Just back..

OK I'm still sat on the sofa but wow what a game. The best 0-0 I've ever watched.
Don't think anyone had a bad game.  Waterfall and especially Smith were emense. 10/10 performances.
Also felt holohan was brilliant today. Clifton non stop as always.
Crazy game and either team could have won but although it shows they had the edge it with possession etc I feel we had the better opportunities.
Great game of league 2 football. Enjoyed it a lot.
Utm

To add I've only ever seen Richardson twice but he looks very useful. Hope we can get him fully fit, him buzzing around Taylor will cause problems to opponents.

Great performance by Town. Every player gave 100% and the fans responded in like. Great to see an opposition that wanted to play and not fall to the ground every two minutes. Reminded me of a good old fashion game. Happy with 00 but we could have easily taken all 3 points. Great atmosphere today. UTMM.

Could easily have been 3 points

The second stop to deny Richardson was outstanding from their GK, fans particularly 2nd half were excellent.
Even the boring git in the upper Who slates efete at every opportunity didnt have anything to say after the 2nd half performance.
Waterfall my MOM i thought he was absolutely brilliant. He won everything

Well if that is one of the best teams in the league, we are in this!!
Now we have to listen to the media say “
“Town Held Bradford to a Draw”
Far From it, we should have edged it and where the better side in second half
Richardson such a handful when he came  on
Excellent performance from all players
Come on Town!!

Very good end to end game witb both teams wanting a win.

Got to say that both goalkeepers earned their wages today.

Both sides had chances to win, neither could take them, so 0-0 seems a fair result.

Richardson had a good little cameo, and with more luck could have scored twice.

Excellent crowd, and that will have filled the coffers again !

Surprised that Efete managed the full 90 minutes as Bradford seemed to target fouls his way.

We still need a bit more passing accuracy to threaten the play off places, but it is still a good more than steady start for the return to Div 2.

The obvious thing to say is that we still need the free running and gameplay that both McAtee and Scannell can provide when fully fit.

Could Richardson from today's showing make enough progress to fill the gap, certainly wasn't scared to run at them today ?

Great game. Great atmosphere.

Not a single player can be moaned at for that performance. Smith and waterfall were immense and they play with the confidence of having crocombe behind them. Richardson certainly proves what a handful he is and Holohan once again was superb (I think he’d have been motm had he played 85 mins). My motm goes to green though am sure many will disagree. Harry left nothing out on the pitch and looked exhausted.

My only ‘foibles’ will be that we seem reliant on one corner taker in glennon. By the 60th minute the bratfud defence had near enough got comfortable with them.

A great crowd in superb voice (especially that second half).

Every single player was very good. However I’d say Smith, Waterfall and Holohan were a cut above. No complaints what so ever.

Absolutely superb effort and a great game and atmosphere.

The most entertaining game at home by some distance and it ended 0-0. Great performance and there wasn’t a bad player. Waterfall and Smith were immense. Holohan was brilliant and gutted for him missing two sitters.

Green and Holohan have partnership developing that has a sneaky resemblance to the heady days of Cockerell and  Cunnington. Bit of a way to go yet particuarly on the goals side but encouraging nevertheless. Good to see Morris back as well.

One of the most enjoyable games I’ve been to in maybe the last five years. The atmosphere was terrific and the players to a man were committed, positive and ran themselves into the ground. More of that please!

Great performance from all. A year ago we played Yeovil at home , a 2:0 win but what a contrast now we are a league club. Great game and the best atmosphere this season at a home game
utm

Very surprised with some of the MoM calls, whilst most had very good games I thought Kieran Green was immense. Won all his 50/50s, most of his 40/60s and some 30/70s.

Great game, no negatives. UTM.

Cool needed removing from Waterfalls pocket to be subbed…

Hard to argue with any of our performances today. The fact their keeper comes away with MOM tells you all you need to know…

Best 0-0 I have seen for years both sides at it
From the word go. I think we just edged it chance wise.Green was MOM for me what a warrior

Quoted from MuddyWaters

Very surprised with some of the MoM calls, whilst most had very good games I thought Kieran Green was immense. Won all his 50/50s, most of his 40/60s and some 30/70s.

Great game, no negatives. UTM.

Agreed. Thought he was fantastic and looks to be a really good acquisition. Definitely my MOM.

Our game plan worked superbly I thought, getting runners from midfield arriving in the box in the right place at the right time, but the finishing let it all down. Holohan had 2 glorious chances, which he fluffed, and Green was mightily unlucky when his ferocious shot cannoned back off the post.

Richardson was like a man (boy?) possessed when he came on and ran their tired defenders ragged. Brought two great saves out of their keeper and caused general mayhem.

The defence and midfield were superb today and Crocombe played his part when called on with a great save in the second half, getting a hand to it and pushing it on to the post. Danger was still there as it bounced out and I felt certain they would put it away, but a bit of heroic defending saved the day.

Shame we couldn't get the goal we deserved as that would have put us on the same points and GD as Bradford and into a play-off spot.

We have grit, desire, determination and graft. If we had a bit more of a cool head around the goal, we could go places.

Great game, great atmosphere and a great advert for League 2 football, with both sides getting on with it and no histrionics.

Cracking game,, even Stevens first half.
Far the better team in the second half very unlucky not to win.
I would have settled for a draw at the start. Left disappointed we didn't win, but throughly entertained.
MOM Smith
A d great atmosphere

Wonderful advert for league 2 football and a game we deserved to win in my opinion. Green was immense and really finding his feet in this team, Holohan was onto every loose ball and the two central defenders were excellent.
Richardson really added to the side when he came on and it's just a shame we couldn't bury one of the chances, but there lies the big problem I guess. Bradford were sharp going forward but it would have been a massive mugging if they'de  won it.
Crowd were up for it and kept a positive atmosphere going till the end

First half relatively even i thought , possibly they edged it, cut us open a couple of times but delayed shots and Cook with one off the line...just thought they looked more threatening but we did hit the post and Holohan wasted that last moment chance.
Second half, hammered them, just that final finish lacking but their keeper made some decent saves, gutted not to win with that effort and commitment.
Says alot when 1200 of them were sat down quiet as a mouse for nearly 40 mins.

UTM

Enjoyable watch for 0-0 I can’t go very often. due to other commitments but went last week and today I really like green shows commitment to the cause 💪

Best home performance in a long time. Green and Smith joint MOM but no bad perfirmances today . Richardson cameo promising more

I popped into the Trust Bar at halftime and was pleased to hear fans commenting on going up this season. On today's performance, we'll be a certainty. Let's hope Barrow and Hartlepool won't be banana skins.

Two good teams and I think on balance we deserved to win.
We've got a great spirit and workrate. The players deserve that sort of atmosphere every week.

Thoroughly entertained.
Fab game.
Could have won that, but still extremely proud.
Green and Holohan were brilliant. Green the new Pouton. A proper yard dog but can play too.

The Smith household tonight. Puts hand in pocket, throws car keys on the sideboard. “Bloody hell Cooky what are you doing here?”

Shame we couldn't get the goal we deserved as that would have put us on the same points and GD as Bradford and into a play-off spot.


We’d actually have been 1 point ahead of them - them on 24 us on 25 points

Don’t disagree with any of the comments above about the quality of the game but bizarrely think this was helped by the referee who really let a lot go and just let the players get on with it. I recognise that  he made a couple of horrendous decisions re fouls on Clifton and Richardson, plus the free kick awarded against Smith for quality defensive header, but in general as both sides were up for a toe to toe game as a spectacle it worked out very well as best home game of the season.

Echo all the accurate and good comments above.

Richardson could have scored twice in the first 2 mins after coming on.  His direct running and skilful close control was great to watch.  Another weapon to use for the rest of the season.

To think that we could still have been in the NL this season playing Scunthorpe.

Holohan, clifton, Waterfall and green all had fantastic games but smith was my MOM and utterly outstanding

Pretty much echo every other comment,  incredibly proud to be a Grimsby fan today.

Really good, enjoyable game. Definitely the best home game of the season so far, in terms of the whole afternoon - lively crowd before kick off, good away following, decent game of football (entertainment wise) and, particularly 2nd half, a cracking atmosphere.

Bradford no doubt edged the first half although you could still point to Green rattling the post and Holohan's sitter with the last kick of the half and say we should've gone in at the break ahead.

Early 2nd half Bradford switched from their 4231 to a 442 with Angol going on up top with Cook. Was a bit concerned when I saw that as Angol seems to score regularly against us and it would've been no surprise to see Cook score either as an ex-town man. Credit to us that we dominated the majority of the 2nd half and eventually forced Bradford into taking off Cook to put an extra man back into midfield.

Thought Khan struggled to get the better of his full back, who defended very well in the 1v1 situations Khan got into. Kiernan, who I haven't particularly rated so far, had a decent 1st half and got a yellow for seemingly being fouled.

Green was immense, and games like that are when he will absolutely thrive. Dominant in the air and the best yard dog we've had for years.
Holohan was excellent up to the point of pulling the trigger. He made great forward runs off the ball and his chest down to set himself up from that long Efete punt/free kick was brilliant.

When Richardson came on he looked really effective picking up the ball and driving forward. I'd say he's been brought in as the closest we could find (who was available) to McAtee, and the way he drove forward and shot on those couple of occasions was definitely McAtee-esque. For me he just needs more confidence to be able to do that more often and have a swagger about him so much so that he demands the ball more.

All the back 4 defended well. Morris was a real calming influence 2nd half and is more often than not in the right place at the right time.

Real shame we couldn't pinch a winner as I think the roof would've popped off one of the stands had we done so, but proud of the club today.
Up the Town.

A proper throwback, cracking game and even the ref was reasonably above abysmal, though there were a couple of odd decisions...

Great to see BP full, and the atmosphere was brilliant, especially 2nd half.

Struggling to pick a mom, I don't think anyone had a bad game, Smith was immense today and Green was warrior-like.

All in all a thoroughly entertaining game and a great advert for L2.

Quoted from chipsandgravy

Green and Holohan have partnership developing that has a sneaky resemblance to the heady days of Cockerell and  Cunnington. Bit of a way to go yet particuarly on the goals side but encouraging nevertheless. Good to see Morris back as well.

Blimey, that's high praise!

Strange how a team can play far better in a nil nil draw than they did in a 3 nil win!

Did anyone catch what the attendance was today please ?

8020

1223 away

Thought it was a great game, McAtee for Kiernan and that will be our strongest team, but with great options in midfield with everyone fit which won’t really weaken us.  I’m on the verge of wanting Green’s babies after today, brilliant signing.

Today we saw two teams who could get promoted from this league.

There is very little to add other than Morris could prove to be a very important player for us he passes the ball really well, has great vision and seems to be able to create time for himself and others. I’m not sure you could find the balance but Morris alongside Hunt would be interesting.

Everyone played well and I can’t name a MOTM but Green, Holohan, H, Waterfall and Smith were all immense.

Whatever people may think Hurst has signed some real quality at this level and with 2 of our best players to come back as long as we keep picking up points and staying in touch with the top 7 or dare I say in it then it might just happen.

Quoted from Lincoln Mariner 56

Don’t disagree with any of the comments above about the quality of the game but bizarrely think this was helped by the referee who really let a lot go and just let the players get on with it. I recognise that  he made a couple of horrendous decisions re fouls on Clifton and Richardson, plus the free kick awarded against Smith for quality defensive header, but in general as both sides were up for a toe to toe game as a spectacle it worked out very well as best home game of the season.

Got to agree, good to see a ref letting the game flow made for a great spectacle for league 2 football

Quoted from spuggybridge

Got to agree, good to see a ref letting the game flow made for a great spectacle for league 2 football

Thought the ref was at another game for long periods today.

Quoted from HertsGTFC

Thought the ref was at another game for long periods today.

Barring the odd couple of random decisions, I thought he was decent and just tried to let both teams just go at it.

Some said Kiernan for Mcatee and you’re pretty much bang on our starting 11, hard to disagree…and we’ve genuine quality on the bench. It’s flipping great being a town fan at the moment…

Not much else to say that others haven’t.

Certainly the best 0-0 I’ve ever witnessed and I feel like of Richardson was given 10 more minutes it might’ve been different.

Ref played his part in letting the game flow until the last 20 where he was far too inconsistent, either let the game flow or don’t.

Both sides will be up there this season and I completely got my moneys worth, really pleased.

Our best player was Waterfall, I thought Green was excellent again and in the second half I thought Taylor was superb. In fact in the second half we were generally superb, not quite how we didn’t win ultimately. I’d be very surprised if Bradford don’t think their MOM was their keeper. The save to deny Richardson when I was all ready to celebrate stood out. Holohan put a seriously nasty ball near the end, was just begging for someone to tap home. Holohan himself missed two glorious chances, particularly just before HT, but overall I thought he excelled again.

Bradford looked a decent side, caused us plenty of problems in H1. The left winger was a good player, wonder if some bigger clubs will be looking at him. We handled Cook very well I thought. I thought Michee once again looked more assured and confident before his injury, he was then clearly struggling with his shoulder. I expect Cropper to start on Tuesday night.

If we can play something like that most weeks, we’ll be right up there come the end of the season. It doesn’t half help when sides come to play football against us and take the game to us though. You can bet your bottom dollar that Pete Wild’s Barrow will be far, far more frustrating to play against than them, even though we’re away.

As others have said, a terrific game for a 0-0 and a great advert for League Two. Refs don’t get much credit at this level but he was part of the season for it, not saying he was perfect but he let the game flow throughout.

Bradford were good in the first half in particular but we were a threat on that counter and arguably had the better chances but second half we didn’t let them play at all and dominated it. Very encouraging to play like that against a side that are definitely likely to be up there come May.

Echo what has been said. Everyone played well, we more than matched one of the favourites with a bigger budget than us and if it had not been for a couple of fine saves by their keeper, we would have won. Thought Smith and Waterfall were outstanding, the fact the top scorer in the football league was substituted tells you exactly how well they played. Love the look of Green as well and agree with the Pouton comparisons!

The biggest thing for me is the team and the fact we have no weak link. Thought the much criticised Efete was excellent today, especially defensively and Keirnan  played well and was very unlucky with the yellow card. There is a wall of strength, desire, spirit throughout the whole squad, mixed with some real ability. Above all, we have a real sense of stability about the squad and club in general. It may not happen this season, but if we don't get promotion you can bet we will be even closer next season. So many positives and I am loving it!

Taken off the Bradford forum a fair play to him....

"I said to the wife , “ That’s the best 0-0 I have seen for a long time”

Anyone who didn’t enjoy that as a fairly even game by two sides wanting to win, both NOT timewasting, NOT play acting …needs a head shake! Some people are bloody deluded . A point was deserved….by BOTH sides."

Well contested game of football.  Some tough challenges but not really dirty.   Holohan, Clifton and Green were excellent.  Waterfall and Smith were outstanding.  MOM was Smith for me.  Made some crucial tackles, especially when Bradford one on one with Crocombe.  Smith was already beaten or so you would have thought.   Some people saying Taylor was superb.  As much as I like the man and he works hard, he was pretty ineffective today.

Quoted from Mayaman

Well contested game of football.  Some tough challenges but not really dirty.   Holohan, Clifton and Green were excellent.  Waterfall and Smith were outstanding.  MOM was Smith for me.  Made some crucial tackles, especially when Bradford one on one with Crocombe.  Smith was already beaten or so you would have thought.   Some people saying Taylor was superb.  As much as I like the man and he works hard, he was pretty ineffective today.

He worked his socks off and brought others into it again, what more can we expect? Unfortunately, without a Bradford-like budget, we can't bring in players like Green and Morris and retain players like Clifton and spaff loads on a high wage frontman. As I said above,swap Kiernan out for a fit and firing McAtee and we'll be right in the mix in this League with this squad.

Not much I can add to what’s already been said. That was about as un-frustrating as draw at home gets, especially a 0-0. A game we deserved to win on the balance of play, but one we equally could have lost given the few chances Bradford had.

Make no mistake, Bradford are a good side - strong on the road and backed by a significant budget and a manager with a wealth of Premier League and international experience. They may have edged the first, but we created arguably the best chance of the half, and it was all Town in the second.

We were perhaps just lacking that little bit of craft and creativity that McAtee will bring in just a few weeks’ time. That is an absolutely mouth watering prospect; and I think will impact things in more ways than is immediately obvious. At times Bradford we’re happy to commit many men forward which created overloads; I’m not sure teams will be as comfortable doing that at BP with the counter-attacking prowess we will possess once young John is back.

Too many players played well to call out. To a man I thought we were excellent, but boy do we have strength in depth in midfield. It almost feels strange writing it because that’s not something I can remember us having in many, many years. All four who played were brilliant, with Alex Hunt stuck on the bench and Evan Khouri not even able to get close to the 18 man squad. Fantastic.

Lewis Richardson, too, impressed me as much as he has so far in a Town shirt when he came on. He seemed to have suddenly grasped the physicality of senior, League Two football and really tipped the game in our favour.

There was some money on display on that pitch, the bulk of it in claret and amber, and we to have faced up to it as we did is a huge testament to the manager, his staff and the players themselves.

A point off the play-offs, 3 points of 4th place and some favourable looking fixtures in the build up to McAtee’s return. Two away games up next, which of course suits us, against two of the division’s out of form sides, followed by Donny no at home who should help create an atmosphere like yesterday, but whom I don’t think are we good as Bradford.

All-in-all, 7 points from Crawley, Stockport and Bradford, or 8 from 12 if you add Salford, is a brilliant return. We are every bit capable of making the play-offs going off what I’ve seen in recent weeks. Genuinely exciting and thoroughly enjoyable times to be a Town fan.

UTM!

Really good, brave performance yesterday. Excellent atmosphere. Great game of football. Good referee.

A game where everyone was on it from start to finish and we had plentiful contenders for MOTM. Smith, Waterfall, Green and Holohan all excellent especially. Richardson came close to taking it with just a 20 minute cameo.

Good craic between the fans, no silliness - I think everyone went home pretty happy. 9/10.

I can't say any more about the players, it's all been said in this thread already.

What I would like to say though is a very big Well Done to Paul Hurst and his staff.   In the majority of our matches, we have come out a better team in the second half thanks to PH's tactical awareness UTM!

Well worth the 18 hours all round Trip,Penny slots, Beer ,Fishnchips and the main Attraction of the match.  The rawness of a great game of Football played with passion never give up physical attitude No play acting time wasting More please.
UTM

How did Efete do yesterday? Has he returned to form/ regained confidence?

Quoted from smokey111

How did Efete do yesterday? Has he returned to form/ regained confidence?

Had a much better game. One iffy moment I can remember first half but otherwise looked more solid and got forward more.

As a postscript to an excellent game, there is good evidence that we will finish higher that Bradford this season.

One Bradford fan posted recently that he (and others) were very critical of their manager, Mark Hughes.  They believed that 3 or 4 players were not up to the standard needed, and were very concerned that Cook was scoring all the goals.  The next best striker has 2 goals. (Putting all their eggs in on basket just as Chesterfield did last season).

The belief was that they would NOT get promoted this season.   They lost their last home game to a promoted team.  They drew yesterday against another promoted team - a game they should probably have lost.  They did not score in either game.

We are playing without our top goalscorer, who is back from injury soon.  Scannell, Morris, Hunt, Maher, Amos, Cropper and Richardson and others are all good players but not regulars in the team at present, for various reasons.

We have strength in depth and quality.  We will get better this season.  We have hope, belief, teamwork, a strong work ethic and great support.    

Quoted from smokey111

How did Efete do yesterday? Has he returned to form/ regained confidence?

He is still a little hesitant at times, like he doesn't really believe in himself. I reckon he will get better, the more comfortable he gets at this level and that is a mindset thing, more than an ability thing.

There is a section of fans behind me that moan about him most games and think Cropper should be playing, mainly because of his throw ins, but I personally think Efete is the better all round right back.

They also moan constantly about Taylor, so clearly don't understand football very much. They seem to think he should win every challenge and header that he contests, but no centre forward does that. Centre backs usually win most duels as they are facing forwards and it's their forte. Our centre backs win most of those duels too and Cook hardly won a thing yesterday.

His job is to lead the line and if he creates just a handful openings a game, then he's done well.

Has anyone got a link to Hurst post match please? thanks.

Quoted from Ashby mariner

Has anyone got a link to Hurst post match please? thanks.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0d8wg8t

Interesting comments about our best eleven given Hunt, McAtee, Morris, Maher and Scannell didn’t start yesterday. I still believe Harry could be our best right back/right wing back, Scannell could replace Kiernan and McAtee could replace Holohan.

Nice problems for the manager to have.

Quoted from MuddyWaters

Interesting comments about our best eleven given Hunt, McAtee, Morris, Maher and Scannell didn’t start yesterday. I still believe Harry could be our best right back/right wing back, Scannell could replace Kiernan and McAtee could replace Holohan.

Nice problems for the manager to have.

I think Morris was our best midfielder before his injury and will be playing more often than not. Who he replaces is less clear.

Quoted from ginnywings

I think Morris was our best midfielder before his injury and will be playing more often than not. Who he replaces is less clear.

You eloquently make my point. In my slightly ambitious mind, I actually think Efete could play right centre back in a three (unless we sign Bennett!) with Glennon and Clifton as wing backs, Morris/Hunt and Green with Khan playing behind Taylor and McAtee.

Quoted from ginnywings

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0d8wg8t

Great thanks

A real cracker and brilliant entertainment! I agreed with the 'official' MoM award to Green, but there were so many great performances. The outstanding atmosphere in the stadium doubtless raised the 'blood and thunder' tempo of the game and wouldn't it be great if all games (plus a few goals) were like that?  
Drove home today through a 'wall of water' for at least 70 miles which just added to the drama of the weekend....

Quoted from grimps

Did anyone catch what the attendance was today please ?

8020 (1223)

Quoted from Mayaman

Well contested game of football.  Some tough challenges but not really dirty.   Holohan, Clifton and Green were excellent.  Waterfall and Smith were outstanding.  MOM was Smith for me.  Made some crucial tackles, especially when Bradford one on one with Crocombe.  Smith was already beaten or so you would have thought.   Some people saying Taylor was superb.  As much as I like the man and he works hard, he was pretty ineffective today.

You’ll inevitably get a lot of hate for daring to say Taylor hasn’t played well, however, but for a couple of nice pieces of play he was very much ineffective. He looked far too flat footed and slow to react to things. You’ll get the portion of our fan base who will come back and say ‘ahhh you just don’t get what he adds’, I do get it and I still think he was off the pace & slowed us down too much yesterday.

Quoted from pontoonlew

You’ll inevitably get a lot of hate for daring to say Taylor hasn’t played well, however, but for a couple of nice pieces of play he was very much ineffective. He looked far too flat footed and slow to react to things. You’ll get the portion of our fan base who will come back and say ‘ahhh you just don’t get what he adds’, I do get it and I still think he was off the pace & slowed us down too much yesterday.

Don't think it's hate you'll get but maybe disagreement. I think he adds more to the side than he's given credit for, but my brother thinks along the same lines as you have just said.

I do think he was looking a bit leggy yesterday in the second half though and at 34, I don't think we can just keep playing him in that role for the entire season. I think it's something we need to address in January because the other forwards we have are 3 young and inexperienced loanees and Orsi, who doesn't get a look in.

Quoted from pontoonlew

You’ll inevitably get a lot of hate for daring to say Taylor hasn’t played well, however, but for a couple of nice pieces of play he was very much ineffective. He looked far too flat footed and slow to react to things. You’ll get the portion of our fan base who will come back and say ‘ahhh you just don’t get what he adds’, I do get it and I still think he was off the pace & slowed us down too much yesterday.

I thought he did OK yesterday in what was a very good and entertaining 0-0 draw.

However I do believe his home performances are affected by Hurst's stubborness to start with only one striker at home which when looking at our home results so far suggest that isn't currently a winning formula. We looked much more effective when Richardson came on.

Whilst on about home results has anyone in the club office got the gumption to add in to the fixture list the FA Cup round one fixture   

Quoted from pontoonlew

You’ll inevitably get a lot of hate for daring to say Taylor hasn’t played well, however, but for a couple of nice pieces of play he was very much ineffective. He looked far too flat footed and slow to react to things. You’ll get the portion of our fan base who will come back and say ‘ahhh you just don’t get what he adds’, I do get it and I still think he was off the pace & slowed us down too much yesterday.

I'm a big fan of Taylor but you're right, wasn't his best day at the office yesterday. Not for want of effort though, he put himself about. Just not much came off for him, their CBs beat him to the ball and he looked a bit more sluggish. Their CBs both looked quicker than him and Taylor won less in the air than he usually does. He had a similar afternoon to Cook. I think if you're looking at MOTM then it was very hard to look past all four CBs and both keepers yesterday and that's not a dig at the wide players and CMs as plenty of those also had good games. Lewis in net for them probably edges it for me. Some fine saves and had to deal with 8 corners.

We have to follow this up with a win or draw on Tuesday night. A win would be absolutely brilliant and should slot us in a play off spot  

Taylor was just as good as the others
Come On Town!!

Call out Taylor if you like but he’s still the best we’ve got to play the system we play. Richardson is an entirely different kind of striker and Orsi, Pepple and Simmonds just aren’t good enough. It’s not Taylor’s fault that we didn’t find a replacement.

Quoted from MuddyWaters

Call out Taylor if you like but he’s still the best we’ve got to play the system we play. Richardson is an entirely different kind of striker and Orsi, Pepple and Simmonds just aren’t good enough. It’s not Taylor’s fault that we didn’t find a replacement.

We’ve barely seen orsi. Dont think you can even form an opinion

Quoted from Lost in Lincoln

8020 (1223)

think that brings our average home league attendance to nigh on 6700. When was that bettered??

We’ve seen what we’re like without Taylor starting and it wasn’t that great.

We’ve not really seen enough of any of the others, with the exception of Richardson, who looks lively and certainly had an impact yesterday.

I’d say that I’d you’re going to point any criticism at our front men or would be Simmonds. The times I’ve seen him he’s looked less than average.

The criticism of Taylor is weird to be honest but each to their own.

Quoted from aldi_01

We’ve seen what we’re like without Taylor starting and it wasn’t that great.

We’ve not really seen enough of any of the others, with the exception of Richardson, who looks lively and certainly had an impact yesterday.

I’d say that I’d you’re going to point any criticism at our front men or would be Simmonds. The times I’ve seen him he’s looked less than average.

The criticism of Taylor is weird to be honest but each to their own.

There’s a difference between criticism and passing comment that a player wasn’t at their best when they quite clearly weren’t.

I’d say the constant refusal to accept Taylor has ever had a bad game is weirder.

Quoted from Hagrid

We’ve barely seen orsi. Dont think you can even form an opinion

I’ll go by what I’ve seen and more importantly, what the manager has seen which is obviously enough not to pick him.

Quoted from pontoonlew

There’s a difference between criticism and passing comment that a player wasn’t at their best when they quite clearly weren’t.

I’d say the constant refusal to accept Taylor has ever had a bad game is weirder.

But we all understand that players have off games, even our beloved Mcatee had a couple of bad games.

It’s more this need to have someone to moan about from some…

Quoted from forza ivano

think that brings our average home league attendance to nigh on 6700. When was that bettered??

https://thefishy.co.uk/story.php?id=8382729

This site will tell you

"Over 8500 tickets issued" is what the club tweeted. With approx 10% of season ticket holders apparently not turning up, 8023 could well be our highest league attendance this season

Quoted from pontoonlew

You’ll inevitably get a lot of hate for daring to say Taylor hasn’t played well, however, but for a couple of nice pieces of play he was very much ineffective. He looked far too flat footed and slow to react to things. You’ll get the portion of our fan base who will come back and say ‘ahhh you just don’t get what he adds’, I do get it and I still think he was off the pace & slowed us down too much yesterday.

Oh dear

Quoted from immariner

https://thefishy.co.uk/story.php?id=8382729

This site will tell you

"Over 8500 tickets issued" is what the club tweeted. With approx 10% of season ticket holders apparently not turning up, 8023 could well be our highest league attendance this season

There were a fair few empty seats in the Young's upper.

What I saw yesterday was two very strong L2 teams battling it out. There is no doubt in my mind that we are right up there in terms of quality and commitment, and can seriously challenge for a play-off place.  

We have strength in depth in several areas which will stand us in good stead as the season wears on and injuries and suspensions take their toll on all squads in the division. Plus, our best player and most potent goal threat is likely to return by the end of the year.

It is going to be very interesting to see how high we can climb this season once MacAtee returns.    

Quoted from forza ivano

think that brings our average home league attendance to nigh on 6700. When was that bettered??

On target to be the best for 30 years

I’m a bit conflicted on the whole McAtee return narrative. There’s an expectation that if we stay in touch until he’s fully fit, we’ll improve enough to get into the play offs. While I think that’s most likely true, there is a slight danger that he comes in and disrupts the team.

We play almost everything through McAtee, hence we struggled badly last season whenever he was unavailable. We are doing very well at the moment with an energetic midfield three full of legs (Clifton, Green and Holohan). Given McAtee 100% needs Taylor to play off, you’re already looking at changing the system. Most likely we’ll two in midfield, shunt Harry out wide again and play Khan on the other side. I hope that doesn’t then mean we lose that ability to overrun and out battle sides in midfield as we have of late.

I still think the most likely outcome is he comes in and gives us that bit of magic that we’ve lacked in several games so far, he would likely have changed 3-4 draws into wins and losses into draws I think, but we shouldn’t rule out the possibility outlined above and get too carried away expecting miracles when he does come back. Not that anyone is expecting miracles per se.

Quoted from Mariner_09

I’m a bit conflicted on the whole McAtee return narrative. There’s an expectation that if we stay in touch until he’s fully fit, we’ll improve enough to get into the play offs. While I think that’s most likely true, there is a slight danger that he comes in and disrupts the team.

We play almost everything through McAtee, hence we struggled badly last season whenever he was unavailable. We are doing very well at the moment with an energetic midfield three full of legs (Clifton, Green and Holohan). Given McAtee 100% needs Taylor to play off, you’re already looking at changing the system. Most likely we’ll two in midfield, shunt Harry out wide again and play Khan on the other side. I hope that doesn’t then mean we lose that ability to overrun and out battle sides in midfield as we have of late.

I still think the most likely outcome is he comes in and gives us that bit of magic that we’ve lacked in several games so far, he would likely have changed 3-4 draws into wins and losses into draws I think, but we shouldn’t rule out the possibility outlined above and get too carried away expecting miracles when he does come back. Not that anyone is expecting miracles per se.

Fair point but with mcatee it wouldn't be just 2in midfield,more 2 and a bit as (when fully fit) he helps in midfield as well as playing up front with that 4-4-1-1 formation.

The trouble is nobody else who has his energy and bite also has his vision and skill so he's unique in our squad (and almost certainly every other at this level). If he's not in the team we need to play a different way really.

Quoted from Mariner_09

I’m a bit conflicted on the whole McAtee return narrative. There’s an expectation that if we stay in touch until he’s fully fit, we’ll improve enough to get into the play offs. While I think that’s most likely true, there is a slight danger that he comes in and disrupts the team.

We play almost everything through McAtee, hence we struggled badly last season whenever he was unavailable. We are doing very well at the moment with an energetic midfield three full of legs (Clifton, Green and Holohan). Given McAtee 100% needs Taylor to play off, you’re already looking at changing the system. Most likely we’ll two in midfield, shunt Harry out wide again and play Khan on the other side. I hope that doesn’t then mean we lose that ability to overrun and out battle sides in midfield as we have of late.

I still think the most likely outcome is he comes in and gives us that bit of magic that we’ve lacked in several games so far, he would likely have changed 3-4 draws into wins and losses into draws I think, but we shouldn’t rule out the possibility outlined above and get too carried away expecting miracles when he does come back. Not that anyone is expecting miracles per se.

Saves me writing it out again...

Quoted from TheRealJohnLewis

I think we are a better TEAM without McAtee, whilst he is our best individual player, last season we tried to always play through him, so when McAtee had a bad game we failed to perform. This was highlighted when we went on a bad run without him in the team.  This season everyone is contributing and play is not through one person, and I think McAtee coming back into the team will disrupt the team.

There’s not a team in this division that wouldn’t put him in as a starter. I think things go through him all the time because of how he plays, he makes that happen. We have now found a way to play without him that we didn’t have last year and will definitely need next year.

I'd say that the strength of the squad is better in most areas this season so no reason why this shouldn't improve McAtee's opportunities more when he does return. We were too reliant on him doing something last season. This year, we have a bit more about us in general without him so that ought to reflect positively when he gets fit and presumably starts playing again.

A different hypothetical scenario but the same point.

Ryan Bennett agrees to sign for £500 a week, bargain! He is leagues above Smith and Waterfall individually, literally. So he replaces one of them and it's now Bennett and one other as our CBs. As a result, our defense is now excrement, and the CB partnership or either Water & Smith has made us weaker at the back. We would have to return to Waterfall & Smith because as a collective we are stronger than any individual player.

I see it the same with McAtee, I would love to be wrong, and when he gets back in the team it makes us better as a collective, but only time will tell.

Quoted from TheRealJohnLewis

A different hypothetical scenario but the same point.

Ryan Bennett agrees to sign for £500 a week, bargain! He is leagues above Smith and Waterfall individually, literally. So he replaces one of them and it's now Bennett and one other as our CBs. As a result, our defense is now excrement, and the CB partnership or either Water & Smith has made us weaker at the back. We would have to return to Waterfall & Smith because as a collective we are stronger than any individual player.

I see it the same with McAtee, I would love to be wrong, and when he gets back in the team it makes us better as a collective, but only time will tell.

It’s an interesting point. It is potentially an overlooked challenge, players playing alongside team mates well below their level. We’ve seen it in the past when we had Oster back on loan in the early noughties - he was on a different wavelength at times and it meant we would lose possession as a result of brilliant balls that no one else in the side had the intelligence to read.

Another mention for Jim Dobbin today, as I had the pleasure of playing with Jim alongside me at centre half on several occasions. He’d have been in his early forties, me in my early twenties and having never been any more than a Sunday league clogger, the gulf in ability between Jim and I was just absolutely enormous. You could see him struggling to fathom how shít I was by contrast; his interpretations of “time” and “free header” were worlds away from mine. Always a true gent though - never a cross word, only words of perplexed encouragement. But, true to your point, I was personally more at ease playing alongside a fellow clogger.

Thing is though, though McAtee might be our best player on paper (as his signing by Luton suggests), I don’t think he’s on such a different wave length to the rest of our squad for it to become a problem. If anything, there were moments last season when his link up play was breathtaking.

I do understand the theory that it might not work, and I also think Hurst will be aware of the potential jeopardy, but for that reason alone I don’t think there’s a sizeable chance the reintroduction of McAtee makes us a poorer team.

To the contrary, there were bits of Saturday that reminded me of the second half against Stockport last season. Naturally, Bradford had 11 men, but them having made a change in shape at half-time that didn’t really work, all the momentum was ours and the crowd was right behind the team.

McAtee was instrumental in that Stockport win, and I honestly believe that with him in the side on Saturday we’d have beaten Bradford too. It’s often about fine margins, and McAtee’s guile and tenacity just helps tip things in our favour.

I can’t wait to have him back, personally.

Quoted from TheRealJohnLewis

A different hypothetical scenario but the same point.

Ryan Bennett agrees to sign for £500 a week, bargain! He is leagues above Smith and Waterfall individually, literally. So he replaces one of them and it's now Bennett and one other as our CBs. As a result, our defense is now excrement, and the CB partnership or either Water & Smith has made us weaker at the back. We would have to return to Waterfall & Smith because as a collective we are stronger than any individual player.

I see it the same with McAtee, I would love to be wrong, and when he gets back in the team it makes us better as a collective, but only time will tell.

The difference being we’ve currently got one of the best defensive records in the country, whereas we’re the joint lowest scorers in the top half and have the 5th worst home record in the division where you’re generally expected to be a bit more attacking and adventurous.

I don’t think it’s a case that everything we did last year went through McAtee, he was just very good at either finding space and making himself available, or doing a lot of the legwork himself to win the ball further up the pitch.

He will fit in perfectly, you wait and see.

Quoted from oochiad

He will fit in perfectly, you wait and see.

Hopefully shouldn't be too long now. Listening to Hursty, never one to big things up, he'll be back available by the end of next month. We may only have 4-5 more League games without him now.

As Poojah and ska have pointed out, and I have said myself in other posts, this team we have is full of graft, heart, determination and a will to win, but what it lacks is a bit of guile. We are not finishing teams off when we have them on the ropes. If we have a game when the defence has an off day and we go behind, we haven't got the goal power to get back into it. We've lost a couple and drew a couple at home that we could and maybe should have won. McAtee you would hope would go some way to address that issue and if he doesn't and it unbalances the team, then Hurst would take him out I reckon.

Quoted from Mariner_09

Hopefully shouldn't be too long now. Listening to Hursty, never one to big things up, he'll be back available by the end of next month. We may only have 4-5 more League games without him now.

Sounds about right. 20 games in, 26 to go - just over half a season with McAtee in the side, all being well.

I do think between now and December is an important time in our season. Two relatively favourable looking away games next, particularly with our away form as it is, followed by two at home against decent opposition.

We’ve now won 1 and played brilliantly in the other of our last 2 home games, taking 4 points in the process. If there had been any trepidation about playing in front of large crowds at BP, it should be gone now, and the timing is perfect.

I’d happily take 4 points from our next 2 games and a further 4 from the 2 beyond. That should be enough to to have us right on the cusp of the play-off positions, if not in them.

Things are brilliantly poised. We just need to avoid the shiítting the bed like we did last season once the clocks went back.

Last season the majority of play went through McAtee because we didn't really have anything else, bar fleeting runs of form from JMD, Scannell and a few others.

This season we're a better side, we've got betters players who are working in a better system.  There are more options.  The only real resemblance to last season is that we lack that bit of pure quality when it matters.  Holohan was absolutely immense on Saturday, especially when he was pushing forward in that faux No. 10 role in the second half.    You definitely want his energy in the side.  But I pretty much guarantee that if McAtee was in those positions on Saturday, the Bradford 'keeper isn't getting his clean sheet bonus.

We've got options galore and it's great to see.  A year ago we were about to be grumbling that Hunt had returned to Sheff Weds and we didn't have anything in the middle.  He's struggling to get a sniff now.  This is a wonderful position to be in.  My only criticism of McAtee last season was that he seemed to get a bit complacent, perhaps as he knew we simply couldn't drop him as there's no-one else to do his job.  This season we've proved we can cope without him.  If he comes in and it doesn't work, he's out.  Hurst won't mess about.

Quoted from diehardmariner

Last season the majority of play went through McAtee because we didn't really have anything else, bar fleeting runs of form from JMD, Scannell and a few others.

This season we're a better side, we've got betters players who are working in a better system.  There are more options.  The only real resemblance to last season is that we lack that bit of pure quality when it matters.  Holohan was absolutely immense on Saturday, especially when he was pushing forward in that faux No. 10 role in the second half.    You definitely want his energy in the side.  But I pretty much guarantee that if McAtee was in those positions on Saturday, the Bradford 'keeper isn't getting his clean sheet bonus.

We've got options galore and it's great to see.  A year ago we were about to be grumbling that Hunt had returned to Sheff Weds and we didn't have anything in the middle.  He's struggling to get a sniff now.  This is a wonderful position to be in.  My only criticism of McAtee last season was that he seemed to get a bit complacent, perhaps as he knew we simply couldn't drop him as there's no-one else to do his job.  This season we've proved we can cope without him.  If he comes in and it doesn't work, he's out.  Hurst won't mess about.

We’ll never know but I suspect McAtee would have finished at least one of Gavs three chances on Saturday but then Gav does a lot of the ugly stuff as well. Interesting problem, also great that PH seems to suggest that Scanz is ahead of schedule.

Quoted from MuddyWaters

We’ll never know but I suspect McAtee would have finished at least one of Gavs three chances on Saturday but then Gav does a lot of the ugly stuff as well. Interesting problem, also great that PH seems to suggest that Scanz is ahead of schedule.

If we could somehow keep Scanz fit for the second half of the season, especially allied to a forward line with McAtee and Khan in it, we'll go up!