Just back  (merged)

We held a decent side to a draw. A cracking finish from Eisa but after that, Mansfield became more and more dominant. They hit the woodwork a couple of times, pulld a save or two from Eastwood and had that one on one trickle just wide. About five minutes later, a similar move saw them round Eastwood and score. With better finishing, Mansfield would have thrashed us today, but we will come up against plenty of teams worse than them.

On the evidence of the first few games, it’s looking like a mid table season. We’re defensively too good (and have enough goals from midfield) to be in a relegation battle  but in the final third we just  lack creativity and runners. We won’t score enough goals this season to threaten the top seven.

Agree, we haven’t progressed in attacking areas from last season which is a bit disappointing. Danny Rose definitely a downgrade on George Lloyd.

40% possession at home is pretty poor regardless of whom we are playing.

Make no mistake, that was a very very good point because Mansfield were a cut above us from the 15th minute onward.

We started really well, took the game to them and scored a thunderbolt from Eisa, who is proving to be the one to score goals for us at the moment.

Apart from bringing a great save out of their keeper just before half time, to take an improbable 2-0 lead, we didn't threaten their keeper any more.

Mansfield hit the woodwork twice, missed a glorious chance when their player was clean through and muffed it up, but in the end, it was a mistake that cost us the 3 points. Hesitation allowing their player to pick up a ball he shouldn't have and finding himself free and clear with an empty net.

If you had told me on Monday that we would take 4 points from these two home games, I would happily have taken it, but I hope than one day, we can play with the fluidity and thrust that Mansfield showed today.

I'm a lot happier than their fans will be tonight, because they were much better than us.

Mansfield are everything we were supposed to be this season . Strong , fit , powerful , fast etc etc . If we can’t come close with the money last season then we never will . A lucky point today thanks to a worldly ,

Quoted from realist

40% possession at home is pretty poor regardless of whom we are playing.

Unless you are playing a better side, about 6 seasons in the making.

Typical Paul Hurst team - plenty of running about but zero creativity, we just don't create anything.

And anyone who thinks Eastwood is an upgrade on Crocombe needs their head testing.

Somehow managed to spend the cup run money, but on what?  We create absolutely nothing, just aimless hoofs up to Rose.

Limp through to January, bring more bang-average players in, and continue to bore fans with his style of play, utterly dull but so predictable.  

Hurst hasn't addressed the main problem we've had for years now has he? In fact, we look even more impotent going forwards this season than ever before. Just about deserved a point for a battling display against a vastly superior Mansfield.

Genuine question Ginny, how many more years does Hurst get to turn us into a side like Mansfield?

Quoted from Quagmire

Genuine question Ginny, how many more years does Hurst get to turn us into a side like Mansfield?

I'm a massive Hurst fan but with success or failure he will never provide that 'brand' of total football .

And even though i understand somes wish for it , in reality all of the last 3 teams we have played , with much more costly assembled squads would have probably given us a beating if we went toe to toe with them  ; unfortunately as a collective they just have better players .Harsh but true .

I think how we do in terms of a promotion push will depend on whether we can beat strugglers convincingly and but a few back to back wins together ; October through to Febuary is much more easy looking , on paper at least . Not draw 0-0 to the likes of Crawley ,Colchester etc