Classic Hurst

The bizarre thing tonight was that it wasn't just the usual case of a bad performance where one or two players were doing poorly or players were making the wrong decisions at important moments or getting skinned by their opponents, it was the fact that even simple control and passing which you would normally take for granted was basically not happening. We were moving the ball so, so slowly against a team happy to defend in depth and then pile forward from set pieces (and goal kicks which their keeper struck excellently), that we never really looked like breaking them down and every time we had a moderately decent bit of play, we'd kick the ball straight to an opponent or knock it into touch.

As is usually the case, the few occasions where we played some good football, we created half chances. Unfortunately, this only occurred about 3 times that I can remember but both of LJL's chances came on his weaker left foot and Hannah's chance came on his weak right foot! Can't we get them to swap sides?  

After last season, I thought our midfield would be greatly improved this season and it generally has been but tonight, all four of them were hopeless. I bet Southport can't believe how bad Brown was tonight after he played so well for them last season. Clay doesn't look fit at the moment, either, and was well off the pace.

Quoted from Maringer

We were moving the ball so, so slowly against a team happy to defend in depth

Normally that's a sign players aren't sure what to do !

Yes players take responsibility.
But I mainly put it down to facing a side who were closing down every available outlet.

We've heard a lot of criticism about Hurst and his clueless tactics.
But (apart from starting Oates) very little constructive suggestions about what he should have done instead.

Generally when you can't play through or get in behind, you either start shooting from long range (which we did !)
OR get your players into the box and lump it in there to cause havoc.

Some complain they don't want route 1 in the air but equally they didn't like the "passing" tonight either...
Is it Buckley dissatisfaction deja vu ?

Personally I think we've bogged ourselves down in a "passing" ideal and forgotten the basics in the process !
Chester were a lightweight passing team who came to play (the early goal helped...)
Southport were a big well organised unit who mainly came to shut up shop.

We had little joy in the air - is this why Hurst was looking for a "Target Man" ?...
After tonight, I wouldn't be suprised !

Credit to Southport but we were spoilt under Buckley IMO and every GTFC manager has had the same "can't break them down"  issues since....

The fact is we're struggling against (some of) the big teams and those that come to defend.
If we can't break them down it's reasonable to assume we might be better off throwing the kitchen sink at a target man and trying to pick up the scraps instead...?

In an ideal world, you've got different types of player to adopt different tactics as required.
It comes back to the "balance of the squad" IMO...

Quoted from ackomariner

I did say to keep the same team and have LJL on the bench to give his injury that bit more time after coming on on sat.

He didn't look fit on sat and still didn't look fit again tonight IMO , but the whole team tonight were poor

I'd agree with that......

Are the players playing for the clown?  Didn't always look like it to me.  Must be difficult playing in a team where your team mates resemble a revolving door.

Quoted from maxfox44

Are the players playing for the clown?  Didn't always look like it to me.  Must be difficult playing in a team where your team mates resemble a revolving door.

But that has been the case at most clubs lower than the Championship for a long time now. A lack of financial security means that clubs generally cannot afford to give long term contracts.

Quoted from barralad

I can't be bothered to look back at the team thread but I seem to think a lot of posters would have chosen to go with LJL tonight? Not saying you did but hindsight is a wonderful thing.....

Spot on