Let's talk about the Stevenage game

[Usher wide.]

It is quite bizarre now your fixation on Gaz.

BobG

Well….it gives you something to post about.

Been to the game today?

Been to any game this season?

[EasyforDennis]

Same old story I’m afraid. If we don’t get someone in January who can trouble the opposition goaalkeeper we can write the rest of the season off.

We were far and away the better team untll we got anywhere near their penalty area.
9 shots with 2 on target and TWENTY FIVE touches in their area tells the whole story.

[Pancho Regan]

Just looking at the table.

It’s amazing that Bradford City have won only 5 points out of the last possible 18 and yet still sit in 2nd place.

[mushRTID]

I think that’s a poor result based on the game.

They were awful. Based on what Iv seen so far this season, il be surprised if we face an opposition that bad again.

Ignoring the obvious striker issues, we’re crying out for a dominant CM.

[graingrover]

What a Sterling all-round performance lads!

[bpoolrover]

Thought we were very good today, please keep the same team next week if possible

[Copps is Magic]

I think that’s a poor result based on the game.

They were awful. Based on what Iv seen so far this season, il be surprised if we face an opposition that bad again.

Ignoring the obvious striker issues, we’re crying out for a dominant CM.

Dominated in midfield? I don't think its' often we see that. For me, the bigger issue is a lack of quality and composure in the final 3rd.  Maxwell today was kind of a microcosm of how we play ... Lots of endeavour and effort - getting into great positions, but shanking his crosses left, right and centre.

I'd give my left bollox for a player with a bit of quality right now.

[selby]

  Listened to the game on Radio dee dah and going to a top side and getting a point has got to be a good result.
  And it sounded like Broadbent had a great game.

[Copps is Magic]

In some parallel universe we'd have made a club record bid for Street at the start of the season, be 6/7 goals better off than we currently are, and be in contention for the play-offs/promotion.

Fantasy over.

[Chris Black come back]

Stevenage have an immense home record. That’s a very good point today.

[DonnyOsmond]

Were 5th on xG table now, were a player or two off being play off contenders.

[ForsolongaRover]

Stevenage have an immense home record. That’s a very good point today.

The missed chances are enough to make you weep and in a sense the last few games have shown that in order to win we need even more chances if the conversion rate does not improve. Fortunately we kept the opposition out. Are League 1 defences and goalkeepers generally too good for us? Somehow what might be described as the inevitable result of the pressure we exert doesn't lead to expected end-product. Is it a psychological problem? We can blame bad luck, but could it be in the heads of our players? A lot is spoken about that side of the game nowadays. 

[Avsuptem]

Mc Grath had a better game today too. Also a mention for the match officials, better than usual today.

[BillyStubbsTears]

Mc Grath had a better game today too. Also a mention for the match officials, better than usual today.

They were, but they missed a clear penalty on Hanlan.

The defender shoved him in the chest with his forearm as they both went for the ball near the right goal line in the 2nd half. Definite penalty.

[adamtherover]

Anyone want to own up to be one of thr numptiees scrapping at the back near final whistle?

[The Dav]

Agreed Billy ! Watched it at home and called it straight away just for the ref not to show any interest what so ever !

[Filo]

Mc Grath had a better game today too. Also a mention for the match officials, better than usual today.

They were, but they missed a clear penalty on Hanlan.

The defender shoved him in the chest with his forearm as they both went for the ball near the right goal line in the 2nd half. Definite penalty.

We just don’t get penalty’s

[GazLaz]

Mc Grath had a better game today too. Also a mention for the match officials, better than usual today.

They were, but they missed a clear penalty on Hanlan.

The defender shoved him in the chest with his forearm as they both went for the ball near the right goal line in the 2nd half. Definite penalty.

They don’t get given as penalties. Just wasn’t one.

Decent performance really in poor conditions. We were certainly the better team, they created pretty much zero.

[Spud]

We were shouting for two pens on Hanlan, neither were for me.

[danumdon]

In that first altercation between Hanlan and Piergianni Hanlon was too honest for his own good and stayed up after he had hands laid all over him, if he went down at that point it should have been a penalty.

Thought he led the line well today, worked hard and made a nuisance of himself all game, on another day he would have got some reward for his endeavours. Showed pace and strength.

The subs did not work for us, loosing the man in midfield allowed them a foothold. Clifton had a mighty game and was unlucky a couple of times.

Overall in appalling conditions we stood up well and restricted them throughout, if you didn't know the league positions could have been reversed. Could of been conditions led but with a bit more composure we win that game

The effort and application is there, we just need to stick at it, it will come.

[grayx]

We were definitely the better side, the stevenage commentators were shocked how well we played and couldnt believe our league position. If only we could find the net.
I did think Stevenage were very poor today though, no way will they be top 6 on todays showing.

[BillyStubbsTears]

Mc Grath had a better game today too. Also a mention for the match officials, better than usual today.

They were, but they missed a clear penalty on Hanlan.

The defender shoved him in the chest with his forearm as they both went for the ball near the right goal line in the 2nd half. Definite penalty.

They don’t get given as penalties. Just wasn’t one.

Decent performance really in poor conditions. We were certainly the better team, they created pretty much zero.

Then the laws of the game are not being applied correctly.

It was a foul challenge. Plain and simple. If you are running parallel to an opponent, the Laws allow you to physically push them out of the way ONLY through shoulder to shoulder contact. Using arms or hands or contacting anywhere else is a foul. There's no debating that. It is in black and white in the Laws of the Game.

That's twice in the last few weeks that we've had players clearly and unambiguously fouled in the area, and you've said "They don't give penalties for that."

Who has decided that convention? I've never seen any discussion that there has to be a higher standard applied to fouls resulting in penalties. If there was such a one, the place to start would be where a player grazes against a defender's leg and goes down, when the defender is clearly not deliberately trying to trip the striker. But those are invariably given. E.g. the penalty given for Northampton  against Close last month.

[GazLaz]

Mc Grath had a better game today too. Also a mention for the match officials, better than usual today.

They were, but they missed a clear penalty on Hanlan.

The defender shoved him in the chest with his forearm as they both went for the ball near the right goal line in the 2nd half. Definite penalty.

They don’t get given as penalties. Just wasn’t one.

Decent performance really in poor conditions. We were certainly the better team, they created pretty much zero.

Then the laws of the game are not being applied correctly.

It was a foul challenge. Plain and simple. If you are running parallel to an opponent, the Laws allow you to physically push them out of the way ONLY through shoulder to shoulder contact. Using arms or hands or contacting anywhere else is a foul. There's no debating that. It is in black and white in the Laws of the Game.

That's twice in the last few weeks that we've had players clearly and unambiguously fouled in the area, and you've said "They don't give penalties for that."

Who has decided that convention? I've never seen any discussion that there has to be a higher standard applied to fouls resulting in penalties. If there was such a one, the place to start would be where a player grazes against a defender's leg and goes down, when the defender is clearly not deliberately trying to trip the striker. But those are invariably given. E.g. the penalty given for Northampton  against Close last month.

I don’t actually disagree, it’s just something that happens. In the same way that if a player gets a shot off, and then gets wiped it by a player trying to block it, a penalty never gets given. If it happens in the centre circle when a player passes the ball, late challenges get given as fouls.

[idler]

Exactly that happened to Phil Foden yesterday against Newcastle.
It is hard to guess what will or won’t be given, even with VAR.
Obvious ones denied and very soft ones given. We rarely seem to profit with either.

[Chris Black come back]

A single penalty awarded to us in the league this season, but four awarded against us (only two of the four scored though).

[DonnyBazR0ver]

Mc Grath had a better game today too. Also a mention for the match officials, better than usual today.

They were, but they missed a clear penalty on Hanlan.

The defender shoved him in the chest with his forearm as they both went for the ball near the right goal line in the 2nd half. Definite penalty.

They don’t get given as penalties. Just wasn’t one.

Decent performance really in poor conditions. We were certainly the better team, they created pretty much zero.

Then the laws of the game are not being applied correctly.

It was a foul challenge. Plain and simple. If you are running parallel to an opponent, the Laws allow you to physically push them out of the way ONLY through shoulder to shoulder contact. Using arms or hands or contacting anywhere else is a foul. There's no debating that. It is in black and white in the Laws of the Game.

That's twice in the last few weeks that we've had players clearly and unambiguously fouled in the area, and you've said "They don't give penalties for that."

Who has decided that convention? I've never seen any discussion that there has to be a higher standard applied to fouls resulting in penalties. If there was such a one, the place to start would be where a player grazes against a defender's leg and goes down, when the defender is clearly not deliberately trying to trip the striker. But those are invariably given. E.g. the penalty given for Northampton  against Close last month.

Seen the extended highlights and agree with your assessment. Having seen the forearm push you can't deem that shoulder to shoulder and levering Hanlan off the ball. It's foul play.

Looks like Hanlan did some good work again. The winning of the tussle to get round the full back ioutwide, bursting into the area was excellent. The subsequent near miss from the ricochet off Clifton highlights the fine margins, when last week, the ricochet off Gotts ends up the wrong side of the post for the og.

The lads have got to keep plugging away and these recent better performances will be rewarded.

[BobG]

It is quite bizarre now your fixation on Gaz.

BobG

Well….it gives you something to post about.

Been to the game today?

Been to any game this season?

I see you have had to resort to that old trick of changing the subject when you have absolutely no defence at all to the point under discussion - your pathetic attempts to ridicule the intelligent, experienced AND knowledgeable Gaz. Your ignorance shines brightly.

Cheers

BobG