Just back

Quoted from Croxton

The Max Wright injury was the biggest issue in a multifactoral non performance. We failed to ;-

1. Replace pace with pace to stretch their defence, win corners, throws and set pieces.

2. Take early chances against a ponderous back line.

3. Avoid unnecessary 'fouls' giving cheap set pieces away especially at the end of games.

4. Put in testing free kicks of our own. Some real shockers.

5. Cross when we have a good opportunity. How many times does Hanson have to reset his run?

6. Gamble at the far post a la Kevin Ellison. We get in each others way on the penalty spot.

7. Shoot early sometimes. Too many touches taken all over the park.

8. Stop Green doing media interviews. They seem to jinx his game terribly.

Just picked up the 2 highlighted points as these are quite poignant imho...we never seem to take the odd pot shots from outside the box, couple of times Cook had the chance to shoot and just turned and passed out to the wing, it's almost like they are being told not to do anything other than get the ball out wide, even if you have a shooting opportunity, and get crossed into Hanson.....
Mansfield were their for the taking yesterday, certainly in the first 25 minutes but we failed to put on pressure on their defence and for that reason I have to put the fault down to ponderous decision making and a lack of a game plan that would actually work against a terrible, dirty and ugly football team/referee...

Lots of really good stuff posted above and it feels like a balance between a ref that was easily influenced and had no control, cheating opposition and Town’s poor reaction to Max going off and them going down to 10.

Only thing I’ll add is that if there was ever the case for an outfield skipper it was yesterday no disrespect to Macca as he’s one of my hero’s on and off the pitch but if ever we needed a Dis or Grovesy like player to lead the side to pas the opposing 10 men out of the game it was yesterday.

All that said we’ll done to Macca at the end he absolutely aligns with us as he too is “so proud to be GTFC”.

Learning for everyone move on to next week.

Quoted from HertsGTFC

Lots of really good stuff posted above and it feels like a balance between a ref that was easily influenced and had no control, cheating opposition and Town’s poor reaction to Max going off and them going down to 10.

Only thing I’ll add is that if there was ever the case for an outfield skipper it was yesterday no disrespect to Macca as he’s one of my hero’s on and off the pitch but if ever we needed a Dis or Grovesy like player to lead the side to pas the opposing 10 men out of the game it was yesterday.

All that said we’ll done to Macca at the end he absolutely aligns with us as he too is “so proud to be GTFC”.

Learning for everyone move on to next week.

Agree about the captain. Perhaps Macca got the nod because he is most likely to be out there for every game? But I would rather have a driving force further upfield really. These tight games are when that can be a crucial plus.

Still angry this morning. Not necessarily at the ref but more at our inability to put a poor Mansfield side away. Max's injury disrupted us massively and we could have done with replacing pace with pace (Akheem or the seemingly out of favour/not even on the bench Vernam).

We are clearly capable of much better than the last hour yesterday but our decision-making both on and off the pitch were pretty poor yesterday.

League 2 summed up in nut shell . Win away one week against the league leaders and lose at home the next against a team of knob. .ends

Was Andy Cook getting some grief? Surprised at his reaction - not like he left under a cloud and many wanted him back when the rumours flew over summer. Disappointing.

More importantly how bad was Max’s injury?

Never liked Mansfield. Shitty team full of flipping cloggers.

Just one point from reading the sensible posts on this thread. If they put three players on Hanson, then that leaves them players short elsewhere. They nullified Hanson yet we still pumped balls up to him instead of using the gaps he made, even after they went down to ten men.

Baffling

Old Codger:
Still angry this morning. Not necessarily at the ref but more at our inability to put a poor Mansfield side away. Max's injury disrupted us massively and we could have done with replacing pace with pace (Akheem or the seemingly out of favour/not even on the bench Vernam).

We are clearly capable of much better than the last hour yesterday but our decision-making both on and off the pitch were pretty poor yesterday.

A spot on summing up...plus I would add that the same starting XI v Exeter should have started this game
Not broke - don't fix it
Too much tinkering
Get some rhythm going up top
Keep back four the same
Is MJ trying to keep senior players happy?

Trend is to tinker - why? Is it over thinking?
Hanson did OK yesterday but by playing him you go long ball too often
50/50 flick ons and challenges - keep the ball and pace would be far better
But ultimately our decision-making in final third was poor
We never worked the keeper
Shoot when should pass and vice versa
Very very frustrating against a very very average team

That point about the captain is something I hadn’t thought about before and it didn’t cross my mind yesterday either. I think it could have made all the difference though yesterday having someone out in the middle of the pitch making sure everyone kept a calm head and as well with the referee.

And like those that said previously, nothing against Macca who I’m sure is doing a great job amongst the players. We could do with an outfield player stepping up though as well IMO.

Quoted from quebec38

That point about the captain is something I hadn’t thought about before and it didn’t cross my mind yesterday either. I think it could have made all the difference though yesterday having someone out in the middle of the pitch making sure everyone kept a calm head and as well with the referee.

And like those that said previously, nothing against Macca who I’m sure is doing a great job amongst the players. We could do with an outfield player stepping up though as well IMO.

I've never liked the practice of having the goalie as a captain. It has to be an outfield player and preferably a central midfielder who can control the play and see what's going on all around. No slur on Macca but I don't think goalies should be captains.