[Eiderland Spireite]

I hate seeing this November collapse of our home form-too familar. But as soon as I saw poor Gregor was thrown in for his first game back after a year v pro opposition at centre-back I thought I saw the explanation! That must have undermined the whole teams confidence !!! Why Sheridan thought that was even an option is the first question.

A few further questions arise tonight I think:-

1. The club captain can't give up two days of paternity leave and train yesterday and play this evening ? and have the 2 days later on (if he must!)

2. Page is finished and useless to the club as far as playing is concerned?

3. If both Breckin and Page are considered past playing why didn't S bring in another centre-half on loan, rather than another full-back and a midfielder, neither of whom can play at centre-half?

4. Hasn't Gray played at centre-half adequately - (a fair expectation compared to Robertson I would have thought)

5. If Whitaker and/or Allot were having 'mares, when does Smalley get brought on ?

6. Sounds like Lester and Davies may have been a bit tired tonight. When do we see if Boden and Bowery are good enough to do a good job from the start? ( Particularly, what was the point of giving Bowery a public gee-up last week and then not give him a chance to answer it in a perfect game for him to do so ie A home game for a confident side v an unconfident side ?)

Never mind, we have to fight for the right to be alright........

UP THE BLUES

[Town_Fan]

Breckin's baby is better defender than he is.

[Essex_Spireite]

Eiderland Spireite, on 23 November 2010 - 11:19 PM, said:

I hate seeing this November collapse of our home form-too familar. But as soon as I saw poor Gregor was thrown in for his first game back after a year v pro opposition at centre-back I thought I saw the explanation! That must have undermined the whole teams confidence !!! Why Sheridan thought that was even an option is the first question.

A few further questions arise tonight I think:-

1. The club captain can't give up two days of paternity leave and train yesterday and play this evening ? and have the 2 days later on (if he must!)

2. Page is finished and useless to the club as far as playing is concerned?

3. If both Breckin and Page are considered past playing why didn't S bring in another centre-half on loan, rather than another full-back and a midfielder, neither of whom can play at centre-half?

4. Hasn't Gray played at centre-half adequately - (a fair expectation compared to Robertson I would have thought)

5. If Whitaker and/or Allot were having 'mares, when does Smalley get brought on ?

6. Sounds like Lester and Davies may have been a bit tired tonight. When do we see if Boden and Bowery are good enough to do a good job from the start? ( Particularly, what was the point of giving Bowery a public gee-up last week and then not give him a chance to answer it in a perfect game for him to do so ie A home game for a confident side v an unconfident side ?)

Never mind, we have to fight for the right to be alright........

UP THE BLUES

Number 6, please god know! i would rather have lester and davies on 1 leg! Morgan when he is back maybe but no not boden or bowery.

[dalekpete]

On question one the Paternity Leave has to be taken in one block according to the law- of course Breckin does actually have flu.

Two: Page is not match fit.

Four: Gregor has played at CB before.

[lindave]

Why was Robertson played at centreback ahead of Breckin or Page? He's bad enough a fullback. I can't see what Shezza sees in Lomax. I would have started with Smalley on the left of midfield after his good showing at the Shots. Why did he bring Jack off and bring Bowery on is beyond me.

[azul]

Eiderland Spireite, on 23 November 2010 - 11:19 PM, said:

I hate seeing this November collapse of our home form-too familar. But as soon as I saw poor Gregor was thrown in for his first game back after a year v pro opposition at centre-back I thought I saw the explanation! That must have undermined the whole teams confidence !!! Why Sheridan thought that was even an option is the first question.

A few further questions arise tonight I think:-

1. The club captain can't give up two days of paternity leave and train yesterday and play this evening ? and have the 2 days later on (if he must!)

2. Page is finished and useless to the club as far as playing is concerned?

3. If both Breckin and Page are considered past playing why didn't S bring in another centre-half on loan, rather than another full-back and a midfielder, neither of whom can play at centre-half?

4. Hasn't Gray played at centre-half adequately - (a fair expectation compared to Robertson I would have thought)

5. If Whitaker and/or Allot were having 'mares, when does Smalley get brought on ?

6. Sounds like Lester and Davies may have been a bit tired tonight. When do we see if Boden and Bowery are good enough to do a good job from the start? ( Particularly, what was the point of giving Bowery a public gee-up last week and then not give him a chance to answer it in a perfect game for him to do so ie A home game for a confident side v an unconfident side ?)

Never mind, we have to fight for the right to be alright........

UP THE BLUES

Good post mate

Two expensive defenders sitting on their fat bottom

Waiting for key players who may never return to their best so I really wish we wouldn't count these until they have proved themselves again

A few absentees and he's shuffling the pack just like last year

At least we have a stronger foundation than last year, points and player wise but if we don't want to kiss these 6000/7000 crowds goodbye short/medium term measures are required

[tapton-one]

dalekpete, on 23 November 2010 - 11:34 PM, said:

On question one the Paternity Leave has to be taken in one block according to the law- of course Breckin does actually have flu.

Two: Page is not match fit.

Four: Gregor has played at CB before.

the obvious question then is,if not match fit, why is he even considered for the bench?big mistake (tho it didn't alter the scoreline)imo.after all we could have lost a centre half in the 1st min through injury or a sending off.I'll support our manager over most of his decisions ,but tonight he made some almighty cockups!

[moondog]

dalekpete, on 23 November 2010 - 11:34 PM, said:

On question one the Paternity Leave has to be taken in one block according to the law- of course Breckin does actually have flu.

Two: Page is not match fit.

Four: Gregor has played at CB before.

for Scotland U21's

[azul]

dalekpete, on 23 November 2010 - 11:34 PM, said:

On question one the Paternity Leave has to be taken in one block according to the law- of course Breckin does actually have flu.

Two: Page is not match fit.

Four: Gregor has played at CB before.

Apologies, I thought you were the one who announced Breckin was on paternity leave

Whoever it was, it is immaterial, no professional footballer needs it unless he's off to Peru for a friendly.

Cynics would say that it is just a front

This post has been edited by azul: 23 November 2010 - 11:54 PM

[Westbars Spireite]

Why would you need paternity leave when you only work for a couple of hours in a morning five days a week?

[azul]

lindave, on 23 November 2010 - 11:35 PM, said:

Why was Robertson played at centreback ahead of Breckin or Page? He's bad enough a fullback. I can't see what Shezza sees in Lomax. I would have started with Smalley on the left of midfield after his good showing at the Shots. Why did he bring Jack off and bring Bowery on is beyond me.

Lomax has played well in the last two games, don't know about tonight but this sounds like a random scapegoat

Sounds like from what some people have said he is out of the equation anyway

[philmoore6]

dalekpete, on 23 November 2010 - 11:34 PM, said:

On question one the Paternity Leave has to be taken in one block according to the law- of course Breckin does actually have flu.

Two: Page is not match fit.

Four: Gregor has played at CB before.

it can be broken up if agreed by both parties

[Westbars Spireite]

philmoore6, on 24 November 2010 - 07:57 AM, said:

it can be broken up if agreed by both parties

I've had friends voluntarily not taken all of it for financial reasons. If he was unfit to play anyway fair enough but I can't believe the club captain would sit at home if he was needed on the pitch for a home game. Torquay away may be different.

[Bonnyman]

Westbars Spireite, on 24 November 2010 - 08:03 AM, said:

I've had friends voluntarily not taken all of it for financial reasons. If he was unfit to play anyway fair enough but I can't believe the club captain would sit at home if he was needed on the pitch for a home game. Torquay away may be different.

Its a fact that gregor robertson is not a centre half,fair play to the lad as he did an ok job but he is a left back and i thought the last ten minutes showed that with some decent crosses,but ford as an experienced centre half was poor next to him ,he is far too content to play deep.As for lomax,this surely is a mystery signing to me,he dosent fit into the side,he would if we didnt have hunt but he simply cannot use his left foot as a left back the lad is being played out of position,he would have been better playing centre half where he could have at least got himself an angle to pass out wide.......its basics

[Steak pie please]

bonnyman, on 24 November 2010 - 08:18 AM, said:

As for lomax,..... but he simply cannot use his left foot as a left back the lad is being played out of position,he would have been better playing centre half where he could have at least got himself an angle to pass out wide.......its basics

In the first half I lost count of the number of times Lomax had the ball 10 yards from the touchline, Morris was 20 yards in front in absolute space near the touchline and Lomax passed to his right every single time. People around me were wondering aloud if they had had a pre-match bust-up and Lomax was snubbing him it was that obvious. When he eventually did pass to him near half time my section of the crowd cheered.

[Bonnyman]

Steak pie please, on 24 November 2010 - 09:46 AM, said:

In the first half I lost count of the number of times Lomax had the ball 10 yards from the touchline, Morris was 20 yards in front in absolute space near the touchline and Lomax passed to his right every single time. People around me were wondering aloud if they had had a pre-match bust-up and Lomax was snubbing him it was that obvious. When he eventually did pass to him near half time my section of the crowd cheered.

its not his fault and i dont believe he has been made a scapegoat,the fault remains at the feet of the management for asking a player to play in a position that is not natural,put him at rightback and he will be fine but play him left and we lose our width because he will nearly allways favour going inside,no wonder morris was stood in space,oxford soon sussed he wasnt going to get the ball.

[Steak pie please]

I agree playing him out of position is unfair, and I would not expect him to hit 80 yard crosses with his left foot, but surely expecting a right footed player to be able to pass the ball 20 yards to his 11 o'clock with his right foot is not asking too much? If he was on the right wing he could do exactly that all day, just because he is on the left side of the field shouldn't make it any harder.

edit - that might sound as though I think he should ought to be able to play out of position as it is no harder than being on the right. I mean the actual pass to Morris should be no harder.

This post has been edited by Steak pie please: 24 November 2010 - 11:28 AM

[Goku]

Steak pie please, on 24 November 2010 - 11:13 AM, said:

I agree playing him out of position is unfair, and I would not expect him to hit 80 yard crosses with his left foot, but surely expecting a right footed player to be able to pass the ball 20 yards to his 11 o'clock with his right foot is not asking too much? If he was on the right wing he could do exactly that all day, just because he is on the left side of the field shouldn't make it any harder.

edit - that might sound as though I think he should ought to be able to play out of position as it is no harder than being on the right. I mean the actual pass to Morris should be no harder.

This is why a left footed left back is needed. Shows how much we miss Griffiths to be honest. I know why he didn't pass it with his right foot to Morris - because left footed passes to the left wing from the left back position curve outwards whilst right footed passes to the left wing from the left back position curve inwards, meaning there is more of a chance the opposition right winger will intercept them.

That sounded overly complicated for what should be a simple explanation

[DIFH]

dalekpete, on 23 November 2010 - 11:34 PM, said:

On question one the Paternity Leave has to be taken in one block according to the law- of course Breckin does actually have flu.

Two: Page is not match fit.

Four: Gregor has played at CB before.

Be interesting to see how many players come down with the flu before weekend - might explain some of last night.

[Spireite-Karl]

bonnyman, on 24 November 2010 - 10:56 AM, said:

its not his fault and i dont believe he has been made a scapegoat,the fault remains at the feet of the management for asking a player to play in a position that is not natural,put him at rightback and he will be fine but play him left and we lose our width because he will nearly allways favour going inside,no wonder morris was stood in space,oxford soon sussed he wasnt going to get the ball.

Not that its saying much, but Gregor was our best player last night and to say that he's just come back from a awful injury and was playing out of position, deserves a lot of credit not some of the crap I'm reading on here?? He was very composed and played the ball out well to feet of our supposed ball players who proceeded to give it away nine times out of ten!! Ford as you say was about as steady as the Titanic after it hit the iceburg! Even more credit must go to Robo as you rightfully say, Ford's supposed to be the experienced centre back and Gregor must get the plaudits for holding it together as well as he did with what he had ALL around him (not just at the side of him). Though to be perfectly honest as well as Gregor did in the circumstances, he couldn't have had a easier ride than he did last night (that last point alone must asks major questions about Ford??). It was a good job we wasn't playing Bury or someone in form?? More points dropped a week a Saturday if we don't address things asap.
The whole team was pathetic to make things worse, Oxford wasn't much better either! But you could see it in us that we were basically saying where here lads for the taking if you want it enough! And Oxford although poor, saw this and did enough to bag the points. We got out of the game exactly what we deserved... NOTHING!!

We need a loan player or two in to bolster the squad. Without Morgs, Griff and Mattis we are looking like a side with out bottle??