Just back

Another shitshow from a manager well out of his depth. Was the wrong appointment and he’s taking us down. Could have been easily 6/7 had Stockport not resorted to game management.

We have two crucial games in the next week. We can’t afford to limp on with Artell for those.

Quoted from davmariner

Another shitshow from a manager well out of his depth. Was the wrong appointment and he’s taking us down. Could have been easily 6/7 had Stockport not resorted to game management.

We have two crucial games in the next week. We can’t afford to limp on with Artell for those.

Our season isn't going to be defined by losing 3-1 to the likely champions of the league. Defending was poor again but Stockport are a very good team. Going forward we had flashes of good play but as whole clearly not on Stockport's level. We are definitely starting to get into must win territory now and have to pick up a result on Tuesday.

Thinking its the wrong man at the wrong time. He is stubborn as intercourse and we have a defence who cant defend yet he insists on this playing from the back. Maher and Dodgers were horrific today.

Has artell improved us? No. Not at all

I didnt expect a win today, but i dont expect the same mistakes week in week out when we are still in need of points.

Credit Vernam for a good 2nd half

All you can say is that the result looks far better than we were expecting at half past three when another cricket score looked on that cards. So at least our goal difference wasn't hammered as badly as it might have been.

I guess we had the toughest fixture of the bottom five, so the fact that only Doncaster gained ground is one crumb of comfort.

Cartwright kicking the ball straight to a Stockport player for the first goal and with Town being asleep when Stockport took their free kick which led to their second goal did not help. Giving two 'soft' goals to the potential champions was not a good plan.

Quoted from Hagrid

Thinking its the wrong man at the wrong time. He is stubborn as intercourse and we have a defence who cant defend yet he insists on this playing from the back. Maher and Dodgers were horrific today.

Has artell improved us? No. Not at all

I didnt expect a win today, but i dont expect the same mistakes week in week out when we are still in need of points.

Credit Vernam for a good 2nd half

Lucky Stockport sat back a bit 2nd half and just tried to get us on the break. 1st half all it took was a bit of a press and we fall to pieces again. Our keeper, defence and midfield are not clever enough to play Artells style.  Vernam needs to start next game, as has been best attacker on the pitch last 2 games.

How about the players ignore the bolloc.ks instructions from our Pep and play to their strengths?

Quoted from MarinerRob

Cartwright kicking the ball straight to a Stockport player for the first goal and with Town being asleep when Stockport took their free kick which led to their second goal did not help. Giving two 'soft' goals to the potential champions was not a good plan.

I don't think it was the plan. We have been gifting the opposition soft goals all season , both under PH and DA. Some of them decision making by players this season has been beyond belief.

I thought Artell had improved us, and I was one that thought we should persist with how we were playing. I'm now turning because what we're being served at home is nothing less of shambolic. He said he wants to turn BP into a fortress, well that fortress is made out of flipping cardboard because we're weak as urine at the back and the mentality of some of these players is just astonishing. Harvey Rodgers passed more balls to them and into the stands today than he did to a black and white shirt. I gave him credit last week for a good performance to go and follow it up with that, it's like he's afraid of the ball. Vernam and Rose should be the first names on the team sheet and I feel we need to change the way we set up. As much as I can't tolerate Kieran Green, at least he flipping runs. Holohan showed why Artell had him out the side, him and Clifton got battered worse than the fish at Papas today and that's saying something. Setup shop with Green and Thompson sat infront of the back four and let Arthur, Abo, Charles and Danny attack. Abo Eisa has scored 9 goals this season and I still don't think he's actually that good...

Starting to think that the Crewe side he brought to BP a few years back might just have been playing a excrement Jolley? Town side. Worryingly though this is the brand of football the owners want us to be playing 😳.

One thing that really stuck out to me is one of the commentators, who I thought were very good btw said that you have to get the fans on board as well as sticking with a style of play. He said of all the years he's been following Stockport he always knew Grimsby as a blood and thunder team and that the fans got behind it and he saw none of it in that team. Couldn't of been more true, we've been starved of a very good team for nearly 20 years. All most of us want to see is a team that'll try and fight for the badge. It's why most of us love Danny Rose, it's why we loved John Mcatee and it's why we loved Craig Disley. That should be a bare minimum of a professional footballer that you at least put effort in and work your socks off.

It’s a fúcking mess.

Remaining relatively calm for now, the second half could’ve changed that but we limited the damage and Vernam was good when he came on.

It just feels like we constantly give the opposition golden opportunities yet don’t concede many ‘half chances’, it’s so bizarre to watch. Cartwright essentially killed the game in an instant with an absolutely woeful pass. The decision to play out from the back is much debated but that had nothing to do with that, it was just purely brainless football. The second goal is just naive and the third is just rank bad defending.

Second half we looked much better, Vernam changed things in our favour but some wise subs from them to go to a back 5 just killed off all momentum we had.

If you look at the facts, we’ve lost to the future champions who are sweeping aside most before them. We’re essentially 8 points clear of relegation with a game in hand against two sides who can’t pick up points to save their lives at the minute. Will we go down? I don’t think so, but I understand why people are nervous.

Artell does have a responsibility to shore things up though, it’s not as if we’re reaping the benefits from the attacking side of our play to justify the negatives it presents at the back. I think Artell will turn us into a decent side eventually, but it sure will be nerve wracking if the next few weeks don’t go to plan.

Worrying lack of nous to stop that free kick for the 2nd being taken. Not surprising given the general shambles of that first half.

This style of football is not and never going to work with this side. The budget available and what we could recruit was not set up for this and I now feel a bit sorry for Hurst. I didn't and still do not think he was the man to kick us on but there's something seriously wrong wrong with our recruitment if this is what we can bring in.

I've said it before and I'll say it again. My disappointment is immeasurable at not kicking on from the promotion with a rejuvenation of the ground/ new ground, new facilities, new opportunities for the fans and building towards League 1, just as Lincoln did.

We've just played a team that's top of league 2 that cannot sell out our away end which is simply astonishing. A Grimsby side top of this league would sell out an away end from here to Carlisle, Plymouth and back again.

I really don’t where to start other than to say it’s getting worse not better. I’m not privy to the chairman’s thoughts but, admirable as the desire to play nice football is, you can’t do it without spending money on players who can play it.

The two full backs were decent as was Chas when he came on but the rest of them were just not good enough. Really worrying.

Quoted from louth_in_the_south

How about the players ignore the bolloc.ks instructions from our Pep and play to their strengths?

They did at one point and ended up arguing with each other

Quoted from dapperz fun pub

They did at one point and ended up arguing with each other

What happened?

Abysmal, as they say, keep doing the same things you get the same results. Mr Artell needs to realise this or he will end up under huge pressure result was as I expected today but the performance was shocking. Also, why did we not recruit a goalkeeper crying out for an experienced keeper. Poor results this week and I think the crowd will be very aggressive on Saturday. The home form is a disgrace, and in truth, it is a bloody chore to go at the moment. Utm

I'm not sure how it's Artell's fault if the goalkeeper passes it straight to one of their players.

Or how it's his fault if our defenders completely capitulate.

He's been hired by our owners (who gave us the unbelievable play off and fa cup seasons over the last two years - something the tik tok addicts on here seem to have forgotten about very quickly), because he plays a certain style of football. He's not going to suddenly go against all his principles and play hoofball because you're whinging on a forum.

Back the manager. Back the players. Back the club. We all need to put a shift in if we want a good end to the season. Fans leaving the game at thirty minutes certainly aren't doing their part.

Quoted from MaccasBoots

I'm not sure how it's Artell's fault if the goalkeeper passes it straight to one of their players.

Or how it's his fault if our defenders completely capitulate.

He's been hired by our owners (who gave us the unbelievable play off and fa cup seasons over the last two years - something the tik tok addicts on here seem to have forgotten about very quickly), because he plays a certain style of football. He's not going to suddenly go against all his principles and play hoofball because you're whinging on a forum.

Back the manager. Back the players. Back the club. We all need to put a shift in if we want a good end to the season. Fans leaving the game at thirty minutes certainly aren't doing their part.

Blaming the fans for walking away from the utter dogsh!t they were served today is quite the take

For the first eight minutes we were fine. Big crowd (songs from Pontoon, Findus and our bit of the Osmond), players clearly up for it- then whoosh- a ridiculous example of playing out from the back (who gives a pass to someone with an opponent up his backside?), and the foundations holding up our confidence collapse. Sadly, the effect went well beyond events on the pitch. The fans who had been backing the team were still there but the support turned, not unsurprisingly to vociferous anger. This clearly unsettled the players and for the next 35 minutes we were an utter mess. The second goal came because of our utter failure to perform even the most basic task. My football career rrached the dizzy heights of Grimsby Sunday League Division 7 but even I know that as a defending team you do everything you can to prevent a free kick being taken quickly. FFS stand on the ball...anything.
We are now in the situation where a sizeable portion (if not yet a majority) of the support do not buy into the ethos of playing out from the back. They (we) vocalise their concerns and I believe that concern enters the players consciousness. After the second goal and being willed to do so Cartwright hit a goal kick long. I looked over towards the technical area and Artell was livid with him.  The 3rd goal (free header 15 yards out completes a miserable half hour.
The sevond half was 100% better but too little effectively too late. Huge month coming up.

Quoted from MuddyWaters

I really don’t where to start other than to say it’s getting worse not better. I’m not privy to the chairman’s thoughts but, admirable as the desire to play nice football is, you can’t do it without spending money on players who can play it.

The two full backs were decent as was Chas when he came on but the rest of them were just not good enough. Really worrying.

I thought the full backs were pretty crap and no improvement whatsoever.

Quoted from MaccasBoots

I'm not sure how it's Artell's fault if the goalkeeper passes it straight to one of their players.

Or how it's his fault if our defenders completely capitulate.

He's been hired by our owners (who gave us the unbelievable play off and fa cup seasons over the last two years - something the tik tok addicts on here seem to have forgotten about very quickly), because he plays a certain style of football. He's not going to suddenly go against all his principles and play hoofball because you're whinging on a forum.

Back the manager. Back the players. Back the club. We all need to put a shift in if we want a good end to the season. Fans leaving the game at thirty minutes certainly aren't doing their part.

It’s burying your head in the sand like this that will send us down to the National League for a third time.

Well that was depressingly predictable. Thought we started ok but the first goal was a catastrophe and the confidence visibly drained out of us.
Stockport were just faster in thought, execution and transition, perfectly illustrated by the goal from a free kick deep in their own half. I could live with the playing out from the back if the centre halves were a bit more adventurous, but they're terrified and seem to buckle under the slightest pressure
The second half was a bit better but when you're 3-0 up at half time you can afford to relax. I'm astonished that Artell sticks to plan A week after week given our weaknesses, but to be honest the only conclusion is that there can't be a plan B and that means that any manager worth his salt will suss us out with ease. Tuesday is a very big game but Cowley must be licking his lips at the thought of getting amongst our defence

Quoted from dapperz fun pub

They did at one point and ended up arguing with each other

Yep. Maher I think it was played it forward straight away instead of fancying about at the back and got a bollocking from one of the management team, I assume Artell.

Absolutely furious with that abomination of a display, first 5 minutes we showed Stockport can be got at and we are ok going forward. After that we fanny about at the back with players who are not able to do it, Cartwright has shown that, Rodgers, Maher etc.

I just don't think I can bear a whole season of this shite of fannying about 10 yards from our own goal until we get pressured and panic and gift chances away. I just can't stand the away support literally laughing at our buffoonery in defence that comes from the manager. It's absolutely soul destroying. I am already coming round to being Artell out. Seeing those players and seeing them unable to play out in that way, but insisting on it as it's your philosophy - fook off! Your employed to win us matches and points, not spread some gobbledygook philosophy about how you wish we could play football!

I thought we was in a relegation battle but I was still confident we would stay up but FFS I am getting worried now. Artell is so pig headed it's unbelievable and we are walking with our eyes wide open into a 3rd relegation to non league.

Quoted from MaccasBoots

Back the manager. Back the players. Back the club. We all need to put a shift in if we want a good end to the season. Fans leaving the game at thirty minutes certainly aren't doing their part.

The fans have backed the club with back-to-back record season ticket sales

We’ve been badly let down by two multi millionaire owners who seem more concerned with B-Corp status and Scotch eggs

Genuine question - what is the actual point of either of them being involved if this is the best they can offer?

Quoted from MaccasBoots

I'm not sure how it's Artell's fault if the goalkeeper passes it straight to one of their players.

Or how it's his fault if our defenders completely capitulate.

He's been hired by our owners (who gave us the unbelievable play off and fa cup seasons over the last two years - something the tik tok addicts on here seem to have forgotten about very quickly), because he plays a certain style of football. He's not going to suddenly go against all his principles and play hoofball because you're whinging on a forum.

Back the manager. Back the players. Back the club. We all need to put a shift in if we want a good end to the season. Fans leaving the game at thirty minutes certainly aren't doing their part.

It doesn’t matter if you play pretty football or are well run, we simply can’t afford another relegation. Relying on two teams being worse than us is shades of a previous regime.

Expected it to be difficult today but that was a first half surrender.

Thompson looked ok last week, he had his bottom handed to him first half today and the defending was pitiful.

Artell has made us worse and at real risk of relegation. He's frozen out Wilson and Pyke who can score goals. He comes across as a bit of a male masturbator in his interviews. He needs to sort it out.

Im calm and a bit down tbh . Last nights news about Peter Handyside has knocked the football out of me today .

The next 5 games will Define our season . 3 wins bare minimum required

Quoted from Quagmire

The fans have backed the club with back-to-back season ticket sales

We’ve been badly let down by two multi millionaire owners who seem more concerned with B-Corp status and Scotch eggs

Genuine question - what is the actual point of either of them being involved if this is the best they can offer?

Maybe it's the fact that they have given us more in 2 completed seasons than the previous owner did in nearly 20 years. Today's performance, and the last few home games, have been dire. Rome wasn't built in a day and I'm sure JS & AP are quick learners. 3 from bottom is as good as 8th from top and a new season to look forward to.

Artels tactics are good if we had the players to do it, so survival it is.

Quoted from Quagmire

The fans have backed the club with back-to-back season ticket sales

We’ve been badly let down by two multi millionaire owners who seem more concerned with B-Corp status and Scotch eggs

Genuine question - what is the actual point of either of them being involved if this is the best they can offer?

I'd like to know this too. I know it's tongue in cheek about the whole B-Corp and scotch eggs stuff, but what is the long term plan for the for the club? We went up, had an average-ish league performance and an incredible cup run, but where's it all gone? We've sold so many season tickets, more shirts than we probably have in the previous 5 seasons in 1, more merchandise than any other season and fan buy-in that cannot be measured that feeds all into this.

Where are we going?

Oh and the mindless booing of short pass and the shouts to launch it are a pure embarrassment. They players are struggling, that sort of nonsense just makes it worse.

Paul Hurst was often criticised for paying too much attention to the opposition and setting us up accordingly. I’m no expert on Stockport County, but if their commentary team are to be believed, they are the best pressing team in the division.

It feels to me like we’re currently not paying enough attention to the opposition. Playing out from the back feels like it’s the right thing to aspire to overtime and with a confident, competent team will probably take us further in the long run. It will almost certainly be better to watch. But right now we’re clearly not getting the right balance of when to do it and when not to, both in-game and in preparation for the opposition in front of us.

Quoted from DB

3 from bottom is as good as 8th from top and a new season to look forward to.

I suspect that was our previous owners ethos and not one we should want to emulate. 3rd from bottom is effectively 2-3 wins from relegation.

Quoted from headingly_mariner

Expected it to be difficult today but that was a first half surrender.

Thompson looked ok last week, he had his bottom handed to him first half today and the defending was pitiful.

Artell has made us worse and at real risk of relegation. He's frozen out Wilson and Pyke who can score goals. He comes across as a bit of a male masturbator in his interviews. He needs to sort it out.

Thompson wasn't that bad, the two in front of him were terrible however.. and how on earth has he frozen out Pyke? The blokes been injured but started every single game before hand and Wilson doesn't want to be here. The problem isn't going forward, it's at the back.

Quoted from DB

Maybe it's the fact that they have given us more in 2 completed seasons than the previous owner did in nearly 20 years. Today's performance, and the last few home games, have been dire. Rome wasn't built in a day and I'm sure JS & AP are quick learners. 3 from bottom is as good as 8th from top and a new season to look forward to.

Artels tactics are good if we had the players to do it, so survival it is.

Yeah but we haven’t got the players to play it and the one who can has been frozen out. I’m surprised that you equate finishing 8th and 22nd because I can’t see as many renewing STs if we finish just above the drop.

Quoted from Plankton

I suspect that was our previous owners ethos and not one we should want to emulate. 3rd from bottom is effectively 2-3 wins from relegation.

But at the end of the season, those two below you get relegated. I don't know what JS & AP had in mind for this season, given last years, but I don't think a relegation fight was part of it.

We are where we are and a relegation fight it is. 16 games to go so anywhere from 3rd from bottom upwards.

Artell is the denominator here . He’s made his bed . We will play out from the back . Cartwright follows the instructions. It goes wrong. DA blames the players.

Who’s wrong? I know . We all know.

Quoted from Quagmire

The fans have backed the club with back-to-back season ticket sales

We’ve been badly let down by two multi millionaire owners who seem more concerned with B-Corp status and Scotch eggs

Genuine question - what is the actual point of either of them being involved if this is the best they can offer?

Jesus Christ, whining about b corp and scotch eggs - I honestly doubt "fans" like yourself give a toss about the club, you just want a good whinge. urine off.

It wasn't clever under Hurst this season but were going down with this guy and ammature owners

Quoted from out of town

Blaming the fans for walking away from the utter dogsh!t they were served today is quite the take

I've seen some awful town performances in my time, far far worse than today. I'm honestly embarrassed that fans of my club would leave so early.

Quoted from davmariner

It’s burying your head in the sand like this that will send us down to the National League for a third time.

Please let us know what your plan is for keeping us out of the national league - I'd be interested to hear what Artell and the owners have been missing!

Quoted from MuddyWaters

Yeah but we haven’t got the players to play it and the one who can has been frozen out. I’m surprised that you equate finishing 8th and 22nd because I can’t see as many renewing STs if we finish just above the drop.

I equate that because at the moment we sh!t at home and dropping points every game. Any team between 8th and 22nd win absolutely nothing but the chance next season to compete in the same league.

On this season's showing I don't think that we will achieve the ST's that we have done this season, regardless of where finish. Letting in 16 goals in 4 home games doesn't exactly motivate ST's to renew, but staying in L2 will have some ST's renew and more walk ins if we do well.

Artell is a bluffer & i dont care if i get a zillion xxxxxs he needs to go

Just listened back to his post-match interview, the man is off his rocker. Our away form is dogshite and Stockport took their foot off the gas in the second half.

I wanted to give him the benefit of the doubt but he a one trick pony that's not working & he quite clearly as no plan b

Well common sense tells you  how to set up you also you have to consider your opposition,play out from the back ? with this back four we will have have lots of problems   and it did ! we are playing Stockport best team in the league . Our defence has been so poor all season. Colchester on Tuesday  I fear the worst . Artell needs to ask himself are Sutton and Forest Green going to be this bad all season and coming out with fate tempting statements like we won’t be relegated are in my opinion just plain stupid  I think everyone on this forum knows where we may end up  

Quoted from DB

Maybe it's the fact that they have given us more in 2 completed seasons than the previous owner did in nearly 20 years. Today's performance, and the last few home games, have been dire. Rome wasn't built in a day and I'm sure JS & AP are quick learners. 3 from bottom is as good as 8th from top and a new season to look forward to.

Artels tactics are good if we had the players to do it, so survival it is.

People have been saying this on this forum for more years than it actually took to build the Roman Empire.

Quoted from headingly_mariner

Oh and the mindless booing of short pass and the shouts to launch it are a pure embarrassment. They players are struggling, that sort of nonsense just makes it worse.

No more embarrassing than the excrement show of a first half performance.

Bad afternoon and another weekend ruined. I’m not going to loose my marbles though as I thought we’d get nothing from today and thought the score would have been much worse to be honest. Now Tuesday and Saturday coming are a totally different kettle of fish in that we simply must show that we have improved(I believe we have from what I saw at Accrington) and get 6 points from them. If not then I’ll consider joining the many and joining in with the meltdown……..

For those saying we weren’t expected to pick up any points today, what’s your excuse for the Harrogate and Walsall matches?

Quoted from dapperz fun pub

They did at one point and ended up arguing with each other

Cartwright got a bollocking off Artell "flipping ignore him, DO THE RIGHT THING" in the first half after kicking it long.

Don't see how this is gonna work the BP faithful aren't gonna put up with tippy tappy football around the back.. we haven't got the players to play that way anyway.. sleep walking into a relegation battle..

Why bother playing the game if we expect to lose it?

Quoted from TwoLeftFeet

Don't see how this is gonna work the BP faithful aren't gonna put up with tippy tappy football around the back.. we haven't got the players to play that way anyway.. sleep walking into a relegation battle..

Everyone would be all in for this type of football if we had the players who could execute it and we win a match.

[quote=140776]

Maybe it's the fact that they have given us more in 2 completed seasons than the previous owner did in nearly 20 years. Today's performance, and the last few home games, have been dire. Rome wasn't built in a day and I'm sure JS & AP are quick learners. 3 from bottom is as good as 8th from top and a new season to look forward to.

Artels tactics are good if we had the players to do it, so survival it is.

[/quote
Can't see us doing that we've only won 6 games all season, only the bottom two have won less. Need to stop this playing out from the back until next season and concentrate on picking up points at all costs.

I am slowly beginning to understand how playing out from back can work at this level and why ours doesn’t. .
Stockport playing from the back comprises short ball from goalkeeper to full back to centre back who is rapidly advancing when receiving the ball carries it 10 yards and launches a 30 yard pass to one of the two or three midfield or forward runners who is already beyond our midfield.
Our playing out from back goalie to centre back to full back then back to centre back who is static still in his own penalty area and facing onrushing forwards he is under pressure and either loses the ball or hoofs into touch.
Our problem appears to be a combination of static centre backs and no midfield / forward runners to target.

My biggest issue is how predictable it all is. Stockport pressed on Thompson from minute one probably knowing that Holohan is simply not good enough to beat the press.

Quoted from MuddyWaters

My biggest issue is how predictable it all is. Stockport pressed on Thompson from minute one probably knowing that Holohan is simply not good enough to beat the press.

I fully expect a side like Stockport to do their research and know who they're playing against.

Baffled me when their player went down injured in the first half which resulted in a big break in play - Danny rose {our captain} was over in that area yapping to him and some other of there players and the rest of the team was in our half but not really doing a great deal…. Thought it would be a good time for a coming together to discuss some things like Stockport was doing.

Just feels like there is no togetherness there at all.

I was born in 1977. My first game was 1983. That i believe is 41 years ago and unless I'm mistaken we have never finished higher than my first season !.

I am worried today. Quite a lot;

1.I live away and went to listen to the match on Mariners TV. It was all muffled, ridiculous and wound me up that I have subscribed to a season pass, but it is not rare for these problems to exist. Not sure really that this is acceptable as a product format yet.

2) I then hear we go one-nil down early and combined with my technical problems, I simply lost interest. Am I bad person?... it actually worried me, apathy... just sheer frustration.. really not like me at all.

3) I look at half time and we are three-nil down and my next door neighbour in Colchester comes to taunt me, I am going to the match on Tuesday and offered to take him and he refused, Rather stay in the warm he says. (In the end, fortunately they let a 92nd minute goal in at Harrogate so I knocked on his door to tell him)

4) Back to half time, I then try and work Mariners TV in second half and all good, apart from it's Stockport commentary talking about how Grimsby are their bogey team and they are grateful to win so easily. Quite simply is that what I paid for? No.

5) I listen to David after the match, I really liked Paul Hurst and bizarrely he and Jon Nolan lived down my mum and dad's road when at Ipswich, but I think everyone all agreed this season didn't quite work out. I do feel a bit for David, I really do. But in some ways, he reminds me of myself and my own early year's experience in business where I come with my own idealistic philosophy. I made mistakes by forcing onto people who are not capable or want to change, too quickly. Is he right, is he wrong who knows?.... but you simply cannot let in 16 goals at home in 4 games and then say we scored 5 versus Notts County as a counter argument. David that needs to stop and that is wrong on your part.

6) I really believe David is honest and trying and I want him to succeed, but tonight he has made his own job far more difficult - a mistake tonight talking about fans. He has enough fires with the players changing to his strategy without accidently creating another problem for himself.

7) I will be there on Tuesday with 9 other friends and family as is it my local match. I've spent a fortune and  want success. But let's look at the data (or facts).. its not so good at the moment, so a slight pivot to protect against relegation might be a more prudent step.

Bottom line is 6 points in last 9 games is unsustainable and frankly unacceptable. We don't need negativity on here; we just need to survive, move on and not self destruct through any kind of ideology.

9) I have immense time for Jason and Andrew. They care and clearly want to improve match day experience and football. Successful people don't like "perceived failure" and they will be really hurting at the moment. It's difficult for them too, what they want is not happening. Trust me, having worked with many multi-millionaires in work, they will be at home now with like a bear with a sore head. So lets' look to their intentions not the current results and keep the faith.

10) Either I'm a silly boy who lives in the south and doesn't go to as many matches as I used to you and rely on listening to the radio / streaming, but in summary I want to say tonight I'm a bit worried and the trends are not good. Risk is growing incrementally weekly. My own apathy is not a good feel or a good look and has to be questioned by me and the club..... Is it simply because I'm getting older and a misery or simply less tolerant of poor performance for whilst the love of my life is ultimately discretional spend? I feel I should be spending far more not less, but something is holding me back.

Let's now pull together and solve this absolute nightmare season. See you Tuesday and hope for 3 points to ease the concern, If anyone wants a cup of tea or beer in Colchester you are more than welcome to DM me.

We must get points Tuesday. Simple as that, because we need to be looking up.

UTM

Shambles really.
Horrendous first goal, from behind the goal I thought Cartwright should've saved it. Suicide pass in the first place.
Second was schoolboy stuff but the pass across was very composed.
Third was awful to, how was he completely free in the middle of the box? Real quality from Sarcevic though tbf.
Could've been more, very depressing. Definitely not good when the players know that the crowd are against what they've been told to do, understandable as it is.


There was just nothing in midfield whatsoever. They were good at making the pitch as wide as possible but we didn't half make it easy for them. They had some real quality though for league 2.Crazy how every other team seems to have so much space. Cannot just be a coincidence. Oh dear.

Really not sure if it is good or bad that we are playing everyone around us next few games. Guess we will find out.

Just watched the highlights.......didn't look any better 😄

I said at the start of the second-half that we need to get the crowd going.  Unfortunately, some had already gone!

The goals given as gifts have been well documented.  I wonder if there is a wider underlying cause for so many errors being made by the players?  This is besides players not good enough to play out from the back or maybe not wanting to.

DA appears no to be inspiring the players or motivating them.  He does not give them confidence, hence they are more likely to make a mistake.

After the last home defeat DA said that the players did not do what he had asked them to do.  Even if true,  they should not be criticised in public.  The buck stops with the manager, even if the players member-up.  

After today he said we were good enough to stay up.  Little evidence to support this bar the points gap to the bottom 2.  He said this even without knowing the other results today, a comment which grates.  

Getting 1 point from 15 at home can never be described as “good enough”.

He deflected incisive questions, highlighting our recent away form as the way forward.  It is always possible that our away form could start to mirror our home form.  God forbid.  DA  was also critical of the fans today.  

Overall, if he was a manager in any business I do not think that he would get the best out of his team.  Worrying times.  

Worrying.
Clutching at straws, at least DA made 3 h t  subs, an vernam was impressive.
Andrews and Green did OK, but 4 3 3 doesn't work when your wide men aren't in the game and all 3 of your midfield are quite small.  Yet our tactics didn't change. Even 4 5 1 might have been better.

Holohan and Clifton whilst likeable enough doesn't work, too similar perhaps.

Similarly Rose's constant running is pointless if the other attackers lack energy.  Eisa played better than recently but just seems the opposite of Rose.

Am worried Rose will get injured or/and suspended, and what is the point of bringing the Coventry lad in and giving him the odd 5 mins - he is surely our tallest striker, yet no idea if he's any good. He seemed stuck on the right wing too.....

Quoted from ex-merseymariner

Worrying.
Clutching at straws, at least DA made 3 h t  subs, an vernam was impressive.
Andrews and Green did OK, but 4 3 3 doesn't work when your wide men aren't in the game and all 3 of your midfield are quite small.  Yet our tactics didn't change. Even 4 5 1 might have been better.

Holohan and Clifton whilst likeable enough doesn't work, too similar perhaps.

Similarly Rose's constant running is pointless if the other attackers lack energy.  Eisa played better than recently but just seems the opposite of Rose.

Am worried Rose will get injured or/and suspended, and what is the point of bringing the Coventry lad in and giving him the odd 5 mins - he is surely our tallest striker, yet no idea if he's any good. He seemed stuck on the right wing too.....

Stockport were on the beach by half time. Green did ok but it was a low bar as Thompson and Holohan were dreadful.

Quoted from LH

Why bother playing the game if we expect to lose it?

I’m a realist. It’s not that difficult to understand, top of the league having a goal difference of 35 against our defence that have let in 20+ goals at home recently………Tuesday and Saturday coming are a totally different prospect though.

i honestly dont think the players rate artell & are unsure how to play out his tactics , dont get me wrong grimsby & paul hurst had run it's course but david artell is not our answer , we need sutton & fgr to keep been crap because we wont win many football matches

Quoted from arryarryarry

I thought the full backs were pretty crap and no improvement whatsoever.

Not sure why this post has got so many crosses as they were, on today’s performance, clearly no better and in respect of the left back he doesn’t even have the same quality delivery as Glennon. Yes he had a couple of good runs first half but was guilty of allowing his opponent get behind him on several occasions.

Smith did ok but nothing outstanding and is another who lacks height and physicality and still struggling to understand how either he or Mullarkey are an improvement on Efete. Stockport had 3 guys at least 6 ft 3 ins and look threatening every set piece we literally have no one who is that strong aerially.

As for playing out from the back this just doesn’t make sense at BP as soon as there is one error the abuse and jeers start and players are torn between pleasing the fans or DA, neither as it happens. Plus for this to work you have to have a midfield that wants the ball and is comfortable to receive it whilst under pressure. To be fair to Thompson he did look for the ball but reminded me of the guy we got from Preston(Welch?) completely unfit and passed his sell by date the bloke looked incapable of getting into a jog never mind a sprint. Holohan and Clifton just not good enough and once again I question Clifton’s selection. Even Andrews is far more comfortable on the ball but again doesn’t get round the pitch enough.

Rose is totally isolated and our wide men have no real threat so the ball never stays for more than a few seconds in the opposition’s half.

I questioned the success of the Recruitment Manager a couple of weeks ago and not one of the January signings make me reconsider my opinion that he has added nothing of value to the club.

We are in one hell of a mess and like many I’m sick and tired of going to BP to see utter garbage performances and players.

Emotional afternoon. Had been hoping all night that the Handyside news was just a sick joke but arrived in Cleethorpes to find that, alas, it was not. Sad, sad times, and that minute’s applause was a tough one, especially with Kev Rogers choking up as he announced it. It coincided with me getting something in my eye.

Sadly, the game couldn’t have been any less of a tribute to the man. Handyside wasn’t just a great defender, he was a brilliant carrier and passer of the ball. Our back 5 weren’t any of those things. An absolutely shambolic first-half from them, and not that much better in the second, Maher quite literally forgetting the ball at one point. I honestly think that if Stockport had gone at us full tilt for the full 90, they could have had double figures. Thank Christ they stopped throwing punches after they’d bagged the points inside half-an-hour.

I can’t be arsed to unpack the goals. It doesn’t really matter. Like so many of late, they were just so shít and so avoidable, it drives me absolutely fúcking crazy. Ultimately, we’ve changed the personnel but the problems stay the same, and the stats bear that out. Here’s the average goals conceded per game in league games managed by Hurst, Pearson / Davies and Artell respectively.

Hurst - 1.63 (16 games)
Pearson / Davies - 1.67 (3 games)
Artell - 2.09 (11 games)

In effect, under Artell we’ve conceded 28% more goals than the man he replaced; a man who was sacked no less. A man who was sacked despite a huge amount of good will in the bank. Artell doesn’t have that luxury.

It gets worse though, if we take the last 5 in isolation, we’ve conceded 3.2 goals per game on average, and that somehow includes a clean sheet. That’s no coincidence, the common denominator here is the manager, and the system he seemingly wants to persist with. Can you blame it all on Artell? Perhaps not, but he’s inherited a problem, and he’s gone and made it worse.

It’s not rocket science; you can’t be so easy to score goals against and expect to pick up points on a regular basis. If there’s a positive to be found today, it’s that Sutton and Forest Green both lost, the veggies taking an even heavier home beating than we did. But relying on that is not a good model, nor is being marginally better than two sides who look set to pick up the lowest collective points total of any relegated League Two sides in the best part of 20 years.

Ultimately, there’s no disgrace in losing to Stockport. They’re a good, well drilled side, and they’ve got a markedly bigger budget than us. But the budget argument works both ways. There’s no way we have the fourth lowest budget in the division. We are so far below par it’s unreal.

Some big games ahead between now and mid-March. Artell needs to have a long, hard look at the list of managers that have never worked in the EFL again after being sacked by Town. The short-term fixture list holds the potential to both save his bacon and to see him back in the job centre. If he wants to avoid the latter, he needs to find some pragmatism from somewhere - Stockport knew that a quick press would see us completely shít the bed, and they weren’t wrong.

More than anything though, I’m just absolutely gutted that one of my childhood heroes has died. Some of those fúckers out there today don’t deserve to grace the same pitch as Peter Handyside. RIP, Mariner.

So after a 3 hour drive home (you’re welcome Dave) and a bowl of corn flakes for my dinner as I should have gone food shopping today instead of taking my seat to watch that rubbish.


There is nothing I can take from today and recent weeks that tells me the only two things that will stop us getting relegated again are FGR & Sutton.

Stockport didn’t have to get out of 3rd gear today as we gifted them 3 goals and it was men against boys, again!

I won’t dwell on the detail as I’ve worked it over in my mind multiple times on the A1 but the one thing that sticks with me is that it looked like the players are losing heart and no doubt faith in what they’re being asked to do, at times it looked like there was a fair bit of finger pointing going on which is a really bad sign.

On the pitch we look so muddled, when Artell arrived we couldn’t defend we still can’t as he’s failed to deal with the root cause of our poor results - poor defending.

It’s looking bad because it actually is bad. Though I’m completely unimpressed with Artell I’m equally as unimpressed with this set of players, they need to stand up & have some pride.

Finally there was a lot of coppers there today, they all should sacked as none of them spotted the wage stealers disguised as footballers & a football manger inside Blundell Park today.

Quoted from Poojah

Emotional afternoon. Had been hoping all night that the Handyside news was just a sick joke but arrived in Cleethorpes to find that, alas, it was not. Sad, sad times, and that minute’s applause was a tough one, especially with Kev Rogers choking up as he announced it. It coincided with me getting something in my eye.

Sadly, the game couldn’t have been any less of a tribute to the man. Handyside wasn’t just a great defender, he was a brilliant carrier and passer of the ball. Our back 5 weren’t any of those things. An absolutely shambolic first-half from them, and not that much better in the second, Maher quite literally forgetting the ball at one point. I honestly think that if Stockport had gone at us full tilt for the full 90, they could have had double figures. Thank Christ they stopped throwing punches after they’d bagged the points inside half-an-hour.

I can’t be arsed to unpack the goals. It doesn’t really matter. Like so many of late, they were just so shít and so avoidable, it drives me absolutely fúcking crazy. Ultimately, we’ve changed the personnel but the problems stay the same, and the stats bear that out. Here’s the average goals conceded per game in league games managed by Hurst, Pearson / Davies and Artell respectively.

Hurst - 1.63 (16 games)
Pearson / Davies - 1.67 (3 games)
Artell - 2.09 (11 games)

In effect, under Artell we’ve conceded 28% more goals than the man he replaced; a man who was sacked no less. A man who was sacked despite a huge amount of good will in the bank. Artell doesn’t have that luxury.

It gets worse though, if we take the last 5 in isolation, we’ve conceded 3.2 goals per game on average, and that somehow includes a clean sheet. That’s no coincidence, the common denominator here is the manager, and the system he seemingly wants to persist with. Can you blame it all on Artell? Perhaps not, but he’s inherited a problem, and he’s gone and made it worse.

It’s not rocket science; you can’t be so easy to score goals against and expect to pick up points on a regular basis. If there’s a positive to be found today, it’s that Sutton and Forest Green both lost, the veggies taking an even heavier home beating than we did. But relying on that is not a good model, nor is being marginally better than two sides who look set to pick up the lowest collective points total of any relegated League Two sides in the best part of 20 years.

Ultimately, there’s no disgrace in losing to Stockport. They’re a good, well drilled side, and they’ve got a markedly bigger budget than us. But the budget argument works both ways. There’s no way we have the fourth lowest budget in the division. We are so far below par it’s unreal.

Some big games ahead between now and mid-March. Artell needs to have a long, hard look at the list of managers that have never worked in the EFL again after being sacked by Town. The short-term fixture list holds the potential to both save his bacon and to see him back in the job centre. If he wants to avoid the latter, he needs to find some pragmatism from somewhere - Stockport knew that a quick press would see us completely shít the bed, and they weren’t wrong.

More than anything though, I’m just absolutely gutted that one of my childhood heroes has died. Some of those fúckers out there today don’t deserve to grace the same pitch as Peter Handyside. RIP, Mariner.

As usual, right on point. The saddest thing is that some of today’s squad arrived at our club with a lot better pedigree than Pete but we and he fulfilled our potential and much, much more. Some of those useless fornicators today clapped for someone they never knew, perhaps they ought to take a minute to reflect on how to make the best of themselves.

Quoted from Poojah

Emotional afternoon. Had been hoping all night that the Handyside news was just a sick joke but arrived in Cleethorpes to find that, alas, it was not. Sad, sad times, and that minute’s applause was a tough one, especially with Kev Rogers choking up as he announced it. It coincided with me getting something in my eye.

Sadly, the game couldn’t have been any less of a tribute to the man. Handyside wasn’t just a great defender, he was a brilliant carrier and passer of the ball. Our back 5 weren’t any of those things. An absolutely shambolic first-half from them, and not that much better in the second, Maher quite literally forgetting the ball at one point. I honestly think that if Stockport had gone at us full tilt for the full 90, they could have had double figures. Thank Christ they stopped throwing punches after they’d bagged the points inside half-an-hour.

I can’t be arsed to unpack the goals. It doesn’t really matter. Like so many of late, they were just so shít and so avoidable, it drives me absolutely fúcking crazy. Ultimately, we’ve changed the personnel but the problems stay the same, and the stats bear that out. Here’s the average goals conceded per game in league games managed by Hurst, Pearson / Davies and Artell respectively.

Hurst - 1.63 (16 games)
Pearson / Davies - 1.67 (3 games)
Artell - 2.09 (11 games)

In effect, under Artell we’ve conceded 28% more goals than the man he replaced; a man who was sacked no less. A man who was sacked despite a huge amount of good will in the bank. Artell doesn’t have that luxury.

It gets worse though, if we take the last 5 in isolation, we’ve conceded 3.2 goals per game on average, and that somehow includes a clean sheet. That’s no coincidence, the common denominator here is the manager, and the system he seemingly wants to persist with. Can you blame it all on Artell? Perhaps not, but he’s inherited a problem, and he’s gone and made it worse.

It’s not rocket science; you can’t be so easy to score goals against and expect to pick up points on a regular basis. If there’s a positive to be found today, it’s that Sutton and Forest Green both lost, the veggies taking an even heavier home beating than we did. But relying on that is not a good model, nor is being marginally better than two sides who look set to pick up the lowest collective points total of any relegated League Two sides in the best part of 20 years.

Ultimately, there’s no disgrace in losing to Stockport. They’re a good, well drilled side, and they’ve got a markedly bigger budget than us. But the budget argument works both ways. There’s no way we have the fourth lowest budget in the division. We are so far below par it’s unreal.

Some big games ahead between now and mid-March. Artell needs to have a long, hard look at the list of managers that have never worked in the EFL again after being sacked by Town. The short-term fixture list holds the potential to both save his bacon and to see him back in the job centre. If he wants to avoid the latter, he needs to find some pragmatism from somewhere - Stockport knew that a quick press would see us completely shít the bed, and they weren’t wrong.

More than anything though, I’m just absolutely gutted that one of my childhood heroes has died. Some of those fúckers out there today don’t deserve to grace the same pitch as Peter Handyside. RIP, Mariner.

Poojah, you always manage to put things in words much better than I could. I think you're an excellent servant this board and enunciate much better, where as I can only say we're shite.

There's a lot to think about from top to bottom in the club, which is unfortunate reality we see ourselves in.

For me my biggest frustration is that we were beaten by the 29th minute, done, dusted and bring in the bibs. We looked like conference side against this outfit and that's to their credit, their were talented, well disciplined and knew when to game manage,

Quoted from Poojah

Emotional afternoon. Had been hoping all night that the Handyside news was just a sick joke but arrived in Cleethorpes to find that, alas, it was not. Sad, sad times, and that minute’s applause was a tough one, especially with Kev Rogers choking up as he announced it. It coincided with me getting something in my eye.

Sadly, the game couldn’t have been any less of a tribute to the man. Handyside wasn’t just a great defender, he was a brilliant carrier and passer of the ball. Our back 5 weren’t any of those things. An absolutely shambolic first-half from them, and not that much better in the second, Maher quite literally forgetting the ball at one point. I honestly think that if Stockport had gone at us full tilt for the full 90, they could have had double figures. Thank Christ they stopped throwing punches after they’d bagged the points inside half-an-hour.

I can’t be arsed to unpack the goals. It doesn’t really matter. Like so many of late, they were just so shít and so avoidable, it drives me absolutely fúcking crazy. Ultimately, we’ve changed the personnel but the problems stay the same, and the stats bear that out. Here’s the average goals conceded per game in league games managed by Hurst, Pearson / Davies and Artell respectively.

Hurst - 1.63 (16 games)
Pearson / Davies - 1.67 (3 games)
Artell - 2.09 (11 games)

In effect, under Artell we’ve conceded 28% more goals than the man he replaced; a man who was sacked no less. A man who was sacked despite a huge amount of good will in the bank. Artell doesn’t have that luxury.

It gets worse though, if we take the last 5 in isolation, we’ve conceded 3.2 goals per game on average, and that somehow includes a clean sheet. That’s no coincidence, the common denominator here is the manager, and the system he seemingly wants to persist with. Can you blame it all on Artell? Perhaps not, but he’s inherited a problem, and he’s gone and made it worse.

It’s not rocket science; you can’t be so easy to score goals against and expect to pick up points on a regular basis. If there’s a positive to be found today, it’s that Sutton and Forest Green both lost, the veggies taking an even heavier home beating than we did. But relying on that is not a good model, nor is being marginally better than two sides who look set to pick up the lowest collective points total of any relegated League Two sides in the best part of 20 years.

Ultimately, there’s no disgrace in losing to Stockport. They’re a good, well drilled side, and they’ve got a markedly bigger budget than us. But the budget argument works both ways. There’s no way we have the fourth lowest budget in the division. We are so far below par it’s unreal.

Some big games ahead between now and mid-March. Artell needs to have a long, hard look at the list of managers that have never worked in the EFL again after being sacked by Town. The short-term fixture list holds the potential to both save his bacon and to see him back in the job centre. If he wants to avoid the latter, he needs to find some pragmatism from somewhere - Stockport knew that a quick press would see us completely shít the bed, and they weren’t wrong.

More than anything though, I’m just absolutely gutted that one of my childhood heroes has died. Some of those fúckers out there today don’t deserve to grace the same pitch as Peter Handyside. RIP, Mariner.

I felt really sorry for Kev today, he’s had to call some awful things before kick off this season, absolutely lovely fella as  well.

You have to ask why was Artell out of work for 18 months & it took a massively strategic programme of coaching pod casts, print articles & extensive PR to get him back in a job.

Quoted from HertsGTFC

I felt really sorry for Kev today, he’s had to call some awful things before kick off this season, absolutely lovely fella as  well.

You have to ask why was Artell out of work for 18 months & it took a massively strategic programme of coaching pod casts, print articles & extensive PR to get him back in a job.

I look at our team sheet and watch how we’re trying to play and I can’t actually work out how some players get starts and some don’t even get on the bench. Baffling.

Quoted from HertsGTFC

I felt really sorry for Kev today, he’s had to call some awful things before kick off this season, absolutely lovely fella as  well.

You have to ask why was Artell out of work for 18 months & it took a massively strategic programme of coaching pod casts, print articles & extensive PR to get him back in a job.

I'm also asking myself why he hasn't signed a couple of players he's worked with previously. I'm not sure that he can trust anyone, his coaching staff were forced upon him and all of our signings appear to have been players the Head of Recruitment had been monitoring for a while.

Jack Lester wanted Alan Buckley to come be his assistant at Chesterfield. Buckley turned it down but told him that his assistant manager had to be somebody that he could trust implicitly as many assistant managers want the managers job.

Quoted from jamesgtfc

I'm also asking myself why he hasn't signed a couple of players he's worked with previously. I'm not sure that he can trust anyone, his coaching staff were forced upon him and all of our signings appear to have been players the Head of Recruitment had been monitoring for a while.

Jack Lester wanted Alan Buckley to come be his assistant at Chesterfield. Buckley turned it down but told him that his assistant manager had to be somebody that he could trust implicitly as many assistant managers want the managers job.

I suspect he’s not signed players he’s worked with before is due to the fact we’re in a relegation battle, he said as much on Thursday when asked about Kirk.

As a manager he’s only managed 1 club so I wouldn’t expect him to have that big a network of players to fall back on, a lot of his Crewe side are playing at a higher level aren’t they?

I don’t get your point about trust to be honest, the only context where you could use trust as a factor is that the players don’t trust what he’s asking them to do is the right thing.

Quoted from headingly_mariner

Oh and the mindless booing of short pass and the shouts to launch it are a pure embarrassment. They players are struggling, that sort of nonsense just makes it worse.

Had some absolute bore sat near me today and could hear him loudly proclaiming how hoofing it forward is always the best way to play. Genuinely heard him say that John Beck's Cambridge team would beat Man City 6-0 and Pep wouldn't know what hit him. I think we should be  more direct and not so stubbornly playing it out from the back but fook me, if anyone actually believes that then they're watching the wrong sport.

Quoted from HertsGTFC

I suspect he’s not signed players he’s worked with before is due to the fact we’re in a relegation battle, he said as much on Thursday when asked about Kirk.

As a manager he’s only managed 1 club so I wouldn’t expect him to have that big a network of players to fall back on, a lot of his Crewe side are playing at a higher level aren’t they?

I don’t get your point about trust to be honest, the only context where you could use trust as a factor is that the players don’t trust what he’s asking them to do is the right thing.

I don't understand his appointment at all if he can't bring in players through his network, that's surely the boon of having a certain manager, their well established network with players?

I think the owners have been incredibly naive at what going down means and have taken this bloke on a chance. I'd rather us have spent on the cowleys for example as they have a pedigree on making successful teams, aka Lincoln. Lincoln are thriving, new stadium expansion, community buy in, etc...

Quoted from Plankton

I don't understand his appointment at all if he can't bring in players through his network, that's surely the boon of having a certain manager, their well established network with players?

I think the owners have been incredibly naive at what going down means and have taken this bloke on a chance. I'd rather us have spent on the cowleys for example as they have a pedigree on making successful teams, aka Lincoln. Lincoln are thriving, new stadium expansion, community buy in, etc...

I’m not sure we’re in a position to recruit a manager who has a network to bring in as we’re not flush and in the bottom 5 of the EFL, why would anyone decent come here? Plus we have a head of recruitment to spot talent 🤷‍♂️

Whilst I get the point about what the Cowley’s did at Lincoln but that’s a different scenario.

Quoted from HertsGTFC

I suspect he’s not signed players he’s worked with before is due to the fact we’re in a relegation battle, he said as much on Thursday when asked about Kirk.

As a manager he’s only managed 1 club so I wouldn’t expect him to have that big a network of players to fall back on, a lot of his Crewe side are playing at a higher level aren’t they?

I don’t get your point about trust to be honest, the only context where you could use trust as a factor is that the players don’t trust what he’s asking them to do is the right thing.

My point on trust is that he needs someone he can truly trust within his coaching team. As for former players, he was in the Crewe academy set-up for some time before taking on the first team role. Whilst a lot might be playing higher, a lot won't be. I thought he would bring in a couple of players who understood his methods to help bring the existing players along.

Quoted from jamesgtfc

My point on trust is that he needs someone he can truly trust within his coaching team. As for former players, he was in the Crewe academy set-up for some time before taking on the first team role. Whilst a lot might be playing higher, a lot won't be. I thought he would bring in a couple of players who understood his methods to help bring the existing players along.

Why can’t he trust Ben & Shaun?

Quoted from Lincoln Mariner 56

Not sure why this post has got so many crosses as they were, on today’s performance, clearly no better and in respect of the left back he doesn’t even have the same quality delivery as Glennon. Yes he had a couple of good runs first half but was guilty of allowing his opponent get behind him on several occasions.

Smith did ok but nothing outstanding and is another who lacks height and physicality and still struggling to understand how either he or Mullarkey are an improvement on Efete. Stockport had 3 guys at least 6 ft 3 ins and look threatening every set piece we literally have no one who is that strong aerially.

As for playing out from the back this just doesn’t make sense at BP as soon as there is one error the abuse and jeers start and players are torn between pleasing the fans or DA, neither as it happens. Plus for this to work you have to have a midfield that wants the ball and is comfortable to receive it whilst under pressure. To be fair to Thompson he did look for the ball but reminded me of the guy we got from Preston(Welch?) completely unfit and passed his sell by date the bloke looked incapable of getting into a jog never mind a sprint. Holohan and Clifton just not good enough and once again I question Clifton’s selection. Even Andrews is far more comfortable on the ball but again doesn’t get round the pitch enough.

Rose is totally isolated and our wide men have no real threat so the ball never stays for more than a few seconds in the opposition’s half.

I questioned the success of the Recruitment Manager a couple of weeks ago and not one of the January signings make me reconsider my opinion that he has added nothing of value to the club.

We are in one hell of a mess and like many I’m sick and tired of going to BP to see utter garbage performances and players.

Re: the full backs they look to be an improvement simply by not standing out as exceptionally bad defenders. They looked fairly anonymous league 2 full backs, but yes that is an improvement on the 2 who were taking it in turns to put in cataclysmically bad defensive performances.

Agree that Glennon offers more going forward tho. But not mullarkey he is awful at the back and flatters to decieve offensively

The two current centre backs have been consistently dreadful.

The biggest challenge between now and the summer is that the spine of our team is dreadful, or at best average (GK, 2 CB’s, 2 or maybe all 3 CM’s). Combine that with the fact they are being asked to play a style of play only the very top teams achieve with any great success, for me explains why we have gone backwards since Artell took charge.

Both CB’s looked like rabbits in headlights every time they got the ball to feet, and had to pick a pass to midfielder, who rarely, if ever showed for them. On top of that they had a very good Stockport teams frontline ready to pounce on any mistake they made, of which there inevitably was a few because either as a unit, or individually they aren’t good enough to do what they are being asked, or well drilled enough to play that way. Probably a mixture of the two.

How the hell we fix that with this group I don’t know. But something needs to change rapidly. These next 2 games are massive and we need to pick up some points and show some serious progress and that we have it in our locker to pick up enough points to keep us safe by May, and that we are learning from our frequent mistakes of gifting teams easy goals.

If we don’t get the points or show progress of fixing errors this week, for me Artell has to go. This is not a time for sentiment or experiment of style. Although today was a tough game and I didn’t expect anything from it the same errors are being repeated too often. We need hard evidence of progress quickly, ideally via the medium of points or we are in deep trouble.

We wasn’t very good today but.will people hold their fire
For goodness sake yes we was excrement but this is the mighty mariners
We will bounce back as always ❤️

Quoted from chaos33

The two current centre backs have been consistently dreadful.

Said it all along maher cant or doesn't want to put his head in where it hurts & for a lge 2 cb it's criminal & artell is as much to blame as hurst was in keeping him in team

Quoted from fishcake63

Said it all along maher cant or doesn't want to put his head in where it hurts & for a lge 2 cb it's criminal & artell is as much to blame as hurst was in keeping him in team

In fairness Artell took him out the team at the first opportunity when Tharne came in and I imagine he will again when he’s fit

Quoted from jamesgtfc

I'm also asking myself why he hasn't signed a couple of players he's worked with previously. I'm not sure that he can trust anyone, his coaching staff were forced upon him and all of our signings appear to have been players the Head of Recruitment had been monitoring for a while.

Jack Lester wanted Alan Buckley to come be his assistant at Chesterfield. Buckley turned it down but told him that his assistant manager had to be somebody that he could trust implicitly as many assistant managers want the managers job.

I know Crewe are doing well and all . But if Artell was so highly thought of within the game , from players he's worked with before and had success with previously he would have pulled off the Charlie Kirk signing wouldn't he ?

Thought it was telling he went back to Crewe tbh.

Quoted from Mappers

I know Crewe are doing well and all . But if Artell was so highly thought of within the game , from players he's worked with before and had success with previously he would have pulled off the Charlie Kirk signing wouldn't he ?

Thought it was telling he went back to Crewe tbh.

To be fair, would you sign for a team at the top end of the table in an area you’re familiar with or a team at the bottom? And that’s before we get into the relative merits of living in and around Grimsby.

Quoted from Mappers

I know Crewe are doing well and all . But if Artell was so highly thought of within the game , from players he's worked with before and had success with previously he would have pulled off the Charlie Kirk signing wouldn't he ?

Thought it was telling he went back to Crewe tbh.

I know it’s seemingly open season on Artell for the next few days but this really is clutching at straws

Quoted from Mappers

I know Crewe are doing well and all . But if Artell was so highly thought of within the game , from players he's worked with before and had success with previously he would have pulled off the Charlie Kirk signing wouldn't he ?

Thought it was telling he went back to Crewe tbh.

Promotion chasing hometown club where you’re regarded as a hero, or relegation-threatened club 2 & half hours drive from where you live where nobody has ever heard of you.

Yeah must be Artell’s fault that one. You talk some dirge

Quoted from ska face

Promotion chasing hometown club where you’re regarded as a hero, or relegation-threatened club 2 & half hours drive from where you live where nobody has ever heard of you.

Yeah must be Artell’s fault that one. You talk some dirge

Fair point .