Match Thread Away vs Stevenage Mon 5th April @ 3pm

New managers bounce.

We lack quality in our squad. That is clear. I will judge T & S the first 3-4 months of next season if they are still in managers here.

 

I will judge them on taking a team from one demoralised and on the edge of relegation to one still in with a chance of promotion. And whatever happens they have built a base to build on for next season

 

So you completely agree T&S are the best managers for us at 1.9 points per game yield-or auto promotion form-which is what you say we need to be at. We are at it right now. Or do you choose to ignore that as it does not fit with your anti club agenda?

 

No, I don't agree. I think they deserved a contract until the end of the season for sure but I am not convinced that they will take us up.

Not really fussed about meaningless stats. Bottom line is we are in 11th and we didn't win today.

 

What makes you think they are not good enough-obviously ignoring their management success to date.

 

Pretty much spot on , despite most supporters and every opposition manager . coach’s observations, and now commentators, there are the odd one or two that thinks he’s a good all round keeper. Meh!

 

I used to play Sunday league football as a keeper. I always practiced punching anything in my 6 yard area at corners. Even if I missed the ball I often put opposition players off enough to make them miss. But at least I tried to stop them scoring.

ROD is a pro footballer who should at least be able to reach high enough to punch the ball or even try to catch it in his 6 yard box. Its inexcusable for him not to at least try.

 

He is a decent shot stopper but his command of the area and distribution are poor

 

Well not an unexpected result. Disappointed we couldn't nick a winner but we could also have lost.

I still reckon if we are above exeter, orient, salford and carlisle come the end of the season that we'll definitely be in a play off spot. However, that's not an easy ask. Expect one or two in the play off spots to have a minor implosion.

 

Everything about our club is poor to you - you have been saying it a lot longer than 'months'

 

There was the instance in the 1st half where POC was giving OD mouth when he should have dealt with an attack but subsequently nearly made Wood make a huge error. Think Wood gave him some also.

Kiwomya has eluded to ROD mistakes a number of times in recent weeks on the commentary and I agree with him. I don’t think it’s about been made a scapegoat, it’s simply been dropped for the current stronger keeper and that is Hornby at the moment. The back 4 just look much more shaky and in less control with OD. Hornby’s communication has been highlighted as a strength a number of times and that’s just one area which contributes to him been a better fit right now.

I’d really like to see a change back for Grimsby, but doubt it will happen.

 

Great post Dennis, we have a good League 2 squad (no better than that) but the fact we are talking about the playoffs is something NONE of us could have predicted back in November - there is still a lot of work to do if we are in Div 2 next season and that in itself highlights the size of the job there would be if we did happen to sneak up to Div 1

 

This post, interesting but on its own means nothing. Pointless, almost.

This poster needs a couple of decent posts with substance before being taken seriously in the future. End of.

Wow, it's that easy, eh?

 

To be honest I think that T&S are still learning about their players and are making subtly managed tweaks to get better from certain individuals given what they have. Improvement may appear fragile but their approach and decision making is changing and is showing a work in progress imo. I agree that we appear more capable defensively with young Hornby in the team and may be their judgement is under the microscope on this one. But they certainly have a bench to change play in the second half now.

 

A good post @Dennis. I recognise you giving plaudits to T&S, which I join in. The turnaround has been exceptional since McCall left.

Yes, in the last 8 games, we have only managed around a point a game (which over the course of the season, would leave you close to the relegation zone!) but the signs are POTENTIALLY encouraging if we build in the summer. But the last 8 games has cast concerns (with the exception of FGR) not by accumulation but more notably, performance.

One for you @CambridgeSean... Since T&S took over, both Bradford and Bolton are tied in 2nd place, accumulating 42 points.... You guys 46 points in the same period. Fair play and that finishing line is getting ever so close....

 

For me a typical result at this time of year, having so many games back to back recently highlights why consistency is key at this level. If one of the subs had scored, people would have saying it was a inspired decision from the management team. Our fate is in our own hands!

 

A few positives for me from yesterday.

Firstly, we started poorly but managed to get back into the game and were arguably stronger in the latter part of the match.

Second, substitutions didn't disrupt us, but actually led to us putting more pressure on the Stevenage defence. Vernam caused problems.

It was a good point against an in-form team and still leaves us with a possibility of a play-off place. I'm happy with that. I'm already looking forward to the Grimsby match.

 

Our fate is certainly not in our own hands! 5 points adrift (6 with goal difference) and 8 games to go...

If we replicate our last 8 games, we shall finish on 64 points. Even if we were to replicate T&S form(1.9pts per game) we would finish on 70 points.

Yesterday's results unfortunately mean, in all reality, the season in terms of a play off place is over.

 

We would have been there sat in a playoff place if we hadn’t imploded against Newport, fine margins, we need to press Grimsby from the off we can’t afford to lose any more ground. It’s still on but we aren’t steamrollering teams and that suggests a few more draws and defeats which we can’t afford.

 

Sorry for being a pedant but you can lose one of the play off semis and still reach the final