Just Back

We have a number of players (and the team) that are not playing anywhere their true potential.  Or their form varies considerably.   The prime responsibility for this rests with any manager.  The buck stops with Hurst.  

Anyone know why Hurst kept the Shop on when he was clearly limping, and took Hannah off instead? And don't give me any balderdash about Shop winning a penalty and scoring - we were very lucky to get given a pen.

Shop was a liability today. Every attack broke down when he got involved. Couldn't control the ball. Couldn't win a header. Hannah was wasteful too but at least he was involved in creating chances.

Hurst is a stubborn illegitimate who should be looking for a new job on Monday.

Quoted from KingstonMariner

Anyone know why Hurst kept the Shop on when he was clearly limping, and took Hannah off instead? And don't give me any balderdash about Shop winning a penalty and scoring - we were very lucky to get given a pen.

Shop was a liability today. Every attack broke down when he got involved. Couldn't control the ball. Couldn't win a header. Hannah was wasteful too but at least he was involved in creating chances.

Hurst is a stubborn illegitimate who should be looking for a new job on Monday.

I just think our midfield and strikers were very poor today,

If we did nor get the pen I could not see us scoring,

The only time I saw any encouragement from the bench is when Dog got up and shouted at them,

Before that Hurst and I do not know why Moore stood   closed mouthed at the touch line.

Quoted from grimsby pete

I just think our midfield and strikers were very poor today,

If we did nor get the pen I could not see us scoring,

The only time I saw any encouragement from the bench is when Dog got up and shouted at them,

Before that Hurst and I do not know why Moore stood   closed mouthed at the touch line.

run out of ideas?

I thought we were unbeaten in the first 5 games this season

My views:-

Was very surprised to see Neilson relegated to the bench.

Town started fairly brightly with MacReth carrying on where he left off on Tuesday with a couple of decent runs. Alas this promise lasted no longer than ten minutes before Tuesday's failings came to the fore. Poor distribution from a midfield that missed Clay's cool head terribly and simply dreadful "finishing" when anywhere near the goal. Lenny was poor but for a player who claims to thrive off service Hannah was quite simply appalling. He saw plenty of the ball but his first half was summed up by being 12 yards from goal and unmarked with time to either bring the ball down and shoot or plant a firm header goalwards. Seemingly caught in two minds he did neither and glanced his header nearer the corner flag than the goal.
Once the desired effect of passing through the midfield failed to boost the team our back four decided that they would revert to hoofing the ball in the general direction of Lenny who as already mentioned was poor. Nothing stuck and Dartford were let off the hook.
Our only on target shot in the first half came from Paddy but was to the near post from a poor angle and, although well hit, had little chance of finding the net and the keeper (who looked nervous throughout) made a comfortable save.
Second half was pretty much more of the same. They scored-an unmarked header which must worry the management team. Neilson came on and offered something more than MacReth (which alas wasn't difficult) although some of the comments I've read on here seem to be portraying him as the teams saviour describing him as "our only attacking player". I did see him running into trouble with the ball but in fairness he did give their left back something to think about.
Coupled with the introduction of Oates (for Hannah) whose physical presence gave a tiring Dartford defence problems the stage was set for a gung-ho last ten minutes.
It's all about opinions but how anyone can say that the penalty was somehow "lucky" is beyond belief. It came about because LJL did what he should have done all game-make a thrusting run into the box. His upper body strength forced the defender to foul him as he looked to pull the trigger. (Incidentally the BBC reckoned that the sending off was for deliberate hand-ball.
I confess to not being able to watch the penalty so missed the alleged "sshhhh" gesture. I say alleged because Big Chris who was stood in front of me says elsewhere that he didn't see it. Elsewhere there is criticism of Lenny for not running back to the centre with the ball and somehow allowing the game to peter out. For me that is yet another ludicrous criticism of a player who (a.) has just got his team back into a game they looked like losing and (b.) isn't the captain. I'd have expected the whole team to have gone at it-especially as Dartford were down to 10 men but the midfield in particular looked as though they were settling for a point. In actual fact the two best attacks in time added on were Dartford's.
Although Dartford's home record against the more fancied teams they've played thus far is reasonable it was for me a game we should have won.
Just a word about the fans. After their goal a chant of "Hurst Out" could be heard from I suspect half a dozen or so behind the goal. It lasted ten seconds before those around them shut them up which suggests that the travelling faithful haven't yet given up on the manager. In the bizarre world that is football one can only wonder how long this will continue for.

Thanks for that Barra. Overriding impression is that once again we failed to win a game we should have?

Quoted from ginnywings

Thanks for that Barra. Overriding impression is that once again we failed to win a game we should have?

I think we should have won....

Quoted from grimsby pete

I just think our midfield and strikers were very poor today,

If we did nor get the pen I could not see us scoring,

The only time I saw any encouragement from the bench is when Dog got up and shouted at them,

Before that Hurst and I do not know why Moore stood   closed mouthed at the touch line.

Blimey, has it got that bad that we've got MDT on the bench now.  

Quoted from grimsby pete

I just think our midfield and strikers were very poor today,

If we did nor get the pen I could not see us scoring,

The only time I saw any encouragement from the bench is when Dog got up and shouted at them,

Before that Hurst and I do not know why Moore stood   closed mouthed at the touch line.

Are you sure he was not BARKING orders at them Pete?