National League Fixtures - 15/9/2018

[#Beebot]

I try to avoid being hyperbolic, but Halifax have just produced the worst half of football I've seen at this level that I can remember. Absolutely appalling.

 

[EnglishRed]

Odd lineup for us today. Would fancy Ebbsfleet to do us.

4 nil

 

[Benfcht]

Well I presume with us getting spanked 3-0 by Maidenhead it means that we start our inevitable descend into lower mid table mediocrity. Oh the joy.

 

[chief]

4 nil

I'm going on a mad one tonight.

 

[E10rifle]

Odd half of football. 15 minutes of Orient looking every inch a football League side in waiting, 15 minutes of Barnet looking every inch a football League side in waiting and 15 minutes of an attack vs. defence passing drill. Hopefully all that chasing shadows at a remarkably low tempo will stay in the Bees’ legs for the second half.

Barnet have also brought all of their home fans, which is sweet of them.

Ps. Dan Sweeney is a true donkey in the mould of Igor Latte-Yedo. Looking forward to him scoring the winner.

 

[chief]

This is the performance you'd expect from the champions.

 

[EnglishRed]

This is the performance you'd expect from the champions.

4-1 what's wrong with you!?

 

[chief]

4-1 what's wrong with you!?

I DON'T KNOW ANYMORE.

 

[E10rifle]

If it’s any consolation to the Barnet fans, your team is definitely better at one thing than we are. Sure, it’s hacking the ball aimlessly off the pitch, but it’s something to take from the game. Better than points, even.

 

[Chief Rocka]

Eastleigh are gonna get piped, Pools 21/20, easy money today

Well that went well.

Wasteful Pools strike again, one goal leads aren’t enough for us, need to rethink our forward line, not enough goals in them.

As for Eastleigh, utter shit, team made up of brutes with an ‘I kick and head ball’ mentality.

 

[Soup Ladle]

Well that went well.

Wasteful Pools strike again, one goal leads aren’t enough for us, need to rethink our forward line, not enough goals in them.

As for Eastleigh, utter shit, team made up of brutes with an ‘I kick and head ball’ mentality.

Eastleigh and their fucking 15 fans.

We are having problems at home again, can't see off shithouse sides. Think you're right about Muir & James, they cause problems but how many's James got now? 1 goal in 11? I would say Dinanga in but he looked proper shite when he came on, mind he hasn't had any game time.

Bates has too much faith in this line up and is scared to tweak things. I like the team and the players but there's nothing clinical about it whatsoever. I think Muir and James play too far apart at times, get them narrower and ffs get Paddy Mclaughing or whatever his name is out the side.

 

[Master D]

If moneybags Harrogate could fuck off that'd be good.

 

[Chief Rocka]

Eastleigh and their fucking 15 fans.

We are having problems at home again, can't see off shithouse sides. Think you're right about Muir & James, they cause problems but how many's James got now? 1 goal in 11? I would say Dinanga in but he looked proper shite when he came on, mind he hasn't had any game time.

Bates has too much faith in this line up and is scared to tweak things. I like the team and the players but there's nothing clinical about it whatsoever. I think Muir and James play too far apart at times, get them narrower and ffs get Paddy Mclaughing or whatever his name is out the side.

Eastleigh came to frustrate, kick everything and lump balls forward, we passed them to death in the first half, we need to convert chances into goals, Muir and James play like two wingers, both of them seem to play the ball on either side of the oppo's box, I'd drop James next week, give Dinanga an actual run in the team, see what he's made of, James runs his bollocks off but doesn't look like a goal threat for us, much like his last spell at Pools, where's the Luke James that was at Barra last season?

I hope Donaldson isn't out for long cos Richardson looked absolutely terrified on that pitch when he came on, I'd drop McLaughlin for Hawkes also, I dunno what he's done to upset Bates but I can't fathom why he's not getting any game time in a team lacking a spark in the final third?

Whilst we're at it, where the fuck is Luke Williams? He must be suffering from the worst case of tonsillitis in human history.

 

[Urban]

As I’ve been saying for a while, we are a mid table team at best who has benefitted from a very favourable run of games. Orient showed that as a fact today.

First half was a good watch - we were very functional and didn’t let Orient get into their groove. Their RB (14) had an awful time and we targetted him time and time again. I was disappointed to see we expected little Jack Barham to compete against their two giant CB’s (that number 21 is a giant) and he didn’t get my protection from the ref against the slight shoved in the back, elbows etc. He did do well to be honest considering the size difference.

Second half was more of the same until Orient done the obvious and brought on Alabi. This is where I start to despair about today - it’s literally the most predictable Plan B ever and we looked shellshocked when he started holding the ball up in dangerous areas and giving Bonne, Dayton, McAnuff etc the time to bomb forward.

Any other team would make attempts to bypass the press from these players but not our defence. We try to play out from he back under constant pressure and 3/4 times in a row give the ball away on the edge of the box, resulting in their second. Then at that point Orient click into gear and are all over us. They looked very impressive and full of confidence (not helped by our ‘defending’ - Dan Sweeney is not a competent CB). Fairly sure I watched the winners of the league today.

Good day out but just a shame that I couldn’t be proven wrong by my team today. Still waiting for the promised loan signings that will cover the missing 8 injured first team members.

 

[chief]

If moneybags Harrogate could fuck off that'd be good.

Salford and Harrogate are gonna piss this tinpot league!!!

 

[chief]

Wrexham will finish 2nd on 101 points.

 

[Raymondo316]

Our forward line of Quigley & Mullings is actually making me miss our 1 goal a season superstar Delano Sam Yorke

 

[#Beebot]

As I’ve been saying for a while, we are a mid table team at best who has benefitted from a very favourable run of games. Orient showed that as a fact today.

First half was a good watch - we were very functional and didn’t let Orient get into their groove. Their RB (14) had an awful time and we targetted him time and time again. I was disappointed to see we expected little Jack Barham to compete against their two giant CB’s (that number 21 is a giant) and he didn’t get my protection from the ref against the slight shoved in the back, elbows etc. He did do well to be honest considering the size difference.

Second half was more of the same until Orient done the obvious and brought on Alabi. This is where I start to despair about today - it’s literally the most predictable Plan B ever and we looked shellshocked when he started holding the ball up in dangerous areas and giving Bonne, Dayton, McAnuff etc the time to bomb forward.

Any other team would make attempts to bypass the press from these players but not our defence. We try to play out from he back under constant pressure and 3/4 times in a row give the ball away on the edge of the box, resulting in their second. Then at that point Orient click into gear and are all over us. They looked very impressive and full of confidence (not helped by our ‘defending’ - Dan Sweeney is not a competent CB). Fairly sure I watched the winners of the league today.

Good day out but just a shame that I couldn’t be proven wrong by my team today. Still waiting for the promised loan signings that will cover the missing 8 injured first team members.

I can't see us signing anyone on loan, most likely because Still spent the entire wage budget in the summer and TK won't sanction any incomings unless we have outgoings. Sadly we have a permanent serious injury crisis which shows no sign of abating and therefore can't offload anyone other than Sparkes and Elito, who nobody is going to want.

 

[The Terminator]

As I’ve been saying for a while, we are a mid table team at best who has benefitted from a very favourable run of games. Orient showed that as a fact today.

First half was a good watch - we were very functional and didn’t let Orient get into their groove. Their RB (14) had an awful time and we targetted him time and time again. I was disappointed to see we expected little Jack Barham to compete against their two giant CB’s (that number 21 is a giant) and he didn’t get my protection from the ref against the slight shoved in the back, elbows etc. He did do well to be honest considering the size difference.

Second half was more of the same until Orient done the obvious and brought on Alabi. This is where I start to despair about today - it’s literally the most predictable Plan B ever and we looked shellshocked when he started holding the ball up in dangerous areas and giving Bonne, Dayton, McAnuff etc the time to bomb forward.

Any other team would make attempts to bypass the press from these players but not our defence. We try to play out from he back under constant pressure and 3/4 times in a row give the ball away on the edge of the box, resulting in their second. Then at that point Orient click into gear and are all over us. They looked very impressive and full of confidence (not helped by our ‘defending’ - Dan Sweeney is not a competent CB). Fairly sure I watched the winners of the league today.

Good day out but just a shame that I couldn’t be proven wrong by my team today. Still waiting for the promised loan signings that will cover the missing 8 injured first team members.

Fair assessment. I actually thought Barnets fitness levels badly dropped in the second half, because they were happy to sit back and let us have the ball and move it quickly, you didn't seem to want to break your shape of sitting back apart from when you went a goal down.

Alabi's introduction changed the game, he completely bullied your tired backline and he should've had at least one goal. The interception he made from Barnet playing it out from the back which led to Daytons goal was the game changer.

Another goal from a set play from ourselves, we've had at least 20+ now since JE took charge and that doesn't include penalties either. Big game at Harrogate next week now.

Barnet have players out injured, but to me looked a side just short of the top seven. No real physical presence either in their side today, tried to play out from the back a bit too much in the end. Have to agree with E10Rifle - Dan Sweeny did not look comfortable on the ball, gave it away countless times.

 

[Leewilson]

4 unbeaten. Stop the world, I want to get off!

 

[The Terminator]

Just heard John Stills interview after the game. He pulled no punches on how angry he was with certain players Very savage from him, never heard him say what he said:

https://www.facebook.com/196807243676755/posts/2153260508031409

 

[E10rifle]

Have to agree with E10Rifle

Strady on, old chap.

 

[CFC91]

We scored a fucking goal!!!! It’s progress

 

[Look Out There Are Llamas]

I thought Barnet were alright today, but it’s hard to compete with the top teams when you have Reynolds, I Santos, Boucaud, Akinolna, Vilhete, Tarpey and Coulthirst out. That’s like most of a starting line up. Sweeney is a very good player at this level but... we were good. We were very good. We looked like contenders today, Barnet did quite well to isolate Bonne and Koroma from the play, but when Alabi came on he ruined the defence, shame he was awful on the ball.

I think we’re going to be top four, I think we had issues with Judd at full back to be perfectly honest, Tutonda had him a few times, and I think in general we don’t offer enough getting forward from our full backs to be the complete package. I know a lot of people like Widdowson now, but I still don’t see what he offers really, just a bog standard defensive player.

 

[Tin Roofs & Stone Steps]

Left the ground disappointed, more with the sending off which completely tilted the game in Salford’s favour, than the result.
Good old fashioned challenge getting the ball, Pond has gone over like Neymar, they’ve surrounded the ref and he’s gone for a straight red.
Up until then the game was tight but I thought we were edging it, they had few chances and took the lead against the run of play. Saw out the rest of the half and started the second much the same.
Only after the red did I think Salford looked like a team on a big budget, we weren’t much more than effectively functional before hand so felt a bit underwhelmed by what they produced.

 

[The Terminator]

I thought Barnet were alright today, but it’s hard to compete with the top teams when you have Reynolds, I Santos, Boucaud, Akinolna, Vilhete, Tarpey and Coulthirst out. That’s like most of a starting line up. Sweeney is a very good player at this level but... we were good. We were very good. We looked like contenders today, Barnet did quite well to isolate Bonne and Koroma from the play, but when Alabi came on he ruined the defence, shame he was awful on the ball.

I think we’re going to be top four, I think we had issues with Judd at full back to be perfectly honest, Tutonda had him a few times, and I think in general we don’t offer enough getting forward from our full backs to be the complete package. I know a lot of people like Widdowson now, but I still don’t see what he offers really, just a bog standard defensive player.

Widdowson has been excellent this season - But he cannot cross, think he only got two assists last season. He is quick, gets into good positions nowadays, but his crossing usually is quite poor - he's a hit and hope crosser as opposed to looking for a good option. But he is a non league full back afterall, never gonna be the complete package.

 

[Look Out There Are Llamas]

Widdowson has been excellent this season - But he cannot cross, think he only got two assists last season. He is quick, gets into good positions nowadays, but his crossing usually is quite poor - he's a hit and hope crosser as opposed to looking for a good option. But he is a non league full back afterall, never gonna be the complete package.

See, that’s my issue. Watch the two teams that go up - they will have much better all round full backs than Joe Widdowson. I think that's really our weakest point and I think there's going to be a very high points total needed for auto promotion this season. He's okay, but we can do significantly better.

 

[Boz]

Left the ground disappointed, more with the sending off which completely tilted the game in Salford’s favour, than the result.
Good old fashioned challenge getting the ball, Pond has gone over like Neymar, they’ve surrounded the ref and he’s gone for a straight red.
Up until then the game was tight but I thought we were edging it, they had few chances and took the lead against the run of play. Saw out the rest of the half and started the second much the same.
Only after the red did I think Salford looked like a team on a big budget, we weren’t much more than effectively functional before hand so felt a bit underwhelmed by what they produced.

Wondered about that, it's hard to imagine Mekki being that wild. Shame you couldn't slow down the Salford bandwaggon.
Mr Quelch was also the inept official, who failed to send off the Woking player who lunged at McNulty, causing him to be stretchered off with his leg opened up.

 

[John Still]

Just heard John Stills interview after the game. He pulled no punches on how angry he was with certain players Very savage from him, never heard him say what he said:

https://www.facebook.com/196807243676755/posts/2153260508031409

Hahaha, brilliant. Won’t be long and he will be begging for his old job back. Guess what John you can fuck right off. USA USA USA.

Chesterfield are terrible, Denton is a desperation signing for Allen and it showed today, few words with the away fans at the end. We ground out that result and need one or two better players to see us safe.

 

[springerbfc]

I suspect Harrison was badly missed today.

Sounded like we were right in the game for about an hour but then faded towards the end. No disgrace in losing away to a side who will finish right up there.

We’re on the fringes of top 7 and with the players we have missing, I think we should be fairly happy with that.