Match Thread Away V Cheltenham Saturday 20th February @ 3.00pm

Thanks Hippo, Botswana Bantam and bailiff bridge bantam. I’ve read through the whole thread now so have a really good insight into them ....good luck on Tuesday!

 

Well that must be a record

 

As others have said, their main threat is from set pieces - corners and Tozer's long throws. They created very little to worry us from open play, because we closed down their midfield quickly.
They are clearly in the midst of a serious injury crisis, leaving their midfield short of creativity and balance. Their best centre back is out and they have a teenage goalkeeper who looks very vulnerable against the high ball. I would say this is an ideal time to be playing them.

 

Thanks Offcomedun!

 

Do you think he’s fishing for likes?

 

That may be true or he could just have been affected like everyone else by the malaise that was engulfing the club. Since joining City he's been pretty much ever present under numerous managers so I don't think they have seen him as the problem.

 

Truman and Sellars tactically outclassed Duff, by making tweaks and changes throughout the match that he didn't seem to be aware of. He spent too much time shouting at the match officials, getting apoplectic and not enough time watching the actual game flow. If your manager is astute, something to build on.

 

I did find out a lot about non-alcoholic beer too....

 

We were a little fortunate that they had one or two key injuries especially their left sided central defender. But their change of tactics second half didn’t work at all

 

Everyday is a school day.

 

Yes, couldn't understand what Duff was trying to achieve. Whatever it was, it failed. His midfield players particularly didn't seem to know whether they were meant to be pressing higher, all seemed very strange and half hearted. But hey ho, their loss!

 

I suppose they have it all to lose whereas we have it all to gain. Having said that his tension seemed to transfer onto the pitch. I think Cambridge away could be the worst fixture for them now that we've ended their unbeaten run.

 

Yeah, there's always a downside to these things.

 

How can two youth team coaches step up to the plate and make such a difference to a first team squad? Your Stuart McCalls, your Paul Hursts are from a different generation. Young coaches now benefit from a far wider and greater footballing education than the ex-players of yore. They're totally up to date with new thinking, new ideas and coaching young players is the perfect climate in which to gain experience of how that works out on the pitch. See what works and what doesn't. Also, God bless them, I think Mark and Scott are really good man managers, and that makes a massive difference, particularly with older players. They've clearly gained the respect of Evans, Canavan, Cook, Rowe et al, and that will have a real impact on the rest of the players, in terms of the culture of the dressing room.

 

The key problem was they didn't have any "midfield" players. They had players in midfield but many were novices or a forward or defender filling in.

The commentator made a less well thought through comment about "teams with big squads" which doesn't tally up with maximum squad sizes for players 21 years and over. I thought what it showed was that they may have a decent starting 11 but not much strength in depth, well aside from up front where they have 6 forwards in the squad apparently

 

Really good point. Too many square pegs in round holes on the day. It didn't feel like it was a hardcore of proper midfielders. Whereas our guys knew exactly what their roles were.

 

Saw a comment on Cheltenham's fan social media that basically said we played like Cheltenham at their best to beat us. Fine by me.

 

I did find out a lot about non-alcoholic beer too....

thanks hornsea bantam that’s a really interesting post. I don’t know that much about Duff but presumed Cheltenham are where they are because he must be at least decent. From my understanding your duo came up through Bradford City as youth team coaches and are doing this as their first managerial position. Our manager, Mark Bonner, never played professional football and started working in our academy when he was 19. He’s occupied every academy/youth/assistant coaching position until he was appointed first team coach last year. He’s really one of us and grew up watching Dion Dublin from the Habbin in the early 90s. He’s incredibly astute and out thought and out manoeuvred Nigel Clough yesterday ....although whether that’s a decent yardstick of comparability I’ll let you determine!

 

Get word to your subs to go warm up near your goal and nick the throwers towel.or drench it in water

 

Well, he's had a decent impact at Mansfield. Seem to have improved since he's joined. With others up there drawing or losing it was a great Saturday for you.

(insert cliche about winning the next game or else it was all a waste )