Chester FC V Gateshead MATCH THREAD

Frustrating today.

We started the better and deserved our 1-0 lead. Their equaliser seemed to knock the stuffing out of us though. It was a good run by the lad but we were crying out for someone to put a foot in and I think Roberts will be disappointed with how he dealt with the shot.

Second half was inexcusably poor. We just didn't create enough and although Gateshead are always a well organised side you need to be doing more at home when you're chasing the game.

Alabi was my MOM, he worked really hard and caused them problems. He was though, hopelessly isolated at times and it was largely down to the formation.

Some big games coming up because not only should we pick up points, we really HAVE to pick up points. I know the usual suspects will point to the fact that we're pretty safe (for now) but we know how easily a few defeats can become a run of something more worrying.

The last 3/4 games were always going to be challenging. We do need to start putting points on the board again though, no matter how safe we may look.

Agreed ,apart from Horwood, i would have put Waters in at left back  . 

Felt a bit for the manager today. He needs someone to bounce off and to offer ideas and again today Iwelumo was absent. Im sorry but I have to question that appointment.

Quite a few 5s and a couple of 4s there today, but if we took 2 good chances were out of sight after an hour.

However seeing the clock end like that, and the wonderful scenes at half time, makes me very confident about what Jim Green and Andy Ruscoe are doing off the field.

Onto next week...

Two left backs to choose from today, Horwood or Waters. One right back in Vassell.

We end up playing the right back at left back, one of the left backs in midfield and our best centre back at right back. WHY!?

Trying to be too clever I'm afraid.

The manager suggested that he had Vassell at left back to be a physical presence. Surely killock in that position would have been a better sub for him then, and that would not have forced a change in shape?

You sound just like Robbie Savage on 606 a couple of weeks ago ,making condescending remarks about footy fans being idiots . he wasnt on the show last week (he also insulted our fans on the same prog ) hope he doesnt return . 

I listen to 606 and despite Robbie being a goat I like his take on the game. If the idiot cap fits - wear it. It doesn't fit all.

We just need to get to the end of the season safe. Macca needs to review the squad, get rid of the obvious deadwood. Iwelumo needs to go at the end of the season, yes it may be Maccas appointment and he was well aware of the media commitments but I find it staggering that the no.2 is absent on match days when clearly Macca needs a word in his ear at times, as there is no plan B. I really like a Macca but I Would love him to come out and say we were shit and the players didn't perform and he expects better. I am getting sick and tired of hearing my players have been great for me this season nonsense, he needs to grow a pair and lay the law down on the back of a performance like that.

I missed my 3rd home game in 7 seasons today and I think I'm the lucky one. I said before the game if Sam Hughes partnered Ryan Astles in centre defence we would win, but as expected he picked Sam at right back where he's wasted. It sounds as though there were several other tactical errors in team selection. We won this game 4-2 last season and I doubt that Gateshead have improved at all. We've gone backwards. The crowd was disappointing if 600 people got in for nothing. The £100k rainy day money may be needed as a severance package for Macca because the 2-year contract extension is beginning to look a bit silly.

Exactly, how Astles hasn't been put on strict diet is beyond me. He could be a really good central defender but his fitness and lack of pace exposes us. It is always doom and gloom when Chester lose but some of the issues are glaringly obvious and the frustration is I don't see any changes happening. Basic squad selection and set up cost us the game today. Hughes must be in central defence, he isn't a right back and never will be and you lose his quality at fullback. Surely it is football management 101 to play your best players in their best positions, wasn't that how the earlier run and excellent defensive record was built on?!

Yes ,it was . He is now doing exactly what burr was doing last season and we know how that nearly ended! And why are the directors not asking questions about the players lack of fitness ? they need to grow a pair too 

The shoot-out at Maidstone next Saturday is a contest between the 2 current worst form teams in this league and a defeat is not an option.

We had a bad at the office v solihull at home, we had an early sending off and lost narrowly at soliull, we played well and lost against Dagenham and Dover. Sorry today there was no excuses, fully fit squad bar Akintunde. Guessing Mahon is still injured? Where was our new signing Obrien and Waters? Both not included at the expense of Chappell and Killock who was never going to play.

Baffling starting 11, Joyce and George in the same team at home is a complete no no,how both played full games is beyond me. Tom Shaw playing as like a second striker as the game passed him by. Vassell was unlucky but i am hearing Macca blamed this towards the defeat, what a load of crap! Lloyd came on the left wing, so thats our two best centre midfielders out of position. Horwood looks uncomfortable at left back, fails to complete 90 minutes in that position to often.

Someone mentioned above about Sam Hughes situation with him getting fed up, i think this may happen if he continues to be played out of position. Sorry but the gaffer has to take the full blame today. Gateshead were a decent side but nothing special, we made them look very good, credit due they have two livewires uptop which is something we are missing with only 2 fit strikers, they also won everything in the air with the Gateshead backline and keeper having an easy day. Have to agree with Neil Turner who said to Macca "that it was a shapeless mess" it was though but Macca defended it and his players as per. Sometime you need to give them a bollocking!

Off field its a god awful attendance, what would it have been without the kids in. This was the only bright spark was the 500 kids that attended, how many will come back with nothing to shout about or a shot to cheer barely remains to be seen. It disappoints me that a lot of people would have been watching on the tele in the pub, at home or the kids and families that did turn out, will anybody come back after we failed to have a shot on goal second half and do anything to entertain.