Out fought, out thought, out managed.

[steve@dcfd]

In GM interview he talks about overloading down the sides with Sterry and Senior get further and doubling up. But Grant what about trying to Molyneux on the left and Gibson on the right using their natural foot getting behind the defence putting in crosses. Could have had Ironside and Street together especially after they went down to 10.

[Avsuptem]

It's not all bad, Donny Dog put in a great performance today.

[dickos1]

Can someone please enlighten me - what does S’Barra bring to our play?

Partly answered today when Kelly came on (JS is not the worst midfielder we have). Also, anyone seen Crew? Has he gone back to Leeds?

Crew was was there today Alan, saw him walking around the ground. I was amazed when Sbarra came on, I genuinely don't see what Grant thought bringing him on, I'm not one for criticising players, but his introduction offered us absolutely nothing against the 10 men, he can't unlock a defence, no intelligent runs or find pockets of space, just receiving the ball with his back to goal & giving balls square or back. Just don't get it.

Last week Sbarra came on at 0-0 and we won 2-0 with one of the goals being made from him, so made sense to me to try that again.
It’s a good result, we’re in a better position than we were this morning yet it’s so negative on here. It’s crazy

Are you on the wind up, I never said it wasn't a good point, & my point stands the Sbarra substitution was a pointless one, he wasn't the answer against 10 men. Your comment regarding he made one last week, you mean the one where the keeper should thrown his hat on it, never mind parry it. I knew you wouldn't be long dissing other posters comments & opinions on the game with your petty little insults.

He came on last week against ten men and made the difference. Of course you would do that again if it wasn’t working

[RoversInSpain]

Our team is set up to counter attack we are at times to slow with the ball when teams are defending and struggle to break them down

I hope this is true, because as it stands if Salford would like a playoff place they’re on a must win game this Tuesday, so no sitting back from them….
And a win for Rovers puts us 2nd….shouldn’t moan too much at that really…on we go… Warning to the faint hearted…the rollercoaster is really getting going now

[oggycompton]

Can someone please enlighten me - what does S’Barra bring to our play?

Partly answered today when Kelly came on (JS is not the worst midfielder we have). Also, anyone seen Crew? Has he gone back to Leeds?

Saw him in corporate. Asked if he was injured and he said no. I said how come you aren’t involved and he said ‘you’re asking the wrong person’

[redarmi66]

Cant believe these comments. We weren't great today. Billy was an idiot. Was more annoyed about that than the result. Bradford lost. Walsall lost. Notts county lost (last night). We didnt! We have a game in hand. We are right in this. Get a grip people. Stop panicking. On to the next one.

[Hickleton Rover]

Look at my post on page 2 20 minutes before

[Lesonthewest]

Can someone please enlighten me - what does S’Barra bring to our play?

Partly answered today when Kelly came on (JS is not the worst midfielder we have). Also, anyone seen Crew? Has he gone back to Leeds?

Crew was was there today Alan, saw him walking around the ground. I was amazed when Sbarra came on, I genuinely don't see what Grant thought bringing him on, I'm not one for criticising players, but his introduction offered us absolutely nothing against the 10 men, he can't unlock a defence, no intelligent runs or find pockets of space, just receiving the ball with his back to goal & giving balls square or back. Just don't get it.

Last week Sbarra came on at 0-0 and we won 2-0 with one of the goals being made from him, so made sense to me to try that again.
It’s a good result, we’re in a better position than we were this morning yet it’s so negative on here. It’s crazy

Are you on the wind up, I never said it wasn't a good point, & my point stands the Sbarra substitution was a pointless one, he wasn't the answer against 10 men. Your comment regarding he made one last week, you mean the one where the keeper should thrown his hat on it, never mind parry it. I knew you wouldn't be long dissing other posters comments & opinions on the game with your petty little insults.

He came on last week against ten men and made the difference. Of course you would do that again if it wasn’t working

Not in my opinion I'm afraid, he didn't effect the game whatsoever, & he didn't change the game at Cheltenham either, Sterry did.

[Bills view]

It was a hard watch in the second half.

I know a point was ok in the end as I didn't see a goal coming but we have to grasp these opportunities.

We were against 10 men for most of the game and we could have a put a big dent in their automatic promotion hopes.

I thought Gibson looked out most dangerous player for the most part.

[steve@dcfd]

Quote

I thought Gibson looked out most dangerous player for the most part.

That’s why we looked awful in the attacking third if you believed he was our most dangerous player when he was awful it shows how good the others were.

[dickos1]

Can someone please enlighten me - what does S’Barra bring to our play?

Partly answered today when Kelly came on (JS is not the worst midfielder we have). Also, anyone seen Crew? Has he gone back to Leeds?

Crew was was there today Alan, saw him walking around the ground. I was amazed when Sbarra came on, I genuinely don't see what Grant thought bringing him on, I'm not one for criticising players, but his introduction offered us absolutely nothing against the 10 men, he can't unlock a defence, no intelligent runs or find pockets of space, just receiving the ball with his back to goal & giving balls square or back. Just don't get it.

Last week Sbarra came on at 0-0 and we won 2-0 with one of the goals being made from him, so made sense to me to try that again.
It’s a good result, we’re in a better position than we were this morning yet it’s so negative on here. It’s crazy

Are you on the wind up, I never said it wasn't a good point, & my point stands the Sbarra substitution was a pointless one, he wasn't the answer against 10 men. Your comment regarding he made one last week, you mean the one where the keeper should thrown his hat on it, never mind parry it. I knew you wouldn't be long dissing other posters comments & opinions on the game with your petty little insults.

He came on last week against ten men and made the difference. Of course you would do that again if it wasn’t working

Not in my opinion I'm afraid, he didn't effect the game whatsoever, & he didn't change the game at Cheltenham either, Sterry did.

If you can’t see he made a difference last week then you are more clueless than I thought

[pib]

Why do we persist with the Bailey, Broadbent, Clifton midfield, when it never seems to work?

It’s stood out like a sore thumb, we’ve had no creativity in there all season. Why did we bother bringing Crew in? We are crying out for someone who can pass a ball.

Game 41 and we are still horrible to watch going forward. It’s just running around and effort with very little quality. Relying on Molyneux or Gibson to do something out of nothing basically.

I really hoped we’d step up today and put in a proper performance. Especially against 10 men. It was painful. If we do somehow get promoted we are going to get annihilated in L1 with some of these players and this “style” of play.

[Ian Nimmo]

There were lots of things wrong today and Grant must take some responsibility.
As many have said he should have made changes early after the sending off, he should have introduced Joe of Billy to play with Street.
In this game and most of the season, majority of our play in out wide, we need to get more bodies central.
When you are chasing goals to win, can anyone tell me why you would bring Street off, given his recent performances. It’s a diabolical decision by Grant.

[Lesonthewest]

Can someone please enlighten me - what does S’Barra bring to our play?

Partly answered today when Kelly came on (JS is not the worst midfielder we have). Also, anyone seen Crew? Has he gone back to Leeds?

Crew was was there today Alan, saw him walking around the ground. I was amazed when Sbarra came on, I genuinely don't see what Grant thought bringing him on, I'm not one for criticising players, but his introduction offered us absolutely nothing against the 10 men, he can't unlock a defence, no intelligent runs or find pockets of space, just receiving the ball with his back to goal & giving balls square or back. Just don't get it.

Last week Sbarra came on at 0-0 and we won 2-0 with one of the goals being made from him, so made sense to me to try that again.
It’s a good result, we’re in a better position than we were this morning yet it’s so negative on here. It’s crazy

Are you on the wind up, I never said it wasn't a good point, & my point stands the Sbarra substitution was a pointless one, he wasn't the answer against 10 men. Your comment regarding he made one last week, you mean the one where the keeper should thrown his hat on it, never mind parry it. I knew you wouldn't be long dissing other posters comments & opinions on the game with your petty little insults.

He came on last week against ten men and made the difference. Of course you would do that again if it wasn’t working

Not in my opinion I'm afraid, he didn't effect the game whatsoever, & he didn't change the game at Cheltenham either, Sterry did.

If you can’t see he made a difference last week then you are more clueless than I thought

If you think Sbarra made a difference both today & at Cheltenham then I'm out.

[duggiesmyhero]

Whoever though Gibson was our best attacking option, sorry but your deluded. A draw against 10 men who yime wasted from the 30th minute until Billy got sent off. The ref was useless,  our attacking play was clueless and Billy cost us 3 points . Thank god the rest of the league are just as shite as us. Win Tues and we go 2nd. Can't be all that bad can it.

[dickos1]

Never mentioned today!
But he came on against 10 men last week with 13 mins to go with the score at 0-0 and we won 2-0. With him being heavily involved in one of the goals and playing well.
Of course if you’re a manager with the same scenario you’d try it again
But just because you have some kind of negative onsession as you do with most of our players then you go on about why we shouldn’t of brought him on 

[Reg of the Rovers]

Never mentioned today!
But he came on against 10 men last week with 13 mins to go with the score at 0-0 and we won 2-0. With him being heavily involved in one of the goals and playing well.
Of course if you’re a manager with the same scenario you’d try it again
But just because you have some kind of negative onsession as you do with most of our players then you go on about why we shouldn’t of brought him on

Sbarra worked against Cheltenham because they still wanted to play and especially after we were 1-0 up there was just acres of space for him to trot in to. Today Wimbledon had no intention of playing, they took their forwards off and sat in deep - we could have the ball without challenge up to their 18yr box - it was after that we struggled to find space and work a chance in a crowded box. Sbarra isn't the man for that job, keeping Gibson on to keep the width would have been key, as would having Sharp and Ironside on from the 40th minute to find the space in the box and convert the possession. It wasn't Sbarra's fault, it was Grant's. Bad changes, made at the wrong times cost us the game.

[Chris Black come back]

The thinking was surely that Sbarra is just about the only central midfielder we have that has creativity sufficient to put a pass through a sitting defensive side. Other option is Kelly who can run on and run through. McCann did both. Neither really worked.

[Filo]

There were lots of things wrong today and Grant must take some responsibility.
As many have said he should have made changes early after the sending off, he should have introduced Joe of Billy to play with Street.
In this game and most of the season, majority of our play in out wide, we need to get more bodies central.
When you are chasing goals to win, can anyone tell me why you would bring Street off, given his recent performances. It’s a diabolical decision by Grant.

I get why Street was taken off, with Wimbledon sitting so deep there was no room for Street to get in behind with his pace, we needed someone that could get the ball and hold it, Ironside of last season was that man, sadly this season he looks a shadow of that player

[Lesonthewest]

Never mentioned today!
But he came on against 10 men last week with 13 mins to go with the score at 0-0 and we won 2-0. With him being heavily involved in one of the goals and playing well.
Of course if you’re a manager with the same scenario you’d try it again
But just because you have some kind of negative onsession as you do with most of our players then you go on about why we shouldn’t of brought him on 

Just to confirm it's obsession not onsession, & also should have, not should of. You are also creating things in your head again to try to back up your argument, it's a complete & utter phallacy that I have a negative, (there's your favourite word again) obsession with most of our players, complete & utter rubbish. He didn't play well last week, & he didn't today. No big deal, just the wrong substitution in my opinion. Crack on making things up & throwing out your little insults.

[graingrover]

You are not obliged to support us !

[Lesonthewest]

Never mentioned today!
But he came on against 10 men last week with 13 mins to go with the score at 0-0 and we won 2-0. With him being heavily involved in one of the goals and playing well.
Of course if you’re a manager with the same scenario you’d try it again
But just because you have some kind of negative onsession as you do with most of our players then you go on about why we shouldn’t of brought him on

Sbarra worked against Cheltenham because they still wanted to play and especially after we were 1-0 up there was just acres of space for him to trot in to. Today Wimbledon had no intention of playing, they took their forwards off and sat in deep - we could have the ball without challenge up to their 18yr box - it was after that we struggled to find space and work a chance in a crowded box. Sbarra isn't the man for that job, keeping Gibson on to keep the width would have been key, as would having Sharp and Ironside on from the 40th minute to find the space in the box and convert the possession. It wasn't Sbarra's fault, it was Grant's. Bad changes, made at the wrong times cost us the game.

Agreed, we should have brought on Sharp much earlier to play alongside Street, not Sbarra.

[Pliskin]

A really frustrating and inept performance, especially considering how big an opportunity this was to beat a promotion rival with 10 men for most of it.

We were slow and predictable, hardly testing their goalkeeper. And it took a deflected long distance effort from Sterry to get something past them.

Our lack of quality and poor on-pitch intelligence has been evident all season. Players just don't seem to rise to the big occasions often enough and produce something when it matters.

We are yet to beat anyone at home in the top half this season. Nor have we come from behind to win.

Yeah, this was just one game, but it just feeds into a bigger picture that doesn't give much confidence that we have what it takes to navigate a tough run-in or playoff campaign.

[DonnyBazR0ver]

The thinking was surely that Sbarra is just about the only central midfielder we have that has creativity sufficient to put a pass through a sitting defensive side. Other option is Kelly who can run on and run through. McCann did both. Neither really worked.

Agree. The lines were too rigid and predictable.

Second half v 10 men, we had the width with Sterry and Senior, so Gibson and Moly can and should have come inside more often.

We had them starting to wilt and making unforced errors...the two corners they gave away cheaply, so we created that uncertainty. Street sometimes should come short and then someone like Bailey or Moly, or Gibson to make the runs in behind. They scored from their midfielder running in from deep and we've seen Bailey do it before but there was little effort or intelligence to keep pulling them out of their comfort zone by mixing it up.

When I saw Sbarra coming on, I really hoped Gibson would be yanked as he was wasted out wide and ineffectual. Then Billy on with Street so we still had that mobility up front. I think GM went sh*t or bust too soon and should have left Ironside as a last resort.

[drfchound]

Someone back up the thread said that we didn’t put any (not many) crosses into the box, but we did do.
There were a few really good ones which flashed across the face of goal but no one got on the end of them.
It is really difficult to find a way through a penalty area that has eight defenders and a keeper in there.
I’m in the camp that says Sharp should have come into the game much earlier than he did as until the 85th minute Wimbledon barely got into our half of the pitch after the sending off in the first half.
The time wasting by the keeper was also an irritation but that was the refs fault.
He could have stopped it quite early on with a yellow card but despite waving to the keeper to get on with things he declined the option of stopping it.
That gave the keeper the green light to continue doing the slow walk etc.
Also, while I’m ranting, when are the rules going to change to prevent the time outs?  The keeper did the sit down thing at least twice.
My pal at the game suggested that instead of giving the ball to the keeper on resumption, why not have a contested dropped ball in a designated place, maybe 30 yards from goal or even on the centre spot.

[BillyStubbsTears]

No doubt about it, we’re impotent against teams who ‘sit’. Not an attribute to take into the play-off’s!

Been saying it all season.

If you can play  a disciplined low block against us, we are truly clueless. It's happened week after week after week. Today was just that on steroids.

[mushRTID]

No doubt about it, we’re impotent against teams who ‘sit’. Not an attribute to take into the play-off’s!

Been saying it all season.

If you can play  a disciplined low block against us, we are truly clueless. It's happened week after week after week. Today was just that on steroids.

Week after week after week. Yet we can go 2nd if we win our next game. Interesting take.

[scawsby steve]

Why do people keep saying Billy cost us 3 points today? We didn't drop 3 points, so how could he have done?

[dickos1]

Never mentioned today!
But he came on against 10 men last week with 13 mins to go with the score at 0-0 and we won 2-0. With him being heavily involved in one of the goals and playing well.
Of course if you’re a manager with the same scenario you’d try it again
But just because you have some kind of negative onsession as you do with most of our players then you go on about why we shouldn’t of brought him on 

Just to confirm it's obsession not onsession, & also should have, not should of. You are also creating things in your head again to try to back up your argument, it's a complete & utter phallacy that I have a negative, (there's your favourite word again) obsession with most of our players, complete & utter rubbish. He didn't play well last week, & he didn't today. No big deal, just the wrong substitution in my opinion. Crack on making things up & throwing out your little insults.

In your opinion he didn’t play well last week,
In mine and the managers he did!
And deserved a go again today,
In the minutes he’s played over the last two games we’ve scored 3 and conceded none, in those same games when he’s been on the bench we’ve scored zero and conceded 1.
Seems to me he’s made an impact, if he came on and scored a hat trick you’d find an excuse why.

And don’t pretend you aren’t negative, you’re up there with the most negative on this forum and have been for years

[dickos1]

No doubt about it, we’re impotent against teams who ‘sit’. Not an attribute to take into the play-off’s!

Been saying it all season.

If you can play  a disciplined low block against us, we are truly clueless. It's happened week after week after week. Today was just that on steroids.

Week after week after week. Yet we can go 2nd if we win our next game. Interesting take.

No doubt about it, we’re impotent against teams who ‘sit’. Not an attribute to take into the play-off’s!

Been saying it all season.

If you can play  a disciplined low block against us, we are truly clueless. It's happened week after week after week. Today was just that on steroids.

What happened in all the games we won then against teams with a low block?
We’ve won a lot more than we’ve lost this season,
But listening to folk like tou, you wouldn’t believe it