CHESTER v Solihull Moors - Match Thread

Dire game but at least the Solihull fans didn’t disappoint. Love to make fools of themselves that lot. Why was the portly bloke filming Chester fans on his Nokia 3310? The pale looking bloke spoiling for a fight was comedy gold as well.

Actually enjoyed it today! Both sides were poor especially us first half where they played the better of the football especially in midfield without really doing anything. Second half we were the better especially after Shaw came on at half time so I enjoyed getting something out of a game for once. We have played better under Bignot and got nothing. 


Shout for the defence today as they didn't create one good chance on goal the whole game that I remember. Closest they came was right at the end after they went down to ten men. Not sure who it was but they cut inside and unleashed a cracking shot with their left foot that looked in virtually all the way. Jones looked older than his years and first team experience. Not claiming he is the finished product but he didn't look like he was on his debut either. Far from it. credit to the youth coaching set up as he looks a composed and intelligent player. Anderson looked a better player than one who couldn't get a game at Torquay as well. A back three with Astles heading everything looked far better balanced than when Mccombe and Astles play together. More mobile by far. THat all said to put it into context Solihull don't look a team likely to score lots this season based on todays performance.

LRT frustrated me today. For a guy who has pace and ability to dribble with the ball he seems very reluctant to makes runs into the final third when it is crying out for it. He had lots of space frequently but kept passing it back, sideways and not making a run that demanded a ball. There is an half decent player in there to play wingback, but he needs to take the opportunity.

The new guy Udoh I think was ok. If we are paying a good chunk of his wages would like to think we will be getting more from him when he has settled in. Doesn't stand out as a league two player today.

Midfield worried me today, first half especially. to far behind play to often to support attacks with too may balls given away in easy positions. Carter for them bossed it first half. He deserved to go. Should have been booked before he was for a late challenge on Hornby towards the start of the first half. Ref might have helped us sending him off but he seemed to let of a lot of trailing arms go first half that most wouldn't, especially from their forward who played more on the right. 

On  a positive we had the strongest bench we have had in a long time today without Gough, Archer and Turnbull not on it for various reasons. With Hannah and Shaw coming on second half it really made a difference. Looks positive going forward.

Much needed. Regrettably I had to miss the game, but the win was all that mattered today.

The only negative was a couple of the sides above us had great results - but on the flipside, the sides below us struggled.

Hats off to those who sorted out the pitch. Loved hearing that volunteers were joined by the Chief Exec as well as newspaper reporter! Great dedication.

I remember now about signing Anderson. Fair play thought he had a decent game. Very good debut from the young lad Jones. Hope to see more of him playing.

No way .. the guy was anonymous.

No way ... he was superb and he will get better.

As I said, not sure how he was MOM.

Absolutely. Solihull are almost certainly going down and, on the strength of today, we're scarcely any better.

Really pleased with the win but it's done nothing to change my view that we won't be in this division next season.

First half the midfield were really poor and second to every ball. Improved massively when Shaw came on.
Astle's is more suited to playing in a back three, along side Anderson and Jones, because they give us more mobility.
Thought Jones was excellent and has the physicality this league requires. MOM and has the potential to do a Sam Hughes.
Going forward, get Hall-Johnson and Gough to play wing backs and draft Tom Crawford, into the squad to give some competition, to some of our underperforming midfielders. Archer needs to be back soon, because we need his physicality upfront. Akintude needs to add more goals to his game.
Not a big fan of Hannah but I have a feeling that his goals, either starting or from the bench will be crucial.
Same goes for the injury prone Mahon, I would use him as an impact player from the bench to change things around until his fitness inproves.
If we can keep it solid at the back, which has been a major problem, all season. We have a fighting chance. We need to grind out some 1-0 wins, because there is not a great deal of creativity, in this team.

It's all down to opinion. Maybe I am giving him too much credit but I feel the level of criticism is over the top. As long as Bignot is selecting him we should get behind Halls and the rest of the selected players. Such verbal onslaughts can do nothing for the players/teams confidence. I go back to my original post, mistakes are made, like all supporters I would like these to be a minimum but I don't resort to over the top criticism when mistakes do happen. I worry for the blood pressure of some on the Harry Mc. We play in the National League not the Premiership and have to accept that standards are lower. As long as the player plays for the shirt and gives 100%, I'm usually satisfied. In my opinion I thought Halls had given that level determination yesterday but accept I may be in a minority in that opinion.

That's the problem thought isn't it? Halls does not give 100%. Its bad enough that he can't pass or tackle, but the amount of times he didn't close players down in the first half was a disgrace. He just stood 5 yards off letting the guy pick a pass

Also he doesn't want the ball, never makes an angle or a run for a pass. At one point yesterday James had the ball, halls was 5 yards away with his back to the ball, slowly walking away.

I don't agree with cheering for him being subbed off or heckling your own players, but I can understand why it happens. I agree with you I'm generally satisfied with effort, but I've not seen any from him all season

The problem is, select Chester fans love to have a minimum of one, but normally several players that they love to slate regardless. Remember the days of Rooney, he could belt in a 30 yard free kick but the second he misplaced a pass the boo boys were whinging in the stands. Since getting rid of these sort of number 10s we've one downhill. Regardless of how many passes they don't quite get right, which will be high for a number 10 playing at conference level, they made a difference in games and got us key goals. We can't score this season.

McConville is a classic example of a player that got slagged off in the stands and has gone on to prove those people wrong. Halls and LRT are two of this seasons main targets, yes they're poor and have a lot of limitations, but Halls was captain of a Mac side that out placed us with ease last season, so is it just his ability of the way we play? Especially playing him in midfield. For me, we need to get behind the team, nothing worse than a hostile crowd for making single errors. Before anyone says single error, he had loads, he was being slagged off after his first poor tackle near me.

I thought yesterday was a case of doing a job and in the most part, we did. A loss was unimaginable and a draw would have been very disappointing. 3 points was all that mattered.
I stand in the Harry Mac and I thought there was a reasonable vibe in there yesterday with a fair bit of noise. Didn't hear too many getting on the players backs and the boos for Halls coming off sounded like it was coming from the main stand. He was dreadful though, as he has been all season and there is no question that Tom Shaw is ten times the player (even lacking match fitness after injury).

I was really happy to see that Bignot has identified we really needed to solidify our back line and a clean sheet was an excellent reward. The New keeper looked solid and I always prefer a keeper with a bit of height. Anderson looked mobile and Jones made a superb senior debut. Astles was his usual colossus and I can't help but feel having a couple of quick guys around him will make a hell of difference to our back line and our goals against column. I feel we can only start playing with flair when there is confidence we can stop conceding goals.
The new striker did little, Aki was reasonable and Hannah was superb when he came on.

I think if we want to stay up, we as fans really need to get behind the players and management and do everything we can. Lets stop moaning and make sure we do everything we can to keep us in this League.

A quick shout out to all the Volunteers who do AMAZING work behind the scenes and don't get enough credit. The game probably wouldn't have been on yesterday without them and I for one am very grateful for all the work they do. We all get frustrated with how things go, both on and off the field sometimes but they are all people who do care and are trying to do there best to keep our club going. THANK YOU

Didn't hear any boos where I was sat, but did hear plenty of cheering! 

Really impressed with hall-Johnson, he made a huge difference. He will definitely go on to bigger and better things.