Home v Stevenage - Tues Feb 11th

More questions than answers tonight. I just can't fathom how poor the game was in the first half, with our lot really not at the races.

Improved second half, though not much needed to do that!! Two good finishes and a nice neet finish from pish poor defending (though cracking cross). Impressed with Reeves who put a bloody shift in compared to Akpan.. Which neatly leads me onto...

We look really nervous on the ball in the final third and as such went back to the long ball out of defence strategy far too many times, given up possession. What just has happened to our defensive solidity?

Some work for SM & KB to keep this mismatch of personal going till the seasons end, with a chance of the play offs. Square pegs, round holes.

As for the pitch, Jesus it's embarrassing. A professional league club....

 

Hopefully the summer will see a big change in personnel and investment in the pitch. I thought the score line flattered us a little and again there wasn't that much between the sides. Major rebuilding work needed at the end of the season cos that squad is terrible.

 

Well WTF did I just witness?

First half as bad as anything seen this season.

Second half we looked like a different team.

With 10 mins to go we just started panicking and kicking the ball anywhere. We had virtually no composure on the ball at any time of the game really.

Gifted the first really though good finish from Shay. Good cross for the second and a breakaway goal well taken by Novak for the third. Other than that it was pretty dire.

I think SM will find his best 11 but I doubt it would include Guthrie, who apart from a couple of flick ons was no more than a 4/10. The fact he couldn't get fired up against his old team is a worry.

Finally how is their goalkeeper a pro footballer? He made O'Donnell look like Jordan Pickford.

 

Fantastic 2nd half come back !! Really proud of the team !!

We’ll take this into Saturdays game and bag ourselves another 3 points!

COME ON CITY!!!!

 

I take it you didn't watch the game or listen on the radio then.

 

Watched it on iFollow, sure the 1st half wasn’t good but they bounced back in the 2nd half and we came away with all 3 points, credit where credit is due. What matters is we won the game, McCall and the team have something positive to build on when working on things ready for Saturday. I’m sure they’ll take the lessons they need to learn ready for the 1st half on Saturday so we don’t have a poor 1st half.

 

Well that was really poor stuff. First half was diabolical, second was slightly better but still so much wrong with this current side.

Said it on saturday and will say it again, but a two man midfield does not work with this group of players. The space stevenage had at times in the midfield was ridiculous and a better side would've punished us for it.

Guthrie is absolute shite. Lazy and shit is not a good combination. How have we managed to have three strikers on our books, none of whom can play together? Novak anonymous but good goal nonetheless.

Biggest issue is the lack of composure when in possession. We're so scared and hesitant its unreal. It's going to take Stuart a long while to change that unfortunately.

McCartan had a good second half. Seems to be playing the Law role and got more comfortable as the game wore on. No surprise he gets his goals from central positions when he's given the freedom to move infield and allowing Wood space to deliver out wide.

Special mention to stevenage who were one of the worst, if not the worst, side I've ever seen.

 

Oh come on. Both Henley and Reeves played quite well tonight.

Reeves covered for Akpan all game and Henley was snappy into the tackle.

 

Crowd given as 12,845.......... my arse.

More like 6,000 max.

 

I’m not saying there aren’t things we need to learn from, but we won, let’s be happy we have something positive to build on going into the next game, better than losing again.

3 points in the bag, sure it wasn’t a perfect performance... BUT... WE WON.

I have full faith in McCall and the squad to build on tonight’s performance and start vastly improving, we need to start bagging 3 points again the other teams in the league who aren’t bottom of the table.

COME ON CITY!!

 

The big positive since stuart came in, even though performances haven't been great, is the fact we have scored 4 goals from open play in 2 games. I believe I read the other day that we had gone over 5 hours under bowyer without an open play goal. Also 7 shots on target tonight. Fair play to Stuart.

 

I guess no one is mentioning Wood, because he had his usual very good game? Composed on the ball, and always looking to create something. And finally, on the other side, Henley starting to put a decent run together. Wonder if he could feel Tony's eyes on him from the stand?

Devitt? Has he fallen foul of Stuarts old boy network I wonder?

 

Hesitantly, I agree on Henley who had a better game, though still at fault for the Grimsby goal....

As for Reeves, he did put a shift in, as he had no choice with Akpan, who showed little desire, movement or purpose. Reeves probably a second best to Mccartan for MOTM, typified by his surging run late on, just to miss with his head from DCs Cross.

 

We need to tie Wood down in a longer contract. One of the players of the season definitely

 

First half was poor, we were hamstrung by Akpan and Guthrie, dreadful performance from both - the only two poor players on the pitch for me, in crucial areas - having them on the pitch allowed Stevenage an advantage for their back line and in midfield.

Stevenage looked okay first half, good goal, well taken - but the second half showed all their deficiencies - low confidence, shaky defence, very poor goalkeeper, inability to change the momentum.

Stuart McCall obviously noticed the lack of bodies in the box in the first half. The crossing was much improved on Saturday, we beat the first man most of the time, so I'd like to see DMH and McCartan continue as our wingers and Connolly (very limited player) being brought on as the super-nuisance substitute with his blistering pace. Second half, the wingers and midfielders were backing up our front two on crosses and getting involved - we overloaded Stevenage and times and the pressure paid.

Fair play to Shay McCartan on his two goals, both good finishes, and it was SO nice to kill a game off. Mottley Henry was very naive late on putting a cross in that sailed over the bar, the corner was his for the taking - however Novak had every right to take his chance, which he did superbly. Really like the look of Novak, he is the best of the three forwards in many ways.

Connor Wood was excellent, and Henley had another strong game - he's much more comfortable at right back than wing back, and both players are linking well with their wingers.

Defence was all right second half, but under little pressure; get Guthrie and Akpan out of the starting line up and we'll look stronger. Get the players consistently playing positively and looking to make things happen and we will improve week on week. Got over the hurdle of our first win under Stuart (and in 9), so no complaints from me. Plenty of work to do, but Stuart is seeing exactly what he needs to be.

 

So frustrating thinking Vaughan is better than Donaldson and Guthrie.

Vaughan and Novak both have strength, aerial ability, finishing ability, and a well-rounded game.