was just passing back for Chicksen to cross.  Talk of Stoke recalling him is daft, he's not going to be playing any championship football this season.

Lacking pace at the back, and strength all over.

But still enjoyed most of the match.

With  a very limited playing staff we are doing as well as expected.

Onwards and very slowly upwards

Edited December 7, 20196 yr by embankment
Crap spelling

40 minutes ago, Johnnyrotten said:

Only allowed 5 loans and under a transfer embargo I think 3 signings would be optimistic.  Not that I'm too bothered as new signings = expense = can we afford it?

If weir is a perm, it wont help us much but i hear hes off to sunderland

No time for hill