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Post by cityboy5705 on Jan 16, 2024 22:11:25 GMT
I don't like digging individual players out, but I'm afraid Norton is nowhere near good enough, and needs releasing asap. He can't head it, control it, bring other players into play, beat a man, and - as someone said earlier - offers zero goal threat. He's not the only one, unfortunately - the recruitment since the end of the season has been almost universally dreadful. This spot on post
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Post by Rio Doherty on Jan 16, 2024 22:11:55 GMT
This inconsistency could really cost us this season. Three very poor performances in four games on the back of an excellent run before that. Referee was a disgrace tonight, and should’ve gotten a grip on some of Buxton’s antics much earlier on in the game, but we can’t blame him for that result. We barely had a single clear-cut chance up top, and the football we played was oh so predictable. After last weekend’s great display it was a real shame to see us play like we did tonight. Very much a case of one step forwards and two steps back, plus it’s so frustrating that we’ve squandered an opportunity to go fourth. We need a wake-up call because if we don’t put a run together soon, then we’ll be under lots of pressure to get into the play-offs. Very annoyed after that.
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Post by 1paulcarden on Jan 16, 2024 22:13:30 GMT
Surprised Norton is getting singled out. He’s poor, definitely, but he came on for 30 minutes in the world’s least creative side. Even a quality striker like Peers hardly had a sniff tonight - my biggest concern in the attacking department is Kole Hall, a player who seems miles off the pace. Whitehouse too looks far from his best. So close to getting it. The world’s least creative side (not that I disagree) that has 3 ‘ball playing/creative’ centre midfielders playing in it.
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Post by yossergolf on Jan 16, 2024 22:13:41 GMT
Shite. Cal has to take a lot of the blame. Wasted the first 20 minutes of the second half allowing us to continue in exactly the same ineffective vain of the first half. He doesn’t have the answers when we go behind sadly it seems. Team was poor overall, special mention for Joel Taylor who cannot seem to hit a blue shirt no matter what and as for our top scorer, captain, leader and People’s Princess, I’m sure his Paul Burrell will be on here soon how privileged we are to watch him, but he was absolutely wank. your right about Taylor but harsh on Glendon he's a top player For me tactics were wrong, Tom Peers against a physical centre back, had no chance to the high balls being put in. Build up too slow with not much movement up front. Think the limitations of the management team are starting to show, hope it’s a blip but not many to come back to change what we are watching. No goal threat and not one shot on target - simply not good enough
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Post by Jack on Jan 16, 2024 22:16:58 GMT
Surprised Norton is getting singled out. He’s poor, definitely, but he came on for 30 minutes in the world’s least creative side. Even a quality striker like Peers hardly had a sniff tonight - my biggest concern in the attacking department is Kole Hall, a player who seems miles off the pace. Whitehouse too looks far from his best. So close to getting it. The world’s least creative side (not that I disagree) that has 3 ‘ball playing/creative’ centre midfielders playing in it. You’re really cross with George Glendon aren’t you? Why does our top scorer get you in such a tizz?
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Post by Frank Owen’s Paintbrush on Jan 16, 2024 22:19:03 GMT
There is something to be said about playing those three together but it’s Whitehouse who has dipped actually. Glendon still influential and Weeks is Weeks.
In any case the balance is all wrong at the moment IMO. The midfield ballers suddenly look shoe-horned into the team. All the possession but didn’t create anything tonight.
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Post by superhans on Jan 16, 2024 22:24:26 GMT
Windsor, Clarke, Daly and Heywood/Woodthorpe must be wondering how bad the team needs to play before they get a chance.
Norton could be a half decent winger at this level, just look at the lad that gave Roberts and Williams nightmares tonight, he looks quick enough but definitely not a back to goal striker, him and Hall are a pretty terrible front two pairing as neither are physical enough.
Would be nice to see them play either side of Peers but that would mean dropping one of the CMs, and that’s not allowed. Anyone saying Cal out is bonkers but I think it’s fair enough to expect this slump to end quickly.
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Post by kevlar on Jan 16, 2024 22:28:43 GMT
Geez….that goalie wasted 15 minutes on his own add the 7 ‘injuries’ for another 20 minutes then 25 minutes of us stroking it about at the back
No wonder we didn’t have a shot on target…oh and that shot Kole Hall hit out of the ground nearly brought down the International Space Station ffs
Down right depressing display…not just our football, but Buxtons time wasting and other gamesmanship highlighting all that’s wrong with football and the standard of referees at this level…..
Pin the tail on the donkey is more exciting tbh
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Post by Anders on Jan 16, 2024 22:30:12 GMT
Windsor, Clarke, Daly and Heywood/Woodthorpe must be wondering how bad the team needs to play before they get a chance. Norton could be a half decent winger at this level, just look at the lad that gave Roberts and Williams nightmares tonight, he looks quick enough but definitely not a back to goal striker, him and Hall are a pretty terrible front two pairing as neither are physical enough. Would be nice to see them play either side of Peers but that would mean dropping one of the CMs, and that’s not allowed. Anyone saying Cal out is bonkers but I think it’s fair enough to expect this slump to end quickly. Norton looked good wide left cutting in when he arrived, all away games that barely anyone has seen. Hasn't been used there since and seems to be the unfortunate one to cop all the anger on here tonight for some reason. Poor sod.
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Post by Frank Owen’s Paintbrush on Jan 16, 2024 22:31:10 GMT
Come on we put about 42 passes together at one point but didn’t do anything. I’d say nine out of ten passes tonight were two yards.
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Post by 1paulcarden on Jan 16, 2024 22:35:16 GMT
So close to getting it. The world’s least creative side (not that I disagree) that has 3 ‘ball playing/creative’ centre midfielders playing in it. You’re really cross with George Glendon aren’t you? Why does our top scorer get you in such a tizz? Accommodating him upsets the entire side. Look at the midfield this year compared to last. Weeks 19 assists and 8 goals and he’s become far more peripheral. Whitehouse ditto. Glendon playing as a second striker with zero defensive responsibility (press is as weak as piss) needs to be doing far more than passing the ball backwards exclusively for 90 minutes and slowing the game down. To be fair he has scored some gorgeous penalties. Like a young Le Tissier.
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Post by rhodri on Jan 16, 2024 22:37:43 GMT
Frustrating tonight, they had 1 soft chance which they converted, how many shots on target did we have? It was obvious straight after the goal that they were just going to sit behind the ball and waste time. Whilst I don't question the technical capabilities of our midfield, the service to the strikers was poor, the constant side ways passing was too obvious and allowed Buxton to just sit. No idea how Weeks got man of the match. Glendon a bit of a passenger tonight.
I like Hall, but he hasn't been anywhere as effective as we'd hope had been since he came back from injury. I'd be tempted by a Peers Windsor front 2, Windsor has seemed to be the more effective out of himself and Norton, could do well playing off Peers knock ons. He wasn't the only one, but Norton seemed scared to shoot. He had a chance towards the end to get a shot away but squared it for Coates who was in a more difficult position.
Taylor was better than Saturday getting the flanks, but with respect to himself and Coates, when crosses were made we rarely had bodies in the box.
A win tonight would have put us at least 5th. We ain't half making the flight for the play off places difficult for ourselves.
A shout to Murray and Roberts, Murray probably our best player in the 1st half and Roberts in the 2nd. Roberts may have lost a bit of pace but still reads the game very well (bar his late tackle 😬)
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Post by noddy on Jan 16, 2024 22:39:27 GMT
Most people have summed that up tonight, lack of a plan b when sides park the bus after gifting them their goal. Passing it from side to side, no penetration or anyone brave enough to take the ball on the half turn in the final third or gamble by having a shot. Really is depressing and disappointing, three of the last four games now have been poor and we haven't looked like scoring in them. Where do we go from here, god knows because we don't have the players to change system, no natural wide players who can beat a man and get balls in. Yes Buxton were frustrating, their goalkeeper was time wasting and the referee was weak as piss but we were abysmal. Be interested to hear Callum's thoughts tonight as that wasn't good enough again.
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Post by thebluecamp on Jan 16, 2024 22:40:29 GMT
Buxton knew exactly what Ito do to secure the points - and we quite simply had no answers. It would be good if we had a plan B, but at this moment in time I don't think we even have a plan A.
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Post by Lon on Jan 16, 2024 22:41:06 GMT
Some comments on here are hilarious, Tom peers not an out and out goalscorer 😂😂 17 goals in this league last season man. Someone else questioning Cal’s management because he took him off after 70 mins when he clearly isn’t fit enough to play a full 90 yet seeing as he’s been on crutches for 6 out of the last 7 weeks. This is just our typical post Xmas slump yet some people on here have lost their minds it seems. Still plenty of games left to go yet and we’re only one point outside the playoffs
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Post by yossergolf on Jan 16, 2024 22:41:15 GMT
Come on we put about 42 passes together at one point but didn’t do anything. I’d say nine out of ten passes tonight were two yards. There have been too many performances that Cal has described this season as the worst since he has been here, tonight’s was another shocker I’m afraid. Play offs seem a long way off at present, and 7th is the absolute minimum. Too many “safe” passes, nothing incisive or played at pace to feet. Played at training ground pace and intensity.
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Post by yossergolf on Jan 16, 2024 22:42:13 GMT
Some comments on here are hilarious, Tom peers not an out and out goalscorer 😂😂 17 goals in this league last season man. Someone else questioning Cal’s management because he took him off after 70 mins when he clearly isn’t fit enough to play a full 90 yet seeing as he’s been on crutches for 6 out of the last 7 weeks. This is just our typical post Xmas slump yet some people on here have lost their minds it seems. Still plenty of games left to go yet and we’re only one point outside the playoffs Recent performances have not been good enough, simple
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Post by cityboy5705 on Jan 16, 2024 22:45:03 GMT
Some comments on here are hilarious, Tom peers not an out and out goalscorer 😂😂 17 goals in this league last season man. Someone else questioning Cal’s management because he took him off after 70 mins when he clearly isn’t fit enough to play a full 90 yet seeing as he’s been on crutches for 6 out of the last 7 weeks. This is just our typical post Xmas slump yet some people on here have lost their minds it seems. Still plenty of games left to go yet and we’re only one point outside the playoffs he's spot on about peers I checked his stats the other day he's hardly been prolific that last season was his best so that person has a point my point is though why bring Clarke back if you are not going to play him
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Post by kevlar on Jan 16, 2024 22:48:18 GMT
You’re really cross with George Glendon aren’t you? Why does our top scorer get you in such a tizz? Accommodating him upsets the entire side. Look at the midfield this year compared to last. Weeks 19 assists and 8 goals and he’s become far more peripheral. Whitehouse ditto. Glendon playing as a second striker with zero defensive responsibility (press is as weak as piss) needs to be doing far more than passing the ball backwards exclusively for 90 minutes and slowing the game down. To be fair he has scored some gorgeous penalties. Like a young Le Tissier. Can’t remember, Gloucester included, the last time Weeks, Glendon or Whitehouse beat a couple of players to get a shot off.It shouldn’t be left to Burkenbauer or Matty to be making these runs. Even more infuriating is the throw ins going back 20-30 yards to start the whole monotonous sideways action again… Lets hope that Cal has the nouse to identify that we’ve got no forward momentum and can rectify it pretty sharp like, the true test of any manager is how he deals with the pressure of bad performances
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Post by yossergolf on Jan 16, 2024 22:50:24 GMT
Some comments on here are hilarious, Tom peers not an out and out goalscorer 😂😂 17 goals in this league last season man. Someone else questioning Cal’s management because he took him off after 70 mins when he clearly isn’t fit enough to play a full 90 yet seeing as he’s been on crutches for 6 out of the last 7 weeks. This is just our typical post Xmas slump yet some people on here have lost their minds it seems. Still plenty of games left to go yet and we’re only one point outside the playoffs he's spot on about peers I checked his stats the other day he's hardly been prolific that last season was his best so that person has a point my point is though why bring Clarke back if you are not going to play him Peers was stretching his leg out in the first half on a few occasions and seemed to be holding his groin as he came off. Cannot see the point of throwing a centre back up front and lumping it forward when Clarke, who looks physical since he has returned, is sat on the bench. Put him on and see what he could do, give him a chance.
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Post by Frank Owen’s Paintbrush on Jan 16, 2024 22:52:08 GMT
Stanway
Burke Williams Woodthorpe
Coates Weeks Roberts Taylor
Glendon
Peers Clarke
Got to try something different, that’s the best I can think of with current available players. Murray to come on and shit the opposition up last half hour.
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Post by borussiachester on Jan 16, 2024 22:54:12 GMT
You’re really cross with George Glendon aren’t you? Why does our top scorer get you in such a tizz? Accommodating him upsets the entire side. Look at the midfield this year compared to last. Weeks 19 assists and 8 goals and he’s become far more peripheral. Whitehouse ditto. Glendon playing as a second striker with zero defensive responsibility (press is as weak as piss) needs to be doing far more than passing the ball backwards exclusively for 90 minutes and slowing the game down. To be fair he has scored some gorgeous penalties. Like a young Le Tissier. Did he shag your Mrs?
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Post by MPW on Jan 16, 2024 22:55:26 GMT
Buxton might have been low in the league table, but they’ve also beaten the top teams. That said, they’ve been on a poor run with the manager under pressure. However, the last thing we needed tonight was to give them an early goal head start which was totally against the run of play. Buxton even tweeted the match stats and they only had 22% possession. We completely ran out of ideas and the changes made us worse.
You only have to look at the games we’ve lost to see that we don’t tend to concede when we win and don’t score when we lose. When we fall behind now, we seem to struggle to get back into games, unlike in previous seasons. The players and manager seem happy to stick to the same old game plan and we struggle to break teams down.
With the exception of Peers, Caton & Whitehouse, the recruitment this season has generally been pretty poor. I don’t think anyone could argue when we re-signed Taylor, but he’s a shadow of the player he was when he left us. Gooden, Burton, Sparrow, Maguire, Windsor & Norton all failed to make any real impact on the team.
Cal wanted a smaller squad this season and more quality, he’s been really unlucky with some of the injuries, but it feels like we’re flogging the same old players week in, week out at the moment when in reality you want to be rotating them.
We had a decent boost the budget campaign in the summer, decent crowds and a small FA Cup run, so you’d like to think that we’ve got some money to boost the squad. Now has got to be the time to do this!
I’m sure Cal will come through this tricky period all the stronger for it. We’re still in a decent position in the table, but we can’t let all of the good work over the past 18 months be undone by a few defeats. We’ve got a good chance to bounce back on Saturday, but it needs everyone to pull together from here on in.
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Post by whitey on Jan 16, 2024 22:55:29 GMT
No post match interview as yet which seems a bit strange!
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Post by Anders on Jan 16, 2024 23:04:16 GMT
No post match interview as yet which seems a bit strange! Probably being uploaded as we speak, already on Radio Merseyside twitter.
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Post by kevlar on Jan 16, 2024 23:04:41 GMT
Stanway Burke Williams Woodthorpe Coates Weeks Roberts Taylor Glendon Peers Clarke Got to try something different, that’s the best I can think of with current available players. Murray to come on and shit the opposition up last half hour. Presumably you’re expecting Taylor to learn how to cross a ball in the coming weeks? Id like to see Burke in your midfield 4 that could give us a bit more physicality and drive, the way we are playing at the mo isn’t going to put bums on seats, or get us to the playoffs Like I said earlier, big test for Cal next few games. Having watched Chorley the other week, we are going to get a good tonking there, pretty physical with speed out wide
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Post by 1paulcarden on Jan 16, 2024 23:05:05 GMT
Stanway Burke Williams Woodthorpe Coates Weeks Roberts Taylor Glendon Peers Clarke Got to try something different, that’s the best I can think of with current available players. Murray to come on and shit the opposition up last half hour. Problem with taking Whitehouse out is it makes a small side even shorter.
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Post by MPW on Jan 16, 2024 23:06:00 GMT
Frustrating tonight, they had 1 soft chance which they converted, how many shots on target did we have? It was obvious straight after the goal that they were just going to sit behind the ball and waste time. Whilst I don't question the technical capabilities of our midfield, the service to the strikers was poor, the constant side ways passing was too obvious and allowed Buxton to just sit. No idea how Weeks got man of the match. Glendon a bit of a passenger tonight. I like Hall, but he hasn't been anywhere as effective as we'd hope had been since he came back from injury. I'd be tempted by a Peers Windsor front 2, Windsor has seemed to be the more effective out of himself and Norton, could do well playing off Peers knock ons. He wasn't the only one, but Norton seemed scared to shoot. He had a chance towards the end to get a shot away but squared it for Coates who was in a more difficult position. Taylor was better than Saturday getting the flanks, but with respect to himself and Coates, when crosses were made we rarely had bodies in the box. A win tonight would have put us at least 5th. We ain't half maybe the flight for the play off places difficult for ourselves. A shout to Murray and Roberts, Murray probably our best player in the 1st half and Roberts in the 2nd. Roberts may have lost a bit of pace but still reads the game very well (bar his late tackle 😬) We would have been 4th had we won, which makes you realise how poor this league is this season.
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Post by Anders on Jan 16, 2024 23:08:55 GMT
Coates seriously injured at the end - out for 6-8 weeks.
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Post by weststander on Jan 16, 2024 23:09:20 GMT
To me it is only marginally better than the last days of Berno and Johnno. And that is only because we have better defenders and are more organised. The problem is we lack physicality in key areas. We have an army of lightweight midfield players and forwards and too often simply get out fought , against stronger teams. Get Woodthorpe and Edwards into the back line and Burke into midfield and see if Clarke can be developed into a targetman. If that doesn't work it urgently needs a defensive midfield player a targetman and acwinger brought in. At the minute we are miles off the play offs
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