Macclesfield v Swindon official matchday thread

[The Professor]

I went to the game with a Forest supporting mate and will concur with most of the previous comments.  It was Groundhog Day - Cheltenham & Burton Albion all over again. Whilst we didn't play with the fluency or interpassing that we'd showed against Burton we certainly had the better chances in the early stages & the Macclesfield keeper made a couple of game changing saves. By now, I was waiting for the breakaway goal for the home side and this duly arrived following a long ball out to their right wing in the second half.  A 35-40 yard dash & shot and we were a goal behind! We huffed & puffed but seldom looked that threatening with Ritchie being our most potent threat. The second goal had a horrible inevitability about it & although we upped our game in the final quarter, Macclesfield, just like Cheltenham & BUrton defended in depth & with conviction.  We're finding out that League Two sides, whatever their limitations going forward can protect their own goal once they're ahead, not pretty but very very effective.

Like others I was bemused by the substitution of Kerrouche.  He'd shown good mobility, a good first touch and had caused Macclesfield a few problems.  Magera, the longed for 'big man upfront' really didn't offer the aerial threat or physical presence we needed.  Even his subtle little flicks & taps were easily dealt with by the Macclesfield defence and what we really needed was a bruiser up front to give them some pressure. Jervis looked pacy, had some nice touches but didn't add much threat either.  However it must have been difficult for him & we'll see how he progresses.  Our central defence really didn't look commanding & frankly I'd prefer either Flint to be brought in or move McCormack back to compliment Devera. Kennedy & Caddid did OK & the Terrier on loan Ridalgh looked decent.

As for the referee, well what can you say?  His inspiration seemed to be the home crowd & he apportioned free kicks on the basis of the noise they made - a kind of X-Factor popularity poll meets League Two football.  The penalty that wasn't given was simply unbelievable, Ritchie having cut inside, left the left back for dead, drew the keeper & went past him & the keeper then made contact with his ankle. This was enough to prevent Ritchie being able to shoot & the ball was cleared. Next time son, go down like you've been shot.

All in all, another disappointing night away from home but hey, onwards and hopefully upwards.

[Iffy's Onion Bhaji]

Our away form is concerning. We've had the same pattern in a lot of the games where we look decent but don't take our chances and then concede and then the home side shuts up shop and sits back to invite us on to them and then hits us with the sucker punch.

It's almost as if we are not playing badly away from home to an extent but it just shows that most league 2 sides will feed off being very strong and organised at the back at home knowing they will have a handful of chances to win the game as long as they dont concede. We've had chances in the games we have lost against Cheltenham, Daggers, Burton and now last night. The biggest problem was that we didn't take them. If you take your early chances you can dictate the game and this where we have been going wrong.

The win at Crawley in some ways shows this simply because Crawley don't play in the same way as the above mentioned teams. They'll attack and leave gaps at the back for teams to exploit hence why we had better luck against them than we did against the other sides we've lost to.

What's clear is that aside from taking chances Di Canio needs to find a suitable team away from home. A solid midfield and back line which is well organised backed up by 2 potent strikers or at least 1 (I don't think we have many options here either sadly) and 2 lively wingers. We have Ritchie but PDC needs to play Esajas or Gabildondo on the other flank away from home in my opinion. It's about shoring up the backbone and leaving the goal threats in the wide areas and upfront. Chopping and changing the side all the time doesn't help that.

[joteddyred]

Our away form is concerning. We've had the same pattern in a lot of the games where we look decent but don't take our chances and then concede and then the home side shuts up shop and sits back to invite us on to them and then hits us with the sucker punch.

It's almost as if we are not playing badly away from home to an extent but it just shows that most league 2 sides will feed off being very strong and organised at the back at home knowing they will have a handful of chances to win the game as long as they dont concede. We've had chances in the games we have lost against Cheltenham, Daggers, Burton and now last night. The biggest problem was that we didn't take them. If you take your early chances you can dictate the game and this where we have been going wrong.

The win at Crawley in some ways shows this simply because Crawley don't play in the same way as the above mentioned teams. They'll attack and leave gaps at the back for teams to exploit hence why we had better luck against them than we did against the other sides we've lost to.

What's clear is that aside from taking chances Di Canio needs to find a suitable team away from home. A solid midfield and back line which is well organised backed up by 2 potent strikers or at least 1 (I don't think we have many options here either sadly) and 2 lively wingers. We have Ritchie but PDC needs to play Esajas or Gabildondo on the other flank away from home in my opinion. It's about shoring up the backbone and leaving the goal threats in the wide areas and upfront. Chopping and changing the side all the time doesn't help that.

Summed up perfectly.  IOB to be our manager on away days? 

[Coca Fola]

Those people criticising the substitutions should remember that the JPT has stupid selection rules, so I'm guessing Paolo had one eye on that with Kerrouche and De Vita coming off.

[guy66]

This may sound like an excuse but the players looked tired out there, it can't have helped with them travelling up in the afternoon. I saw the team coach on tbe m6 in brum at about 3.45 so it's along coach trip to sit through before a match ..

[DV]

Those people criticising the substitutions should remember that the JPT has stupid selection rules, so I'm guessing Paolo had one eye on that with Kerrouche and De Vita coming off.

We shouldn't be giving a fuck about the piss poor paint pot.

3 points last night (and Saturday) would be worth more to us than the fine we'd get.

[Coca Fola]

Don't have a go at me about it. 

[Power to people]

It is a baffling why there are certain players that have been brought in and on their limited appearances looked handy enough at this level but are now not getting a chance I'm talking about the likes of Easijas, Cibochi & Gabilondo and it looks like Atiku has dissapeared of the face of the earth

[Batch]

As soon as Paolo mentioned loaning Atiku out locally it seemed his signing was a mistake.

Cibochi is more interesting as at the time he had not received international clearance PDC was moaning that he couldn't rest Kennedy.

The other two, fooked if I know!

[Dozno9]

I liked Gabilondo. Although De Vita is playing well enough.

[Don Rogers Shop]

Gabilondo was eqtually as poor against shrewsbury has he was good in other games

[fatbasher]

As I said in an earlier post, When I left early I passed the STFC coach and the driver was loading up with bottled water, so I stopped and had a few words. After bemoaning our impending defeat etc he said that PDC would blame him (the coach driver) for the loss. When I asked why he said it had taken them 4 1/2 hours due to traffic and that they had not had time to stop at a hotel for their prematch meal. PDC was moaning to him about taking another route so the driver said to me he told PDC "I'll drive, you manage!"

Shit night had by all really.


 

[Nemo]

I hope he's looking forward to driving the Centre of Excellence bus.

[tans]

Haha quality nemo

[Gnasher]

As I said in an earlier post, When I left early I passed the STFC coach and the driver was loading up with bottled water, so I stopped and had a few words. After bemoaning our impending defeat etc he said that PDC would blame him (the coach driver) for the loss. When I asked why he said it had taken them 4 1/2 hours due to traffic and that they had not had time to stop at a hotel for their prematch meal. PDC was moaning to him about taking another route so the driver said to me he told PDC "I'll drive, you manage!"

Shit night had by all really.


 

Don't get me wrong, I love PDC. But he's a bit of a cunt really, isn't he?!