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Posted by: forza ivano, November 6, 2021, 8:37pm
must be the first time a just back thread is done 3.5 hours after the final whistle!

Pluses were the King and Castle plus the Station Inn, which was even better - good cheap beer and friendly locals.

Downside was the 90 minutes- not good enough sums it up. For a Hurst team to be out battled is not good enough. To create beggar all chances is not good enough. To be second to almost every second ball is not good enough

Playing 3-5-2 was a worthwhile experiment , it would appear to be a natural system if you're playing efete and revan , but we simply didn't look comfortable. Didn't look like they'd practised it at all and to persist with it , with so much money at stake, seemed a bit perverse.
Kiddy probably deserved the win, and certainly a draw, just coz they worked more and battled harder. Very little quality, but we looked half hearted whereas they wanted it more which is a sad indictment, especially as a number of those players were trying to claim a 1st team place. Coke and Fox showed once again why their partnership doesn't work. Add Clifton in there and its 3 good players who just seem to inhibit each other.
Bapaga didn't seem to have a clue as to what he was supposed to be doing and Taylor hardly touched the ball in the first half.
Waterfall had his hands full with the centre forward and Longe King was anonymous.
Towler was my motm - looked imperious; almost too easy for him. he is a class act. No way i can see Revan or bapaga playing at a high level for very long, but Towler is 'different gravy'
The Shop came on and improved things massively - unfortunately it was at exactly that time that they got their soft penalty from a 'mini wealdstone' ref.

Quite where we go from here i don't know, but i suspect we need Efete, Sousa, Taylor & Hunt back on form very quickly. At the moment we look  a bit toothless and lacking in creativity
Posted by: moosey_club, November 6, 2021, 8:47pm; Reply: 1
Echo that, especially the Station Inn....

The penalty I thought looked softish at the time but have seen the highlights on the BBC and looked clumsy from Waterfall.

Posted by: forza ivano, November 6, 2021, 8:58pm; Reply: 2
just 1 other thought. Coke , is weirdly, a sign of what a different team we are this year. Thought last year he looked a class baove what we'd got and really improved us.Generally looked a class act. This year, i'm afraid to say, he looks like a weight round our neck, an impediment to our play. Sits too deep, slows things too much. and doesn't really offer   deal.Plus he seems to impede Fox in particular.
sorry to have to say that
Posted by: Northbank Mariner, November 6, 2021, 9:04pm; Reply: 3
Well, that was sh!t...only way I can describe it tbh.
For as good as Coke was last season he was poor today, always passed the ball backwards, bapaga was too far away from Taylor, long-king couldn't pass a stool.
One player that did impress me though was Crocombe, excellent stop in the first half and his speed of delivery was very good.
Kidderminster just looked brighter, pressed harder and looked up for it. We were slow, passed with no conviction and don't think we played the ball to Efete anywhere near enough
We really do miss Macatee, don't want to say one man makes a team but without him we're pretty much toothless.
Taylor had no service at all.
All in all a good opportunity lost to proceed in the cup and get some funds in the coffers to get Fenty paid off early.
Posted by: Northbank Mariner, November 6, 2021, 9:07pm; Reply: 4
Quoted from forza ivano
just 1 other thought. Coke , is weirdly, a sign of what a different team we are this year. Thought last year he looked a class baove what we'd got and really improved us.Generally looked a class act. This year, i'm afraid to say, he looks like a weight round our neck, an impediment to our play. Sits too deep, slows things too much. and doesn't really offer   deal.Plus he seems to impede Fox in particular.
sorry to have to say that


He looked good in a poor team, he just seems to slow any progression up the pitch now. Thought he'd control the midfield in this league but I'm not sure having him there is doing us any favours..
Posted by: MuddyWaters, November 6, 2021, 9:11pm; Reply: 5
Our midfield hasn’t got enough depth. If it isn’t Hunt, Fox and Clifton, we struggle.
Posted by: lee65, November 6, 2021, 9:27pm; Reply: 6
Quoted from MuddyWaters
Our midfield hasn’t got enough depth. If it isn’t Hunt, Fox and Clifton, we struggle.


No Hunt = no creativity or dead ball accuracy, he helps others to be the best versions of themselves
Posted by: WHYWONTYOULETMESIGNUP, November 6, 2021, 9:43pm; Reply: 7
Thing is with the scale of the rebuild after last seasons disaster, a lack of depth was inevitable to a degree

Were all obviously feeling down at the minute but if we look at where we are we'd have been happy at the current outcome if we'd been told that at the start of the season. I'd actually argue, now that were currently in the title fight, a creative player could be equally important to our chances as a striker. Were our strikers missing chances left right and centre today? Not really

bapaga is really young and sousa lacks experience despite his age, been impressed with both of them at times but I dont think it would be fair on either of them to completely rely on them to be consistant enough to maintain a title challenge. I'd just write scannell and max wright off now and get someone else in, if either of those two can stay fit and get into the team then bonus
Posted by: MuddyWaters, November 6, 2021, 9:51pm; Reply: 8
Thing is with the scale of the rebuild after last seasons disaster, a lack of depth was inevitable to a degree

Were all obviously feeling down at the minute but if we look at where we are we'd have been happy at the current outcome if we'd been told that at the start of the season. I'd actually argue, now that were currently in the title fight, a creative player could be equally important to our chances as a striker. Were our strikers missing chances left right and centre today? Not really

bapaga is really young and sousa lacks experience despite his age, been impressed with both of them at times but I dont think it would be fair on either of them to completely rely on them to be consistant enough to maintain a title challenge. I'd just write scannell and max wright off now and get someone else in, if either of those two can stay fit and get into the team then bonus


I’m afraid Max’s body isn’t up to full time professional football. As for Scannell, if, and it’s a big if, we can get him fit, I think he’ll rip this league up. That said, we can’t wait forever.
Posted by: MaccasBoots, November 6, 2021, 10:03pm; Reply: 9
Thing is with the scale of the rebuild after last seasons disaster, a lack of depth was inevitable to a degree

Were all obviously feeling down at the minute but if we look at where we are we'd have been happy at the current outcome if we'd been told that at the start of the season. I'd actually argue, now that were currently in the title fight, a creative player could be equally important to our chances as a striker. Were our strikers missing chances left right and centre today? Not really

bapaga is really young and sousa lacks experience despite his age, been impressed with both of them at times but I dont think it would be fair on either of them to completely rely on them to be consistant enough to maintain a title challenge. I'd just write scannell and max wright off now and get someone else in, if either of those two can stay fit and get into the team then bonus


Completely agree with this re getting a creative player in. As much as everyone wants a goalscoring number 9 (including me!) perhaps what we are more in need of is a number 10 who can create goalscoring opportunities while also getting involved in the penalty area
Posted by: ginnywings, November 6, 2021, 10:21pm; Reply: 10
Quoted from MaccasBoots


Completely agree with this re getting a creative player in. As much as everyone wants a goalscoring number 9 (including me!) perhaps what we are more in need of is a number 10 who can create goalscoring opportunities while also getting involved in the penalty area


We have one but he's currently injured.
Posted by: Davec, November 6, 2021, 10:34pm; Reply: 11
That was very drab, Kiddy certainly wanted it more than us and we look nothing without Mcatee, we don't even look like scoring a goal atm which is concerning and does highlight that we can't just rely on Mcatee, Taylor was very isolated at times, no players near him at times which needs to be addressed, The formation never worked at all and it shows we do need reinforcements, Revan to me looks nowhere near ready for mens football, I know he looked excellent against Bromsgrove but every other time he's looked lost, Grant i thought did ok when he came on and I am hoping he can turn out to be effective when fit.

Improvements needed.
Posted by: MuddyWaters, November 6, 2021, 10:43pm; Reply: 12
Quoted from Davec
That was very drab, Kiddy certainly wanted it more than us and we look nothing without Mcatee, we don't even look like scoring a goal atm which is concerning and does highlight that we can't just rely on Mcatee, Taylor was very isolated at times, no players near him at times which needs to be addressed, The formation never worked at all and it shows we do need reinforcements, Revan to me looks nowhere near ready for mens football, I know he looked excellent against Bromsgrove but every other time he's looked lost, Grant i thought did ok when he came on and I am hoping he can turn out to be effective when fit.

Improvements needed.


Got to agree about Revan. Poor when he came on for Sears last week and an inadequate replacement for Crookes today.
Posted by: Maringer, November 6, 2021, 11:29pm; Reply: 13
Thing to remember about Revan is that today was his 5th appearance in 1st team football. Not too surprising he's likely to be more miss than hit given that record.

The lack of goals over the past few games is a concern though I don't really count the loss against Notts County in the same bracket as Wealdstone or today as that was against a decent team and we certainly didn't deserve to lose. The issue is that, without McAtee, we seem are struggling to find a way to beat supposed 'lesser' teams away from home. Other than Sousa, I do think we are lacking real pace in the attacking positions which will certainly not help.
Posted by: pontoonlew, November 6, 2021, 11:40pm; Reply: 14
Quoted from MuddyWaters


Got to agree about Revan. Poor when he came on for Sears last week and an inadequate replacement for Crookes today.


Been trying to say this about Revan for weeks, he looks a million miles away from being a professional footballer
Posted by: davmariner, November 6, 2021, 11:47pm; Reply: 15
Would have liked to have seen Pearson get a run-out in the cup. Must be a difficult one for him to take not even being given a chance in the cup, despite us looking a bit suspect defensively (and conceding sloppily) in the last few games.
Posted by: Dave Gilberts Left Peg, November 7, 2021, 6:50am; Reply: 16
Yesterday was not the day to start changing to three at the back, the players looked disjointed and the wing backs were totally ineffective. Change the personal by all means but play a formation that they know.
Posted by: lukeo, November 7, 2021, 6:56am; Reply: 17
I didn't go today so can't comment too much. But what I will say is I'm staying positive and upbeat UNLESS we don't win away to Aldershot then I'll be concerned and start to think what's going wrong. All teams go through good and bad patches, let's hope this is our bad patch and for me Aldershot is a perfect opponent to try turn this form around. UTM
Posted by: ginnywings, November 7, 2021, 8:58am; Reply: 18
Yesterday was not the day to start changing to three at the back, the players looked disjointed and the wing backs were totally ineffective. Change the personal by all means but play a formation that they know.


I don't think it's about formations as such. Nobody mentions changes of personnel and formations when we are winning games. Injuries forced a lot of the changes I would imagine but we didn't compete as a team by the sound of it. They wanted it more and we are in a poor run of form.
Posted by: Hagrid, November 7, 2021, 9:01am; Reply: 19
Yesterday was first time for myself this season showing any disgruntlement towards players and manager alike

Listened to PH Postmatch and he was fairly damning of the players, i cant deny a little concern
Posted by: quebec38, November 7, 2021, 9:33am; Reply: 20
I get what we were trying to do yesterday but I just don’t think we had the midfield to do it. Without McAtee we don’t have a player in the middle that will join up with the attack and when Hunt is unavailable there isn’t anyone that can put their foot on the ball and dictate the game.

I like Fox, Clifton and Coke but to varying degrees they are all scrappers who’ll win the ball. It’s one thing identifying the problem but another identifying the right player who is available that can come and help. Hopefully we can find someone soon because we need competition in there.

Instead of 3 similar in the middle maybe we should just go for broke and play 442. Coke and Fox together, Harry on the left and Sousa on the right. Taylor and another up front. Just chucking all kinds of crazy ideas out there but maybe a completely left-field choice like Max alongside or in the hole.

I just think if you’re going to play with a midfield that will struggle to create but at the same time solid, you’re probably gonna get done 1-0 which is exactly what happened. Let’s throw caution to the wind and at least do something that will get us on the scoresheet to begin with.

Total ramblings from me but it’s not all doom and gloom by a long way. McAtee is probably due back for BW and Scannell is supposedly getting fitter. Maybe he could provide that competition in behind Taylor.

R2 would have been nice but it was a freebie yesterday. Lessons learnt, forget about the result now and look forward to Solihull.
Posted by: headingly_mariner, November 7, 2021, 1:06pm; Reply: 21
Should’ve beaten them yesterday, had lots of opportunities to hurt them but made poor choices or poor passes. We should definitely have had a pen as well. All in all we didn’t really do enough.

I don’t want to be gripped in another major thread about whether things are acceptable or not, but anyone any idea why a proportion of fans were singing anti catholic sectarian songs?
Posted by: FishOutOfWater, November 7, 2021, 1:13pm; Reply: 22
Quoted from headingly_mariner
Should’ve beaten them yesterday, had lots of opportunities to hurt them but made poor choices or poor passes. We should definitely have had a pen as well. All in all we didn’t really do enough.

I don’t want to be gripped in another major thread about whether things are acceptable or not, but anyone any idea why a proportion of fans were singing anti catholic sectarian songs?


I don't think we did enough to beat Kiddy - a draw would maybe have been a fair result but we were playing with fire in trying to restrict them rather than having a more expansive, attacking line up

I certainly don't begrudge Kiddy the win but after they got in front the way the game played out and the way the ref pandered to them made it really difficult for us to create anything to get us back in to the game

Our shout for a penalty looked legitimate but the ref wasn't interested for some reason..... I'd like to see that again not that it mattters now

So it's back to focusing on the league.... onwards and upwards.

We also ought to forget about the trophy and play our youth ( or do they insist on a certain number of regular first teamers? )


As for the singing can't say I noticed anything untoward? I was to the right side of the stand so maybe those chants didn't carry...
Posted by: HerveJosse, November 7, 2021, 1:16pm; Reply: 23
Yesterday was not the day to start changing to three at the back, the players looked disjointed and the wing backs were totally ineffective. Change the personal by all means but play a formation that they know.


Not just yesterday that the formation has changed we have gone into each of the three games lost with a new formation. It is a lot to ask of players at this level several of whom are young are developing . We had a formation and style that worked and while one or two key players have been absent for each game it surely must be easier for the remainder to cope if they are not asked to play in a new way each game . One or two square bags in a round hole to plug an injury gap is better then ten IMO.Players are under pressure from results as well now to add to the issue.
Posted by: Theimperialcoroner, November 7, 2021, 2:44pm; Reply: 24
Quoted from headingly_mariner


I don’t want to be gripped in another major thread about whether things are acceptable or not, but anyone any idea why a proportion of fans were singing anti catholic sectarian songs?


I couldn’t make out what they were singing, but I suspect they were doing so because they have tiny penisss
Posted by: arryarryarry, November 7, 2021, 3:30pm; Reply: 25
Quoted from quebec38
I get what we were trying to do yesterday but I just don’t think we had the midfield to do it. Without McAtee we don’t have a player in the middle that will join up with the attack and when Hunt is unavailable there isn’t anyone that can put their foot on the ball and dictate the game.

I like Fox, Clifton and Coke but to varying degrees they are all scrappers who’ll win the ball. It’s one thing identifying the problem but another identifying the right player who is available that can come and help. Hopefully we can find someone soon because we need competition in there.

Instead of 3 similar in the middle maybe we should just go for broke and play 442. Coke and Fox together, Harry on the left and Sousa on the right. Taylor and another up front. Just chucking all kinds of crazy ideas out there but maybe a completely left-field choice like Max alongside or in the hole.

I just think if you’re going to play with a midfield that will struggle to create but at the same time solid, you’re probably gonna get done 1-0 which is exactly what happened. Let’s throw caution to the wind and at least do something that will get us on the scoresheet to begin with.

Total ramblings from me but it’s not all doom and gloom by a long way. McAtee is probably due back for BW and Scannell is supposedly getting fitter. Maybe he could provide that competition in behind Taylor.

R2 would have been nice but it was a freebie yesterday. Lessons learnt, forget about the result now and look forward to Solihull.


Coke and Fox failed against Notts County and failed yesterday.

As regards the "freebie"  it was a total loss, loss of a winnings prize and the loss of a possible big pay day if we had managed to get to round 3.


Posted by: quebec38, November 7, 2021, 4:05pm; Reply: 26
Failed against Notts Co?? Fox was asked to play the McAtee role and did OK considering it isn’t his position. Hunt and Coke were side by side behind him. All 3 did fine in a cobbled-together lineup that didn’t deserve to lose. Pointless argument anyway because I meant Hunt alongside Fox in the middle of a 4.

You’re right it was a competitive game and there are no freebies. But if we don’t go up this season it will have nothing to do with the fact we went of the FA Cup in round 1 away at Kidderminster.
Posted by: arryarryarry, November 7, 2021, 5:38pm; Reply: 27
Quoted from quebec38
Failed against Notts Co?? Fox was asked to play the McAtee role and did OK considering it isn’t his position. Hunt and Coke were side by side behind him. All 3 did fine in a cobbled-together lineup that didn’t deserve to lose. Pointless argument anyway because I meant Hunt alongside Fox in the middle of a 4.

You’re right it was a competitive game and there are no freebies. But if we don’t go up this season it will have nothing to do with the fact we went of the FA Cup in round 1 away at Kidderminster.


Who said anything about losing yesterday and going up? I don't know the point you are trying to make there.

It must be every team's ambition at our level to look for that big pay day. Lincoln made a decent wedge a few seasons ago, we must have made a bit out of Palace and Chelsea.

I was hoping that if we made a bit of cash it would have gone someway to getting rid of the Fenty legacy.
Posted by: KingstonMariner, November 7, 2021, 7:57pm; Reply: 28
Quoted from Theimperialcoroner


I couldn’t make out what they were singing, but I suspect they were doing so because they have tiny penisss


Ooh! The Grimsby branch of the UVF don't like that! Red crosses rather than red hands though  ;D ;D ;D
Posted by: wigworld, November 8, 2021, 12:03am; Reply: 29
Quoted from Theimperialcoroner


I couldn’t make out what they were singing, but I suspect they were doing so because they have tiny penisss


(confused1)
I have a tiny tackle, but I don't sing sectarian songs.

Posted by: bedders78, November 8, 2021, 9:12am; Reply: 30
Quoted from HerveJosse


Not just yesterday that the formation has changed we have gone into each of the three games lost with a new formation..


We played the usual 4-2-3-1 against Wealdstone and Notts County, with an injured McAtee behind LJL in the first and Fox behind LJL in the second. Kidderminster was a good opportunity to try out a change away from the league

Posted by: pontoonlew, November 8, 2021, 10:14am; Reply: 31
Quoted from bedders78


We played the usual 4-2-3-1 against Wealdstone and Notts County, with an injured McAtee behind LJL in the first and Fox behind LJL in the second. Kidderminster was a good opportunity to try out a change away from the league



We did try that formation against Stockport as well in the league and for me, that was our worst half of football all season before this current run. Was very surprised to see us try it again.
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