Grimsby Home 8th Feb

Slightly more enjoyable today, but we would have been booed off under Bowyer for letting that slip.

McCalls not daft, he knows he has inherited a lot of crap, he repeated a few times about the lack of quality in the side, despite the endeavour.

We still look a million miles from being a promotion side at the moment. We barely look like scoring.

Having said all that, a much better atmosphere and mood amongst the City fans.

Hats off to the Grimsby fans, brilliant support and I havent seen a goal celebrated like their goal since the night we beat Leeds

 

I think most of those will leave too. Maybe not Donaldson. But most of the rest.

 

He was truly awful. Think it was @Park bantam who was championing to sign him up.

 

Reeves on set pieces?

 

Bowyer was booed for the abject lack of intent in his performances, not so much letting leads slip.

McCall has had this lot for 5 days and whilst the attacking quality wasnt where it needed to be, it was probably our most coherent performance of the season.

 

God I must have been immune from noticing that today. Though his ability to beat the first man or whip a decent cross is noted.

 

The fact you could clearly see a difference in performance, even though stuart only had 3 days to work with the team, is very encouraging.
Having said that, the lack of quality in the final third is a concern.

 

Absolutely.

 

Out of contract. Don't want him to leave but Vaughan is due back an so 2 other fowards contracted to the club.

Wasn't a fan of Guthrie when he came on but need to give him time.

 

Well the referee was well named Steve Martin.

 

Never again please.. rubbish.

 

Yes.

 

The introduction of Guthrie and Akpan, I assume, was meant to tighten things up with a big midfield presence and a strong forward for hold up play.

On this occasion, neither Guthrie nor Akpan came close to impacting the game.

 

defensively and without the ball we weren't too bad; shape was good, effort and endeavour was there to see but in possession we were poor. very poor.

it was clear to see from the first moment O'Donnell got the ball and ushered everyone up to the half way line there was no giving the ball to the centre halfs and it was go direct to play off the front two. we just seemed the lack intensity and quality on the ball at times and our delivery from wide and set pieces was woeful.

I thought Grimsby played some good stuff in the middle of the park, Holloway has them playing some nice stuff and clearly well drilled into what each player's role is. their LB on loan from Burnley is some player at this level too.. would be interested to see if that's his regular output.

 

This is why we need a Sporting Director. If we can't afford one then bin off Ryan Sparks.

Most clubs have one now. Over the recent transfer windows our recruitment has been shocking.

We've about 28 players with only 4 of quality.

The club needs to think long term.

 

I thought their left winger and left back (#33) were great, and their #6.

I thought we created a lot but just wasted them on Connolly's attempted crosses or our strikers not getting in front of their man.

It was far more entertaining than whatever we've seen under Bowyer, I just hope we make it count on Tuesday against a much weaker side

 

Big improvement today on the mind numbing and boring bowyerball we’ve had to endure all season, but we must be honest with ourselves and just admit this team of players are a “lower top half” standard, no more and no less. I’ve already accepted this months ago so anything else we can muster up in the final 14 games is (for me) nothing but a bonus. Cheltenham are already level on points with us and have 2 games in hand, current top 3 or 4 consistently picking up points, and there’s also always those 2 or 3 teams that hit form in the last quarter of a season and make a late dash for the play offs

Prepare for a decent clear out in the summer (Dreary included) and a productive transfer window for Stuart to mould his team

 

I thought their number 10 and 18 were excellent in build up play. Hanson was truly awful, offered nothing to their attempt to play a passing game thorough midfield. Defensively we looked better as a four with the full backs knowing what their roles are at last. Richards Everton with the ball at feet is an absolute liabitilty though. McCall has one tough job trying to turn this lot into. A cohesive team.

 

Thought Hanson led the line wonderfully for Grimsby. He could still cut it in the Championship.

 

I hope that's a joke? He was useless.