Let's talk about the Lincoln City game

[scawsby steve]

Would be nice if we could get close to 11k tonight.

I think we’ll be lucky to get 9,500 tonight and that’s assuming 3,000 from Lincoln.
It’s a shame but there’s nothing to play for now and there’s a home game Saturday

Totally agree, plus the fact that it's on Sky.

[normal rules]

Street confirmed as starting . Please don’t score against us Rob.

[Barmby Rover]

Street confirmed as starting . Please don’t score against us Rob.

Almost inevitable!

[RoseTInteD]

They may be champions with one of the smallest grounds in league one, but we have better training facilities at Cantley Park. So there!

[jmt23]

They are everything we aren’t. It was magnified tonight, we are idealess going forward, it’s not a striker problem, it’s the whole forward unit.

It’s not just because the players are mentally on the beach either, although that is a problem now.

Very interesting to see how Grant deals with this, it is certainly not how he wants his team to be.

[GazLaz]

They are an extremely well coached team that obviously have a clarity running through the club in the way they recruit, the way they train and the way they play.

We’ve a lot to learn.

[big fat yorkshire pudding]

They are an extremely well coached team that obviously have a clarity running through the club in the way they recruit, the way they train and the way they play.

We’ve a lot to learn.

They weren't amazing in some ways but super organised and just massive across the pitch, built to play a certain way. Well done to them.

I thought tonight summed up our season at times. Too weak, too slow, very little up front and too many players imo that aren't good enough to be up the top in this league.

I hope we build well in the summer. It's not the end of the world if we don't but we need more physicality, goals and pace to be successful in this league.

[Filo]

They had pace up top and plenty of runners, everything we haven’t

[colincramb]

All that being said, the style of football they play won’t cut it at championship level. Pretty sure we will see them back in league 1 in 12 months time

[GazLaz]

All that being said, the style of football they play won’t cut it at championship level. Pretty sure we will see them back in league 1 in 12 months time

What aspect won’t cut it?

[steve@dcfd]

They had pace power size organisation players who can run with the ball at pace. They were as good without the ball as they were with it. They have had seven years in league 1and the progression is there under this manager. For us to progress next season we have to look at what is required with players and organisation.

[danumdon]

Reminded me very much of the Rotherham side of a few years ago, physically big, fit and ready to run through any team in front of them. Not technically brilliant but very organised, playing simple pass and move with players who had strength and size to mix it and come out with the ball,

If i remember rightly, that Rotherham side initially found the next level steady going for a while until all the better clubs worked them out and from that point on they started the demise to where they are now.Seems like the money had run out.

If Lincoln can add some additional technical skill to that side they will do well, seems like they may have the means to do so, will be interesting to see how they progress.

Made us look like none league part timers, the gap was that big!

Plenty for us to do for next season.

[eastender]

All that being said, the style of football they play won’t cut it at championship level. Pretty sure we will see them back in league 1 in 12 months time

That style of play will cause a lot of Championship teams problems.

[roversdude]

How bad were we though, no outlet and we seemed to be on the beach unfortunately

[Plumbster]

Credit to Lincoln tonight but that was embarrassingly one-sided. To think 2 years ago we were the better team against Wrexham and it’s hard to avoid the feeling that we have regressed, or given that lots of the players are the same, most of the team have regressed, and we have struggled to replace key departures. Great relief that we have stayed up but most of the season it has felt that we are miles away from genuine promotion contenders.

[StocksArmy]

It was a fairly even contest until the penalty, after which they took control. I’m really struggling to keep watching Hanlan, and it’s hard to understand how we’ve managed to stay up with him and Sharp leading the line for the majority because that attacking pair going into a stronger league looks about as p!ss weak as it gets. And hearing the manager say Adelakun is going to be “some player” with a proper pre-season is a big red flag for me. You’re not learning, Grant.

[drfchound]

It was easy tonight to see why Lincoln have won the league.
Having a go at our lads is very harsh and to suggest that we weren’t trying, like some people near me in the stadium, is crazy.
We did really well to keep the score down to 2-0 with some good defending plus a bit of good luck.
Staying up is a good outcome this season and we have seen tonight where we should aspire to be next season.

[Thorney]

Credit to Lincoln tonight but that was embarrassingly one-sided. To think 2 years ago we were the better team against Wrexham and it’s hard to avoid the feeling that we have regressed, or given that lots of the players are the same, most of the team have regressed, and we have struggled to replace key departures. Great relief that we have stayed up but most of the season it has felt that we are miles away from genuine promotion contenders.

How can you compare us tonight against a league 1 winning team on a 26 game unbeaten run when we are towards the bottom end of the league against when we played a team only going for autos in league 2 when we was pushing towards playoffs?

The wrexham team we played wouldnt of beaten that Lincoln side tonight

[Alan Southstand]

If we didn’t think we had limitations as a squad, then tonight truly underlined the enormous task we’ve got to get anywhere near the top 6 in this league! GM may have to have a re-think about doing what Lincoln have done, but do it in a shorter timescale.

They were physically imposing all over the pitch, they were stronger in every challenge, quicker in thought and deed. Well deserving of being champions and they hardly had to break sweat to beat us. Man for man, they were far superior.

If this is what we’re truly trying to emulate, then we have got some massive decisions to make and I’m not sure we have the finances to support it. That was sobering watching us huff and puff and get absolutely nowhere near them.

[sedwardsdrfc]

Look at them when they get a throw in or free kick. They all just know exactly what they are doing and get about it effectively. That’s coaching.

Look at us and it’s slow and often just daft decisions made off the cuff. We get a free kick and try do a few short passes before we go back to the keeper and go long and hopeful. Almost as if we don’t know how we are going to score goals.

It’s obvious our centre backs are terrible in possession we should play in a way that means they touch the ball as little as possible but seem to fall into the habit of stupid short passing

[Usher wide.]

Grant wanted to see ‘where we were at’ against the ‘Champions elect’. He saw all he needed to see in order for us to progress.

And by ‘progress’ I don’t necessarily mean contending for promotion next season.

But in order to get anywhere near we have to say goodbye to Hanlan, Clinton, Broadbent, Gibson, Close, Adelakun (we can’t afford his type of ‘luxury’ when for every moment of gasp he causes in outrageous bursts of play he draws equal amounts of gasps in his naivety in giving the ball away in areas that harm us).

Add to those Pearson who only looks good in a poor central defence, likewise Byrne.

Middleton you can also add as a player who hasn’t cut it it in this division much like Gibson.

Billy retires, bless him for his service over 3 stints with us.

Let’s hope our ‘new recruitment team’ can find us some gems to go alongside Bailey, Gotts, Senior, Sterry & Mols.

Grant said in an interview after the ‘Easter Massacre’s’ that he knew then which players to let go & that he already had replacements in mind.

Let’s all hope we see the fruits of his thoughts in a real progression next season.

[sedwardsdrfc]

Haks was embarrassing tonight didn’t look like a footballer once. Think your harsh on Hanlan, who was one of our best players, and Broadbent who was better than Gotts in his half.

Yes we may need better but tonight’s game didn’t seal their fates

[Pancho Regan]

If we didn’t think we had limitations as a squad, then tonight truly underlined the enormous task we’ve got to get anywhere near the top 6 in this league! GM may have to have a re-think about doing what Lincoln have done, but do it in a shorter timescale.

They were physically imposing all over the pitch, they were stronger in every challenge, quicker in thought and deed. Well deserving of being champions and they hardly had to break sweat to beat us. Man for man, they were far superior.

If this is what we’re truly trying to emulate, then we have got some massive decisions to make and I’m not sure we have the finances to support it. That was sobering watching us huff and puff and get absolutely nowhere near them.

Don’t be too harsh on us Alan.
Lincoln are miles ahead of every team in the division (except Cardiff), not just us.

Of course we have lots of work to do and Grant knows that, but we’ve had some decent results against teams in the top ten this season and we’re certainly not miles away from the likes of Bradford City.

Have faith, and don’t look at Lincoln as being the benchmark because they have stormed this division.

[Sprotyrover]

We were taught a lesson tonight, the weak links in our squad were highlighted and hopefully we will recruit to sort our issues in the summer.
Just think if we had got a lucky win, everything would be just hunky dory no changes needed!

[grayx]

How bad were we though, no outlet and we seemed to be on the beach unfortunately

We were shocking. I was hoping for a decent performance with no pressure on us after securing our safety. We just didnt look like scoring and always looked like conceding. Massive rebuild required if we are to compete next season.

[Smyth]

How bad were we though, no outlet and we seemed to be on the beach unfortunately

We were shocking. I was hoping for a decent performance with no pressure on us after securing our safety. We just didnt look like scoring and always looked like conceding. Massive rebuild required if we are to compete next season.

Nothing can be as gut wrenching as getting beat 0-5 and 0-6, at home to Rotherham,  absolutely nothing is going to be that bad.

[colincramb]

All that being said, the style of football they play won’t cut it at championship level. Pretty sure we will see them back in league 1 in 12 months time

What aspect won’t cut it?

Because most, if not all teams at that level can play the ‘Lincoln way’ (have fast, robust players and organisation) but also have players with much better technical ability and much deeper squads. The majority of teams will have the ability to play through it and around it.

Be absolutely shocked if they don’t struggle. I think people underestimate and forget the absolute  gulf in quality that has emerged in the last 10 years between the championship and league 1

[steve@dcfd]

Last season Lincoln finished 11th in the league with 61 pts. They won 16 games drew 13 and and lost 17. So with the right recruitment of players with pace and size to add to players we have then we should see an improvement next season. We must score more goals and reduce conceding goals.

[CJK]

They reminded me of our 2012/13 L1 Champions side. Made up of grit, strength and determination. Not much flair, ugly, knew how to get the job done.

[ncRover]

Last season Lincoln finished 11th in the league with 61 pts. They won 16 games drew 13 and and lost 17. So with the right recruitment of players with pace and size to add to players we have then we should see an improvement next season. We must score more goals and reduce conceding goals.

Yes but they didn’t need a big rebuild in the summer.

They have got to where they are with steady and smart progress. They haven’t made mistakes in recruitment over the years that need rectifying so they can build.

They sold Erhahon and Makama for over £2m combined in the summer.

Their loans they lost Cadamarteri and Gardner weren’t regular starters.

Grant doesn't see Lincoln as a blueprint because he wants to get out of the division quicker than they have.

If we can be way smarter than them and invest more money in to the playing squad overnight then fair play! I just think we need to be realistic and not be shit or bust personally.

Yes you can point to Bradford but they are very fortunate to be where they are. And play offs isn’t promotion. If they go up I will be astounded.

Finishing 7th/8th/9th next season would be absolutely fine. Play offs amazing and something to aim for but not an expectation.