Let's talk about the Stockport County game

[sedwardsdrfc]

Shame I can’t be as confident it’d be a different game if Bailey scored. At the moment it would be 5min before they scored another anyway.

Until McCann can coach this lot to be harder to beat we’ll struggle.

[andyst79]

"if we are guna get done by a big man up top" - Wooton is a thorn in the side and in double figures so not only us that is getting done by him.

Talk of letting Anderson go....he would also be getting done by these teams and everyone would be ripping GM for giving him a deal. Anderson is playing for a bottom end L2 team who are leaking goals, why do you think he would boss L1?

Joe Olowu handled Hanlon with relative ease all night - remember 2 yrs ago 60% of this forum were slating olowu and wanted him ditched.....but he can handle our only starting striker.

Middleton came on and played a great cross within minutes for Bailey to almost score but for a wonder save. Middleton is a good winger....but nothing to play to.

Hopefully we can make some changes in Jan window to help us out.

Anderson was immense last season, played at this level before but we'll never know. What it boils down to is that we haven't brought a single player in that's improved the starting 11 from last season

[Ryaldinhio]

"if we are guna get done by a big man up top" - Wooton is a thorn in the side and in double figures so not only us that is getting done by him.

Talk of letting Anderson go....he would also be getting done by these teams and everyone would be ripping GM for giving him a deal. Anderson is playing for a bottom end L2 team who are leaking goals, why do you think he would boss L1?

Joe Olowu handled Hanlon with relative ease all night - remember 2 yrs ago 60% of this forum were slating olowu and wanted him ditched.....but he can handle our only starting striker.

Middleton came on and played a great cross within minutes for Bailey to almost score but for a wonder save. Middleton is a good winger....but nothing to play to.

Hopefully we can make some changes in Jan window to help us out.

Anderson was immense last season, played at this level before but we'll never know. What it boils down to is that we haven't brought a single player in that's improved the starting 11 from last season

Totally agree


We only signed one L1 level player in Matty Pearson and he is knocking on. All other players were L2, league of Ireland or on loan with no experience.

Just look at stockports signings most L1 experience or championship, reportedly over £2m on 2 players.

If we only sign the best players in L2 then we will be the best team in L2 next year

[DonnyBazR0ver]

Plenty of positives but...the game was probably the epitome of why we are where we are at the mo. A little bit unlucky but also a bit naive.

Both teams made mistakes but one of those when you think if we had Wooton, we win the game.

Those little critical moments are making a huge difference.

Gibson. Unlucky.
Bailey. Harder not to score from that position. He seemed to cushion the shot. Any firmer and the keeper has no chance.
Hanlan. A couple of moments where he should have done better whereas Wootton, an experienced centre forward who does what it says on the tin, scores a couple of good centre forward goals.

Last season at 2-2 we probably go on to win that. This season, we don't have the wherewithal to manage the game as well as many of our L1 opponents who are just that 10% more decisive at the vital moments at both ends.

[selby]

  Just as bad a decision  was the underestimation of two young defenders of our own.  One who has played two games not in his best position but hardly put a foot wrong and another who statistically one of the best in division 2 this season

[Alan Southstand]

Neither of whom are L1 standard!

[StocksArmy]

We are desperate for reinforcements at the back. Grehan is for the future, McGrath also is and hasn’t made the step up but as he was so good last season people forget he’s 20! Pearson simply not even close to being good enough. Full backs and midfielders aren’t stopping crosses and so now we either point fingers at the manager or we change the personnel. IMO our best performance under McCann this time around was Bradford away last season where he went 3 at the back with 2 wing backs. We looked a threat throughout and defended solidly. That system really suits the players we have and if he played it and stuck with it I feel we would at least stop shipping so many goals.

[Alan Southstand]

If we still had COR, StocksArmy! Can’t trust the other 2, whoever you pick.

[selby]

  What does it take before it sinks in, we have a young lad in Flint that has played two first team games and hasn't put a foot wrong in those games, handled Cook in the Bradford game easily and it is not his best position, defensive mid field just in front of the back four is, a position that would release Bailey to be more forward or a central defender.
  And we have one of the best division two defenders in Faulkner  stats wise as quick as any player we have, and had envious eyes from teams higher than us watching him just before he got injured getting the MOM in that game v Newcastle u21s, and had the Harrogate manager praising him both on and off the field of play for his attitude to the game.
  What do they have to do to get a game here?  They deserve a chance and could well be the answer and allow funds to be spent elsewhere, and at the same time prepare the club if we do get relegated, I have watched them for five years,  and they still have potential to be a lot better than they are now, which more than matches what we are dishing up at the moment.

[Sammy Chung was King]

We were in the game for most of it, but inattention to detail at the back cost us again. It was obvious when we couldn’t get Street we were a bit light up front, even then I thought we had a chance of being up there challenging, I still do if we could get the right people in , in January. We’ve made ground up on teams before.

If we don’t get what we need January we could be in big trouble. In my opinion, we need at least a centre half, experienced but with a bit still left in the legs, a central midfield that can win the ball, another that can create, plus a striker. That’s bare minimum just to plug gaps up that have formed, as players we’ve signed just haven’t quite produced what we thought they would. I think it will take the chairman putting a bit in for January, whether it be permanent or loans. There is so little between most sides in this league, a bad run makes a good side look bad.

[Monkcaster_Rover]

First game I’ve watched in a while.

Cracking ball from Jay (as I was slagging him off) to Moly who took his touch brilliantly and a great finish.
No arguments with the penalty. He’s no need to have his hands on him there. Very frustrating.
McGrath got pinned for their 3rd goal. Frustrating to see him not get off the ground.
I’d rather see a Senior own goal than a Wootton hat trick which was inevitable.

Felt Gotts grew into the game. Annoyed with his persistence to knock everything into the air at the start but eventually got to grips with it. Hanlan worked hard for me and had a shift on but created some chances and gave them something to think about. 5 years ago Billy buries that chance but that’s what we’re dealing with!

I thought we’d get pasted tonight. I’m glad we competed and showed some bottle. Roll on January to get some new recruits in.

[selby]

  Alan, a manager like you would never know how good they were as you would never bother having the balls to see.
  Let's look at what you do want. two Joe Olowu's that's the best bit of £500, 000 going on the fee we refused last January if rumours are correct.  Plus the best part of let's say £7,000 a week each more than any player here at the moment.
  Throw in that striker, well Aaron Collins who had cost Bolton half a million plus from Bristol Rovers left for MK Dons for an unknown fee but rumoured over £10,000 a week wages which is eye watering for Div2, but the now market.
  Get all them three lower division players and you still have no guarantee of staying up and if the agents do their job would wright in the contracts that there would be no lowering of wages if relegated, plus to be a little cheeky a bonus if we stayed up this season.
  And as a club that is where we are, and if I was the chairman paying the bills it would not do for me at all.
   And then you have the two lads you dismiss, both capable of easily making a living from the game, would very probably the way they are thought of in the game play at at least the level we may be at next season (one already smashed it) and have had interest shown in them by clubs even higher up the pecking order than ourselves. and if their agents do their job would be ok leaving us, and have the capability, physical stature, and crucially pace to improve greatly with experience
  And that is pulling no punches the position we are in, and round about what your ideas would cost the club benefactor and with players not good enough to play at this level and are alright thank you very much and can just see out their contract.
  I would be interested if you would identify players that would want to come to the struggling club we are at the moment, and how the club could afford them, and if you would trust us to get it right this time without breaking  the bank.

[Alan Southstand]

Selby, before you totally embarrass yourself, if you havn’t already done that, just calm yourself down lad. It’s about time you realise that opinions are like assholes - everyone’s got one! I’m no different to every contributor on this board - I have my own opinions and when I think it’s right to air them, like everyone else, including you, I’ll carry on doing it, if you don’t mind. No point making it personal - water off a duck’s back, as they say. And what exactly does having the balls to see even mean? If you think I’m going to drive round the Country just to check on how 2 lads individual performances are shaping up then you’ve got the wrong man. I’m too old and a lot less enthusiastic about football than I was, even 5 years ago, never mind the rest.

Quite simply, your love affair with Faulkner is already well known and the lad might be the best thing since sliced bread, but I do think you do take too much pleasure in knocking anyone who stands in his way. I like both lads but I believe it’s not what we need right now and it’s unfair, now, to lump the pressure on those two.

I get where you’re coming from - well, some of it, anyway and, in particular with what players cost, which is why I’ve commented on it elsewhere on this forum. We can’t be deriding the manager on the one hand, whilst ignoring the cost of getting a proven L1 performer (or higher) in the other.

Something has to give, somewhere, for us to make some sort of breakthrough, otherwise we’re back to square one again.

[graingrover]

I do agree with Selby that we should have both Faulkner and Flint available as squad players for the rest of this season even if it means two out of four loanees less .There will. R real physical battles in both penalty areas that Faulkner  is up for and he is quick .In pre season sprints he was ahead of everybody in our squad two summers ago.
Grant said he did not fancy him winning an aerial battle with Ironside ..Well Grant use the new investment in coaching and gym work to improve him in house not at Harrogate .

[selby]

  Alan, you made the stark comment they are not good enough, then admit  you have not actually seen them.
  I have commented on both McGrath and Grehan on games I have watched, never commented on them when I have not watched the games they have played in, and when they, on very few occasions have played well have said so. In fact in McGraths case saw him  before he signed for the Rovers at Alfreton on loan from Coventry where he was less than impressive and moved on eventually to Ireland but contacted the Club about a lad called Shepherd at Penistone Church and Pontefract Collieries about the same time a left back or central defender, now at Barnsley and played on loan for Bradford City at the end of last season. Unfortunately he was over 16 yrs old and not able to join the academy unless like Bobby played for nothing when he was getting paid in non league and us with no u21s.
  Barnsley picked him up after playing against them in pre season  for Pontefract Collieries at the start of the season after.

[Alan Southstand]

No, I didn’t say they are not good enough. I said they’re not L1 standard. By default, if they were, they’d already be in the team? Of course, you have better knowledge about the 2 lads, I’m well aware of that and respect to you for keeping tabs on them. But, first thing is, you’re not the guy selecting the team and, thankfully, neither am I. Second thing is, I have seen both of them and have commented on both when I have seen them, maybe not whilst they’ve been at their various loan Clubs, but Flint played in the Mickey Mouse cup.

The chances are they’ll both be fine and have careers in football, but imho, it’s unfair to saddle the pair of them with the predicament we now find ourselves in. With supporters crying out for more experience/quality players,  you can imagine the slating GM &co. will get if they are both thrown to the lions. It’s not the right time!

[i_ateallthepies]

  Just as bad a decision  was the underestimation of two young defenders of our own.  One who has played two games not in his best position but hardly put a foot wrong and another who statistically one of the best in division 2 this season

Neither of whom are L1 standard!

I understand both points of view here but given the situation the club now finds itself in and the likely difficulties - financial and situational - it will have in attracting proven L1 players to strengthen the squad it would make sense to me to bring Flint and Faulkener back from their loans and blood them carefully into the squad in readiness for when they may have to be called upon.  The alternative likely being gambling on more journeymen past their prime or unproven youngsters from other clubs no better than our own.

[Padge_DRFC]

The Sharp chance and how he took it reminded me of the kid in school who accidentally had a chance to score and panicked so bad he barely kicked it and it showed

[Chris Black come back]

I saw that also and thought the worst for the first time.

[grayx]

The Sharp chance and how he took it reminded me of the kid in school who accidentally had a chance to score and panicked so bad he barely kicked it and it showed

Unfortunately times caught up with Billy. As much as he may try, his legs have gone & i dread him coming on as a sub now. One contract too many & those funds could be used better.

[StocksArmy]

The Sharp chance and how he took it reminded me of the kid in school who accidentally had a chance to score and panicked so bad he barely kicked it and it showed

That’s exactly what happened. The ball by Clifton was fine but just didn’t have the legs to get to it ahead of the defender resulting in complete panic and a miss hit shot.

[selby]

  I have watched Will Flint and Bobby Faulkner since the very first day they came to the club at 15 and 16 years old.
  The one thing nobody needs to be worried about is their attitude towards a challenge mentally, physical, or fitness wise.
  Both strong characters that want a challenge and both top top trainers at the club, do extra away from the club as well, in fact have had to be told to keep off the weights a bit as they were doing toom much, coming from training, having a rest and hitting the Gym again and doing a bit too much.
  As for taking responsibility and reaction, or when walloped by Cooke of Bradford City and ask him is it the best you've got no problem, they have no fear in them of anything or anybody, in fact when you jump on the railway line in front of a train and chuck somebody physically onto the platform at Skellow station trying to commit suicide and get an award from the police for doing so your not bothered about a bloody football game.

[StocksArmy]

Problem with that is the manager doesn’t think they are good enough at actually playing football at this moment in time and imo I’m very much in agreement with him. Faulkner I honestly believe he won’t ever operate higher than league two and Flint is currently struggling for starts in a poor Gateshead team.

[NickDRFC]

  I have watched Will Flint and Bobby Faulkner since the very first day they came to the club at 15 and 16 years old.
  The one thing nobody needs to be worried about is their attitude towards a challenge mentally, physical, or fitness wise.
  Both strong characters that want a challenge and both top top trainers at the club, do extra away from the club as well, in fact have had to be told to keep off the weights a bit as they were doing toom much, coming from training, having a rest and hitting the Gym again and doing a bit too much.
  As for taking responsibility and reaction, or when walloped by Cooke of Bradford City and ask him is it the best you've got no problem, they have no fear in them of anything or anybody, in fact when you jump on the railway line in front of a train and chuck somebody physically onto the platform at Skellow station trying to commit suicide and get an award from the police for doing so your not bothered about a bloody football game.

The second part of this post was an interesting (albeit difficult to understand) tangent.