Chester FC V York City MATCH THREAD

I thought we were set up far to defensive yesterday like a side who were trying not to lose than a team that wanted to win,we started very slowly which allowed them to get on the offensive. That said I thought the defence started ok with the much maligned Hudson winning his headers against Parkin that however all changed once we conceded, the goal when it came was very much like the Barrow first goal with the ball being slid through our very slow reacting centre backs.after that you could see all the confidence drain out of the players and we dropped off Parkin and co and let them win all the aerial balls unchallenged and bring the ball down and play at will. We are crying out for width as we always try to play up the middle with very little space most of the balls were cut out or were over hit,I felt sorry for Dawson he was the only player trying to pick out our lone striker with balls on the floor even when the crowd were getting on his back because a few passes went astray he still wanted the ball to try again.the second half was just a hoof fest into the corners which we were never going to win, it's just pointless playing high balls to a centre forward who will not attempt to head the ball, I thought J A was pushed off the ball far to easily yesterday and his touch was poor normally defenders just bounce off him. It's going to be interesting to see how we go on with two very difficult away games to come because if we play like that we are in for two good heavy defeats, let's hope the pressure gets to Lincoln and Forrest Gump.

If anybody thinks Matty Waters is a Vanarama National League player at the minute or certainly in the next 12 months is deluded? Can you honestly see him playing in midfield in any other team in this league? No! Last 2 starts shows you he is currently massively out of his depth, Dover and York. Potential yes, but at the minute, too small, weak and doesn't have enough fight in him.

We've got no one else to play there. Mahon out. Chapell out. Horwood out. He's our only option mate. However I do think there were some bright moments for Matty against York and whilst I did make the long journey to Dover I cannot recall how he played, but I definitely think he is one to keep, if that is as an option off the bench so be it, that's if we don't have so many bloody injuries, otherwise he could be pushed into the starting lineup like he is now!!

I'm going to defend McCarthy (to an extent).

The reason we lost on Saturday was simple, we went one up front and were too narrow. We should have gone with two up front and two wide men and spread their defence who were really poor when tested (which wasn't often), they put the ball out under the slightest pressure out wide which Dawson sussed and tried to play it down the flanks but because we had 4 central midfielders on the pitch and Alabi alone up front they ended up just becoming hopeless punts to nobody.

Having said that, the reason I'm going to defend him is because he's been put in a very difficult situation with endless injuries and can barely pick a starting 11. Whilst some people have called for 4-4-2 whilst others have said playing with Richards is like playing with 10 men, and whilst some have been saying we should have played wider others are saying Waters isn't good enough for the first team.

It feels like McCarthy has lost the plot at the moment and it's getting difficult to watch at home games, but I can't imagine for one minute if Akintunde, Mahon, Horwood and Chapell were fit we would have played anything other than 4-4-2 on Saturday.