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Post by Jack on Aug 16, 2017 7:59:27 GMT
3 points isn't disastrous from our games, but what is really concerning is it sounds as if the opposition have been better than us in each. There's only so long that the crossbar & wonder saves will bail us out.
A very good point on paper, though. Personally I have no qualms about JM setting us up to counter attack away from home. He's shown he can pick up results at other grounds.
It goes without saying that we need to be expansive at home. We cannot rely on holding out for draws at The Deva, we need to take the game to our opponents. I think our players are good enough this season to be trusted to do so.
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Post by livinginhope on Aug 16, 2017 8:04:24 GMT
I like McCarthy - he's given a lot to our club over the years, the improvement in the community side of the club started with his hard work, and he probably puts in the most hours out of every manager in the league. But I do worry about his ambition not matching that of the players. I remember some pre-season interviews with some of the players saying they really think we can do something this season and have a good go at getting into the playoffs, but McCarthy just wants to keep us up. If the targets of the players don't match those of the manager, there is a real risk he could lose the dressing room and that will cause us all sorts of problems.
Football is a results driven business where scraping a lucky 1-0 is better than losing a cracking match (i.e losing 2-5 to Lincoln last year). But if that doesn't work and you end up with a dull 0-0 against a team you should beat or a 1-0 loss, playing in that manner will lose the crowd as well as holding back the "flair" players such as Mahon from really showing what they can do.
As an aside, a few clubs throughout the leagues do have all players back for corners, and some have said that the thinking behind it is that there are more defensive heads to win the ball, and more importantly it is easier to break away at pace with 4 or 5 midfielders/attackers charging forwards. I'm not sure this is applicable to us though as we just seem to boot it clear and straight back to them!
3 points from 3 games is just about ok, especially as we are a game behind everyone else. But we need a win, especially a home win, very soon. There is quality in that team but they need to be allowed to show it - let Mahon go his mazy dribbles, let the full backs get forward, and go for an ambitious defence splitting pass if it is on. McCarthy does have my backing for now, but we are even more defensive than last season and if we don't grind out a win it makes for very poor viewing. The first half against Fylde gives me hope, important game Saturday now.
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Post by rcb on Aug 16, 2017 8:07:24 GMT
I think the point at Hartlepools is great; but from all accounts it was not solid. Lady Luck has been kind in the opening three games. If things are unresolved, without a run of wins, by Christmas then forget about pressure. Too late by then. May as well save any payoff for life in the National North. The pressure is NOW if we aim to stay in this league. Ten games to get it right must be the maximum.
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Post by sqzl on Aug 16, 2017 8:17:12 GMT
Problems all stemmed from going 4-5-1 and pushing Akintunde out wide.(I thought left but could have been right side) IMO he was our best player yet gets moved out of position and substituted because of it. He must be frustrated. He's 21 years old, been really sharp so far this season yet can't start a match after getting MOTM opening game, then comes on and offers more in 20 mins than White did all game (no disrespect to him who played well against Fylde) and now yesterday...
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Post by Harry Lime on Aug 16, 2017 8:17:40 GMT
To tired to post when we got back at 1am, so thought I'd wait til this morning. There's a lot of negativity from those who didn't go, and some that did.
Decent ground, and a great pitch. Pleasantly surprised. Avoided the Frankenfooter hot dog and settled down.
We were gifted a goal in the first minute. Poor pass back back put Hannah in, he took a heavy touch allowing the keeper to collect, he spilled it to Aki who put it in.
Fairly even for 20-25 mins but they were pushing us back more and more. Thy moved the ball around midfield well. Rice they hit the bar with shots, and a few balls whistling across the box. Our attacks looked dangerous, but as the half went on they became less and less as we got outplayed. The were a number of times when Hannah was needlessly offside, or we lost it, putting us back under pressure.
Had time they made a change and took off their left back. Who hadn't looked good, along with the left centre half who was poor too. They changed to a 3 5 2. We got the run around now. Turnbull and James were outnumbered and it showed. Bear in mind we'd struggled there first half against two. JMc moved Aki to the right, and Dawson to help the two central. This did help. We started to move the ball better, and keep it. Something we hadn't done first half.
Problems was, this left us with little threat on the counter. Hannah, who had an average game at best, was replaced by White. Although we were under pressure Hartlepool didn't really look like scoring, and we were well drilled and blocking well.
They then hit the bar again. It went straight above Mitchell be crashed against the bar. We thought he should have saved it and tipped it over. But worrying he didn't. By now they seemed to be crossing everything into the box. Mitchell didn't come for anything leaving the excellent Astles and McCombe to head everything. A few corners came in and were headed out. Then a header went up in the air three yards out. Mitchell hesitated then jumped with Classify. The ball went through his arms/hands and onto Cassidy's head and bounced in. Keeper error for me.
From then on all they did was cross it into the six yard box knowing the keeper wasn't coming for it. He looked really nervous now.
Chappell had come on for Aki, probably before their goal. That looked an ok decision if he was to play wide right. He did ok. Last five minutes Joyce came on for Mahon. Despite the ref somehow adding on another five from somewhere we got a well deserved point.
Hartlepool are a top half side. Left side of defense looked poor but they sorted that at half time. Almond and Cassidy didn't do much. Maybe down to our defenders. But their midfield looked slick. I thought during the game that JMc's subs actually worked, and helped stem the tide. If you're getting outplayed and under pressure away from home, and you're winning, it's probably the thing to do. We did reduce them to just lumping the ball in. Once the opposition get to that you can soak it up and hit them on the break. Unfortunately the error for the goal, and our limitations meant we couldn't do that. Without the error we would probably have held on and won that.
We'll pick up worse points, and play worse than that. They had a 3000+ crowd. Their parachute payment probably exceeds our entire wage bill. That should mean their players are better than ours.
Backed a couple of winners at Thirsk in the afternoon, all in all not a bad long day out.
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Post by sqzl on Aug 16, 2017 8:56:24 GMT
To tired to post when we got back at 1am, so thought I'd wait til this morning. There's a lot of negativity from those who didn't go, and some that did. Decent ground, and a great pitch. Pleasantly surprised. Avoided the Frankenfooter hot dog and settled down. We were gifted a goal in the first minute. Poor pass back back put Hannah in, he took a heavy touch allowing the keeper to collect, he spilled it to Aki who put it in. Fairly even for 20-25 mins but they were pushing us back more and more. Thy moved the ball around midfield well. Rice they hit the bar with shots, and a few balls whistling across the box. Our attacks looked dangerous, but as the half went on they became less and less as we got outplayed. The were a number of times when Hannah was needlessly offside, or we lost it, putting us back under pressure. Had time they made a change and took off their left back. Who hadn't looked good, along with the left centre half who was poor too. They changed to a 3 5 2. We got the run around now. Turnbull and James were outnumbered and it showed. Bear in mind we'd struggled there first half against two. JMc moved Aki to the right, and Dawson to help the two central. This did help. We started to move the ball better, and keep it. Something we hadn't done first half. Problems was, this left us with little threat on the counter. Hannah, who had an average game at best, was replaced by White. Although we were under pressure Hartlepool didn't really look like scoring, and we were well drilled and blocking well. They then hit the bar again. It went straight above Mitchell be crashed against the bar. We thought he should have saved it and tipped it over. But worrying he didn't. By now they seemed to be crossing everything into the box. Mitchell didn't come for anything leaving the excellent Astles and McCombe to head everything. A few corners came in and were headed out. Then a header went up in the air three yards out. Mitchell hesitated then jumped with Classify. The ball went through his arms/hands and onto Cassidy's head and bounced in. Keeper error for me. From then on all they did was cross it into the six yard box knowing the keeper wasn't coming for it. He looked really nervous now. Chappell had come on for Aki, probably before their goal. That looked an ok decision if he was to play wide right. He did ok. Last five minutes Joyce came on for Mahon. Despite the ref somehow adding on another five from somewhere we got a well deserved point. Hartlepool are a top half side. Left side of defense looked poor but they sorted that at half time. Almond and Cassidy didn't do much. Maybe down to our defenders. But their midfield looked slick. I thought during the game that JMc's subs actually worked, and helped stem the tide. If you're getting outplayed and under pressure away from home, and you're winning, it's probably the thing to do. We did reduce them to just lumping the ball in. Once the opposition get to that you can soak it up and hit them on the break. Unfortunately the error for the goal, and our limitations meant we couldn't do that. Without the error we would probably have held on and won that. We'll pick up worse points, and play worse than that. They had a 3000+ crowd. Their parachute payment probably exceeds our entire wage bill. That should mean their players are better than ours. Backed a couple of winners at Thirsk in the afternoon, all in all not a bad long day out. fair points! I wouldn't agree regards the subs though. I thought Akintunde should have stayed up top and Hannah should have gone off for Chappel to push Dawson into centre....or even Chap as a no10 and play more narrow. We lost our attacking threat, pressure or not, if the ball keeping coming back at you because there is nothing up top, you're making a rod for your own back IMO. |
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Post by riley1976 on Aug 16, 2017 9:04:25 GMT
Hartlepool havnt won a game this season out o 4 they have played awful there fans saying how they create nothing so it really worries me that against us they managed to create so many chances and were very unlucky not to win, they have been out played there previous games yet they outplayed us and were miles better. This tells me although unbeaten still it wasn't an amazing point because previously none of the other teams got beat by then either, we were lucky I'll take the point but it's clear as day we look awful the team is no better than last yr zero pace at the back midfield that is busy yes but can't create and the attack that will get scraps to chase all season. Yes a point last night another draw but a good point no it wasn't it's not like they have even beaten another team this season.. Saturday we need to attack play forward and I'd say have a look before passing the ball that helps, I expect hoof and run and to go home pissed off again another £40 down!!
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Post by Malcolm Tucker on Aug 16, 2017 10:27:17 GMT
I will say as well though that it was a nice touch on the part of the Hartlepool fans to give us a round of applause when they announced there were 191 Chester fans at the game. That, along with the sign on the turnstile thanking us for travelling made us feel very welcome.
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Post by Harry Lime on Aug 16, 2017 10:29:05 GMT
To tired to post when we got back at 1am, so thought I'd wait til this morning. There's a lot of negativity from those who didn't go, and some that did. Decent ground, and a great pitch. Pleasantly surprised. Avoided the Frankenfooter hot dog and settled down. We were gifted a goal in the first minute. Poor pass back back put Hannah in, he took a heavy touch allowing the keeper to collect, he spilled it to Aki who put it in. Fairly even for 20-25 mins but they were pushing us back more and more. Thy moved the ball around midfield well. Rice they hit the bar with shots, and a few balls whistling across the box. Our attacks looked dangerous, but as the half went on they became less and less as we got outplayed. The were a number of times when Hannah was needlessly offside, or we lost it, putting us back under pressure. Had time they made a change and took off their left back. Who hadn't looked good, along with the left centre half who was poor too. They changed to a 3 5 2. We got the run around now. Turnbull and James were outnumbered and it showed. Bear in mind we'd struggled there first half against two. JMc moved Aki to the right, and Dawson to help the two central. This did help. We started to move the ball better, and keep it. Something we hadn't done first half. Problems was, this left us with little threat on the counter. Hannah, who had an average game at best, was replaced by White. Although we were under pressure Hartlepool didn't really look like scoring, and we were well drilled and blocking well. They then hit the bar again. It went straight above Mitchell be crashed against the bar. We thought he should have saved it and tipped it over. But worrying he didn't. By now they seemed to be crossing everything into the box. Mitchell didn't come for anything leaving the excellent Astles and McCombe to head everything. A few corners came in and were headed out. Then a header went up in the air three yards out. Mitchell hesitated then jumped with Classify. The ball went through his arms/hands and onto Cassidy's head and bounced in. Keeper error for me. From then on all they did was cross it into the six yard box knowing the keeper wasn't coming for it. He looked really nervous now. Chappell had come on for Aki, probably before their goal. That looked an ok decision if he was to play wide right. He did ok. Last five minutes Joyce came on for Mahon. Despite the ref somehow adding on another five from somewhere we got a well deserved point. Hartlepool are a top half side. Left side of defense looked poor but they sorted that at half time. Almond and Cassidy didn't do much. Maybe down to our defenders. But their midfield looked slick. I thought during the game that JMc's subs actually worked, and helped stem the tide. If you're getting outplayed and under pressure away from home, and you're winning, it's probably the thing to do. We did reduce them to just lumping the ball in. Once the opposition get to that you can soak it up and hit them on the break. Unfortunately the error for the goal, and our limitations meant we couldn't do that. Without the error we would probably have held on and won that. We'll pick up worse points, and play worse than that. They had a 3000+ crowd. Their parachute payment probably exceeds our entire wage bill. That should mean their players are better than ours. Backed a couple of winners at Thirsk in the afternoon, all in all not a bad long day out. fair points! I wouldn't agree regards the subs though. I thought Akintunde should have stayed up top and Hannah should have gone off for Chappel to push Dawson into centre....or even Chap as a no10 and play more narrow. We lost our attacking threat, pressure or not, if the ball keeping coming back at you because there is nothing up top, you're making a rod for your own back IMO. I'd agree with you completely regarding leaving Aki on upfront and taking Hannah off. That would have been far better. We actually said that at the time. It was the fact we actually reacted to the way the game was going by changing our formation, that I was trying to comment on. But not well enough. We'd not done that this season until last night. Shows a Plan B. We did keep the ball far better playing 4 5 1. Aki looks our biggest threat by far at the moment. He's also got pace which, as a team, we are sorely lacking. |
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Post by histsci on Aug 16, 2017 10:53:17 GMT
fair points! I wouldn't agree regards the subs though. I thought Akintunde should have stayed up top and Hannah should have gone off for Chappel to push Dawson into centre....or even Chap as a no10 and play more narrow. We lost our attacking threat, pressure or not, if the ball keeping coming back at you because there is nothing up top, you're making a rod for your own back IMO. I'd agree with you completely regarding leaving Aki on upfront and taking Hannah off. That would have been far better. We actually said that at the time. It was the fact we actually reacted to the way the game was going by changing our formation, that I was trying to comment on. But not well enough. We'd not done that this season until last night. Shows a Plan B. We did keep the ball far better playing 4 5 1. Aki looks our biggest threat by far at the moment. He's also got pace which, as a team, we are sorely lacking. That's a very good summary Harry, and I agree with the comments on Akintunde, though to me it looked like Cassidy had collided with Mitchell before he headed it, so it was a foul (though I guess the highlights will show us properly). I also thought that especially in the second half James and Dawson were too keen to play it down the channels (though they were both very good defensively) - they hadn't adapted to the new formation and were still playing as if there were two up front. It meant we were giving the ball away even after we'd worked hard to get it back. I was very impressed with all of the back four last night though. Good point overall. |
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Post by Anders on Aug 16, 2017 11:29:38 GMT
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Post by chesterken on Aug 16, 2017 11:40:11 GMT
Didn't look a foul to me keeper should have punched the ball away
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Post by tarvinblue on Aug 16, 2017 11:52:14 GMT
We were absolutely battered in that game from those highlights. Created nothing and relied purely on the woodwork to save us. Nothing wrong with their goal - keeper should have done far better. Rowe-Turner seemed to do well - couple of examples of him throwing himself in as last man to save the day. Desperate stuff.
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Post by Lobster on Aug 16, 2017 12:15:18 GMT
The jeering when our goal went in  It was a pretty awful goal from their point of view. Ridiculous backpass that couldn't have been a better weighted ball to Hannah. Also looks like the keeper, having made a good save, didn't realise Aki was following up and hesitated for a split second. It does look like we were under the cosh from those highlights, although it should be remembered that home teams' highlights are often edited that way. They didn't show Hannah's offside goal for a start. |
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Post by Matt on Aug 16, 2017 12:25:19 GMT
Did anyone see this from last night on Hartlepool's twitter account? Great idea!   |
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Post by Matt on Aug 16, 2017 13:02:00 GMT
Just adding to the ones above, they also made a Subbuteo version of our kit  |
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Post by Si on Aug 16, 2017 13:51:28 GMT
Looking at those highlights it's alarming how often and easily we allow crosses into the box. We must do more to close down space in wide areas.
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Post by marner93 on Aug 16, 2017 14:01:33 GMT
Looking at the highlight we were very lucky to get that goal.
Love the Champ Man 95/96 though
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Post by Hannibal on Aug 16, 2017 14:09:22 GMT
Didn't look a foul to me keeper should have punched the ball away Agreed. He was out-muscled by the forward. Perhaps it's time to switch to Lynch for Saturday. |
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Post by Hannibal on Aug 16, 2017 14:13:54 GMT
Looking at those highlights it's alarming how often and easily we allow crosses into the box. We must do more to close down space in wide areas. Agreed Big Si and that's happened in each of our games so far. Is it some kind of misguided tactic or just no tactics? |
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Post by Hannibal on Aug 16, 2017 14:29:59 GMT
A Hartlepool fan on OneFootballForum has said that Chester were the worst team they have played since they beat Grimsby 8-1. Can't comment as I didn't go, but there are lots of things that can be improved and there is only one person that can bring about that improvement (if he has the ability to do so).
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Post by dmcnally on Aug 16, 2017 14:39:44 GMT
A Hartlepool fan on OneFootballForum has said that Chester were the worst team they have played since they beat Grimsby 8-1. Can't comment as I didn't go, but there are lots of things that can be improved and there is only one person that can bring about that improvement (if he has the ability to do so). If we were the worst team since Grimsby, why didn't they also beat us 8-1... |
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Post by billyw on Aug 16, 2017 14:53:25 GMT
1-1 doesn't tell the tail we were very much second beat but got lucky. So we made a poor team look like premiership we are in mega trouble this season even though we are unbeaten can't believe I'm saying that weird!! A poor team? On paper than team is top 3 at least. Funny I see their fans saying we played well tonight, odd our own fans can't say the same!!! You clearly didn't read the post on Hartlepools forum which said 'if there is a worse team in this league than Chester, I will be amazed'. |
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Post by Malcolm Tucker on Aug 16, 2017 15:05:18 GMT
We were absolutely battered in that game from those highlights. Created nothing and relied purely on the woodwork to save us. Nothing wrong with their goal - keeper should have done far better. Rowe-Turner seemed to do well - couple of examples of him throwing himself in as last man to save the day. Desperate stuff. This is accurate, even at 1-0 up it was as though we were sitting back and playing for a draw at times. |
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Post by Harry Lime on Aug 16, 2017 15:05:23 GMT
A Hartlepool fan on OneFootballForum has said that Chester were the worst team they have played since they beat Grimsby 8-1. Can't comment as I didn't go, but there are lots of things that can be improved and there is only one person that can bring about that improvement (if he has the ability to do so). I suspect most Hartlepool fans are still in that "we should beat these crap non league teams" mode. It takes half a season at least to adjust to the reality that it's a tough league. Wait until Boreham Wood and Maidenhead go up there! Yes. We could have lost 4-1. But could also have won 1-0. They were running out of ideas when they scored. Then they just hoofed it into the box. Looks dangerous to a point, but they had stopped trying to play through us. As we'd mainly stopped that. I think we are all expecting the worst each game now. A small number of people are using every opportunity to give JMc a kicking, even when it's not deserved. Like on this occasion. |
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Post by loskasleftfoot on Aug 16, 2017 15:34:25 GMT
Can anyone who was there tell me why we attacked the end holding our supporters in the first half- was there a low sun or something?
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Post by agl on Aug 16, 2017 17:05:02 GMT
I didn't go so couldn't possibly draw any conclusions on how we played from watching the highlights. But to be fair to the manager it looks like he changed shape to combat changes they'd made which gave them the upper hand. It's a bit disingenuous to suggest he did it just for the sake of being negative. In reality we've had one poor, but not disastrous, result so far against Halifax. We are playing catch up to make up two points dropped.
Bottom line is that we do have to find a way of beating the weaker teams at home. I don't include Sutton in that list so let's try to keep things in perspective. If we get anything from the next two games it will be a bonus.
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Post by dmcnally on Aug 16, 2017 17:38:01 GMT
A poor team? On paper than team is top 3 at least. Funny I see their fans saying we played well tonight, odd our own fans can't say the same!!! You clearly didn't read the post on Hartlepools forum which said 'if there is a worse team in this league than Chester, I will be amazed'. If we were a poor team, we wouldn't have drawn 1-1 at one of the best teams in the league. |
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Post by Firestick Frank on Aug 16, 2017 17:43:11 GMT
You clearly didn't read the post on Hartlepools forum which said 'if there is a worse team in this league than Chester, I will be amazed'. If we were a poor team, we wouldn't have drawn 1-1 at one of the best teams in the league. If they are one of the best teams in the league they wouldn't have failed to win any of their opening four matches. |
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Post by Cestrian1987 on Aug 16, 2017 17:48:39 GMT
You clearly didn't read the post on Hartlepools forum which said 'if there is a worse team in this league than Chester, I will be amazed'. If we were a poor team, we wouldn't have drawn 1-1 at one of the best teams in the league. They won't even finish in the Top 5. Might scrape a play off place. |
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