Just back

Pretty average performance I thought today. We were slow, indecisive, and too often players don't seem on the same wavelength. Balls being lumped over the top with forwards not making the runs.

Duffy and Wood had decent games - the latter with a cracking pass to put Hearn through but he pulled a decent save out of the keeper. I think that was the only save their keeper had to make. Makofo was his usual self - caused problems with his pace but no real end product. Had to be taken off as he was heading for a red.

I didn't applaud at the end as I don't think they deserved it but equally unwarranted was the abuse and hand gestures that some pathetic goon was making at I'anson and Southwell - two players who were unused subs and had nothing to with the performance. Oh well, at least I'm not on a long trip home.  

There'll always be some goons ready to have a go as soon as we lose. I'm sure the likes on realityman, CU etc will be along soon ...  

Quoted from AdamHaddock

I think that was the only save their keeper had to make.

6 shots on target, 3 off, according to BBC

How many Town fans made the journey mate?

I suppose it was just one of those games, nothing to shout about.  Bring on Tuesday.

Really?   Don't know where they got that from

Don't know how many town fans were there. They didn't announce it. Definitely a good turnout though.

Quoted from AndyDarloFC

How many Town fans made the journey mate?

I heard it was around 550 - slightly shy of the 800+ some predicted!

Most of the Town low life was sat at the front today and started arguing amongst themselves. The moron who did the hand gestures was a real gem of an individual all afternoon. He wasnt too bright as was his mates. As for the match there  was one thing that stuck out for me and that was how unbelievably poor Coulson was today. He never really once looked like he was interested in taking his man on once. Shadow of player he was and was so lucky to be kept on for 90 mins.

We were absolutely shite today. We only forced their keeper into one save decent all game (Duffy in the first half, Hearn had an effort saved in the second but he struck it right at the keeper) and every cross/corner was a shitty floated effort that he had no trouble coming out and claiming. We gifted them both of their goals too, Green decided he was going to slip over and give their winger all day to pick his spot for the first and Wood was hopelessly flat footed for the second allowing their striker to run ahead of him and nod past McKeown.

The midfield was hopeless, we didn't try and play the ball around, instead everything was knocked long down the channels for Hearn to chase and it didn't work at all. Disley was anonymous, Makofo again offers no end product, Artus spent most of the game unsuccessfully hoofing the ball into the channels and Coulson was poor too - his only real contribution to the game being two awful shots, neither of which went anywhere near the goal. Duffy managed to head the one decent cross we put in all day miles over the bar. Elding was excrement and fat and did nothing again when he came on, Eagle didn't impose himself and at least Church ran around a bit and tried to break up play when he came on. I'd only say Kempson, Pearson and McKeown came out of the game with any credit.

Stockport weren't anything special but we made it easy for them today.

Appreciate the report Chris, sounds very believable.  

We were pants. Had 3 chances in last 5 mins and didn't even force a proper save. When Hearn was put through he could have put it almost anywhere other virtually directly at the keeper. He must have playd against some really dodgy keepers lat season if he was the leagues top scorer.
Stockport 1st to every ball. We sat back all game like at FGR but we weren't playing a bunch off parttimers and they rang rings round us. No one apart from Wood or Makofo seemed to want to put in a tackle. It looked as if we playing a practice game.
We were slow, half hearted, disorganised in defence and midfield. We only started to play when 2 down and Stockport sat back and let us come on to them. Even when we created a couple of chances there was no excitement from the fans, almost as if we knew we wouldn't score.
We need to push up and attack right from the start every game and hope to outscore teams  
Waste of my time and money today. Mid table mediocrity for the 2nd year running beckons. Hope Fenty can afford it

Best players Wood, erm thats it, Makofo nearly made things happen otherwise it was like pumping bilgewater, (a load of sh1t)

Quoted from Chrisblor

We were absolutely shite today. We only forced their keeper into one save decent all game (Duffy in the first half, Hearn had an effort saved in the second but he struck it right at the keeper) and every cross/corner was a shitty floated effort that he had no trouble coming out and claiming. We gifted them both of their goals too, Green decided he was going to slip over and give their winger all day to pick his spot for the first and Wood was hopelessly flat footed for the second allowing their striker to run ahead of him and nod past McKeown.

The midfield was hopeless, we didn't try and play the ball around, instead everything was knocked long down the channels for Hearn to chase and it didn't work at all. Disley was anonymous, Makofo again offers no end product, Artus spent most of the game unsuccessfully hoofing the ball into the channels and Coulson was poor too - his only real contribution to the game being two awful shots, neither of which went anywhere near the goal. Duffy managed to head the one decent cross we put in all day miles over the bar. Elding was excrement and fat and did nothing again when he came on, Eagle didn't impose himself and at least Church ran around a bit and tried to break up play when he came on. I'd only say Kempson, Pearson and McKeown came out of the game with any credit.

Stockport weren't anything special but we made it easy for them today.

Pretty fair summary. Reminded me of the Fleetwood away game last season (ie a very comfortable win for the home side).

Nobody played well and thought Coulson and Wood were very poor.

how many changes for tuesday do you think there will be? a start for church perhaps

Quoted from bobbyturtle

how many changes for tuesday do you think there will be? a start for church perhaps

I would certainly drop Wood. Really don't get what people see him. He certainly isn't very good at RB.

Quoted from bobbyturtle

how many changes for tuesday do you think there will be? a start for church perhaps

Church should start for either Disley or Artus. Coulson needs a kick up the bottom so i'd consider dropping him for Eagle and swapping Makofo over to the right. I would like to see Wood dropped because even though he tries hard, I don't think he's a very good defender at all but unfortunately it doesn't look like Silk will be fit for a while. Thanoj deserves another go in the team and I would like to see Southwell involved too.

Even though Coulson has been poor so far this season, i'd like to see how he does up front alongside Hearn. I really don't think much to Duffy - apart from goalscoring, which he doesn't do very much of, his contribution to the team is minimal.

I fully agree with Chris Blor. We were terrible. I went with a couple of lads who don't often go and don't think they will go for a while saying they thought it was the worst performance they had actually seen from a Town team!

I actually was quite excited before the game, thinking bit of confidence from the last two games, a pretty big away following would promote a bit of passion and commitment but to be fair we saw fook all!

Artus was so quite it was un true, Serge too greedy and offered zip! I actually thought the left back played ok other than his slip and Church & Eagle did ok - enough to start next match.

As for Scott all I saw do was him swearing at Hearn for not chasing a hoof over the top which he was never gonna get, throwing his arms about in the dug out and then coming out of the dug out at full tim turning straight down the tunnel and not even acknowledging the large following of town fans.  

Quoted from psgmariner

I would certainly drop Wood. Really don't get what people see him. He certainly isn't very good at RB.

He's a 'tryer' and fans love a tryer who runs around giving daft free kicks away from being overly agressive, even if it means he's out of position all the time and caught ball watching when he should be defending. I don't know why he bothers with taking long throw-ins all the time, we never create anything from them. The reason Stoke have so much success is because Delap can throw a ball hard with a straight trajectory, like a cross. Wood's long throw-in's are slow 'rainbow-esque' lobs that defenders have no trouble with. Today he threw one straight into the flipping keepers hands.

I also think there was more than 550 there maybe 6-650

I've been slightly harsh on Elding by saying he did nothing. He did try and score from the most acute angle possible when stood on the flipping bye-line, which obviously didn't work. Why he didn't try and chip it to the back post or attempt to pick someone out in the six yard box god only knows. Maybe because he's fat and excrement?

Quoted from chipsandgravy

Most of the Town low life was sat at the front today and started arguing amongst themselves.

Mr Burns was once again at the heart of it. Why that idiot hasn't been banned is beyond me. Not a brain cell between him and his mates - utter scum.

The Stockport fans were less than complimentary about Mr Elding also.

I thought their two midfielders bossed us today. At times Disley and Artus were so square of one another all they did was chip or pass through the middle of them which meant the Central defenders had to step up, full back step in and then the ball goes wide for the winger to have all the time in the world to pick a cross or cut in.

We seemed clueless.

urine poor apart from 10 mins at the start and 1o mins at the end (when they let us play) we didn't do a single thing, second to every ball hoofball or game to Hearn who neither challenges or heads the ball, Duffy never in space neither was Hearn, midfield no existant till Church came on, Serge and COulson ineffective, Wood only light in a dark game, no bite in the squad except for Wood suprise suprise.

First half started well passed the ball a llittle some good movement and we looked the better side, Serge was called up for a foul, i didn't see it i was distracted by a plane going over head ooops, we seemed to get placed under pressure whichj we never shifted, we changed to HOOOOOOOOOF ball to Hearn for some unknown reason, why it wasn't to Duffy our big striker i don't know, but we hoofed it up to the smaller striker who can't head a ball for excrement. We never really challenged their keeper bar once when we lofted a decent shot at the top corner but it was so weak they handled it fine (pattern to continue the rest of the game). During the entire game we let them play we never once closed them down Wood beign the exception, we just let them pass the ball around us and wip crosses in willy nilly which is were their first goal came from. Wood beaten down the wing a cross came in, ball went over everyones heads falling to Green who missed the ball with his head landed at the right wingers feet and he blasted it in at close range (not at the keeper, Mckeown had no chance in stopping it).

Second half thought here we go hopefully we will challenge within five m,inutess i was so defaltted i couldn't believe it, we were just crap! nothing else to say about it we were just crap! Second to every ball, no challenge anywhere on the pitch we just sat back and let them pass the ball around us cutting us up like cheese. Their second i couldn't really see so i can't comment but it wouldn't of been fair if they hadn't scored at least a second against us. We had two decent chances in the second half, Hearn put clean through all the goal to aim for and he blasts it at the flipping keeper i'm sorry i could of taken a better shot with my eyes closed, people will come on here  saying Hearn had a decent chance, yes he did but again like he does week in week out (just to note i am a fan of Hearn as rereading through this i do make it sound like i hate the lad), all he needs to do is shoot somewhere flipping else its not hard, hmmmmm shooting at the keepers not working i'm out of ideas isn't going to cut it. Our next best chance wasa  decent shot form outside the area from Artus (missing for most of the game), which no one followed up which is a shame as their keeper did well to only turn it away. In the last ten minutes or so, when they let us play, we looked good and challenged earn't a few corners all of which were pointless landing straight to the keeper or one of their players, Elding had a decent chance after they fluffed a clearance but instead of looking for the options he went for glory.

Mckeown- Did well to keep the scoreline as close as it was
Wood- best player on the pitch for us even if some of his passing was poor at times he was often under pressure as their wingers CLOSED HIM DOWN! Partially at fault for their first
Green- slightly at fault for their first missed the header leading to their goal, looked good when going forward with ball at feet always being CLOSED DOWN
Kempson- cleared the ball well at times and didn't let it bounce in front of him beofr ehe headed it as well (shock i know but theres an even bigger one to come) i also saw him pass the ball to feat at one point not hoof it clear. Placed under pressure as he was being CLOSED DOWN
Pearson- same as Kempson really except he passed the ball more often then just hoofed it, always under pressure as he was CLOSED DOWN (anyone seeing the pattern yet)
Coulson- kept quiet by their left back as he was always being CLOSED DOWN, on the couple of times he did beat his man he was tackled by a second player who had CLOSED HIM DOWN. Wipped ina  coulpe of crosses and helped Wood out on a few occasions all in all a quiet game
Makoffo- i've said it once and i'll say it again, all that hard work but barely any result, same as Coulson kept quiet as he had been COSLED DOWN, and if he ever did beat his man was CLOSED DOWN again by another player, was bulllied off the park a couple of times, ref should of protected him a little more, was unfairly booked after a Disley foul.
Disley- Was he on the pitch? apart forma  few passes, and the odd tackle i didn't notice him. Kept quiet as he was alays being CLOSED DOWN (getting bored of this yet?)
Artus- couple of decent shots and a few passes but that was it from him, he was kept out of the game as he was CLOSED DOWN
Hearn-is a coward, ok that might be a bit strong but he's a big wimp when he's off the ball number of times he pulled out of 50/50s number of times he let himself be muscled off the ball is unacceptable for a player of his build. Movement was poor today, and never really linked up with Duffy was limited to number of chances as he was always CLOSED DOWN
Duffy- poor movement never got the service he should of when he did get the ball he was CLOSED DOWN

Subs
Eagle, improvement on Makoffo which wasn't hard, was never given much of the ball but when  he did he always surged forwards and played the ball on the deck if he could never really wipped in a decent cross though and guess what he was always CLOSED DOWN as well
Church looked good for the first five minute when he came on looked to add the missing bite we needed nbut like the others driffed off inton obscurity and i forgot he was on the pitch marked out the game as he had been CLOSED DOWN (ok this is annyoing me a little bit as well now).
Elding- showed movement off the ball, but wasted his only real chance of the game, when he did get the ball he linked up well with Hearn but was also forced out the game really as he was always CLOSED DOWN (last one i promise).

All in all we deserved nothing out of the game, we shoed little bite and were shown how a team should play today. tahats it i can't bring myself to type anymore about that crap i just paid £16 to watch

Good points - tactics seems naive to me.

Quoted from Madeleymariner

We sat back all game like at FGR

Quoted from Madeleymariner

We only started to play when 2 down

FFS !!!!
Same old story...

2 choices :

1) play your most attacking players and attack them.
2) Contain them by playing Church and CLOSE THEM DOWN.

We did neither !  

What did I say before the game ?

Quoted from 1600

One thing I'm fairly certain of - if we're gonna play full strength then let's really go for the 3 points cos I don't see the point in setting up at full strength to sit back.

After Hurst's comment:
""They have shown they are hard to beat and in front of their own fans the emphasis will be on them to attack us.
"We are prepared for that...."

If that means we're counter-attacking they might stick with Serge but maybe not.

I think we'll see 1 or 2 changes tomorrow - Church to start is my bet.

Guess the players will get a b0llocking but think Scott and Hurst also got their strategy wrong on this one !  

Mr Hurst, if being prepared means you pick the wrong tactics for the personnel & formation you choose, then don't bother preparing in future ?!  

PS Are you both Neil Woods x 2 re-incarnated with this obsession for going defensve to avoid away defeats ?
I'll give you a tip, in the longer term, IT DON'T WORK !!!!  

PPS What happened to that promise you made of players giving 100% ?

Quoted from chipsandgravy
Most of the Town low life was sat at the front today and started arguing amongst themselves.


Mr Burns was once again at the heart of it. Why that idiot hasn't been banned is beyond me. Not a brain cell between him and his mates - utter scum.


what a bunch of morons  should have let em fight amongst themselves  no need for the abuse at the end
  they recon 535  away supporters errm  

Thought today's tactics were poor. Too many aimless long balls. First half they were all played down Makofo's side, whether he was there or not. Second half they were all down the middle and easily dealt with by te Stockport defence. On the odd occasion when we got the ball down we started to look like ok, especially for the last 10 minutes.

Stockport are a poor team and didn't really create much. Up until the first goal we were shading the medicority a little and they had a slice of luck with Green's slip to let their man in. After that, the aimless long ball balls were even more desperate and we drifted out of the game. A little more compsure up front and we could easily have won this if. I'm convinced that if we got the first goal Stockport would have ended up looking just as poor as we did instead.

Richard,
If you're sticking all that rubbish on top of my post to imply the worst then I suggest you check the match thread - I wasn't even there.
If not then sort your quotes out and make your point ?

Think ChrisBlor is spot on with his assessment. I thought Church worked his bottom off and won more tackles in his brief cameo than the rest of the team managed between them. We never looked like scoring and a very average side who will not be anywhere near the promotion shake up enjoyed a very comfortable home win.

Yeah, we weren't very good today and none of the players really stood out as having good games either. We were deservedly beaten by a pretty decent looking side. Had a couple of good chances, Duffy in the first half and Hearn in the second but other than that, we didn't look fluid at all going forward, which was a complete contrast to the last game.

The positives are we kept going until the end and the substitutes, Church, Eagle and Elding all looked pretty decent. It's only one game though. There aren't many consistent teams in this league, the few that get that will be in the right places at the end of the season so we need to try and sort that out if we want to achieve anything.

Quoted from Roast Em Bobby

Mr Burns was once again at the heart of it. Why that idiot hasn't been banned is beyond me. Not a brain cell between him and his mates - utter scum.

I saw Mr Burns and his pals carrying on with the Police as they were escorted away towards the train station, what an embaressment they were today, he was pictured in amonst the trouble at burton and somehow was never picked up, no one would miss any of the clowns if they were banned.

Quoted from Engine

I saw Mr Burns and his pals carrying on with the Police as they were escorted away towards the train station, what an embaressment they were today, he was pictured in amonst the trouble at burton and somehow was never picked up, no one would miss any of the clowns if they were banned.

The word is he helped the police with their Burton enquiries so is free to roam.

Is Mr Burns the one that looks vaguely like a chicken?

Mr Burns is just gobby, he never actually gets involved.

Quoted from mariner91

Is Mr Burns the one that looks vaguely like a chicken?

I think so thats what I thought anyway.

Who was the ginger chump with the cap on? Is that him?

Some of the hoolis looked like a load of kids. idiots the lot of them!

The only good thing is that it distracted me and my mates from the pile of pi88 Town team

Also who were the two blokes at the end giving the Town players loads of aggro? Im all for having a rant and would like to have a chat with some of the Town players/management etc but those two were unreal and a bit out of order. I know we lost and entitled to our opinion but fook me!

Quoted from fulham gy

Who was the ginger chump with the cap on? Is that him?

yep that was mr burns

Thanks for clearing that up! Inbred does not even justify it.

Had a quick look on the SCFC forum who are obviously gloating but some thought Grimsby were the worst team the have played this season. I think I agree.

Not very good all round. IMO Hearn Green & Wood ok the rest were nothing really. Coulson is such a disappointment at times.
Great turnout of Town fans again but I have never heard them so quiet, then again nothing to shout about.  

Bloody hell. I've seen Mr Burns mentioned on here so many times and never twigged who he was until I read this thread. What a pleb that man is. Town games would be so much more enjoyable/bearable if I didn't have to listen to that rats opinion for two hours. A mate of mine came close to lamping him at Eastbourne last season.

As for today's football? I can't add anything. Chrisblor has already summed it up for me.

am i the only person who thought Stockport were a fine example of a footballing side?
They moved the ball really well, there movement was far superior to ours and they were patient and kept the ball from us by passing it along the floor.

We were good for about the first minute and then as soon as they stared playing football we ran out of ideas. This is the most direct Town side i have ever seen.
Thought the ginger lad in the middle of the park was excellent for them.

One word to describe today:

Horseshit.

Quoted from headingly_mariner

am i the only person who thought Stockport were a fine example of a footballing side?
They moved the ball really well, there movement was far superior to ours and they were patient and kept the ball from us by passing it along the floor.

We were good for about the first minute and then as soon as they stared playing football we ran out of ideas. This is the most direct Town side i have ever seen.
Thought the ginger lad in the middle of the park was excellent for them.

I agree with you, I was quite impresed with them and thought they were easily the better side, and they should be there or there abouts at the end of the season, only one defeat so far, shame you can't same the same about us.

Not sure about those claiming Kempson and Pearson played well, you have to ask the question where were they when Stockport scored their second goal, Bardley Wood all 4' 6" of him marking some 7' giant. I agree he should have done better but Kempson or Pearson should have been marking him.  

The ginger lad was Nolan who was there man of the match and I have to agree.

Mr Burns    that is so funny!

Stockport were, as others have said, much the better side on the day but in some ways they looked like Town from last season. McKeown was hardly over worked was he?

I read on several different thread about the Town line up being wrong but had H&S changed the team and formation, but we still lost then the same posters would have been giveing it large about why the hell did they change a winning team.

We arent going to win every game. We are very much a 'work in progress' team and there will be a few steps backwards as well as forwards.

I expect changes for Tuesday and would certainly hope to see Eagle given his first start.

After last weeks good win this site was a little site but much busier after an ineffective performance and a loss. Town certainly have a fair few who would rather moan, even those who rarely go to games!

6 points in the next week could lead to a quiet time on here

Stockport weren't great but they were better than I expected them to be. They closed us down quickly, our midfield got stretched and seemed to struggle to hold its shape. Their first goal was a good finish but the chance was created when Green (?) slipped on the wet surface, losing his man.

Our balls into the area weren't good - despite plenty of corners and crosses, I can't remember many (any?) that landed on a Town head.

Best thing about the day was the pubs in Stockport (always good) and the fact that we didn't get rained on while in the open seating.

I AM EMARRASSED BY THE CYBER BULLYING OF THIS MR BURNS CHARACTER,  wasn`t there yesterday so cant say but some on here should have the balls to speak directly to him, I believe i know who you are talking about and if so i spoke to him at FGR and have at other games, he is a dedicated town fan who goes to most games, to say he just turns up with all the thugs is completly misleading, people bragging about the good old days of the boot boys should be the very very last to say anything at all

I bloody will say something to him directly if I ever see him on his own. I've seen him be the cause of trouble at 3 games in the last 2 years, so don't claim he is innocent.

As I say i wasnt there yesterday or at burton, but have been to most southern games in the last 3 years and he has been at most and I personally havent seen him cause trouble. I am not defending him, and maybe he is different when in a mob or more likely full of beer but to say he always causes trouble is a lie, being an embarrassment is not or as it ever been a crime

Quoted from codcheeky

I AM EMARRASSED BY THE CYBER BULLYING OF THIS MR BURNS CHARACTER,  wasn`t there yesterday so cant say but some on here should have the balls to speak directly to him, I believe i know who you are talking about and if so i spoke to him at FGR and have at other games, he is a dedicated town fan who goes to most games, to say he just turns up with all the thugs is completly misleading, people bragging about the good old days of the boot boys should be the very very last to say anything at all

to say he just turns up with all the thugs is completly misleading

Yep sure is, the pleb only mouths it when he's with the boys, at york last year he was on his own with no boys in sight and this york fan came up to him and started being aggressive, what did burnise do ? started being all matey with him the goon, I have seen him at a few away games and only kicks off when his boys are with him .

And for the burton thing about him not getting done, someone in this thread was bang on the money, Grass.

Another thing that disappointed me was that we didn't sing Prodigy's "Take me to the hospital"  

Quoted from fulham gy

I also think there was more than 550 there maybe 6-650

535.

Quoted from headingly_mariner

am i the only person who thought Stockport were a fine example of a footballing side?
They moved the ball really well, there movement was far superior to ours and they were patient and kept the ball from us by passing it along the floor.

We were good for about the first minute and then as soon as they stared playing football we ran out of ideas. This is the most direct Town side i have ever seen.
Thought the ginger lad in the middle of the park was excellent for them.

No. I agree 100%. The gangly black lad up frontish made a right nuisance of himself all game...

Just watched the highlights they looked a useful team and like Hurst said before the game, are likely to be improving as they gel together.
Think they'll be up there...

On the highlights thought our early effort was a prime example of Coulson running with the ball, linking up with Hearn and providing Duffy with the chance.
Don't blame Green for the 1st goal but wonder if he have should have got closer for the 2nd ?
He just seemed to let the cross come in a bit too easy.
As a team we've really got to block these deliveries into the box.

Stockport knocked it around quite nicely but that'll become more difficult when the rugby churns up their pitch. I think they'll be a higher than us mid table club.

Very frustrating display on Saturday. Started well and a good counter put Duffy in (after a shocking touch by Hearn) but keeper saved well.

I thought they were pacey and moved the ball well. Their big lad up front was very good in the air but could moved well too. Their ginger lad in the middle had it far too easy first half without being challenged.

First goal Brad Wood allowed the lad to cross the ball far too easily. You have to stop the ball getting in the area. I don't blame Green for slipping but if the cross was stopped that wouldn't have happened. Great touch and finish though.

Second goal from a free header really infuriated me as everytime we had a corner or crossed it the ball was headed clear by them or our players were challenged for the ball resulting in poor connection. They put it in the box and head in without a Town player close (just like Braintree).

It's my first game since Braintree and I thought our performance was nowhere near good enough. Stockport were a much better side than us but I hope S&H can drill the basics into the players before long. We are far to slow to move the ball and allow the person in possession to get isolated and have to hoof it.