Match Thread Most liked posts in thread: Away V Scunthorpe - Tuesday 23 March@ 7pm

This taking the knee should have ended weeks ago. It's pointless now, as an initial call of solidarity it was a good idea, but the longer it goes on the less it means. Is it any different to taking the knee before going into Morrisons to show solidarity there ? is football any more racist than Cricket ? Do they take the knee in cricket ?

It's been diluted to a pointless gesture, pretty much akin to holding a minutes silence every week for the same person.

 

Scunny didn't want to play. A few miles down the road and Lincoln have their game on.

 

Why don’t we rearrange the game for next Tuesday. Forecast is for mild weather and there’s no crowd issues for police to think about. These are difficult times to get games played so let’s show a bit of imagination.

 

It’s called a MacLeod pitch cover. Don’t ask how I know that, but it’s the sort of shit that’s in my brain that means I can’t remember why I went in to the kitchen.

 

Brilliant.

We're back to Anthony O'Connor and Richard O'Donnell arguing with each other and pointing and blaming each other.

When a big looping ball comes in and lands on our six yard box is it too much to ask for the keeper to come and catch the ball??

 

Sorry guys but I didn't know what all the rush was about getting T&S signed up, there was no rush end of the season was quite acceptable IMO

 

I actually do think there's some merit in clubs having to face 'punishment' if they don't make reasonable efforts to get games on. some situations are clearly extraordinary, but the original game is a good example. Forecast overnight temperatures of -2 degrees should be no reason to call a game off. If pitch covers had been deployed, there wouldn't have been a problem. It appears to have been a convenient opportunity to postpone a game whilst they were in the midst of an injury crisis. That sort of situation, I think, should have consequences.

 

Important game this. Our last 2 performances have been poor - we need to bounce back tonight. Hopefully a front 3 of Rowe, Vernam and Crankshaw does the trick, but we need to get back to being mean at the back and aggressive in the press. We've been a bit too easy to play against in the last 2 games.

 

Well the post match interview should be a good listen, weather fine, referee fine, so lets hear Jamie Raynor ask the sort of questions that were asked of McCall after a crap performance and defeat., honeymoon period long gone

 

If they don't play Rowe upfront with Cooke on Saturday then these two want binning off.

We've not had many highlights these last few weeks but the only time we look threatening is when we have our two goalscorers on the pitch together.

If it means dropping Vernam and Crankshaw to play narrower and keep some solidity then fine, it's not as if either have actually done anything worthwhile since their debuts.

 

The couple of chances we created tonight will paper over the cracks of what was another dire performance. It was only until the last 20 or so minutes that we attacked with any sort of purpose and got some crosses into the box. But by that time we were two down after having created nothing for the other 70 minutes in the game.

Going forwards we look a side genuinely devoid of any ideas. If someone isn't pinging one in from 30 yards or an opposition defender isn't putting it on a plate for us, we're screwed. The movement amongst the front four is non existent, the passing is all safety first, backwards and sideways to feet. Very rarely, if ever, do we turn defences and get balls in behind.

We're very good at passing it in triangles between Paudie, Canavan and Watt but in order to go forwards, its either Watt or Paudie launching a diagonal. Nobody seems to be willing to make that incisive pass in behind the opposition midfield or defensive line. The diagonals are so predictable and both fullbacks dealt with them with ease tonight. The little attacking patterns we do have in that regard have been found out and Curle got it right on Saturday - we're so predictable.

The likes of Vernam and Crankshaw are just not seeing the ball in the right areas. Both of them spend more time defending than attacking. Scunthorpe played half the game with a winger at left back but it was only in the last five or so minutes that Crankshaw started to receive the ball out wide to get at him.

T&S did a great job of steadying what was a fastly sinking ship, but I'm not seeing the signs I'd expect from them in terms of being able to take us to the next level. The attacking play is just so so poor.

I'll probably get pelters for this but I wasn't one of the people begging for them to get the job. Sparks should have waited until the end of the season to see how everything played out. I think most would acknowledge we had a lot of fortune during that good run and were lucky to be on the right end of some tight games. It was all about how we'd respond when that luck ran out and its fair to say the response has not been good at all.

I do hope this improves between now and the end of the season because its neither successful nor enjoyable to watch. And playing like this next season will not see us get promoted.

 

FA Logic in a sentence, right there.

 

It hasn't stopped racism and never will. Until we realise there are numerous people out there who cannot be educated then bending down on one knee will achieve absolutely nothing. Just like wearing a kick it out t shirt achieved nothing. Racism is far more complex than just saying 'please don't say this or that, we're wearng a t shirt so you have to take notice.' I guess by the laws of the social media woke mob my comments make me a racist. How will i sleep at night?

 

The opportune moment to stop the bended knee (and I never agreed with it in the first place) was at the end of last season. Now, they've made a rod for their own back. When and how can they ever stop it now? And the mass return of fans will test it too, because there are a wide range of opinions on the matter. I think it'll inflame the situation even more. Much of the well intended action to fight prejudice risks doing more harm than good.

 

If you're talking about having paid for the game last time and it applying tonight then yes. If your talking about other things I'll have to check with the mrs, but the answer is usually no.

 

Glad to see Scales start. Nobody else at the club can replace Cooke so let's see how he does. We need to give him a chance to see if he's got a role to play next season too.

 

greedy? He’s fed off feck all, all half. It was a great little run and at least he showed some intent unlike the 3 useless players behind him.

 

Thought Scunthorpe were poor to be honest but had more pace and attacking intent than us. AOC not a right back and offers little in this position, Scales ineffective, Cook isolated through most of it. Having said that, somehow we did create chances and should have scored at least 1 if not more. I will not result to the virtual meltdown of some on here in the same way that I did not get carried away with the start T&S made. The squad was in such a poor place in in December/January that changes were needed and a number were made which a large number of posters lauded on here. It did not make us a finished product and anyone expecting to change what was such a poor squad in one transfer window is deluded. This is in no way offering excuses for Trueman and Sellars, they will know there is a great deal of work to be done. The aim now has to be to finish strongly and further revamp during the summer. I am sure that some/lots will disagree with that opinion but we made some positive strides in January and the expectation/demand should be that this continues this summer.

 

Scunny optimistic game will go ahead.

 

Like how they have stuck some leaves on the trees this afternoon too to make it feel all summery for the pitch inspection!