7/10 Poole ( H )

[clive]

City win 3-1 ( att : 201 )

[shutler]

4 - 0 City att 243

[Padz]

2-0 City, 271

[nptonexile]

I'm going to jump in at the deep end...1-4!
Att 284

A Basil Brush production!

[exile]

2-1 City win
Att: 263

[Mark Neal]

2-0 city.
Paterson and Sinclair
Att- 235

[toocoulson4schoolson]

Once again we look too scared of losing a game to think about what we have to do to win it.

The opening 20 minutes were superb. They had everything behind the ball and we still found ways around and through. The opener was the kind of ugly, crap goal we could do with scoring more of and should have set us up to put a couple more away as they were forced to start attacking occasionally. Instead we've gone completely flat towards the end of the half and let a simple move undo us.

The second half you would expect us to come out looking to take control but that hasn't happened. We have - entirely predictably - been hit on the break twice. As much as they didn't particularly come to play, we never *made* them play and just walked right into their trap.

I'm glad to have seen us pull one back amd the changes have been effective, if a little late, but we are now reaching the point where we can't really say that we don't deserve to be down here.

[ChrisB]

As above, it looks like 'unlucky' is not something we can keep pleading much longer. I've a feeling this is going to be a 'long season'.

Anyway, the magic of the cup next week to take minds off the difficult matter of the league. COYHs.

[Rijs]

I couldn't understand Jonah's team selection at the start. Last week the guys who rescued us were Pearce and Forde --tow fine goals and an assist between them in the closing stages -- yet today, both are dropped to the bench to make room for those returning from suspension. In the case of Freddie, I felt he needed to do something to show he was worth a place in the team before restoring him, because he has twice let us down with stupid sendings-off, and he has not been playing as well as Cristian Navarro anyway. Maybe Jones could make way for our new signing, and possibly Mo for Reece, but that apart, keep a winning team, was my wish.

For twenty minutes I was prepared to eat my words as we started brightly while Poole were slow to get going. We were sharp and urgent, and thoroughly deserved our lead. But why is it we can only press and look hungry at the opening and near the end?

Grant had already made a bad mistake which Jack Stevens rescued, before he was caught out of position for the second goal. It was only after this that Mark put on the pitch the team we should have started with in my opinion, and before the subs had done more than touch the ball, we were two goals behind with a mountain to climb against eleven defenders. We had just seemed afraid to shoot but our first shot on goal in this half was Ezra's in added time, which beat the keeper, thumped the post and came out to David who promptly squared it to give Matt a straightforward goal. If only we'd had more time, we might have equalised but it was too late.

It will be the same again next week if we relax for the middle hour. Let's hope we will finally learn this lesson!

[clive]

Well, that wasn't very good.

Poole were really poor and in the first half it seemed to be a question of how many. But after Poole equalised it was like watching Arsenal on a bad day. Lots of nice pretty passing breaking down on the edge of the box, resulting in a string of poor cross straight to the keeper.

Grant and Jones were poor, and were rightly substituted. The only criticism is why it took so long, especially as Pearce and Ezra finished so well against Leiston.

I thought the new right back looked decent.

Still, I still fancy our chances next week against Bognor.

[hedges]

We truly are the masters of our own downfall....

We dominated 40 minutes, passed it around nicely and managed to get a dirty goal...then the error of Grant cost us for the equaliser then it was downhill from there....But it was all our own fault.

1. We are simply not shooting, we are trying to pass the ball into the net....ironically the consolation came from a Forde snap shot from outside the box which hit the post, bounced off the keeper's back, was passed back into the middle, spun and generally caused carnage with Patterson again getting the final touch....We have players that can shoot...they have proved it..Zac, Sinclair, Patterson even Fleet has got one...please please start shooting!! We might take the piss abit when it goes sailing into the car park but 1 that hits the top corner is worth 10 of those that finds itself the wrong side of the clubhouse.

2. We have no Width, over the last few seasons we have had Coulson, Winters, Issac and several others who spent the game in the region of the touchline and provided an alternative outlet....right now we don't have any wide players at all and it shows...everything comes through the middle, we play narrow and its so easy to play against.

3. Another consequence of being narrow is leaving the center backs completely exposed, The management (I assume) are allowing the fall backs to push forward, but with no players instinctively covering the wider positions we are being undone by one ball into the vacant fallback positions and two or 3 charging strikers against our 2 center backs.....this is how BOTH Poole's goals came about....it was so stupidly simple for them.....Our fallbacks, if they have been told to push forward they can't be blamed....if they are doing it on their own accord then they deserve a damn good thrashing!

Poole had 5 chances of note all game.....they scored with 3 of them...1 was a direct result of a defensive error, 2 were break aways that occurred when our fullbacks had pushed up into attacking positions.

Its no longer unlucky, we have serious problems and the focus is now on Mark and his assistance to do what they can to improve things and show an ability to come up with an alternative system or their futures are looking rather in doubt.....and to repeat what I said about 4 weeks ago...ill pass on the one touch quick passing football and rather see a couple of filthy hoof ball performances of old that grinds out a win. Because it won't be too long until this becomes a minimum requirement.

[shutler]

Can only echo what has been said before. A really good 40 mins where we should have been at least two up then another defensive cock up leading to a free header for their equaliser. Second half we were clueless and again defensively inept. When your midfielders don't track back and your defence has pushed up it just leave holes everywhere and Poole exploited it brilliantly.

Felt sorry for Zac, Rob and especially Pato who ran themselves into the ground. Pato is a top, top striker that's nine goals already but he must feel completely isolated for most of the games, Jonah not realising that we need two up front is a failing, not bringing in at least two further hulking defenders in the last six or seven weeks is a failing, there's no point playing nice football and scoring goals when you allow the other team to score more.

Can't understand Pearce not starting, he was outstanding at Whitehawk and again last week in the cup. Young lad from Bath looked okay going forward but a little shaky in defence - as they all did - again.

Don't know where we go from here, we know the limitations of the team, but don't seem able to do anything about it.

[Rijs]

I think Hedges' analysis is right, except that we do have a wide player: David Pearce is at his best there, but is not always being used in that position. He should be in the team, and asked to play wide, which he can do down both flanks. Ezra should be partnering Pato up front so that Matt is not battling on his own against two or three defenders, as was often the case yesterday. Full backs can also overlap, provided when they do that a midfielder drops a bit to cover. If we are going to have three up front we can only have three in midfield, not four or five as has often been the case. This just results, as we have noted, in a midfield stalemate with lots of neat passing but no-one hurting the opposition by getting in behind them. As soon as we start doing that they get worried. We did it a few times in the closing stages yesterday but our crosses were not beating the first man. Welch-Hayes, signed as a full back, was by then playing as a winger, and he has the speed to beat people if he takes them on, but his crossing yesterday was below par.

Of course, Mark Jones is right to say we have been unfortunate with injuries to Bennett and Henderson, and the defensive suspensions haven't helped. We have not had a settled defence. But we have a squad full of midfielders and lacking in forwards and defenders. As a result, midfielders Poku and Jones have been played in defensive positions. The squad is unbalanced, and I doubt whether getting defenders in on short term loans is really the answer.

Despite all this, I still feel we are not far away from turning things around. We have scored more goals than Chelmsford, and scoring is more difficult than defending. Oastler has proved himself a good player -- he just needs to be at his best every week. Navarro can do a job for us at left back, and if he had been there yesterday we probably would not have conceded at least one if not two of those goals. Hendo should be back from injury soon. When Mo Fofana is back to full fitness, we have another option, of a defensive screen. Welch-Hayes is certainly worth a look for his month with us. Poku is strong and versatile and always gives 100%. Zac McEachran is also working hard and is skilful, and Rob Sinclair rarely wastes a pass. Pato is quick and a sharp finisher. Ezra Forde has potential but needs more time on the pitch to help him develop. The core of a good team is there, but we need to get players in their best positions, and yes -- we do definitely need to shoot more!

[nptonexile]

Don't worry, I'm back next Saturday...we can all get in a huddle and cry together!

[nptonexile]

What was the attendance btw?

[Mark Neal]

252 Rob

[nptonexile]

Cheers Mark 😉

[hedges]

Looking at the Northampton result I guess you have already been crying with us!