Final day fixtures

[Gassy]

Northampton - Bristol Rovers. The rivalry none of us knew we needed. I imagine next year it could get quite fierce.

 

[thewwfc]

A poor end to our worst season in 98 years. Would have gone down if Appleton stayed is the only positive. Surely next season can only be better

Yeah, it was a shit game yesterday between two pretty average-looking sides.

Charlton huffed and puffed on the counter with decent pace, but had few opportunities, and we didn’t create that much from an attacking perspective either, which has been a common problem for us this season.

I guess the big positive for us was that Alfie Fucking May didn’t score against us (maybe even the first game he’s played vs us where that wasn’t the case?) - even getting hooked at HT, which can’t be a mark of approval.

I see that Jones has at least already made the noises that CAFC fans are doubtless desperate to hear, ie that there will be an aggressive clearout in the summer, and that next season’s squad will look very different.

 

[Luke Imp]

As I said earlier in the week, our record against the top sides isn't great this season and when you do play them, our CM issues that we've had is amplified but ultimately it wasn't just that yesterday, we ran out of a bit of steam and came up against a decent side as well and with House in CM, which I completely understood, you then lose him from up front where Draper struggled physically yesterday so it was square pegs in round holes.

First half was a non-event really, the majority of Portsmouth's possession was with their three CB's and I can't recall them creating anything full stop up. They were having a little bit of joy in the final 10 minutes of the first half but it never really came to anything. Up until our formation change with ten minutes to go it was pretty much the same in the second half and we unfortunately weren't able to use that to our advantage because they scored within a couple of minutes. A normal league game and we see that out in a comfortable 0-0 and take the point.

Over the course of the game I thought we actually created the better chances - Sorenson's free kick routine and save in the second half, House, O'Connor at the back post - and obviously the penalty that Mandroiu slipped with. It was only when we started chasing the game that they created anything of any note.

I made it 14 yellows, including their staff, but it wasn't even a dirty game really. I thought their two wingers and two of their subs had a complete lack of class about them. I'm all for a bit of gamesmanship and shithousery but being so blatant in taunting our players during play (whilst the ball was at the other end of the pitch!) was a bit classless IMO - you can be a bad winner. The ref had a mare, he took an age over carding people or having a word with them? He was better than Portsmouth's players at slowing the game down! Their 'keeper must have been down 'injured' three times. Portsmouth's intention was clearly to come and do what they could get away with. Mousinho thought it was a good game, so they must have had some absolutely terrible games this season for that to stand out for him, it was a terrible game in footballing terms.

The bottom line is though that we lost 2 in about 20 and unbelievably managed reel Stevenage and especially Oxford back in - even Barnsley really and kept the season going to the last day of the season despite where we were after NYD and that in itself is an incredible achievement. Been a pretty mental second half of the season, way above anyone's expectations.

 

[folletto]

Yeah, it was a shit game yesterday between two pretty average-looking sides.

Charlton huffed and puffed on the counter with decent pace, but had few opportunities, and we didn’t create that much from an attacking perspective either, which has been a common problem for us this season.

I guess the big positive for us was that Alfie Fucking May didn’t score against us (maybe even the first game he’s played vs us where that wasn’t the case?) - even getting hooked at HT, which can’t be a mark of approval.

I see that Jones has at least already made the noises that CAFC fans are doubtless desperate to hear, ie that there will be an aggressive clearout in the summer, and that next season’s squad will look very different.

Jones’ relationship with May has been quite interesting. I think we’ve been experimenting quite a bit since it’s been clear that we’re safe so not sure how much to read into him being hooked at HT, but that first half from us was woeful. Definitely picked up in the second but wholesale changes needed in the summer if we want to do anything positive next year.

Edit: just seen his post match interview where he said he shipped him because he was a passenger, fair enough

 

[LordJord]

Northampton - Bristol Rovers. The rivalry none of us knew we needed. I imagine next year it could get quite fierce.

I dont get the ill feeling personally. You took advantage of a situation that was unfortunate for us. Scunny should not have played a bunch of kids that were about to get released, but you have to beat who is in front of you.

My thoughts of Brizzle Rovers are Ellis Harrison seemingly always scoring loads against us and taking club legend John-Joe O'Toole from you after you went down.

 

[denzel ecfc]

I''m assuming it's because Northampton were pipped to automatic promotion that year that Scunny shipped 8 at Bristol Rovers? I hope there's another reason, as pretty weird to still hold a grudge ...

Oh yeah, forgot about that.
I'd hold that grudge too, complete bellenda.

 

[Gassy]

I dont get the ill feeling personally. You took advantage of a situation that was unfortunate for us. Scunny should not have played a bunch of kids that were about to get released, but you have to beat who is in front of you.

My thoughts of Brizzle Rovers are Ellis Harrison seemingly always scoring loads against us and taking club legend John-Joe O'Toole from you after you went down.

Tbf to Scunny, did they have anyone left? I seem to remember their senior players weren't getting paid to stopped playing and they were forced with the kids, but I can't remember the spcifics.

Not sure JJ was a club legend tbf. Think we had him to a year or 2, but it did hurt. Or rather, it hurt how good he was on loan with us, then when he signed permanently he was atrocious. But then he suddenly became world class again when he signed for you

 

[Pompeyblueboy]

As I said earlier in the week, our record against the top sides isn't great this season and when you do play them, our CM issues that we've had is amplified but ultimately it wasn't just that yesterday, we ran out of a bit of steam and came up against a decent side as well and with House in CM, which I completely understood, you then lose him from up front where Draper struggled physically yesterday so it was square pegs in round holes.

First half was a non-event really, the majority of Portsmouth's possession was with their three CB's and I can't recall them creating anything full stop up. They were having a little bit of joy in the final 10 minutes of the first half but it never really came to anything. Up until our formation change with ten minutes to go it was pretty much the same in the second half and we unfortunately weren't able to use that to our advantage because they scored within a couple of minutes. A normal league game and we see that out in a comfortable 0-0 and take the point.

Over the course of the game I thought we actually created the better chances - Sorenson's free kick routine and save in the second half, House, O'Connor at the back post - and obviously the penalty that Mandroiu slipped with. It was only when we started chasing the game that they created anything of any note.

I made it 14 yellows, including their staff, but it wasn't even a dirty game really. I thought their two wingers and two of their subs had a complete lack of class about them. I'm all for a bit of gamesmanship and shithousery but being so blatant in taunting our players during play (whilst the ball was at the other end of the pitch!) was a bit classless IMO - you can be a bad winner. The ref had a mare, he took an age over carding people or having a word with them? He was better than Portsmouth's players at slowing the game down! Their 'keeper must have been down 'injured' three times. Portsmouth's intention was clearly to come and do what they could get away with. Mousinho thought it was a good game, so they must have had some absolutely terrible games this season for that to stand out for him, it was a terrible game in footballing terms.

The bottom line is though that we lost 2 in about 20 and unbelievably managed reel Stevenage and especially Oxford back in - even Barnsley really and kept the season going to the last day of the season despite where we were after NYD and that in itself is an incredible achievement. Been a pretty mental second half of the season, way above anyone's expectations.

I dont think the Mous thought it was a great game but we did our stuff, like we have done all season. You got to admit we was mostly a level above you. I expected more from you. Having said that I think you'll be up there next season ,along with Charlton, provided you dont lose any players.
PUP

 

[E10rifle]

Don’t get ahead of yourself because you had a fairly good season. Second season syndrome is real and it will be tough for the likes of you and Northampton next season.

That’s three seasons we’ve stayed up so like I say don’t get ahead of yourselves.

I’ve seen what it takes to compete at this level and we have a lot of the key ingredients (including a middle-of-the-pack budget). Don’t forget that Orient were the longest-tenured League One side before the Italian Nutjob torpedoed us. We didn’t put out our strongest side even once this season and still had a wee crack at the playoffs until the injuries finally completely crippled us. You’ve done fantastically well to stay up the past three years, but I think hoping we’re going to join you in circling the drain is probably wishful thinking on your part.

 

[SVH]

I’m not hoping you in particular as a football club join the relegation battle but just pointing out it’s always tough in the second season, whether you have a generous budget or not. It’s sport, it’s football, it can happen.

I also think Stevenage can get dragged into that second season syndrome despite their solid effort this season. Of course it’s so hard to predict with clubs releasing so many players and new squads but it can happen to the best and biggest clubs from time to time so I wouldn’t hang your coat on how many years you’ve been in league one over the years.

 

[LordJord]

Tbf to Scunny, did they have anyone left? I seem to remember their senior players weren't getting paid to stopped playing and they were forced with the kids, but I can't remember the spcifics.

Not sure JJ was a club legend tbf. Think we had him to a year or 2, but it did hurt. Or rather, it hurt how good he was on loan with us, then when he signed permanently he was atrocious. But then he suddenly became world class again when he signed for you

Ah I meant he became a club legend for us (despite being terrible the first season, being loaned out and allowed to play against us!). Went on to be incredible and a permanent fan favorite.

 

[Luke Imp]

I dont think the Mous thought it was a great game but we did our stuff, like we have done all season. You got to admit we was mostly a level above you. I expected more from you. Having said that I think you'll be up there next season ,along with Charlton, provided you dont lose any players.
PUP

He said in his post match interview that he thought it was a really good game.

You were better than us, not disputing that, we've struggled against the top sides in the division all season but even outside of that we've putting out the same side week in, week out for ages now. On Saturday we had a CB at LWB and a midfield of a CM, wide forward and a striker. Ran out of players and ran out of steam.

If we had been a little more open and went for it from the first minute we'd have run the risk of chasing the game too early (and we didn't need to anyway, we just needed to react to other scores). I don't think it was a coincidence that the only time you created chances was when we changed system with 10 minutes left.

 

[nelsonpfc]

He said in his post match interview that he thought it was a really good game.

You were better than us, not disputing that, we've struggled against the top sides in the division all season but even outside of that we've putting out the same side week in, week out for ages now. On Saturday we had a CB at LWB and a midfield of a CM, wide forward and a striker. Ran out of players and ran out of steam.

If we had been a little more open and went for it from the first minute we'd have run the risk of chasing the game too early (and we didn't need to anyway, we just needed to react to other scores). I don't think it was a coincidence that the only time you created chances was when we changed system with 10 minutes left.

Also when you consider we had nothing to play for. Had made 6 changes including 2 of the back 4. Towler started the first match of the season and has started one or two since. Sparkes at LB who hasn't started in a month or two. Central midfield pairing has never played together as two and have both just come back from long term injuries. Peart-Harris hasn't been in the squad for the last 3 or 4 matches and we without getting much out of second gear won quite comfortably in the end. I don't like the play acting, but the ref was so awful anyone could have gotten away with time wasting in that match. So so inept.

 

[Soz]

rubbish as per at vale park, another in a long list of games where we should have scored and probably won but couldnt.

highlights how utterly avoidable and self inflicted our relegation has been.

no faith for next season, we dont learn from our mistakes and our owner is too nice and gullible fpr the cut throat world of football.

its going to be a messy year next year because a lot of vale fans will be expecting a challenge to come back up but that will require us to sign some strikers and ideally some wing backs...something that we dont do.

the goodwill has gone, im doubting whether i want to sign up for half my saturdays to be ruined next season.

 

[Soz]

I’m not hoping you in particular as a football club join the relegation battle but just pointing out it’s always tough in the second season, whether you have a generous budget or not. It’s sport, it’s football, it can happen.

I also think Stevenage can get dragged into that second season syndrome despite their solid effort this season. Of course it’s so hard to predict with clubs releasing so many players and new squads but it can happen to the best and biggest clubs from time to time so I wouldn’t hang your coat on how many years you’ve been in league one over the years.

this is true, we should have built on survival last season but tried to skip a few steps with our insane 4d chess moneyball method of not signing any strikers and just converting youth academy wingers to play on the opposite side as a wing back.

its not injuries, its not luck, its not refs that have relegated us, it was our own stubbornness and naively thinking that no signings was better than mediocre ones.

 

[Guernica]

Also when you consider we had nothing to play for. Had made 6 changes including 2 of the back 4. Towler started the first match of the season and has started one or two since. Sparkes at LB who hasn't started in a month or two. Central midfield pairing has never played together as two and have both just come back from long term injuries. Peart-Harris hasn't been in the squad for the last 3 or 4 matches and we without getting much out of second gear won quite comfortably in the end. I don't like the play acting, but the ref was so awful anyone could have gotten away with time wasting in that match. So so inept.

I was going to type a long message but can't really be bothered, the time wasting was bad enough but the behaviour from some of your players was just really poor and classless. You've had an amazing season and enjoy the Championship, sadly the behaviour of some of your players was Sunday league stuff and just poor.

 

[Conker]

Problem is they’ve won the league, so don’t give a shit and probably find remarks like this injection worthy.