Thetownend.com

When we beat Fleetwood last year it meant we had defeated all the other 91 clubs. I believe only Bradford and us have done this.  And in the away fixture a Town fan managed to see us play at every league club. Both impressive achievements, no doubt.

I'll take a win, impressive or otherwise.

Not going to the match. Against the grain as a season ticket holder and a regular. I can't be stuffed if the players can't. Also as the better (fingers crossed) weather has arrived, I have a shed load of stuff to get done outside before the summer.

Will listen on the radio to the inevitable defeat.

<meh>

 This is a massive game...the general assumption is complacent..we've got 50 points 8 games to go we're OK. It doesn't work like that..we need to see a reaction from last wekend.

Has Luke Williams got it in him? I hope so, because by Tuesday night he could be very much in the deep doo doo.

Too right we need a reaction from those cunts. Wigan was disappointing but you accept it and move on - they were bigger/better/parachute payments etc. Scunthorpe though - fuck me that was totally unacceptable. If Williams is even half the coach Power seems to think he is, he will have them well fired up and we'll see a reaction. If not...  :suicide:

Can't bring myself to make a prediction, just want to see a 200% improvement in performance.

Trouble is you can't coach what's needed within the character of the squad, no matter how good a coach you are. Williams has already admitted that he may not be a good judge of character in terms of not being able to spot those that have the necessary aggression, heart, fight for a battle.

if he's a good coach and a nice man no wonder players who like playing pretty football but don't necessarily like putting a foot in or being physical like learning to weave pretty patterns all week.

The result of today's game will be all about how well we start, if our  method of play bears early fruit we may grow in confidence however if Fleetwood are as physical as I expect them to be and hassle us out making any progress or even get in front then based on Monday we are unlikely to be for a battle.

A nervy 90 mins ahead for me, but we shall see and live in hope they've discovered something this week. 

0-3 - Hope I'm wrong..

Bouncebackability in the sunshine today  :toocool:

I think we as fans have an important part to play today, yes we have all been frustrated with last weekend but i think we need to get behind the team right from kick off and throughout even if things dont go perfectly. At the end is the time to boo if we see fit but not if the slightest thing goes wrong as getting on the players backs wont really help.

Fleetwood are trying to avoid relegation themselves and yes they thumped us at their place but i think we will either draw or sneak a win 2-1 or 3-2 today.

nobody gets to be a professional player/manger by accepting the shit of last weekend. we will see a reaction, it's down to a case of whether we are actually good enough with the players available.

hope TB can sorry his head out as the crowd will be jittery if an early goal goes in.

i think we will scrape a 1-1

At least JSW is back today... right?!

Must win for both sides today, I think we have in it us to win quite comfortably ,2-0 win.

Years of evidence would suggest that's not the case. They can make the noises and run around harder this week but if they were truly professional they wouldn't have allowed it to happen in the first place

I think we should remind ourselves that, dire though the last two performances have been, we did go 7 games unbeaten before that which shows these are not bad players.

It is therefore down to Williams to get the players back to basics and give an acceptable level of performance. Seeing as he's just signed a 5 year deal, I really, really hope he can do this.

All we need is the players to show a little passion. Oh wait, we don't do passion. We do sexy, pointless passing. We've mastered the art of going nowhere fast. Normally I forecast a 0 0 draw. Simply cant see this bunch of Tommy Jenkins look alikes get much more than an embarrassing defeat. I'll go for 4 1 to Fleetwood.
I might pop over to see Forest Green v Wrexham.

Feel very pessimistic for today's game. Would happily take a draw just to keep distance between us and Fleetwood and to end the horror show of the last 2 games.

We find out today if we have a team of men or boys.

Give it all you have got and we will beat these, anything less than 100% or any of their attitudes not quite right then we will lose, simple.

0-0 draw.

My Dad thinks it's going to be 2-1, my reply was that I wasn't expecting us to get 1.

If Obika is back I would have more confidence, if not I can't see us winning.

I presume that we will play with 3 at the back, so we can play with wing backs.

Will be happy if we can make it to half time level

Sendles is back so stick Branco up front a la Obika - we need some sort of presence up top.

Cant see this bunch of players growing a collective pair, so another defeat for me.

6-1 Town. Ajose with at least all of them.

2-1 win.

Amaari Bell will score the opener for Fleetwood and we'll fight back to win. I'm so confident that will happen I have 50p on that scorecast at 350/1

Please do

  Looking at  how our relegation rivals are set up for the run in is interesting.....think that ColU and Crewe are cooked, Donny are going to need a real turnaround, but then it's 1 of 8. Blackpool have played more games and will probably need to find 10 points from 6 games not particularly easy. Fleetwood and Oldham, have a very good chance of escape if they can cash in on beating us....Fleetwood don't score many on the road, but neither did Scunny on their dung heap, being the  League's lowest home goal scorers going into Monday.

Oldham miss out today, presumably due to play Barnsley, so will have had a nice rest before Tuesday....the home game v Bury may represent our best chance of win in a fortnight's time.

Belford, Barry, Sendles-White, Turnbull, Rossi-Branco (C), Ormonde-Ottewill, Rodgers, Doughty, Thompson L, Hylton, Ajose

3 at the back then...yawn

No Robert in the squad

4 at the back worked well last week to be fair

I would have been tempted to play Cooke instead of Hylton, a bigger bulkier presence up front.

Oh dear thats a shocking line up.not saying he could come up with something better,mind

Subs: Henry, Brophy, Marshall, Traore, Balmy, Iandolo, Cooke

The strength of that bench is woeful!

Not surprised to read the negativity on here however my last game was Millwall and I have been out of the country for the last two games - unfortunately I can`t make it today shame as the weather is set fair - would be disappointed not to win - 2-1

Is it retro shirt day? I just saw a bloke sporting the gold and black number

First game since Boxing Day for me, last this season. Not expecting much.

Good start.  Belford has had to go and change as his shirt clashes with Fleetwoods.  That'll steady his nerves no end.

Delayed kick off as Belford dropped his gloves down the toilet

With our best XI out, we can give anyone a game.

Without our best XI, we struggle against everyone.

We don't have our best XI.

However, we've just been battered twice and Fleetwood hammered us earlier in the season.

On that basis, this will be a draw.

FFS

Christ another corner concession

Yay!

Belford should have saved that ( i guess!)

Fucking shit

normal utter wank start...

An attempt on target means we are 1 down in 6 mins. :(

Yay,  A save.

Not many here today, reckon about 6000.

And yes I'm posting on here because it's better than watching the game :)

Utter bullshit. My son decided not to come today, because ' we can't defend and we'll lose again' . So far he's been spot on.

There's probably 4 players in our team that are league 1 standard and that's average league 1 standard.  The rest are League 2 at best.

Not sure how true it is, but just been told that Vigaroux has had some sort of fallout with the club.  If so, we could have Belford in goal for the rest of the season.

Fleetwoods first goal in 5 hours of football,apparently

Wouldn't be surprised, can't imagine a dead leg would keep him out for this long

Don't think it will be 5 hours before they score again

Penalty conceded by belford?

no, ref thought there was a head injury so stopped play. good keeping to stop the attacker to be fair, closed the man and got both hands on it first

Or they'll thrash us again.

When is Vigs due back?

And for that matter Obika?

Probably never jj!

:( don't say that mate.

This the 4th game now? Hard to believe a dead leg keeps you out for that long

Fucking Hell, Belford's made a save 1 on 1.

Should have been 2-1 there, after Ajose should have scored for us

we aren't great, but it's not over yet. scoring looks a real difficulty though.

very poor first half. a couple of Barry crosses aside we've looked poor going forward the back 3 look vulnerable and we are wasting Louis Thompson by playing him as a shielding man just in front of the back 3. we are absolute pussies physically and my 7 year old puts in more menacing tackles.

that said we did improve marginally as the half wore on and belford has done OK . at 1-0 it's never over.

If it is true, let him go. It's the second time this season, I'd he's going to keep falling out with management then he's going to cause major problems down the line.

It does mean that buying a goalkeeper is a huge priority in the summer; better to start the search now.

I've decided Batch is an optimist, Fleetwood are shite and we have been worse

Belford has done well, one excellent stop one on one and took the ball cleanly on the edge of the penalty area. Fair play to him.

We look about 75% a decent side.

It could very easily be 3 or 4. Belford in all fairness has played pretty well and has kept us in it. Defensively it is awful - schoolboy defending, Branco been the worst player on the pitch. Ajose should have scored from Barry's cross. Would take a draw and that shows what kind of predicament we're in

See my comment on page 3.

I was going to suggest bringing on Cooke but watching him warm up at HT his passing is terrible!

no, I'm definitely not. it's just the fact that Fleetwood are shite  that gives me hope, rather than any on pitch evidence at least

In fact we don't even have a keeper out at HT?

:D

I'm staggered Traore can't get in this side.

I'm staggered you can't get in this side :)

Haha! I'm staggered half of the town end fraternity can't get a game in this side! :)

:D

BOO needs diving lessons from Bamber

Smith nets for Pompey

The referee is an absolute joke.

How the fuck have they not scored then

How the fuck did we not concede again

Ajose :)

Well done Ajose.

Hooray

Everyones enthusiasm is contagious.

Hooray.

Batch is right, Fleetwoods shitness is giving us a chance

Our saviour

6311 (98)

We sound attrocious today defensively.

We are, but lucky for us their forwards are trying to show that they are worse

Well that was rubbish.

Well we didn't lose, against better opposition we could have had a thumping listening to how we defended today.

Bumbling ineptitude from 2 truly shite teams.

How anyone can think adding 3 new players to our squad will herald a promotion push next season I'll never know.

10 points clear of 21st.

To be truthful though,apart from wigan,not seen much to think 3 good players wouldnt make a big difference

Slightly distorted by the fact Vigs, Nathan and Obika are out, that's pretty much the spine, and we appear to be very bad with those missing. Not so when they are all playing.

Sheer comedy gold. Cant believe these players get paid for that. Sexy football my ringpiece.
Inept football team, inept manager and inept owner. Only a couple of more games to go and I can wash my hands of this farce.

I expected an away win prior to kick-off with Fleetwood scrapping harder than we have to. Sounds like it should have been the case, but it wasn't and it turned out to be an okay point.

1000+ super-fan points goes to those who can stomach the travel up to Oldham on Tuesday as that will not be pretty.

Can't find much to argue about there.

No better at FGR then?

A massive point, with the likes of Blackpool and Chesterfield winning, we'd have been right in trouble, if Fleetwood had got the points. It keeps them back down, now if we can do the same to Oldham on Tuesday, we should be OK.

And Kasim!

More than happy with a point.

The goalmouth scramble in the 2nd half was one of the best things I've ever witnessed

Terrible performance . . . . from the referee!!  Terrible performance from the people who choose mom, give it to a guy who only played 30 mins - that should have been Belford's - he kept us in it at times with some smart saves.  Terrible performance from Hylton and Rodgers who were rightly subbed - and the substitutions probably saved us a point!  But at the end of the day we were carved open so many times by a team that just couldn't finish.  Kicked off 7 mins late as nobody had bothered to check Belford's kit - which clashed with theirs!!  Laugh a minute out there today!!

I'm working in Manchester this week and I'm not even sure if I'm going to go. No enthusiasm what so ever.

we were lucky today.

For 20 minutes after the subs we looked good, for most of the other 70 we looked like the injury hit team that lost Cooper his job.

But a points a point.

Apparently Vigs got a blood clot that needed to be sorted (?) and is being seen by Liverpool. Sounds like Belford will be in goal for the next few weeks. Good saves today, though.

Luckiest point I can remember for a long time, one attempt, one goal. Quite a a nice comeback I did not expect in the second half, led by the enthusiasm, good covering and accurate passing by Traore. He seemed quite wound up, clapping and encouraging his teammates.

owing to a heavy shopping trip this morning I couldn't spare the time but im scouting for next season. I cant stay at home and do diy or even more shopping.
however, shopping, diy and watching todays shower of shit would make the perfect hat trick.

I heard Williams call our defence mannekins as they stood still and watched us being carved open at times - what you gonna do about it Luke?

soapy tit wank drew 0-0 against nine men!!

Well I quite enjoyed that second half. Fleetwood scored, predictably from a corner pretty soon after kick off and we were pretty poor.

Second half was crying out for Traore to come on and the game changed as he took the game by the scruff of the neck. Doughty and Boo started to combine and it was a great run and cross by Doughty that Ajose tucked away. Louis Thompson then hit the bar from another dangerous Doughty (I think) cross but we couldn't find the crucial breakthrough. Time and again good opportunities were wasted with simple passes that were under hit, very annoying.

Defensively we were a holocaust, a better side would have taken 3 points today. Belford made 2 excellent one on one saves but looked uncomfortable when Fleetwood were crossing the ball.

I actually thought Hylton looked quite useful today, good trickery and touch, but generally nothing really going his way. Doughty put in a shift but he had to as Rodgers and Louis Thompson (surprisingly) were passengers.

Glad not to lose but the standard of football on show was pretty abysmal today. Oh and I think Boo was rightly booked for his dive, or it could have been for the diabolical first touch from a beautiful pass by Hylton.

I strangely enjoyed that, the second half at least. The first half we looked laboured, lazy and basically unfit.
Fleetwood had so, so many chances to win the game, mainly because of our shitness, but their finishing was as bad as our defending.

The moment of the match, without a doubt, was what I can only describe as a "Fifa" moment where they hit the bar, hit the bar, hit the post and scuffed it wide in a moment of 6-yard box hilarity.

Oh and BOO being brought down was a clear penalty as far as i'm concerned.

Rodgers & Hylton anonymous and we were much better once Traore and Iandolo came on.

Belford, apart from a dodgy 5-10 mins at the start had a great game, making 3 fantastic saves, so that should do his confidence the world of good.

We were lucky not to lose that game but I think a point is a fair result on balance.

BO,I don't think LT is 100% fit, some of his runs made him look a tired man, eg the chance at the end from a bit of an angle.  Hylton tried hard bit hasn't really got it, over-hit passes and the one when he was inside the box that went out for a throw in on the opposite side of the pitch really summed him up for me - assuming his job was as the second striker his positioning was poor - sitting too deep when we were attacking.  Whether it will come in time we will have to wait and see!

Well done Belford some good saves and kept us in it ...... but as previous posters said dreadful standard of football, lacking in passion and until traore came on our midfield was anonymous.

Sat next to Obika in barbers who said he would be back for Bradford game. Certainly miss his presence up front and that of Nathan T at the back. Hylton again worked hard but on 2 occasions he had opportunity to shoot he passed instead and after great bit of skill completely lacked composure to make most of space he had created for himself. Some great last gasp defending as well as massive slice of good luck meant we got a point today but why do our defenders constantly play themselves into trouble. Why pass back to the last man, who is then instantly put under pressure as Sendles White Barry and Boo all do rather than forward

That's the 64,000 dollar question isn't it? It's easy to forget that just over a week ago we were able to boast a 7 match unbeaten run. We've now suffered our first dodgy run under Williams and today, hopefully, we've stopped the rot. We live in hope. Well I have to live in hope as I've already got my tickets for Bradford  ::)

Oh dear thats going to upset the Anti-Belford crew, 3 brilliant saves when they were through on our goal kept us in it!

Defensively we looked shaky again, goal from a corner early on, do we do any defensive work?

Midfield looked dis-jointed, Rodgers offered little, Louis wasnt up to his high standards and Doughty was hit and miss. Barry got a forward a few times but Ottewille disappointed again. Hylton offered little again and doesnt seem to be able to last mcuh more than 50 minutes and Ajose does what he does, scores but does nothing else (will take that though mind you, where would we be without him)

Not a great game but probably an important point after last weekend

Lovely sunny day at the County Ground, wasnt overly surprised about the attendance but they were never likely to bring many either though

We move on, lets hope we can get some points out of the next two tough games

Definite penalty but terrible first touch.

Totally agree, but that seven match unbeaten run was with a fairly good spine of the team - which has been ripped apart through injury and suspension . . . and the players coming in don't appear to be good enough or up for it which is a real disappointment.

Oh do fuck off! If someone has a terrible game then they get criticised especially when it's an absolute shocker. You only seem to pop up on here when your precious Belford is discussed one way or another.
The defensive unit as a whole has been a shambles over the last 3 games and there seems to be be little or no communication or leadership back there. Other than Thompson (and Vigs if he signs) I'd hope none of our current defensive unit are starters next season.

Yep, he had pushed the ball past the keeper - after a terrible first touch - but it would have gone out for a goal kick but to get booked for simulation was the easy way out - a penalty would have meant a sending-off and it would never have been a goal.  On the other hand, what was the ref doing when it appeared that Belford had brought down his man?

I thought we were so bad it was funny. Reminded me of the start of the season when we looked like a bunch of players who'd never played football before, let alone together. Except it obviously bothered me a lot more then when we had something to play for. Today I just didn't give a shit.  

BOO should have stayed on his feet more.
Belford or Doughty for my MOM based on effort.
Other than that I don't see the point in analysing individual performances based on a game where basically everyone was shit. Just an obvious collective lethargy/anxiety.

He possibly isn't 100% fit but he didn't seem to show the usual drive and desire as usual.

Seems I'll be in the minority about BOO and the penalty, it's possible that he did get clipped for the penalty but for me seemed to make a meal of it after his bad touch. The replay should clear it up.

Also a lot of negativity about Hylton but he showed 3 exquisite pieces of skill today and I still think he could be a useful player at the club. Always works hard but things in general not coming off.

Me too - looked like he'd overhit it, realised he was never going to get near it and went down as soon as he felt the touch.

First half terrible, second half entertaining in a "what the fuck is going to happen next" kind of way. Both sides poor, neither deserved to win

Another observation was that our fans appear to have already given up this season as well

Well yeah, because we're not going up or down.
No one has paid £25 to hear me say that though. It's common sense.

He definitely overhit it, but the keeper definitely brought him down - in my opinion - you have seen them given but the ball was running away from the goal and not towards it.  Soft option by the ref, same as the Belford one!

Reg has not given this season up, he still thinks we are in with a chance of relegation!

Highlights are on sky.

Looks like I'm wrong about the penalty, looks stonewall. The Fleetwood goal line ping pong is hilarious!

It wasn't a criticism.

Fleetwood will leave that game feeling more disheartenend. Sky Sports app have the highlights, deary me, Devante Cole isn't as clinical a finisher as his dad was.

They will probably be in L2 next season.

Highlights here

http://www.skysports.com/football/swindon-vs-fleetwood/report/340562

Thanks for that.

Hmmm Belford made a couple nice saves but looks lost at other times.

BOO lost the ball with a bad touch and looked for the penalty, not surprised the ref booked him TBH.

Devante Cole.....gained us a point with that appalling finish, nice.

Absolutely....although in this century only 2 teams have gone down with 51 points, and none with 52.  Rovers of course managed it in 00/01 and Torquay in 04/05, so a point on Tuesday would pretty much do it. Oldham's home form has been their undoing this season...a nice little 0-0 would do fine.

Jeez their forwards are comedy gold. How many of those chances though were from stupid pass backs?

 :clap: :clap: still suffering with those anger issues Theakston i see! I make one comment and you launch into one, maybe that ball that hit the crossbar 3 times also caught you on the side of the head  :D

I do however agree that the back three looked a bit of a mess

Not really I just have no time for snipey posts like yours, how dare fans criticise what Scunthorpe fans described as the worst goalkeeping display that had ever seen. Fact remains he's a conference level goalkeeper (at best) along with a number of others that have played in the last few games.

At least he went.

This completely.  Should have guessed from the farce with the shirt at the beginning how the game would pan out.  At times it was so bad, it was comical.

A couple of other things to mention:

Branco and Louis both seemed to be really struggling and looked unfit.  Turnbull was continually having to clear up after Branco.  No wonder he was dead on his feet at the end.
BOO - is shit.  His first touch is atrocious, he's far too lightweight, very rarely beats a player and on the occasions he does, either overhits or underhits his crosses.
Why is Rodgers preferred to Traore?

Just watched highlights, how the fuck did they only score 1 :Ride On Fatbury's Lovestick:

Good result, one point closer to 50

Betty Boo had a mare. I'd like to know how bad BOO has to be to subbed and give Brophy a chance.
The question is more likely, why is Rodgers preferred over anybody?

Our defending was shambolic. How we only conceded one goal was simply down to their poor finishing. The scramble where they hit the post, bar and a few off the line, then missed an open goal from a few yards out was a case in point.

When will we get in a coach that actually knows how to get the team to defend? Only one clean sheet at home in 20 is shocking.

I make one post and you jump down my throat with abuse, there are constant negative posts on here about all sorts, including from yourself, Belford a back up keeper not a first choice gets loads not just after the Scunthorpe game and the point i made the other day was surely the bigger concerns were about first choice starting players performances. As you stated if some one plays badly they take flak so the flip side is that does that not mean you should praise him for today?

I repeat my point yet again, there are bigger concerns than how a second choice goalkeeper plays hence perhaps debate should be more about that

I would of taken the draw before kick off and was quite relieved when we got it.

Self inflicted pressure does my tits and there was loads of it today.

Players looked lethargic and a bit clueless whereas Fleetwood looked organised and well drilled.

Best goalmouth scramble I have seen and I celebrated like it was a goal when it eventually went out.

Another two or three points and that will be enough. Fuck this season off.

Sat next to power and he was effing and blinding first half.

Brendan Rodgers also there to see his youngin dish up another load of shite. How long has he left with us?!

Unless someone buys him in the summer (don't laugh!!) another year, financed by the Liverpool friendly last year.

I didnt see what the attendance was today, what was the number?

Did anyone notice the booing from the executive box at full time?

In many ways our current comic ineptitude is good, because Power can be under no illusions that we're anywhere near good enough to avoid another relegation caampaign next season.

So unless that's what he wants then some action will be needed over the summer.

Nope, we're actually one further away from 50 than we were

6311 (98)

I disagree, modern football is a squad game and any player coming in needs to fit straight into a playing system be that a centre mid or goalkeeper. I don't believe in coincidences and up until Good Friday our defence had looked a lot more solid. The only component that changed was the goalkeeper, yes he played at Coventry but they offered pretty much no attacking threat. Against Wigan JSW was having a go at him in the second half and today it was Branco so it's clear the defence aren't that confident with him.
He made a few decent saves today but all from one on ones and that is probably his one strength as he can spread himself. However on the flip side the defence was all over the place yet again and any high ball in had Belford looking like a lost sheep. The modern goalkeeper is tall, lean, agile and good with their feet. Belford is the opposite short, stocky, heavy on his feet and sits on his line, I challenge you too find any top level goalkeeper with the physique of Belford. People underestimate just how much a change of goalkeeper can disrupt a team especially if said team plays with a sweeper keeper.
Yes we are unlikely to get a really good number 2 but like any outfield player an incoming player should fit in with the playing style.
The backups we have including the sub keeper aren't up to the job and I personally see that as a major issue. Anyway before this turns into another Belford thread I've said my piece and will leave it st that.

That was incredible, the most inept defending I've watched since the Div 4 Trollope/Beamish days.  I've never seen anything like that scramble. The highlights omitted their clearest chance (the first half one on one).

Definite penalty for BOO but after his pathetically embarrassing first half dive he was never going to get a decision there.

Two really dreadful teams who would have lost to anyone in the division other than each other.  Bloke behind me summed up perfectly as "end to end crap".    Thank god that point makes us virtually safe.  Easy to see how we could lose every remaining game but the bottom 3 and Fleetwood won't catch us from here.

Belford earned us the point and I was really pleased for him but his critics are right to be fair, he's not an FL keeper.

 

FFS! I hope a 'mutual agreement' is coming!

Without reading back through....

We were generally shit, luckily they were even more shit in front of goal. Literally, they could have scored 6 or more in the last 20 minutes alone with the chances they had.

Ref was an absolute abortion. BOO should've been booked for his first pen shout in the first half, blatant dive. Second one looked a blatant pen from the DRS in the second half. Stopping the game for Belford coming out well to retrieve the ball in front of the looming fleetwood player.... I reckon he blew up thinking it was a pen before standing there for 5 seconds and quite rightly doubting himself and then making up some shit excuse about thinking it was a head injury...pillock.

Louis was abysmal in general by his usual standards. Hylton had moments of inspiration immediately followed by complete guff. Not his day. Traore was decent when he came on. Belford thankfully had a decent game. He looks brilliant coming out one on one with attackers but I can't help but think he has pockets full of rocks if he has to dive or get across goal for anything. I might be being unfair not having seen the replay of it, but from what I could see that goal mouth scramble partly came from him not laying his hat on a reasonably comfortable save, I even thought he'd managed to chuck it into his own net at one point. That was probably one of the most ridiculous moments of football I've ever witnessed.

Dougherty was a standout performer for me though ( I know that's not saying much), like the look of him though. He's a bit of an oil tanker, but he looks to be a really clever player. Not everything came off for him today but he was the only one providing any sort of quality today...almost to the point where a few players around him (in particular BOO) couldn't keep up with him.

It would have been an enjoyable second half for the neutral. Can't remember a game really where I've come away thinking that the oppo should've netted 6 or 7, yet thought we could nick the win at any moment too. Bizarre.

I didn't go today so I'm not going to disagree with anyone's assessment of the game.
The only question I have as someone who hasn't been to many games this season is where's the problem?
3/4 weeks ago people were on here saying next year we could challenge with the addition of a couple of players, today we look inadequate and will struggle next season.
Where does the problem lie and what's changed? Do we have a good XI and a average squad which causes us to struggle when players are out?

Injuries and suspensions are the current problem, back up players are not good enough.
Without Obika the front line is dwarf like and too lightweight to hold any balls pumped up to them.
Back 3 do not look as effective without NT and Belford doesn't seem to inspire the same confidence as Vigs does.

Don't get me started on why Rodgers gets a spot ahead of Traore or anyone for that matter

That's my take on it anyway

That was bad. Having said that we had a 15-20 minute spell where we probably should have won the game.
The XI that finished has to start the next game with the exception of BOO for Brophy. Hylton did better today but lacked composure most of the time.
I'll take limping over the finish line now, which looking at fitness levels, is literally what we're going to do.

This!!

For everyone calling for Brophy over BOO in the next game, isn't that what we did at Scunthorpe.

We know how well that went. FWIW neither of them can be relied upon to defend (hence why we need to play with three centre halves).

If we are going to play with four at the back I'd be tempted to play Turnbull at Left Back, at least he is a defender.


As for the game, Belford did well yesterday, reminds me of a slightly worse Phil Smith in that he can have good games but I really don't believe you can rely on him as the number 1. Also helped that their finishing was rubbish.

Defensively we were shambolic, but I still believe a lot of the problems are caused by our midfield being so static. You need a Traore or (a can be arsed) Kasim to come short & make themselves available to receive the ball.  Too often the back three had only themselves or Belford to pass the ball to & we got ourselves into trouble.

I feel sorry for Hylton too, he works his nuts off, but I really don't think he is good enough. Maybe if he had the chance to play with Obika he would fare a bit better.

Ajose doesn't get enough love from the crowd for me, we (rightly) sing about Super John Obika when he plays but Ajose looks a class act when the ball is in the box. Being the leagues top scorer in this side is some achievement.

The most important thing about yesterday wasn't the point we gained, but more the fact it stopped Fleetwood closing the gap, do the same on Tuesday & we will have the magic 52 and stop Oldham closing the gap as well.

I think the reason that Ajose doesn't get the love that Obika does is due to the way he plays.  You can't question his goalscoring record, but often during games he looks a bit lazy ie waiting for the ball to come to his feet instead of working to get it.  Obika's workrate seems alot higher generally.

Ajose doesn't get enough love from the crowd cos his name doesn't really fit with the standard songs (like Obika.)


Perhaps it is because I'm a psychologist but I really, really can't see the point of analysing the performance against Fleetwood on an individual level. Everyone was shit. It was pretty obvious there was an anxiety and an apathy. And who could blame them?

anxiety and apathy? just the kind of things that management are their to put right. if I turn up to work this morning showing signs of apathy, my boss will rip me a new one.

To be fair, there's bound to be some nervousness after two heavy defeats; if a manager could remove that completely he probably wouldn't be working in the third division.

How much of the responsibility for those hammerings rests with the manager is a different debate...

Putting my head above the parapet her but, I thought Rodgers had one of his more effective games. There was evidence of him actually getting stuck in and some decent passes.

You have a shit boss then.

"putting my head above the parapet her but, I thought Rodgers had one of his more effective games. There was evidence of him actually getting stuck in and some decent passes."

Really? I struggle to think of anything very much he contributed. Distinct lack of even his woefully loose and inaccurate through balls or even tippy, tappy sideways or backwards passing.

Actually there were many more forward and cross field passes than usual but that's because Fleetwood allowed him a bit of time and space. Having said that not many incisive passes for the position he plays and for me he doesn't make himself available to the defence, usually hiding behind an opponent.

His issue for me is he doesn't do the dirty stuff when we haven't got the ball, tracking back and following runners, hence the mannequin comment from Williams which he's the main culprit.

As for tackling, it seems to me he puts in a few dirty ones per match to get noticed but nothing really effective

Indeed.

Really? You should point it out more often.....

:)

Sorry about that