[Goku]

The Earl of Chesterfield, on 02 February 2025 - 07:54 AM, said:

Ironic that an outfit lacking spark lost Sparkes.

His position being from where the opportunity creating fumbled shot emerged.

Yet another promising player lost to injury.

But for all the blaming of Thompson we created next to nowt ourselves.

Dobra clearly targeted, Madden largely anonymous and neither Duffy nor the (gotta be said) unimpressive Olakigbe offering a real threat.

Oldaker won and ran with the ball but, as so often recognised, lacks penetration.

Pepple held it better after coming on whilst Colclough looked lively, though we were up against an unambitious and remorselessly long ball side.

Which made the late sucker punch even tougher to take.

Simple truth is we've lost our main attacking talent through injury, re-call and the price being right.

So no surprise we're now witnessing a stuttering season.

Play offs highly unlikely, but still happy with our direction of travel...

Can?t believe you?re saying Colclough looked lively but Olakigbe was unimpressive. Every time we fed the latter the ball he was looking to attack his full back, he created two half chances with his dribbling and put a dangerous ball in from the right. Colclough belted one out for a throw.

[lindave]

Coco was poor when he came on, he is much better playing on the left. The new lad is exciting when he gets the ball but our non existent midfield didnt feed him enough. Naylor was aweful, Banks needs to start for DJ and try Fleck for last 20mins. When Dobra doesnt get the breaks we have no forward line, Madden and Bim were poor. Hope Boot comes back in goal.

[Westbars Spireite]

The Earl of Chesterfield, on 02 February 2025 - 07:54 AM, said:

Ironic that an outfit lacking spark lost Sparkes.

His position being from where the opportunity creating fumbled shot emerged.

Yet another promising player lost to injury.

But for all the blaming of Thompson we created next to nowt ourselves.

Dobra clearly targeted, Madden largely anonymous and neither Duffy nor the (gotta be said) unimpressive Olakigbe offering a real threat.

Oldaker won and ran with the ball but, as so often recognised, lacks penetration.

Pepple held it better after coming on whilst Colclough looked lively, though we were up against an unambitious and remorselessly long ball side.

Which made the late sucker punch even tougher to take.

Simple truth is we've lost our main attacking talent through injury, re-call and the price being right.

So no surprise we're now witnessing a stuttering season.

Play offs highly unlikely, but still happy with our direction of travel...

I wasn't giving the screen my full attention I'll be honest as my stream was far from perfect but I thought Olakigbe was very decent.

Goku, on 02 February 2025 - 08:08 AM, said:

Can?t believe you?re saying Colclough looked lively but Olakigbe was unimpressive. Every time we fed the latter the ball he was looking to attack his full back, he created two half chances with his dribbling and put a dangerous ball in from the right. Colclough belted one out for a throw.

Colclough was poor as he invariably is on the right.

[bucko]

The Earl of Chesterfield, on 02 February 2025 - 07:54 AM, said:

Ironic that an outfit lacking spark lost Sparkes.

His position being from where the opportunity creating fumbled shot emerged.

Yet another promising player lost to injury.

But for all the blaming of Thompson we created next to nowt ourselves.

Dobra clearly targeted, Madden largely anonymous and neither Duffy nor the (gotta be said) unimpressive Olakigbe offering a real threat.

Oldaker won and ran with the ball but, as so often recognised, lacks penetration.

Pepple held it better after coming on whilst Colclough looked lively, though we were up against an unambitious and remorselessly long ball side.

Which made the late sucker punch even tougher to take.

Simple truth is we've lost our main attacking talent through injury, re-call and the price being right.

So no surprise we're now witnessing a stuttering season.

Play offs highly unlikely, but still happy with our direction of travel...

Games all about opinions
Olakigbe was are best player in the 1st half, beat his man on a number of occasions and delivered into the Box, with nobody gambling on the cross.
Also had a dribble and shot that caused panick in 1st half and a long range effort that went close in the 2nd , so I would say an impressive debut.

On the other hand Colclough had 2 rash shots and lacked the composure and quality we've seen from him.

A game we should of come away with a point, but threw it away at the end.

[Nassau_board]

As someone who hasn't been able to watch us at games for a while... my reflections


The First is how much intensity was in the pre-match warm up. It was a step up in intensity compared to Cheltenham's. I couldn't help but think if this level of intensity and the requirements to play football a certain way is impacting on the injury list. It also is the reason we play good football, and generally players are looking sharp (bar those returning from injuries). RANDOM ASIDE - I was having a chat with a leading NH trainer about the dominance of NH racing by Irish trainers, he was saying that the key difference is the intensity of their training methods, and the fact only the most physically correct horses are making it to the races in Ireland, whilst in the UK they are nursing horses through with the hope of getting good outcomes. It feels a bit like that with some of the squad.


The game was frustrating, we saw one team trying to play football and the other were playing the percentages. Fair play to Cheltenham, they are hard to beat and that certainly is their trump card... it was almost Duncanesque.

Of our team, I think it is clear that we don't have many other plans than trying to play Cook's style. When Cheltenham pressed the centrebacks in the second half, it had a massive impact. However, it was good to see DJ take charge with his forward running. It is a shame that it took until deep into the second half of being stifled for this to come to the fore.

I thought the newer lads were very good, and Sparkes going off changed the game. I thought it was a foul on Duffy in the lead up to their goal, and possibly a bit of naivety from him in that position. However Duffy, Sparkes and MO all showed ability and drive to change a game.

Unfortunately it wasn't Dobra's day, they did a good job on him, and the referee didn't help him either. That is football, and well done to Cheltenham.

I will finish on, there is no wonder the crowds at Cheltenham are low, that style of football does win games, but it is so dull and boring. It reminded me that being back in the league, with a team trying their hardest to play attacking and fluent football is great to see.

[Zigsuk]

The Earl of Chesterfield, on 02 February 2025 - 07:54 AM, said:

Ironic that an outfit lacking spark lost Sparkes.

His position being from where the opportunity creating fumbled shot emerged.

Yet another promising player lost to injury.

But for all the blaming of Thompson we created next to nowt ourselves.

Dobra clearly targeted, Madden largely anonymous and neither Duffy nor the (gotta be said) unimpressive Olakigbe offering a real threat.

Oldaker won and ran with the ball but, as so often recognised, lacks penetration.

Pepple held it better after coming on whilst Colclough looked lively, though we were up against an unambitious and remorselessly long ball side.

Which made the late sucker punch even tougher to take.

Simple truth is we've lost our main attacking talent through injury, re-call and the price being right.

So no surprise we're now witnessing a stuttering season.

Play offs highly unlikely, but still happy with our direction of travel...

Well football might be about opinions but cannot believe how anyone could have rated Colclough?s performance better than Olakibe?s. That chance he had in the first half would have been a brilliant goal. The way he rolled the ball back to create the shot was skill of the highest order.
Big fan of Colclough but his cameo was abysmal. The first shot he had went about 35 yards wide.

[clarevoyant.]

That had all the hallmarks of the NottsC and Harrogate games and being done by incompetency by the officals in added time

I can see why he awarded the free kick against Dobs, to shut him up, as town players and particularly Dobs were getting frustrated at all the tugging and pulling they were getting away with, the catalyst being on Madden how he didn't pull it back, award a free kick and caution is beyond comprehension, yes the ball broke to us, but we were completely isolated, this happened a couple of times frustrating us and letting them carry on regardless.This carried on unfortunately resulting in Dobra being penalised for what looked from a distance of being 6 of one and half a dozen of the other. We know what happened next, it's just a pity the ref didn't see fit to give the blatant foul in the build up.

Injuries have cost us dearly but incompetency by officials have cost us more so

This post has been edited by clarevoyant.: 02 February 2025 - 09:29 AM

[clarevoyant.]

Exharboroughspireite, on 01 February 2025 - 12:35 PM, said:

Pitch looks horrible.

It was, will the groundsman get a b....king, for incompetency or a bonus for doing as he was instructed?

[Lincs Spireite]

Goku, on 02 February 2025 - 08:08 AM, said:

Can?t believe you?re saying Colclough looked lively but Olakigbe was unimpressive. Every time we fed the latter the ball he was looking to attack his full back, he created two half chances with his dribbling and put a dangerous ball in from the right. Colclough belted one out for a throw.

I think the Earl got the two mixed up. It was MO who had a good game and Coco was off it.

[Westbars Spireite]

Lincs Spireite, on 02 February 2025 - 09:58 AM, said:

I think the Earl got the two mixed up. It was MO who had a good game and Coco was off it.

Easy mistake to make as they look so alike.

[Lincs Spireite]

Westbars Spireite, on 02 February 2025 - 10:05 AM, said:

Easy mistake to make as they look so alike.

Like it

[Bluekent]

I?m still struggling to come to terms with the fact we played a short free kick right at the end instead of just getting it in. Brain dead. Hold me? 😢

[Nitrous Oxide]

lindave, on 02 February 2025 - 08:48 AM, said:

Coco was poor when he came on, he is much better playing on the left. The new lad is exciting when he gets the ball but our non existent midfield didnt feed him enough. Naylor was aweful, Banks needs to start for DJ and try Fleck for last 20mins. When Dobra doesnt get the breaks we have no forward line, Madden and Bim were poor. Hope Boot comes back in goal.

We couldn't understand why PC left 2 young lads on the left, when he could've put Coco on the left for support and Olakigbe back on the right where he was being successful. Didn't make sense to us.

[Westbars Spireite]

Bluekent, on 02 February 2025 - 10:25 AM, said:

I?m still struggling to come to terms with the fact we played a short free kick right at the end instead of just getting it in. Brain dead. Hold me? 😢

That made me more angry than the goal.

[dim view]

Westbars Spireite, on 02 February 2025 - 10:30 AM, said:

That made me more angry than the goal.

Oldaker's nickname is Trigger.

[clarevoyant.]

Nitrous Oxide, on 02 February 2025 - 10:28 AM, said:

We couldn't understand why PC left 2 young lads on the left, when he could've put Coco on the left for support and Olakigbe back on the right where he was being successful. Didn't make sense to us.

Our logic was, switch Shecks to left back(played there before) and put Mandy to right back

[MrTall]

I know this won't be a popular opinion, but people are slating Cheltenham's style of play, but is ours really any better to watch? It's the same thing game after game. Slowly pass, pass, pass (often backwards or sideways) until we get it wide for a player to either put in a poor cross or cross it to the box where there's not enough players to connect with it. I'm not saying 'lump it forward', but I'm finding it increasingly boring to watch. A 'fast' attack once in a while wouldn't go amiss. The only time we upped the tempo yesterday was when we went behind. Even then we took a short free kick at the very end, which was farcical, but predictable.

This post has been edited by MrTall: 02 February 2025 - 10:56 AM

[spireitetoo]

Tin hat at the ready.

[warfey is a spireite]

Zigsuk, on 02 February 2025 - 09:21 AM, said:

Well football might be about opinions but cannot believe how anyone could have rated Colclough?s performance better than Olakibe?s. That chance he had in the first half would have been a brilliant goal. The way he rolled the ball back to create the shot was skill of the highest order.
Big fan of Colclough but his cameo was abysmal. The first shot he had went about 35 yards wide.

Get rid been poor for months

[warfey is a spireite]

All the posts say we need another striker ,a fact I've been making, apparently bin and madden were poor ,as was Coco .