Let's talk about the Harrogate Town game

[ncRover]

If only there was a common denominator for the players chronically underperforming, making mistakes and throwing games away for the last 6 months Billy and Dickos.

Like the fact that we've signed a bunch of really not very good players over the past 30 months, that have consistently been making mistakes under 4 different managers?

That sort of common denominator?

More than 1 thing can be true at once.

This is a different squad to that of Moore’s and Wellens’.

Yes recruitment hasn’t been good enough, I agree. Not good enough in terms of recruiting playing and coaching staff.

This is a mid table squad with relegation form and mentality.

It is the job of the manager to set standards and motivate the players. Do you reckon the players care that much that they’ve made mistakes? Do you reckon Schofield is telling them so?

The same squad, that whilst it struggled to perform well showed a damn sight more fight and desire to win when under McSheffrey.

[Sammy Chung was King]

We didn’t get beat, but should have won the game . Depleted team or not, not good enough for our club. Standards expected should be much higher.
This is where doing things on the cheap takes you. It needs a real clear out of the squad. The goalkeeper if he gets another contract they want their brains testing.

[BillyStubbsTears]

If only there was a common denominator for the players chronically underperforming, making mistakes and throwing games away for the last 6 months Billy and Dickos.

Like the fact that we've signed a bunch of really not very good players over the past 30 months, that have consistently been making mistakes under 4 different managers?

That sort of common denominator?

More than 1 thing can be true at once.

This is a different squad to that of Moore’s and Wellens’.

Yes recruitment hasn’t been good enough, I agree. Not good enough in terms of recruiting playing and coaching staff.

This is a mid table squad with relegation form and mentality.

It is the job of the manager to set standards and motivate the players. Do you reckon the players care that much that they’ve made mistakes? Do you reckon Schofield is telling them so?

The same squad, that whilst it struggled to perform well showed a damn sight more fight and desire to win when under McSheffrey.

Of course Schofield is pointing out personal mistakes.

Maxwell, when co-commenting a couple of weeks ago, mentioned that.

The usual suspects in here blasted Schofield for blaming the players. As though pretending that we don't commit 3-4 horrific individual errors every match would make them not happen.

[ncRover]

If only there was a common denominator for the players chronically underperforming, making mistakes and throwing games away for the last 6 months Billy and Dickos.

Like the fact that we've signed a bunch of really not very good players over the past 30 months, that have consistently been making mistakes under 4 different managers?

That sort of common denominator?

More than 1 thing can be true at once.

This is a different squad to that of Moore’s and Wellens’.

Yes recruitment hasn’t been good enough, I agree. Not good enough in terms of recruiting playing and coaching staff.

This is a mid table squad with relegation form and mentality.

It is the job of the manager to set standards and motivate the players. Do you reckon the players care that much that they’ve made mistakes? Do you reckon Schofield is telling them so?

The same squad, that whilst it struggled to perform well showed a damn sight more fight and desire to win when under McSheffrey.

Of course Schofield is pointing out personal mistakes.

Maxwell, when co-commenting a couple of weeks ago, mentioned that.

The usual suspects in here blasted Schofield for blaming the players. As though pretending that we don't commit 3-4 horrific individual errors every match would make them not happen.

At the time of Maxwell’s comments, was that because DS was asking the goalkeeper and defence to do things they couldn’t execute?

I guess it depends on how he tells them and how responsive they are to him. There’s not much evidence at present that they are.

[dickos1]

The breaking point for me was when Schofield didn't come off his line to get that through ball and immediately afterwards, when Schofield at centre back slipped while trying to shield the ball, leading to their first.

I remember thinking, with mistakes like that, Schofield has to go.

Strange logic that, BST, because I can't remember SOD, Dean Saunders, and Brian Flynn playing in any of our games.

It works both ways. Managers take the plaudits when a team's doing well, and take the flak when a team's doing crap.

Yep, but I think Billy’s point is warranted, not everything is down to the manager.
Not sure what else he could’ve done today.
We were good today in spells with a drastically depleted starting 11

Agreed, but you cannot choose when to accept the reality of where the buck stops

The buck can’t always stop with the manager, especially when the squad has very few of his players making these errors.
Today we had 2 players playing that schofield signed, one only signed a couple of weeks ago and the other an 18 year old loanee

[Donnybax]

I really feel for DS. He inherited a really bad squad which was somehow made worse in January. It’s clear he’s not doing a good job but he’s been dealt a really bad hand.

[BillyStubbsTears]

If only there was a common denominator for the players chronically underperforming, making mistakes and throwing games away for the last 6 months Billy and Dickos.

Like the fact that we've signed a bunch of really not very good players over the past 30 months, that have consistently been making mistakes under 4 different managers?

That sort of common denominator?

More than 1 thing can be true at once.

This is a different squad to that of Moore’s and Wellens’.

Yes recruitment hasn’t been good enough, I agree. Not good enough in terms of recruiting playing and coaching staff.

This is a mid table squad with relegation form and mentality.

It is the job of the manager to set standards and motivate the players. Do you reckon the players care that much that they’ve made mistakes? Do you reckon Schofield is telling them so?

The same squad, that whilst it struggled to perform well showed a damn sight more fight and desire to win when under McSheffrey.

Of course Schofield is pointing out personal mistakes.

Maxwell, when co-commenting a couple of weeks ago, mentioned that.

The usual suspects in here blasted Schofield for blaming the players. As though pretending that we don't commit 3-4 horrific individual errors every match would make them not happen.

At the time of Maxwell’s comments, was that because DS was asking the goalkeeper and defence to do things they couldn’t execute?

I guess it depends on how he tells them and how responsive they are to him. There’s not much evidence at present that they are.

Like catch shots that went straight to them?

Or not have air shots when trying to clear a ball out of the area?

I think you're choosing to be wilfully blind here.

[ravenrover]

Yet with the exception of 1 or 2 were the same players used by McS,and managed to cobble together enough points, goodness knows how, to keep us out of a relegation battle with this coach

[danumdon]

The game was there to be won and we gave it away in the end to a really scrappy team who just kept going.

After a rally poor first 15 mins where they flew out of the blocks we managed to settle down and took the game to them for the next 30 mins, we should of gone in at least 3 up but for some slack and unlucky play. The front three were working really hard and managed to unsettle there defence on a good few occasions, but for overplaying in front of the 18yard line we could of had a bigger lead. The goal from Barlow was very well taken and he was showing us all what he can be capable of when given some game time and played in a position whee he can make a difference. His touch was superb and with a little more help from players around him who just needed to be on his wavelength we should of put them to the sward in that first half. His effort just after where he should of scored but put it wide would of made a massive difference to the game at that point. The turn on the left where he left the defender for dead resulting in him being fouled just outside the area was a rare piece of skill in a game largely lacking in any.

All change in the second half when we scored from our first attack a slightly lucky goal as Molys shot was deflected past a stranded keeper, what should of been the signal for us to open the floodgates instead seemed to alert then to kick on and they did in their very diminished manner, but obviously its always too much for our brittle and weak willed defence who without failure manage to always give any attack a chance even one as poor as Harrogate's. The first goal was brutal in our ineptitude to be anything but commanding, their centre forward just drove on and managed to cause enough of a melee to score after very poor defending from Long and a poor effort from Mitchell.

If the first was down to a collective collapse in the defence the second was nearly as bad giving their defender too much time to shoot, that Mitchell seemed to just dive over the top of a saveable shot just compounded the fact that as a defensive unit we were not much better then dire.

As wing backs Seaman and Moly did nowhere near enough in getting up and down and when they did the final delivery was mostly very poor. This left Ravenhill and Close too much to do and they became overrun by an opposition who were limited in skill and creativity but where all over them in effort and desire.

Only Barlow could hold his hands up for his first half effort, mainly tired in the second but given the amount of game time he's had this was no surprise, Westbroke looked handy but very light weight and also tired along with Agard who again looked leggy after an hour but still no relief for him, i was stood there thinking is DS going to do the same again and completely thrown this away with no substitutions towards the end especially when they brought on their three to have a last go at us.

Overall a poor game to not come away with all the points just because of poor defending and poor game management again from a coach who to me does not learn from his previous mistakes and left us hanging on when we had legs to bring on towards the end. If this is more of what to expect from him in the tactics stakes then im not hopeful that given better players he will make any noticeable difference or improvement to our game.

Not just two points thrown away but even more food for thought for anyone who really can't stand the thought of him being here next season and seeing this play out again.

Frustrating is not quite the word im looking for, something more like dissolution is closer to the point.

[roversdude]

DS called Goodman back with about 10 minutes to go but still didn’t put him on - shocking management again

[Campsall rover]

The game was there to be won and we gave it away in the end to a really scrappy team who just kept going.

After a rally poor first 15 mins where they flew out of the blocks we managed to settle down and took the game to them for the next 30 mins, we should of gone in at least 3 up but for some slack and unlucky play. The front three were working really hard and managed to unsettle there defence on a good few occasions, but for overplaying in front of the 18yard line we could of had a bigger lead. The goal from Barlow was very well taken and he was showing us all what he can be capable of when given some game time and played in a position whee he can make a difference. His touch was superb and with a little more help from players around him who just needed to be on his wavelength we should of put them to the sward in that first half. His effort just after where he should of scored but put it wide would of made a massive difference to the game at that point. The turn on the left where he left the defender for dead resulting in him being fouled just outside the area was a rare piece of skill in a game largely lacking in any.

All change in the second half when we scored from our first attack a slightly lucky goal as Molys shot was deflected past a stranded keeper, what should of been the signal for us to open the floodgates instead seemed to alert then to kick on and they did in their very diminished manner, but obviously its always too much for our brittle and weak willed defence who without failure manage to always give any attack a chance even one as poor as Harrogate's. The first goal was brutal in our ineptitude to be anything but commanding, their centre forward just drove on and managed to cause enough of a melee to score after very poor defending from Long and a poor effort from Mitchell.

If the first was down to a collective collapse in the defence the second was nearly as bad giving their defender too much time to shoot, that Mitchell seemed to just dive over the top of a saveable shot just compounded the fact that as a defensive unit we were not much better then dire.

As wing backs Seaman and Moly did nowhere near enough in getting up and down and when they did the final delivery was mostly very poor. This left Ravenhill and Close too much to do and they became overrun by an opposition who were limited in skill and creativity but where all over them in effort and desire.

Only Barlow could hold his hands up for his first half effort, mainly tired in the second but given the amount of game time he's had this was no surprise, Westbroke looked handy but very light weight and also tired along with Agard who again looked leggy after an hour but still no relief for him, i was stood there thinking is DS going to do the same again and completely thrown this away with no substitutions towards the end especially when they brought on their three to have a last go at us.

Overall a poor game to not come away with all the points just because of poor defending and poor game management again from a coach who to me does not learn from his previous mistakes and left us hanging on when we had legs to bring on towards the end. If this is more of what to expect from him in the tactics stakes then im not hopeful that given better players he will make any noticeable difference or improvement to our game.

Not just two points thrown away but even more food for thought for anyone who really can't stand the thought of him being here next season and seeing this play out again.

Frustrating is not quite the word im looking for, something more like dissolution is closer to the point.

Pretty good summary that is.
I do think Nelson, Faulkner & Long had pretty decent games. Not sure who’s fault 1st goal was but it looked a bit of a shambles.
2nd goal conceded is the same as probably at least a dozen this season. No one closing down outside the box again. 
Our midfield is a disaster zone.  2 v 3 in the middle yet again. Where the heck was Westbrooke supposed to be playing? He seemed to be permanently in no man’s land. 

Will Schofield ever learn. He makes the same mistakes every game. The starting formation and tactical use or lack of use of subs.
He seriously is the worst Manager or Coach or whatever he is supposed to be, that we have ever had.
I am not counting 97/98 because we only had one player of League standard in that team.

[BillyStubbsTears]

Yet with the exception of 1 or 2 were the same players used by McS,and managed to cobble together enough points, goodness knows how, to keep us out of a relegation battle with this coach

The following were regulars for the first 6 matches (the only time McSheffrey got decent results) and weren't available today (in many cases, not available for several weeks recently).

Anderson
Rowe
Olowu
Knoyle
Maxwell
Biggins
Tomlin
Clayton
Miller

Plus, Williams was an ever present at the start of the season but has missed most of the past 2months with injury.

Of that list, of course three players are no longer with us.

Clayton was replaced by (in my opinion) a better player in Lakin, who has been out for 8 games.

Knoyle was replaced by a player who hasn't been  a success.

Tomlin wasn't replaced at all.


But to say that Schofield has had the same players available as McSheffrey and done worse with them is objectively and clearly wrong.

When had most of those players or replacements, he had a better overall record than McSheffrey. It's only in the last 6-8 weeks that the wheels have completely come off, as his first choice defences, attack and two key central midfielders have been unavailable.

[Campsall rover]

If we had only got say 7 points instead of 14 from those 1st 6 games under GmS, we would now be in a serious battle to stay in the EFL

Yes that’s how bad it has been.
I predicted 3rd before the season started dickos.
That’s how negative i am. 

[dickos1]

We got 16 points from schofields first 10 games, so the same could be said about that, if we’d only got 12 points instead of 16 we’d be in trouble.
And that was in the back of him taking over a team in very poor form

[Canadian Rover]

Yet with the exception of 1 or 2 were the same players used by McS,and managed to cobble together enough points, goodness knows how, to keep us out of a relegation battle with this coach

The following were regulars for the first 6 matches (the only time McSheffrey got decent results) and weren't available today (in many cases, not available for several weeks recently).

Anderson
Rowe
Olowu
Knoyle
Maxwell
Biggins
Tomlin
Clayton
Miller

Plus, Williams was an ever present at the start of the season but has missed most of the past 2months with injury.

Of that list, of course three players are no longer with us.

Clayton was replaced by (in my opinion) a better player in Lakin, who has been out for 8 games.

Knoyle was replaced by a player who hasn't been  a success.

Tomlin wasn't replaced at all.


But to say that Schofield has had the same players available as McSheffrey and done worse with them is objectively and clearly wrong.

When had most of those players or replacements, he had a better overall record than McSheffrey. It's only in the last 6-8 weeks that the wheels have completely come off, as his first choice defences, attack and two key central midfielders have been unavailable.

I wonder how many players just don't fancy it at the moment and are "not fit enough" to play.

[scawsby steve]

OK, guys, I admit I've been a bit too negative about DS, so I'm going to cut him some slack.

I reckon he's a better manager than Mark Weaver.

[normal rules]

gave away a lead to what is essentially a non league side punching above their weight.
and some are coming out with positives about today? ffs.

[Campsall rover]

We got 16 points from schofields first 10 games, so the same could be said about that, if we’d only got 12 points instead of 16 we’d be in trouble.
And that was in the back of him taking over a team in very poor form

So that makes it even more of a shambles since those first 10 games dickos.
But you keep defending him if you wish if that’s what you want.

That’s your prerogative of course. I am not going to get into an argument with you ok
Looks as though your trying to pick one with just about everyone who sees things very differently to you.

[ncRover]

If only there was a common denominator for the players chronically underperforming, making mistakes and throwing games away for the last 6 months Billy and Dickos.

Like the fact that we've signed a bunch of really not very good players over the past 30 months, that have consistently been making mistakes under 4 different managers?

That sort of common denominator?

More than 1 thing can be true at once.

This is a different squad to that of Moore’s and Wellens’.

Yes recruitment hasn’t been good enough, I agree. Not good enough in terms of recruiting playing and coaching staff.

This is a mid table squad with relegation form and mentality.

It is the job of the manager to set standards and motivate the players. Do you reckon the players care that much that they’ve made mistakes? Do you reckon Schofield is telling them so?

The same squad, that whilst it struggled to perform well showed a damn sight more fight and desire to win when under McSheffrey.

Of course Schofield is pointing out personal mistakes.

Maxwell, when co-commenting a couple of weeks ago, mentioned that.

The usual suspects in here blasted Schofield for blaming the players. As though pretending that we don't commit 3-4 horrific individual errors every match would make them not happen.

At the time of Maxwell’s comments, was that because DS was asking the goalkeeper and defence to do things they couldn’t execute?

I guess it depends on how he tells them and how responsive they are to him. There’s not much evidence at present that they are.

Like catch shots that went straight to them?

Or not have air shots when trying to clear a ball out of the area?

I think you're choosing to be wilfully blind here.

I’m not. I was pretty positive. I predicted 7th at the start. As the season unfolded, I realised that wasn’t going to happen. I’ll have to revisit the thread I did for that when the season ends to see who got it right.

When people wanted DS to get this side in to the play off places I was pouring cold water on that, saying that we didn’t have balance in the squad in the right areas or enough quality for that.

This is why I ran the poll on whether our squad (that has been fully utilised like most in this league) was relegation standard or not. 2/3 thought it wasn’t.

We concede far too many chances and create far too little. That isn’t always as a result of individual errors but a result of how the team is set up.

On top of the manager setting standards and motivating the players to succeed, he has to put players in positions and give instructions that suit them.

Schofield in his time has:

- Played Tommy Rowe at CB for multiple games in a row.

- Instructed Anderson to be integral in a defence that plays out from the back and handed him a new contract based on that vision.

- Instructed Mitchell, at times semi-pro standard goalkeeper to play out from the back.

- Continued to play George Miller up top on his own, who doesn’t even attempt to win headers. Agard has probably won more headers all season now.

- Played Ben Close in a central midfield 2 continuously. Recipe for disaster.

- Continued to play a formation where we only outnumber the opposition in our defensive area, yet we are still in the bottom third for expected goals conceded.

[dickos1]

We got 16 points from schofields first 10 games, so the same could be said about that, if we’d only got 12 points instead of 16 we’d be in trouble.
And that was in the back of him taking over a team in very poor form

So that makes it even more of a shambles since those first 10 games dickos.
But you keep defending him if you wish if that’s what you want.

That’s your prerogative of course. I am not going to get into an argument with you ok
Looks as though your trying to pick one with just about everyone who sees things very differently to you.

Just odd people are saying mcsheffrey has kept us up, when under schofield for 4 months we were in good form.
Then the form has fallen off a cliff, but the injuries since the end of feb can’t be ignored and have got to be acknowledged

[ravenrover]

Yet with the exception of 1 or 2 were the same players used by McS,and managed to cobble together enough points, goodness knows how, to keep us out of a relegation battle with this coach

The following were regulars for the first 6 matches (the only time McSheffrey got decent results) and weren't available today (in many cases, not available for several weeks recently).

Anderson
Rowe
Olowu
Knoyle
Maxwell
Biggins
Tomlin
Clayton
Miller

Plus, Williams was an ever present at the start of the season but has missed most of the past 2months with injury.

Of that list, of course three players are no longer with us.

Clayton was replaced by (in my opinion) a better player in Lakin, who has been out for 8 games.

Knoyle was replaced by a player who hasn't been  a success.

Tomlin wasn't replaced at all.


But to say that Schofield has had the same players available as McSheffrey and done worse with them is objectively and clearly wrong.

When had most of those players or replacements, he had a better overall record than McSheffrey. It's only in the last 6-8 weeks that the wheels have completely come off, as his first choice defences, attack and two key central midfielders have been unavailable.

Billy at least 5 of those up to recently have been available to DS and 3 others have left or retired, in the case of 1 because DS told him he wasn't in his plans
As I say GMc somehow got the team to gain sufficient points which have kept us out of a relegation battle
Williams has missed out through injury and not because he was dropped?

[Campsall rover]

If only there was a common denominator for the players chronically underperforming, making mistakes and throwing games away for the last 6 months Billy and Dickos.

Like the fact that we've signed a bunch of really not very good players over the past 30 months, that have consistently been making mistakes under 4 different managers?

That sort of common denominator?

More than 1 thing can be true at once.

This is a different squad to that of Moore’s and Wellens’.

Yes recruitment hasn’t been good enough, I agree. Not good enough in terms of recruiting playing and coaching staff.

This is a mid table squad with relegation form and mentality.

It is the job of the manager to set standards and motivate the players. Do you reckon the players care that much that they’ve made mistakes? Do you reckon Schofield is telling them so?

The same squad, that whilst it struggled to perform well showed a damn sight more fight and desire to win when under McSheffrey.

Of course Schofield is pointing out personal mistakes.

Maxwell, when co-commenting a couple of weeks ago, mentioned that.

The usual suspects in here blasted Schofield for blaming the players. As though pretending that we don't commit 3-4 horrific individual errors every match would make them not happen.

At the time of Maxwell’s comments, was that because DS was asking the goalkeeper and defence to do things they couldn’t execute?

I guess it depends on how he tells them and how responsive they are to him. There’s not much evidence at present that they are.

Like catch shots that went straight to them?

Or not have air shots when trying to clear a ball out of the area?

I think you're choosing to be wilfully blind here.

I’m not. I was pretty positive. I predicted 7th at the start. As the season unfolded, I realised that wasn’t going to happen. I’ll have to revisit the thread I did for that when the season ends to see who got it right.

When people wanted DS to get this side in to the play off places I was pouring cold water on that, saying that we didn’t have balance in the squad in the right areas or enough quality for that.

This is why I ran the poll on whether our squad (that has been fully utilised like most in this league) was relegation standard or not. 2/3 thought it wasn’t.

We concede far too many chances and create far too little. That isn’t always as a result of individual errors but a result of how the team is set up.

On top of the manager setting standards and motivating the players to succeed, he has to put players in positions and give instructions that suit them.

Schofield in his time has:

- Played Tommy Rowe at CB for multiple games in a row.

- Instructed Anderson to be integral in a defence that plays out from the back and handed him a new contract based on that vision.

- Instructed Mitchell, at times semi-pro standard goalkeeper to play out from the back.

- Continued to play George Miller up top on his own, who doesn’t even attempt to win headers. Agard has probably won more headers all season now.

- Played Ben Close in a central midfield 2 continuously. Recipe for disaster.

- Continued to play a formation where we only outnumber the opposition in our defensive area, yet we are still in the bottom third for expected goals conceded.

100% correct in everything in that post ncRover imo.

[Donnywolf]

gave away a lead to what is essentially a non league side punching above their weight.
and some are coming out with positives about today? ffs.

Agree. That is a game we should have won after that first half

We were not world beaters but we were Harrogate beaters. Despite our p*** poor performances of late we made them look like what they are.

Namely a team fighting for Div 4 survival

Then a minute or 2 into second half it went 2 0 but ffs we needed to keep them under our thumbs for another 20 minutes not just award them a gift goal straight away to give them heart again

The adage is 2 0 is a dangerous lead but today it should not have been , and we should not have NOT got 3 points today.

It's so bloody frustrating

[In the box]

I very much doubt Schofield could have expected a result today of any kind . But it was a reasonable first half and an early second half goal must have felt good with all the supporters behind his barracking throughout .it’s hard to criticise when so many players are missing from the side and to score two goals before rely will have given all players a lift . Experience was Harrogate’s vertue as they seem to be making a habit of coming from behind recently, so a draw was more then a fair result after the amount pressure they applied throughout the second half ..

[Canadian Rover]

The equalizer was horrible full of error strewn mistakes. In the build up we punt it long (a few times) to nobody in particular or out of touch. Our midfielders never win or compete in the air (not even on a throw in).

It's really not good enough. So many basic errors that at times look Sunday league level. It's worth watching the 2 minutes before we concede (not just the highlights) to give an example of where we are going wrong.

Bobby does compete but his headers are poor (and eventually lead to the shot) it should be noted that Bobby tries to head away out of desperation as Nelson is caught out of position and isn't goal side of his man and watches the ball sail over his head - leading to Bobby's poor contact.

We conceded a corner in which we vastly outnumber them but the lads mark up late and leave the guy on the edge of the box completely free (as we consistently did against Grimsby too) then we get the cherry on the cake with Mitchell diving over the ball for a very weak goal.

These errors aren't in a timeline. But watch them. The lads are badly set up or don't follow instruction. We do lack in physicality & experience.

[Canadian Rover]

The Harrogate first is down to a few things. Firstly we don't have any pressure on their centre back because of playing one forward. A decent long ball is played forward and Nelson loses the header (most importantly is from losing that contact is he loses his man completely and never does get his position back) that lad eventually scores. Long is slow (painfully) and gives away possession in a dangerous area. Mitchell throughout this doesn't appear to give any clear communication and his positioning awful ; he could have come out and claimed the ball earlier and stopped the attack. An horrendous goal to concede but when you look at Nelsons role in the goal you may see why he's missing the basics. For all the plaudits he gets he is still very young and a very strange loan for us to have wanted with such young central defenders in our squad already.

[sedwardsdrfc]

DS doesn’t want defenders to defend they are there to build the play 1st defend 2nd. Nelson will play much higher because he can play out.

I can see the logic in getting Nelson in to help play out. But even if you’ve got a good defender on the ball they need good forward passes to make. That’s what we struggled with.

[dickos1]

The Harrogate first is down to a few things. Firstly we don't have any pressure on their centre back because of playing one forward. A decent long ball is played forward and Nelson loses the header (most importantly is from losing that contact is he loses his man completely and never does get his position back) that lad eventually scores. Long is slow (painfully) and gives away possession in a dangerous area. Mitchell throughout this doesn't appear to give any clear communication. An horrendous goal to concede but when you look at Nelsons role in the goal you may see why he's missing the basics. For all the plaudits he gets he is still very young and a very strange loan for us to have wanted with such young central defenders in our squad already.

Armstrong won everything in the air for them, whether he was up against Nelson, Faulkner, long.

[Canadian Rover]

The Harrogate first is down to a few things. Firstly we don't have any pressure on their centre back because of playing one forward. A decent long ball is played forward and Nelson loses the header (most importantly is from losing that contact is he loses his man completely and never does get his position back) that lad eventually scores. Long is slow (painfully) and gives away possession in a dangerous area. Mitchell throughout this doesn't appear to give any clear communication. An horrendous goal to concede but when you look at Nelsons role in the goal you may see why he's missing the basics. For all the plaudits he gets he is still very young and a very strange loan for us to have wanted with such young central defenders in our squad already.

Armstrong won everything in the air for them, whether he was up against Nelson, Faulkner, long.

The initial contact was one thing but not getting back into position is another. It is what it is though.

The 5 at the back doesn't help us defensively and costs us in midfield (which then leads to the isolation of the forward) it's because of the tactics and formation and a lack of coaching/clear well practiced instruction that throughout all the mistakes only 2 areas are to truly "blame" (not that I'm a fan of this) and that's the manager and ownerships lack of investment in good experienced players. Danny is right our squad depth is certainly lacking. But he must perform with the hand he has been dealt and he's not dealing with it well. He's given up on playing out from the back but not his formation/set up. I feel for him as the first thing he gave up on was the fundamentals and the processes (ironically) but sticks to the formation regardless of available players.

Playing Westbrook in the centre of midfield in a 3 would have helped no end yesterday and yet he did very little to effect the game from out wide. Going to a 4 with Molly or Hurst in a midfield 5 would have been much better giving us a chance to win possession higher and keep the ball better for longer more often periods.

[Alan Southstand]

Excellent piece Canadian, but can I add a couple of points:

1. Agreed on the midfield but we’ve no out and out ball winner in there and so winning possession back is almost a non entity.

2. The Coach, for all his fundamentals and processes, shows absolutely no acknowledgment of what the other team is doing, or likely to do. This shows a total lack of understanding and flexibility. A pre-requisite I would have thought for a reasonable standard manager for this level. Further, if we do have the temerity to go 1-0 up and the opposition manager ‘changes things’, he doesn’t do anything at all to counter it. Maybe, just now with so many out, he is completely lumbered with his main option, but I think it goes deeper than that (these players havn’t been injured throughout his tenure).