Post-Match Thread and Ratings Tamworth 1-1 Southend United

[BlueBore]

7 League games when Jack Bridge hasn’t started: Won just 1 ( Rochdale A) Drawn 4 (Hartlepool, Aldershot, Woking, Tamworth - all A) Lost 2 (Barnet H Maidenhead A).

Those 4 away draws and the defeat were all winnable against weaker opposition.

All this unnecessary squad rotation means players don’t build understandings with each other.

The last six games : today Bonne, Hopper; - going back Bonne, Walker; Hopper, Kendall; Walker, Hopper, Kendall; Hopper, Walker; Walker,Kendall, Bonne;

The defensive and midfield rotation is debatable although it has at times been forced and I agree that while Bridge sometimes flatters to deceive we do play better as a team when he plays.

The striker rotation is more understandable I think, because none of them have made a case for themselves to be automatic picks. Until at least one of them screams "pick me" by scoring goals or at least looking like it, then we're going to keep rotating.
Personally I think you pick 1 of Bonne or Hopper to lead the line, but after that its anyone's guess!

 

[gatecrasher]

Par for the course with our setup and style. I'd argue it was a good point as we played abysmally

 

[Holy Joe]

How did Bonne and Hopper work as a pair?

 

[ace]

Thanks for the clarification on Bonne's header @ace. It looked a stone bonker on the TV. And the non pen?

I think Ralph knew the guy was behind him and went down easily. Although I did give it a big shout

 

[It'sGrimUpNorth]

Why? Nothing has changed since before this game. Oldham and Halifax also drew and Altrincham lost, so we have actually gained a point on the play offs.

I’ve said for weeks that we won’t make the play offs and I’m sticking it that.
So there!!

 

[It'sGrimUpNorth]

Do you not think we'll make the playoffs i think we could. Discuss.

No and no!

 

[Boreham Blue]

One other observation which will no doubt prove unpopular, but I thought Nick Hayes should have come out and helped our defenders out on a few occasions to claim the numerous long throws into our box. He seemed rooted to his line though which concerned me.

Not a one-off today. It’s the big weakness in his game. Was the same in the last couple of games

 

[THE SEVENTIES NORTH BANK]

How did Bonne and Hopper work as a pair?

Not great. Hopper headed the ball on a few times, to no one. He went down the left and put in an excellent cross to Bonne, who headed over. Bonne was better out of the two, as he has a bit more pace. We would have won today with a Bim Pepple type, as they looked vulnerable when when ran at or turned with the ball.

 

[Booma]

I’m going to throw something out here. Do you think the take over has changed the mentality of the squad?

Last season we didn’t know if any game could be the last so the squad/management were more inclined to just enjoy it, nothing to lose, play with freedom? Also players/management putting themselves in the shop window for a new club should we have gone under.

 

[Bratislava Blue]

The curse of wearing the blue away shirts strikes again. Can anyone think of a game this season when we've worn them and we've put in a decent performance. Cos I can't.

Too much rotation for our starting XI. Every match Maher seems to make at least 2 or 3 changes.

 

[40yearsafan]

Do you not think we'll make the playoffs? I think we could. Discuss.

No. The points gap is closable, but to do it, we need to be more consistent than the others. Today underlines our complete lack of consistency.

 

[Alexshrimper]

D&R 3-4-3 Win
FLYDE 3-4-3 win
Sittingbourne 3-5-2 L
Maidenhead 3-5-2 L
Halifax 3-4-3 Win
Rochdale 3-5-2 draw
Aldershot3-5-2 win
Tamworth 3-5-2 draw

343 100% win and entertainment 3 GamesGF 7
352 20% win and drab football 5 games GF 4

 

[Barling Magna]

No and no!

Oh, I don't know. We could make the playoffs IGUN.....

Rochdale's humiliation at home today by Barnet suggests that they will struggle. We've moved another point further away from them. Altrincham's embarrassing home defeat by, of all people, AFC Fylde is also suggestive of them bottling it. The play offs are definitely a possibility for us.....

OH! Wait a minute.... you didn't want to discuss it did you...? Sorry mate

 

[Gt Yarmouth Shrimper]

And for the record from right behind the goal, Hoppers cross was just too high for Bonne to get his forehead on. Any lower and the defender would have clear

From my view sitting in the away seats, that's exactly how it was.

Also, I think Ralph went down too easy for the penalty, would have been very soft if it was given.

 

[Tangled up in Blue]

Do you not think we'll make the playoffs? I think we could. Discuss.

Could is not the same as will.

 

[THE SEVENTIES NORTH BANK]

The curse of wearing the blue away shirts strikes again. Can anyone think of a game this season when we've worn them and we've put in a decent performance. Cos I can't.

Too much rotation for our starting XI. Every match Maher seems to make at least 2 or 3 changes.

We just played 5 games in two weeks. So of course there will be changes. Resting players, some niggles and slight injuries, and the stomach bug about the place. There had to be changes.

 

[Guybrush13]

Just got back from Tamworth. First half was awful, proper Maher ball. We'd go forward, stop and then pass sideways. Second half was better but still not great. The most disappointing thing about today was our fans. Silent for the whole 90 minutes despite great numbers. Well outstang by their chats.

 

[LBBlue]

Oh, I don't know. We could make the playoffs IGUN.....

Rochdale's humiliation at home today by Barnet suggests that they will struggle. We've moved another point further away from them. Altrincham's embarrassing home defeat by, of all people, AFC Fylde is also suggestive of them bottling it. The play offs are definitely a possibility for us.....

OH! Wait a minute.... you didn't want to discuss it did you...? Sorry mate

Only slightly worse than our humiliation. I reckon a lot of players have seen that the play off final is on 1st June and have said ***k that - I’d rather be on holiday in Benidorm.

 

[in the know]

It didn't look like either to me, he just looked knackered. I hope I'm right.

I hope so too. But solely based on what I watched i d say groin strain. no doubt will find out soon.

 

[THE SEVENTIES NORTH BANK]

Only slightly worse than our humiliation. I reckon a lot of players have seen that the play off final is on 1st June and have said ***k that - I’d rather be on holiday in Benidorm.

Seriously? They really tried, but the quality was missing on the day, not the effort.