Just Back

Today started with euphoria with the beginning of the end of Fenty. Team news looked good with an attacking lineup and Colchester losing last night was certainly a boost, what could go wrong?

We started good enough and matched Bradford, Matete played well until his miss header wrong-footed our defence gifting them a goal. Still, all was not lost and heads didn't drop even though it was more huff and puff in the last third, rather than having a go at goal.

What the hell happened between Payne and Morais. Do it in the dressing room, in the bus home but not under the ref's nose. One was supposed to be a senior professional and the other a complete ars ole. They both let down their teammates, club, and fans. A total disgrace to all. Hurst can sign players, coach them and give out the tactics, but once they've crossed the line actions like Payne and Morais are down to themselves. We don't need either of them, an old has been and a young hopeless beginner.

10 men second half and Town match Bradford. Clifton put himself about and was my MOM but failure again to score cost us dearly. We missed the 11th man and only two can be blamed for that. The effort the 10 put in was 100% and couldn't be faulted. If only that commitment had been there a few weeks ago.

From Hurst's post-match on RH I got the impression he would like the season to stop tomorrow. As he said on his appointment the clubs a mess and sooner, rather than later, he wants to cut the crap adrift.

Mathematically we live on but another game with more points dropped. Roll on Bolton and 3 points, I hope.

Yes we lost but the lads held their own even when we went down to ten men against what I thought was one of the poorest teams we've played this season.

Unfortunately though the game will only be remembered for one moment of madness.

No prizes for guessing who's going to win the next "Twit of the Week"

Quoted from DB

a young hopeless beginner.

29

Quoted from Abdul19

29

Everyone is young when you get to our age  

Positives - Hurst tried something different
Defence looked relatively solid.
Hewit and Menayese generally comfortable but both guilty of just pushing out rather than staying with players for their goal.
We may now never see Payne in the shirt again

Negatives - one decent effort on goal
Payne out probably means Green in
Another chance wasted to gain points

Ultimately, we can't win games of football. Other sides, and that includes Bradford today, seem to find a way to win even when they don't look any better than us. Don't think i have seen a team this season who look a notch above the rest of the league but they manage to keep picking up points and we don't. It's been a problem for years and looks like it's again going to cost us our league status.

You reap what you sow and we have got to this point from lack of investment, lack of vision and a lack of urgency. This has been coming for the last 4 seasons and the die was cast when the present board decided in their wisdom to take an axe to last season's squad and not bother with replacing any of them with players of sufficient quality.

We've had enough chances over the last 10 games to pick up enough points to get us up the table, but the glaring lack of quality in the final third is massively evident. Is that the fault of PH, or the culmination of poor stewardship since he left for Shrewsbury?

I think it's the latter personally and PH has done as much as he could be expected to do given the mess he was presented with. We have been competitive in every single game for the last couple of months and with a bit more luck and some calm heads, we could be out of the bottom 2 now.

It's about over I would say.

34 points with just 6 games to go. A 7 point and goal diff deficit.

We need 3 wins just to overtake Colchester's current points total.

I would imagine we would need a minimum of 46 points to stay up. 4 wins then.

I just cant see it.

Hurst will be here next season, that is clear. But the squad needs an almost total rebuild. Cant think of more than 3 or 4 players worth keeping, even if we go down.

Quoted from promotion plaice

No prizes for guessing who's going to win the next "Twit of the Week"

Euro 2024 ringpiece Philipp Lahm?

[url]https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/amp.theguardian.com/football/2021/apr/08/bigger-more-diverse-european-super-league-can-enrich-football-philipp-lahm[/url]

I agree -I think that is about it. Really difficult game next that I can't see us getting anything from.

I feel for a few of the players as a small group have been consistently good over the past couple of months, and defensively we are not a relegation team. But we simply don't create anything at all. The chances of coming back to win from one down are virtually none.

For what it is worth, I thought Hendrie had a great game today, Hewitt and Meyannese as strong as ever and Coke was solid again. Not sure if he is injured but I feel Metete is not playing to the standards he did when he first arrived. Williams was ok, front 2 completely ineffective, as was Moralis in my opinion. Though Clifton was excellent second half and should start.

With the takeover now looking like it will be completed,  whether people like it or not Hurst will be manager next season. Some will argue that it's not over until it is impossible, but I can't help but think now about preparations for new season in the conference with Hurst in charge.

Of the squad today I feel very few will be here next season. Macca, John-Lewis probably only certainties. I would imagine Hurst will want to keep Hewitt and Meyannese but I'm sure both will find league clubs. I would also keep Clifton, his energy, workrate, versatility makes him ideal for that league. Beyond that I think the rest may be gone, I maybe would keep Harbergham, full pre season and I think he could be a good player.

Quoted from HarrogateMariner

I agree -I think that is about it. Really difficult game next that I can't see us getting anything from.

I feel for a few of the players as a small group have been consistently good over the past couple of months, and defensively we are not a relegation team. But we simply don't create anything at all. The chances of coming back to win from one down are virtually none.

For what it is worth, I thought Hendrie had a great game today, Hewitt and Meyannese as strong as ever and Coke was solid again. Not sure if he is injured but I feel Metete is not playing to the standards he did when he first arrived. Williams was ok, front 2 completely ineffective, as was Moralis in my opinion. Though Clifton was excellent second half and should start.

With the takeover now looking like it will be completed,  whether people like it or not Hurst will be manager next season. Some will argue that it's not over until it is impossible, but I can't help but think now about preparations for new season in the conference with Hurst in charge.

Of the squad today I feel very few will be here next season. Macca, John-Lewis probably only certainties. I would imagine Hurst will want to keep Hewitt and Meyannese but I'm sure both will find league clubs. I would also keep Clifton, his energy, workrate, versatility makes him ideal for that league. Beyond that I think the rest may be gone, I maybe would keep Harbergham, full pre season and I think he could be a good player.

I think Spokes cdajatl. I'd also keep Coke and Jackson (see if he can properly prove himself at a more sensible level). Hendrie too but can't see him staying, along with obvious ones like Matete.

Quoted from ginnywings

Ultimately, we can't win games of football. Other sides, and that includes Bradford today, seem to find a way to win even when they don't look any better than us. Don't think i have seen a team this season who look a notch above the rest of the league but they manage to keep picking up points and we don't. It's been a problem for years and looks like it's again going to cost us our league status.

You reap what you sow and we have got to this point from lack of investment, lack of vision and a lack of urgency. This has been coming for the last 4 seasons and the die was cast when the present board decided in their wisdom to take an axe to last season's squad and not bother with replacing any of them with players of sufficient quality.

We've had enough chances over the last 10 games to pick up enough points to get us up the table, but the glaring lack of quality in the final third is massively evident. Is that the fault of PH, or the culmination of poor stewardship since he left for Shrewsbury?

I think it's the latter personally and PH has done as much as he could be expected to do given the mess he was presented with. We have been competitive in every single game for the last couple of months and with a bit more luck and some calm heads, we could be out of the bottom 2 now.

Spot on, it is clear that we miss players with that spark, that extra ability, the ones we haven't had since non league. We miss these because we can't afford them, because Fenty and the board have run us into the ground with absolutely no investment. I dread to think what we are like off the field, but on it we clearly lack 3/4 quality players who can produce week in week out. I thought Lamy could be one of those with spark, but he can't produce week in week out. Those players cost money, money we haven't got.

Let's hope that the new owners bring in investment from top to bottom, giving Hurst what he needs to build a successful football club. UTM

presume macca and clifton will stay along with wright. i'd keep harbegham and lamy - the latter works far harder with his defensive duties than we have been led to believe, plus he's a right winger, but has never played in that position for us.
we will desperately need a left sided winger, a goalscorer and some pace.  we might need a new centre back pairing coz the excellence of hewitt and mayonese can't have gone unnoticed (mind you, one of Hurst's strengths is to recruit/retain players because of the tightness of the squad, so fingers crossed on that).
we also need more youth and energy - morais, hanson and coke have done us proud but i really can't see them lasting a conference season. Pains we to say it coz Morais and Coke have both brought some much needed quality and ability
ps would not be in the least bit surprised to see alex rodman turn up at BP before too long

Why Max wright? He’s been a complete waste of time. Injury prone and played less games than hanson

Quoted from Hagrid

Why Max wright? He’s been a complete waste of time. Injury prone and played less games than hanson

And he’ll get the sh1t kicked out of him in non league, but he has pace and I’d keep him for one more season based upon that.

only caught the extended highlights today. what the intercourse was Payne doing?! disgraceful behaviour from a "professional" footballer.

Looked like a lot of huff and puff again. Good effort but really lacking that cutting edge up front (aside from Payne but he's just a sharp object).

Clifton really seems to have upped his game in the past few games created one chance and had another saved.

Today felt like the final nail in the coffin but theres still hope.

UTM

Quoted from Hagrid

Why Max wright? He’s been a complete waste of time. Injury prone and played less games than hanson

I think Wright’s under contract.

Players like Hanson won’t stay. He’s out of contract too, and a big earner. And injury prone. And doesn’t score enough goals.

Be interesting to see what happens with Pollock.

Waterfall is under contract, thanks to that idiot Holloway.

Hurst has a hell of a job on his hands over the summer.

Quoted from HertsGTFC

And he’ll get the sh1t kicked out of him in non league, but he has pace and I’d keep him for one more season based upon that.

Did well at Boston.

Quoted from Marinerdeano

I think Spokes cdajatl. I'd also keep Coke and Jackson (see if he can properly prove himself at a more sensible level). Hendrie too but can't see him staying, along with obvious ones like Matete.

Yes .As stated player that stood out for me yesterday was Matete. Only 20 as well. Certainly think he is better than conference level. Even amongst the Bradford players thought Matete was better than all of them baring Clayton Donaldson.

Quoted from Rick12

Yes .As stated player that stood out for me yesterday was Matete. Only 20 as well. Certainly think he is better than conference level. Even amongst the Bradford players thought Matete was better than all of them baring Clayton Donaldson.

I think that is what we have missed for many years, a tall, long striding midfielder like Clayton, who can leave people for dead. I know JT said that Bradford were letting our centre backs run forward, but when Manayese ran forward with determination and the confidence to take people on, he was leaving people for dead.

Quoted from Mallyner

I think that is what we have missed for many years, a tall, long striding midfielder like Clayton, who can leave people for dead. I know JT said that Bradford were letting our centre backs run forward, but when Manayese ran forward with determination and the confidence to take people on, he was leaving people for dead.

Yes I give Manayese credit . Did make the effort to be positive with the ball.  

Quoted from Mallyner

I think that is what we have missed for many years, a tall, long striding midfielder like Clayton, who can leave people for dead. I know JT said that Bradford were letting our centre backs run forward, but when Manayese ran forward with determination and the confidence to take people on, he was leaving people for dead.

Although Clayton Donaldson is a ‘long striding’ striker of course

Quoted from HarrogateMariner

I agree -I think that is about it. Really difficult game next that I can't see us getting anything from.

I feel for a few of the players as a small group have been consistently good over the past couple of months, and defensively we are not a relegation team. But we simply don't create anything at all. The chances of coming back to win from one down are virtually none.

For what it is worth, I thought Hendrie had a great game today, Hewitt and Meyannese as strong as ever and Coke was solid again. Not sure if he is injured but I feel Metete is not playing to the standards he did when he first arrived. Williams was ok, front 2 completely ineffective, as was Moralis in my opinion. Though Clifton was excellent second half and should start.

With the takeover now looking like it will be completed,  whether people like it or not Hurst will be manager next season. Some will argue that it's not over until it is impossible, but I can't help but think now about preparations for new season in the conference with Hurst in charge.

Of the squad today I feel very few will be here next season. Macca, John-Lewis probably only certainties. I would imagine Hurst will want to keep Hewitt and Meyannese but I'm sure both will find league clubs. I would also keep Clifton, his energy, workrate, versatility makes him ideal for that league. Beyond that I think the rest may be gone, I maybe would keep Harbergham, full pre season and I think he could be a good player.

Macca, Menayese, Hewitt, Hendrie, Habergham, Coke, Spokes, Williams and LJL would all make good NL players IMO. I’ve left out Matete because we’ve no chance on him.

The struggle we had last time we went down is it took 3-4 years to build anything that could properly challenge. For all the squads faults (and there are loads) they’ve looked a lot better whilst still lacking any proper attacking threat. In the league below with some decent additions I genuinely think the above will provide a decent enough baseline.

Just my opinion of course, whether or not Hurst or anybody else agrees is another thing all together.

Quoted from pontoonlew

Macca, Menayese, Hewitt, Hendrie, Habergham, Coke, Spokes, Williams and LJL would all make good NL players IMO. I’ve left out Matete because we’ve no chance on him.

The struggle we had last time we went down is it took 3-4 years to build anything that could properly challenge. For all the squads faults (and there are loads) they’ve looked a lot better whilst still lacking any proper attacking threat. In the league below with some decent additions I genuinely think the above will provide a decent enough baseline.

Just my opinion of course, whether or not Hurst or anybody else agrees is another thing all together.

If you look at the Top 8 in the NL the 6 that are left behind would all expect to be in the mix come the end of next season.

How do we join them and indeed finish ahead of them?

- Make ourselves hard to beat and build a strong team ethic.
- Offer better term contracts with salaries, incentives and benefits that are attractive enough for the better players to commit to us.
- Add a mix of experience and raw talent, the latter could come from EFL clubs using the loan market.

I think the first one will be a given with Hurst at the helm the 2nd & 3rd depend on a number of factors but is the key to securing the level of attacking talent we’ll need to score the goals to take us up.

Part of the reason it took so long last time was that until the season we got promoted we’d never consistently had enough goals from the strikers and mid field in the squad, there where some brief periods when it looked that way but they never came good over a season.