Viking Supporters Co-operative
Viking Chat => Viking Chat => Topic started by: selby on December 21, 2025, 12:23:31 pm
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A festive away game on Boxing day followed by another hard away game against a Stockport side who disposed of us easily a short while ago does not bode well on the face of it for a very merry Christmas.
A good 2-0 win yesterday at Wigan with goals from Fletcher and Taylor took Blackpool above us in the league table and continued their better form being the third unbeaten game in the league picking up seven points out of the last nine and will be confident of picking up more points against us.
We have hit the pits and are at a point where the January window can't come quick enough for our fans who have been given a shock to some by the realisation of the standard of the division we are now in, and the lack of the squad's ability to be competitive in the division.
The options open to the manager until January are limited to altering the make up of the team within the present playing staff especially in central defence where I would go for Pearson and Bailey and learn the lesson of last season until other players can be brought back from loans and injury IMHO.
At least that should at least make us more solid and in Baileys case give us a semblance of pace which has been totally lacking in that area of defence.
In mid field and up front I just think we have a group of players of very similar standard, nobody outstanding from the rest, all hard working but lack that bit of class to stand out, all capable of moments with Broadbent, Molineux and Gibson at times can do the unexpected moment that wins games.
UP front we have an old warrior who has lost pace but is capable in the box of getting something on the half chance knows where he needs to be to score goals and has close fast feet, he can't chase about.
The other is a bog standard work horse, nothing wrong with that, bobs up with the odd goal, and tries all the time he is on the field of play. Why it is one or the other, instead of the old big lad and smaller striker alongside I don't understand when most of our changes during a game is like for like and very little difference I don't understand, and would try them up there with wide men supporting,
The keeper, well has not had the best in front of him, and certainly any keeper would have found it hard especially the last two games to trust those in front of him either to pick runners up or stop shots, and even clear their lines any distance.
We need to recognise we are in a bit of a mess, and look for changes that suit the squad we have got for a few weeks and pick the players to suit the system and turn into a side that is harder to beat.
Lot's going on, lot's to discuss, hopefully we can turn a corner, and we recognise our own weakness's, if we don't we will continue our spiral down at least this season which was always going to be a challenge for this squad of players. Please have your say.
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We are stopping in the joined on hotel for the night, hopefully a trip round the illuminations and a go on the big one makes up for the game?
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I am always a positive thinker but a realist and consider there is a missing strategy in Grants current thinking .He is really thinking of being here for a few years and building for the future with youngsters .On the other hand we are needing experience and don’t have a lot of it if the club is aiming for Championship status , despite our current struggles .Experience needs investment and Grant had not bought a single player other than Grehan and he needs to invest in the transfer market to buy in experienced players at this stage of the clubs forward thinking imo.
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After seeing blackpool a few times this year our problem will be the way they counter attack, very fast and get players forward very simalar to plymouth
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They are on an ok run of form - 1 league defeat in last 5. Their home form in the league is poor though, winning only 1 in 5, oddly against Cardiff City. They have managed only 1 clean sheet at home in the league all season though. Suspect this could be a score draw.
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IMO we are too easy to beat. Overrun in midfield, central pairing(s) invaraibily out of sorts and a coach who continues to change selection on a match by match basis that supporters find difficult to understand . We need to select a team that is first most, difficult to beat. Pearson and Bailey with fullbacks who can defend. Which is a problem as Sterry and Maxwell are better going forward than defending but we have no one better. 5 in midfield LM, Clifton, Broadbent, Gotts, Gibson. (with option to bring Close on later if we've got a chance of winning). Hanlon up front. A lot of work for Molys and Gibbo as they would need to break to reach Hanlon when in possession and file back as soon as we loose possession. No loan player (except the goalie)
We have the players with ability, we need a settled team, tactics that make us difficult to breakdown and substituions that are timely and make sense.
In the meantime lets see what January brings but we've been lucky the last two Jan windows
There again what do I know ... FA
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I’m just glad I’m at work and can’t go. It saves me falling out with the Mrs about sodding off to Blackpool on Boxing Day. If we play like at Cardiff we stand a decent chance. Hopefully the players can pick themselves up from Saturdays deflating defeat and put in a good shift.
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I’m just glad I’m at work and can’t go. It saves me falling out with the Mrs about sodding off to Blackpool on Boxing Day. If we play like at Cardiff we stand a decent chance. Hopefully the players can pick themselves up from Saturdays deflating defeat and put in a good shift.
It’s back to walls and fight for every point now . If we can’t win then we must loose !! It’s got be our mantra.
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I’ll be watching this one….
From behind the sofa
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I’m just glad I’m at work and can’t go. It saves me falling out with the Mrs about sodding off to Blackpool on Boxing Day. If we play like at Cardiff we stand a decent chance. Hopefully the players can pick themselves up from Saturdays deflating defeat and put in a good shift.
It’s back to walls and fight for every point now . If we can’t win then we must loose !! It’s got be our mantra.
That's a terrible mantra.
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it seems obvious to me and many I speak to that the system is just not working, the stats dont lie, it would be a refreshing change to see two up front and when we defend a corner lets try leaving one on halfway which then forces them to leave defenders out of or box to cover the break, we did this once this year and almost resulted in Gibson getting a goal, since then we have never tried it again, we are very predictable in our style of play and do not vary our shape, we have become very easy to beat I am sorry to say , finally we have two very keen young defenders of our own to replace one or two who is in the firing line atm and we tried them in the cup games with some success, hopefully Grant will sort this bad run out but sadly rinse and repeat will just bring the same outcome , we need to surprise our opposition and alter the shape
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I love a bit of Boxing Day football and it’s a new ground for me. Last time I went up there on Boxing Day was a defeat at Fleetwood in the fog followed by a speeding ticket on the way home.
Hopefully this year will be better
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I think this festive period of fixtures will be a total disaster for us, we will struggle to get even 1 point, I hope I'm very much wrong, and I will be apologising if I'm wrong. The way we are playing is shocking, the Cardiff game was a one off.due to them resting players for their midweek cup game. Make no doubt about it, were in deep, deep stuck "as Del boy would say" Only recruitment of a proven goal scorer or even 2 in the January transfer window will give us some home of survival. Also sad to say we need to free up some wages to fund this, Billy you've been a great servant and a top top player, but we been to free up your wages, happy retirement
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There’s quite a few in front of Billy, I’m afraid.
We’re becoming depressingly repetitive!
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I will assume that Rovers will go 3 at the back as in the Cardiff game, and try to do the break away goal game they played there, but against a less talented team in Blackpool. I, as always, want Rovers to get out there and use the last game like we did against Chesterfield last season, but I am afrraid the quality of opposition is too good to fall for the same strategies as last season.
I expect Rovers to lose again, hopefully not as badly as we did against Plymouth, and then, fingers crossed, the January window will save us, if the right money is spent wisely on quality striker(s) and a midfield general as in Stock or Wellens.
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Anyone got an informed guess on how many tickets have sold?
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Difficult to put together a back four that could be effective.
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I'll be there
Jump on the service bus/tram straight to the ground about 2 miles from where I now live
Keeping my fingers crossed for a clean sheet
About 6 weeks ago I called into the local Chinese takeaway after driving back from the eco power
And in walked Ian Evatt
I engaged him in conversation it was day the battered Cardiff says that disappointed they didn't get more!
Told him that I'll be at Bloomfield Road on the 26th
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Difficult to put together a back four that could be effective.
That's because we are playing tactics that require a back 3, hard to defend when your playing with LWB and RWB on overlap and 2 CB's.
If you want Sterry and Maxwell to do what they like to do you need to play 3 at the back, hopefully COR can play boxing day and have him with McGrath and Grehan/Bailey either side of him.
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Difficult to put together a back four that could be effective.
That's because we are playing tactics that require a back 3, hard to defend when your playing with LWB and RWB on overlap and 2 CB's.
If you want Sterry and Maxwell to do what they like to do you need to play 3 at the back, hopefully COR can play boxing day and have him with McGrath and Grehan/Bailey either side of him.
From what I've seen I don't think any defence involving McGrath or Grehan would be effective. Be that a three or four wouldn't matter.
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Difficult to put together a back four that could be effective.
That's because we are playing tactics that require a back 3, hard to defend when your playing with LWB and RWB on overlap and 2 CB's.
If you want Sterry and Maxwell to do what they like to do you need to play 3 at the back, hopefully COR can play boxing day and have him with McGrath and Grehan/Bailey either side of him.
I think our fullbacks getting high and joining in is a key part to how we play when we are good. You can’t give the ball away cheaply when you play like that though.
It’s certainly an area that Grant may tweak though.
I think we are a bit of an odd squad. Not technical enough in midfield to be a proper possession team and not athletic enough to be a real counter attacking team.
A huge concern is the fact the Grant hugely overrates McGrath. He’s our worst centre half by quite a distance. You can’t keep playing him and complain about not being good enough defensively. Pearson and C’OR or Grehan please. Grant obviously like Jays left footedness but that’s not enough to keep playing him.
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Whatever team GM does put out it will be interesting to see the attitude of the players, in situations like we currently find ourselves in i've always noticed that we seem to react better away from home. The pressure from the home crowd and to be the team that takes the initiative in the game is missing, this always gives you a chance to settle down and play some football without the crowd on your back at the first opportunity.
We just need to be solid, tight and keep it simple, overplaying from the back when the confidence is low is always a recipe for confusion and mistakes. What would we give now for a couple of no nonsense centre half's who just do the basics and let the team in front play. The team needs to grow a spine, because we don't look like we'll be buying one!
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Difficult to put together a back four that could be effective.
That's because we are playing tactics that require a back 3, hard to defend when your playing with LWB and RWB on overlap and 2 CB's.
If you want Sterry and Maxwell to do what they like to do you need to play 3 at the back, hopefully COR can play boxing day and have him with McGrath and Grehan/Bailey either side of him.
I think our fullbacks getting high and joining in is a key part to how we play when we are good. You can’t give the ball away cheaply when you play like that though.
It’s certainly an area that Grant may tweak though.
I think we are a bit of an odd squad. Not technical enough in midfield to be a proper possession team and not athletic enough to be a real counter attacking team.
A huge concern is the fact the Grant hugely overrates McGrath. He’s our worst centre half by quite a distance. You can’t keep playing him and complain about not being good enough defensively. Pearson and C’OR or Grehan please. Grant obviously like Jays left footedness but that’s not enough to keep playing him.
Well said Gaz maybe Grant won't agree but that's way I see it and we need to look at our tactics and players to start getting results.
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Merry Christmas everyone - anyone got any parking tips for Blackpool please?
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Merry Christmas everyone - anyone got any parking tips for Blackpool please?
You can park at Morrisons/Lidl then walk down to the tram station at Starr Gate
Or there are buses 11/11b that go right past the ground
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Thank you
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A very merry Christmas everyone and a happy and prosperous new year, keep the faith our club is in good hands.
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Would keep Bailey in midfield today:
TLT
Maxwell
Pearson
Grehan
Sterry
Broadbent
Bailey
Clifton
Gibson
Hanlan
Molyneux
Suspect Grant will though start Jay instead of Grehan though.
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Would keep Bailey in midfield today:
TLT
Maxwell
Pearson
Grehan
Sterry
Broadbent
Bailey
Clifton
Gibson
Hanlan
Molyneux
Suspect Grant will though start Jay instead of Grehan though.
And so he should. Grehan hasn't shown anything to say he's a regular starter in league 1 at the minute. However I can see all 3 playing today and Gibson dropping to the bench
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Looks like he has gone for three centre backs today in Bailey, Pearson and McGrath. TLT has been dropped and Lawlor starts. He's done that a few times this season now. Can't help either of them I suspect.
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Looks like he has gone for three centre backs today in Bailey, Pearson and McGrath. TLT has been dropped and Lawlor starts. He's done that a few times this season now. Can't help either of them I suspect.
I don’t understand. Lawlor must have expected to be called up several games ago. For him to see see TLT chosen instead of him yet again would be truly unfair. I hope he gives Lawlor a run now. He can hardly be worse than TLT. If Lawlor doesn’t show some form before the end of the January window then McCann’s got to into the market for a replacement.
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Our left side of defence was where most teams attacked us last season, its still the same.no pace or natural defensive positioning.
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Our left side of defence was where most teams attacked us last season, its still the same.no pace or natural defensive positioning.
And yet for some a bad word can't be said towards Maxwell!
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Until we sort out how not get beat , things will not improve upfront!!
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Defensively we are all over the place.
A big punt forward and there’s danger every time.
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Our left side of defence was where most teams attacked us last season, its still the same.no pace or natural defensive positioning.
He is certainly having an off day today..
And yet for some a bad word can't be said towards Maxwell!
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Our left side of defence was where most teams attacked us last season, its still the same.no pace or natural defensive positioning.
He is certainly having an off day today..
And yet for some a bad word can't be said towards Maxwell!
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At least we know that Peacock Farrell x-wednesday has a mistake in him ... fingers crossed
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Lawlor has kept two clean sheets in his last 20 league appearances for us.
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Lawlor has kept two clean sheets in his last 20 league appearances for us.
TLT 1 in his last 12.
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Lawlor has kept two clean sheets in his last 20 league appearances for us.
TLT has 5 in his last 20 league appearances for us.
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Our problems are not converting chances . TLT or Lawlor it shouldn’t make a difference who plays , because defending gets easier when scoring at the other end .
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Unfortunate that Bailey and McGrath didn't finish those few good headed chances.
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Yet more Corners and free kicks either cant get past the first defender or kicked to damn hard .........
FFS do your bloody jobs properly !!
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Hanlan has spent most of the game on his arse.. offers nothing
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Close has to complimented on his abilty to put the ball in the right places and you wonder why he is so ultra cautious in his own half. Moly’s talent is wasted on free kicks. Difficult to understand why Sterry was subbed. Lawlor a good game - may he gain confidence from that.
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Give them a little bit of credit today with the poor quality of some of the squad we have, I am sure everyone can pinpoint where the problems , let’s see what the new year brings with possible new blood, we can only hope.
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It is clearly not great and we are on an awful run but we still haven't played half the season yet. We are despite this horrific form still only one win from safety. Given four loanees have gone back now, today is probably the weakest our squad has been all season. It's poor but let's hope he can pull something together in the window to start picking up results.
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Close has to complimented on his abilty to put the ball in the right places and you wonder why he is so ultra cautious in his own half. Moly’s talent is wasted on free kicks. Difficult to understand why Sterry was subbed. Lawlor a good game - may he gain confidence from that.
It’s results that counts as performances only take you so far , it’s not looking like a good second half of the season . McCann has to take this as his decisions on player signings are probably to blame . 3 out of 5 of the loaned being return and 1 recalled . And there’s a case for TLT leaving as well . This has to be seen this a failure in the recruitment. Hanlan is possibly another who’s lack of starts is down to not being match ready form the start . Shambles around imo ..
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Untill we get a proper striker to put the goals in and bring back some confidence then I think things will stay this way we. Confidence is a major factor in why we are playing so poorly win a couple and the confidence will slowly come back. BUT GET A STRIKER
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Think that's maybe Maxwell out of the side for a while now. Senior much more suited to this scrap.
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Think that's maybe Maxwell out of the side for a while now. Senior much more suited to this scrap.
Did you spell tha last word correctly? Did you add in S by mistake?
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Not sure what McCann was thinking with that line up and formation, other than maybe he thought just putting more bodies in there would stop us conceding. Obviously it didn’t work and we offered nothing going forward apart from set plays.
He changed it twice in the second half but overall seemed like there wasn’t a plan and it was just trial and error until something worked.
Close needs to play every game, he wins back possession, tidies up in midfield and gets us playing again. And he’s the best player we’ve got at putting a dangerous ball in the box.
Hanlan much better than Sharp if we’re playing a lone striker, put himself about well today and obviously very unlucky their defender managed to block his shot off the line.
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15 fouls by them 3 bookings, 7 fouls by us 3 bookings. Is it me or doesn’t it always seem to be the case in this league for us.
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Not sure what McCann was thinking with that line up and formation, other than maybe he thought just putting more bodies in there would stop us conceding. Obviously it didn’t work and we offered nothing going forward apart from set plays.
He changed it twice in the second half but overall seemed like there wasn’t a plan and it was just trial and error until something worked.
Close needs to play every game, he wins back possession, tidies up in midfield and gets us playing again. And he’s the best player we’ve got at putting a dangerous ball in the box.
Hanlan much better than Sharp if we’re playing a lone striker, put himself about well today and obviously very unlucky their defender managed to block his shot off the line.
Hanlan obviously should start every game, without exception. Close can have a role but needs to read the instruction manual. When you have the ball, get it forward very quickly and ideally out wide. Don't try and play through teams and whatever the circumstances don't give the ball to Hanlan with his back to goal.
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At least we've learned 2 things today. On current form, Senior is better than Maxwell, and Lawlor is better than TLT.
However, the harsh truth is that unless the January recruitment is very strong, we're going down.
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Not sure what McCann was thinking with that line up and formation, other than maybe he thought just putting more bodies in there would stop us conceding. Obviously it didn’t work and we offered nothing going forward apart from set plays.
He changed it twice in the second half but overall seemed like there wasn’t a plan and it was just trial and error until something worked.
Close needs to play every game, he wins back possession, tidies up in midfield and gets us playing again. And he’s the best player we’ve got at putting a dangerous ball in the box.
Hanlan much better than Sharp if we’re playing a lone striker, put himself about well today and obviously very unlucky their defender managed to block his shot off the line.
I honestly don’t think there’s a line up or formation with the players we have that’s going to make a big difference, nine sides out of every ten in this division have better players.
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Well, second half today we were better. Blackpool should have been down to 10, but that’s by the by. Keep the faith. Runs come to an end. I expect us to recruit well in January and I think Grant and Cliff will steer us in the right direction.
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At least we've learned 2 things today. On current form, Senior is better than Maxwell, and Lawlor is better than TLT.
However, the harsh truth is that unless the January recruitment is very strong, we're going down.
Worrying this. Neither should be anywhere near a league 1 team.
Worrying the regression of Maxwell. Was better 2 seasons ago. Just never seems fit
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Hanlan has spent most of the game on his arse.. offers nothing
Can’t believe I’m reading this and someone liked it!
He was our best player today by a country mile.
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That set-up we started with killed us before we kicked a ball. No width on the left with Gibson dropped, so why not put Middleton in there? Just big balls up front for Hanlan to try and chase down or hold up.
Second half much improved and deserved a point in the end. Presumably Hanlon's shot was blocked without use of arms or hands. But its another we've lost to who themselves aren't that good.
Lawyer did well what he needed to. Pearson and McGrath wouldn't be in the side for me, but neither would Grehan so we're a bit stuck there. Close ok, nothing from Broadbent again. Thought Hanlon did really well to keep his shirt on his back today, got absolutely pulled all over. Having Sharp up with him in the second half seemed to help.
It's so frustrating because we've been beaten by a side, yet again, no better than us. It comes down to that first half set up.
January can't come soon enough, let's hope we make the most of it.
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Hanlan has spent most of the game on his arse.. offers nothing
our options are??
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That set-up we started with killed us before we kicked a ball. No width on the left with Gibson dropped, so why not put Middleton in there? Just big balls up front for Hanlan to try and chase down or hold up.
Second half much improved and deserved a point in the end. Presumably Hanlon's shot was blocked without use of arms or hands. But its another we've lost to who themselves aren't that good.
Lawyer did well what he needed to. Pearson and McGrath wouldn't be in the side for me, but neither would Grehan so we're a bit stuck there. Close ok, nothing from Broadbent again. Thought Hanlon did really well to keep his shirt on his back today, got absolutely pulled all over. Having Sharp up with him in the second half seemed to help.
It's so frustrating because we've been beaten by a side, yet again, no better than us. It comes down to that first half set up.
January can't come soon enough, let's hope we make the most of it.
When we had the ball it was a 343ish formation. Without the ball it was often a 5221.
We matched up formation wise which can be ok but when it’s this shape it becomes a battle of the wing backs and theirs were/are better than ours.
Mols was ending up in no man’s land first half, neither attacking or defending. He should have either been at wing back or on the bench if Grant wanted to play that shape.
We just need to go back the formation that’s brought us success over the last 2 years and tweak that. Wholesale changes aren’t needed. Be a bit smarter on the training ground, prep for oppositions better, round pegs in round holes and we will be ok as long as we make some decent additions in January.
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Jamie Sherry has not been himself since his injury.
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Jamie Sherry has not been himself since his injury.
Drunk on success of last season I think.
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Jamie Sherry has not been himself since his injury.
Big fan of Sterry but hes out of form
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Jamie Sherry has not been himself since his injury.
He'll be Fino next week.
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Praise be to Hanlon, he was being fouled by shirt pulling all game and never reacted against the offenders but merely appealed to the referee who should have put a stop to it lot earlier. The man has a cool.head and a calmer temper than most.
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I think we can now add "Brandon Hanlon" to "Billy Sharpe", "Richard Woods", "Terry Bramhall", and "Luke Molyneaux".