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Post by gtismygod on Feb 3, 2024 22:24:08 GMT 1
For anyone wondering what the extra long hold-up by the ref was after Bloxham's red card...apparently play cannot resume until the player is down the tunnel. Im not sure if Bloxham knew this, as he went off the pitch at the west stand and walked the long way round the back of the south stand net. The fans gave him a great ovation as he went. He gave everything he had today. First yellow for dissent after yet another dodgy lino decision. Second yellow for a late, possibly two-footed, tackle from behind. Can't really argue much there. He even gave the ref a sarcastic clap after a 50/50 decision went his way, so I thought he was always tiptoeing that red line. I noticed his sarcastic clapping as well. And he was whinging a lot today, which was partially understandable given how bad the officiating was. The other criticism I have is that he never seems to be attacking the back post when a cross comes in from the left, as all good wingers should. Particularly when you’ve got the height that Tom has. It’s something he really needs to add to his game. He’s refreshing to watch though. So raw and direct, always looking to make things happen. How long has it been since we had a wide player who would just knock the ball up the line and take the full back on in a straight sprint? Must be a nightmare to play against.
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Post by gobowenshrew on Feb 3, 2024 22:33:01 GMT 1
Two sides that never really wanted or looked like they had the ability to control the game looking to sting the other one on the counter.
Fair play to Cambridge, I've not seen many better organised sides than them this season and thought they always looked a danger, particularly on their left hand side where Feeney struggled.
Successive managers have set us up to be a counter attacking side and I wouldn't be surprised under Hurst that we become better away from home where teams are going to be more open allowing us to catch them on the break. But as was under Taylor, we struggled to build up and apply any prolonged periods of pressure today.
Maybe we've become accustomed to watching such negative football that any backwards or sideways pass is greeted with an orchestra of sighs, but as Hurst rightly said after the game sometimes you have to go backwards to come forwards and there has to be a happy medium between playing possession for possessions sake or attempting the killer ball every time, which is what I felt we did a bit too often today.
Second half we didn't really create anything so it's hard to say we deserved anything out of the game.
But those who missed Northampton are sure to have noticed a vast improvement in the intensity and balance of the side, so as disappointing as it was not to earn Hurst the homecoming he deserved I think there's plenty to be positive about.
And as for the ref, I can see why the Port Vale fan lost his head last week. An absolute shambles performance but let's be fair, it wasn't him that cost us the game.
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Post by belfastshrew on Feb 3, 2024 22:40:57 GMT 1
I was one of those who wasn't at Northampton. And a big difference I've noticed is Marosi's quick distribution. I think we scored the first goal from it? Also we seem to have more of an idea regarding throw-ins and freekicks.
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Post by pughywasfree on Feb 3, 2024 23:31:17 GMT 1
I feel for Feeney. He really is a duck out of water in that position. He's a great lad who does a good job at CB. I watched Bennett at halftime and warming up during the match. He looked fairly on form to me 🤷♂️ Gotta say I loved Bloxham's heart today. He looked strong and up for it. But also looked like he lacked a tiny bit of confidence. He had his marker beaten so many times but Bloxham looked a bit like a rabbit in the headlights, as if he couldn't believe the position he's in. Also worth noting that he one hell of a bang in the first few minutes and spent most of the match with cotton wool stuck up his nose. Hardly going to help your performance.
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Post by pughywasfree on Feb 3, 2024 23:35:08 GMT 1
No long throws today. Hurst must have realised Shipley was terrible at them and Dunkley rarely won the flick on.
It's also nice that every single set piece isn't aimed at Dunkley.
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Post by venceremos on Feb 4, 2024 0:03:20 GMT 1
We certainly got spanked today for not signing a right back. Didn’t we concede an almost identical goal seconds after half time against Portsmouth or Peterborough? Real sense of déja vu watching Dunkley backing off into no man’s land because the right back was AWOL. Please never play Feeney there again. Horribly exposed today.
More adventurous team though, which was good to see. A near post goal from a Salop striker? Thought I’d never see the day.
Lacked a leader in the engine room today (as all season). That’s what Leahy & Norburn used to give us. Too many peripheral players in the team, nobody to take charge.
Which brings me to Bloxham. I’ve not been his biggest fan but I thought he did well today. He was one player really trying to drag us back into it and he made some good runs down the right. I agree with the earlier observation that he needs to come in from the wing when we’re crossing from the left side. Don’t understand why he stayed so wide when we had promising attacks on the left, especially in the first half. I don’t generally applaud players after they’ve been sent off, but I made an exception today. He didn’t deserve that overall and, if that idiot referee and his moronic assistant had been vaguely competent, perhaps it wouldn’t have happened.
Of course referees shouldn’t feel at risk but ….. I saw his shocking officiating that led to his being chased off the pitch by the Vale fan last week. Look at the foul count today - anyone might think it was a bloodbath but it was tame. Players soon learned they could buy a free kick easily off the moron in the middle. He did his best to ruin the game and reminded me of another reason why I might take a break from the season ticket next season. Where do they dredge up these fools?
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Post by mrcricket on Feb 4, 2024 0:19:41 GMT 1
Lacked a leader in the engine room today (as all season). That’s what Leahy & Norburn used to give us. Too many peripheral players in the team, nobody to take charge.
That's a good point, - Hurst had three last time he managed here, Nolan, Ogogo and Godfrey.
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Post by Pilch on Feb 4, 2024 1:08:38 GMT 1
No long throws today. Hurst must have realised Shipley was terrible at them and Dunkley rarely won the flick on. It's also nice that every single set piece isn't aimed at Dunkley. looked to me like we were more interested in keeping the ball today, working it forward from the back, and all I heard was get it forward ( presumably they meant hoof it ) Rome wasnt built in a day, I saw a lot of potential today, result didn't happen but thats football
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Post by Pilch on Feb 4, 2024 1:32:15 GMT 1
Lacked a leader in the engine room today (as all season). That’s what Leahy & Norburn used to give us. Too many peripheral players in the team, nobody to take charge. That's a good point, - Hurst had three last time he managed here, Nolan, Ogogo and Godfrey. Leahy & Norburn , 2 of the most selfish players I can remember we scored once today, they managed 2, I cannot remember 1 other save a keeper had to make, we got caught napping from kick offs not once but twice, otherwise, we might be chatting about another hurst miracle , im not so sure Taylors side would have been as positive today but maybe its might have ended with a better result , its fine margins no matter who is manager, bottom line, 2 games 3 points, I guess thats as much as we could ask
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Post by mrcricket on Feb 4, 2024 2:15:19 GMT 1
Leahy and Norburn both wore the captains arm band, scored goals and went away making a profit for the club.
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Post by mrcricket on Feb 4, 2024 2:16:51 GMT 1
Highlights now available online, not great from the back four for the goals, but Benning could have marked Taylor for the first and then jumped out of the way for the second.
Two new full backs for next season me thinks.
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Post by pughywasfree on Feb 4, 2024 7:32:14 GMT 1
No long throws today. Hurst must have realised Shipley was terrible at them and Dunkley rarely won the flick on. It's also nice that every single set piece isn't aimed at Dunkley. looked to me like we were more interested in keeping the ball today, working it forward from the back, and all I heard was get it forward ( presumably they meant hoof it ) Rome wasnt built in a day, I saw a lot of potential today, result didn't happen but thats football I agree and its clear to see the tactics we was trying to play. Unlike last week it felt a bit more forced yesterday. Too many times the Cb's were standing on the ball with their hands out with no options or Winchester received the ball and instantly turned to his own goal when he had space. A work in progress and the players still need a confidence boost but having just watched PH's post match interview he clearly understands where we are at and where the issues are.
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Post by chirkshrew on Feb 4, 2024 10:44:11 GMT 1
We were only ok in fits and starts,passed the ball a bit better than we have...dunks needs a quicker centre half by the side of him (Pierre way to slow with quicker forwards up against him)bayliss and Shipley both poor.. especially bayliss...poor again,and don't know what he brings to the team.....udoh was a little bit isolated,and needed more help around him... bloxham...worked hard 2nd half,but didn't get to much joy at..... Feeney is not a right back!!!.....a right or left back needs to be quick,with good positional sense
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Post by chirkshrew on Feb 4, 2024 11:27:06 GMT 1
Which players are out of contract in the summer please???
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Post by Pilch on Feb 4, 2024 11:30:28 GMT 1
Which players are out of contract in the summer please??? check the current squad thread, pinned to the top of the page
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Post by Feedo Gnasher on Feb 4, 2024 11:32:09 GMT 1
Paul Hurst has made a lot of changes in his short time back, many of them positive but even he can’t immediately solve the problem of how clueless we look when we go behind in a game. Could still be playing now and we wouldn’t have equalised.
We’ve clearly got a lot more about us than under Taylor, but the squad being so disjointed and lacking in most areas is going to mean plenty more disappointing defeats between now and the end of the season.
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Post by chameleon on Feb 4, 2024 11:34:17 GMT 1
Poor performance. Lack of pace at the back, and as said before, Feeney is not a right back. Midfield poor apart from Winchester who was excellent again. Bloxham did well. Beat their full back numerous times and got decent crosses into the box. Only had 3 players who were really on their game. Hursty has still got a job on his hands to keep us up.
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Post by Pilch on Feb 4, 2024 11:41:17 GMT 1
stat from yesterdays game
Taylor Perry , 26 touches in 68 minutes , ground duels. won 2 out of 4
Jack Hinchy 22 touches , 22 minutes. ground duels won 3 out of 4
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Post by gtismygod on Feb 4, 2024 11:45:31 GMT 1
No long throws today. Hurst must have realised Shipley was terrible at them and Dunkley rarely won the flick on. It's also nice that every single set piece isn't aimed at Dunkley. looked to me like we were more interested in keeping the ball today, working it forward from the back, and all I heard was get it forward ( presumably they meant hoof it ) Rome wasnt built in a day, I saw a lot of potential today, result didn't happen but thats football Agreed. Nothing annoys me more than this. We’ve been begging for some proper football where we try to play out from the back for years. We were doing it yesterday and everyone was groaning whenever a pass went backwards or sideways.
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Post by Pilch on Feb 4, 2024 11:48:39 GMT 1
Poor performance. Lack of pace at the back, and as said before, Feeney is not a right back. Midfield poor apart from Winchester who was excellent again. Bloxham did well. Beat their full back numerous times and got decent crosses into the box. Only had 3 players who were really on their game. Hursty has still got a job on his hands to keep us up. who would you like at right back ?
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Post by chameleon on Feb 4, 2024 12:01:59 GMT 1
Poor performance. Lack of pace at the back, and as said before, Feeney is not a right back. Midfield poor apart from Winchester who was excellent again. Bloxham did well. Beat their full back numerous times and got decent crosses into the box. Only had 3 players who were really on their game. Hursty has still got a job on his hands to keep us up. who would you like at right back ? Good question. Bennett is not fit and now lacks pace. Sobowale is imo not League standard. I’d play Sraha. Not ideal, but he’s tall and quick. Good for set pieces as well. I’d give him a go there.
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Post by Pilch on Feb 4, 2024 12:02:59 GMT 1
who would you like at right back ? Good question. Bennett is not fit and now lacks pace. Sobowale is imo not League standard. I’d play Sraha. Not ideal, but he’s tall and quick. Good for set pieces as well. I’d give him a go there. I rest my case
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Post by Feedo Gnasher on Feb 4, 2024 12:04:36 GMT 1
In amongst all the spotlight being on Feeney I thought it was one of the poorer games I’ve ever seen from Dunkley, seemed shaky throughout and was also really poor in possession.
But they’re all adapting to a new, less defensive focused system, and in Feeney’s case also an unfamiliar position so I think they deserve to not cut some slack.
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Post by staffordshrew on Feb 4, 2024 12:11:33 GMT 1
Leahy and Norburn both wore the captains arm band, scored goals and went away making a profit for the club. Despite the negatives, Leahy has been sadly missed this season.
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Post by mrcricket on Feb 4, 2024 12:27:36 GMT 1
stat from yesterdays game Taylor Perry , 26 touches in 68 minutes , ground duels. won 2 out of 4 Jack Hinchy 22 touches , 22 minutes. ground duels won 3 out of 4 I always wonder whether I'm harsh on Perry but he seems like a luxury in Midfield from what I've seen of him.
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Post by chirkshrew on Feb 4, 2024 12:33:54 GMT 1
Thanks pilch👍a few to be let go there!!!....dunks needs a quicker centre half by the side of him.....Shipley and bayliss can go.... especially bayliss......I compare him with Nolan.....trouble is,there is no comparison....Nolan was ten times better linking up play.....need a right back,and quick winger/s........a hell of a lot of work for Hurst to do!!!
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Post by Pilch on Feb 4, 2024 12:55:21 GMT 1
stat from yesterdays game Taylor Perry , 26 touches in 68 minutes , ground duels. won 2 out of 4 Jack Hinchy 22 touches , 22 minutes. ground duels won 3 out of 4 I always wonder whether I'm harsh on Perry but he seems like a luxury in Midfield from what I've seen of him. 28 games , 2 goals from Perry this season , zero assists 34 games in league 1 last season 2 goals, 1 assist 10 games the season before, 1 goal 72 games, 3 seasons, and he's assisted 1 goal this is a guy who has played nearly all of those games with the luxury of a back 5 behind him is there any wonder the side he's playing for doesnt score goals
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Post by staffordshrew on Feb 4, 2024 13:01:11 GMT 1
stat from yesterdays game Taylor Perry , 26 touches in 68 minutes , ground duels. won 2 out of 4 Jack Hinchy 22 touches , 22 minutes. ground duels won 3 out of 4 I always wonder whether I'm harsh on Perry but he seems like a luxury in Midfield from what I've seen of him. Let's leave that one to Hurst. Him and his assistant have been around long enough to shape up or ship out our players.
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Post by gtismygod on Feb 4, 2024 13:09:39 GMT 1
stat from yesterdays game Taylor Perry , 26 touches in 68 minutes , ground duels. won 2 out of 4 Jack Hinchy 22 touches , 22 minutes. ground duels won 3 out of 4 I always wonder whether I'm harsh on Perry but he seems like a luxury in Midfield from what I've seen of him. Nonsense statistics from Pilch. Framed to suit his anti-Perry agenda regrettably. Hinchy came on and played the Winchester role in front of the back four, and Winchester was moved out to RB. Of course Hinchy had a lot of touches playing as a 6, when compared to Perry who was playing in a more advanced role as one of the 8s. Hinchy also came on for the last 20 minutes when we were camped in the Cambridge half looking for a goal, so again, of course he’d have quite a few touches in those 20 minutes. And yes, I’d probably expect my holding midfield player to win a higher percentage of his duels than a technical midfielder like Perry. To be honest, it seemed like Hinchy’s second touch was a tackle on a few occasions, as his first touch wasn’t quite on the money.
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Post by pughywasfree on Feb 4, 2024 13:12:00 GMT 1
I always wonder whether I'm harsh on Perry but he seems like a luxury in Midfield from what I've seen of him. Nonsense statistics from Pilch. Framed to suit his anti-Perry agenda regrettably. Hinchy came on and played the Winchester role in front of the back four, and Winchester was moved out to RB. Of course Hinchy had a lot of touches playing as a 6, when compared to Perry who was playing in a more advanced role as one of the 8s. Hinchy also came on for the last 20 minutes when we were camped in the Cambridge half looking for a goal, so again, of course he’d have quite a few touches in those 20 minutes. And yes, I’d probably expect my holding midfield player to win a higher percentage of his duels than a technical midfielder like Perry. To be honest, it seemed like Hinchy’s second touch was a tackle on a few occasions, as his first touch wasn’t quite on the money. Do you mind! we don't like people talking sense around here.
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