Post-Match Thread and Ratings Northampton Town 2-1 Southend United

[BILLERICAY BLUE]

We go back to basics. Pick our best formation 4-3-3, and pick our best people suited to fill each of the individual roles. The last home game, we did this and produced the best performance, if not result, since Chesterfield.

 

[russellrh]

Hurrah I did not see the game yesterday, but had the radio on, the best form of defence is to attack, but what we lack is quality strickers as we have all season, PB appears to believe that Corr, Barnard, Freedy, our front forwards are good enough, regetably as the season has shown not so, Hurst and Straker are to provide crosses thats there job.

PB please bring in a quality, quick, stricker our front three are not capable, plus one quality centre half.

 

[dannypav]

Hurrah I did not see the game yesterday, but had the radio on, the best form of defence is to attack, but what we lack is quality strickers as we have all season, PB appears to believe that Corr, Barnard, Freedy, our front forwards are good enough, regetably as the season has shown not so, Hurst and Straker are to provide crosses thats there job.

PB please bring in a quality, quick, stricker our front three are not capable, plus one quality centre half.

Not many around fella.......

 

[Yorkshire Blue]

Squad depth is killing us, we played on through the busy period with virtually the same 12/13 players - injuries allowing. Whereas other squad can make small changes to their sides, we haven't been able to. There's been no respite for our XI and on these pitches it's drained us. Our side look shot to bits, and there's no-one to come in and replace them, well aside from unfit reserves and youth team players.

I don't agree with this.

We have 5 defenders out (Prosser, Thompson, Bennett, Bolger and O'Neill). Even the likes of Man City and Chelsea with their massive squads are weaker defensively when they are without 5 defenders. Bennett was perhaps predictable, and signing loanees who haven't been playing regularly maybe higher risk but even so 5 injuries in one position group isn't something you can, or should, legislate for.

It's midfield where we are tired but we've had the options and we've just used them badly.

Why has Timlin (one of our more naturally fit players) been subbed 7 out of the last 10 games and not Atkinson (who is clearly now flagging) or Leonard (who is starting to flag)? Laird, by all accounts last night's man of the match, has been sat on his arse getting splinters for the last two and a half months. He's had 129 minutes of football (including last night's start) since Christmas. Why wasn't he at least brought on for Atkinson or Leonard when we were 3-0 up after hour against Millwall and then Chesterfield? He's someone who doesn't weaken us, but would have let us rest players and keep them fresh, whilst keeping him match sharp.

Jack Payne has had a grand total of 4 appearances since October, all as sub. Couldn't we use him a little more frequently?

Then there's Gomis who's had 21 minutes (out of position) since joining 8 weeks ago. Why was he signed if we weren't going to use him? Would those resources not have been better employed signing an actual winger as an alternative from the bench to replace Straker and Hurst for when they were having one of their frequent off-days?

 

[Pubey]

Can't disagree with any of that Yorkie Blue. Our squad lacked cover in several positions before the injuries at the back, Gomis was always a strange signing (stranger seeing as he's hardly featured after we had him at the club for months) and tired players haven't been sensibly rotated/subbed.

 

[ozzy-shrimper]

Most depressing game i've seen in a long time.

For what it's worth,

Bentley - 5 - As said should have claimed.
White - 6 - Done his job.
Philips - 2 - Horrendous. Lost his legs, all his fault for the second, consistently fouling their strikers trying to win a header. Caught the wrong side of players way too often.
Coker - 6 - Looked to make things happen without clipping it over the fullbacks.
Atkinson - 5 - Other than his work rate, doesn't contribute with the ball again.
Leonard - 6 - Came to get the ball and looked to play.
Timlin - 5 - Well taken goal, that's it.
Straker - 4 - One of them games.
Laird - 7 - MOTM. Made things happen and broke up play. Unbelievable to take him off and why he doesn't start every game baffles me.
Corr - 5 - Not enough movement, struggled to bring anything down and link up play.
Barnard - 5 - No pace. Contributed nothing.

Hurst - 5
Freddy - 4 - Why he was brought on instead of Williams earlier on I do not know. At least Williams showed some desire when he came on compared to Eastwood strolling around the pitch. Will be heading back to Grays sooner rather than later.

 

[5scoops]

how we see the game eh boys and girls. pb made the wrong subs lee made really good runs to get into box.but we passed it to slow to the side , I could see he was ****ed off ,but still he kept closing down play ,and laird did really well .and the game changed when he went off.

fredy and corr were to lazy and to busy having a moan together .both left there man free on the corners etc,
now fred knees have gone and also having problems off the field .

keep the faith has I belive we will go up in playoffs has no league 2 team can keep up with our passing game

 

[FarmdogSUFC]

Another game where the subs were strange to say the least. The fact that hardly anyone clapped at the end summed it up to me. ****ing awful.

 

[greyerfox]

Have seen few games this season, most recently Rochdale, Pompey and Hull, all at the Hall. Thus when the chance came to be a guest of the match sponsors, it was a chance to see us in our current form. Driving over to Sixfields from East Anglia my brother and I tried to cheer ourselves about famous victories , this probably to hide our very real fears about the evening. This was a potential banana skin, the sort which usually sees us slip up when playing a bottom of the heap side. At the pre-match meal we were invited to guess score, crowd, first scorer etc. I opted for 2-1 to the home team... then the team sheets arrived. It was immediately clear that we had but one centre-half. I veered towards a heavier defeat.

As part of the package four of our party were invited to lead the teams out. All four of us were Blues fans!! No wonder the Blues players were perplexed when we fervently wished them good luck, completely ignoring the home team! Ref Boyeson had a word in my brother's ear for spending far too long with Jon White when he had a match to get under way. This was a portent for what was to follow, the ref being just as punctillious as to the exact point at which each throw in was to be taken.

The first few minutes were just as I feared and the Cobblers poured forward and our back three looked shaky. No real surprise when we failed to defend a corner and behind we went. But far from capitulating we got into the game and scored a very well-crafted and beautifully taken goal. We played some pleasing stuff and yes, we did move it laterally, but all around me in our little Blue enclave in the main stand were pleading for us to keep the ball on the ground. Barry was put through but sadly produced a powder puff left footer straight at the keeper. The Cobblers fans at half time in the restaurant were complimentary about our play. They were clearly thinking that in the second half things could go downhill for them.

But not so. Blues did not turn up after half time. And as Mark P spurned the chance to put the ball into row Z and Sinclair took full toll of the slip and raced away to square for the winner one knew it was all over. Barry had a wonderful chance to head us back into contention but headed wastefully wide. Boyeson bottled a decision to award a penalty and gave a free kick just outside the area. Freddy hit the wall; no repeat of the Man U wonder goal. And the game slipped to its inevitable conclusion. Town were very happy to defend and then keep the ball in the corners. Blues had long since, it seemed, given up any hope of scoring... and so had we.

So, overall impressions? We have no pace up front, nor in the middle of defence. As has been mentioned countless times on here, the midfield has tired players. Ryan L was a shadow of the man who bossed the Pompey game in a way which had PB in raptures. Contrary to what others have said, I thought Atko did well. Straker was in good form too in the first half.

When PB introduced Freddy earlier than usual I was pleased to get the chance to see what he could do. I have noted what others have said about him recently so took note of what he did. Sad to say it was nothing. Don't get me wrong. Like us all, I would love to report that he did great things. But he didn't. I counted one very short completed pass. Other than that the ball was like the proverbial beach ball to him. I do fear for him. Would love it if he rammed this down my throat with a goal burst to get us moving into the 50's points. (We have been in the 40's for an eternity).

Back to the resto under the stands but not before a quick word with a Blues centre half of old. Paul Clark said he would have put man and ball into touch rather than let Sinclair past for the winning cross. And, as guests of the sponsors, we had to choose a (home) MOM. Emile S was our man and was modest and charming when accepting his prize before the gathered throng who were (mostly!)understandably in bouyant mood after 6 points from two home games.

It was a long drive back to Norfolk. If it had been Christmas Eve again I would have put a pacey striker and dominant centre back on my list for Santa. As it is I woke up to find Argyle standing in the fireplace, not with a welcome present but a very real threat of devouring not a mince pie but our play-off place.

 

[Billy Bests boot laces]

It was a long drive back to Norfolk.

An excellent summary greyerfox, but look for the positives. Cambridge have a good chance of promotion, and Colchester of relegation. So next season you could have 2 more local games?.

 

[greyerfox]

Thanks BB. You are quite right. Always look on the bright side......

 

[Shrimper2thecore]

1 point for all of those banging on about the pen that we didn't get. The ref got it correct, contact was made outside the box.

 

[Blue_Wes]

It's midfield where we are tired but we've had the options and we've just used them badly.

Why has Timlin (one of our more naturally fit players) been subbed 7 out of the last 10 games and not Atkinson (who is clearly now flagging) or Leonard (who is starting to flag)? Laird, by all accounts last night's man of the match, has been sat on his arse getting splinters for the last two and a half months. He's had 129 minutes of football (including last night's start) since Christmas. Why wasn't he at least brought on for Atkinson or Leonard when we were 3-0 up after hour against Millwall and then Chesterfield? He's someone who doesn't weaken us, but would have let us rest players and keep them fresh, whilst keeping him match sharp.

Jack Payne has had a grand total of 4 appearances since October, all as sub. Couldn't we use him a little more frequently?

Then there's Gomis who's had 21 minutes (out of position) since joining 8 weeks ago. Why was he signed if we weren't going to use him? Would those resources not have been better employed signing an actual winger as an alternative from the bench to replace Straker and Hurst for when they were having one of their frequent off-days?

Yeah - fair points well made. Green owed.