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The first ten minutes we looked alright. Moved it well and created some good openings. But once Harrogate started pressing us we were dreadful. I think it’s a combination of too many players who aren’t quite technically good enough but also too many players without the mental strength to play a passing game. Receiving under pressure or playing in to someone under pressure takes courage and I don’t think we’ve got nearly enough players who have that attribute. Too many players taking an extra touch and an extra few seconds. Individually Hunt and Mullarkey were both awful. I also still stand by my assertion that Clifton isn’t good enough with the ball to play a possession based game against an organised team.

And a quick word on the quality of the corners. Absolutely embarrassing. Not a single good delivery all game.

Oh well, take it on the chin and move on to the next one.

We underestimated harrogate they was better than us all over the park, some awful displays from town players today , messing about passing it around at the back in league 2 is a recipe for disaster they sussed us from minute 1 & we had no plan B

Second to every single ball, one of the most embarrassing afternoons at BP ever, and that is saying something. The relegation battle is on

Most of the team lost their individual battles today and, more worryingly, couldn’t get their heads around a Plan B.

We won’t win every game and we have a plan. Let’s see what January brings.

Combination of a bad day at the office and the utterly brainless. How many times do you try something that clearly isn’t working (goal kick and corner routines) and been sussed by the opposition, before someone on the pitch takes responsibility and changes it. The manager isn’t there to hold hands with the players once they are out there. There is no leadership out there without Waterfall.

For all his spectacular goals, Eisa is a liability when without the ball and doesn’t find space when we have it, Gnahoua wasn’t have the best of games but surprised when he went off instead of Eisa. They quickly closed down Hunt and snuffed him out, Glennon’s passing accuracy was off. Clifton’s similar. And then total ball watching for their goals.

Bad performance that, far too slow in our passing, which allowed Harrogate’s press to be so effective. Hunt and Eisa were anonymous, Clifton doesn’t release the ball quick enough & Mullarkey seemingly can’t cross.

Needs a lot of work to get them working well together, I’ll be very interested to see who gets shipped out in January if anyone.

Let’s hope Artell can’t help on the training ground but doesn’t have any time before the Boxing Day game.

There are supposed to be 47 balls on the pitch but for most of the match there were only 25.

Quoted from Limerick Mariner

Combination of a bad day at the office and the utterly brainless. How many times do you try something that clearly isn’t working (goal kick and corner routines) and been sussed by the opposition, before someone on the pitch takes responsibility and changes it. The manager isn’t there to hold hands with the players once they are out there. There is no leadership out there without Waterfall.

For all his spectacular goals, Eisa is a liability when without the ball and doesn’t find space when we have it, Gnahoua wasn’t have the best of games but surprised when he went off instead of Eisa. They quickly closed down Hunt and snuffed him out, Glennon’s passing accuracy was off. Clifton’s similar. And then total ball watching for their goals.

I’ve just found out that Eisa was MoM. Did they draw it out of a hat?

Slow, boring, sideway and backwards best describes out performance today. We didn't turn up until Harrogate were happy to settle for a 2 nil. Very disappointing, that'll teach me for being optimistic today won't it

Quoted from MuddyWaters

I’ve just found out that Eisa was MoM. Did they draw it out of a hat?

The bemused what ringing out from the upper when it was announced said it all really.

Quoted from MuddyWaters

I’ve just found out that Eisa was MoM. Did they draw it out of a hat?

By some unusual logic perhaps. All other players were trying things and failing whereas he may as well have not been playing…

Quoted from Dave Gilberts Left Peg

Second to every single ball, one of the most embarrassing afternoons at BP ever, and that is saying something. The relegation battle is on

Hyperbole right there.

We'll never have a successful passing team with the two centre backs who played today. Practically every single pass that Maher made to Glennon (all 4,756 of them today) was either slightly behind him or forced him to check his forward motion to collect the ball. Rodgers ran forward with the ball when there was space in front of him on quite a few occasions, but he rarely managed to find a player with his pass or just whacked it at them too hard.

Hunt lost possession of the ball almost every time he received it and it really was one of his worst games for us. Conteh wasn't really much better.

Harrogate really, really well organised, tidy in possession and outmuscled us across the field. The number of overloads they managed to create without really trying was very worrying and it certainly didn't help that we just passed it straight to them no end of times. Very lucky to only lose by a single goal.

Quoted from Maringer

We'll never have a successful passing team with the two centre backs who played today. Practically every single pass that Maher made to Glennon (all 4,756 of them today) was either slightly behind him or forced him to check his forward motion to collect the ball. Rodgers ran forward with the ball when there was space in front of him on quite a few occasions, but he rarely managed to find a player with his pass or just whacked it at them too hard.

Hunt lost possession of the ball almost every time he received it and it really was one of his worst games for us. Conteh wasn't really much better.

Harrogate really, really well organised, tidy in possession and outmuscled us across the field. The number of overloads they managed to create without really trying was very worrying and it certainly didn't help that we just passed it straight to them no end of times. Very lucky to only lose by a single goal.

I’m wondering if we’ve made ourselves a bit easy to play against.

DA seemed to advertise that we’re going to play through Hunt and both Newport and Harrogate have snuffed him out. Certainly been ineffective in the last two games and looked disinterested and frustrated today.

You know your bad when you make Harrogate look like Real Madrid.
A relegation performance we could be in trouble some tough games coming up.

Think we have problems in every area of the pitch with how Artell wants to play. Conteh is a very good anchor point but Hunt is very ying and yang. Harry isn't technically good enough but does a lot of the dirty work well and his energy is irreplaceable. Arthur is playing well but without Pyke on the right we have nobody that gets anywhere near Rose and leaves him so isolated. Mullarkey was torn to shreds by Odoh today, the sort of winger that in Sunday League your manager tells you to put him into the air 5 minutes in yet Mullarkey couldn't get anywhere near him. I'm hoping CV can come back and be the winger we've been crying out for, we need someone direct that consistently beats his man. A lot of depth out wide but a lot of them that do the same thing. I said we need 3/4 new players through the door for the squad, but I actually think we need 4/5 new players in the first 11. Think the only one that has shown his marbles is Cartwright, made 3/4 good saves today and dealt with some very dodgy passes back to him from Maher well. Getting better game by game.

Quoted from barralad

Hyperbole right there.

Keep on happy clapping div

Created next to nothing, deserved nothing and got nothing.

Football is about details and moments, which we invariably get more wrong than right, and the opposition seem to get more right than wrong. It is a source of constant bafflement to how other teams seem to be able to get the basics mostly right and we don't. We find ways to lose possession constantly, with over hit, under hit and mis-directed passes. We can't even get throw ins and free kicks into the right areas.

Our midfield were bullied and harried out of the game, with Hunt being particularly bad, but none of them looked comfortable on the ball.

I get what the manager is trying to do, but the players either haven't got there yet, or aren't good enough to do it, with me leaning more toward the latter for a good number of them. We need some more technical players in the squad if we are to play this way going forward.

Half way through the season, but not yet half way to 50 points is a bit of a worry, but Artell has just nailed his colours to the mast and says we are in no danger of ending up in the bottom 2.

We'll need some better players before I am as confident as he seems to be.

Too many individuals were absolutely dreadful today, a shame to have a bad day at the office just as we looked to be kicking on a bit.

I have absolutely no issues with playing out from the back, because I think our style of play will slowly get better the more the players get used to it. Today it didn’t work well, but the groaning in the crowd every time it went wrong really didn’t help that. You could see the players confidence visibly sapping throughout the first half, and then for some absolutely mental reason they then got booed off.

I’ve seen enough so far to know we’re heading in the right direction, today was a blip but some fans really do need to understand the affect the boos have. To do it in Artells second home game is ridiculously stupid.

Quoted from ginnywings

Created next to nothing, deserved nothing and got nothing.

Football is about details and moments, which we invariably get more wrong than right, and the opposition seem to get more right than wrong. It is a source of constant bafflement to how other teams seem to be able to get the basics mostly right and we don't. We find ways to lose possession constantly, with over hit, under hit and mis-directed passes. We can't even get throw ins and free kicks into the right areas.

Our midfield were bullied and harried out of the game, with Hunt being particularly bad, but none of them looked comfortable on the ball.

I get what the manager is trying to do, but the players either haven't got there yet, or aren't good enough to do it, with me leaning more toward the latter for a good number of them. We need some more technical players in the squad if we are to play this way going forward.

Half way through the season, but not yet half way to 50 points is a bit of a worry, but Artell has just nailed his colours to the mast and says we are in no danger of ending up in the bottom 2.

We'll need some better players before I am as confident as he seems to be.

I don't think we will go down. But I felt sick when he said we definitely won't.
He didn't change anything all game other than the subs. Was a real worry

Quoted from Yoda

You know your bad when you make Harrogate look like Real Madrid.
A relegation performance we could be in trouble some tough games coming up.

Not a chance of relegation. I'm quite relaxed, interested in seeing how we progress this season under Artell without any preconceived idea of where we need to be by the summer. Can shrug off a poor performance against a limited Harrogate side. Maybe even a blessing in the long term if it identifies a few shortcomings in the squad, better sooner than later. Welcome back Yoda. Haven't seen much of you during our unbeaten run..

I’m not sure i share his confidence

5 mins in, Town played the ball from their own corner flag and passed across and out the back, into midfield and then transitioned into attack superbly.

Alan Buckley sat in the Directors section near me and purred like a cat sat in front of a newly lit real fire.

Unfortunately, shortly after this positive start (and illustration of what Arter is trying to instil) the players muscle memories of several years under Hurst slightly different approach, overran the new orders and things went downhill from there.

Harrogate were very comfortable on the ball as well, but seemed more confident and well drilled in their shape and approach that Town. Perhaps due to having their manager longer than 6 weeks (or perhaps having players specifically recruited to be able to play that way) and have at least some players who could use more than one foot.

I have seen enough in the short time Artel has been in, to feel optimistic about the future, and he was absolutely adamant that this inherited squad was in no danger of going down this season.

I did see a lack of penetration again by our wide players today and Clifton once again ran and ran but just lacks quality.

Strangely, Harrogate seemed sharper in midfield and Hunt, Conteh, Clifton and latterly Holohan all seemed a yard slower to the ball than their midfielders at time.

We deserved to lose today and 2 tough away matches to come now until New Years Day.

Maybe a dose of reality not a bad thing and I am sure the January transfer window re loans and signings will be at the forefront of our new managers thoughts after today.

UTM

Quoted from Lincspoacher

5 mins in, Town played the ball from their own corner flag and passed across and out the back, into midfield and then transitioned into attack superbly.

Alan Buckley sat in the Directors section near me and purred like a cat sat in front of a newly lit real fire.

Unfortunately, short;y after this positive start and illustration of what Arter is trying to instil, the players muscle memories of several years under Hurst slightly different approach, overran the new orders and things went downhill from there.

Harrogate were very comfortable on the ball as well but seemed more confident and well drilled in their shape and approach that Town. Perhaps due to having their manager longer than 6 weeks or perhaps having players specifically recruited to be able to ply that way and have at least some players who could use more than one foot.

I have seen enough in the shirt time Artel has been in to feel optimistic about the future and he was absolutely adamant that this inherited squad was in no danger of going down this season.

I did see a lack of penetration again by our wide players today and Clifton once again ran and ran but just lacks quality.

Strangely, Harrogate seemed sharper in midfield and Hunt, Conteh, Clifton and latterly Holohan all seemed a yard slower to the ball than their midfielders at time.

We deserved to lose today and 2 tough away matches to come now until New Years Day.

Maybe a dose of reality not a bad thing and I am sure the January transfer window re loans and signings will be at the forefront of our new managers thoughts after today.

UTM

Virtually invisible..

Quoted from Bigdog

Not a chance of relegation. I'm quite relaxed, interested in seeing how we progress this season under Artell without any preconceived idea of where we need to be by the summer. Can shrug off a poor performance against a limited Harrogate side. Maybe even a blessing in the long term if it identifies a few shortcomings in the squad, better sooner than later. Welcome back Yoda. Haven't seen much of you during our unbeaten run..

I'm sorry but calling Harrogate limited doesn't say much for us as they were so much better than we were.

I’ll give Harrogate some credit and say they were much better than us today; well organised, tried harder throughout and clearly did some homework on us. We were dreadful though and it’s really drunk me off that that’s what is served up after a brilliant home performance against Crewe last time at BP.

I think the Grimsby crowd prefer Mcmenemy football to Buckley or Artells passing game.

Blood and thunder, up and at 'em rather than studiously playing out from the back.

We will be happy with it if we are winning, but it will be purgatory if we don't.

If today's reaction is anything to go by the crowd will get very restless very quickly defeating the whole point of trying to play out from the back. Yes we were poor for two thirds of the game and were beaten by a better team who had better players but I fear the supporters won't have the patience till it all gels with players better equipped to play it.

Quoted from arryarryarry

I'm sorry but calling Harrogate limited doesn't say much for us as they were so much better than we were.

Totally agree, but they are limited by League Two standards, and I'm not basing my opinions of what we are over one bad performance in the past six or seven games either.. We have shortcomings on heavy pitches and against organised mobile teams, less so on better pitches against footballing teams higher up the division..

Quoted from lew chaterleys lover

I think the Grimsby crowd prefer Mcmenemy football to Buckley or Artells passing game.

Blood and thunder, up and at 'em rather than studiously playing out from the back.

We will be happy with it if we are winning, but it will be purgatory if we don't.

If today's reaction is anything to go by the crowd will get very restless very quickly defeating the whole point of trying to play out from the back. Yes we were poor for two thirds of the game and were beaten by a better team who had better players but I fear the supporters won't have the patience till it all gels with players better equipped to play it.

Mcmenemy hasn’t managed us for more than 50 years. How many people in the ground today do you think saw a game under him?

Harrogate were a tough nut today...
and we did not have the hammer to crack them... 😑

Quoted from ska face

Mcmenemy hasn’t managed us for more than 50 years. How many people in the ground today do you think saw a game under him?

I've no idea but people will understand the difference in style.

Playing out from the back with this squad will lead to more opportunities and goals conceded than it does chances created, very, very comfortably, and I’d put every penny I’ve got on that.

Quoted from lew chaterleys lover

I've no idea but people will understand the difference in style.

I know exactly (from experience) what you mean but I’m pretty sure Dave Boylen wouldn’t last 90 minutes.

Quoted from lew chaterleys lover

I think the Grimsby crowd prefer Mcmenemy football to Buckley or Artells passing game.

Blood and thunder, up and at 'em rather than studiously playing out from the back.

We will be happy with it if we are winning, but it will be purgatory if we don't.

If today's reaction is anything to go by the crowd will get very restless very quickly defeating the whole point of trying to play out from the back. Yes we were poor for two thirds of the game and were beaten by a better team who had better players but I fear the supporters won't have the patience till it all gels with players better equipped to play it.

Load of shite, fans just want to see effort and today it looked like there was 0 hence the moans and groans. If we went and had a go at Harrogate and didn't fanny about with 10 corners going short then there probably wouldn't of been groans. The style of play isn't the reason the fans booed, it's the application and effort of players that was the problem today like it has been for 90% of the season.

Quoted from Bigdog

Totally agree, but they are limited by League Two standards, and I'm not basing my opinions of what we are over one bad performance in the past six or seven games either.. We have shortcomings on heavy pitches and against organised mobile teams, less so on better pitches against footballing teams higher up the division..

The whole of league 2 is limited though isn't it ? barring Barrow and Mansfield who I was impressed with , even the teams that do well are basic but just do basic better than the rest with better players (Stockport & Wrexham come to mind ) .

That's my only worry that 'Artell ball' is not compatible with league 2 , but the success he had with Crewe contradicts my argument - I would be interested how many other 'total footballing sides' have gone up from league 2 in the last few seasons .

Quoted from lew chaterleys lover

I've no idea but people will understand the difference in style.

I'm 35 so have absolutely no idea what you mean. I barely even recall what Buckley's teams played like since his second stint in charge ended when I was 12 and the third spell where the squad was full of rubbish and had no obvious identity doesn't count.

Anyway I thought Glennon and Cartwright had decent games today. The less said about the rest of them the better. Completely unwilling to write Hunt off like some as he's at least shown in recent games before Newport he can be pivotal in midfield, but he needs to find a way to be more consistent especially against more physical opponents (unlike Clifton who needs to accept he doesn't have the awareness or guile to play anywhere but out wide).

Quoted from Chrisblor

I'm 35 so have absolutely no idea what you mean. I barely even recall what Buckley's teams played like since his second stint in charge ended when I was 12 and the third spell where the squad was full of rubbish and had no obvious identity doesn't count.

Anyway I thought Glennon and Cartwright had decent games today. The less said about the rest of them the better. Completely unwilling to write Hunt off like some as he's at least shown in recent games before Newport he can be pivotal in midfield, but he needs to find a way to be more consistent especially against more physical opponents (unlike Clifton who needs to accept he doesn't have the awareness or guile to play anywhere but out wide).

Certainly think if a team makes nullifying one player a key to their tactics, then it’s up to the others to work out how to take advantage. Problem is that the others weren’t able to.

Sh1t from start to finish. Harrogate were the better side with some questionable reffing thrown in
Not sure how Eisa got MOTM either??

Yes the passing today was shocking i lost count the number of times we passed to a Harrogate player.
Also every corner Glennon took went to their player six inches off the ground and they cleared it.
Surely in the windy conditions we could manage a corner into the box.
The players today looked like they had been out on the beer the night before.

Quoted from Chrisblor

I'm 35 so have absolutely no idea what you mean. I barely even recall what Buckley's teams played like since his second stint in charge ended when I was 12 and the third spell where the squad was full of rubbish and had no obvious identity doesn't count.

Anyway I thought Glennon and Cartwright had decent games today. The less said about the rest of them the better. Completely unwilling to write Hunt off like some as he's at least shown in recent games before Newport he can be pivotal in midfield, but he needs to find a way to be more consistent especially against more physical opponents (unlike Clifton who needs to accept he doesn't have the awareness or guile to play anywhere but out wide).

OK, just substitute Lawrie Mac for any manager you can think of who plays a more direct, up and at 'em style, the opposite of passing out from the back.

Quoted from MuddyWaters

Certainly think if a team makes nullifying one player a key to their tactics, then it’s up to the others to work out how to take advantage. Problem is that the others weren’t able to.

Exactly that, Artell has said in interviews that he can set a team up as good as he wants. When they cross that white line it's up to them to work out patterns and how to take advantage of it.. something which I feel we lack a lot. I hate critising PH but we was always a team that was set up to nullfiy the other team and win a game that way. We've gone from one end of the spectrum to the other and it'll take time. It's on DA to work out whether the players we currently have are, 1 - good enough to play the way he wants and 2 - smart enough to manage the in game situations when teams work us out.

Quoted from lew chaterleys lover

OK, just substitute Lawrie Mac for any manager you can think of who plays a more direct, up and at 'em style, the opposite of passing out from the back.

I personally hated watching teams managed by Mick Lyons and Russell Slade.

Every time we played it out from the back I was nervous. Had been looking forward to this. Utter shít.

Not remotely consoled by Artell’s post match interview either.

Mcmenemy played that style because it was how football was played in them days, also the pitches in winter were usually more mud then grass. The old saying of a player “having a good engine” was more important then a skilled player, also tackling was allowed back then.

The better corners in the first half did not beat the first defender. The remainder were strangled at birth at the corner flag trying a new botched short corner routine,

The same level of success came from playing out from the back. Not without further practice please. Our players are not good enough to play this way. PL keepers and defenders get it wrong. And not on a windy day either.

A game to forget for every reason.

Quoted from 140381

Every time we played it out from the back I was nervous. Had been looking forward to this. Utter shít.

Not remotely consoled by Artell’s post match interview either.

Wouldn’t be inspired / motivated by such incoherent twaddle.

Quoted from 140381

Every time we played it out from the back I was nervous. Had been looking forward to this. Utter shít.

Not remotely consoled by Artell’s post match interview either.

I wonder what goes through some people’s minds.

Would you rather have a man with a plan who wants to win games playing the right way or someone who just doesn’t want to lose?

He even told us there would be bumps in the road while the team was getting to grips with what he wants.

Yes, today was disappointing in the same way that Crewe was exciting.

Quoted from MuddyWaters

I wonder what goes through some people’s minds.

Would you rather have a man with a plan who wants to win games playing the right way or someone who just doesn’t want to lose?

He even told us there would be bumps in the road while the team was getting to grips with what he wants.

Yes, today was disappointing in the same way that Crewe was exciting.

I don't know what his plan was today but I think he got it wrong or was out thought by the Harrogate manager.

Quoted from arryarryarry

I don't know what his plan was today but I think he got it wrong or was out thought by the Harrogate manager.

His plan is long term. Not just 90 minutes against a well drilled and efficient opponent.

Quoted from LocalLadGTFC

Load of shite, fans just want to see effort and today it looked like there was 0 hence the moans and groans. If we went and had a go at Harrogate and didn't fanny about with 10 corners going short then there probably wouldn't of been groans. The style of play isn't the reason the fans booed, it's the application and effort of players that was the problem today like it has been for 90% of the season.

There were plenty around me moaning "get it forward" when pratting around at the back.

Quoted from lew chaterleys lover

I've no idea but people will understand the difference in style.

Imagine someone in 1973 telling everyone the crowd prefer the style from 1923. Absolutely insane behaviour.

People can’t expect the players to be brave on the ball, anywhere on the pitch, if the fans are filling their y-fronts every time we have to make a pass.

Same goes for that goon Tondeur on Humberside, been needling the manager and players every chance he gets about the different style. Bloke sounds like he’s on the verge of a coronary the second the ball’s not punted into the stratosphere.

It’s possible to play terribly without having to completely abandon your principles the following week.

Run faster, pass harder and in front of players, make yourself available, sort out free kicks and corners.

Slow, square balls across the penalty area are frightening !

These are pro players who should understand instructions and be able to.last 90.minutes if needed.

There may be movements out in January now that Artell has had a bad game to view !

Quoted from MuddyWaters

Most of the team lost their individual battles today and, more worryingly, couldn’t get their heads around a Plan B.

We won’t win every game and we have a plan. Let’s see what January brings.

You make me laugh, your quite prepared to wait and see what January brings for this gaffer but you wanted Pearson and Davies out in a hurry . We played better under their guidance than that showing today and who's to say we wouldn't have improved even more under them . Oh I know Artex must be better because he's a NAME.. and we probably paid more money for him ,so to you amongst us that watch premiershit football that must be the right decision. I really hope he makes a fist of it for all our sakes . I know some will be saying.. oh the snipers are out already. But Shaun and Ben took 5 points from 9 ,playoff form and got us through one round of the cup Artex has 5 points from 12 and we're out of the cup.....? Just saying . We were sh!t today . U.T.M.

No way near the excitement achieved in the Town youth team

Quoted from ska face

Imagine someone in 1973 telling everyone the crowd prefer the style from 1923. Absolutely insane behaviour.

People can’t expect the players to be brave on the ball, anywhere on the pitch, if the fans are filling their y-fronts every time we have to make a pass.

Same goes for that goon Tondeur on Humberside, been needling the manager and players every chance he gets about the different style. Bloke sounds like he’s on the verge of a coronary the second the ball’s not punted into the stratosphere.

It’s possible to play terribly without having to completely abandon your principles the following week.

I’m quite shocked how dim some people are about this. DA made it pretty clear in his interview. They’re trying to play through the lines, ball into feet, Hunt if possible, but if that is cut off, play over or round the press. That requires the likes of Clifton, Eisa and Gnahoua to become the alternative.

Quoted from arryarryarry

There were plenty around me moaning "get it forward" when pratting around at the back.

There’s a reason those people don’t have a career in football management. I think of it like Tottenham, Ange has implemented a style and they aren’t going to come away from it because that’s how he’s always played and that’s how he’s been brought up playing football. If you ask 100 football fans who they’d rather watch every week, Luton or Tottenham.. 100 of those fans would say Tottenham. Now Tottenham are obviously a premier league team with premier league players but they have a style and they stick to it no matter the circumstances because the manager wants them to play that way, he concedes that it’ll lose them games and times but it’ll also win them a lot more than they lose. We aren’t even at stage 1 yet, I think David has probably had 8/9 actual training sessions with the team due to the time of year and the amount of games we have to play. Combine that with it being a squad of players he’s inherited that have been asked to play a certain way for nearly 2 years for some of them such as Harry, Gav etc. He’s not only got to implement his style, he’s got to try and mould these players into what he wants because we’re a L2 team and these players have contracts. He can’t just go out and buy a new midfielder. If he thinks they can’t do it then he has to try and move them on. Emphasis on the try, because if he can’t then we’re stuck with them. The goal for this season is probably stay in the division first and foremost and steer us comfortably to safety whilst implementing the style of play you want. It’s going to be a long journey and we’ve already seen fruits of the labour in previous games. One swerve in the road doesn’t change the journey of the car.

Quoted from ska face

Imagine someone in 1973 telling everyone the crowd prefer the style from 1923. Absolutely insane behaviour.

People can’t expect the players to be brave on the ball, anywhere on the pitch, if the fans are filling their y-fronts every time we have to make a pass.

Same goes for that goon Tondeur on Humberside, been needling the manager and players every chance he gets about the different style. Bloke sounds like he’s on the verge of a coronary the second the ball’s not punted into the stratosphere.

It’s possible to play terribly without having to completely abandon your principles the following week.

That's the point I was trying to make. I was very disappointed with the fans for moaning, groaning and urging the players to get it forward quickly.

Artell has set his stall out to play possession football from the back, but I think a good percentage of the fan base would prefer crunching tackles and plenty of Grimsby grit but the game isn't played like that anymore.

Artell and his way of playing are here to stay so I hope the fans show more patience and encouragement than they did today if it doesn't go to plan.

Quoted from ancientmariner54

You make me laugh, your quite prepared to wait and see what January brings for this gaffer but you wanted Pearson and Davies out in a hurry . We played better under their guidance than that showing today and who's to say we wouldn't have improved even more under them . Oh I know Artex must be better because he's a NAME.. and we probably paid more money for him ,so to you amongst us that watch premiershit football that must be the right decision. I really hope he makes a fist of it for all our sakes . I know some will be saying.. oh the snipers are out already. But Shaun and Ben took 5 points from 9 ,playoff form and got us through one round of the cup Artex has 5 points from 12 and we're out of the cup.....? Just saying . We were sh!t today . U.T.M.

You’ve got to be a troll. Nobody in their right mind would think two draws against the two worst sides in the division and limping through a cup round via a replay against a shite part time team is something to crow about.

Quoted from ancientmariner54

You make me laugh, your quite prepared to wait and see what January brings for this gaffer but you wanted Pearson and Davies out in a hurry . We played better under their guidance than that showing today and who's to say we wouldn't have improved even more under them . Oh I know Artex must be better because he's a NAME.. and we probably paid more money for him ,so to you amongst us that watch premiershit football that must be the right decision. I really hope he makes a fist of it for all our sakes . I know some will be saying.. oh the snipers are out already. But Shaun and Ben took 5 points from 9 ,playoff form and got us through one round of the cup Artex has 5 points from 12 and we're out of the cup.....? Just saying . We were sh!t today . U.T.M.

Blimey. We drew with Slough and Sutton at home in a game that was like today on steroids. You have a very short and selective memory.

Artells interview was worrying. Gone from confident articulate to jibbering nonsense in 4 weeks wonder what is in the water down at Cheapside

Quoted from LocalLadGTFC

There’s a reason those people don’t have a career in football management. I think of it like Tottenham, Ange has implemented a style and they aren’t going to come away from it because that’s how he’s always played and that’s how he’s been brought up playing football. If you ask 100 football fans who they’d rather watch every week, Luton or Tottenham.. 100 of those fans would say Tottenham. Now Tottenham are obviously a premier league team with premier league players but they have a style and they stick to it no matter the circumstances because the manager wants them to play that way, he concedes that it’ll lose them games and times but it’ll also win them a lot more than they lose. We aren’t even at stage 1 yet, I think David has probably had 8/9 actual training sessions with the team due to the time of year and the amount of games we have to play. Combine that with it being a squad of players he’s inherited that have been asked to play a certain way for nearly 2 years for some of them such as Harry, Gav etc. He’s not only got to implement his style, he’s got to try and mould these players into what he wants because we’re a L2 team and these players have contracts. He can’t just go out and buy a new midfielder. If he thinks they can’t do it then he has to try and move them on. Emphasis on the try, because if he can’t then we’re stuck with them. The goal for this season is probably stay in the division first and foremost and steer us comfortably to safety whilst implementing the style of play you want. It’s going to be a long journey and we’ve already seen fruits of the labour in previous games. One swerve in the road doesn’t change the journey of the car.

So you are suggesting a number of Town fans are a bit dim then try to compare us to a Premiership side. You do realise they have far greater ability to spend millions on top class players.

I don't mind a manager having a plan but that has to take into account the quality of players he has access to. The manager also has access to how the opposition plays so he shouldn't have been surprised how they play.

I just thought he got it wrong today and couldn't adapt his team to change it at any time during the game

Quoted from lew chaterleys lover

That's the point I was trying to make. I was very disappointed with the fans for moaning, groaning and urging the players to get it forward quickly.

Artell has set his stall out to play possession football from the back, but I think a good percentage of the fan base would prefer crunching tackles and plenty of Grimsby grit but the game isn't played like that anymore.

Artell and his way of playing are here to stay so I hope the fans show more patience and encouragement than they did today if it doesn't go to plan.

That will never change you know our regulars (and fans of every club) , I put something on a week or two ago 'see what the reaction will be when we lose , get it forward!' Or something along those lines .

They take every manager down including Sir Alan and boy they didn't like it when he gave a bit back on occasion .

You are damned if you do damned if you don't . Terrible today but at least give a bit of context - it's gone relatively well the other games he's been here , a refreshing change - 3 or 4 games like today and I would worry but still wouldn't want us to revert to Hurst style football or lumping it we just need to get better at playing this way , IMO it's whether the current set of players are good enough - they looked it against Crewe and MK dons 2 more technical teams who sit off you a lot and let you play - the Newport one was a struggle against a more robust team and today we struggled badly with their pressing ; our touch and passing was awful . I did think Harrogate looked quite good not Mansfield or Barrow but a match or better of the other teams we have played .

Onto Mansfield which may well suit us better .

Quoted from arryarryarry

So you are suggesting a number of Town fans are a bit dim then try to compare us to a Premiership side. You do realise they have far greater ability to spend millions on top class players.

I don't mind a manager having a plan but that has to take into account the quality of players he has access to. The manager also has access to how the opposition plays so he shouldn't have been surprised how they play.

I just thought he got it wrong today and couldn't adapt his team to change it at any time during the game

I never once said Town fans are dim, I said there’s a reason we aren’t professional football managers. They know a lot more than we do. I also made the point about we don’t have millions to spend so Artell has to work with what he has, the reference to Tottenham was due to the fact they have a style of play and they don’t change from it, no matter who they play or how the game is going. They persist on playing out and Ange and Tottenham fans are accepting of the fact some times it’ll cost them points but it’ll certainly win them a lot more. See Tottenham/Chelsea for example.. down to 9 men and they’re still pressing Chelsea on the edge of the box and trying to play around them. History tells you that when a team goes down a man they should sit in and try get a point, never mind when they lose 2 but they didn’t. They went out to try and win the game and it cost them a point. Ange has his values and he won’t budge on them because that’s how he wants them to play and believes it’d be a detriment to Tottenham in the long term if they did. That’s exactly what we’re going to witness. We’re at Step 1 of probably a 10 step plan. He’s got to work with a squad of players who are currently stuck in certain mindsets and have certain bad habits. Now the counter argument to that is ‘ work with what you have ‘ - that’s not what the board want and if it was he wouldn’t of been appointed. He’s the right man for the job but it’s going to be a long process. His first two seasons at Crewe he guided them to safety and then finished mid table. Then followed by 2 very good years in the which lead to promotion. It’s a long term project and they’ll be more days like today. He’s been very open about that. As for the adapting to change the game, we had Pyke on the bench and that was the only forward player on the bench. The players he brought on to make a difference did nothing bar Green scoring but the game was already over.. all we could really do was go like for like.

Quoted from ska face

Imagine someone in 1973 telling everyone the crowd prefer the style from 1923. Absolutely insane behaviour.

People can’t expect the players to be brave on the ball, anywhere on the pitch, if the fans are filling their y-fronts every time we have to make a pass.

Same goes for that goon Tondeur on Humberside, been needling the manager and players every chance he gets about the different style. Bloke sounds like he’s on the verge of a coronary the second the ball’s not punted into the stratosphere.

It’s possible to play terribly without having to completely abandon your principles the following week.

Have to agree re Tonduer, the style of football appears so alien to him and as a result the commentary of it is dreadful

Quoted from arryarryarry

There were plenty around me moaning "get it forward" when pratting around at the back.

Same every week...every season...
"Stop fking about, get it forwards"...followed by..
"Stop hoofing it"

Today in the Pontoon i heard contradictory shouts from the same people throughout.

It is glaringly obvious that Tuckman’s theory will help some people understand what’s going on with the players at the moment.

Quoted from Theimperialcoroner

It is glaringly obvious that Tuckman’s theory will help some people understand what’s going on with the players at the moment.

Think it flies well over some people’s heads to be honest.

We cannot afford a performance like that in the next two games or we are right in a relegation scrap.

Quoted from pontoonlew

Have to agree re Tonduer, the style of football appears so alien to him and as a result the commentary of it is dreadful

He’s a dreadful commentator and an arrogant egotist, a classic example of a (kind of) journalist who thinks he’s part of the act. Matt Deane & Mike White by comparison CDAJATL

Quoted from Yoda

We cannot afford a performance like that in the next two games or we are right in a relegation scrap.

Are you going to accept DAs invitation for an hour at Cheapside?

What I took away from today (game & RH) was that Artell wants to coach players where I suspect as much as I respect him PH trained & instructed players. The latter delivers functionality the former (players permitting) will deliver flair and more wins.

Its not that we are trying to play out from the back but we do it too slowly, the number of times the ball could have gone straight out to Clifton, Hunt, Mullarkey and Glennon in acres of space straight from the keeper it always had to go 5 yards to Smith or Maher first. By the time they have a couple of touches their options as above are closed down. Add to that Eisa having a worst first touch than me, the rest of the midfield unable to complete a 10 yrd pass, results in games like today. It's simple some of our players are not quite good enough whatever style we decide to play.

Quoted from moosey_club

Same every week...every season...
"Stop fking about, get it forwards"...followed by..
"Stop hoofing it"

Today in the Pontoon i heard contradictory shouts from the same people throughout.

You do know that it's possible to pass forwards without hoofing it? So many times we passed sideways when a forward pass on the deck was available. Harrogate demonstrated this perfectly early on finding players in space centrally who then worked a pass out wide.

Would folk please stop characterising fan reaction in the binary 'passing out' versus 'hoof it' debate. If only it were that simple. There were several opportunities to carry the ball forward and draw defenders out of position but we lacked courage or confidence. Arthur tried more often than most and won corners and throw ins which were then wasted.

Like others I also found JT;s interview poor. Firstly for ignoring the lack of competence, leadership and fight on view regardless of the tactical debate and then Artell's statement about finding the fear of relegation 'ridiculous'. I think I got round the roundabout at Waltham on muscle memory after that patronising and defensive assertion.

Losing to a well organised team is OK if you give it your best shot but I was looking much more heart and aggression in my team.

Quoted from HertsGTFC

He’s a dreadful commentator and an arrogant egotistical, a classic example of a (kind of) journalist who thinks he’s part of the act. Matt Deane & Mike White by comparison CDAJATL

Agree. It’s certainly time Radio Humberside ‘rationalised’ their commentary roster.

Considering the way DA wants to play suspect Maher will be a bit concerned about who we might bring in when the window opens.

Quoted from Madeleymariner

Its not that we are trying to play out from the back but we do it too slowly, the number of times the ball could have gone straight out to Clifton, Hunt, Mullarkey and Glennon in acres of space straight from the keeper it always had to go 5 yards to Smith or Maher first. By the time they have a couple of touches their options as above are closed down. Add to that Eisa having a worst first touch than me, the rest of the midfield unable to complete a 10 yrd pass, results in games like today. It's simple some of our players are not quite good enough whatever style we decide to play.

Andy Smith left in May didn’t he?

Someone on way out calling for the manager to be sacked! female dog please, overreacting to getting beaten by a better team on the day.
Town looked like they'd been on the urine Friday night works do
That's one defeat in 7 games.

Quoted from Maringer

We'll never have a successful passing team with the two centre backs who played today. Practically every single pass that Maher made to Glennon (all 4,756 of them today) was either slightly behind him or forced him to check his forward motion to collect the ball. Rodgers ran forward with the ball when there was space in front of him on quite a few occasions, but he rarely managed to find a player with his pass or just whacked it at them too hard.

Hunt lost possession of the ball almost every time he received it and it really was one of his worst games for us. Conteh wasn't really much better.

Harrogate really, really well organised, tidy in possession and outmuscled us across the field. The number of overloads they managed to create without really trying was very worrying and it certainly didn't help that we just passed it straight to them no end of times. Very lucky to only lose by a single goal.

Thought Rodgers looked better today in his all round game. Maher was clearly a good player in the NL for Halifax, I think he’s out of contract in the summer (might be wrong) I’d be disappointed if he got another deal TBH.

Quoted from MuddyWaters

Think it flies well over some people’s heads to be honest.

Oh I know.

It was garbage today but it's one game, it happens, especially when you're trying to introduce something that the players probably aren't good enough to execute week in week out.

Onto the next one..

Crap performance felt sorry for the 6 thousands that made the effort to go today.

Not getting all doom and gloom tho be interesting to see what he does in the Jan transfer window

I thought the players were having a competition who could give the ball away the most? The winner was, well they was all doing it very regularly so they may need to share the prize!

1st half I could see what the plan was, it was just being executed badly by players not capable of playing it, the fact is we have very few players in our squad who are capable of passing the ball around quickly with accuracy on a consistent basis, I understand league 2 footballers have their limitations but other league 2 teams pass it accurately and quickly so we clearly need to recruit some players who can do that, and for all the passing out the back, Rose is still very isolated when he is up their alone, we look better when he has somebody alongside him, we need to sign a striker in January as if Wilson and Pyke are injured that leaves Rose badly isolated, hopefully Pyke can stay fit now.

2nd half was a bit of a mess and I could not see what the plan was.

The corners was shocking, I think Hunt hitting the first man over and over and over and over again, his crosses barely left the floor!

In a nutshell.

Harrogate had far better individual players, combining to be the better team.

Quoted from Theimperialcoroner

It is glaringly obvious that Tuckman’s theory will help some people understand what’s going on with the players at the moment.

Need someone who can turn water into wine with this group

Quoted from HertsGTFC

He’s a dreadful commentator and an arrogant egotist, a classic example of a (kind of) journalist who thinks he’s part of the act. Matt Deane & Mike White by comparison CDAJATL

Burnsy didn’t call him Lord Tondour of Blundell Park for nothing

Quoted from HertsGTFC

Andy Smith left in May didn’t he?

Yes he did it's just me having a senior moment obviously meant Rodgers 😔

Quoted from HerveJosse

Burnsy didn’t call him Lord Tondour of Blundell Park for nothing

Father time and the changing game has caught up with him - get John Moores on audio ?

Proper positive and a bit of a laugh would love to hear 'ohhh yesss ' and even when we are crap a bit of humour rather than Tondeurs monotone description of the game ;he's been in the main too long and just sounds like one of the regulars doesn't he ?

Even though yesterday was crap the positive is Sutton are brown bread and FGR have appointed Troy Deeney as manager . Doncaster look awful aswell so there are at least 3 teams we are finishing above even if it's not the season we hoped for we will still be in league 2 next season .

Quoted from Davec

I thought the players were having a competition who could give the ball away the most? The winner was, well they was all doing it very regularly so they may need to share the prize!

1st half I could see what the plan was, it was just being executed badly by players not capable of playing it, the fact is we have very few players in our squad who are capable of passing the ball around quickly with accuracy on a consistent basis, I understand league 2 footballers have their limitations but other league 2 teams pass it accurately and quickly so we clearly need to recruit some players who can do that, and for all the passing out the back, Rose is still very isolated when he is up their alone, we look better when he has somebody alongside him, we need to sign a striker in January as if Wilson and Pyke are injured that leaves Rose badly isolated, hopefully Pyke can stay fit now.

2nd half was a bit of a mess and I could not see what the plan was.

The corners was shocking, I think Hunt hitting the first man over and over and over and over again, his crosses barely left the floor!

Glennon put most of the corners into the near post, but he also hit the first man every time. Shockingly poor corners.

Quoted from Mappers

Even though yesterday was crap the positive is Sutton are brown bread and FGR have appointed Troy Deeney as manager . Doncaster look awful aswell so there are at least 3 teams we are finishing above even if it's not the season we hoped for we will still be in league 2 next season .

It's a shame we are not much more secure though. That would give us the space and time to adapt to the new style without having to look over our shoulder.

I am a huge advocate of possession based football played out from the back but if we lose some of these difficult games coming up and get dragged more into it I can't see a lot of fans having the patience for it. We all want winning football but this is a long term thing improving over time. Its never dull being a fan anyways.