That was a steaming pile of ****e. Absolutely diabolical performance. Weale was the only player who stopped it from being four or five (although he made a right hash of a clearance in the opening few minutes and his kicking was dire), along with a second-half goal-line clearance by what looked like Jones to me, but I can't be sure. I thought Summerfield, Parry and Grandison were OK, but every single other player (obviously excluding Weale) was really poor. I have been a staunch defender of Gornell, and today I think people can see we missed his ability to hold the ball up and link with the midfield. I maintain that he's a good player low on form and confidence, but he's clearly a level above Bradshaw. I think the young Welshman has been singled out unfairly for criticism along with Wright after the game when others like Morgan and Richards(!) were also equally poor, but he didn't play well. The tactics were all wrong, every single long ball was going up to Bradshaw - he's 5 foot bloody 7! Doble showed a couple of nice touches when he came on but was never going to be able to influence the game, and Wildig unfortunately did nothing. There was on opportunity in the second half when we worked the ball nicely into the box and it fell for Wildig, but he didn't seem to have any conviction and didn't want to hit it, and it came out to Hall who had a go from 25 yards. I said before the game that there were three possible avenues for changes in my mind: Hector for Hazell being almost certain, Jacobson for Purdie 50:50 and Bradshaw or Hall for Gornell an outside shout. As it turned out, only one happened, and it was telling that people who have been slating Gornell for the opening few games were calling for his inclusion after about 50 minutes. Obviously Turner's reluctance to change things around signals a belief in the 11 on the field which will fill them with confidence, but I feel for Gornell. His confidence must be completely shot now, unless he was injured. I did notice he wasn't out at half time with the other subs and thought he might be coming on, but it transpired he was just taking a massive ****. Maybe he was ill. Anyway, I felt one or two changes were necessary at half time - I would have brought on Hector for one of Hazell or Jones - they couldn't deal with Clark (an aside - he's awful technically with the ball at his feet so surely someone bigger than Hazell on him to counteract the power, possibly Grandison at CB and Hazell at RB?) and had poor games, and definitely Hall for Purdie. Purdie was absolutely destroyed by Duffy, although he got a couple of excellent challenges in, and Richards wasn't able to control the game in the middle as per usual. Anyway, I'm not going to say we'll go down, because we won't. These things happen, but I think it is a stark reminder to the fact that there are no easy games in this league and that if we want to get anywhere near the play-offs, we need at least one more player.
Can't agree more Lenny, hope we improve Tuesday night or the long trip to Hartlepool next Satuday is going to be a nightmare , not sure I'm looking forward to it at the moment!! The highs & Lows of football !!!!
Look its very early days and we got to take a good long look after 10 matches or so to judge on any improvement, why are we failing at the moment? its easy.... Rowlands unwillingness to part with cash (and i don't mean buy players, i mean pay league one wages!!) also too many players are not up to league one standard... Morgan, Wildig, Bradshaw and Grandison, add to that a few thats not showing any sign of form. The reason why GT's tactics were all wrong today is because he's playing players in un-natural positions to counter for player who just aren't good enough or aren't playing well enough! .... GT has now got to look at the loan market and Rowland has to sell his villa in Jamaica to pay better wages to help attract some classier players.....but a 1-0 defeat isnt a disaster at this stage of the season...
The most annoying thing about yesterday is that a club like Scunthorpe has signed Clarke and Hawley on loan or short term deals. Surely we must have looked at both of them and thought they were better than what we have. If it transpired that they were not up to scratch we would have lost virtually nothing. The same applies to Baxter and Darbyshire at Oldham both of whom scored. I also endorse Lenny's sentiments. Bradshaw for Gornell would have been the last change I would have made at the start yesterday. Same as taking him off at half-time last week, a change that was designed to shore up the midfield which obviously worked,didn't it? It is also noticeable that the Jones/Hector parnership conceded 3 goals which led to 4 points whereas Hazell/Jones has conceded 5 and acquired one point and in truth should have conceded many more goals yesterday.
I would agree with those who say that Hector/Jones looks more steady than Hector/Hazell because Hector is quick and can cover if Jones misses the first challenge. Purdie has been poor all season for me and does not seem to understand the first job of the full back is to stop crosses coming in - even Joe playing badly is a better full-back. Gornell was very poor at Notts County and we did improve going forward with Hall in there but I agree that Gornell is still better than Bradshaw who has never lived up to the Under-21 international hype surrounding him. Marvin is capable of playing well in this league but we neeed to find a striker who complements him. I have always been a big fan of Wright but it beginning to look like this league may be a step too far for him (as it was with his two other promoted clubs). With the present squad the alarm bells are ringing even after six games but we should stay calm and trust in GT to sort it out. Bring on Coventry - surely we cannot be as bad again!
i take no joy from predicting the correct score in this game, but i have hopes of town bouncing back on tuesday. scunny have proved that every game from now on will be difficult. players are going to have to sink or swim in this league. some may adapt and those who cannot must be loaned out or sold on. i would say we are in great competion for loanee strikers, much better if our coaches could improve those we have and encourage the youth. with just 5 points on the board, another 45 are needed. we should not forget what town acheived last season with little impact from up front!
I think you've hit the nail on the head AJ, if there is no investment in the team building we must look to building through youth development, form time and memorial it as always been proved journeymen wont get you promotion!!
Encourage youth is fair enough but Bradshaw has had his chance. Goldson is much more of a prospect and from the little I have seen of Woods, likewise. Are there any youth strikers in the offing, though?
There was one highly rated striker about a year ago whose name escapes me. Probably faded into obscurity by now but he was banging them in for he youth team at 16. EDIT: Can't find a name that rings a bell on the website. I also played against a massive centre-back called Dom Smith who seems to be playing in the first XI at youth level now. He was a machine, but I can't really tell if he's good enough to play at professional level.
One thing we did notice was that Jones played RCB when with Hector and LCB with Hazell. This happened last year with Sharps having to move to LCB when he played with Hazell. I know players don't often get given time to improve in football, but still think Bradshaw showed some good movement earlier on in the match and perhaps a decent loan out might bring on his game.
lenny is the chap you are thinking of a plasterer and partime footballer for altrincham? if so i thinking he trying to get a free transfer to a league cup
yes damien reeve from altrincham, only scored 44 in the league last season. roland!, Graham!. he has a thriving plastering business though!
what about: jon shaw.... luton danny crow newport county andre gray luton tom pope port vale Adam Cunnington tamworth Matthew Barnes-Homer Macclesfield Town Stuart Fleetwood luton all would jump at a chance to step a division or two, why not get them here to have a look at them?
Atcham, I would not agree that there was little impact from up front last year as four of our front men scored the best part of 50 goals between them. It might have been a different story if Collins had stayed but we are a struggling team at the moment who would get a great lift from a bit of clinical finishing and it is difficult to see that coming from our present forwards. We need an experienced man (or men) rather than a young lad (even from a Premiership club) as it is rare for the latter to make much of an impact in League 2, let alone League 1.
