Breaking the duck

[The_Green_Man]

Let's be realistic.

I agree with a good bit of what I have read on here regarding Sunday's ropey win against Coventry. Whilst we showed the first bit of grit and determination that we have seen in recent weeks, we can not allow this to gloss over what was otherwise a very lacklustre all round performance. Going forward we lacked any sort of conviction for the best part of 70 minutes and despite us looking a bit more solid at the back, this didn't come without it's own share of individual errors which could have proven costly in the end. The only real positive I can draw from the game really is the impact that the second half substitutions made for us.

The most important thing however I think was "breaking the duck" so to speak and at a very important time for us with a busy Christmas period coming up and 12 points up for grabs, of which a couple of these like the Coventry game are real 6 pointers.

The goals are very much drying out at the minute which I put down to a distinct lack of confidence going forward more than anything else. We haven't been good therefore players are reluctant to express themselves at the risk of being singled out for blame and OK let's be fair our squad isn't the most gifted however I do feel that it has a good bit more to give than what we have been watching.

I read in The Star and listened to post match player interviews to hear of this "winning dirty" mentality that the team are to take on board after the win and I don't buy into this what so ever. I don't believe for one minute that we have the intelligence and experience to do this successfully therefore I would much rather the players take the confidence of beating a top of the league team and use this to move forward and do the basics correctly.

Anyway I appear to have gone off on a tangent here but to bring it back on topic, that win was huge for us at this stage of the season considering the next few weeks ahead. We seriously need to to pick up a few more points in the busy Christmas period if we are to achieve anything what so ever this season and whilst a couple of the games are more than winnable, they all could pretty much go either way based on our performances so far this season.

 

[tyneblade]

......of which a couple of these like the Coventry game are imaginary 6 pointers.

Typo.

 

[Old Skool]

The next 3 league games will be very interesting. Scunny away against whom our record particularly away from home is poor, Wigan away - a very tough fixture against a team still with realistic ambitions of breaking into the top 2 and Bradford at home - Again, a side with realistic ambitions of making the top 6. I really hope Sunday's win will be the launch-pad for a good run of results but am I confident of this? No. I cannot say I am. 5 points from those 3 fixtures would, to me, represent a good return. Sadly, such a return will in all likelihood mean that we will even further behind the top 6 - never mind the top 2. I hope the gaffer can use the January transfer-window to trim some of the fat in the squad and strengthen but even so, new additions often take time to gel and provide the necessary return for the investment made. For the sake of our wonderfully loyal and (for the most part) infinitely patient fans I hope we all have a good Christmas and New Year.

 

[Woodwardfan]

Let's be realistic.

I agree with a good bit of what I have read on here regarding Sunday's ropey win against Coventry. Whilst we showed the first bit of grit and determination that we have seen in recent weeks, we can not allow this to gloss over what was otherwise a very lacklustre all round performance. Going forward we lacked any sort of conviction for the best part of 70 minutes and despite us looking a bit more solid at the back, this didn't come without it's own share of individual errors which could have proven costly in the end. The only real positive I can draw from the game really is the impact that the second half substitutions made for us.

The most important thing however I think was "breaking the duck" so to speak and at a very important time for us with a busy Christmas period coming up and 12 points up for grabs, of which a couple of these like the Coventry game are real 6 pointers.

The goals are very much drying out at the minute which I put down to a distinct lack of confidence going forward more than anything else. We haven't been good therefore players are reluctant to express themselves at the risk of being singled out for blame and OK let's be fair our squad isn't the most gifted however I do feel that it has a good bit more to give than what we have been watching.

I read in The Star and listened to post match player interviews to hear of this "winning dirty" mentality that the team are to take on board after the win and I don't buy into this what so ever. I don't believe for one minute that we have the intelligence and experience to do this successfully therefore I would much rather the players take the confidence of beating a top of the league team and use this to move forward and do the basics correctly.

Anyway I appear to have gone off on a tangent here but to bring it back on topic, that win was huge for us at this stage of the season considering the next few weeks ahead. We seriously need to to pick up a few more points in the busy Christmas period if we are to achieve anything what so ever this season and whilst a couple of the games are more than winnable, they all could pretty much go either way based on our performances so far this season.

Agree.

Saturday's win was totally dependant on a poor and lenient referee, a blind linesman and our goalkeeper MOM.

We will not score enough goals with a midfield of Coutts, Hammond, Basham and Woolford, who are maybe our least progressive four midfield players on the books and don't ever get into the final third of the pitch.

How does the team score goals with only two men in the final third all along?

Nick 1-0 wins? With our defence?

 

[RMBlade]

our goalkeeper MOM.

I haven't seen her, is she any good?

We will not score enough goals with a midfield of Coutts, Hammond, Basham and Woolford, who are maybe our least progressive four midfield players on the books and don't ever get into the final third of the pitch.

How does the team score goals with only two men in the final third all along?

Nick 1-0 wins? With our defence?

I completely agree. I think this was somewhat intentional in an attempt to close out Coventry's pacey players.

For me we need more pace, except JCR, Done (who isn't rapid) and Che (who isn't rapid) we don't have any pace in the side.

In Jan we need a pacey winger, if we are playing 442 this is difficult because the majority of pacey wingers do not defend too well. Which becomes and even bigger issue when we have Brayford and Harris who love to get forward.

Pace isn't too much of an issue in the middle of the park but when we are without Baxer we lack any sort of creativity.

 

[Bladesman]

There was not much we could do against Coventry when have players that have a bit of pace out injured or suspended.

We do need someone new that is pacey.

 

[Alfreton14Blade]

Let's be realistic.

I agree with a good bit of what I have read on here regarding Sunday's ropey win against Coventry. Whilst we showed the first bit of grit and determination that we have seen in recent weeks, we can not allow this to gloss over what was otherwise a very lacklustre all round performance. Going forward we lacked any sort of conviction for the best part of 70 minutes and despite us looking a bit more solid at the back, this didn't come without it's own share of individual errors which could have proven costly in the end. The only real positive I can draw from the game really is the impact that the second half substitutions made for us.

The most important thing however I think was "breaking the duck" so to speak and at a very important time for us with a busy Christmas period coming up and 12 points up for grabs, of which a couple of these like the Coventry game are real 6 pointers.

The goals are very much drying out at the minute which I put down to a distinct lack of confidence going forward more than anything else. We haven't been good therefore players are reluctant to express themselves at the risk of being singled out for blame and OK let's be fair our squad isn't the most gifted however I do feel that it has a good bit more to give than what we have been watching.

I read in The Star and listened to post match player interviews to hear of this "winning dirty" mentality that the team are to take on board after the win and I don't buy into this what so ever. I don't believe for one minute that we have the intelligence and experience to do this successfully therefore I would much rather the players take the confidence of beating a top of the league team and use this to move forward and do the basics correctly.

Anyway I appear to have gone off on a tangent here but to bring it back on topic, that win was huge for us at this stage of the season considering the next few weeks ahead. We seriously need to to pick up a few more points in the busy Christmas period if we are to achieve anything what so ever this season and whilst a couple of the games are more than winnable, they all could pretty much go either way based on our performances so far this season.

While I agree with what you say about our evident limitations & about the importance of breaking that duck, I do think you're overly harsh about Sunday's performance - lacklustre? the only positive being the second half subs?

The joy that has been manifested about the fact that we went out to & achieved a thoroughly dirty win shouldn't be underestimated IMO (whatever luck might have been on our side). That new-found refusal to be bullied (or have the piss taken out of us) on our own patch has the potential to be a serious unifying factor, both amongst the players themselves, & between fans & players.

We're still in a fairly precarious position - a loss on Sunday would have led to us being nearer the relegation positions than the play-off places. So, there is a bit of a "needs must"/safety first approach being taken right now. But it's the attitude (which was first rate on Sunday, & led by Hammond) that's most important at present.

Of course, the usual disappointing result at Scunny will put the dampers on. More than anything, we need a bit of a run, even if it involves horrible, scrappy 1-0s or hard-fought draws.

 

[Billyblade]

I think the applause that the players received at the end of the game was more to do with the grittiness of the display and the refusal to be bullied in our own back yard which has been sadly lacking for ages now.
It certainly wasn't for the level of ability.
I for one, have managed to pretty much live with the fact that our players aren't the best in the world. What I can't cope with is the spineless, gutless, effortless performances which seem to have become the norm.