Boxing Day Fixtures

[masi51]

Can’t imagine Bradford being anywhere near as poor as what last week’s opposition were. Think a more consistent performance is required from us if we are to take anything from a rejuvenated Bradford.

you was right about Bradford.....

 

[Casey]

I'll always take a point from the league leaders but we didn't show up until we were down to ten men.

The only good thing about the sending off was that Allarakhia was playing about as good as I could so he wasn't badly missed.

I have doubts about our players being good enough for league football. Our defence drops too deep because they're scared of the ball behind and our central midfield goes missing. The only thing saving us is our forwards can usually turn rubbish possession onto a goal. Today was an exception to that but we need some help in January. The difference between our midfield and Newport's was glaring and painful to see.

Casey

 

[shoddycollins]

was you watching the same game.....you scored the first from a free kick with your player throwing himself to the ground
You scored your third straight after going up when we had a stone wall penalty not given.
We should have had a penalty again second half, then when we get it back to 3-3 we hit the post, what does the ref do......sends Kioso off for a foul where he just brushes him.......shocking performance from a inept referee

I don't disagree about some of our stuff in the first half, we weren't pretty, but Kioso had made so many potential bookable fouls, including a possible penalty before he scored. It was an ugly game but the weather was dreadful so I'm not too surprised about that.

We should have kept the ball on the ground more second half, against that wind it felt like we were asking for trouble.

 

[Si Robin]

Classic, we score a perfectly good second goal which goes about a yard over the line (think Lampard v Germany), doesn't get given and then they equalise

I've looked at it about 4 or 5 times and at no point have I been certain of whether it was over or not, though the bias in me would err on the side of over.

As you say though, other than that we have been bloody shocking for a good few performances now. I'm hoping it's just a bad run, but we seem toothless up front and have even less in midfield (Liam Sercombe aside)

 

[Brox]

Happy with the point all things considered but still nothing about the performance gives me hope that we'll stay up. Even with the point we're in a worse position than we were at the start of the day.

Cheltenham weren't great but they were unlucky today, a better positioned assistant or goal line technology would have seen them 2-0 up and us dead and buried. Aitchison took his goal well, a rare bit of quality from our side but with near enough every result going against us a point just doesn't feel like enough.

 

[Vanni]

I'll always take a point from the league leaders but we didn't show up until we were down to ten men.

The only good thing about the sending off was that Allarakhia was playing about as good as I could so he wasn't badly missed.

I have doubts about our players being good enough for league football. Our defence drops too deep because they're scared of the ball behind and our central midfield goes missing. The only thing saving us is our forwards can usually turn rubbish possession onto a goal. Today was an exception to that but we need some help in January. The difference between our midfield and Newport's was glaring and painful to see.

Casey

Casey, you're on a six game unbeaten run (3 wins inc. the one at AFCW in the cup and 3 draws), and you're currently occupying 10th place in L2. Just the 3 points/1 win off the play offs. Therefore I find your doubts over your players being not good enough for league football to be somewhat ill-founded (??)

I think you're probably over reacting to a poor showing this afternoon, albeit one against a very decent Newport side tbf.

 

[Cas]

Bradford fans randomly showing up again, wonder why that might be

Good to be back.

 

[Carver]

Piss off Carlisle. 3-1 up at home to the worst side in the league and you somehow let it all slip away. And what's worse is Evatt's probably in seventh heaven right now.

Carver was right, the wheels fell off the CUFC's promotion wagon.

We've got a slight injury crisis and it was one of those shitty weather matches where the wind plays a huge part.

I don't see Cambridge anywhere in the top 3 or 7 anymore Vanni. At least we're still up there despite our recent setbacks.

Oh and Bolton are not the worst side in the league, in fact if they just sorted their dodgy defence out then they would be one of the best.

 

[Soz]

That was as bad as it gets. The only positive really is Amoo and even then he pretty much just did what you expect of him.

Nathan Smith was atrocious. Mills god knows. The midfield shocking. Strikers no idea.

I don't want to sound bitter because I'm honestly not, up to 60 minutes I've only seen 2 teams worse than barrow this year, vale and Southend. At 2-0 you could see them gain confidence and we just had no idea and more worryingly, no desire to win individual battles.

Askey has to go. There's more than enough evidence that this isn't a slump, it isn't bad fortune. He may well blame injuries but I've no confidence in him with a full squad and certainly no confidence in him being able to rectify it in Jan.

I don't think we are relegation candidates yet. But in 5 games unless something changes, we will be.

 

[masi51]

I don't disagree about some of our stuff in the first half, we weren't pretty, but Kioso had made so many potential bookable fouls, including a possible penalty before he scored. It was an ugly game but the weather was dreadful so I'm not too surprised about that.

We should have kept the ball on the ground more second half, against that wind it felt like we were asking for trouble.

Despite it being 3-3 it was by no means a classic and until Evatt fucks the system off or gets sacked whichever comes first we will struggle even in this rank bad league.

 

[Vanni]

4th defeat in a row for us and the 4th time and 5 games we've played fairly well in the first half and taken the lead or got ourselves back into the game and then in the second half we've offered nothing and generally been terrible to watch and today was no different.

Cambridge I didn't think played that well, but they took their chances in the second half and defended well to see the game out in poor conditions.

Falling naturally back to our proper position in the table, but my god we've been poor overall for a month now. Thought we managed to turn the corner beating Newport, but our second half performances apart that game have been terrible.

That's a fair summary of the game. I don't think there was anything between the two sides with the only difference being that we took our chances and you didn't.

I think Orient lost the game when the players/asst. manager decided to sit back as soon as they took the lead, and I think a little bit of fear started to creep in amongst the players. We were poor in the first half and I don't think we would've come back into the game if the O's had grabbed another goal before HT. The second half was obviously going to be a different story as often happens when the home side's itching to get back on level terms asap.

 

[Back in the DHSS]

Thought today’s game at Prenton was a decent spectacle despite the result. By no means a poor performance from us. Bradford are another side who did all the simple stuff well and got the one chance of the game where it was impossible to miss. On another day we could of taken something from the game, but it just wasn’t to be.

 

[Carver]

Despite it being 3-3 it was by no means a classic and until Evatt fucks the system off or gets sacked whichever comes first we will struggle even in this rank bad league.

You were definitely one of the more dangerous looking sides upfront we've came up against this season, but yeah your defence is all over the place and needs sorting out and you need to play more direct L2 football if you ever want to get out of this league.

It must be embarrassing for your class forward line to be always getting dragged down by your defence.

 

[masi51]

You were definitely one of the more dangerous looking sides upfront we've came up against this season, but yeah your defence is all over the place and needs sorting out and you need to play more direct L2 football if you ever want to get out of this league.

It must be embarrassing for your class forward line to be always getting dragged down by your defence.

we play with 3 centre backs who are average on there best days and we play with two wing backs despite not having any. Gethin Jones is a right back and Peter kioso who is a right back who is great at attacking but cannot defend. Lwb is either a right sided full back or a centre half.
Evatt keeps saying he wont change his system.......it will cost him his job
Big, Big transfer window coming up
Our owners have only been in charge for 14 months and have got rid of one manager, a DOF and a CEO....Evatt will have to get us out of this league or he will go the same way

 

[Vanni]

We've got a slight injury crisis and it was one of those shitty weather matches where the wind plays a huge part.

I don't see Cambridge anywhere in the top 3 or 7 anymore Vanni. At least we're still up there despite our recent setbacks.

Oh and Bolton are not the worst side in the league, in fact if they just sorted their dodgy defence out then they would be one of the best.

Only one goal is keeping us out of the top 7 mate, Exeter's GD is +14 and ours is +13. But we do have a game in hand over most clubs in the top 7.

But then again, I don't think the U's fans on here have said anything about promotion? I know I haven't. I'm just glad we're not slugging it out with the bottom six this year is all, and I'm sure you're well acquainted with this looking over your shoulders thing with you being a Carlisle fan.

Happy holidays pal

 

[valefan16]

That was as bad as it gets. The only positive really is Amoo and even then he pretty much just did what you expect of him.

Nathan Smith was atrocious. Mills god knows. The midfield shocking. Strikers no idea.

I don't want to sound bitter because I'm honestly not, up to 60 minutes I've only seen 2 teams worse than barrow this year, vale and Southend. At 2-0 you could see them gain confidence and we just had no idea and more worryingly, no desire to win individual battles.

Askey has to go. There's more than enough evidence that this isn't a slump, it isn't bad fortune. He may well blame injuries but I've no confidence in him with a full squad and certainly no confidence in him being able to rectify it in Jan.

I don't think we are relegation candidates yet. But in 5 games unless something changes, we will be.

That’s the worry for me, Barrow were very poor, Stevenage were very poor, Kings Lynn were exceptionally poor... yet on the day we’ve barely laid a glove and that doesn’t bode well. Askey is blaming injuries but he signed the back up players today!

 

[masi51]

That’s the worry for me, Barrow were very poor, Stevenage were very poor, Kings Lynn were exceptionally poor... yet on the day we’ve barely laid a glove and that doesn’t bode well. Askey is blaming injuries but he signed the back up players today!

The whole league is poor.....Newport, FGR are Average but steady. Exeter seem to be decent then you have the rest who are piss poor and will win one week then get hammered the week after...Us Port Vale and Tranmere are shining examples of this

 

[BarraMatt]

Despite the delay HMS Piss the League has finally set sail from the tropical port of Barrow.

 

[Casey]

Casey, you're on a six game unbeaten run (3 wins inc. the one at AFCW in the cup and 3 draws), and you're currently occuid fancy us for a run into the play offspying 10th place in L2. Just the 3 points/1 win off the play offs. Therefore I find your doubts over your players being not good enough for league football to be somewhat ill-founded (??)

I think you're probably over reacting to a poor showing this afternoon, albeit one against a very decent Newport side tbf.

We're getting results because our three front men are bloody dangerous!

When we do manage to get something going they can normally get a goal or two but then we go back to being rubbish and sitting too deep.

If (bloody big if) we could pick up a couple of decent central midfielders Id fancy us for a run into the play offs.

By the way, Newport look a good side but oddly lacking in confidence. Twine looks a Championship player and they have few others there who are better than this league.

Casey

 

[hellogregory]

That’s 2 points dropped. People can say a point isn’t the end of the world, still third etc as much as they want, but it’s a disastrous result.

As dominant a first half as we’ve had this season. At 3-0 I was thinking my 4-0 prediction wasn’t going to be enough. Then they got a goal before half time but even then I still thought we’re too dominant to let this slip.

Then the second half storm happened. A monsoon/hurricane. It was a total leveller, it was chances at both ends after that. We missed chances, they took 2 at the end.

Horrific result. In bog standard weather we’d have won it comfortably.

 

[shoddycollins]

Despite it being 3-3 it was by no means a classic and until Evatt fucks the system off or gets sacked whichever comes first we will struggle even in this rank bad league.

Yeah, first half could have been a bigger scoreline to us than 3-1. I couldn't understand why Bolton kept trying to play out from back given the number of times we nicked it. I suppose it sounds a bit inconsistent that I thought Bolton's big weakness was passing it about too much first half and then go and say that we didn't pass it about enough second half, but I think at 3-1 up we should have maybe had more faith in ourselves to do that without messing it up like Bolton did.

Turns out Dean Furman picked up a knock though, and my plan for playing it on the deck when facing the wind second half involved bringing him on.

Oh well. Everyone at the top of the table seems to be having a dodgy Christmas, so we can go to Harrogate next week and try yet again up go top.

 

[Boz]

Thought today’s game at Prenton was a decent spectacle despite the result. By no means a poor performance from us. Bradford are another side who did all the simple stuff well and got the one chance of the game where it was impossible to miss. On another day we could of taken something from the game, but it just wasn’t to be.

I agree that it was a decent game, especially in the first half when both sides had a few decent chances, but Bradford after they took the lead, good finish but poor defending from Rovers in the build-up, looked more like extending it.. I did feel some of the substitutions from Keith Hill were strange and contributed to our ultimate downfall, in particular taking off Danny Lloyd for an out of sorts Kieron Morris, while leaving Jack Young on, who didn't have the physical strength for this kind of game.

 

[Chris FGR]

The whole league is poor.....Newport, FGR are Average but steady. Exeter seem to be decent then you have the rest who are piss poor and will win one week then get hammered the week after...Us Port Vale and Tranmere are shining examples of this

Looking at how Swindon and Northampton are doing this season, added to the fact we were hit for 6 when we played Lincoln in the cup, I reckon whoever goes up to league 1 will be bang in trouble next season.

 

[Conker]

Make no mistake we are in massive trouble.

Plenty of teams in a worse position not reacting like yourself, get it together. Deep breaths

 

[Back in the DHSS]

I agree that it was a decent game, especially in the first half when both sides had a few decent chances, but Bradford after they took the lead, good finish but poor defending from Rovers in the build-up, looked more like extending it.. I did feel some of the substitutions from Keith Hill were strange and contributed to our ultimate downfall, in particular taking off Danny Lloyd for an out of sorts Kieron Morris, while leaving Jack Young on, who didn't have the physical strength for this kind of game.

With hindsight Hill did get the Morris sub wrong. I think we could of done with Banks on early in the 2nd half for Young who was looking tired.

 

[LS Bantam]

Delighted with that, didn’t see a win coming today despite the form of the caretaker duo, who are making it hard for anyone else to come in full time. 10 points from 12? Only points dropped thanks to an OG. Players talking them up and with the new recruitment guy in this could be us now at least for the season.

 

[Indian Dan]

Looking at how Swindon and Northampton are doing this season, added to the fact we were hit for 6 when we played Lincoln in the cup, I reckon whoever goes up to league 1 will be bang in trouble next season.

The same applies for whoever goes up to the Championship from L1.

Hopefully, we’ll have new owners in the New Year.

 

[hellogregory]

Looking at how Swindon and Northampton are doing this season, added to the fact we were hit for 6 when we played Lincoln in the cup, I reckon whoever goes up to league 1 will be bang in trouble next season.

but at least whoever goes up will be able to rest knowing that they won’t lose their football league status at the end of the following season. That is always the ultimate fear as long as you’re in this league,

 

[valefan16]

I just don’t know what has changed for us really.

First 10 games - 19 points
Second 10 games - 5 points

First 10 games defence the best in the league second 10 it’s gone completely to bits at the back.

Injuries have taken hold of late but doesn’t excuse the first 5 games of the bad run which were poor.

Rumours about of fall outs, bad eggs in the camp, back room staff causing issues but these always crop up when we are out of form.

Recruitment seems to have been an issue in the end, Fitzpatrick has done ok, Rodney has been excellent (not today mind), McKirdy totally pointless, Visser decent but yet to play a league game, Robinson crap but not given a run of games, Mills looked decent but of late since his COVID looks as though he’s still isolating from the rest of the back 4.

If we stick with Askey now he gets January to make a further mess. The XI from last season seems to work, Rodders can play with them, possibly Fitz but the rest aren’t stepping up, sadly last seasons XI is decimated with injuries. The key players bar Rodney that took Bolton apart are all out.

Something just isn’t working but no one seems
to be able to figure out just want the problem is that’s caused the drastic change in form and performance levels.

 

[CTFCfan99]

Can anyone top the 13 points we've dropped after scoring the first goal I wonder?