Just Back

Quoted from Hagrid

The defence has been dogshit all season, so all this " theres a player in there" is codswallop.

Collectively and individually they are not good enough and I'd happily see the 4 that started on Saturday out the door ( Possibly push Glennon further forward or if we played with wing backs he'd do alright)

But their first job, is to defend, and none of them seem remotely capable of even doing the basics

Quoted from Poojah

I’m not sure I buy that. There’s no questioning that the basics aren’t being done currently, but the notion that the likes of Rodgers and Maher aren’t capable of them doesn’t really stand to reason.

Maher was virtually ever-present in a Halifax side with the best defensive record in the National League the season we went up - 35 goals in 44 games, and was fine for most of last season. At 27, Rodgers had played almost all of his career above this level when we signed him.

I’m not questioning what you’re seeing in the here and now; we’re all seeing it. There just has to be more to come from those two in particular, doesn’t there?

Quoted from Poojah

He knows where the danger is, because he’s pointing at it. But rather than go and close it down himself, he expects someone else to do it for him. Eventually, he does attempt to close Jones down, but the second or so of time on the ball he’s given him makes it easy to whip in yet another dangerous ball. “And there’s the goal…”

Quoted from Poojah

This is the bit I struggle to wrap my head around, because there’s no doubting that in recent weeks we’ve put on a string of defensive displays that are so far short of the minimum acceptable standard it’s not funny. Saturday again was just basic, basic stuff, time and time again. County scored the same goal 4 times in a row, and that can’t be a coincidence.

But then you look at the personnel. After a slightly shaky start last season, Niall Maher proved himself to be a more than capable League Two centre-half, albeit on the small side, but that wasn’t the issue on Saturday, nor was it against Walsall really.

Harvey Rodgers looked great in his first couple of appearances, but has been seriously dodgy ever since. And yet he’s played well over 100 games for Accrington in League One, so why is he seemingly incapable of League Two football now at the age of 27? This level should be a walk in the park for him.

Glennon blows hot and cold, but he wasn’t implicated in any of Saturday’s, and probably only really the last of Walsall’s 6 the game before. He’s not really been the problem. Could he be pushed harder for his place however? I think Amos going out and a replacement coming in before the close of the window looks likely.

As for Mullarkey, it’s harder to come up with a defensive argument. Not bad going forward at times, though with a severe lack of end product, but defensively he just looks dangerously short of the standard. As you and others have alluded to, it’s very basic stuff. His poorly timed dart forward for County’s first has had its fair share of scrutiny, but the below still is taken right before their third goal.

He knows where the danger is, because he’s pointing at it. But rather than go and close it down himself, he expects someone else to do it for him. Eventually, he does attempt to close Jones down, but the second or so of time on the ball he’s given him makes it easy to whip in yet another dangerous ball. “And there’s the goal…”


I hate to dig individuals out, it’s a tough gig being a League Two footballer sometimes, but at the more severe end of this season’s potential outcomes is yet another loss of our football league status. That would be unthinkable, and we can’t afford to carry passengers. Ultimately, Mullarkey made his football league debut at 27, got relegated with his first league club and is struggling at his second. The evidence suggests he’s not good enough. With Efete seemingly not in Artell’s plans, a replacement is needed. A steady-Eddie type will do me; get the basics right and the rest will follow.

I’d like to think we’re not a million miles away. Where we’re going wrong isn’t rocket science. Having added another centre-back with recent League One experience in Doug Tharme, we should have sufficient talent in the centre to sort out the basic mistakes we’ve been making. Bringing in a genuine threat to Glennon’s starting berth would be advantageous, and a new face at right back is a must.

But I have faith that a few tweaks here and there, some personnel based, some organisational, will go a long, long way. If we can restore a sense of confidence in the defence, I can see us making some significant progress across the whole pitch in a very short space of time.

Quoted from diehardmariner

I think I've just about got my breath back!

First of all, that was just fantastic entertainment.  I simply didn't want that game to end and wouldn't have grumbled had the ref just let it play on forever.  For me, having found myself losing a bit of my interest and enthusiasm for Town over the last 18 months at various stages, that's so welcome!
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Quoted from CSLM

Don't think it has been mentioned that our 4th was because Mullarkey did bomb forward and put a reasonable ball in early. He is a bit like Glennon. They both can be dangerous going forward but are often out of position and struggle to get back.

We seem to be playing more and more like Notts. with the way we get so many players forward. It is leaving us short at the back but definitely enjoyable to watch. Saying that we can't keep conceding this many and so many chances. Both teams missed good chances on Saturday.