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intercourse him off. Average L2 CB who has been subpar all season and that's being kind. If he can't understand that there are absolutely loads of us going to watch him at BP and places like Walsall, Salford, Newport, Gillingham, etc. week in week out and that we've done this not only through two relegations to the NL but through two decades of decline then he can urine off.

PH cupped his ears at us after taking us back up. Fair enough. If you're reading this Niall, well done we've won 1-0 at home to Forest Green.

Quoted from GrimRob

This was in the context of the goal celebration which shushed the critics, i.e. the home fans. The GTFC tweet has now been deleted from Twitter with the goal celebration in. The players were hurt as well as the fans after all the recent defeats and they are only human the criticism must have hurt. It matters to us but it also matters to them as their careers and futures are on the line.

Personally, I am glad to know they care and want to win for us all, and for themselves.

Actually, some of them, Niall included, haven’t shown how much they care all season. Maybe some of them finally realise that their contracts are running out.

Quoted from BraStrap

I blame the parents

I can just about put up with the occasional “there and their” error. But the abuse of “should of” instead of “should have” or “should’ve” needs investigation into potential parental neglect. ..

I don’t really get what the issue is with him tweeting that tbh.

I’m more interested in seeing him stopping charging out challenging for balls he was never going to win. Might be a Halifax thing as Green has a tendency to do the same thing.

His whit is clearly at the same level as his ability.

I’m glad the players haven’t like the criticism TBH, they might just realise that just because they don’t like what they’re hearing it doesn’t mean to say it’s wrong.

A shame that 3 points still ends in this.

It wouldn’t be so bad if Andrews had actually played well. He’s misjudged it and then doubled down which has made it worse for himself.

Quoted from Brummie Codfather

I don’t really get what the issue is with him tweeting that tbh.

I’m more interested in seeing him stopping charging out challenging for balls he was never going to win. Might be a Halifax thing as Green has a tendency to do the same thing.

You don't get what the issue is with a defender who has conceded 5 twice and 6 once at home in the last few months and has been part of a side that has massively underperformed all season deciding to take to Twitter to give the fans excrement off the back of a raggy 1-0 win at home? Why didn't he pipe up after Donny or Walsall if he was that arsed about addressing the fans?

Quoted from Son of Cod

You don't get what the issue is with a defender who has conceded 5 twice and 6 once at home in the last few months and has been part of a side that has massively underperformed all season deciding to take to Twitter to give the fans excrement off the back of a raggy 1-0 win at home? Who didn't he pipe up after Donny ot Walsall if he was that arsed about addressing the fans?

Not really no.

We’re probably agreed that we look much better with this defensive line up than with Maher playing though.

There’s something wonderfully ironic in how irate people have got over one player defending a young player who’s had stick on twitter.

Quoted from LH

It wouldn’t be so bad if Andrews had actually played well. He’s misjudged it and then doubled down which has made it worse for himself.

Yes , I think it's a fair assumption that post his playing days Maher won't have a career in football management or creative writing .

I don't particularly care for his tweeting , it's mildly amusing I suppose but fans have actually stuck with the team through this tough spell on matchdays , I'm not sure what he expects on the socials after shipping loads of goals at home and getting whippings . His mate isn't upto standard that isn't a critic unfortunately it's the reality ; the guy can't move .

Quoted from Son of Cod

Average L2 CB

You are being far far to generous with this statement 😆

It’s only sticks and stones

Footballs not a nice game when you’re losing , I doubt that there are any fans in the world that wouldnt have been screaming blue murder after conceding so many goals in home games ( or away )

A much needed 3 points today and so much b1tching after. We’re no way out of the battle and a win like this should’ve galvanised players/manager/fans. with 2 more important games in the next week coming up I’ll put all this down to bad timing over everything else?

We look a better side without him. Hope he leaves in the summer
.

Great to see the players celebration tweets, but can someone remind them we're 21st in League 2 with a 6 point gap to the relegation zone in a season we were expecting to be challenging for the play-offs.

We played like excrement, against a excrement FGR team. 3 badly needed points, but from some of their tweets you'd have thought we'd just won the champions league.

Quoted from BraStrap

I blame the parents

I blame the parents parents

Well he takes after his mum who is quite mouthy on Facebook

Quoted from arryarryarry

I blame the parents parents

I blame the romans

Are we really making a mountain of this particular molehill?

A bit torn on this. Can't really argue with SOC's point about the silence before now but I don't think he should get slaughtered for defending a young player.

Same with the celebratory tweets, I don't think that's a bad thing but can see why people ask where were the tweets after the recent home games.

The players are under a lot of pressure and I do think it is better if they can express their opinions without getting pelters.

I agree Maher's tweets were a bit silly, and are probably the result of a lot of pent up emotion about the awful situation we find ourselves in. Let's not pretend that a lot of us haven't said silly things too. Though, to be clear, I do think he has extra responsibility on his shoulders as a first team player.

But. We've won a huge game. A massive result we should all be happy with. Let's forgive Niall's misjudged comment and keep pushing forward together imo. We've all done silly stuff. UTM

Quoted from BulkyMariner

Great to see the players celebration tweets, but can someone remind them we're 21st in League 2 with a 6 point gap to the relegation zone in a season we were expecting to be challenging for the play-offs.

We played like excrement, against a excrement FGR team. 3 badly needed points, but from some of their tweets you'd have thought we'd just won the champions league.

I disagree. If we’d played excrement, we’d have lost.

They fought like warriors, and whilst here was a lack of quality, I feel they played for the manager.

3 points. F#cking bingo.

Let’s get over the line … then a few of them want slaughtering , but let’s wait

Some of the abuse might have been a bit over the top on here this season.

The players must realise watching town is not a hobby for us it's really matters when we lose and we don't expect out team to let in five and six goals at home.

So bite the bullet players and you will only get nice things said about you if you play like Rose and win a few games.

We only say nasty things because we care, how the attendances have kept up all season must tell you we are passionate about our club.

I must admit young players learning their trade should not be criticised they must be given a bit of leeway until they have grown up enough to ignore the abuse.

He is utterly male masturbation Andrews, but I've no issue with a senior player trying to stick up for a a young lad taking pelters on Twitter.

Bit different on here, if the players read this they're morons.

Kinda interesting how this follows on from Artell's comments that he was pleased to see the players stand up for each other and not back down when handbags were drawn.

My first thought on this was Maher's got some nerve, then calmed to it's heat of the moment and then third that I'm kinda liking that he's backing Andrews up. It shows some sense of togetherness in the camp.

Finally though I just thought it would be a lot easier if both Andrews and Maher said nothing at all. It's really, really unlikely that I'm going to become a professional footballer now, however if I did I think I'd make a point of having absolute silence on social media.

Same for the generic 'we're gonna put things right' that comes out of players after every defeat. Does anyone care or believe it?

People need to chill out, who cares. Maher isn’t even in the team and probably won’t get much of a chance before the end of the season. If he wants to be a Twitter gobshite then good luck to him.

Quoted from Heisenberg

I disagree. If we’d played excrement, we’d have lost.

They fought like warriors, and whilst here was a lack of quality, I feel they played for the manager.

3 points. F#cking bingo.

We were basically excrement, thankfully they were just as excrement in the final third.

Quoted from diehardmariner

Kinda interesting how this follows on from Artell's comments that he was pleased to see the players stand up for each other and not back down when handbags were drawn.

My first thought on this was Maher's got some nerve, then calmed to it's heat of the moment and then third that I'm kinda liking that he's backing Andrews up. It shows some sense of togetherness in the camp.

Finally though I just thought it would be a lot easier if both Andrews and Maher said nothing at all. It's really, really unlikely that I'm going to become a professional footballer now, however if I did I think I'd make a point of having absolute silence on social media.

Same for the generic 'we're gonna put things right' that comes out of players after every defeat. Does anyone care or believe it?

I agree with your post, however, it got me thinking. Many have complained of a lack of team spirit these last months. Then Maher shows some which is to be congratulated, so we complain again. I haven't read what he said but this now shows a bit of comradery within the team.

Quoted from DB

I agree with your post, however, it got me thinking. Many have complained of a lack of team spirit these last months. Then Maher shows some which is to be congratulated, so we complain again. I haven't read what he said but this now shows a bit of comradery within the team.

Good point.

As I said earlier Andrews did make plenty of mistakes but I think he is better than portrayed.

Gosh. Twitter is a toxic cesspool.

I'm not on there, but reading through here, it's ridiculous.

Maher is defending a young player who didn't have the best of games. Considering he wasn't picked today and had every right to be sulking, he's stuck his neck out and that shows a good team spirit.

Basically, apart from Andrews, we had Wood and Green. Green was needed to come on for Thompson, who while talented cannot come through 90 mins and has to go off. Basically, the only choices we had was either Wood, or Smith at right back and Clifton in the middle. Considering Smith's was previously out, DA went with Andrews. Andrews has had more good games than Wood imho so perfectly logical.

The real idiots are grown adults that go online and bash a young kid trying his best because that supposed grown adult has poor emotional management.

I'm pleased Maher was out of the team, but mainly because I'm still annoyed by him refusing the pass from Cartwright that led to that member up the other week and him getting caught up front when we got cut through and conceded. However, apparently you can not be happy with the way someone is playing, and still consider that not everything they do is bad.

Quoted from Alan Buckley

Hope this useless clown never plays for us again after his comments on twitter! He’s got away Scot free for most of the season despite being absolutely woeful! Now because we’ve scraped a win against a team below us he thinks it’s clever to have a pop at the fans!

No thanks Niall get yourself on the rock and roll come June 1st!

Bore off

Quoted from AncientExiledMariner

Gosh. Twitter is a toxic cesspool.

I'm not on there, but reading through here, it's ridiculous.

Maher is defending a young player who didn't have the best of games. Considering he wasn't picked today and had every right to be sulking, he's stuck his neck out and that shows a good team spirit.

Basically, apart from Andrews, we had Wood and Green. Green was needed to come on for Thompson, who while talented cannot come through 90 mins and has to go off. Basically, the only choices we had was either Wood, or Smith at right back and Clifton in the middle. Considering Smith's form hasn't been great, DA went with Andrews. Andrews has had more good games than Wood imho so perfectly logical.

The real idiots are grown adults that go online and bash a young kid trying his best because that supposed grown adult has poor emotional management.

I'm pleased Maher was out of the team, but mainly because I'm still annoyed by him refusing the pass from Cartwright that led to that member up the other week and him getting caught up front when we got cut through and conceded. However, apparently you can not be happy with the way someone is playing, and still consider that not everything they do is bad.

Noone was bashing him directly. Maher started it with a comment about silencing the critics but looking through this and the just back thread the critics were far from silenced. There’s a time and place for told you so type comments and it definitely isn’t after your first win in two months.

Quoted from LH

Noone was bashing him directly. Maher started it with a comment about silencing the critics but looking through this and the just back thread the critics were far from silenced. There’s a time and place for told you so type comments and it definitely isn’t after your first win in two months.

Appreciate the clarification. Twitter is now behind a reg wall, so you don't see excrement if you ain't on there. It definitely doesn't help with him being smug. I have read on other threads that Andrews was getting excrement.

Quoted from AncientExiledMariner

Gosh. Twitter is a toxic cesspool.

I'm not on there, but reading through here, it's ridiculous.

Maher is defending a young player who didn't have the best of games. Considering he wasn't picked today and had every right to be sulking, he's stuck his neck out and that shows a good team spirit.

Basically, apart from Andrews, we had Wood and Green. Green was needed to come on for Thompson, who while talented cannot come through 90 mins and has to go off. Basically, the only choices we had was either Wood, or Smith at right back and Clifton in the middle. Considering Smith's form hasn't been great, DA went with Andrews. Andrews has had more good games than Wood imho so perfectly logical.

The real idiots are grown adults that go online and bash a young kid trying his best because that supposed grown adult has poor emotional management.

I'm pleased Maher was out of the team, but mainly because I'm still annoyed by him refusing the pass from Cartwright that led to that member up the other week and him getting caught up front when we got cut through and conceded. However, apparently you can not be happy with the way someone is playing, and still consider that not everything they do is bad.

The irony in that sentence being that Maher wasn't playing literally because he can't stick his neck out.

Quoted from diehardmariner

Kinda interesting how this follows on from Artell's comments that he was pleased to see the players stand up for each other and not back down when handbags were drawn.

My first thought on this was Maher's got some nerve, then calmed to it's heat of the moment and then third that I'm kinda liking that he's backing Andrews up. It shows some sense of togetherness in the camp.

Finally though I just thought it would be a lot easier if both Andrews and Maher said nothing at all. It's really, really unlikely that I'm going to become a professional footballer now, however if I did I think I'd make a point of having absolute silence on social media.

Same for the generic 'we're gonna put things right' that comes out of players after every defeat. Does anyone care or believe it?

Ok, I’m 48, so a lot older than these players, but why partake in social media? It’s not a prerequisite. The club don’t demand it.

In essence, don’t say a f#cking word.

I find it all very ironic that the fans can have "open season" on here to slag off the players with some remarks very toxic and bordering on offensive. Then when one player defends another on social media there is such an uproar! " How dare he" , " Who does he think he is" etc. There are so many hypocrites on this site but I suppose it's no different to most of the others. A lot of the posters and fans think they are untouchable and beyond reproach but when the object of their derision tries to defend himself and his work colleagues then they are, in turn, slated for it.

Quoted from rancido

I find it all very ironic that the fans can have "open season" on here to slag off the players with some remarks very toxic and bordering on offensive. Then when one player defends another on social media there is such an uproar! " How dare he" , " Who does he think he is" etc. There are so many hypocrites on this site but I suppose it's no different to most of the others. A lot of the posters and fans think they are untouchable and beyond reproach but when the object of their derision tries to defend himself and his work colleagues then they are, in turn, slated for it.

Because Maher has been silent for the last two months when we’ve been getting hammered most weeks and putting in abject performances. One scrappy win against the second worst team in the country and he’s claiming the critics have been silenced. The irony being that Andrews was abysmal yesterday, twice as likely to lose possession as he was to retain it. I’m all for players sticking up for each other but turning on the fans who, in the main, have kept turning up to support them despite them not deserving it shows that his decision making off the pitch is as bad as it is on the pitch.

Quoted from rancido

I find it all very ironic that the fans can have "open season" on here to slag off the players with some remarks very toxic and bordering on offensive. Then when one player defends another on social media there is such an uproar! " How dare he" , " Who does he think he is" etc. There are so many hypocrites on this site but I suppose it's no different to most of the others. A lot of the posters and fans think they are untouchable and beyond reproach but when the object of their derision tries to defend himself and his work colleagues then they are, in turn, slated for it.

Couldn't agree more. Yes a player should remain professional but Social media is such a toxic place. I think it goes hand in hand how the world is at the minute. Everyone's ok having an opinion and slagging someone off but as soon as they get it back they go into self destruct mode as the younger generation can't take criticism or accept the word "No". Maher has had a crap season but If you give it you've got to be able to take it and to be fair to all the Town players they;ve took abuse off us all season so yeh I can see why some players have resorted to having a pop back.

Andrews seems to be getting singled out but he was no worse than any of the other midfielders. Thompson is a good player but I fancy my chances of beating him over 30 yards and I'm in my 60's. Holohan wasn't much better, but they all battled hard in what was a rearguard action and we kept a clean sheet with them having no shots on target, so job done.

Maher just defending his team mates as far as I'm concerned, but admit I haven't read his comments, and don't intend to. Storm in a teacup.

Blimey, good thing we won or there would be blood, venom, and poo flying out of my screen
As it is I'm reading this Nial Maher thread wearing an old welding mask I found in the garage.

Some on here need to step back and count to a thousand before you explode. (bheem)(stickfight)(smash)(starwars)(angry)

Just to remind people, we did actually win.

Quoted from GrimPol

Blimey, good thing we won or there would be blood, venom, and poo flying out of my screen

That’s some niche porn but whatever helps you get over the disappointment of defeat, I suppose.

I'm gonna keep it a buck fifty here..

Maher has been shite this year and Andrews is a young player but also hasn't been good enough hence our league position.

Maher taking a swipe at the fans is pathetic and uncalled for especially after the Shite we've seen this season, maher has been shite too and in all honesty he needs to move on in the summer.

What pisses me right off is that a quite innocent reply to Andrews tweet has turned into a excrement flinging show, which really wasn't called for.
Maher just had his team mates back, nothing more and nothing less until our own social media keyboard warriors decided to pile in on him, and Maher maybe should have had the brains to turn off and not reply imo.
The other thing is that Maher looked like a Rolls Royce of a defender last year, yet 12 months later and he's become a lada with a knackered engine...
Shame how this might end as I really liked Maher, but can't see him being here after the summer tbh

What did he actually tweet, I’ve gathered it’s something to do with defending Andrew’s but I can’t find it.

Quoted from Mariner56

What did he actually tweet, I’ve gathered it’s something to do with defending Andrew’s but I can’t find it.

"Critics litts" 👏👏...
I'd post the actual tweet but can't be arsed tbh...🤣

Quoted from Northbank Mariner

What pisses me right off is that a quite innocent reply to Andrews tweet has turned into a excrement flinging show, which really wasn't called for.
Maher just had his team mates back, nothing more and nothing less until our own social media keyboard warriors decided to pile in on him, and Maher maybe should have had the brains to turn off and not reply imo.
The other thing is that Maher looked like a Rolls Royce of a defender last year, yet 12 months later and he's become a lada with a knackered engine...
Shame how this might end as I really liked Maher, but can't see him being here after the summer tbh

He had a better quality CB next to him for the majority of the time last season Waterfall/Smith who seemed to compliment his game well . I rate him and thought he might be one of the few competent enough on the ball to carry out Artell-ball, but it has not looked the case when he's played and he's struggled as much as the rest .

I don’t think Andrews has been great but here’s the thing for me if he was “one of our own” maybe the ferocity of the criticism wouldn’t be as high. He’s a young kid in his first season so it’s not going to work perfectly.

On Maher he’s a bit of a sausage really as there’s different ways to back your team mates on social media than biting the hand that feeds you.

As long as it’s not personal or offensive supporters who pay to support the club/team have a right to an opinion based upon what they see and what they’ve seen most of this season has been poor.

Most of the stuff on Twitter is disingenuous, self serving bollix. Any fan, staff member or player taking umbrage needs to look at their life and plug any gaps with more worthwhile pursuits.

The same goes for 90% of OS pre and post match interviews, training vids and programme notes. I judge my team on what I see on the pitch and this morning I skipped downstairs singing DANNY ROSE.... DANNNNNNYY ROOOSE!

Quoted from Poojah

That’s some niche porn but whatever helps you get over the disappointment of defeat, I suppose.

The point is DA picked Andrews to play. DA watched the same match as we all did, and yet subbed Thompson.

If people need to have a pop, go at DA he had the overall power of change. Ask him why he allowed Andrews to stay and Thompson to go.
As an aside, on some sites Andrews got a better appraisal than Wilson, Hume, Mullarkey, Clifton, and Cartwright who was marked up as worst.

And yet the vitriol is aimed at Andrews, who in my view had an off day, but doesn't deserve this anger.
Just because people can vent their spleen and spice up their non-existant useless/pointless lives by bad-mouthing a young player, doesn't mean they have to and we should allow it.

Anyway, if Maher can't play Artell-ball and we stay up, I don't see him here next season based on this season's form.

i thought Andrews had his best game for us today maybe he’s getting up to speed with league two.
We must play Pyke up front with Rose far better than Wilson.

Quoted from GrimPol

The point is DA picked Andrews to play. DA watched the same match as we all did, and yet subbed Thompson.

If people need to have a pop, go at DA he had the overall power of change. Ask him why he allowed Andrews to stay and Thompson to go.
As an aside, on some sites Andrews got a better appraisal than Wilson, Hume, Mullarkey, Clifton, and Cartwright who was marked up as worst.

And yet the vitriol is aimed at Andrews, who in my view had an off day, but doesn't deserve this anger.
Just because people can vent their spleen and spice up their non-existant useless/pointless lives by bad-mouthing a young player, doesn't mean they have to and we should allow it.

Thompson was absolutely copulated.

Quoted from mariner91

Because Maher has been silent for the last two months when we’ve been getting hammered most weeks and putting in abject performances. One scrappy win against the second worst team in the country and he’s claiming the critics have been silenced. The irony being that Andrews was abysmal yesterday, twice as likely to lose possession as he was to retain it. I’m all for players sticking up for each other but turning on the fans who, in the main, have kept turning up to support them despite them not deserving it shows that his decision making off the pitch is as bad as it is on the pitch.

This

Quoted from Yoda

i thought Andrews had his best game for us today maybe he’s getting up to speed with league two.
We must play Pyke up front with Rose far better than Wilson.

Jesus pal...honestly?...Pyke has no pace, can't play with his back to the game or hold the ball up, everything that Wilson can do.
As for Andrews, yes he's a young lad but I have never, ever seen a midfielder shirk challenges as much as him, at least 4 times yesterday he bottled 50/50s

Who really cares?
It’s a bit boring going on social media winding the players up then spreading their reactions all over the place .

Amazed that I've read some criticism of Wilson today. Thought he did really well feeding off nothing but scraps and held it up well when it actually came in to him.

Quoted from jonnyboy82

I'm gonna keep it a buck fifty here..

Maher has been shite this year and Andrews is a young player but also hasn't been good enough hence our league position.

Maher taking a swipe at the fans is pathetic and uncalled for especially after the Shite we've seen this season, maher has been shite too and in all honesty he needs to move on in the summer.

So, it's OK for fans to be "critical" of players (and critical is being kind) but the players can't be critical of fans? Seems to me that people shouldn't dish it out if they can't take it.

Quoted from HertsGTFC

I don’t think Andrews has been great but here’s the thing for me if he was “one of our own” maybe the ferocity of the criticism wouldn’t be as high. He’s a young kid in his first season so it’s not going to work perfectly.

On Maher he’s a bit of a sausage really as there’s different ways to back your team mates on social media than biting the hand that feeds you.

As long as it’s not personal or offensive supporters who pay to support the club/team have a right to an opinion based upon what they see and what they’ve seen most of this season has been poor.

Of course it's right to criticise players but there are better ways than calling them " shite" , " get rid in the summer" ie sack him. I'm sure a lot of these keyboard warriors if exposed to that kind of criticism would react with many more expletives and abuse. I was brought up to treat people like I would want them to treat me but obviously that is outdated,, judging by quite a few posters on here.

Hilarious. Boohoo a player showed a reaction....people need to get them over themselves....the quite direct and personal abuse players have got on here , undoubtedly on "X " and from the stands is completely unwarranted.
By all means show frustration, be critical if you feel the need but some of the cr@p that gets shouted and posted then hardly surprising the players will circle the wagons and defend themselves.

Probably the same people who goad opposition strikers relentlessly and then complain when they get the shush 🤫 celebration.

If you can't take it don't give it.

Quoted from rancido

Of course it's right to criticise players but there are better ways than calling them " shite" , " get rid in the summer" ie sack him. I'm sure a lot of these keyboard warriors if exposed to that kind of criticism would react with many more expletives and abuse. I was brought up to treat people like I would want them to treat me but obviously that is outdated,, judging by quite a few posters on here.

Absolutely. Well said.

Quoted from rancido

Of course it's right to criticise players but there are better ways than calling them " shite" , " get rid in the summer" ie sack him. I'm sure a lot of these keyboard warriors if exposed to that kind of criticism would react with many more expletives and abuse. I was brought up to treat people like I would want them to treat me but obviously that is outdated,, judging by quite a few posters on here.

Fair point.

Quoted from tarka

So, it's OK for fans to be "critical" of players (and critical is being kind) but the players can't be critical of fans? Seems to me that people shouldn't dish it out if they can't take it.

Critical of fans errr we get 6/7k gates playing total dog excrement every week , we take fantastic support to most places still even though we’re one of the four worst teams in the football league. If the said player was putting his head on the line rather than pulling out of challenges I’d be slightly more sympathetic.

Quoted from Rodley Mariner

Thompson was absolutely copulated.

Agreed, but why not sub both? That's the point of subs, you freshen the playing team for all sorts of reasons.

Quoted from GrimPol

Agreed, but why not sub both? That's the point of subs, you freshen the playing team for all sorts of reasons.

Because we didn't have two obvious replacements. Wood looks more of a number 10 so it would have meant changing shape or moving Clifton. They hadn't had a single shot on target so why would you want to upset things too much.

Quoted from GrimPol

Agreed, but why not sub both? That's the point of subs, you freshen the playing team for all sorts of reasons.

This thing I see constantly. You have to replace with something you have on the bench. The options weren't great. What you replace with could be worse. Green has been hammered previously in the last few home games and described as a "non-league clogger", yet he's expected to replace Thompson, who while a solid player probably couldn't spell endurance right now. The only real option we had was Wood. While Andrews passing was not good yesterday. The gaffer probably felt that his off the ball was better than Wood and he could probably improve on the passing over the course of the game. The stats for him weren't dreadful off the ball. He was winning a reasonable amount of duels/recoveries. We conceded zero goals, so it cannot have been too bad. In football, players only ever have half the time on the ball (or yesterday, about a third), and the other side of the game is important. Yeah Andrews maybe isn't as brave as some, but at least he's getting close enough to the action for people to see that and it's harder to go forward with a player in your way.

I did previously suggest Smith and push Clifton central, but with Smith out last week and on the bench this week, I'm wondering if he was one of the players who were ill or in the car incident. Plus, taking Clifton away from the right could have been a massive risk. We've been getting hammered with crosses going in this season. Clifton works his balderdash off to get in the way and make that harder.

Quoted from ginnywings

Andrews seems to be getting singled out but he was no worse than any of the other midfielders. Thompson is a good player but I fancy my chances of beating him over 30 yards and I'm in my 60's. Holohan wasn't much better, but they all battled hard in what was a rearguard action and we kept a clean sheet with them having no shots on target, so job done.

Maher just defending his team mates as far as I'm concerned, but admit I haven't read his comments, and don't intend to. Storm in a teacup.

He is by a large distance worse. He is weak, cowardly, slow and not good enough with the ball to make up for that.

He had a shocker yesterday with the ball, but it's the half challenges and the bottling of other challenges that is a real worry. There was a moment in the second half when he had the opportunity to win an aerial challenge the ball bounced between him and an FGR player and you could see him clock the other player coming, he then didn't even challenge for the ball.
He could probably be a footballer, but he needs to get his finger out and stop being a fanny. He needs to throw everything at it to have a league career, he's not doing that.

Quoted from Rodley Mariner

Because we didn't have two obvious replacements. Wood looks more of a number 10 so it would have meant changing shape or moving Clifton. They hadn't had a single shot on target so why would you want to upset things too much.

If the guy was that bad and could have lost us the points, Harry Wood was on the bench and he's a midfielder, isn't he? From what I see on the pitch not many are a "perfect fit" anyway.

They hadn't had a single shot on target so why would you want to upset things too much. If the team was holding its own, and they played "well enough", then why all the abuse meated out to Andrews? Savour the points.

Pointing out somebody's poor play is one thing, basically abusing him on a forum is another thing, and just wrong.

Quoted from AncientExiledMariner

This thing I see constantly. You have to replace with something you have on the bench. The options weren't great. What you replace with could be worse. Green has been hammered previously in the last few home games and described as a "non-league clogger", yet he's expected to replace Thompson, who while a solid player probably couldn't spell endurance right now. The only real option we had was Wood. While Andrews passing was not good yesterday. The gaffer probably felt that his off the ball was better than Wood and he could probably improve on the passing over the course of the game. The stats for him weren't dreadful off the ball. He was winning a reasonable amount of duels/recoveries. We conceded zero goals, so it cannot have been too bad. In football, players only ever half half the time on the ball (or yesterday, about a third), and that side of the game is important. Yeah Andrews maybe isn't as brave as some, but at least he's getting close enough to the action for people to see that and it's harder to go forward with a player in your way.

I did previously suggest Smith and push Clifton central, but with Smith out last week and on the bench this week, I'm wondering if he was one of the players who were ill or in the car incident. Plus, taking Clifton away from the right could have been a massive risk. We've been getting hammered with crosses going in this season. Clifton works his balderdash off to get in the way and make that harder.

An awful lot of attacks got through our right, with some good crosses to follow. Our backs did put a shift in to protect a very reluctant Cartwright.

The lad thinks he is a big time Charlie and how he goes about it stinks. He is not for me to be fair, regardless of playing or lack off ability.

Quoted from GrimPol

An awful lot of attacks got through our right, with some good crosses to follow. Our backs did put a shift in to protect a very reluctant Cartwright.

Looks like they targetted our right: https://forum.thefishy.co.uk/Blah.pl?m-1709401250//id-1717946#id1717946

Clifton did 4* more defensive work than Hume. Looks like Clifton made it very hard for them to put in a good cross...

They were trying to play almost everything through their left-winger. Luckily, though he looked tricky, he didn't produce anything much other than one or two decent crosses. In general, the defence did enough to keep him out of the game.

I wonder if they played that way deliberately because they thought Clifton wasn't a defender or whether it is because they think their left-winger is their most creative player?

Quoted from tarka

So, it's OK for fans to be "critical" of players (and critical is being kind) but the players can't be critical of fans? Seems to me that people shouldn't dish it out if they can't take it.

Fans pay their hard earned money to watch them play of course they have a right to be critical.
If you go to a restaurant and are not satisfied by the food, you have a right to complain, why is this any different?

Both Maher and Andrews haven’t been good enough this season, Maher seems to have got away with murder this season, I’d go as far as saying he’s looked worse than a boozed up Paul Linwood. Andrews pulls out of every 50/50 challenge which can often leave us in the lurch, don’t understand why, he’s hardly blessed with fantastic technical ability that could affect the game in a positive way.

Quoted from ginnywings

Andrews seems to be getting singled out but he was no worse than any of the other midfielders. Thompson is a good player but I fancy my chances of beating him over 30 yards and I'm in my 60's. Holohan wasn't much better, but they all battled hard in what was a rearguard action and we kept a clean sheet with them having no shots on target, so job done.

Maher just defending his team mates as far as I'm concerned, but admit I haven't read his comments, and don't intend to. Storm in a teacup.

Andrews is miles better than Holohan & Clifton (who are largely worshipped) and will play regularly at a much higher level than both of them. He had a good game yesterday. The one glaring "error" he made was more down to Denver Hume checking his run down the left and then being unable to get on the end of what was actually a really good pass.

In defence of Thompson, in his interview on Friday, Artell mentioned that he's just come back from illness and had lost 3 kilos (that's half a stone). If you've ever had a bug which causes sickness/squits for a week or so, you'll know how utterly wiped out you feel after it. I had something when I was 17 and lost half a stone when there was nothing on me. I had persistent headaches and tiredness afterwards and it took me a month to get over it. I can understand why Thompson looked fooked relatively early doors.

I also think people being over critical of Andrews who was no worse than any of the other midfielders and did some decent defensive on the day. Somebody posted some stats showing he'd done better in some regards than Holohan and I certainly wouldn't disagree with those as Holohan was shocking in many aspects of the game yesterday.

Quoted from headingly_mariner

He is by a large distance worse. He is weak, cowardly, slow and not good enough with the ball to make up for that.

He had a shocker yesterday with the ball, but it's the half challenges and the bottling of other challenges that is a real worry. There was a moment in the second half when he had the opportunity to win an aerial challenge the ball bounced between him and an FGR player and you could see him clock the other player coming, he then didn't even challenge for the ball.
He could probably be a footballer, but he needs to get his finger out and stop being a fanny. He needs to throw everything at it to have a league career, he's not doing that.

Though I think he's been poor it has to be said that he's a young kid in his first senior EFL season being thrown into what up until have been the last couple of games an absolute car crash of a squad/team, not an easy ask that.

People bang on about giving young players a chance to his credit Artell is doing just that and also to Artell's credit he looks to be sticking with him in the match day squad.

Like most clubs at our level we have to take lads on loan who are quite often in their development sometimes they hit the ground running sometime s not, sometimes they start well and then fade.

"Cowardly"? powerful word that. Someone on here described Harvey Cartwright as a coward on here recently which I also found quite off when you look at the way keepers throw them selves around from a standing start.

Quoted from HertsGTFC

Though I think he's been poor it has to be said that he's a young kid in his first senior EFL season being thrown into what up until have been the last couple of games an absolute car crash of a squad/team, not an easy ask that.

People bang on about giving young players a chance to his credit Artell is doing just that and also to Artell's credit he looks to be sticking with him in the match day squad.

Like most clubs at our level we have to take lads on loan who are quite often in their development sometimes they hit the ground running sometime s not, sometimes they start well and then fade

That, in no way, excuses pulling out of challenges which he's done on several occasions since he got in the side.

Quoted from MuddyWaters

That, in no way, excuses pulling out of challenges which he's done on several occasions since he got in the side.

Where was I excusing him for that? All I was trying to do is add some context.

Quoted from CodHead

Fans pay their hard earned money to watch them play of course they have a right to be critical.
If you go to a restaurant and are not satisfied by the food, you have a right to complain, why is this any different?

Would you sit at your table shouting obscenities and call the chef a useless cnt as loud as you could ? Or would you speak with your waiter/waitress and explain your dissatisfaction ?

Quoted from moosey_club

Would you sit at your table shouting obscenities and call the chef a useless cnt as loud as you could ? Or would you speak with your waiter/waitress and explain your dissatisfaction ?

Where did I say we should be screaming at them? Sounds to me that you are trying to put words in my mouth that I didn’t say. We can talk about our dissatisfaction respectfully, I agree. However, their performances have been nowhere near good enough this season. Surely you can’t argue that?

Quoted from HertsGTFC

Where was I excusing him for that? All I was trying to do is add some context.

So was I - simply that being paid to play football means that shirking challenges is not acceptable whether you're young or at the end of your career.

Quoted from tarka

So, it's OK for fans to be "critical" of players (and critical is being kind) but the players can't be critical of fans? Seems to me that people shouldn't dish it out if they can't take it.

It's not a case of not being able to take it having dished it out. I don't think I've criticised Maher or Andrews all season and I'm frustrated at Maher's response. For me, it'd maybe be fair enough if we'd won 10 on the bounce and we were safe and kicking on towards midtable but we aren't. He's not even in the team right now, he should be keeping his head down and trying to right the many wrongs he has been responsible for this season, not calling fans out on Twitter. I'm absolutely not saying players getting regular personal abuse is acceptable but the fans are welcome to express concerns when the performances, results and league position are as poor as they have been this season. He needs to rise above it. Let's not forget that Niall Maher doesn't spend his free time travelling thousands of miles a season to come give us support in our day job and he doesn't put loads of money into the coffers of the companies that pay our wages.

Quoted from MuddyWaters

So was I - simply that being paid to play football means that shirking challenges is not acceptable whether you're young or at the end of your career.

Gaz Childs shirked out of every challenge going but the difference is he made things happen and contributed to the team in other ways 👍

Quoted from MuddyWaters

That, in no way, excuses pulling out of challenges which he's done on several occasions since he got in the side.

It's something he needs to work on. But probably better than Holahan casually sauntering back or on flat foot and nowhere near to put pressure on the player. Even getting in front of a player takes forward options away that cut through teams. Defensive work isn't purely about sliding tackles.

Quoted from GrimPol

If the guy was that bad and could have lost us the points, Harry Wood was on the bench and he's a midfielder, isn't he? From what I see on the pitch not many are a "perfect fit" anyway.

They hadn't had a single shot on target so why would you want to upset things too much. If the team was holding its own, and they played "well enough", then why all the abuse meated out to Andrews? Savour the points.

Pointing out somebody's poor play is one thing, basically abusing him on a forum is another thing, and just wrong.

I haven't abused Andrews and won't. I thought he tired and would have replaced him if we'd had like for like on the bench. I wouldn't have replaced him with Wood.

If you're going to pompously tell me to 'savour the point' then I'd learn the difference between meat and mete 😉

Quoted from moosey_club

Would you sit at your table shouting obscenities and call the chef a useless cnt as loud as you could ? Or would you speak with your waiter/waitress and explain your dissatisfaction ?

Depends if the chef had constantly been serving me his own faeces on a plate for months and months and then when his mates finally managed to cobble together a barely edible ham sandwich he saw fit to come shush me.

Quoted from tarka

So, it's OK for fans to be "critical" of players (and critical is being kind) but the players can't be critical of fans? Seems to me that people shouldn't dish it out if they can't take it.

Fans in some small way help to pay the players wages and if fans didn't bother there would be no team for the players to play for and earn a living.

All the players have to do is go out and do their best and if some aren't like of late, the fans have the right to criticise and if the players can't accept that they are in the wrong job.

Your analogy is wrong.

Quoted from AncientExiledMariner

It's something he needs to work on. But probably better than Holahan casually sauntering back or on flat foot and nowhere near to put pressure on the player. Even getting in front of a player takes forward options away that cut through teams. Defensive work isn't purely about sliding tackles.

This is absolute bollox. Holohan put in a real shift yesterday and covered that right flank really well, giving much needed cover to Clifton and Mullarkey.

There were a couple of times in which FGR’s Thompson was able to put in crosses (though poor ones) but other than that they kept him at bay.

Quoted from MuddyWaters

So was I - simply that being paid to play football means that shirking challenges is not acceptable whether you're young or at the end of your career.

Don't disagree but you're possibly making a statement rather than adding context, but there you go.

Quoted from davmariner

This is absolute bollox. Holohan put in a real shift yesterday and covered that right flank really well, giving much needed cover to Clifton and Mullarkey.

There were a couple of times in which FGR’s Thompson was able to put in crosses (though poor ones) but other than that they kept him at bay.

I thought it was dead funny when Gav took that FGR player down in the first half to stop them making a break, put both hands up to it expecting to get booked and the ref just had a word, that was a yellow all day long.

Quoted from AncientExiledMariner

GrimPol Quote : An awful lot of attacks got through our right, with some good crosses to follow. Our backs did put a shift in to protect a very reluctant Cartwright.

AEM Quote: Looks like they targetted our right: https://forum.thefishy.co.uk/Blah.pl?m-1709401250//id-1717946#id1717946

Clifton did 4* more defensive work than Hume. Looks like Clifton made it very hard for them to put in a good cross...

No disrespect to Clifton our Right Wing was put under extreme pressure but did FGR put more crosses in than Town overall? I thought they did, but ineffectual as their forwards weren't on the same wavelength or our backs did their jobs. Both I guess.
And yet FGR never changed tack in the 2nd Half, obviously pre-planned as I can't believe our Left Side is more formidable.
After our goal, FGR bossed the 2/3 of the field 1st/2nd half, whilst our third was tougher or their attack was weaker. We did much better than hold on, and if we had more about us FGR would/could have been punished further. Two poor teams played Saturday, with someone on the match thread commenting that their goalkeeper might die of Hyperthermia. I think both should have worn extra jumpers for the work they had to do. But, hey, we have a 6 points cushion, 2 games in hand and a Colchester worried. Not bad after all the doom and gloom (inc me) all week previous. UTM.

Quoted from moosey_club

Would you sit at your table shouting obscenities and call the chef a useless cnt as loud as you could ? Or would you speak with your waiter/waitress and explain your dissatisfaction ?

Exactly! Sadly too many think it's a " one way thing ".

Quoted from CodHead

Where did I say we should be screaming at them? Sounds to me that you are trying to put words in my mouth that I didn’t say. We can talk about our dissatisfaction respectfully, I agree. However, their performances have been nowhere near good enough this season. Surely you can’t argue that?

We can't argue on that 😄

Quoted from Son of Cod

Depends if the chef had constantly been serving me his own faeces on a plate for months and months and then when his mates finally managed to cobble together a barely edible ham sandwich he saw fit to come shush me.

I think you being prepared to return to a restaurant month after month of being served a plate of sh!t is a concern....I think I would only go once 😄

Quoted from Son of Cod

Depends if the chef had constantly been serving me his own faeces on a plate for months and months and then when his mates finally managed to cobble together a barely edible ham sandwich he saw fit to come shush me.

LOL

Quoted from dapperz fun pub

Critical of fans errr we get 6/7k gates playing total dog excrement every week , we take fantastic support to most places still even though we’re one of the four worst teams in the football league. If the said player was putting his head on the line rather than pulling out of challenges I’d be slightly more sympathetic.

That's irrelevant. Criticise all you like...but don't throw your toys out of the pram if the players bite back.

Quoted from dapperz fun pub

Critical of fans errr we get 6/7k gates playing total dog excrement every week , we take fantastic support to most places still even though we’re one of the four worst teams in the football league. If the said player was putting his head on the line rather than pulling out of challenges I’d be slightly more sympathetic.

You don't have to go. You don't have to watch. That's the lad's livelihood. You can critique his performances but there's no need to slag him off. We forget that they are trying to do the best they can. Imagine going to work somewhere and getting appraised every weekend - and not in a positive way.

Quoted from tarka

So, it's OK for fans to be "critical" of players (and critical is being kind) but the players can't be critical of fans? Seems to me that people shouldn't dish it out if they can't take it.

Well said. The people on here name names. It's personal , A player's attack on the "fans' - Only take umbrage if you are, a) sensitive and needing some reassurance, b) feeling guilty so you need to defend yourself or c) suffering victim mentality.

Quoted from CodHead

Fans pay their hard earned money to watch them play of course they have a right to be critical.
If you go to a restaurant and are not satisfied by the food, you have a right to complain, why is this any different?

Both Maher and Andrews haven’t been good enough this season, Maher seems to have got away with murder this season, I’d go as far as saying he’s looked worse than a boozed up Paul Linwood. Andrews pulls out of every 50/50 challenge which can often leave us in the lurch, don’t understand why, he’s hardly blessed with fantastic technical ability that could affect the game in a positive way.

Because if I go to a restaurant and the food is crap, I don't go back every week and complain about it.

Quoted from tarka

That's irrelevant. Criticise all you like...but don't throw your toys out of the pram if the players bite back.

I personally couldn’t give a fook what he says he won’t be here much longer anyway , if you watch /attend games you’d have noticed he struggles at this level.

Quoted from AncientExiledMariner

It's something he needs to work on. But probably better than Holahan casually sauntering back or on flat foot and nowhere near to put pressure on the player. Even getting in front of a player takes forward options away that cut through teams. Defensive work isn't purely about sliding tackles.

You’ve really got it in for Gav havent you. Every single time you come back to him

Quoted from Mayaman

Because if I go to a restaurant and the food is crap, I don't go back every week and complain about it.

Not remotely the same is it? If I'm disappointed with a meal at a restaurant, I'll go to a different restaurant. If i'm dissatisfied with the team's performance one week, I'm not then going to go and watch Lincoln or Scunny instead.

Quoted from Hagrid

You’ve really got it in for Gav havent you. Every single time you come back to him

Not particularly. I care about Grimsby and he's cost us many goals. I wouldn't mind so much, but people bash other players and eulogise him. Happening more now Hunt has gone. Someone is going to have to balance the debate. If people weren't trying to scapegoat players, you'd see me really quiet.

The fact you're triggered by me highlighting the point, tells me you've got a bit of a soft spot for Gav.

Edit: Looking back through your recent post history. I've seen you bash Green, Vernham and Andrews. I don't think I'll take any lectures from you on bashing players. Don't like it, don't do it.

Quoted from Hagrid

You’ve really got it in for Gav havent you. Every single time you come back to him

Gav’s a top bloke but he was chasing shadows yesterday.

Quoted from AncientExiledMariner

Not particularly. I care about Grimsby and he's cost us many goals. I wouldn't mind so much, but people bash other players and eulogise him. Happening more now Hunt has gone. Someone is going to have to balance the debate. If people weren't trying to scapegoat players, you'd see me really quiet.

The fact you're triggered by me highlighting the point, tells me you've got a bit of a soft spot for Gav.

Edit: Looking back through your recent post history. I've seen you bash Green, Vernham and Andrews. I don't think I'll take any lectures from you on bashing players. Don't like it, don't do it.

Cost us many goals😂😂

Done more for us than the 3 named combined.

Quoted from MuddyWaters

Gav’s a top bloke but he was chasing shadows yesterday.

The midfield three all were, that's because of the shape and our fullbacks sitting deep. Midfield were out numbered

Players performances get scrutinised to the nth degree in the public domain. Players don't hang around and pull up trees elsewhere. Not saying Players aren't open to criticism but if my performance at work was broadcast in an adverse way in the public domain regularly I would be anxious and therefore lax in my performance, consider if I wanted to be there and feel a sense that my voice would need to be heard against dissenting voices. Yes I'm sure others would prefer to prove people wrong and press on and others probably just say intercourse this. Thing is players like us are human and all different. Deep down this is something of a non-story led by a few who are probably not happy unless they have something to argue about, quick to give but struggle to take.

Quoted from Hagrid

Cost us many goals😂😂

Done more for us than the 3 named combined.

Sentimentality.

Have you not been watching this season, or have you got your rose tinted spectacles on? Go back through the highlights for this season, especially goals conceded, and then watch the runners and midfielders. Watch what Gav does, and what how many times a goal comes about. It's been several times that Gav has been guilty of shirking on defensive work.

While I'm thankful to Gav for previous exploits, the same as Luke Waterfall, it doesn't change the fact that he's probably not good enough to start in a league 2 first team that competes. He could maybe benefit us from the bench, but then with the wages, you'd ask if he does enough to justify that spot next year. I'd much prefer Khouri and another taking those opportunities and bringing in a few first teamers with L2/L1 experience or bags of potential.

Yes, Gav has the history, but next season, I'd be surprised Gav or Andrews are with us, and probably Andrews would be more likely as he has a higher ceiling...

Don't get attached.

Appreciating that he's still learning his craft to an extent, Andrews needs to stamp his authority on games if he is going to have that higher ceiling. He looks to lack a bit of fitness too if I'm honest.

I was very critical of him after Saturday and for a few weeks to be fair, but what I will say in his defence is that he arrived here with just 8 games experience in the Conference and a further 3 from the Conf. North.  Since arriving here he's played 25 games, starting 18 of them.  With the exception of the first 4 games under Artell (presume he was injured) he's a constant in the squad - only 4 games where he's found himself an unused sub.

For a young lad, fresh from the Academy bubble at a big club that's a big shift in physical demands.  He's also gone straight into the frying pan of a largely dreadful team and constant chopping and changing in midfield partners and those behind him.

When he first arrived I thought he looked more of a proper footballer than someone to do the dirty work in midfield and dig things out.  Last couple of months he's found himself playing more of a holding type role which I don't think suits him.  He's quite weak physically, doesn't impose himself in tackles and loses an awful lot of aerial challenges.  He looks at his best when the expectation is on him to do something with the ball rather than regain it.  Was one moment on Saturday where he took the ball early in a counter-attack, let it run across his body to dummy his man then dropped the shoulder to get past another before setting Hume away on the left.  That's what I think he's best at.  Not doing doggy-runs in front of the back four and finding himself dominated by stronger blokes.

Whatever his best role is, he's not looked like someone from a higher level for a fair while here.  But he also looks flipping desperate for a rest.

Quoted from diehardmariner

Appreciating that he's still learning his craft to an extent, Andrews needs to stamp his authority on games if he is going to have that higher ceiling. He looks to lack a bit of fitness too if I'm honest.

I was very critical of him after Saturday and for a few weeks to be fair, but what I will say in his defence is that he arrived here with just 8 games experience in the Conference and a further 3 from the Conf. North.  Since arriving here he's played 25 games, starting 18 of them.  With the exception of the first 4 games under Artell (presume he was injured) he's a constant in the squad - only 4 games where he's found himself an unused sub.

For a young lad, fresh from the Academy bubble at a big club that's a big shift in physical demands.  He's also gone straight into the frying pan of a largely dreadful team and constant chopping and changing in midfield partners and those behind him.

When he first arrived I thought he looked more of a proper footballer than someone to do the dirty work in midfield and dig things out.  Last couple of months he's found himself playing more of a holding type role which I don't think suits him.  He's quite weak physically, doesn't impose himself in tackles and loses an awful lot of aerial challenges.  He looks at his best when the expectation is on him to do something with the ball rather than regain it.  Was one moment on Saturday where he took the ball early in a counter-attack, let it run across his body to dummy his man then dropped the shoulder to get past another before setting Hume away on the left.  That's what I think he's best at.  Not doing doggy-runs in front of the back four and finding himself dominated by stronger blokes.

Whatever his best role is, he's not looked like someone from a higher level for a fair while here.  But he also looks flipping desperate for a rest.

I just don't think Andrews is very good + can't move. But I and others have thought the same about many a player here before with them going onto achieve bigger and better things than Town so he might be Premier League in 5 years .

Quoted from Rodley Mariner

I haven't abused Andrews and won't. I thought he tired and would have replaced him if we'd had like for like on the bench. I wouldn't have replaced him with Wood.

If you're going to pompously tell me to 'savour the point' then I'd learn the difference between meat and mete 😉

Oops sorry about my poor spelling and pomposity.
Next home game I'll ask for the Flogging Post to be erected at halftime and the next player you have a downer on, and I can be flogged.

Massive win at the weekend think people need to remember how big that was and give the players a break.

The pressure thats on them in recent months must be crushing.

Quoted from Mappers

I just don't think Andrews is very good + can't move. But I and others have thought the same about many a player here before with them going onto achieve bigger and better things than Town so he might be Premier League in 5 years .

There's something about that you can put 3 or 4 very average players in a very good team and they look more than competent.  I think it was Alan Curbishley who said that, or something similar.  I would add to that and say you can have good players who get dragged down by poor sides.

Terry Taylor looked hopeless when he was here and I'm trying to be kind with that. The following two seasons he was one of the best players in League One with Burton, earning him a move to Charlton last summer.  At no point did I look at any of his performances in a Town shirt and think he would make it as a professional footballer, never mind one who commanded a decent fee for a transfer to another League One club (with a rumoured rejected bid from Championship Plymouth too).

Going further back, Liam Trotter looked distinctly average when he was on loan at Town.  Again, there was nothing to suggest he would have a decent career in the game.  In fact he played just shy of 200 games in the Championship and very impressively either scored or made an assist at a ratio of better than 1 in 4 at that level. It's when you look at the players surrounding him when at Town that you get a feel for how hard it must have been for a young lad.

For his debut he was in a side that also contained Javan Vidal, Danny Boshell, Matt Heywood with Nathan Jarman operating as the lone striker.  (A certain Dave Artell was in the Morecambe side that day too).  A game in which he scored, 3-1 defeat to Bradford, that stellar looking midfield was boosted by the figure of Jamie Clarke.

I can't quite bring myself to look in depth at Taylor's team-mates when here but I'll suffer to list the following who lined up in a 5-man midfield with him on his final appearance (Mansfield 1-1 at home).  Rose, Elliott Hewitt, Kyle Bennett, George Williams.  Rose was last at Clee Town, Williams in the Conf. South with Hemel Hempstead, Bennett with Shifnal Town (no, me neither) and only Hewitt is still at this level, albeit as a defender rather than a midfielder.

Don't get me wrong, I'm personally not seeing anything in Andrews.  Or very little anyway.  But this season at Town it's hardly an environment for a young player to flourish.

I'm going to take this point to extremes to make a point, so I appreciate it's probably a little ridiculous. Bear with me.

We're a struggling team. If DA put on a 5 year old on to the pitch and they got hammered, people would blame DA for picking a youngster and not a experienced footballer. We wouldn't berate the 5 year old. We have next to no midfield, and Hurst brought Andrews in. It wasn't his fault. We knew he was a kid who was inexperienced. He's fought his way into contention by being better than other options we have. It's not his fault he wasn't ready. It wasn't his fault he didn't have the experience, the club was responsible. He's doing his best, and trying to learn his trade. He clearly has talent to be in the position to be loaned to us, but the hard work, off the ball and grit is something that takes time for youngsters to adapt to.

If he does well, extra credit, if not, give him time, it isn't his fault we are reliant on him. If you don't want him on the pitch and you want a sub on instead or if you don't want him starting, blame the manager, not the kid. It isn't his fault.

Is he at the calibre we want? Probably not. Do we have other better options? Not really. I'd prefer him in our squad and contributing to our survival than not.

It's our responsibility that we are reliant on someone who is on a steep learning curve. We should probably be more frustrated with the professionals below him that cannot get in the team in front of him.

Quoted from AncientExiledMariner

I'm going to take this point to extremes to make a point, so I appreciate it's probably a little ridiculous. Bear with me.

We're a struggling team. If DA put on a 5 year old on to the pitch and they got hammered, people would blame DA for picking a youngster and not a experienced footballer. We wouldn't berate the 5 year old. We have next to no midfield, and Hurst brought Andrews in. It wasn't his fault. We knew he was a kid who was inexperienced. He's fought his way into contention by being better than other options we have. It's not his fault he wasn't ready. It wasn't his fault he didn't have the experience, the club was responsible. He's doing his best, and trying to learn his trade. He clearly has talent to be in the position to be loaned to us, but the hard work, off the ball and grit is something that takes time for youngsters to adapt to.

If he does well, extra credit, if not, give him time, it isn't his fault we are reliant on him. If you don't want him on the pitch and you want a sub on instead or if you don't want him starting, blame the manager, not the kid. It isn't his fault.

Is he at the calibre we want? Probably not. Do we have other better options? Not really. I'd prefer him in our squad and contributing to our survival than not.

It's our responsibility that we are reliant on someone who is on a steep learning curve. We should probably be more frustrated with the professionals below him that cannot get in the team in front of him.

I think Evan Khouri is a better option

Quoted from Norseman

I think Evan Khouri is a better option

He’s never fit.

Quoted from Hagrid

Cost us many goals😂😂

Done more for us than the 3 named combined.

You might want to check the data. Holohan’s statistics in L2 are worse than Andrews and miles behind Kieran Green.

If I have a spare 20 minutes I’ll start a thread defending Jamie Andrews with all the data laid out.

I will offer a spoiler though… Clifton’s stats this season in L2 are absolutely atrocious. I doubt anybody will want him in the summer when he’s out of contract.

Quoted from diehardmariner

There's something about that you can put 3 or 4 very average players in a very good team and they look more than competent.  I think it was Alan Curbishley who said that, or something similar.  I would add to that and say you can have good players who get dragged down by poor sides.

Terry Taylor looked hopeless when he was here and I'm trying to be kind with that. The following two seasons he was one of the best players in League One with Burton, earning him a move to Charlton last summer.  At no point did I look at any of his performances in a Town shirt and think he would make it as a professional footballer, never mind one who commanded a decent fee for a transfer to another League One club (with a rumoured rejected bid from Championship Plymouth too).

Going further back, Liam Trotter looked distinctly average when he was on loan at Town.  Again, there was nothing to suggest he would have a decent career in the game.  In fact he played just shy of 200 games in the Championship and very impressively either scored or made an assist at a ratio of better than 1 in 4 at that level. It's when you look at the players surrounding him when at Town that you get a feel for how hard it must have been for a young lad.

For his debut he was in a side that also contained Javan Vidal, Danny Boshell, Matt Heywood with Nathan Jarman operating as the lone striker.  (A certain Dave Artell was in the Morecambe side that day too).  A game in which he scored, 3-1 defeat to Bradford, that stellar looking midfield was boosted by the figure of Jamie Clarke.

I can't quite bring myself to look in depth at Taylor's team-mates when here but I'll suffer to list the following who lined up in a 5-man midfield with him on his final appearance (Mansfield 1-1 at home).  Rose, Elliott Hewitt, Kyle Bennett, George Williams.  Rose was last at Clee Town, Williams in the Conf. South with Hemel Hempstead, Bennett with Shifnal Town (no, me neither) and only Hewitt is still at this level, albeit as a defender rather than a midfielder.

Don't get me wrong, I'm personally not seeing anything in Andrews.  Or very little anyway.  But this season at Town it's hardly an environment for a young player to flourish.

Have a day off. Liam Trotter was great for us in the first half of the 08/09 season.

He was so distinctly average that he joined Scunthorpe on loan in the second half of that season and played an important part in them winning promotion to the Championship via the League 1 play-offs.

Quoted from GollyGTFC

Have a day off. Liam Trotter was great for us in the first half of the 08/09 season.

He was so distinctly average that he joined Scunthorpe on loan in the second half of that season and played an important part in them winning promotion to the Championship via the League 1 play-offs.

A more obscure one is Dan Jones at Port Vale who I barely remember (actually not at all) here but has played a decent amount of games in league 1 .

Can anyone remember him ?

Quoted from Mappers

A more obscure one is Dan Jones at Port Vale who I barely remember (actually not at all) here but has played a decent amount of games in league 1 .

Can anyone remember him ?

i remember him playing left wing ( bignot put him there) when we lost 5-1 at home to donny

Quoted from Hagrid

i remember him playing left wing ( bignot put him there) when we lost 5-1 at home to donny

Was gonna say I just remembered him as the lad played out of position by bignot that day, but I thought it was CM, but I could well be wrong

Nah, don't remember him at all.

I remember Sam Jones from that era who looked pretty good for us at times and moved up a level, but he never did anything after he left us. Funny how things work out sometimes.

Quoted from GollyGTFC

Have a day off. Liam Trotter was great for us in the first half of the 08/09 season.

He was so distinctly average that he joined Scunthorpe on loan in the second half of that season and played an important part in them winning promotion to the Championship via the League 1 play-offs.

Great? He was average. Largely anonymous. Unfortunately the archives on this site aren't picking up anything with his name but I can guarantee the reaction would be, and on Twitter if it were a thing back then, would have been 'meh'. But as I said in the very next sentence, he proved in a different environment just how good he was.

As for the Scunny loan, by that logic what a player we had in Mikey O'Neill last season, or a couple of years back Seb Revan who is 25 appearances and counting in the Championship this season.

Quoted from Maringer

Nah, don't remember him at all.

I remember Sam Jones from that era who looked pretty good for us at times and moved up a level, but he never did anything after he left us. Funny how things work out sometimes.

A classic example of someone who had everything, bar the right attitude. By all accounts a lovely lad but just didn't have the heart or appetite for the game. When he had his head in the game, he was unplayable. Blackpool away (Bignot's last game) and then Chesterfield on the opening day of the following season are just a few times when he had the bit between his teeth and was unplayable.

That January recruitment drive under Bignot with the Bogle money felt really exciting at the time. Chris Clements, Jones, Jamey Osborne, Akwasi Asante and Adi Yussuf plus Callum Dyson all coming in*. Genuinely thought at the time that we had reinvested that transfer money so well and were going to kick on (six points off the play-off spots when Bogle left at the end of Jan) but also go onto make even more profit from the new lads.

Ended well didn't it...

*(and Gav Gunning but never mind that).

Osborne another one with loads of ability, but no interest in really pushing forward with his career. He just wanted to live and play near his hometown, which I suppose is fair enough.

I think the club leaving him high and dry in the Humber Royal whilst recovering from a PCL injury might have played a factor in him wanting to go home too.

Story at the time that all of those Bignot brought in had agreements that they could commute from their Midlands' bases with a day off in the week. Once Bignot went that rule was scrapped and Slade/Fenty insisted that they either move to the area or stay over for the majority of the week.

Now, at a push someone like Clements (who I presume lived around the Mansfield area after 5 years there) could commute, I wouldn't fancy the 3hr drive every day but each to their own. Osborne, Solihull born, was looking at 6hr upwards on the road. If only we had some experience with a player commuting from the Birmingham area that didn't go well...

Ludicrous to agree to those terms in the first place, but also a terrible reflection of the club that they reneged on such.

Quoted from diehardmariner

I think the club leaving him high and dry in the Humber Royal whilst recovering from a PCL injury might have played a factor in him wanting to go home too.

Story at the time that all of those Bignot brought in had agreements that they could commute from their Midlands' bases with a day off in the week. Once Bignot went that rule was scrapped and Slade/Fenty insisted that they either move to the area or stay over for the majority of the week.

Now, at a push someone like Clements (who I presume lived around the Mansfield area after 5 years there) could commute, I wouldn't fancy the 3hr drive every day but each to their own. Osborne, Solihull born, was looking at 6hr upwards on the road. If only we had some experience with a player commuting from the Birmingham area that didn't go well...

Ludicrous to agree to those terms in the first place, but also a terrible reflection of the club that they reneged on such.

Couldnt disagree more, you cant have players missing a day off in the week. Shocking from Bignot in the first place, and i dont hold any blame to the club for scrapping that as soon as they could