Absolutely furious at that.

How you go from 2-0 up and absolutely cruising to some of the worst defending imaginable to let them back in the game was criminal enough, to then lose…. Disgraceful.

Back 4 today were took apart from 30 mins onwards from a player we decide wasnt good enough and then of course he pops up with the winner. Glennon and Mullarkey today were appaling, Glennon cannot defend, I dont want to see him in the side again. Why did we change 3’positions in the back 4.

Icing on the cake to miss a sitter at the end.

Why did Holohan get taken off? He was the best town player on the pitch. Clifton who has been shite all seasom stays on.

I’ll never call for Hursts head, but the cries are getting louder. Im seething

Mullarkey and Glennon were a shambles. What was Hurst thinking with that team selection.

Pyke is also not that good at playing football.

Also seething  ;D  Too late now though. He's signed the players so were stuck with them. As for Glennon, its not as if we didnt know he's a fairy and cant defend. Never looks fit to me

I’ve done a 180 on Hurst over the past 6 months and have come round to the fact he’s good for the club, but the past few games have tested that.

I think a lot of our players look better than last year, but we’re flipping spineless in so many areas and he cannot tactically adapt to anything that happens during the game. I can’t think of one game this season where we’ve shifted the games momentum with changes, but almost all of our games have been shifted by the opposition manager.

I could sit here all day asking why Mullarkey got played at CB, why Clifton is exempt from criticism or why the intercourse the striker Hurst wrote off has just played well and scored a 96th min winner against us whilst Pyke played for us. But in reality, those are small things in a very large problem.

That was fairly entertain in a excrement Sunday League game kind of way. Comedy defending and we never, EVER look like scoring (even though we scored 2!)
We are a poor, poor side.

Going to be a long slog of a season.
A team full of average players.
The players we bought in are no better than the players who moved on.
To much complacency in the team.
Other than central defence we are poor all over the pitch.
Midfield poor.  
Always been a fan of Clifton who works so hard but enthusiasm doesn’t beat quality. He is just an example of the players we have.
And will probably end about 18th in the table.
Left and right back positions still poor.
Not a fan of Hurst but if he hasn’t the funds to bring in better quality players the finger has to point at the chairman.
UTM

As I said at half time we made that tactical error of taking the lead. How many points have we dropped now from winning positions? We looked on top and comfortable, we let in one freak goal in that lob and never really recovered from it and cherry on the cake Orsi grabs them a winner in the final moment.

Gav was our best today, he moved the ball well, got forward, got stuck in and nabbed a goal. Eisa a close second.

Can’t even be copulated to comprehend how bad we were today but I’ve very rarely come away from BP over the years thinking we didn’t look arsed, but I have a few times this season.

Absolutely no urgency, no team effort, no cohesion at all - I don’t know if it’s Hurst or the players, but when do we ever make a sub and actually look better? We just seem to fall apart and loose any cohesion at all.

Agree with others about Holohan, criminal to bring him off and leave Clifton on, who’s been well off the pace this season.  My overriding feeling again are we have a team full of nice lads, probably work really hard in training but apart from abit of Eisa magic, we never look like creating anything.

Pleased for Orsi, absolutely ran our defence ragged and lead the line well for them - he probably isn’t quite as good as Rose all round but  he’s a damn sight better than anything else we have up front.

Not sure why Hurst mixed the defence up and didn’t just put Waterfall in for Maher. Cruising at 2-0 could have been 3/4 just looked so lackluster from their first fluke of a goal. Not good enough.

flipping comedy gold when we lose game though, listening to folk around me, it’s like they can’t wait for it to be excrement. They barely take any notice of what’s actually happening and then it’s ramble absolute nonsense…that in itself is entertaining.

Ah well, see ya next week.

We are now getting found out for not having good enough full backs and not having good enough strikers.
We can’t be a play off challenging team while that’s the case.
Until we put that right, we will flounder in positions 12-20 whilst we flip flop with inconsistent results. I think that’s a fair assessment after this amount of games. Now, Wilson might change that, but we can’t be as poor as we are in both boxes and pick up wins on a semi regular basis. 2 from 9 is very disappointing, even allowing for the general competitiveness of the league and the league positions of our opponents thus far.

We’re just not very good, are we? Efete and Glennon can’t defend, Mullarkey showed exactly why he’s a full back and Conteh and Rodgers had their worst games in a Town shirt. Maybe Gav was MoM but it was a pretty low bar today.

Clifton lacks quality. He can be moved on for me .

October was looking like a expensive month for travel but not any more!

Sometimes managers over complicate things & today paul hurst proved the point

Quoted from fishcake63

Sometimes managers over complicate things & today paul hurst proved the point

Aye, letting that man run past him, leaving a man unmarked at the far post and telling the keeper to drop it in his six yard box was definitely over complicating it.

Quoted from It Bites

Clifton lacks quality. He can be moved on for me .

well looking at the two that came on today i'd be keeping him because they didn't look any better , dont even start me on hunt cant even make the bench with some of the midfielders we got , guarentee if a new manager came in he would play every week

I actually think we played well MOST of the game. Our defending is absolutely awful though and I hope PH addresses it ASAP.
Absolutely had to be Orsi to score a last minute winner.
Holohan motm. Clifton did alot right but final product was missing.
See you at Swindon

Quoted from aldi_01

Aye, letting that man run past him, leaving a man unmarked at the far post and telling the keeper to drop it in his six yard box was definitely over complicating it.

He signed those players.

Quoted from aldi_01

flipping comedy gold when we lose game though, listening to folk around me, it’s like they can’t wait for it to be excrement. They barely take any notice of what’s actually happening and then it’s ramble absolute nonsense…that in itself is entertaining.

Ah well, see ya next week.

Erm......if they thought it was excrement then they did notice.

Quoted from fishcake63

well looking at the two that came on today i'd be keeping him because they didn't look any better , dont even start me on hunt cant even make the bench with some of the midfielders we got , guarentee if a new manager came in he would play every week

Hunt isn’t as good as Holohan though and that’s the problem I think . He’s certainly better than the lad on loan though

Quoted from It Bites

Hunt isn’t as good as Holohan though and that’s the problem I think . He’s certainly better than the lad on loan though

Hunt is a better option than Clifton at present and Holohan was only the best of a very mediocre bunch today.

Where’s Khouri? He deserves a run out, maybe even in place of Clifton, but why sign Andrews?

Eastwood absolutely did NOT look better than Crocombe today.

I’m not on my own being right about Orsi, a number of us said it was a mistake letting him go.

The ending was a disaster.

Unfortunately we’re in trouble this season.

Quoted from ginnywings

Overall, we are a better side, with better players, but we are just too weak in both boxes, and we are throwing away points all over the place.

The last three minutes summed us up. Let in a shockingly bad goal at one end, which again came Efete's side, then missed a golden chance to pick up a point at the other end.

We had more and better chances than them, and yet we somehow lost, and I never felt at any time we would get the third and win the game.

2 wins from 9 is poor, and I can't see us wining at Swindon next week either.

You cant be blaming Efete for that last goal. Mullarkey and Glennon completely at fault Ginny

That was shocking. Unacceptable because 2-0 up and losing. I’m a Hurst fan, I believe in the process BUT, that was worrying today. We have the same issues we have had for the last few seasons. Can’t finish teams off. Mentally weak.

Crawley have had a good start, ,but I didn’t think they were that great.  There for the taking.

If we have any ambition of improving on last season, we have to be better!

I think Pyke cost us the match in the first half missing 2 golden chances and a good half chance. Some may say he's 3rd choice but has really failed to impress in the matches he's played. That said he missed another good chance in the 2nd half.

2-0 up and cruising, what could possibly go wrong? Enter Glennons defending along with a mishaped centre-backs. Eastwood left a lot to be desired today and if positioned correctly could have saved their first goal, as good as it was.

Apart from Holohan, and a good goal from Eisa the rest were poor. We were cruising to victory and then imploded. 2nd half went from bad to worse and we might fear the result at Swindon next week. I hope Hurst remembers Glennon's game against them at BP last when they gave him a roasting. Needs dropping like a hot spuds.

Alas, there was little to praise so I live in hope.

UTM

Not a good day at the office an and another lead given away. We’re poor defensively and relying too much on Eisa to do something to score goals.

I’m not getting on any Hurst out bandwagon just yet though. Sometimes you have to be careful what you with for.

Quoted from AndyGTFC

Not a good day at the office an and another lead given away. We’re poor defensively and relying too much on Eisa to do something to score goals.

I’m not getting on any Hurst out bandwagon just yet though. Sometimes you have to be careful what you with for.

I’m not a fan of Hurst’s pragmatic approach albeit it’s got us back (just about) to where he came in but, for all the transfer window hype, it’s a familiar tale where we look frail. Twelve points now dropped from winning positions is a dreadful record after 9 games.

Quoted from ginnywings

Overall, we are a better side, with better players, but we are just too weak in both boxes, and we are throwing away points all over the place.

The last three minutes summed us up. Let in a shockingly bad goal at one end, which again came Efete's side, then missed a golden chance to pick up a point at the other end.

We had more and better chances than them, and yet we somehow lost, and I never felt at any time we would get the third and win the game.

2 wins from 9 is poor, and I can't see us wining at Swindon next week either.

Agree mate, except I’m not so sure we are better. Maybe in a couple of positions but generally, we don’t seem good enough to be challengers - just like last year. That’s the disappointment. We have been unlucky and I will be patient, but I do think it’s concerning. I think it’s a better division this year. My worry is that our improvement is possibly in line with that - ie, we are a middling sort of team. Not sure how I feel about that, although a few hours after a home defeat is not the best for being pragmatic/philosophical. I’m still fuming.

Unfortunately, that's my mind made up on Eastwood. He absolutely shits himself when he's played the ball to his feet and the defenders know it, so they are in edge as well. His distribution is just woeful. A massive downgrade on Crocombe. I hear Cartwright has had some howlers in the trophy, but I hope he can get past them because I've got absolutely no confidence in Eastwood and we'll get nowhere with him in goal this season.

Glennon was really very poor today. Whether it was marking, defending, positioning or crossing when he got forward on occasion, he did it badly. Didn't get anywhere near their winger for their winning goal and it just wasn't good enough. I've always thought he was decent enough, but a bit slow. Not today, he defended terribly.

Another off day for Conteh who kept getting on the wrong side of players (as did our defenders) and he's got to learn he can't nip in front of players all the time. Just stand off and defend if it isn't there to be won. He looked cumbersome at times today.

The biggest surprise for me was that I was shocked how poor Rodgers was today, truth be told. He's looked a calm head in the other games I've seen but was aimlessly heading the ball half-away and fluffed plenty of basic clearances as well.

Pyke didn't look like he knew how to play like a centre-forward for the first half, but actually improved a bit and began to link up play in the second half before he came off. We were so ragged by the time that Wilson came on, I couldn't really judge how well he did.

If you want to take the positives, we were terrible, but should have had a penalty or two and the referee was terribly biased against us. Just can't believe how disorganised we looked at times and it doesn't say a lot about the depth of the squad.

Conteh looked decent in most games but today i'm afraid he would have been sent off , he just kept fouling & please play forward , my other rants all the back 5 had shockers you cant win a game when that happens

Absolutely gutted after watching that performance, the wife has cleared off into another room to watch Strictly Come Dancing leaving me to stew over what I’ve seen today with a bottle of red wine , just listened to Hurst on RH and I’m fuming to lose the game after being 2-0 up and he doesn’t seem bothered about it. It’s going to be a long night. UTM

Wasn't  pleased when I saw Gnahoua wasn't starting.  Each game he was getting better. I also hate the fact that his name is female dog to spell.

Tend not to get too down after defeats and the first 8 games went somewhat how I expected .

I expected us to beat Crawley at home though and not winning games like this drain my optimistic outlook - saying that , win at Swindon and it's still a good start ; however unlikely that may be .

I think it's becoming clearer by the game we are not going anywhere fast .

My worry is the crowds will drop off if we continue like we are , I will go whatever but I'm starting to feel a little disinterested in truth and how that translates to people who go based on results and performance may see a lull .

Oh dear 2-0 up!! Then the bubble burst to worst when i listen to see us go to 2-2 you listen to commentary  ...Cherry on top of cake Danny Orsi puts in the last minute winner!!
Criminal sounding game to loose a 2-0 lead.
Looking at PH ....
UTM

Quoted from Mayaman

Wasn't  pleased when I saw Gnahoua wasn't starting.  Each game he was getting better. I also hate the fact that his name is female dog to spell.

He was dogshit when he came on.

Well that was horrible. We’re going to be in for a long hard season and can forget any aspirations of the play offs or higher. Very few came out of that game with much credit and the overarching problems of not creating enough because we don’t have enough quality in most positions is still abundantly clear.

Eastwood - flappy, clanger for the last goal and doesn’t command his area. The defence was visibly worried about his decision making. He’d been good earlier in the season but was very poor today.
Efete - just isn’t very good at defending
Mullarkey - awful today. Kept diving in when he shouldn’t have which was directly responsible for the first goal and led indirectly to the winner. Also not particularly good with the ball at his feet.
Rodgers - he wasn’t good today but considering what was around him I’ll forgive him
Glennon - awful. Can’t defend at all and his quality going forward is not even close to being good enough to get away with it. Runs like he’s in treacle. I’m 32 and overweight and I still reckon I’d beat him over 20 yards.
Conteh - poor today. Dived in a few times when he should have held his position, led to the second goal. Needs to learn when to go for it and when not to.
Holohan - did fine, can’t believe he was taken off and Clifton left on
Clifton - why is he always exempt from criticism? I get that he’s a good lad and has a fantastic engine but he has zero quality on the ball. Best example being when he nicked the ball off a defender and had a 30 yard space in which to roll it through for Pyke and he overshot it so much Pyke couldn’t get close. If you want to be in the play offs or better then Clifton isn’t good enough to start consistently.
Khan - pleased to see him back. Some actual guile and intelligence.
Eisa - should have scored when he got the ball stuck in his feet but his goal was class. About the only threat we have a lot of the time.
Pyke - basically useless. Looks like he’s never played up front. Zero movement, zero anticipation. Can hold it up if played directly to him but it is staggering that we’re almost in October but haven’t had two fully fit strikers available yet. It’s even worse only having three strikers if one of them is Pyke. He’s scored four goals in the football league which for a 26 year old striker is pathetic. I can’t see him adding many to that tally. The irony being that Orsi was allowed to leave but caused our defence problems and scored the winner. How is replacing him with Pyke (and I wasn’t a huge Orsi fan) continuous improvement?! Within the first two minutes we’d put the ball across the six yard box resulting in their keeper spilling it in to the middle of the area. Where was our centre forward? Running across the defender to the near post, trying to nick in? Bearing down on the keeper waiting for it to spill? No. He was on his heels near the penalty spot so the chance went begging. If he’s a striker then I’m the King of England.

We don’t create. We don’t have much in the way of proper pace. We are mentally weak and keep throwing games away. And we seem to also now be shipping soft goals. On top of that we’ve got a manager who, for all his positives, is still incapable of making in-game tactical changes or subs that work in our favour. Other than that it’s all rosey.

We’ll finish somewhere from 12-20th this season, what a waste of a supposedly good budget.

Tough day for the happy clappers

Tough day for us all as fans

Quoted from HerveJosse

Tough day for the happy clappers

Moronic thing to say when we are all disappointed and angry.

Lets see what everyone is saying at the end of the season.

As bad as it gets that. Hurst gambled and got it badly wrong at the back. Sometimes maybe just go with a like-for-like swap rather than swapping two players out of position and bringing in two others who are out of form?

Absolute shíte from 1 to 11 today, Eisa excepted. Too many utter fannies, zero quality on the ball, Pyke absolutely anonymous for most of the game, Clifton couldn’t pass water, Efete poor, just a fúcking shower.

Decent start in the press style approach, 2-0 up but didn't think we really looked like scoring in all honesty..but hey who cares.
I think then we then as an entire team we just thought we had the game won......awful defending on both goals from a team perspective, yes individuals could have done better but shocking in the lead ups to both.
Hurst did make subs, well done, ..and I do think they livened us up but the second set of subs seemed to kill us....
Final goal...again awful all round...the guy on their left should have been dealt with...we left their guy on the right...Eastwood missed the ball. ORSI unmarked...
Just excrement defending all round.
I have left feeling p1ssed off not necessarily by the result but by the fact that even at 2-0 I wasn't massively convinced we would win but also that over 90 plus minutes i wasn't out of my seat with excitement very often.
If you are winning then there isnt alot for people to moan about....if you arent winning then you need to entertain.....currently not doing enough of either.

On Hurst this one...
Got it wrong at the back, got it wrong at the front and got it wrong in the middle..
Clifton needs dropping, he still can't pass a ball, runs and harries but even of late he's looked half ars@d tbh.
Eastwood had no chance with their first goal, their winger fatted his cross and inadvertently chipped him.
Efete, awful defender, can't read the game at all, and Mullarkey and Rodgers looked edgy due to covering for Glennon and Efete.
Pyke, tries hard the lad, but I'm worried he's another Louis Robles.
If Hurst insists on this 1 up top at home and being toothless in the box the crowds are going dwindle at a rate of knotts, even some of the stalwarts i know have had enough of him now.

What baffles me the most is Orsi. had another year on his contract so why did we let him leave until we had a decent replacement.

Quoted from grimsby pete

What baffles me the most is Orsi. had another year on his contract so why did we let him leave until we had a decent replacement.

Given the results of our striker recruitment we should have given him a three year extension.

Much the better side first half and it should've been 4 when it was 2. One miss hit cross completely changed the game, it was a horrid shank straight in the top corner. Then they quickly scored a good equaliser, 1 shot 2 goals.

How the ref hasn't given us a pen for the foul on Holohan I will never know.

We were excrement for much of the 2nd, losing Conteh was a big on, he shouldn't have been booked and the ref was gunning to send him off. Andrews and Ainley did nothing in their time on the pitch, but made us worse. Bizarre how Hunt can't get on the bench.
Thought Pyke got in a couple of good spots and showed glimpses of a good player, nicked ball high up the pitch a few times.
Thoroughly disappointing end to the game, shocking defending.

The Ref was appalling.

One thing bothering me that doesn’t bode well - Pyke isn’t as good as the strikers we’ve had in the conference. Trying not to see that as symbolic/indicative. Who would have thought that was the case?! Baffling to me. This is emblematic of why we are not evolving properly.

Quoted from Northbank Mariner

On Hurst this one...
Got it wrong at the back, got it wrong at the front and got it wrong in the middle..
Clifton needs dropping, he still can't pass a ball, runs and harries but even of late he's looked half ars@d tbh.
Eastwood had no chance with their first goal, their winger fatted his cross and inadvertently chipped him.
Efete, awful defender, can't read the game at all, and Mullarkey and Rodgers looked edgy due to covering for Glennon and Efete.
Pyke, tries hard the lad, but I'm worried he's another Louis Robles.
If Hurst insists on this 1 up top at home and being toothless in the box the crowds are going dwindle at a rate of knotts, even some of the stalwarts i know have had enough of him now.

Agree with most of that except for their first goal, I thought Eastwood was poorly placed.

Simply not good enough today

I can accept the result at full time thats football, what i can't accept is the manner of the defeat we were absolutely shocking today

For me we need fresh ideas, a major shakeup is required and PH needs to go along with Doig or it's going to be a long season

He was a bit too far off his line, but it was a complete fluke and I don't think any keeper would have saved it unless they had been too deep in the first place. It all came from Conteh trying to step in front of their player to nick it and failing with Efete upfield and they were left with acres of space which probably led to Eastwood coming out a little too far expecting a normal cross. Notable they their player didn't really celebrate the goal!

Quoted from Simon

Simply not good enough today

I can accept the result at full time thats football, what i can't accept is the manner of the defeat we were absolutely shocking today

For me we need fresh ideas, a major shakeup is required and PH needs to go along with Doig or it's going to be a long season

Agree with this, We are going nowhere this season and could find ourselves in a scrap at the wrong end of the league.
Hurst has been found out and our long spells of poor form in the league in the last two seasons have been masked by a late run and play off promotion and a decent cup run last season.

Very surprised by Hurst’s after match interview as he’s normally pretty honest but he continued to insist Crawley were a good side despite the fact they provided us with four gift opportunities in the first half and they must have one of the worst keepers in the league.

Whilst it may not have been Conteh’s best game he is basically playing midfield on his own and if Holohan was MOM, it’s pretty embarrassing for the other ten who played as his distribution is shocking and neither him or Clifton make themselves available when our defenders are in possession but just run forwards. Clifton should not be starting full stop, when he receives the ball he has no awareness of where he is or where he wants to play it too and proves to be one of the most overrated players I can recall. We have no pace or threat going forward and without Eisa’s great goals we would be well and truly in trouble. Baffled by the defensive selection and shame on Hurst for not recognising his mistake and changing things at half time.

A truly shocking performance and how some think we played well is absolutely baffling.

Just listened to PH on Town You Tube. I think he saw a totally different match to me, no apologies for the defeat and came across as if we'd drawn with little passion.

I missed today because of norovirus. 3 days of vomiting, diarrhoea, stomach cramps, aches and fever. Looks like I got a result!

Quoted from Lincoln Mariner 56

Whilst it may not have been Conteh’s best game he is basically playing midfield on his own and if Holohan was MOM, it’s pretty embarrassing for the other ten who played as his distribution is shocking and neither him or Clifton make themselves available when our defenders are in possession but just run forwards.

100% right, couldn’t have put it better. Think a couple have looked at Conteh and decided he can do it all himself so leave him to it. He’s a 20 year old kid, in his first FL season, getting zero protection or support from the more experienced midfielders around him. His options are limited to playing it square to the fullbacks or playing it into a congested midfield ahead of him, nobody ever gives him a decent short option. It’s limiting him and us going forward.

Quoted from ska face

100% right, couldn’t have put it better. Think a couple have looked at Conteh and decided he can do it all himself so leave him to it. He’s a 20 year old kid, in his first FL season, getting zero protection or support from the more experienced midfielders around him. His options are limited to playing it square to the fullbacks or playing it into a congested midfield ahead of him, nobody ever gives him a decent short option. It’s limiting him and us going forward.

Absolutely agree. The reason Conteh looked so good against Wimbledon was Hunt being close to him. Hurst and Doig (particularly Doig) are always on Hunt’s back and now he doesn’t make the bench but the likes of Andrews and Ainley do. Doesn’t make sense to me.

Quoted from MuddyWaters

Absolutely agree. The reason Conteh looked so good against Wimbledon was Hunt being close to him. Hurst and Doig (particularly Doig) are always on Hunt’s back and now he doesn’t make the bench but the likes of Andrews and Ainley do. Doesn’t make sense to me.

From what you are saying it sounds as if all is not right down Cheapside. Certainly, Hurst's post-match sounded a bit like he could care less about the game, I'm not saying that he didn't care but his body language etc. gave that sort of impression.

Highlights are here - https://www.skysports.com/watch/video/12968501/grimsby-town-2-3-crawley-town-league-two-highlights

Can't really be arsed repeating what loads of other posters are saying (other than just highlighting how flipping great Eisa's goal was which has been lost a bit amongst the justified criticism) but I just don't flipping understand what's going through Glennons head. Here he is just before their 2nd goal staring at his man so he knows where he is:



2 to 3 seconds later he's still nowhere near him and their lad is volleying it into the back of the net:



Rodgers obviously has the bloke in front of him covered, so why has Glennon just ignored the man he's meant to be picking up even though he knew he was there. It's just utterly bizarre and he's so out of form it isn't funny.

(also free Alex Hunt, absolutely laughable Clifton, Ainley and Andrews are getting game time ahead of him. He wasn't even that bad in the few appearances he had at the start of the season and looked pretty good at the end of last season when playing regularly and in the first game against Wimbledon)

After reading this thread (whilst having a few beers) I’m struggling to read that no posters thought we should have been at least 3 or 4 up by the 30 minute mark in the game. We not only scored two but we’re also gifted 3 maybe 4 good opportunities that we squandered. Don’t want to jump on any bandwagon but we really are not good enough. The old age excuse of injuries….every team has them at this stage of a season but we have no quality in the depth of the squad. We’ve not improved in vital areas that any football person could identify I.e. Goalkeeper, dictating centre midfielder and an out and out striker, despite having the biggest transfer budget we’ll probably have for some years. I appreciate every league two team has stepped up to the bar to try and compete with this divisions elite spenders but seriously as town fans we are deluded if we think this squad can compete near the levels of a promotion/play off place finish.
We have improved in the likes of Rodgers, Mullarkey, Conteh, Eisa and Rose but it’s proved not quite enough in the games we’ve played. Correct me if I’m wrong but is this now 12 points dropped from winning positions at least. No excuse for 2-0 at home and loosing the game at any level.

Yet again another Saturday mid-September and sat here frustrated as f#*k throwing away another 3 points. It seems deflating being a mariners fan at times but we go again! Onwards and upwards UTM

Quoted from come_on_town

After reading this thread (whilst having a few beers) I’m struggling to read that no posters thought we should have been at least 3 or 4 up by the 30 minute mark in the game. We not only scored two but we’re also gifted 3 maybe 4 good opportunities that we squandered. Don’t want to jump on any bandwagon but we really are not good enough. The old age excuse of injuries….every team has them at this stage of a season but we have no quality in the depth of the squad. We’ve not improved in vital areas that any football person could identify I.e. Goalkeeper, dictating centre midfielder and an out and out striker, despite having the biggest transfer budget we’ll probably have for some years. I appreciate every league two team has stepped up to the bar to try and compete with this divisions elite spenders but seriously as town fans we are deluded if we think this squad can compete near the levels of a promotion/play off place finish.
We have improved in the likes of Rodgers, Mullarkey, Conteh, Eisa and Rose but it’s proved not quite enough in the games we’ve played. Correct me if I’m wrong but is this now 12 points dropped from winning positions at least. No excuse for 2-0 at home and loosing the game at any level.

Yet again another Saturday mid-September and sat here frustrated as f#*k throwing away another 3 points. It seems deflating being a mariners fan at times but we go again! Onwards and upwards UTM

Re your first point, I think the Pyke was shite comments pretty much cover that off.

I watched the game at work, I'm usually drunk off when work get in the way of going to BP but this morning I wasn't bothered when I gave my ST to my mate.
I am getting really copulated of with Hurst, his tactics, his signings and his fukin post match interviews.
As much as I don't like the bloke and didn't want him back I have given him my support but now if he can't pull us around in the next five games he has to go otherwise we will be walking into relegation.

For all the good the new owners have done , and it’s a lot . The real test will come when they have to appoint a new manager, they will be in the real football world then. PH is very secure in his job but if results and performances don’t improve then they may have to act

Quoted from MuddyWaters

Re your first point, I think the Pyke was shite comments pretty much cover that off.

Yeah I agree with you, should have maybe covered that in post  ;D

Quoted from chaos33

Moronic thing to say when we are all disappointed and angry.

Some of us could see it coming we don’t feel the pain any less but until the rest of you stop giving Hurst and the owners a free pass on everything why is anything going to change?

Quoted from 123614

Lets see what everyone is saying at the end of the season.

True ..and not to get too excited,this side of Christmas
Swindon away next Saturday is going to be interesting
I can afford  1 pint in the Merlin to listen to some town fans opinions pre match then see for myself what we playing at
Hopefully a turnaround from today's performance
UTM

Quoted from ska face

100% right, couldn’t have put it better. Think a couple have looked at Conteh and decided he can do it all himself so leave him to it. He’s a 20 year old kid, in his first FL season, getting zero protection or support from the more experienced midfielders around him. His options are limited to playing it square to the fullbacks or playing it into a congested midfield ahead of him, nobody ever gives him a decent short option. It’s limiting him and us going forward.

Conteh won’t be the first player we have brought in who has looked like A Rolls Royce and 15 games later we have turned into a Morris Minor.

Just watched the highlights and the defending all round is laughably bad. Glennon is just oblivious, happily moving out as the ball is floated over him for the last goal. How the hell have we ended up without one competent left back?!

Yes we should have been 3 or 4 goals up early on.  This makes the final result worse.

Their keeper must have the patent on the number of unforced errors.  Matched by our awful passing and everything else in the second half.

We got worse from the 30th minute as the game  went on.  Crawley seemed to want it more.  They often had 5, 6 or 7 players attacking.  In one narrowly missed chance they had 5 players in our penalty area. Easily outnumbering our defenders.

Annoyed or beyond annoyed - not sure. Hurst’s summary of the match was as bad as our performance.

Another point:  Conteh was at fault in the build up to their first goal.  He also lost possession on the halfway line when Bradford scored.  He is good, young and inexperienced.  He needs help rather than others expecting too much from him.  He gets through a lot of unfashionable work.

I quipped on here in the week that the only thing worse than a Town defeat would have been a 0-1 defeat with Orsi the goalscorer - somehow we managed to pull an even more frustrating scenario out of the bag. Credit goes to Orsi for not celebrating his goal - not an easy thing to do when it’s a 96th minute winner.

The biggest concern for me right now is that our vulnerabilities are very uncharacteristic of what we know about Paul Hurst sides. Shipping poor, basic goals for fun. 9 points dropped from winning positions but 0 gained after going behind or conceding an equaliser. Where’s the fight gone?

The latter part of that stat is almost the most concerning for me. We appear to have all the mental resilience of a bowl of custard, and that’s not what I’ve come to expect from Town sides over the past couple of seasons. Offensively predictable? Yes. Late and uninspiring substitutions? Absolutely. But those inadequacies have generally been overcome by a relentless work rate, never say day attitude and an ability to grind out the odd clean sheet or two.

Without those qualities on display, we are badly exposed. Probably a little early to properly wet the bed just yet, but my expectations for the season have taken a big hit after that this afternoon.

Quoted from HerveJosse

Conteh won’t be the first player we have brought in who has looked like A Rolls Royce and 15 games later we have turned into a Morris Minor.

That is so, so true. Players come with glowing reputations and many often do start well, but after several weeks seem shackled and start to go backwards. To me we just keep swapping one set of players for another set, hoping for the best. I cannot see what the process is, what really we are trying to achieve and it is certainly not incremental progress.

We are just, average I suppose. Blundell Park could be rocking with an attacking team full of intent but we are short of firepower, lack genuine pace and not creative enough and set pieces are rubbish. A big problem is the keeper who looks very weak with very poor distribution.

Quoted from lew chaterleys lover

That is so, so true. Players come with glowing reputations and many often do start well, but after several weeks seem shackled and start to go backwards. To me we just keep swapping one set of players for another set, hoping for the best. I cannot see what the process is, what really we are trying to achieve and it is certainly not incremental progress.

We are just, average I suppose. Blundell Park could be rocking with an attacking team full of intent but we are short of firepower, lack genuine pace and not creative enough and set pieces are rubbish. A big problem is the keeper who looks very weak with very poor distribution.

Pretty perfect and succinct summary.

Waited till after the rugby on Tv done to try and post a less hotheaded assessment.

Fact remains we are in for a long season again at home for us season ticket holders!

Lloyd and Orsi were more of a goal threat last year than Rose and Pyke

Our wide players look ok and Wilson still to come in.

But Clifton, oh ffs. If he wasn’t local, he wouldn’t be in. Runs but no technical quality at all.

Full backs that can’t actually defend and a keeper that looks like a downgrade on last season.

Maher, Rodgers, Conteh, Eisa, Khan and Rose look ok.

Rest of the squad look poor after initial 20 mins when technique is key as players get a bit tired.

There is a reason we are top 3 on first half results and bottom in 2nd half.

Frustrated tonight as always have high hopes every year and know this is going to be a struggle to finish higher than last season.

Quoted from Wiley2405

Not sure why Hurst mixed the defence up and didn’t just put Waterfall in for Maher. Cruising at 2-0 could have been 3/4 just looked so lackluster from their first fluke of a goal. Not good enough.

It would have surely been better to make one like for like change but (And I'm not saying you were involved) the verdict on here on Waterfall last week was that he was a busted flush. Perhaps Hurst shared that view.

Quoted from 140381

I missed today because of norovirus. 3 days of vomiting, diarrhoea, stomach cramps, aches and fever. Looks like I got a result!

Any chance you could tell us where you ate so I can go there before the next home game?

Quoted from davmariner

Any chance you could tell us where you ate so I can go there before the next home game?

Deliveroo from Barrow Wetherspoons by the smell of it

Quoted from barralad

It would have surely been better to make one like for like change but (And I'm not saying you were involved) the verdict on here on Waterfall last week was that he was a busted flush. Perhaps Hurst shared that view.

The only question I have on the starting line up was why Glennon over Amos. It seems Amos has made the position his own and without him, we're a bit exposed.

Hurst knows who he can count on, and who he cannot. It seems, right now, Waterfall, and Hunt seem to be in that latter category. For both to previously be favoured, and are now not, there isn't something right there. In Waterfall's case, if we want to be aggressive, we need pace at the back and imho that could be the issue.

Holohan went from being hated last week to people speaking highly of him. People have bad games, and it's clear no matter who we bring in, Holohan works his balderdash off and forces his way in the team.

I'm getting a bit annoyed with the comparisons of Lloyd versus Rose. Lloyd is not our player and we have no choice. It's easy to blame Hurst for not having Lloyd, but that argument isn't based in fact.

The debate of Orsi vs Pyke is fair, but we don't know what the wage demands are etc. I still feel come the end of the season, the Orsi decision will be justified. Obviously he scores against us, but that doesn't mean he'll be consistent for a season.

Either way, Hurst likes a solid team, and he won't be happy with shipping 3 goals. He'll be as angry as most fans and wanting to fix that.

We are getting in front, and blowing the lead. I'd rather this problem than going behind first. It's a reasonable platform to build from.

Quoted from aldi_01

flipping comedy gold when we lose game though, listening to folk around me, it’s like they can’t wait for it to be excrement. They barely take any notice of what’s actually happening and then it’s ramble absolute nonsense…that in itself is entertaining.

Ah well, see ya next week.

Most people seem happier when we are losing because they get to moan.  ;D

Some fans you never see or hear from when things are going well and as soon as it isn't they are salivating at the thought of being able to whinge. Boring second half where it looked like we gave up after their first fluke goal started a comeback where they dominated the remainder of the first half. In the second they didn't look particularly like finishing the game off we just didn't really try either and they managed to get a last gasp winner from Orsi, who I was never particularly convinced by but looked much better than Pyke today. I'm confused how Pyke, who has played much of his career as a winger and wing-back was handed the #9 shirt and paraded as a striker. His skills are clearly not in finishing at all as he missed two easy looking chances and one half chance. Had he finished the easy ones you'd look at the half chance like "yeah, that happens" but he never looked like scoring even once.

It's amazing how injuries can throw all the plans at the wall and we seem to get at least a couple long term from pre season, Hurst still doesn't look like he knows what his best team is. There was much fanfare for Glennon signing but perhaps all of this could have been predicted if we wasn't stuck on him producing his form on loan in a terrible side that barely scraped staying up. His woeful performances at Barrow and the fact Burnley released him would be a sign of what is to come. The sad thing is I don't think Amos is that much better either so we are kind of stuck.

For those worried about our performance today could we have had a better, more considerate opponent than Crawley? We were gifted 4 clear goal scorinv opportunities in the first 20 minutes! Pyke was offered a 1 on 1 with the keeper, something you would normally consider a goal scorer to lick his lips and make the goal his prey for. Instead Pyke looked exactly like the out of position rabbit in the headlights he is and the chance was blown along with all of the others.
We should have gone in at least 3 up probably 4, yet instead we are vulnerable to the  comeback. We are so mentally weak or have dreadful in game management, or both, it's appaling.

How anyone can look at those first 20 minutes and  say Pyke should be anywhere near an EFL first team strike squad just baffles me. so out of place its untrue.

Also, Pyke had his best move in afirst team shirt today when  he was wide, went past someone and manged to get a difficult cross in.

He isn't a natural goal scorer9, more a wide player, as he played before

Quoted from Kris2

Most people seem happier when we are losing because they get to moan.  ;D

Some fans you never see or hear from when things are going well and as soon as it isn't they are salivating at the thought of being able to whinge. Boring second half where it looked like we gave up after their first fluke goal started a comeback where they dominated the remainder of the first half. In the second they didn't look particularly like finishing the game off we just didn't really try either and they managed to get a last gasp winner from Orsi, who I was never particularly convinced by but looked much better than Pyke today. I'm confused how Pyke, who has played much of his career as a winger and wing-back was handed the #9 shirt and paraded as a striker. His skills are clearly not in finishing at all as he missed two easy looking chances and one half chance. Had he finished the easy ones you'd look at the half chance like "yeah, that happens" but he never looked like scoring even once.

It's amazing how injuries can throw all the plans at the wall and we seem to get at least a couple long term from pre season, Hurst still doesn't look like he knows what his best team is. There was much fanfare for Glennon signing but perhaps all of this could have been predicted if we wasn't stuck on him producing his form on loan in a terrible side that barely scraped staying up. His woeful performances at Barrow and the fact Burnley released him would be a sign of what is to come. The sad thing is I don't think Amos is that much better either so we are kind of stuck.

What was that you were saying about people moaning?

as disappointed and despondent as most. I’m also a little worried about our consistent inability to hold onto a lead! But let’s have faith in Paul eh lads, he deserves it after what he’s done for the club, IMHO.

I don’t agree with this ‘little old Crawley, we should be beating them etc’… they’re clearly well drilled and organised and have beaten some big teams this season. Now quite the relegation fodder many predicted they would be!

Hopefully with Wilson getting back fit he can have an impact going forward. I read that we signed him on the back of lots of strong data regarding him helping create the most chances in the team last season, utilising his pace, which we also badly need. Maybe Wilson is the key to opening our tactical attack. We badly miss Rose too!

The future doesn’t look good for Waterfall at Town Hall it’s Hurst preferring to shuffle the link rather than slot him in, in place of Maher.

Could be worse - just look down the 180!

It’s been a long time since I left BP as annoyed as I did yesterday. We were poor all over but the worst of the bunch were the back four and Pyke.

Why we saw Efete and Glennon back I have no idea. Waterfall has had two solid seasons and all of a sudden he’s not in the frame to replace one of our first choice pairing? Mullarkey-Rodgers-Waterfall-Amos should have been the defence.

As for Pyke, talk about wasted opportunity. He’s dropped a division and so far played a bench role until today. I think it’s a lazy criticism to say players don’t care etc but today Pyke looked like he wasn’t bothered one bit. I hope that is the last we see of him up front on his own. The minimum we expect as fans is someone to show a bit of effort and run about a bit.

3 points lost and completely avoidable.

Quoted from AncientExiledMariner

The debate of Orsi vs Pyke is fair, but we don't know what the wage demands are etc. I still feel come the end of the season, the Orsi decision will be justified. Obviously he scores against us, but that doesn't mean he'll be consistent for a season.
.

I’d happily bet you any amount of money that Orsi will score more goals this season than Pyke. I wasn’t Orsi’s biggest fan but he gave Rodgers a difficult afternoon and scored a goal. Pyke looked like a 26 year old “striker” who is still yet to reach double digits of goals. I can forgive the odd miss (although that one on one when played in by their defender was about as easy as you get) but he doesn’t even get in to the goal scoring positions and shows no anticipation, desire or even knowledge of where to be in order to score. How the hell have we ended up with him with as our number 9?! All four of the strikers/forwards we had in the play off final are streets ahead of him and he sums up what a horrible job Hurst has done with recruiting strikers in the last three windows.

There's always the January transfer window to come.

Quoted from cannylad65

There's always the January transfer window to come.

Time to start the thread

I will go first I think we need a striker who scores goals.

Quoted from HerveJosse

Time to start the thread

I will go first I think we need a striker who scores goals.

Somebody to create something for him to score from wouldn't go amiss either.

Seven goals scored in L2 and NL by our ex strikers yesterday

Agree with most of the points here, just to say I thought Rodgers was having a decent game, intelligent defending against Orsi and giving him very little. As the game wore on it became obvious that none of Rodgers co-defenders were at the races and his one man defence became ragged, not surprisingly.
Orsi...where to begin. A better player than Pike. He's added some aggression and strength to his game, over 90 minutes of tireless work which we never saw here but then Hurst mostly threw him on for a final 10 minute cameo.
Crawley were laughably bad in the opening 15 minutes, shaky defending, desperately unconfident goalkeeping and even a defender slide tackling, and injuring his own team mate.

Another wonky back 4, a game that cried out for a Hunt type player in a game that too often turned into a jumbled mess of head tennis, a weak forward line missing Rose who could have possibly played last week it seems but was probably suffering heat exhaustion from Hurst's silly lack of tactical subs Vs Bradford, and a week on from numerous overhit crosses Vs Wrexham we now underhit them, with no angle straight to the keeper.
Oh yeah, Wrexham...letting in 5 with no return yesterday while we didn't lay a finger on them.

A bad day for Hurst as a few chickens came home to roost and his flaws rather than his dogged strengths were there for all to see.

Quoted from Wiley2405

Not sure why Hurst mixed the defence up and didn’t just put Waterfall in for Maher. Cruising at 2-0 could have been 3/4 just looked so lackluster from their first fluke of a goal. Not good enough.

How was their first goal a fluke? I was right behind it and I think he 100% meant it. And I’ve just watched the “highlights” and that has only confirmed that. Lovely goal.

What a damning analysis of yesterday and earlier. Always been a fan of PH but this is worrying

If Hurst has blown all the cup money we are fooked.

No striker signing in January and a long hard season ahead.

Quoted from 123614

So, a lot of moaning at Pyke, but to be fair, up until 31st January 2022 he had only played under 23 football, and we are told most of his playing time was on the wing or as a wingback.  Also he has only played in 8 EFL League 2 games, being in the starting 11 only once out of 9 games and amassing a total of only 151 minutes over those 9 games.  Our other forwards were injured and Wilson could only be given a few minutes at the end of the game.  FWIW I think he improved in the 2nd half and I also believe that given the very small amount of minutes in League Two football, not too much can be expected of him right now.

Why, in fook's name did we sign him then?

Quoted from GollyGTFC

How was their first goal a fluke? I was right behind it and I think he 100% meant it. And I’ve just watched the “highlights” and that has only confirmed that. Lovely goal.

It was right in front of us in the Lower Findus and it’s come off the inside of his heel as he’s gone to side foot it across to the lad in the middle. All immaterial but he’s never meant that in a million years.

Quoted from 123614

So, a lot of moaning at Pyke, but to be fair, up until 31st January 2022 he had only played under 23 football, and we are told most of his playing time was on the wing or as a wingback.  Also he has only played in 8 EFL League 2 games, being in the starting 11 only once out of 9 games and amassing a total of only 151 minutes over those 9 games.  Our other forwards were injured and Wilson could only be given a few minutes at the end of the game.  FWIW I think he improved in the 2nd half and I also believe that given the very small amount of minutes in League Two football, not too much can be expected of him right now.

If he’s played so few  minutes despite being 26 and with a lot of those minutes being played in another position then it’s probably an indicator that many other people didn’t particularly rate him as a striker. If we can’t expect much from him yet find ourselves with him as our only fit option then wouldn’t you agree that it’s fairly terrible recruitment? Only three strikers in the squad and one of them appears to not really be much of a striker. Excellent planning.  

Quoted from MuddyWaters

Why, in fook's name did we sign him then?

I have deleted that post because of incorrectly researched data.

Quoted from mariner91

If he’s played so few  minutes despite being 26 and with a lot of those minutes being played in another position then it’s probably an indicator that many other people didn’t particularly rate him as a striker. If we can’t expect much from him yet find ourselves with him as our only fit option then wouldn’t you agree that it’s fairly terrible recruitment? Only three strikers in the squad and one of them appears to not really be much of a striker. Excellent planning.  

According to our first team squad list posted on this site, we have 6 strikers.

Quoted from 123614

According to our first team squad list posted on this site, we have 6 strikers.

Feel free to name them.

There seems to be a lot of posters on here when mentioned several players and they explain why not much can be expected off them but then that always begs the question why sign him then.

And I know that some players are down right gambles etc but to sign a 26 year old with the hope of turning him into a striker and giving him the number 9 shirt just strikes me as a badly thought out signing.

Unfortunately I feel the FA cup money was very poorly spent by Hurst

Quoted from mariner91

Feel free to name them.

Lol, go look for yourself, I'm not your servant.

Quoted from GollyGTFC

How was their first goal a fluke? I was right behind it and I think he 100% meant it. And I’ve just watched the “highlights” and that has only confirmed that. Lovely goal.

Get to specsavers fella, he never meant it in a million years, he was crossing the ball. No excuse for us collapsing mind

Quoted from 123614

Lol, go look for yourself, I'm not your servant.

Gosh you’re a bore. To humour you, I’ve had a look. One of them listed is Gnahoua who hasn’t played up front for us and I doubt was brought in to play that position. Two of them are teenagers with approximately an hour between them of full professional football. So yes, we have three strikers.

No way their player meant that first goal. He didn't celebrate it at all. If he'd have intended it, I think he'd have been a bit more lively!

Quoted from mariner91

Gosh you’re a bore. To humour you, I’ve had a look. One of them listed is Gnahoua who hasn’t played up front for us and I doubt was brought in to play that position. Two of them are teenagers with approximately an hour between them of full professional football. So yes, we have three strikers.

LOL, you are pathetic!  Six strikers named in the 1st team squad, so they ARE 6 strikers, one who scored in a pre season friendly, and also has been on the bench this season.  Some people will swear that black is white, LOL.  Oh and btw, I couldn't give two fecks that you think I'm a bore, do you order everyone to go and do your bidding?

thats the most disappointed I've been watching a town game for a while. 2-0 up and looking like we were on for a good win and then it all fell apart. Not sure why Glennon was in for Amos as Amos had that spot pretty much nailed down. Mullarkey didn't have a good game but was at least honest enough in his interview to admit he was at fault. Pyke really needed to take opportunities given to him. We could have been 4 up but instead went in 2-2 and then to add salt to the wound the late late winner from Orsi. I dont think we deserved to lose that game which is the most disappointing bit. Eastwood had a bit of a howler today and I hope it was just a one off. Seemed to have no confidence and his decision making was terrible.

I really hope our heads don't drop after this one as I feel this result is the most painful of the campaign so far.

UTM

Quoted from 123614

LOL, you are pathetic!  Six strikers named in the 1st team squad, so they ARE strikers, one who scored in a pre season friendly, and also has been on the bench this season.  Some people will swear that black is white, LOL.  Oh and btw, I couldn't give two fecks that you think I'm a bore, do you order everyone to go and do your bidding?

We literally don’t even have six strikers named in the squad on the official club website. There’s four on there with one of them being Essel who was loaned out to non-league in August. You’re a bizarrely aggressive individual who doesn’t understand very basic arguments leading to you getting angry and personal. When you’re then called out on it you then claim you’re a victim. If you can’t take differing opinions without getting so wound up then perhaps an internet football forum isn’t the best place for you to frequent.

Quoted from Maringer

No way their player meant that first goal. He didn't celebrate it at all. If he'd have intended it, I think he'd have been a bit more lively!

Yeah complete accident which he had the decency to acknowledge by not celebrating at all. Total fluke

Quoted from 123614

I have deleted that post because of incorrectly researched data.

By you or our recruitment analyst chap? 🤔😂

Quoted from Oly1987

thats the most disappointed I've been watching a town game for a while. 2-0 up and looking like we were on for a good win and then it all fell apart. Not sure why Glennon was in for Amos as Amos had that spot pretty much nailed down. Mullarkey didn't have a good game but was at least honest enough in his interview to admit he was at fault. Pyke really needed to take opportunities given to him. We could have been 4 up but instead went in 2-2 and then to add salt to the wound the late late winner from Orsi. I dont think we deserved to lose that game which is the most disappointing bit. Eastwood had a bit of a howler today and I hope it was just a one off. Seemed to have no confidence and his decision making was terrible.

I really hope our heads don't drop after this one as I feel this result is the most painful of the campaign so far.

UTM

Eastwood got off to a flying start with that penalty save in the first game, but I haven't been convinced at all.

His kicking is atrocious. If he takes a goal kick long, how does he manage to find touch so many times? To be fair to him why is he asked to try to find a 5 yard strip of the pitch by the touchline? Give him a chance of keeping it in play and kick it more central.

When he kicks a moving ball he often gets a lot of backspin on it sending it upwards rather than forwards.

What was that ridiculous attempt at a punch in the first half when he could easily have caught a dropping ball above the strikers head?

If Hurst wanted Crocombe out you would assume he had a ready made replacement lined up who would be better,  but it looks a poor deal to me.

If Cartwright who is with a Championship club can't claim the number 1 shirt then it looks like we have made two mistakes.

Crocombe was offered a contract but decided against it, swear I’ve seen goldfish with better memories than some on here.

Thought Andrews did ok when he came on yesterday considering what he had in front & behind him. Got stitched up a few times by Glennon hiding when in a decent position, he tried to tell him but you could see he was a 21-year-old trying to tell a more senior player what to do. Glennon just shrugged & trotted past him.

Quoted from Maringer

No way their player meant that first goal. He didn't celebrate it at all. If he'd have intended it, I think he'd have been a bit more lively!

He didn’t celebrate because they were still 2-1 down. When you score any goal in that situation it’s simply “get the ball on the centre spot and get on with the game”.

Sky Sports seem to think he meant it because it’s been posted on their app.

Quoted from ska face

Crocombe was offered a contract but decided against it, swear I’ve seen goldfish with better memories than some on here.

Thought Andrews did ok when he came on yesterday considering what he had in front & behind him. Got stitched up a few times by Glennon hiding when in a decent position, he tried to tell him but you could see he was a 21-year-old trying to tell a more senior player what to do. Glennon just shrugged & trotted past him.

However what we don’t know is how attractive the contract was. What was certain was that we had to have another viable goalkeeping option.

I still can't work out why in nearly every game we are playing well and then turn to absolute shite. Is it something in the tea ?

Quoted from ska face

It was right in front of us in the Lower Findus and it’s come off the inside of his heel as he’s gone to side foot it across to the lad in the middle. All immaterial but he’s never meant that in a million years.

Sat right in front of it in the ponny...completely fluffed his cross, to the point he was so embarrassed he couldn't even celebrate scoring...

Quoted from golfer

I still can't work out why in nearly every game we are playing well and then turn to absolute shite. Is it something in the tea ?

The players have no confidence in themselves  Golfer there is only Eisa who believes he can score so once we lose the lead heads go down and mistakes are made.

What we are lacking is a striker that is confident once he has got the ball in front of goal that he will put it  away.

That gives the rest of the team a boost and they play with panache now where are we going to find one of those ?  They do not come cheap and Hurst has spent all this season's money by all accounts.

Quoted from GollyGTFC

How was their first goal a fluke? I was right behind it and I think he 100% meant it. And I’ve just watched the “highlights” and that has only confirmed that. Lovely goal.

I was right behind it and it was a shank. He's never meant that in a million years.

My misses hit the nail on the head after the match when she said it was boring…….no excitement….
I didn’t know if it was related to me or the match lol…..
Probably both !!

Quoted from mariner91

We literally don’t even have six strikers named in the squad on the official club website. There’s four on there with one of them being Essel who was loaned out to non-league in August. You’re a bizarrely aggressive individual who doesn’t understand very basic arguments leading to you getting angry and personal. When you’re then called out on it you then claim you’re a victim. If you can’t take differing opinions without getting so wound up then perhaps an internet football forum isn’t the best place for you to frequent.

You need to read my posts, NEVER have I claimed to be a victim, don't know where you get that from.  I'm an 'aggressive' individual', lol, you don't even know me son.  If you really read and understand English, you will see that at NO time have I ever got wound up.  It is clear to me that some people like to try and provoke me, it ain't working guys, as for you telling me  that maybe I shouldn't be on this forum, since when do you get to tell me what to do?  Grow up sonny.

Quoted from MuddyWaters

By you or our recruitment analyst chap? 🤔😂

By me, of course.

Quoted from 123614

You need to read my posts, NEVER have I claimed to be a victim, don't know where you get that from.  I'm an 'aggressive' individual', lol, you don't even know me son.  If you really read and understand English, you will see that at NO time have I ever got wound up.  It is clear to me that some people like to try and provoke me, it ain't working guys, as for you telling me  that maybe I shouldn't be on this forum, since when do you get to tell me what to do?  Grow up sonny.

Yes you’re a famously composed and even-tempered poster as evidenced here.

Anyway, as you’ll now agree we have three recognised strikers in the first team squad. At no point have two or more of them been fully fit. And one of those strikers is Pyke who does not appear to be very good, albeit in limited appearances. Injuries occur but if you build your strike force light on both quality and quantity you are asking for trouble. We’ve had three transfer windows since being back in the FL and PH’s failure to even match the strength in depth that we had towards the end of our latest stint in non league is, in my opinion, a major factor in our struggles to score goals this season and last.

We missed a big player for us in Maher yesterday, with the added negative impact of playing Rodgers on the left of central defence where he looked uncomfortable.

Still can't get my head around the complete disappearance of Alex Hunt. I'm maybe in the minority, but I rate him above any other midfielder we've got other than Conteh..Thought the Conteh/Hunt axis was going to give us a new dimension to our play. Can't say we've improved without Hunt in the starting eleven..

And maybe again in the minority.. but I'd like to see Efete get a run of games when Maher and Rodgers renew their partnership. Give him a fair go from a strong base, especially when we get a couple back from injury. Think we need his energy and willingness to get forward more than Mullarkey's (up until recently) solidity in defending..

Quoted from Bigdog

We missed a big player for us in Maher yesterday, with the added negative impact of playing Rodgers on the left of central defence where he looked uncomfortable.

Still can't get my head around the complete disappearance of Alex Hunt. I'm maybe in the minority, but I rate him above any other midfielder we've got other than Conteh..Thought the Conteh/Hunt axis was going to give us a new dimension to our play. Can't say we've improved without Hunt in the starting eleven..

I totally agree. Notts County did a job on Hunt and Conteh and he’s barely been seen since. Amazing how many times our management team seem to bin off flair players.

Interestingly our best players yesterday were Holohan, Clifton & Eisa

https://www.fotmob.com/match/4203451/matchfacts/grimsby-town-vs-crawley-town

Been a long time since I have felt so dejected.
I think that is the case with most of us.

I'd about calmed down, then I saw the Stockport v Wrexham highlights and it drunk me off that we didn't have a go at that urine poor Wrexham defence last week.

My mate said at the game yesterday that Hurst is too eager to change things away from home but is rigid as hell during home games, I think he's nailed it.

Tinkering at Wrexham cost us momentum in my opinion, needlessly.  Then during the game yesterday he persisted with the same flipping isolated striker up front system that saw us chasing shadows for 60 minutes. Every sub was like for like. There's nothing wrong with going for the win at home, it's perfectly acceptable to chase it by going with 2 strikers.

Too many out of sorts and needing a break. Conteh has quality in his locker but he's looking sloppier every game, give the lad a rest. Clifton hasn't started well and resting him for a half in that EFL trophy isn't enough.

For all the criticism of Pyke, I'm not sure what else he's expected to do. When we played the high press in the first 25 he looked effective, for the rest of the game there wasn't anyone within miles of him.

Any hope of calming down was utterly destroyed when I heard Hurst's post-match interview.  In short; we didn't deserve the defeat, Crawley came for a point and got 3 and we put enough pressure on their dodgy 'keeper. All of which I couldn't disagree with more.  We were excrement for two-thirds of the game, Campbell and Orsi for them ran us ragged and their whole defence was prime for an absolute thumping, yet we barely tickled them after our 2nd goal.

I like Hurst and I'm not calling for his head but intercourse me just entertain us will you! Take the shackles off, there's some genuinely exciting players in this squad if you just encourage them to go for it for more than 25 minutes.

Quoted from diehardmariner

I'd about calmed down, then I saw the Stockport v Wrexham highlights and it drunk me off that we didn't have a go at that urine poor Wrexham defence last week.

My mate said at the game yesterday that Hurst is too eager to change things away from home but is rigid as hell during home games, I think he's nailed it.

Tinkering at Wrexham cost us momentum in my opinion, needlessly.  Then during the game yesterday he persisted with the same flipping isolated striker up front system that saw us chasing shadows for 60 minutes. Every sub was like for like. There's nothing wrong with going for the win at home, it's perfectly acceptable to chase it by going with 2 strikers.

Too many out of sorts and needing a break. Conteh has quality in his locker but he's looking sloppier every game, give the lad a rest. Clifton hasn't started well and resting him for a half in that EFL trophy isn't enough.

For all the criticism of Pyke, I'm not sure what else he's expected to do. When we played the high press in the first 25 he looked effective, for the rest of the game there wasn't anyone within miles of him.

Any hope of calming down was utterly destroyed when I heard Hurst's post-match interview.  In short; we didn't deserve the defeat, Crawley came for a point and got 3 and we put enough pressure on their dodgy 'keeper. All of which I couldn't disagree with more.  We were excrement for two-thirds of the game, Campbell and Orsi for them ran us ragged and their whole defence was prime for an absolute thumping, yet we barely tickled them after our 2nd goal.

I like Hurst and I'm not calling for his head but intercourse me just entertain us will you! Take the shackles off, there's some genuinely exciting players in this squad if you just encourage them to go for it for more than 25 minutes.

when Hurst made his changes, changing to 2 holding midfielders, attempting to hold on to the draw rather than going for the win, its pretty depressing given how shite their defence was in that first 30.

Conteh doesn’t need a rest he needs to be partnered with Hunt and Khouri as the poor sodomist is playing in midfield on his own. However, poor our striking options are the real need is for a decent midfield capable of dominating a game and creating goal scoring opportunities.

By the way do we practice throw ins at any stage in our training as we hardly ever retain possession from them and have no movement whatsoever it’s so bad it’s laughable.

Quoted from Lincoln Mariner 56

Conteh doesn’t need a rest he needs to be partnered with Hunt and Khouri as the poor sodomist is playing in midfield on his own. However, poor our striking options are the real need is for a decent midfield capable of dominating a game and creating goal scoring opportunities.

By the way do we practice throw ins at any stage in our training as we hardly ever retain possession from them and have no movement whatsoever it’s so bad it’s laughable.

Think he’s going to get a rest as he’s suspended next week.

Quoted from mariner91

Yes you’re a famously composed and even-tempered poster as evidenced here.

Anyway, as you’ll now agree we have three recognised strikers in the first team squad. At no point have two or more of them been fully fit. And one of those strikers is Pyke who does not appear to be very good, albeit in limited appearances. Injuries occur but if you build your strike force light on both quality and quantity you are asking for trouble. We’ve had three transfer windows since being back in the FL and PH’s failure to even match the strength in depth that we had towards the end of our latest stint in non league is, in my opinion, a major factor in our struggles to score goals this season and last.

That's your opinion.

Quoted from ska face

Crocombe was offered a contract but decided against it, swear I’ve seen goldfish with better memories than some on here.

Thought Andrews did ok when he came on yesterday considering what he had in front & behind him. Got stitched up a few times by Glennon hiding when in a decent position, he tried to tell him but you could see he was a 21-year-old trying to tell a more senior player what to do. Glennon just shrugged & trotted past him.

Who are you calling a..  What was I gonna say?

Quoted from Lincoln Mariner 56

Conteh doesn’t need a rest he needs to be partnered with Hunt and Khouri as the poor sodomist is playing in midfield on his own. However, poor our striking options are the real need is for a decent midfield capable of dominating a game and creating goal scoring opportunities.

By the way do we practice throw ins at any stage in our training as we hardly ever retain possession from them and have no movement whatsoever it’s so bad it’s laughable.

You'll find no argument from me regards Hunt.  I've said before he needs to be used more and then in an advanced role, rather than sat on Conteh's toes.  I like Khouri and I think he's got a great future ahead of him, presuming he's injured at present considering his complete omission from the 18 in the last few games.  But even Khouri is very much in the style of Clifton and Holohan, lots of energy and running as opposed to pure technical ability.  That energetic and hustle approach is great for us in the first 20 minutes, but we're clearly unable to sustain it.  As soon as that tails off, we offer nothing going forward and just become sitting ducks waiting for teams to reign us in.  Hunt, with freedom to create in an advanced role, gives you something different.

But regardless of who he's paired with, I think Conteh looks exactly like what he is.  A young lad suffering a bit with his first senior run in a team at this level.  There were moments on Saturday when he looked like a Rolls Royce, just little bits of play where you can clearly see he's better at this level.  Yet then he also looked leggy at times and I think his booking and removal to avoid a red card looked down to fatigue.  

I think a significant factor in our three defeats has been disruption to our best starting back four. We have conceded three goals in each of those games.

Saturday and at County, Maher was out injured and Rodgers had to shuffle across to accommodate Waterfall against County, and Mullarkey against Crawley.

At Wrexham, we played a 5 with Waterfall between Rodgers and Maher.

Glennon has also been involved in 2 of those defeats, with Amos playing at Wrexham, but more as a wing back.

When we have had a back four of Mullarkey, Rodgers, Maher and Amos, we have looked at our best, and top of the league Gillingham didn't get a sniff against them.

The best thing from Saturday's game was Dave Boylen's reaction when his name was read out at half-time, giving it large to Main stand, a true legend and gentlemen.
I was chuffed to bits that he recognize me outside McMenemy's main enterance after the game, came over to speak to me and shook hands, I often gave Dave a lift to the games before his illness.

This gentlemen is a true legend.

Quoted from ginnywings

I think a significant factor in our three defeats has been disruption to our best starting back four. We have conceded three goals in each of those games.

Saturday and at County, Maher was out injured and Rodgers had to shuffle across to accommodate Waterfall against County, and Mullarkey against Crawley.

At Wrexham, we played a 5 with Waterfall between Rodgers and Maher.

Glennon has also been involved in 2 of those defeats, with Amos playing at Wrexham, but more as a wing back.

When we have had a back four of Mullarkey, Rodgers, Maher and Amos, we have looked at our best, and top of the league Gillingham didn't get a sniff against them.

Yeah really good points.  I think if I try to look through Hurst's eyes for the Wrexham and Crawley games I can just about see his logic.  Wrexham are a big team who definitely prefer to go direct and then rely on Tozer's long throw into the box.  Waterfall brings a bit more height so just for the aerial aspect of it, he's someone who can counter what they offer a bit more.  But it disrupted what was a developing relationship in the back four and with the 'keeper.  It just looked completely out of sorts with none of the three centre-backs taking control of balls, quite literally they didn't know who was doing what.   Because of Waterfall's lack of pace it meant we had to play a bit deeper too, which just dragged everyone even further back and meant Pyke wasn't only slightly isolated but he was completely devoid of any support.  

On Saturday, with Maher out he might have thought that with Orsi and Campbell up top for Crawley, it was more about mobility than physicality so Mullarkey is probably better equipped to deal with that than Waterfall.  Yet it then meant that from the side that defended so well against Bradford, there was only Rodgers in the defence.

As said earlier in the thread, there's a needless tinkering between games that is grating on me a little with Hurst.  I understand the need to keep things fresh and not everyone will be available for every game, but there's also something about consistency.  The tinkering between games feels even more frustrating when he's so rigid during games too.

Swindon are averaging 3 a game so far this season, so we need to get that previously very impressive defence back for the weekend.  6 conceded in the first 7 (which includes the County game) yet 6 in the last 2.  

I can see the logic for the CB change, because although he’s been near faultless the last few years, Waterfall had simply not been good enough this season when he’s been given a chance and isn’t comfortable enough on the ball or quick enough with how we’re wanting to play. I imagine if you look at just back threads you’ll see lots of similar comments, so in that regard, Mullarkey is the more like for like option with Maher, especially as we’re told he’s naturally a CB.

Obviously it didn’t work and that’s the risk you take.

Glennon being swapped for Amos, I’m a bit puzzled about as Amos hasn’t really put a foot wrong. Can only Imagine Hurst wants him in because his delivery of the ball is good and we do miss it.

I like Otis and it’s great to have him back, but feel like Arthur was hard done by to not start. He’s been decent in most games he’s played?

Hunt is a tough one. He’s got a lot of natural talent as we saw in patches during his loan spell…he just hasn’t grasped his opportunity when given it and is so prone to giving the ball away with sloppy passes. But who’s to say he won’t come good given a run. Then again he’s seemingly competing with Holohan who has been pretty decent.

Hunt is a tough one. He’s got a lot of natural talent as we saw in patches during his loan spell…he just hasn’t grasped his opportunity when given it and is so prone to giving the ball away with sloppy passes. But who’s to say he won’t come good given a run. Then again he’s seemingly competing with Holohan who has been pretty decent.


Think what most of us “pro-Hunt” supporters object to is the very fact he never seems to be given a run of 5 or 6 matches and he must always feel he’s under immense pressure to deliver or he will be out the team. As for giving the ball away we currently have Holohan and Clifton playing alongside Conteh in midfield and neither are noted for the quality of their passing but are 100% grafters which Hurst seems to prefer. Personally I wouldn’t play either of them but would accept one workhorse in there but think we need some creativity if we are to have any chance of increasing our goal output.

Clifton is another conundrum. His quality on the ball is questionable, but we know he's got a goal in him and on the occasions he hasn't played recently, his absence (and the absence of his energy) has been so noticeable.

Hurst gets accused of being negative. I think he tried to be far more positive on Saturday and it cost us. Moving Mullarkey inside and bringing in Glennon allowed us to play more attacking fullbacks and try not to sit as deep as we would have if Waterfall had played. Someone in this thread moaned about wingers being selected for there ability to track back and defend. If they thought that on Saturday they can't have been watching Khan very closely. I also think Conteh has played so well this season that he's covered us only having one in front of a back 4. He had an off game on Saturday and we looked wide open.

I think we've signed some good players this summer but I don't think we've found quite the right balance of a team yet. We started with two deep midfielders but didn't get anyone in the box. So then it's Clifton and Holohan which improves energy and getting bodies in the box but reduces our ability to use the ball as well. Mullarkey and Amos are solid defensively at full back but you're not going to get many overlapping runs.

I'm afraid Hunt has cooked his own goose. Hurst obviously wanted him to be an integral part of the team but after the umpteenth time of being sloppy in possession Hurst has had enough. He wasn't even trying difficult chance creating passes he kept losing possession in the middle of the pitch.

Quoted from Rodley Mariner

Hurst gets accused of being negative. I think he tried to be far more positive on Saturday and it cost us. Moving Mullarkey inside and bringing in Glennon allowed us to play more attacking fullbacks and try not to sit as deep as we would have if Waterfall had played. Someone in this thread moaned about wingers being selected for there ability to track back and defend. If they thought that on Saturday they can't have been watching Khan very closely. I also think Conteh has played so well this season that he's covered us only having one in front of a back 4. He had an off game on Saturday and we looked wide open.

I think we've signed some good players this summer but I don't think we've found quite the right balance of a team yet. We started with two deep midfielders but didn't get anyone in the box. So then it's Clifton and Holohan which improves energy and getting bodies in the box but reduces our ability to use the ball as well. Mullarkey and Amos are solid defensively at full back but you're not going to get many overlapping runs.

Agree. Think it's just something some fans revert to whenever we lose, "Hurst is too negative/Hurst is too cautious". I don't think we were at all on Saturday. We were crap, sure, but i don't think for one moment we tried to just sit back and defend.

I really like Clifton but he hasn't looked half as effective this season, so far anyway.  He did have a positive impact when he came on against Man City Under 21's, but they were also down to ten-men at that point too.

Lincoln Mariner nails it when he says that it's too similar in the middle of the park.  There isn't anyone who's going to unlock a team with a range of passing.  Conteh, Clifton and Holohan all have their roles to play in the team and they largely do them well.  But we can't just rely on energy and intensity.  

Since he signed permanently for us Hunt's best run of league games is four consecutive starts, which came just after he signed.  Since then his best is 3, which include the AFC Wimbledon double-header from last season into this one. so effectively 2 back-to-back games.

He hasn't quite hit the heights I expected when he did sign permanently, but the lad hasn't really had a fair crack of it has he?  It's almost Orsi like, Hurst signs a player and then just doesn't seem to want to give them a chance to succeed.

In Eisa we've got someone who can do something out of nothing from wide, but that's pretty much it across the whole team.  I like Gnahoua but he's very much someone who will continue to put a shift in rather than produce moments of magic, I would add he's getting better each week too.  Khan too is another I like and I'm pleased he's back, but I'd describe him more as a worker than someone who consistently creates something.  One guy out your midfield four/five who can do something isn't enough I'm afraid.  Even more so when we're playing with one up top.

Quoted from lew chaterleys lover

I'm afraid Hunt has cooked his own goose. Hurst obviously wanted him to be an integral part of the team but after the umpteenth time of being sloppy in possession Hurst has had enough. He wasn't even trying difficult chance creating passes he kept losing possession in the middle of the pitch.

And I do get that.  I think in front of his own goal he can be a liability with the type of passes he tries.  It frustrates me that he does seem unable to do the simple things when needed.  But it begs the question, why the intercourse is Hurst using him as a defensive midfielder?  He isn't one.  Creative players take risks, so you let them do it in places on the pitch that will cause you the least harm yet also cause the most damage to the opposition.  His little passes round the corner and quick one-touches look nice when they come off when he's facing our centre-backs, but they're not gonna cause much damage. They do make us vulnerable when they don't come off, just because of the proximity to our own goal and the lack of players between it and the ball.  He does them further up the pitch and it just might create a chance for someone, if they don't come off...plenty of players in between the ball and our goal.  

Don't get me wrong, he needs to be worked on and coached on the when to try stuff. But unless I'm missing something in the squad, I'm not seeing an awful lot of creativity available.

Quoted from sam gy

Agree. Think it's just something some fans revert to whenever we lose, "Hurst is too negative/Hurst is too cautious". I don't think we were at all on Saturday. We were crap, sure, but i don't think for one moment we tried to just sit back and defend.

Y'see I do think he's too negative and cautious, but that's not saying I think he parks the bus and tries to defend. I think it's more that he won't be bold.

We were crap on Saturday, there's no two ways about that and the players should be as accountable as anyone for their roles in it.  But it was Hurst who persisted with the same lone striker system that was woeful for anything after 25 minutes.  Even when he brought Wilson on, he took Pyke off rather than going with a front two.  

I think as fans it's easy to want to see more attacking and fluid football.  On paper it looks easy, two flying wingers, two strikers and at least one midfielder who bombs on, oh and maybe overlapping full-backs too.  Realistically I don't think anyone is calling for that.  But we're just too steady for my liking for too long in games.  I really do like the high-press and intense possession that we're starting with in a lot of games, I think it's effective and also entertaining.  But we can't sustain it for long enough.  We either need an alternative option to see us through for the final 60 minutes of games or he has to be better with the use of his subs to continue it.

My frustration with Hurst's cautious approach is that he seems so reluctant to deviate from the approach that we have in the first minute of games.  Bit tired of seeing us batter teams early on in games, only for opposition managers to change it a little and we can't respond.

I don't think the formation lets Clifton show his best abilities, but his energy is missed if he isn't in there.

On the other hand, I've actually been quite impressed with the way Holohan has played in the past couple of home games - he's retained possession and moved the ball along well.

The problem on Saturday, wasn't so much the fact that the defence was re-jigged, it was that two of the defenders played poorly (Glennon and Mullarkey) and the other two had indifferent games. Also, Conteh was well out of sorts. I sort of felt sorry for Efete, as he piled up the line lots of time when we were only the attack, only for our midfield to lose possession so he found himself hopelessly out of position. I don't think he made too many mistakes himself, but Mullarkey was ropey, especially in the build up to their winner.

Whilst I don't think it's his best position, I think there's something about putting Clifton out wide.  

He naturally drifts in so it gives that energy and overload anyway, but it frees up a midfield slot for someone else too.

I've always felt he should be played inside as opposed to on the wing.  But I reckon, without checking any stats, that we're better when he's out wide than not.

Quoted from diehardmariner

And I do get that.  I think in front of his own goal he can be a liability with the type of passes he tries.  It frustrates me that he does seem unable to do the simple things when needed.  But it begs the question, why the intercourse is Hurst using him as a defensive midfielder?  He isn't one.  Creative players take risks, so you let them do it in places on the pitch that will cause you the least harm yet also cause the most damage to the opposition.  His little passes round the corner and quick one-touches look nice when they come off when he's facing our centre-backs, but they're not gonna cause much damage. They do make us vulnerable when they don't come off, just because of the proximity to our own goal and the lack of players between it and the ball.  He does them further up the pitch and it just might create a chance for someone, if they don't come off...plenty of players in between the ball and our goal.  

Don't get me wrong, he needs to be worked on and coached on the when to try stuff. But unless I'm missing something in the squad, I'm not seeing an awful lot of creativity available.

I agree with you. Why he has been played so deep is a question for Hurst. To be honest our Paul seems to like to challenge the players all the time instead of just playing them to their strengths.

Quoted from diehardmariner

Whilst I don't think it's his best position, I think there's something about putting Clifton out wide.  

He naturally drifts in so it gives that energy and overload anyway, but it frees up a midfield slot for someone else too.

I've always felt he should be played inside as opposed to on the wing.  But I reckon, without checking any stats, that we're better when he's out wide than not.

I agree with that as well. He is basically anonymous in the middle, and although not a winger he is very effective indeed out wide especially on the left.

I think I did mention this earlier in the season but posters naturally said well you can't move Eisa who is most effective on the left cutting in. I'm sure Clifton has played wide right a few times so I would play him there.

The problem with this idea that Hunt is some sort of an undiscovered creative genius, is the rather thin evidence to show it is true. He started well during his initial loan with us (at the time that McAtee and Bapaga were also causing problems for the opposition defence, I seem to think), but even by the end of that spell, he'd become pretty ineffective, to my view. He then, of course, went to Oldham and it obviously didn't work out great there.

Since signing for us permanently, he hasn't nailed down a place in the team and, I'd argue, hasn't deserved to. The idea that he needs to be playing further forward to be most effective may have some truth in it, but the problem is that he gives away possession sloppily too much and this doesn't seem likely to change whether he's further forward or deeper.

He's pretty diminutive so needs to look after the ball better than he has been doing in most of his performances so far. 23 years old now, so hardly a kid. I don't blame Hurst for not picking him because I've seen little to indicate he deserves it.

Truth be told, I'd say that Khouri is more unfortunate not to get a chance as he put in a few tenacious performances towards the end of last season, but I'm sure there must be some reason why he isn't getting a look-in. You'd think he'd go out on loan somewhere if he's not in Hurst's current plans, but perhaps he's holding him back in case of injury to Conteh?

I can only presume Khouri is injured, having not featured in the last 3 match day squads, one of which featured a seventeen-year-old Cameron Gardner.

He does appear to have fallen down the pecking order a bit though and I do agree that he probably deserves a bit more of a role to play.

Perhaps that's the case with regards Conteh, but I'd have thought with Andrews coming in and once Green is back we're hardly in a position to worry about not having enough midfielders.  Seven at my count (Conteh, Clifton, Holohan, Khouri, Andrews, Hunt and Green) plus Ainley who I think can either wide or at the top of the midfield.

I’m a massive believer that you should play your most talented players and I believe Alex Hunt is one of our most talented players. If Hurst and Doig don’t give him a run in the team then his confidence is bound to be shot. Maybe his bridge is burnt but he’s still our player for the thick end of two more seasons.

Quoted from diehardmariner

I can only presume Khouri is injured, having not featured in the last 3 match day squads, one of which featured a seventeen-year-old Cameron Gardner.

He does appear to have fallen down the pecking order a bit though and I do agree that he probably deserves a bit more of a role to play.

Perhaps that's the case with regards Conteh, but I'd have thought with Andrews coming in and once Green is back we're hardly in a position to worry about not having enough midfielders.  Seven at my count (Conteh, Clifton, Holohan, Khouri, Andrews, Hunt and Green) plus Ainley who I think can either wide or at the top of the midfield.

I forget we had Green. How long will he be out for. It might be nice to take pressure off Conteh, or have the option to push him into a more advanced role at times.

I personally don't think Hunt is going to work. After that season alongside Fox, he just doesn't seem to be stepping up and I don't think he has Hurst's confidence. I would love to be proven wrong of course, but the longer this goes on, the less time on the contract left. I half expect Khouri to leapfrog him. I think Andrews is already ahead of both.

Quoted from MuddyWaters

I’m a massive believer that you should play your most talented players and I believe Alex Hunt is one of our most talented players. If Hurst and Doig don’t give him a run in the team then his confidence is bound to be shot. Maybe his bridge is burnt but he’s still our player for the thick end of two more seasons.

I Just don't understand d what you are basing this on? bar 2/3 months of his original loan spell he has been completely anonymous. I think the writings been on the wall for him for a while now, since the away game against Carlisle when he gave the ball away and it led to a goal and was generally very poor.

For those wondering what's happened to Khouri; he's injured. PH said so after the game.

Quoted from ginnywings

For those wondering what's happened to Khouri; he's injured. PH said so after the game.

Thanks for the update. Do you have a link for the post match stuff?

Quoted from AncientExiledMariner

Thanks for the update. Do you have a link for the post match stuff?

I'm out walking and don't know how to do them on my phone, but there is one on the GTFC channel on YouTube, and one somewhere on Humberside sport

Quoted from Hagrid

I Just don't understand d what you are basing this on? bar 2/3 months of his original loan spell he has been completely anonymous. I think the writings been on the wall for him for a while now, since the away game against Carlisle when he gave the ball away and it led to a goal and was generally very poor.

Thanks for making my point. Every time he makes a mistake he gets dropped. There are several other players who appear bombproof in this regard, Harry being one.

Not seen or heard anything since, but seem to recall when Green was initially ruled out a six-week timeframe was mentioned, we're there or thereabouts now.  

Quoted from MuddyWaters

Thanks for making my point. Every time he makes a mistake he gets dropped. There are several other players who appear bombproof in this regard, Harry being one.

I don't recall Clifton making many (if any?) mistakes leading directly to goals. He does give possession away in midfield a fair bit, however, so similar to Hunt in that regard.

They aren't really the same type of player, of course.

I'd very much like Hunt to come good as we paid a fee for him and I'd imagine he's on a decent whack as well, but it doesn't look as though he's going to take the chance, unless we move the midfield around a bit because I don't think he has the physicality that Hurst likes for the two playing ahead of Conteh.

Pre-season against Lincoln it was very much a case of Hunt and Clifton playing as a two ahead of Conteh.

The highlights only really show his goal but he didn't get bullied, he was aggressive in his press and he was effective with his running and passing.  Absolutely, it's one pre-season game but that's what I think he could and would do in a more advanced role.  AFC Wimbledon and Notts County games he was used in a two-man holding midfield with Conteh, where he wasn't really needed to be honest.  

Either way, I don't think he's going to get his chance here.  Probably best for the lad if he gets himself some game time elsewhere.

- Hunt's goal about 30 seconds in.

Bloody Hell roll on Saturday against Swindon then
I can see with my own eyes , even though Yes I saw
the Bradford game on the telly =great first half fell by
the wayside 2nd half , and follow via radio commentary
all other games.
UTM2023--24.

Quoted from diehardmariner

Pre-season against Lincoln it was very much a case of Hunt and Clifton playing as a two ahead of Conteh.

The highlights only really show his goal but he didn't get bullied, he was aggressive in his press and he was effective with his running and passing.  Absolutely, it's one pre-season game but that's what I think he could and would do in a more advanced role.  AFC Wimbledon and Notts County games he was used in a two-man holding midfield with Conteh, where he wasn't really needed to be honest.  

Either way, I don't think he's going to get his chance here.  Probably best for the lad if he gets himself some game time elsewhere.

Not so sure Hurst has that in mind though, team selection seems a bit of a carousel and Hunt's maybe up for a shirt. Andrews looked solid enough but seems to be part of Team Bench and Ainley is being chucked on when the team are playing like strangers. Hunt in for Swindon is my very uneducated guess.

I think Hunt would benefit from Hurst & Doig putting an arm round him and saying “we’ll give you a run of 5 starts, regardless of what happens, go show us what you can do”. The kid looks like he’s treading on eggshells whenever he plays, knowing any mistake & he’ll be out the team.

Thought one of his best games for us was against Southampton where he was industrious, disciplined & kept the ball whenever we had it. Can’t remember him losing it all night, and he definitely held his own

Quoted from SpiritOf98

Not so sure Hurst has that in mind though, team selection seems a bit of a carousel and Hunt's maybe up for a shirt. Andrews looked solid enough but seems to be part of Team Bench and Ainley is being chucked on when the team are playing like strangers. Hunt in for Swindon is my very uneducated guess.

Not exactly continuity is it? Can't see him going from pre-match training with Greg (v Crawley) to a start v Swindon. Mind you, I'm only ever surprised when he makes a sub before 75 minutes.

Quoted from ska face

I think Hunt would benefit from Hurst & Doig putting an arm round him and saying “we’ll give you a run of 5 starts, regardless of what happens, go show us what you can do”. The kid looks like he’s treading on eggshells whenever he plays, knowing any mistake & he’ll be out the team.

Thought one of his best games for us was against Southampton where he was industrious, disciplined & kept the ball whenever we had it. Can’t remember him losing it all night, and he definitely held his own

My sentiments exactly but Harry runs about a lot so let’s stick with him.

Quoted from Lincoln Mariner 56

My sentiments exactly but Harry runs about a lot so let’s stick with him.

I think one of the management team is very much industry over flair.

I recall Alex Hunt's interview in preseason when he said that he had worked hard over the break to improve his strength and mentality. He got a full game against Wimbledon and 80 odd minutes against Notts and hasn't been seen in the league since. Hardly going to encourage him and really makes you wonder why we gave him 3 years in the first place.

With the massive caveat that I wasn’t at the match (wedding anniversary) and didn’t watch the match, please can someone explain to me how so many people on this thread thought Holohan was MOTM?

Most of the moans on here seem to be reserved for Clifton, Pyke and Efete!

The first goal was Holohan’s fault for switching off and letting Kelly spin behind him.

Three minutes later, Holohan let the same player dart into space to set up the second (with help from Glennon).

I don’t like singling out players but, luckily for Gav, I don’t need to after that shambolic third goal (***).

Holohan has credit in the bank and I like him as a person. We all make mistakes, so I accept that he switched off for the first goal. However, how can you not track the same runner 3 mins later? It’s crazy.

If one of our central midfielders isn’t going to track back, we might as well play a second striker.



*** that third goal:

- Glennon - after turning his back for the first goal, he then does the complete opposite for the third and his eyes are glued to the ball. He’s watching the ball that intensely that he convinces himself that Forster’s offside.

- Eastwood - I don’t expect to see our players risking their lives or serious injury on our behalf but it’s fückin Danilo Orsi who’s wafting a leg towards the ball. It’s not Matt Rhead or Jon Parkin. Orsi’s got all the menace of a knitted scarf and could be blown over by a gust of wind (particularly if it’s whipping up off the Solent).  

Quoted from Knut Anders Fosters Voles

With the massive caveat that I wasn’t at the match (wedding anniversary) and didn’t watch the match, please can someone explain to me how so many people on this thread thought Holohan was MOTM?

Most of the moans on here seem to be reserved for Clifton, Pyke and Efete!

The first goal was Holohan’s fault for switching off and letting Kelly spin behind him.

Three minutes later, Holohan let the same player dart into space to set up the second (with help from Glennon).

I don’t like singling out players but, luckily for Gav, I don’t need to after that shambolic third goal (***).

Holohan has credit in the bank and I like him as a person. We all make mistakes, so I accept that he switched off for the first goal. However, how can you not track the same runner 3 mins later? It’s crazy.

If one of our central midfielders isn’t going to track back, we might as well play a second striker.



*** that third goal:

- Glennon - after turning his back for the first goal, he then does the complete opposite for the third and his eyes are glued to the ball. He’s watching the ball that intensely that he convinces himself that Forster’s offside.

- Eastwood - I don’t expect to see our players risking their lives or serious injury on our behalf but it’s fückin Danilo Orsi who’s wafting a leg towards the ball. It’s not Matt Rhead or Jon Parkin. Orsi’s got all the menace of a knitted scarf and could be blown over by a gust of wind (particularly if it’s whipping up off the Solent).  

Eisa should have been MoM for the goal alone.

Quoted from Knut Anders Fosters Voles

With the massive caveat that I wasn’t at the match (wedding anniversary) and didn’t watch the match, please can someone explain to me how so many people on this thread thought Holohan was MOTM?

Most of the moans on here seem to be reserved for Clifton, Pyke and Efete!

The first goal was Holohan’s fault for switching off and letting Kelly spin behind him.

Three minutes later, Holohan let the same player dart into space to set up the second (with help from Glennon).

I don’t like singling out players but, luckily for Gav, I don’t need to after that shambolic third goal (***).

Holohan has credit in the bank and I like him as a person. We all make mistakes, so I accept that he switched off for the first goal. However, how can you not track the same runner 3 mins later? It’s crazy.

If one of our central midfielders isn’t going to track back, we might as well play a second striker.



*** that third goal:

- Glennon - after turning his back for the first goal, he then does the complete opposite for the third and his eyes are glued to the ball. He’s watching the ball that intensely that he convinces himself that Forster’s offside.

- Eastwood - I don’t expect to see our players risking their lives or serious injury on our behalf but it’s fückin Danilo Orsi who’s wafting a leg towards the ball. It’s not Matt Rhead or Jon Parkin. Orsi’s got all the menace of a knitted scarf and could be blown over by a gust of wind (particularly if it’s whipping up off the Solent).  

I think it's a bit harsh to blame Holohan for those goals.
All 3 had massive issues with numerous players.

Gav did have a very decent game.
Not really sure how it is fair to talk about the goals conceded and not mention the goals scored. Clearly the first one that he scored was reasonably lucky but the assist for the second was a good bit of skill.

Holohan has been better than expected, fair play to him.

Quoted from ska face

I think Hunt would benefit from Hurst & Doig putting an arm round him and saying “we’ll give you a run of 5 starts, regardless of what happens, go show us what you can do”. The kid looks like he’s treading on eggshells whenever he plays, knowing any mistake & he’ll be out the team.

Thought one of his best games for us was against Southampton where he was industrious, disciplined & kept the ball whenever we had it. Can’t remember him losing it all night, and he definitely held his own

100%.

I think there's a few that would have or still would benefit from this.  Khouri another, appreciate he's injured now.  

Very few players come straight into the team and hit the ground running.  Eisa looked absolute anonymous for the first few games and then found his feet.  It definitely helped by him going back onto the wing, but after the first two games I thought he looked ripe for the axe.

There seems two criticism's of Hunt.  The first is that he's wasteful with the ball.   I agree on this and I think he needs to work on it, but I wonder if he feels, following on from the eggshells comment above, that he simply has to impress immediately and looks for the Hollywood option too much.  

The second is his lack of physicality.  I think when he was on loan and when he first came back, this was a fair comment.  He was slight and easily knocked off the ball.  But during last season he filled out a bit and even more so over the summer.  He's not as physically imposing as someone like Kieran Green but he's not exactly a pushover either, I'd argue he's fitter than Green who struggles to last full games - as does Conteh at the minute.

Back on the Hunt point. And playing devils advocate slightly.

Football is a cut throat business. People are already calling for Hursts head, but are also saying Hunt needs a run of 5 odd games to come good. Maybe Hurst doesn’t feel like he’s shown enough in the games he’s had (which can’t be argued really) and he can’t afford the time to see if he gets better?

It’s tough, but often In football you really do just need to grab your chance when you get it.

Not sure that comparison really works. Hurst makes a mistake & he’s still managing next week. Some players make a mistake and they might not get a game for another month.

If anything, with the grace and unwavering support that Hurst was given by 1878 during a particularly sticky spell in 21/22, you might think he would see the value in not having someone breathing down your neck and jumping on every single mistake.

Perhaps Hunt just isn't performing well enough in training? His absence from the squad might be nothing to do with trust and everything to do with his performance.

Quoted from diehardmariner

If anything, with the grace and unwavering support that Hurst was given by 1878 during a particularly sticky spell in 21/22, you might think he would see the value in not having someone breathing down your neck and jumping on every single mistake.

fair

Quoted from Knut Anders Fosters Voles

With the massive caveat that I wasn’t at the match (wedding anniversary) and didn’t watch the match, please can someone explain to me how so many people on this thread thought Holohan was MOTM?

Most of the moans on here seem to be reserved for Clifton, Pyke and Efete!

The first goal was Holohan’s fault for switching off and letting Kelly spin behind him.

Three minutes later, Holohan let the same player dart into space to set up the second (with help from Glennon).

I don’t like singling out players but, luckily for Gav, I don’t need to after that shambolic third goal (***).

Holohan has credit in the bank and I like him as a person. We all make mistakes, so I accept that he switched off for the first goal. However, how can you not track the same runner 3 mins later? It’s crazy.

If one of our central midfielders isn’t going to track back, we might as well play a second striker.

On the flipside, won the ball in our half, turns two players and drives forward with the ball before laying it off to Eisa for our second goal?

We can talk about Eisa's magic, but that goal doesn't happen without that great work from Gav.

Quoted from ska face

Not sure that comparison really works. Hurst makes a mistake & he’s still managing next week. Some players make a mistake and they might not get a game for another month.

I do agree with what you say, but footballers are professional athletes who have to perform and be at their very best for about 90 minutes. In most other professional occupations you have to be at your best 8 hours per day 5 days per week. Yes I know footballers have to train during the week but if they make mistakes while training then it's ok; whereas in other occupations it can be very detrimental.

Hurst signed Hunt, not just once, but twice (on loan, and then permanently on a long-term deal). Do you really think Hurst didn't see something in Hunt?

He's worked with him for over a year and a half. Every single day in training. He's given him countless opportunities. He knows every mistake and also every conversation that has been had with Hunt in terms of what he needs to improve. The question Hurst asks himself is will Hunt take on that information to become the player that he needs to become. Right now, it's not looking great. Hurst started the season with him, and again he's out of the team. He's seeing something he's not happy with and he's looking for a response from Hunt. Perhaps being in the team, he feels its too risky to and the more he gets exposed, the more he loses his confidence, so he's took him out to work on something. We do not know, however, we do know that Holahan has yet again forced his way back into the team. Maybe he doesn't always set the world alight, but he seems to have the right sort of mentality, and players need to see that and try to emulate that.

I want Hunt to force Holahan out of the team, and realise that potential, but he needs to take that chance. He cannot be given it. Morris didn't get kept on and constantly pushed into the first 11, why should he?

Quoted from AncientExiledMariner

Hurst signed Hunt, not just once, but twice (on loan, and then permanently on a long-term deal). Do you really think Hurst didn't see something in Hunt?

He's worked with him for over a year and a half. Every single day in training. He's given him countless opportunities. He knows every mistake and also every conversation that has been had with Hunt in terms of what he needs to improve. The question Hurst asks himself is will Hunt take on that information to become the player that he needs to become. Right now, it's not looking great. Hurst started the season with him, and again he's out of the team. He's seeing something he's not happy with and he's looking for a response from Hunt. Perhaps being in the team, he feels its too risky to and the more he gets exposed, the more he loses his confidence, so he's took him out to work on something. We do not know, however, we do know that Holahan has yet again forced his way back into the team. Maybe he doesn't always set the world alight, but he seems to have the right sort of mentality, and players need to see that and try to emulate that.

I want Hunt to force Holahan out of the team, and realise that potential, but he needs to take that chance. He cannot be given it. Morris didn't get kept on and constantly pushed into the first 11, why should he?

How is he going to get game time? It would seem Ainley and Andrews (neither look signings to get excited about) are now above him in the pecking order which seems an extraordinary fall from grace as he was first choice in pre season and the first two games.

Not sure when Hunt has had countless opportunities but why let the truth spoil your narrative.

Quoted from MuddyWaters

How is he going to get game time? It would seem Ainley and Andrews (neither look signings to get excited about) are now above him in the pecking order which seems an extraordinary fall from grace as he was first choice in pre season and the first two games.

By performing in training, obviously. Do you think Hurst wants his own player or a loanee to succeed? He clearly sees them as ahead in training.

Hurst gets excrement for not signing replacements for injuries, and now he's blamed for signing them?

No one's place in the squad is guaranteed, and people need to fight for their place.

Reading this thread.. I have to say it makes me ashamed to be a Town fan. This pile on of Alex Hunt is shameful. If I were him and read this thread, I wouldn't want to put a GTFC shirt on ever again.

Some of you should have a word with yourselves..

FWIW, I think he's a decent player and has been underused this season..

Quoted from Bigdog

Reading this thread.. I have to say it makes me ashamed to be a Town fan. This pile on of Alex Hunt is shameful. If I were him and read this thread, I wouldn't want to put a GTFC shirt on ever again.

Some of you should have a word with yourselves..

FWIW, I think he's a decent player and has been underused this season..

It isn't a pile on. Hurst haters are jumping on it saying he should play and Hurst is flipping up by not playing him. The response is simply that Hurst sees him in training and may be justified in his decision.

It isn't a pile on to say a manager probably has their reasons. Everyone wants Hunt to succeed, but not everyone believes he's ready to be a guaranteed starter yet.

Quoted from Bigdog

Reading this thread.. I have to say it makes me ashamed to be a Town fan. This pile on of Alex Hunt is shameful. If I were him and read this thread, I wouldn't want to put a GTFC shirt on ever again.

Some of you should have a word with yourselves..

FWIW, I think he's a decent player and has been underused this season..

100%. He seems to be the only player not allowed to underperform.

Quoted from MuddyWaters

100%. He seems to be the only player not allowed to underperform.

I think the problem with Hunt is that when he was with us on loan we saw what he can and set his standard. This is what he has to Live up to. Ok not all the time but most of the time, everybody has an off day.

It hardly seems like a pile on when numerous posters are posting saying he should be in the team.

Quoted from toontown

It hardly seems like a pile on when numerous posters are posting saying he should be in the team.

Hunt’s probably got a pile on sitting on that hard, damp subs bench every week.

Quoted from toontown

It hardly seems like a pile on when numerous posters are posting saying he should be in the team.

Regardless of how many fans say he should be in the team, PH is the manager, and obviously he is not happy with what he is seeing every day in training.  I think he is more qualified to be the judge of who should play in his team, rather than unqualified fans.

Quoted from 123614

Regardless of how many fans say he should be in the team, PH is the manager, and obviously he is not happy with what he is seeing every day in training.  I think he is more qualified to be the judge of who should play in his team, rather than unqualified fans.

You make this point in nearly every thread, I think you fundamentally misunderstand the premise of a discussion board like this.

Anyway, I take offence at being labelled a “Hurst hater”, I just think Hunt is a good player. I’m more pro-Hunt than the Home Counties.

Not a lot of point to this or any forum if you can have your say about the team.

We all have our opinions and we know it's the manager who picks the team and the board who hire or fire the manager.

That does not stop having our opinion but at the end of the day as supporters we will get behind whoever is playing.

Wasn't there an interview last season where PH was asked about Hunt and why he wasn't getting any game time, and he inferred that the players around him weren't on the same wave length and it was making him look bad, or did I dream that?

If it was the case, then maybe it still is. Conteh apart, we still have mainly the same personnel in there, with Clifton and Holohan starting regularly. We've recently acquired Andrews and Ainsley, but neither has had much game time yet and we don't know how they will pan out.

The midfield hasn't much changed from last season.

Quoted from ginnywings

Wasn't there an interview last season where PH was asked about Hunt and why he wasn't getting any game time, and he inferred that the players around him weren't on the same wave length and it was making him look bad, or did I dream that?

If it was the case, then maybe it still is. Conteh apart, we still have mainly the same personnel in there, with Clifton and Holohan starting regularly. We've recently acquired Andrews and Ainsley, but neither has had much game time yet and we don't know how they will pan out.

The midfield hasn't much changed from last season.

We've brought in Conteh, Mullarkey, and Rodgers. I think the balance of the first team has definitely shifted and we're playing more possession stuff. Hurst started with him, and eventually went in another direction. So even with a slightly different approach, he hasn't yet been convinced.

He also made the point during that interview that Hunt was let down by his size and had to make up for it in other areas, as he had the same issue during his career.

Quoted from ska face

You make this point in nearly every thread, I think you fundamentally misunderstand the premise of a discussion board like this.

Anyway, I take offence at being labelled a “Hurst hater”, I just think Hunt is a good player. I’m more pro-Hunt than the Home Counties.

Very good Ska!!!
He was at his best as part of a Fox/Hunt midfield. 😉

Quoted from ska face

You make this point in nearly every thread, I think you fundamentally misunderstand the premise of a discussion board like this.

Anyway, I take offence at being labelled a “Hurst hater”, I just think Hunt is a good player. I’m more pro-Hunt than the Home Counties.

How condescending.  It's also insulting, I know exactly what a discussion board is about, and I can have my opinion as well as everyone else.  Also I never mentioned 'Hurst Haters'.  It just seems like every post I make, some people like to jump on it and slag me off, usually without any just cause.  And no, I am not playing the 'victim' as some people say, L have the right to defend myself against any attack on me, and I will continue to do so.

Quoted from AncientExiledMariner

We've brought in Conteh, Mullarkey, and Rodgers. I think the balance of the first team has definitely shifted and we're playing more possession stuff. Hurst started with him, and eventually went in another direction. So even with a slightly different approach, he hasn't yet been convinced.

He also made the point during that interview that Hunt was let down by his size and had to make up for it in other areas, as he had the same issue during his career.

There's Rose, Eisa and Gnahoua in front of him too, who probably offer more movement than Taylor, Pepple and...I can't even think who was out wide last season.

He definitely looked better when he had players buzzing around like McAtee, Sousa, Bapaga.  Our mobility on the pitch is surely better than it was 12 months ago.  

Whilst I'm certain it's not his best position, Hurst has more often than not used Hunt as a holding midfielder.  Probably with the belief he can dictate play from deep as opposed to shield the defence.  That role has now gone to Conteh, rightly so too.  Whilst Conteh is here and fit, I can't imagine a situation where Hunt gets picked in that role over him.  It's now up to both Hunt and Hurst to figure out a 'new' role for him to play.

Holohan has probably been of our best players since he came back into the team so he's rightly in the team.  Clifton hasn't looked his best but when he doesn't play, we miss his energy and end up bringing him off the bench.  With those 2 and Conteh pretty much nailed on starters, the only way I see Hunt fitting in (without injuries/suspensions) is Clifton shunting out wide and Hunt taking his place in a midfield three.

We'll see I guess...

Quoted from 123614

How condescending.  It's also insulting, I know exactly what a discussion board is about, and I can have my opinion as well as everyone else.  Also I never mentioned 'Hurst Haters'.  It just seems like every post I make, some people like to jump on it and slag me off, usually without any just cause.  And no, I am not playing the 'victim' as some people say, L have the right to defend myself against any attack on me, and I will continue to do so.

It's only a message board mate.  No-one's jumping on stuff and slagging you off, it's just a discussion.  Even if they are slagging you off, it's someone else behind a keyboard killing a bit of time, just like you are.  Don't worry about it.

Quoted from 123614

How condescending.  It's also insulting, I know exactly what a discussion board is about, and I can have my opinion as well as everyone else.  Also I never mentioned 'Hurst Haters'.  It just seems like every post I make, some people like to jump on it and slag me off, usually without any just cause.  And no, I am not playing the 'victim' as some people say, L have the right to defend myself against any attack on me, and I will continue to do so.

You seem to be remarkably thin skinned and obsessed with the idea that people make an effort to attack you - don’t flatter yourself. People are probably just bored of you wading in to every discussion to tell them that they’ve no right to comment on anything because they haven’t managed above Championship level. I know I am.

Quoted from MuddyWaters

How is he going to get game time? It would seem Ainley and Andrews (neither look signings to get excited about) are now above him in the pecking order which seems an extraordinary fall from grace as he was first choice in pre season and the first two games.

The same Ainley who has played a whole 28 minutes of football with us??

Christ, that must be a new record for being written off.

For what its worth as well, I thought Andrews looked allright when he came on, wanted the ball and looked to be aggressive with it.

Quoted from ska face

You seem to be remarkably thin skinned and obsessed with the idea that people make an effort to attack you - don’t flatter yourself. People are probably just bored of you wading in to every discussion to tell them that they’ve no right to comment on anything because they haven’t managed above Championship level. I know I am.

  Never said that, prove me wrong.  I have always defended everyone's right to an opinion.  I have said I don't agree with some, but again, that is my opinion and my right to post it here.   Show me a thread where I have said that someone has 'no right to comment', you can't.

Quoted from Hagrid

For what its worth as well, I thought Andrews looked allright when he came on, wanted the ball and looked to be aggressive with it.

I think he could prove to be a decent signing. Looks rangy and athletic, reminiscent of Raikhy in that regard, so he may have something to offer. Ainley looked well off the pace to me, a bit heavy-legged, but I presume his fitness needs to be worked on as he wasn't with a team and playing until he signed for us.

Quoted from Maringer

I think he could prove to be a decent signing. Looks rangy and athletic, reminiscent of Raikhy in that regard, so he may have something to offer. Ainley looked well off the pace to me, a bit heavy-legged, but I presume his fitness needs to be worked on as he wasn't with a team and playing until he signed for us.

Ainsley is injured now anyway and out for a couple of months I think, so that looks like another waste.

We have had a lot of injuries already with some ongoing so whether we are just unlucky or training is too intense who knows?

I'd imagine it's just bad luck. We've not had terrible injury problems during Hurst's spells at the club, so no reason anything should have changed, especially as we do the sports science and analysis thing a fair bit.

Quoted from Maringer

I'd imagine it's just bad luck. We've not had terrible injury problems during Hurst's spells at the club, so no reason anything should have changed, especially as we do the sports science and analysis thing a fair bit.

Have you slept through Hurst's tenures?

Nope, but I'd say we've had the expected proportion of injuries, generally from players who we were only able to sign because of their injury problems. We've been lucky with the odd ones such as Andrew and Fox, but plenty of others have been signed in the hope they would stay fit and they haven't.

Players get injured. It seems that is now Hurst's fault as well!

Quoted from Maringer

Nope, but I'd say we've had the expected proportion of injuries, generally from players who we were only able to sign because of their injury problems. We've been lucky with the odd ones such as Andrew and Fox, but plenty of others have been signed in the hope they would stay fit and they haven't.

Players get injured. It seems that is now Hurst's fault as well!

Wright, Fox, Taylor, Macatee, Khan, Maher, Ainley, Khouri, Holohan, Wilson...and that's just for starters, I'm sure people can add to that list.
We have a terrible injury record under Hurst, either the man p!ssed on a witches bonfire or their being hammered in training trying to make us "the fittest" team in the league...and i sm blaming Hurst for Rose being injured, anyone could see he was f@cked after 70 minutes at Bradford but Hurst left him out there!!!

Quoted from Northbank Mariner

Wright, Fox, Taylor, Macatee, Khan, Maher, Ainley, Khouri, Holohan, Wilson...and that's just for starters, I'm sure people can add to that list.
We have a terrible injury record under Hurst, either the man p!ssed on a witches bonfire or their being hammered in training trying to make us "the fittest" team in the league...and i sm blaming Hurst for Rose being injured, anyone could see he was f@cked after 70 minutes at Bradford but Hurst left him out there!!!

Refer to Maringer’s post above for sensible explanations. Report back if you require further clarification.

I don't know enough about our injury records compared to other clubs at our level, but I'd imagine it's a similar tale for most clubs in League Two.  

The better players are ones you have to take a chance on a bit.  If the likes of of Eisa didn't have injury problems, they probably wouldn't be at this level.  It's not even just about the number of games you get out of them, their injury issues have to have a determinantal impact on their pace, stamina, flexibility, strength, a whole range of things.

Players at this level who don't fall into that bracket are usually, but not always, more of the workhorse type.

I also think it's a bit harsh chucking McAtee in that bracket for a dislocated shoulder.  That's just an unfortunate injury.  Can't remember Holohan having any major issues either.

Quoted from Knut Anders Fosters Voles

Refer to Maringer’s post above for sensible explanations. Report back if you require further clarification.

How's about.....p!ss off...Will that do you...you condescending fool...

Quoted from Northbank Mariner

Wright, Fox, Taylor, Macatee, Khan, Maher, Ainley, Khouri, Holohan, Wilson...and that's just for starters, I'm sure people can add to that list.
We have a terrible injury record under Hurst, either the man p!ssed on a witches bonfire or their being hammered in training trying to make us "the fittest" team in the league...and i sm blaming Hurst for Rose being injured, anyone could see he was f@cked after 70 minutes at Bradford but Hurst left him out there!!!

I think that what you say is baseless and goes to your dislike of Hurst.

I've just been reading on the BBC sports page of the injury crisis at Man Utd; one of the, if not the biggest club on the planet. Do you think their players are being "hammered" in training?

No of course they aren't, and their medical team probably have a bigger budget than our entire club.

People who think injury problems are specific to us, only do so because we’re the only club they actually care about in terms of taking notice of injuries.

Seem to remember Bradford saying they had loads of injuries a few weeks back. Maybe Hursty has been giving Mark Hughes training tips?

Quoted from sam gy

People who think injury problems are specific to us, only do so because we’re the only club they actually care about in terms of taking notice of injuries.

Seem to remember Bradford saying they had loads of injuries a few weeks back. Maybe Hursty has been giving Mark Hughes training tips?

Seen Scunny fans say they have 9 first team players injured too.  

Quoted from 123614

Seen Scunny fans say they have 9 first team players injured too.  

probably severe papercuts from tearing up their own contracts

Quoted from 123614

Seen Scunny fans say they have 9 first team players injured too.  

Is that Mr H and his board of directors.

Quoted from ginnywings

I think that what you say is baseless and goes to your dislike of Hurst.

I've just been reading on the BBC sports page of the injury crisis at Man Utd; one of the, if not the biggest club on the planet. Do you think their players are being "hammered" in training?

No of course they aren't, and their medical team probably have a bigger budget than our entire club.

Now, you see you are making assumptions, I've not once said I don't like Hurst, his style of play, yes I do dislike but never gone after him on a personal level.

You say my thoughts and facts are baseless but let's face it, you are one of those forum users that just hates being questioned....and part of the reason this forum has such a bloody awful name.

An open question to Hurst supporters , haters and others in between -

Does anyone genuinely see him taking us on a barnstorming season of  over achievement within the next three or so years  ?  eg Leyton Orient last season  


Actually interested , I really can't see it tbh myself but would appreciate others perspective . I'm looking for someone to raise my hopes .

Love him or loathe him i will defend him having seen us under holloween & jolley , nobody can tell me we not better under ph than them 2

Quoted from fishcake63

Love him or loathe him i will defend him having seen us under holloween & jolley , nobody can tell me we not better under ph than them 2

Maybe we are better. We should be, we’re a better run club with countless more staff and better facilities than the aforementioned managers had.

If you have all of that behind you, it’s not unreasonable to expect better results and better performances. I hope that’s what happens but given the off field improvements, it raises the bar.

Quoted from Northbank Mariner

Now, you see you are making assumptions, I've not once said I don't like Hurst, his style of play, yes I do dislike but never gone after him on a personal level.

You say my thoughts and facts are baseless but let's face it, you are one of those forum users that just hates being questioned....and part of the reason this forum has such a bloody awful name.

Hmm!

Fair enough, you don't have anything personal about PH that you dislike, but you have made plenty of posts dissing his recruitment, tactics and training methods, and that was what I was referring to. You also made posts that you knew Stockwood wanted to sack PH but was talked out of it. A few posters called you out on this and you have since retracted, surprise surprise. You think the manager should be sacked and that's fine, but I don't, so I counter your thoughts with my own, which is the point of a forum isn't it?

You have also told one poster to p1!ss off and called him a condescending fool, while you labelled another a w@nk biscuit. And that is only recent posts.

And yet it is me that is lowering the standard, and one of the reasons the forum has has "such a bloody awful name".

Methinks it maybe you who doesn't like being questioned, because you have all the answers, if only everybody else could see what you see.

Mansfield have stuck with Clough over 3/4 years despise them failing to win 10 of their opening games just 2 seasons back

Challinor last season with Stockport, very slow start, stuck with him, Losing play off finalists

Donny this season, didnt win for the first 8 games, They’ve stuck with him

Sacking a manager isnt always the best outcome

Quoted from Hagrid

Mansfield have stuck with Clough over 3/4 years despise them failing to win 10 of their opening games just 2 seasons back

Challinor last season with Stockport, very slow start, stuck with him, Losing play off finalists

Donny this season, didnt win for the first 8 games, They’ve stuck with him

Sacking a manager isnt always the best outcome

It's just a throw of the dice either way isn't it? None of us know the results of the sliding doors moment until several months or even years later.

My brother in law is a York fan and he says watching them had become a complete bore with negative football the norm, but Neal Ardley already has them playing much more exciting football with the same players and with better results.

Although a purist I don't really mind what style of football it is if it brings results, but if it is consistently turgid and is also not getting results then questions will be asked.

And I think that's where a lot of the issues are towards Hurst, the lack of entertainment.

I like Hurst and I back him.  But ultimately football is a form of entertainment.  The concept of being entertained is very subjective.  I loved watching Town under Russell Slade (first time, definitely not the second time!).  I thought we were entertaining as hell, he evolved from the first season of trying open, expressive and attacking play to a very direct, measured and powerful style.  We won a lot of games and at that point in my life when I was happy to travel all over the country to watch us bully teams into 1-0 wins, it was fantastic.  But he split the fanbase, some simply couldn't tolerate his style of play.  

I remember going to Mansfield away in February of the 05/06 season. Going into the game we were 2 points clear at the top of the league. Steve Mildenhall dropped a rare clanger in front of the Town fans and then Giles Coke of all people made it 2-0 before the break.  As the half-time whistle went the atmosphere in the away end  was absolutely toxic.  You would think we were 10 without a win and propping up the league.  But it was the style of play that some people just couldn't stomach.  Slade got away with it because we were (until the end, when it mattered) successful that season.

Hurst has always tested a lot of patience when it comes to his style of football. But in the Conference we were always at the right end of the table and in his only full season in the league with us, most would take an FA Cup Quarter Final in any season...

But this year the expectations are higher (rightly or wrongly).  The appetite is there for the club to go on and do something in this division, the stall was set out with early business in the summer window, everyone knew we had extra money (if that matches up to the rest of the division is largely irrelevant because expectations were already set in the mind of many) and on paper we did some excellent business with the likes of Conteh really setting the hares racing.

Hurst himself even seems to have set a different stall out early on, a more free-flowing and possession based approach with a high and intense press when we don't have the play.  But that looks to have tailed off a bit.

It feels like we've reverted to type a bit.  No goal threat, mediocre at best entertainment and then a disappointing run of results.  

As fans we'll always demand success, then entertainment.  If we're getting neither then the frustration levels will rise and ultimately it will only be directed at one man.  Others have spoken about a need for 4 points from the next two home games.  I think 4 will keep the hounds at bay, but 6 are really needed with two strong and statement like performances.

Quoted from diehardmariner

And I think that's where a lot of the issues are towards Hurst, the lack of entertainment.

I like Hurst and I back him.  But ultimately football is a form of entertainment.  The concept of being entertained is very subjective.  I loved watching Town under Russell Slade (first time, definitely not the second time!).  I thought we were entertaining as hell, he evolved from the first season of trying open, expressive and attacking play to a very direct, measured and powerful style.  We won a lot of games and at that point in my life when I was happy to travel all over the country to watch us bully teams into 1-0 wins, it was fantastic.  But he split the fanbase, some simply couldn't tolerate his style of play.  

I remember going to Mansfield away in February of the 05/06 season. Going into the game we were 2 points clear at the top of the league. Steve Mildenhall dropped a rare clanger in front of the Town fans and then Giles Coke of all people made it 2-0 before the break.  As the half-time whistle went the atmosphere in the away end  was absolutely toxic.  You would think we were 10 without a win and propping up the league.  But it was the style of play that some people just couldn't stomach.  Slade got away with it because we were (until the end, when it mattered) successful that season.

Hurst has always tested a lot of patience when it comes to his style of football. But in the Conference we were always at the right end of the table and in his only full season in the league with us, most would take an FA Cup Quarter Final in any season...

But this year the expectations are higher (rightly or wrongly).  The appetite is there for the club to go on and do something in this division, the stall was set out with early business in the summer window, everyone knew we had extra money (if that matches up to the rest of the division is largely irrelevant because expectations were already set in the mind of many) and on paper we did some excellent business with the likes of Conteh really setting the hares racing.

Hurst himself even seems to have set a different stall out early on, a more free-flowing and possession based approach with a high and intense press when we don't have the play.  But that looks to have tailed off a bit.

It feels like we've reverted to type a bit.  No goal threat, mediocre at best entertainment and then a disappointing run of results.  

As fans we'll always demand success, then entertainment.  If we're getting neither then the frustration levels will rise and ultimately it will only be directed at one man.  Others have spoken about a need for 4 points from the next two home games.  I think 4 will keep the hounds at bay, but 6 are really needed with two strong and statement like performances.

I think Slade got away with it because of Michael Reddy.

Reddy and Cohen both had blistering pace so a whack upfield often became a real threat, during the first half of the season especially.

Not much in the way of slick passing from that team that I can recall and we simply ran out of ideas in the second half of the season (or perhaps we were just found out?) as the forwards lost form. Woodhouse was signed with the reputation as being a talented midfielder, but he didn't improve us. My main memory of him is just whacking endless set pieces into the box, aiming for the head of Rob Jones or Ben Futcher. I don't think he offered much from open play and Reddy was clearly struggling with injury as the season drew to a close, which didn't help. A promotion which got away from us.

Even the (relatively) successful slade mk1 team were usually a chore to watch in my opinion, having been brought up on buckley-ball. The 4-0 defeat of notts county being a rare exception if memory serves (may well be faulty)

Slade mark 1 played some superb footie ( rushden away sticks in the memory) but he didnt get the results so went route 1, to great effect..as witnessed by that notts co game, which was the most appalling dross, but we wentvtop as a result if I remember correctly)

I seem to recall we started with a 3-4-3 formation, playing some really slick stuff and causing opponents a lot of problems but without winning too many games. Then, of course, he changed tack to route one and that was more successful, though notably the winning run began when Lumpaldinho started playing.

The arrival of Junior 'Flipping' Mendes didn't really have the desired effect. I'm sure he cost us a few goals by being in the way when shots from other players hit him. Absolutely useless.

Was definitely 3-4-3 in his first season, front three of Parkinson, Sestanovic and Mansaram (Reddy coming off the bench).   We were ridiculously attacking, to the point of gung-ho but just couldn't score/win.  

Rumour that a certain chairman told Slade he needed to go back to 4-4-2 as that's the natives knew and liked.  I've no idea if there was any truth in that.

Second season was less gung ho and more measured, can't remember the exact formation but seem to think it was more 4-4-2 like with Parkinson and Cohen wide up until Xmas, the likes of Simon Francis, Calvin Andrew and others also doing a job out there.  

But it definitely boiled off post Xmas.  The January transfer window did us.  Gritton and Ramsden went out, neither of whom were really involved much but bringing in Futcher, Woodhouse, Mendes and Goodfellow just disrupted everything.  I agree on Woodhouse, a good individual but I thought he unbalanced the midfield and broke up a very effective Ciaran Toner/Paul Bolland pairing in the middle.  Futcher was useless, very much the player Rob Jones left behind the previous season but even he looked remotely decent compared to Mendes and Goodfellow.  Slade seemed obsessed with getting a return from Mendes and just persisted with him.  Goodfellow's open goal miss at Orient still haunts me 17 years on.

Also persisted with an unfit Reddy for far too long.  Should have bit the bullet, put Cohen down the middle with Gary Jones rather than try to wish Reddy's hip injuries away.

Memory is just jogged by the decision away at Rochdale to bring on Rob Jones to defend a corner in the final minute.  Jones completely misses the header which sails into the net for a 2-2 finish.  Prior to that we were in ok form, a win would have made it 13 points from the last 15.  Instead we went onto pick up 11 points from the final 9 games.  Another 3 would have seen us go up on goal difference.

4 of our final 6 games were against sides that finished 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 5th.  Tough run in but we threw it away.

"Futcher was useless"!!  You have got to be joking.

"Futcher was signed by Grimsby Town from Halifax Town reserves, aged 34, by Alan Buckley for £10,000 as a short-term replacement for Andy Tillson. He went on to be a fans' favourite for five seasons, winning the Supporters Player of the Year twice in that time."

All about opinions.

Always thought Harry Betmead carried him through a lot of games.

Quoted from 123614

"Futcher was useless"!!  You have got to be joking.

"Futcher was signed by Grimsby Town from Halifax Town reserves, aged 34, by Alan Buckley for £10,000 as a short-term replacement for Andy Tillson. He went on to be a fans' favourite for five seasons, winning the Supporters Player of the Year twice in that time."

Never watched Ben Futcher then?

Quoted from 123614

"Futcher was useless"!!  You have got to be joking.

"Futcher was signed by Grimsby Town from Halifax Town reserves, aged 34, by Alan Buckley for £10,000 as a short-term replacement for Andy Tillson. He went on to be a fans' favourite for five seasons, winning the Supporters Player of the Year twice in that time."

Yeah…it’s like people who say Robbie Keane was right to take revenge on Erling Haaland.

Quoted from MuddyWaters

Never watched Ben Futcher then?

This is about Paul Futcher, not his son.

Quoted from diehardmariner

All about opinions.

Always thought Harry Betmead carried him through a lot of games.

And I haven't seen any opinion that matches yours, don't see the point of naming someone who was dead when Paul Futcher played for Town either.

Quoted from Maringer

I seem to recall we started with a 3-4-3 formation, playing some really slick stuff and causing opponents a lot of problems but without winning too many games. Then, of course, he changed tack to route one and that was more successful, though notably the winning run began when Lumpaldinho started playing.

The arrival of Junior 'Flipping' Mendes didn't really have the desired effect. I'm sure he cost us a few goals by being in the way when shots from other players hit him. Absolutely useless.

The first season was superb to watch , most entertaining since Buckley's decent spell and any since for me actually .

Simon Ramsden playing as some sort of libero with the 2 lumps either side loads of legs in midfield, with 'The Frenchman for guile ' who was a bloody good player on the ball  ; Parkinson and Sestanovic on the wings absolutely terrorised some of those league 2 defences and Reddy was a different level when Slade said he had 'signed the quickest player in the league by 10 yards ' i thought he was playing him up, but he was probably even quicker in truth , especially over 10  yards . It didn't equal as many points as we deserved really , but I actually enjoyed that season

Second season the style changed a lot but it was effective and we should really have gone up automatically ; I think it was at Macclesfield when Slade thought we had gone up which seemed quite amusing at the time , but it wasn't really . Just a shame we didn't turn up against Cheltenham in that final for whatever reason .

We had the great cup games to - 'remember the oranges ' or whatever he said .

I do look back on that couple of years with fond memories , and it's telling I can remember more about those teams than most since really .

A shame Slade left and then that second spell was so bad ; I think the game had just moved on .

We didn't think at the time it would be as good as it would get for nigh on 20 years.

Ramsden scored in that bloody Rochdale away game too.

Quoted from 123614

And I haven't seen any opinion that matches yours, don't see the point of naming someone who was dead when Paul Futcher played for Town either.

Is this some sort of weird satire or do you genuinely believe that he just randomly slated Paul Futcher, a player almost universally rated by the Town fans who saw him, whilst discussing Slade’s second season?

Quoted from Abdul19

Ramsden scored in that bloody Rochdale away game too.

Yeah remember that !

Another one who comes to mind Slade managed to get here was Dean Gordon - at the back end of his career , but still looked decent and an absolute thunderbolt of a left foot on him . Lump was different class , and obviously Gary Cohen had potential to be some player but injuries did for him sadly .
How we could do with a Paul Bolland type now to - just a very good all round midfield player wasn't he .

Quoted from 123614

This is about Paul Futcher, not his son.

Murphy’s law isn’t it?

Quoted from Mappers

Yeah remember that !

Another one who comes to mind Slade managed to get here was Dean Gordon - at the back end of his career , but still looked decent and an absolute thunderbolt of a left foot on him . Lump was different class , and obviously Gary Cohen had potential to be some player but injuries did for him sadly .
How we could do with a Paul Bolland type now to - just a very good all round midfield player wasn't he .

and don't forget Jason crowe - another bloody good player in that side (whatever happened to him?)

You dont help yourself sometimes Mr Bear ;D

What all this has to do with us losing 2-3 at home to Crawley is beyond me.

Quoted from 123614

And I haven't seen any opinion that matches yours, don't see the point of naming someone who was dead when Paul Futcher played for Town either.

Last call for the Irony train!! All aboard!! Choo choo!!

Quoted from Knut Anders Fosters Voles

Murphy’s law isn’t it?

Very good!

Jacob, right?

Quoted from diehardmariner

Very good!

Jacob, right?

No, his twin - Josh Murphy

Brilliant in Oppenheimer with Glen Downey Jr

Quoted from mariner91

Is this some sort of weird satire or do you genuinely believe that he just randomly slated Paul Futcher, a player almost universally rated by the Town fans who saw him, whilst discussing Slade’s second season?

Yes I do, unless you believe that the whole 7 paragraph post was just slagging off everyone mentioned in it,  If that is not the case, then people need to express themselves more clearly.  This is the written word, it does not express sarcasm etc.

Quoted from 123614

"Futcher was useless"!!  You have got to be joking.

"Futcher was signed by Grimsby Town from Halifax Town reserves, aged 34, by Alan Buckley for £10,000 as a short-term replacement for Andy Tillson. He went on to be a fans' favourite for five seasons, winning the Supporters Player of the Year twice in that time."

Getting silly now. There's something oddly amusing about B&W Bear getting the wrong end of the stick then berating everyone who try to point it out but it's taking threads way off the intended topic.
I'd suggest B&WB read, or even re-read previous posts for the missed details but I'm on his naughty list.

For the record, Ben wasn't close to his dads quality but a decent enough player. The footballing Father-Son thing would make for  an interesting thread.

Quoted from 123614

Yes I do, unless you believe that the whole 7 paragraph post was just slagging off everyone mentioned in it,  If that is not the case, then people need to express themselves more clearly.  This is the written word, it does not express sarcasm etc.

You do realise his son, Ben, played for us that season right?

Quoted from 123614

Yes I do, unless you believe that the whole 7 paragraph post was just slagging off everyone mentioned in it,  If that is not the case, then people need to express themselves more clearly.  This is the written word, it does not express sarcasm etc.

Everyone else in that post played for us under Slade in his first spell, except for Paul Futcher.

His son Ben did play for us in 05/06 though so it was obviously about him!

Quoted from forza ivano

and don't forget Jason crowe - another bloody good player in that side (whatever happened to him?)

Crowey another good one

Went on to have a really good career -nearly 200 games at Northampton and then a season at Leeds in league 1 .

Finished at Corby Town .

Quoted from 123614

Yes I do, unless you believe that the whole 7 paragraph post was just slagging off everyone mentioned in it,  If that is not the case, then people need to express themselves more clearly.  This is the written word, it does not express sarcasm etc.

Right, I avoided directly replying to you because I thought you completely (and being alone in that fact) getting it wrong was funny but also I didn't think it was needed to point out the obvious.  

I've quoted my own post below for you to read again to see where I've said Paul Futcher.  I didn't.  What I did do was list 16 players from the 2004-2006 and the manager at that time.  This was in a thread that had turned into a comparison, of sorts, between Hurst and Slade (said manager between 2004-06).  Ben Futcher was mentioned a few posts prior to mine by Maringer and is one of the 16 players from said season that I've listed.

Paul Futcher, who wasn't previously mentioned, played for us between 1991-1995. I know every thread on the Fishy jumps about a bit but there's connecting the dots yourself and then there's going into a whole new puzzle book.

There are some posters who pick up on you getting the wrong end of the stick or flying off the handle at anything you don't agree with, I try to avoid doing this because at the end of the day it's only a football forum.  We're all Town fans and we're also just looking to chat about Town or random stuff to pass the time of day.  This forum should be something that people enjoy, rather than get berated on.

I don't really care that you confused Paul and Ben, if I'm honest I found it mildly amusing.  But rather than continue to try and dig your way out of it, just accept you misread it and move on.  This forum isn't a competition, there's no points lost for misreading the thread.  

Quoted from diehardmariner

Was definitely 3-4-3 in his first season, front three of Parkinson, Sestanovic and Mansaram (Reddy coming off the bench).   We were ridiculously attacking, to the point of gung-ho but just couldn't score/win.  

Rumour that a certain chairman told Slade he needed to go back to 4-4-2 as that's the natives knew and liked.  I've no idea if there was any truth in that.

Second season was less gung ho and more measured, can't remember the exact formation but seem to think it was more 4-4-2 like with Parkinson and Cohen wide up until Xmas, the likes of Simon Francis, Calvin Andrew and others also doing a job out there.  

But it definitely boiled off post Xmas.  The January transfer window did us.  Gritton and Ramsden went out, neither of whom were really involved much but bringing in Futcher, Woodhouse, Mendes and Goodfellow just disrupted everything.  I agree on Woodhouse, a good individual but I thought he unbalanced the midfield and broke up a very effective Ciaran Toner/Paul Bolland pairing in the middle.  Futcher was useless, very much the player Rob Jones left behind the previous season but even he looked remotely decent compared to Mendes and Goodfellow.  Slade seemed obsessed with getting a return from Mendes and just persisted with him.  Goodfellow's open goal miss at Orient still haunts me 17 years on.

Also persisted with an unfit Reddy for far too long.  Should have bit the bullet, put Cohen down the middle with Gary Jones rather than try to wish Reddy's hip injuries away.

Memory is just jogged by the decision away at Rochdale to bring on Rob Jones to defend a corner in the final minute.  Jones completely misses the header which sails into the net for a 2-2 finish.  Prior to that we were in ok form, a win would have made it 13 points from the last 15.  Instead we went onto pick up 11 points from the final 9 games.  Another 3 would have seen us go up on goal difference.

4 of our final 6 games were against sides that finished 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 5th.  Tough run in but we threw it away.

Quoted from Mappers

Crowey another good one

Went on to have a really good career -nearly 200 games at Northampton and then a season at Leeds in league 1 .

Finished at Corby Town .

Crowe was an odd one.  Couldn't quite get in at right-back because of Macca (and Marcel Cas, bizarrely, getting played there in 03/04) so ended up in midfield, where I think he ended up playing most of his career afterwards.  At times he looked a level above.  Quick, strong, tenacious, box-to-box and not too shabby on the ball.  Yet other times he just disappeared and barely noticed he was playing.

Much like Groves in 03/04, I think one of the biggest problems Slade had in 04/05 is that we had a collection of good players but they never made a team.  Bringing in the likes of Gary Jones, Paul Bolland, Ciaran Toner and aided by a spell of fitness for Michael Reddy and the reborn Rob Jones really helped pool that collection of players into a team that complimented each other.  Steve Mildenhall too, to say he was an upgrade on Anthony Williams is something of an understatement.

Quoted from mariner91

You do realise his son, Ben, played for us that season right?

Yes I do.

Quoted from diehardmariner

Right, I avoided directly replying to you because I thought you completely (and being alone in that fact) getting it wrong was funny but also I didn't think it was needed to point out the obvious.  

I've quoted my own post below for you to read again to see where I've said Paul Futcher.  I didn't.  What I did do was list 16 players from the 2004-2006 and the manager at that time.  This was in a thread that had turned into a comparison, of sorts, between Hurst and Slade (said manager between 2004-06).  Ben Futcher was mentioned a few posts prior to mine by Maringer and is one of the 16 players from said season that I've listed.

Paul Futcher, who wasn't previously mentioned, played for us between 1991-1995. I know every thread on the Fishy jumps about a bit but there's connecting the dots yourself and then there's going into a whole new puzzle book.

There are some posters who pick up on you getting the wrong end of the stick or flying off the handle at anything you don't agree with, I try to avoid doing this because at the end of the day it's only a football forum.  We're all Town fans and we're also just looking to chat about Town or random stuff to pass the time of day.  This forum should be something that people enjoy, rather than get berated on.

I don't really care that you confused Paul and Ben, if I'm honest I found it mildly amusing.  But rather than continue to try and dig your way out of it, just accept you misread it and move on.  This forum isn't a competition, there's no points lost for misreading the thread.  

I don't think it was a case of misreading it, surely in a thread where you are talking about someone who also has a namesake in the same club, then if you had used the first name, it would have stopped any confusion.  I admit I didn't think of his son when you said Futcher in the post, because I don't remember much about him at all, which goes to show how bad he was.

Christ  ;D

It had already been mentioned it was Ben.   The whole post was about the era of 2004 to 2006.  It clearly wasn't Paul Futcher I was talking about as he hadn't been at the club for 9 years, Ben however was at the club at that moment in time!

Should have I clearly distinguished that I wasn't talking about Paul's twin brother Ron too?

There's literally only one person who was confused.

Just forget it.  Please.

Quoted from 123614

"Futcher was useless"!!  You have got to be joking.

"Futcher was signed by Grimsby Town from Halifax Town reserves, aged 34, by Alan Buckley for £10,000 as a short-term replacement for Andy Tillson. He went on to be a fans' favourite for five seasons, winning the Supporters Player of the Year twice in that time."

Slade really messed up playing Ron Futcher at the back when we really needed him up front once Ready got injured