Away vs Cambridge United - Sat 15 Feb 2020

Nah not having the weather as an excuse.

I watched a lot of football yesterday and teams learnt to cope with the conditions. It's the same for both teams.

The problem was we made the wrong changes, didn't use the wind to our advantage and we're one soft team.

People forget that Stevenage were all over use in the 1st half and much of the 2nd half also... what was the excuse then?

We can't keep making lame excuses or we won't get anywhere.

McCall messed up, players got out battled and we were not good enough to win.. it's as simple as that.

 

You would think our newshound at the T&A would be asking this very question at the press conference. ‘‘Tis a mystery but in our dire need I doubt an extra payment to Blackpool can be the reason.

 

Don’t agree with the majority of your post, but do agree with the highlighted. However, I think Stuart has hardly any time to properly assess the players.

 

It might have been 1-1 or worse if Stuart had waited until the last 10 minutes you say we surrendered to attack and defence far too early, as I posted I could only watch the second half and it looked very much attack and defence for virtually all the second 45 minutes, maybe two chances second half Connollys great cross that maybe Novak should have done better and the Pritchard situation when the ref didn't think it was a foul and Cambridge broke away and scored, having said that challenges should have been made before the lad got chance to cross, how many times have we seen that situation this season.

 

One aspect that seems to have slipped under the radar is Guthrie’s absence. It looks like there’s a story there. Our deadline day signing starts one match and then is left out of the 18. I’m not surprised frankly but how annoying that we may well have made a poor signing in the wrong position.

 

It's an opinion Onside, nothing inappropriate about it at all. I think bringing Paudie on so early in the game and going to a back 5 was 100% the wrong thing to do and probably ended up costing us the game. I am glad Stuart is back, I think given the circumstances (having to quickly get to grips with a poor bloated squad and lack of time to train properly due to the weather), he is doing a good job overall, but yesterday he made a poor decision and he should be held account for it in the same way that he is given credit where it is due.

 

We probably gave him a 5 year contract did we...?

 

Look, not bashing Stuart and I agree he hasn't had time to assess the players but he is making judgement calls already! No Devitt. No Devine, No Gibson etc now I am not saying these players barring Devitt should be in the squad but the 3 squads he has picked has nearly been the same.

The back 4 is what Bowyer would of picked.
The midfield barring Akpan is what Bowyer would of picked.
The top 2 with maybe Donaldson coming in Bowyer would of picked.

So it's not like McCall is changing loads.

The issue is , McCall saying he will give everyone a chance? Why say that? So POC coming on and Middleton starting came as no shock to me but tactical McCall messed up.

Reeves is 5 foot nothing take me off if you're worried about the long ball, out Donaldson on with Novak.

The play offs will be out of sight if we mess about experimenting! We either an attacking side or we're not!

Weather is no excuse in football- same for both teams.

 

I think we had a disastrous January. Plus I think Rhodes and Rupp made a mistake in not identifying that they needed to ask Bowyer to leave and allow Stuart to buy in key players. However, maybe they did it deliberately, in giving up on promotion this season and having a clear out in the summer.

 

I’m hoping that yesterday was just one of those matches where we met a resurgent team who read the local conditions better than us. Before yesterday Port Vale were below us but full of optimism because they were upwardly mobile. We need now to go on a run like they have done and hope that a couple in the chasing pack fall away. We have to believe it can be done, with 36 points still to play for. There’s teams below us still keeping faith hoping for a late spurt. So must we.

 

They did it deliberately to reduce the wage bill and get money for Doyle.

They haven't given up on promotion but just want McCall to work with what was there.

Bowyer was always getting the sack as Rhodes thinks about the books and the season ticket sales must of been rubbish.

 

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I love a conspiracy theory , but to suggest the club deliberately gave up on promotion to clear the decks is up there with the flat earth society.
It has more to do with mis-managment & p!ss poor decision making from those at the top

 

I have it on impeccable authority that on the Monday that Bowyer was sacked we had until the last minute been about to bring in a new coach. It was a major disappointment to him not to get the job. This does suggest the sacking had not been held over until after the window.

 

Never a foul on Pritchard. The other lad was just stronger and wanted it more. We'd have applauded a strong tackle like that if someone like Akpan was to make it in the middle of the pitch like that.
We need to stop making excuses. The squad is average, the manger is average and we haven't played well all season in 30 odd games. We can still get promoted and still think we will make the playoffs but I'm not sure the club is any postion to be challenging in league 1.

 

I can see some refs giving the foul. I think had it been in the first few minutes a ref would have given it wanting to stamp his authority on the game. I think he was a homer.

 

Wait, what? A new coach as in someone to work alongside Bowyer?

 

Yes so it seems. I was told this in confidence by a close relative so I’m not going to name him. But I think there can be no doubt about it. It’s more than one of those idle rumours. He probably now thinks he dodged a bullet.

 

At the last pre-match press conference Stuart said that he is desperately trying to arrange a friendly match on Tuesday, so he can assess players such as Devitt who "hasn't played much football recently."
During the wet weather Donaldson did not train on the artificial surface because it would have aggravated an injury.
Fordy I know you claim to be a business man, so by now you should have learnt it's " would HAVE" not "OF"

 

Have to agree with Onside 87, was never a foul on Pritchard, the fact some think it was just shows how football has become a contactless sport. In the poll recently posted I expected us to finish 8th even with McCall coming back. This squad is simply not good enough or balanced enough. Doesn't help with McCall making questionable substitutions but this team needs a major overhaul in summer.

 

The excuses have started earlier than I thought.

This time it's the weather!