Match thread

Well...Wagner was entertaining

BP looks a bit empty, hopefully just my perception.

GET IN JP

There are two empty seats in the flight from Dublin to Leeds tomorrow,I was supposed to head to the game! Enjoying it on BT sport though! UTM

Great save from Macca

If these first 10 and a bit games have shown us anything, it's that marking on crosses is not our forte. haha

Fantastic reaction save from McKeown though.

World Class save from Macca. But again poor from Town defensively.  Need to close the crosser down much much quicker.  No pressure at all.

Brilliant save from Macca. For me, Tranmere are finding much too much room in centre mid, and not enough pressure on crossers who are delivering the ball almost at will into the box.. We haven't really got going in terms of our passing, but we're getting away with it defensively a bit.

My 30 minute assessment (FA qualified coach by the way)
Tranmere are pants and if we can't beat this garbage we've no chance of promotion

First clean sheet today, it's going to happen!

Well East has been nothing short of phenomenal. The whole team are grafting and earning wages big time, regardless of result I'm proud of the team tonight, they're working so so hard.

I think we've played quite poorly. Not using the ball well enough and we're still not marking at crosses.

Pleased to be winning and the team are working hard but we really haven't got going at all and seem to be giving the ball away far too readily. At times we've looked asleep defensively. There are some big gaps between midfield and forwards, and we're really not winning second balls at all. Tranmere are dictating without creating anything of note. We really need to take the game to them in the second half, because we're at home and we're making nothing of that advantage.

All of that said, I'd take a messy 1-0 win right now. The result is everything really, but we need to do much better second half.

Phenomenal really ? Wow.

I think we have played ok without really getting out of 2 nd gear.

Tranmere look poor and if we step it up it could be an easy night but got to step it up.

Don't agree we bossed the half IMO

Its funny really, we can create shed loads of chances and not score, and yet today we've scored when never really looking like we will

So impressed with East. We've been okay, not really needed to step it up a gear yet.

Quoted from Mariner93er

Its funny really, we can create shed loads of chances and not score, and yet today we've scored when never really looking like we will

Yes, it's notable that. I agree. This game is there for the taking if we can step it up attacking the Pontoon.

What was i saying about got to step it up .

Well, we've started in exactly the same mould and have inevitably paid the price. We need to step it up now, or this game could run away from us quite quickly. Many of our players just not in the game.

Appallingly lethargic start to the second half and the inevitable sloppy goal. (Although Blissett finished brilliantly to be fair.)
When you give the momentum away so unnecessarily it's always incredibly difficult to get it back.  Poor stuff this.

Arnold and robertson been poor tonight for me.

I have said it from the beginning that robertson slows the play down.

Tomlinson on, lets hope to see a debut goal

Town stepping it up a little bit, but without any end product.

Monkhouse and Arnold particularly disappointing for me. Don't think that right sided position suits Arnold.

Nope me neither.

Winning lots of corners, if not much else. Beautiful piece of skill from Clay.

Bogle when the pass is on just pass it  , i undrstand he is a striker but sometimes he has to be clever and look up.

We're missing Amond's movement IMO and the lack of pace wide left. We've been better in the last 15 minutes but disappointing that we haven't created a clear cut chance. We need some impact from Mackreth.

Strange game , i felt if we just were a bit more clever we would be winning this comfortably.

Brabin must be on something though if he thinks they been on top as he keeps saying.

Bogle very wasteful tonight. Had a few opportunities to lay off to players in scoring positions but too greedy.
Not good enough by a long long way.

Quoted from Badger57

Bogle very wasteful tonight. Had a few opportunities to lay off to players in scoring positions but too greedy.
Not good enough by a long long way.

Jesus, you really never do show yourself on here after a win do you?

Not good enough tonight. The last twenty minutes showed a bit more what we're capable of but if we only keep playing for 20 minutes or so each match then we're not going to have any chance of going up. Clay was very good in the second half and Arnold shouldn't have been taken off, he was starting to do things. Defence still looks dodgy. Bogle very greedy tonight.

Tomlinson chabged the game for us i thought we shold of won  tbh

Liked our energy and zest and in truth thought we looked the better side.If we can keep that level of consistency up in every game we should do well this season.

Its hard work supporting town you can see the team have it but i think something is just not quite right, something missing and i cant just put my finger on what it is .

I thought clay was motm but drawing too many games we need to be winning to get promotion.

70 minutes of clueless tepid crap ! One dimensional tactic of long balls to Monkhouse easily dealt with by Tranmere.

If we had played the first seventy minutes the way we played the last twenty we would have been out of sight of a poor side who we made look good !!!!!

When a tactic is not working, (which it was not), surely as a manager you can see that and change things accordingly ?

If these two sides are the pre-season favourites it shows what a poor league this is !

I think tonight confirms my thoughts that we just aren't good enough to win this league.
Tranmere were very very ordinary but they looked relatively comfortable against us.
  

Quoted from chaos33

Monkhouse and Arnold particularly disappointing for me. Don't think that right sided position suits Arnold.

Could not make match tonight but this hits the nail on the head for me. Our two wide players do not go take their full back on round the outside thus cramping us up in the middle and not opening up the space & getting in quality crosses.

After poor first 15 minutes thought last half hour we stepped up a gear with Clay dominant in midfield, agree with Johhny Boy tonight that Bogle's inexpeience stood out a few times when not releasing the right ball or taking on optimistic shots etc..

We seem so close to being a very good Conference team something just missing at the minute, effort is their and commitment to the shirt but lack a little quality at vital times.

Average game from a tele view, both teams will be around top 5 but don't think either are champions. We don't look to have that clinical, just win mentality.

Bogle greedy, Pittman poor, in short, we just don't look good enough. Clay looks twice the player Robinson is though.

not a bad game  but showed that we lack that bit of quality. plenty of comitment but we are a long way short of even a play off stuff never mind champions

Quoted from Rick12

Liked our energy and zest and in truth thought we looked the better side.If we can keep that level of consistency up in every game we should do well this season.

The consistency was the reason we didn't win! Play like the last twenty minutes even just for a half and we'd have won. This is happening too much and when you're prone to letting in daft goals like we are, it doesn't bode well.

Got to say, overall, quite disappointing and frustrating. No shortage of effort but we just didn't do enough throughout the game to win. On that evidence. neither team look like they have enough to win the league. Disappointed in two more dropped points at home and the fact that we never really got control of the game, apart from the last 20 mins of the second half, and, even then, we didn't really create anything. I thought Clay and East played well. Disaapointed in Monkhouse, Arnold, Pittman and Bogle.

Tranmere are obviously decent but its a disappointment to see us fail to make anything of the home advantage and put them under any real pressure, or work their keeper. You just know that if that game had been at Prenton Park, we'd have lost that. Overall, and I'm being honest here, I don't think the situation bodes well for the rest of the season without some marked improvements. 11/12 games is a fair period to make an inital assessment of that.

There are some patterns emerging - lack of presence and pace in centre mid, Arnold and Monkhouse offering little, gaps between the forwards and midfielders, second best with the second ball, sloppy defending and evident defensive vulnerability, and a lack of pace or threat, especially wide left. I suppose we have little option other than to persevere, but it's really only blind faith that would make any fan think we were about to mount any sort of challenge on the top league positions. We do look like a 7th/8th placed team, which is very disappointing.

Caught the last 20 and was impressed by Tomlinson's workrate. It seemed abundantly clear that we have a lack of pace down the left and it just slowed us down.

Good game against good opposition

A good point

Quoted from mariner91

The consistency was the reason we didn't win! Play like the last twenty minutes even just for a half and we'd have won. This is happening too much and when you're prone to letting in daft goals like we are, it doesn't bode well.

Overall though I thought we looked better though.Yes we had patches when we could have done better but you could see the passion was there.Like you said though things could of been better but I was pleased with the performance.

Quoted from 120790

Good game against good opposition

A good point

A pint of what you're on please

watched on telly-could not believe how slow Monkhouse is. Is Hurst capable of motivating a tean because the way we started the 2nd half we looked totally bereft of commitment and desire. Goal again from an individual error, and just as Arnold does get his act together and make good runs he takes him off, when Bogle was struggling to get back into the game. just plain disappointed I suppose.

Tranmere were not good and we were average
Overall just not good enough

Quoted from Rick12

Overall though I thought we looked better though.Yes we had patches when we could have done better but you could see the passion was there.Like you said though things could of been better but I was pleased with the performance.

No offence Rick but if you're happy with that performance then you're not setting your standards very high. I'm a Hurst fan but we can't keep not turning up for 75% of a match. We only looked the better team in the last twenty minute and for large periods of the game were definitely not the better team. Tranmere weren't great either, reasonably solid but I think the best they can hope for is to scrape in to the play offs. The frustrating thing is that we looked good towards the end and we can play like that, at our best we're unstoppable at this level. But we don't do it enough. And the even worse thing is that we're still crying out for a midfielder to take the game to the opposition. If, big if, Clay can play like the last twenty minutes for the whole game every game then we might have one but we needed someone in there during the first half and start of the second to take the game by the scruff of the neck.

Can't agree that it was good game or that they were good opposition. They are decent - Hurst thinks they're the best team we've played so far, but then that's not saying much. I thought it was an ok game against decent opposition and nothing more. I do feel, if we really did have championship credentials, we'd have beaten them without too much trouble.

Played well from 70 minutes onwards but didn't create much. No clean sheets and 4 wins from 11 just isn't good enough.

No doubt we'll go on a winning run October/November time like usual but I can't see is bridging the FGR gap (which I think will get bigger over the next 8 days)

Quoted from Madeleymariner

watched on telly-could not believe how slow Monkhouse is. Is Hurst capable of motivating a tean because the way we started the 2nd half we looked totally bereft of commitment and desire.

That would be my fear with Hurst.I like the guy but sometimes feel he isnt strong enough or passionate enough.Having said that he is a nice person which is why I want him to do well(Neil Woods again).As much as I hate to say it if we dont get promotion this season he may be out,

Felt like we made hard work lf that to be honest but they were defending really deep no doubt about it. Not sure what I feel about it really.. crap defending cost us again which is a shame as Macca made a couple of great saves.

There is something missing.
For all the passion and commitment chances are not being taken and ultimately the team appear to run out of ideas and steam. Again a mistake (by Arnold) who had acres of space and time gifted them the opportunity and they took it and I guess that sums up our season so far. We make too many mistakes and for all the hard work cant convert our chances. Its frustrating to watch because you can sense this team are capable of so much more. But there is something just amiss.

Quoted from mariner91

No offence Rick but if you're happy with that performance then you're not setting your standards very high. I'm a Hurst fan but we can't keep not turning up for 75% of a match. We only looked the better team in the last twenty minute and for large periods of the game were definitely not the better team. Tranmere weren't great either, reasonably solid but I think the best they can hope for is to scrape in to the play offs. The frustrating thing is that we looked good towards the end and we can play like that, at our best we're unstoppable at this level. But we don't do it enough. And the even worse thing is that we're still crying out for a midfielder to take the game to the opposition. If, big if, Clay can play like the last twenty minutes for the whole game every game then we might have one but we needed someone in there during the first half and start of the second to take the game by the scruff of the neck.

Good points.Iam going to be seeing a lot more of Town this season which will give me  a better measure of how we are doing .Iam still a optimist and feel we will get in the play offs though with this club and budget we should be pushing for automatic and not hovering  just above the play offs or wanting to get into them.

We just cannot get perform for 90 minutes, we cannot win our home games, even away results are down on last season.  It's just not good enough, play offs at best I'm sure the usual suspects will be on here saying long way to go yet and we can win the league but I will take a lot of convincing. (Ready for the x brigade)

Gave you one just so your not diappointed

Teams know how to play us , like last season and the previous one . Probably good game to watch if you were a neutral  , frustrating for us Town fans . Did enough to win , rub of the green wasn't on our side . They were street wise.  One mistake and a goal , happening all too often.

We were disappointing in the first game and were still disappointing. I cant see any improvement
Still you never know, things might click and we go on and do a Mansfield
A win on Tuesday and everything is rosy-ish again

You're entitled to your opinion Mart

McKeown's kicks to Monkhouse often just drifted out and left us without the ball.

Bogle was beating himself up too much and then wanted an extra second without seeing players in better positions.

Tomlinson - impressed with his direct play and have a go attitude - good game for Robertson on the left. Good loan signing!

Blissett was the main factor in Tranmere's revival - pace and ability to drag defenders out of position - didn't give Gowling or Nsaila a minute's peace.

Pittman got 15 minutes too long - ran out of steam.

We are no threat from corners - Midfield free kicks also lack accuracy.

When we pass on the ground, we look good, then we stop playing like that - first half, first to each challenge - 2nd half, mostly second, usually then giving easy fouls away.

Didn't kill them stone dead when on top in the 1st half.

(I must copy and paste that to save writing it each week !)

We need to save the first 20 minutes so it lasts for the full 90 !

Shame - set off so well, yet again.

Got to credit Blissett for his goal though, very well taken at pace !

Missed Amond alongside Bogle for definite

Lets be honest we are not exactly acheiving what operation promotion was set out for are we ?

We are just keeping up with around the top 7 -8 but i have to say after seeing pre season i expected more.

Drawing too many games and a leaky defence isnt exactly promotion looking , there is time but i am just underwhelmed and admire town fans and all the positivity but why cant we just do what we set out to do for once.

A draw at chester and a draw at home to a team we need to beating for promition  isnt exactly laying down a marker.

So frustrated.

Quoted from jonnyboy82

Lets be honest we are not exactly acheiving what operation promotion was set out for are we ?

We are just keeping up with around the top 7 -8 but i have to say after seeing pre season i expected more.

Drawing too many games and a leaky defence isnt exactly promotion looking , there is time but i am just underwhelmed and admire town fans and all the positivity but why cant we just do what we set out to do for once.

A draw at chester and a draw at home to a team we need to beating for promition  isnt exactly laying down a marker.

So frustrated.

Have to agree with this. As you said earlier something is missing and IMO its lack of leadership. Ive always wanted Hurst to succeed (for obvious reasons!) but I honestly think he wont last the season, so should we make the change sooner rather than later. Im not one for slagging off the manager, but surely other peoples patience must be running out as well?

I was expecting more from Town tonight, I know we didn't lose but we had enough chances to win that game, so frustrating!

I thought we missed something between the CMs and the forwards; so I think we need a change around.

Monkhouse was poor last night, as was Arnold (who I don't think plays very well at all on the right). So to cater for Monkhouse's passing range, and lack of pace - push him into the centre, above Clay and Disley, and below Bogle and JP.

With the LM freed up, put Arnold there, with either Marshall or MacKreth on the right.

To me Robertson is a good back up player but Tait should start there instead, Robertson is ok defensively but last night showed he lacked the diversity to get forward and play. East was fantastic. Gowling and Toto did perform well IMO, it was just unlucky they switched off for their goal, but Toto won nearly everything in the air, and Gowling is just superb. McKeown also saved very well when needed. JP got the goal but is stil 3rd in line IMO. Disley did another good game and Clay was fantastic. Bogle seemed far too selfish as well, needs to come down a peg and pass more, as there was a sterling chance where Arnold was unmarked on the right and Bogle tried to get through a crowded box. Until Amond is well again, I think Tomlinson should start up front with Bogle as he showed glimmers of real intent last night.

Overall, Hurst should try this lineup as it would give us a real edge and attacking flair:

Bogle-Tomlinson (Amond when fit)
Arnold-Monkhouse-Marshall/MacKreth
Clay-Disley
Tait-Gowling-Toto-East
McKeown


Overall we were very unlucky as we did show great pieces of play (minus the first half)

Quoted from buckstown

My 30 minute assessment (FA qualified coach by the way)
Tranmere are pants and if we can't beat this garbage we've no chance of promotion

Is that what you put in your reports ?  

I thought it was a reasonably entertaining game. In spells we looked decent. I do however think Bogle needs to either use his standing foot a bit more, or learn to play others in when it does come to him on his right. It was like watching an HGV turning round most of the night trying to get it on to his left.

I thought the few minutes we saw of Tomlinson he looked decent, he came on and got stuck in. Although the guy near us wasn't impressed. "Lincoln Scum" is all he managed to say before the nurses came to pick him up. I knew something was a miss when  I noticed his Manchester United hat.

Bob and Robertson work well together, down the left. Clay played well again, and Macca had a good night. Made a couple of good saves, and looked a lot more confident.

Still, I got to go on the pitch. Shook Diz's hand and got a birthday signed football
I called him young man, he looked slightly confused lol.