You could tell something wasn’t quite right...

It was pretty clear from early on that something wasn’t quite right today. I find it hard to believe Jolley would have sent us out to play long ball which is all our 3 centre halves seemed to want to do. Midfield 3 totally bypassed and straight up to two strikers unable to hold up the ball. Cook is a creative number 10 and all he could do all day was try compete for headers he was clearly never going to win. The plan was clearly to play through the lines and get the full backs high up the pitch but we just seemed to revert to type and panic. Jolley elluded to this in his post match interview, “six weeks work ignored etc”. Don’t agree with those calling for him to ditch the 3-5-2 after 1 game. He clearly believes in his system and philosophy and he has earnt the right, in my opinion, to be given time. It was clear we need a number 9 who can hold up the ball and bring others into the play. Hopefully we get that this week. Clifton’s positioning at RWB was a little suspect at times but he’s still clearly learning the position. Welsh impressed and was visibly angry at Rose’s lack of bite and enthusiasm at one stage, as was I throughout.

Theres nothing to learn he’s not a right wing back for christ sake

Quoted from 58mariner

It was pretty clear from early on that something wasn’t quite right today. I find it hard to believe Jolley would have sent us out to play long ball which is all our 3 centre halves seemed to want to do. Midfield 3 totally bypassed and straight up to two strikers unable to hold up the ball. Cook is a creative number 10 and all he could do all day was try compete for headers he was clearly never going to win. The plan was clearly to play through the lines and get the full backs high up the pitch but we just seemed to revert to type and panic. Jolley elluded to this in his post match interview, “six weeks work ignored etc”. Don’t agree with those calling for him to ditch the 3-5-2 after 1 game. He clearly believes in his system and philosophy and he has earnt the right, in my opinion, to be given time. It was clear we need a number 9 who can hold up the ball and bring others into the play. Hopefully we get that this week. Clifton’s positioning at RWB was a little suspect at times but he’s still clearly learning the position. Welsh impressed and was visibly angry at Rose’s lack of bite and enthusiasm at one stage, as was I throughout.

Not saying much but I thought Rose was one of our better performers today. Woolford, however, may as well not have been on the pitch. Hessenthaler showed some passion and surely will start next time. Agree with the rest though - totally by-passed midfield and also gifted the Veggies 20 yards of space every time they started to put passes together. A scout sat in front of us -was making copious notes on the Veggies - maybe for their next opponents (Oldham). I was peering over this shoulder and early in the second half - before the equalliser he wrote "FGR different footballing class"

Didn’t go today as it’s my daughters wedding so apart from what I’ve seen in “highlights” I guess I really can’t comment on the performance but I must say I was a bit surprised by the selection.

Anyway let’s just hope it gets better next week, debit from the MJ goodwill account I reckon.

Rabbits in headlights from the whistle of the start of the second half

Can’t ageee on rose vs Woolford. The latter at least retained possession and looked creative on the ball. He’s not going to make bursting runs at his age but he’s one of few with a bit of guile on the ball. Rose and Welsh in there to do the hard yards. Really don’t understand why people rate Rose, bar his penalty taking abilities. Makes silly fouls in bad areas, gives the ball away in bad areas, looked lost and half a yard off all of their midfielders. Passenger again today.

if cliftons not a wingback what is he?

I love Clifton but I don’t think he needs to be shoe horned into the team in a position he’s not familiar with? Though he might have potential to play RWB If we’re playing a midfield 3 I’d still love to see him
In there eventually alongside welsh and one other.

Clifton should never play Right Wing Back again, he's a central midfielder who did a very good job right wing, he was owned and bullied by there player today.

Quoted from 58mariner

Can’t ageee on rose vs Woolford. The latter at least retained possession and looked creative on the ball. He’s not going to make bursting runs at his age but he’s one of few with a bit of guile on the ball. Rose and Welsh in there to do the hard yards. Really don’t understand why people rate Rose, bar his penalty taking abilities. Makes silly fouls in bad areas, gives the ball away in bad areas, looked lost and half a yard off all of their midfielders. Passenger again today.

Woolford is weak in a tackle and often gives the ball away. Should have been binned at the end of last season.

Agree with Clifton shouldn’t be shoe horned into a team just to fill a position , he looked lost unfortunately Reid and mills doubled up on him and Harry got more and more frustrated which resulted in the positional mistakes. Having said that others played poorly in their preferred positions

Teams aren’t stupid. They will target our right hand side knowing Clifton is only young and inexperienced. Centre halves will therefore get pulled out of position. 3-5-2 also relys on midfielders getting out to close down players if our wings backs are pinned back and rose and Woolford just weren’t doing that yesterday, hence our awkward shape throughout.

Thought Welsh showed what's to come industrious , fearless just a shame about 6 or 7 others .

There is also another possibility. FGR were just much better than us, and they pulled us out of shape and forced us into panic strewn errors. I think that was one of the best footballing displays i have seen by a visiting team for a long time. Certainly much better than your average league 2 side. Clifton was excellent at the end of last season, but he was up against the best player on the pitch for me. Their wide left player was top drawer.

I'd be surprised if a i saw a better all round display than theirs again this season.

Quoted from ginnywings

There is also another possibility. FGR were just much better than us, and they pulled us out of shape and forced us into panic strewn errors. I think that was one of the best footballing displays i have seen by a visiting team for a long time. Certainly much better than your average league 2 side. Clifton was excellent at the end of last season, but he was up against the best player on the pitch for me. Their wide left player was top drawer.

I'd be surprised if a i saw a better all round display than theirs again this season.

Fair assessment that

Couldn’t agree more. Very envious

Quoted from ginnywings

There is also another possibility. FGR were just much better than us, and they pulled us out of shape and forced us into panic strewn errors. I think that was one of the best footballing displays i have seen by a visiting team for a long time. Certainly much better than your average league 2 side. Clifton was excellent at the end of last season, but he was up against the best player on the pitch for me. Their wide left player was top drawer.

I'd be surprised if a i saw a better all round display than theirs again this season.

This is the top and bottom of it. We were totally outplayed, much as it pains me to say it.

They took us by surprise by how good they were, but our formation against a team as skilful and as fluent as them made things much worse.

It is a shame we had to get them first up, as they have obviously spent a lot in wages to get together a team like that; had we got most other teams at home I am sure we would have given them a decent game.

Nothing is decided after one game though, and it will be interesting to see where both teams finish up, but I would be shocked if FGR don't have a great season.If they don't we might be in a spot of bother...

Quoted from ginnywings

There is also another possibility. FGR were just much better than us, and they pulled us out of shape and forced us into panic strewn errors. I think that was one of the best footballing displays i have seen by a visiting team for a long time. Certainly much better than your average league 2 side. Clifton was excellent at the end of last season, but he was up against the best player on the pitch for me. Their wide left player was top drawer.

I'd be surprised if a i saw a better all round display than theirs again this season.

Amazing how these recently promoted teams (FGR/Lincoln) seem to look to develop to the next level  

I just hope those that were impressed with FGR and think they will be around the top are correct, because if they are a bottom 6 team where does it put us,remember Chesterfield last year and because we beat them how good we thought we were.

Quoted from Gaffer58

I just hope those that were impressed with FGR and think they will be around the top are correct, because if they are a bottom 6 team where does it put us,remember Chesterfield last year and because we beat them how good we thought we were.

With the talent they have and a chairman who will strengthen in Jan no reason why won't be up there no reason at all

Quoted from Gaffer58

I just hope those that were impressed with FGR and think they will be around the top are correct, because if they are a bottom 6 team where does it put us,remember Chesterfield last year and because we beat them how good we thought we were.

They were last season, but that side was much improved and much changed. I'd be staggered if they finished below half way.

Listening their fans as they left BP. They were gobsmacked at what they had seen and as they said, they did not see that coming. Neither did we, that is football.

It felt a bit like a friendly yesterday no urgency no real effort.

What puzzles me is that when Jolley came in with 10 games or so to go he immediately got us playing some kind of football, and it was one of the factors that got the fans back on board after all those painful months of Slade hoofball. So why did we resort back to hoof ball?

If there is one thing that will turn the fans its excrement route 1 football, admittedly I wasn't there yesterday but even the village green fans commented on our lump. It and hope game plan.

Like HertsGTFC, my daughter also got married yesterday.  We were both spared the carnage of such a very poor Town performance.

After one game, however dire, judgements cannot be made on the rest of the season.  Jolley is more likely to make the changes needed after a very poor performance than after an average team performance.

I will be there next Sat and hope to see a better game.  

Totally agree with 58Mariner (see below)


Can’t agree on rose vs Woolford. The latter at least retained possession and looked creative on the ball. He’s not going to make bursting runs at his age but he’s one of few with a bit of guile on the ball. Rose and Welsh in there to do the hard yards. Really don’t understand why people rate Rose, bar his penalty taking abilities. Makes silly fouls in bad areas, gives the ball away in bad areas, looked lost and half a yard off all of their midfielders. Passenger again today.

Why when we lose do people always cite 'he showed passion' - that should be a given and players show it in different ways. I thought all players showed passion and commitment yesterday. We want controlled passion but far more intelligence, craft and composure