Saturday 16th to Tuesday 19th March

[BarraMatt]

Disappointing not to take all 3 points today. After Bellshaw easily saved Campbell's poorly taken penalty on 26 minutes Barrow seemed to lose heart. They had lots of possession but didn't know what to do with it except fire off increasingly wild target shots.

Our continued lack of composure/confidence in front of goal was our downfall again.

I'm not sure how you can be disappointed not to win that, apart from a couple of efforts in the first ten minutes there was only one team who had any intention of winning. You defended your box well to your credit and got the point you came for as you have done at many other places this season.

 

[Kauto Star]

Hats off to Mansfield yesterday, both their team and fans.

The team completely outclassed a very poor Bantams team, and the fans made it sound like a home game for them.

The atmosphere from our own fans at Valley Parade has mostly been very flat this season.

Lots of fans pledging not to renew their season tickets for next season unless there are changes from ownership, CEO, Head of recruitment and potentially manager.

Our disinterested owner attended a match for the first time since September and took quite a bit of flak from fans sat near him.

As for the match, very impressed with Mansfield, by far the best team I've seen this season. Bizarre team selection by Alexander didn't help our cause, dropping our players of the season Brad Halliday and Andy Cook. Playing a central midfield player at right wing back in place of the consistent Halliday and playing a very poor Tyler Smith in place of Cook.

Good luck to Mansfield in league 1 next season. Might be a while until we meet again

 

[Richard Cranium]

We actually had more, and better chances in the second half. Took a combination of poor finishing, the post and Bradford goalie to stop it being another Harrogate. Swan is probably disappointed not to get a hat trick.

The game was done in under 20 minutes, I did fancy us to put a few past Bradford today, my thoughts were us wanting to bounce back and so will Bradford leaving a lot of space which is never gunna go their way.

Anyway a great performance on and off the pitch.

Got Will Swan at 20s to score a brace. How the fuck he didn’t score in the second half is beyond me

I think we might actually go up from here, 4 of our next 5 at home so big few weeks. So good yesterday though.

 

[Richard Cranium]

I thought Bradford fans were enjoying Alexander? Seemed to be in decent form until the other night, all I’m seeing on twitter is people saying to sack him

 

[The_Viking_Magpie]

Lost in all the excitement this weekend and the continued current on field mess that is NCFC is the first goals in English football for Alassana Jatta. The Gambia Ports Authority product and former Paide Linnameeskond man also got himself an assist. A real positive from another disappointing result. Will be interesting to see how he does in struggling side till the end of the season.

 

[EnglishRed]

Fans of clubs with budgets triple the size of everyone else scratching their heads as to why Harrogate don't just come out and try to outplay them.

No head scratching here. They came with a game plan and carried it out expertly - I didn't suggest anything else for all your reading between the lines.

 

[Ainsty]

........... and got the point you came for as you have done at many other places this season

Barrow Away played 19, won 7, drawn 6, lost 6
Harrogate Away played 20, won 8, drawn 7, lost 6

We won away before Ramsey left in January and Folarin was injured. We don't have a quality striker, our two top scorers Thompson and Muldoon came up with us from National League North and National League respectively.

 

[AR27]

I thought Bradford fans were enjoying Alexander? Seemed to be in decent form until the other night, all I’m seeing on twitter is people saying to sack him

Enjoying is a strong word. We've had a couple of decent performances that have given a bit of encouragement but in the main it's been the turgid hoofball we expected. I would happily see him sacked.

 

[The_Viking_Magpie]

No head scratching here. They came with a game plan and carried it out expertly - I didn't suggest anything else for all your reading between the lines.

It's impressive stuff especially as it wasn't their cup final.

 

[Kauto Star]

Got Will Swan at 20s to score a brace. How the fuck he didn’t score in the second half is beyond me

I think we might actually go up from here, 4 of our next 5 at home so big few weeks. So good yesterday though.

I was very impressed with Will Swan, just the type I would love to see us recruit in the summer

 

[BarraMatt]

Barrow Away played 19, won 7, drawn 6, lost 6
Harrogate Away played 20, won 8, drawn 7, lost 6

We won away before Ramsey left in January and Folarin was injured. We don't have a quality striker, our two top scorers Thompson and Muldoon came up with us from National League North and National League respectively.

Like EnglishRed I wasn't doubting your record away from home as you defended your area well and carried out your game plan to a tee. The other places I was referring to was the likes of Wrexham, Crewe and Stockport recently where you've set up in the same manner, you're going to do whatever gives you the best chance of a result. The point I was making was I just found it a bit strange how you were disappointed not to have won, as you didn't create any real clear cut opportunities where you'd expect to score.

 

[THE LAST WALTZ]

Done everything but score second half. A disappointing couple of points dropped but at least we actually performed OK for a change.
Credit to Grimsby for a very resilient performance.
Also just wanted to give a shout out to the Grimsby fans (not something I normally do), very good numbers for a long trip, especially considering the season they have had.
They were vocal and got behind their team throughout. They were also very respectful and joined in the minutes applause for our ex-manager Gerry summers. That was much appreciated.
Looks like we will see you again next season.

 

[クレイグ]

I thought Bradford fans were enjoying Alexander? Seemed to be in decent form until the other night, all I’m seeing on twitter is people saying to sack him

Alexander gives me the same sort of enjoyment and excitement as a Lynx Africa at Christmas. You don't really care at this point and you just want to move on to something better, like some socks or something. I actually reckon that's how Sparks appointed him. Wandering in, pointing "Yeah, that'll do."

 

[Optipez]

Alexander gives me the same sort of enjoyment and excitement as a Lynx Africa at Christmas. You don't really care at this point and you just want to move on to something better, like some socks or something. I actually reckon that's how Sparks appointed him. Wandering in, pointing "Yeah, that'll do."

Could be a horrible atmosphere at full time for the losing team.
In all fairness to Notts fans Maynard got a smattering of applause on full time and there was no booing but I'm not sure how much longer without a win things can carry on.
I'm at the patient end of the fan spectrum but at some point despite having a kamikaze defence and an assortment of crap goalkeepers, wing backs with no defensive nous and a geriatric midfield the manager has to find a way to win very soon.

 

[クレイグ]

Could be a horrible atmosphere at full time for the losing team.
In all fairness to Notts fans Maynard got a smattering of applause on full time and there was no booing but I'm not sure how much longer without a win things can carry on.
I'm at the patient end of the fan spectrum but at some point despite having a kamikaze defence and an assortment of crap goalkeepers, wing backs with no defensive nous and a geriatric midfield the manager has to find a way to win very soon.

Don't think there'll be a horrible atmosphere from us. People are just shrugging their shoulders and walking out quietly. My feeling is that you'll get your win on Tuesday and it wouldn't surprise me if it's a comfortable one.

 

[Limerick Mariner]

Alexander gives me the same sort of enjoyment and excitement as a Lynx Africa at Christmas. You don't really care at this point and you just want to move on to something better, like some socks or something. I actually reckon that's how Sparks appointed him. Wandering in, pointing "Yeah, that'll do."

It was us, Bradford and Col Uwe all looking for a new manager at the same time.

We may have interviewed both Alexander and the Cowleys. 6 games ago it looked distinctly like we’d got the short straw. The Fishy was in melt down, I thought DA had to either completely change his approach or be sacked. He did the former, and it seems likely from his interviews that there was a big influence from the players and coaching staff.

It remains to be seen whether Alexander was in fact the short straw. With Col Uwe, even if they go down the Cowleys will stay - probably the best option for an immediate return with what looks like being a relatively weak NL next season.

 

[Optipez]

Don't think there'll be a horrible atmosphere from us. People are just shrugging their shoulders and walking out quietly. My feeling is that you'll get your win on Tuesday and it wouldn't surprise me if it's a comfortable one.

I've heard the same from Sutton, Gillingham and Wimbledon fans who all went on to comfortably beat us. Hope you're right though, I just don't want to go back to being a three .manager a season club, it didn't work in the past and won't in the future.

 

[クレイグ]

I've heard the same from Sutton, Gillingham and Wimbledon fans who all went on to comfortably beat us. Hope you're right though, I just don't want to go back to being a three .manager a season club, it didn't work in the past and won't in the future.

We always struggle against teams missing half their players or who are on poor runs. We're not very good at home either. If Alexander actually picks a decent starting 11 we may get something, but if he's dropping our best two players and playing 3-4 players out of position like yesterday, then we'll get stuffed.

 

[The_Viking_Magpie]

We always struggle against teams missing half their players or who are on poor runs. We're not very good at home either. If Alexander actually picks a decent starting 11 we may get something, but if he's dropping our best two players and playing 3-4 players out of position like yesterday, then we'll get stuffed.

Yeah yeah yeah you are big favourites with the bookmakers. I strongly suspect they are basing this on the form table where we are firmly bottom. Something like 1 win in 9.

I'm sure your two best players will be back in after your hammering yesterday.

 

[1862]

I've heard the same from Sutton, Gillingham and Wimbledon fans who all went on to comfortably beat us. Hope you're right though, I just don't want to go back to being a three .manager a season club, it didn't work in the past and won't in the future.

I think I will accept Maynard getting the boot before the end of the season if there's a genuinely exciting/clearly better candidate who we would otherwise lose out on - though to be honest if the owners have lost faith there's no reason for him to stick around. I don't think it's fair to assess him fully on his time here given the overall circumstances, but I don't think we're having a massive clearout in the summer so if he's lost the dressing room, that's probably that.

 

[PuB]

Grimsby came for a point with a fairly organised side and they got what they intended, so fair play to them.

We had more than enough chances to win and hit the woodwork three times and spurned other opportunities, but overall we played very well and were certainly not lacking in any effort on our part.

425 is a decent following for the distance and beats our 406 to theirs, which is the first time this season an opposition has achieved that. Although I think we played them on a Tuesday night (I could be wrong).

They will be safe this season and, erm, unfortunately we will be here too next year.

 

[GTFCfish]

Grimsby came for a point with a fairly organised side and they got what they intended, so fair play to them.

We had more than enough chances to win and hit the woodwork three times and spurned other opportunities, but overall we played very well and were certainly not lacking in any effort on our part.

425 is a decent following for the distance and beats our 406 to theirs, which is the first time this season an opposition has achieved that. Although I think we played them on a Tuesday night (I could be wrong).

They will be safe this season and, erm, unfortunately we will be here too next year.

Nah it was also a Saturday, 406 on a Tuesday night would’ve been a ridiculously good number.

 

[LS Bantam]

I’ve avoided most if not all post match stuff after yesterday so haven’t heard what Alexander said, but I can’t believe that Halliday and Cook were ‘dropped’ based on form or tactics, there has to be something underlying because the alternative of purposefully leaving out your best striker and best defender against top of the league is total insanity and I don’t believe Alexander is as bad as that despite the complaints.
I can’t see an argument that they’ve been rested as that points to a total write off of the game and our record against the better teams was actually ok plus Cook always does well against Mansfield as he even proved yesterday scoring not long after coming on.

 

[PuB]

Nah it was also a Saturday, 406 on a Tuesday night would’ve been a ridiculously good number.
View attachment 19934

Thanks I wasn’t sure, fair play to you great following

 

[AdamStag]

The feedback for bradford would be there’s clearly a beast of a club in there but it’s in deep hibernation.

From the fans i spoke to yesterday (we stopped over) was that as some have said here they’re very disillusioned with how the clubs being ran and this is sucking the life out of the fans.

From a manager perspective anyone who knows anything about football knows that sodding andy cook will score every game against us, the lad could be dead (this is a joke) and the bloody coffin would rock up at the backpost but yet didn’t start him - a massive lift for mansfield already, you also seemed to have a midfielder in defence? - though we’ve had plenty of instances like that tbh.

From a team perspective - pace pace pace! your midfield has the pace of those sloths you see on a wildlife show, you’re going to get rinsed by sides with pace with that set up , that would be a really obvious place to start for me. Thought despite the 5 goals one of your cbs and especially the keeper had a great game, at least maybe a starting point for next season.

 

[Son of Cod]

425 is a decent following for the distance and beats our 406 to theirs, which is the first time this season an opposition has achieved that. Although I think we played them on a Tuesday night (I could be wrong).

You might be thinking of last season when both matches were Tuesdays. (294 vs 125 in our favour there.)

 

[PuB]

You might be thinking of last season when both matches were Tuesdays. (294 vs 125 in our favour there.)

Guilty as charged Sir

 

[Gi Dalor]

I don't want Graham Alexander sacked. I believe that you should give managers longer. It's not very attractive football, and I'd certainly prefer that. He wasn't who i wanted as manager at all, but he should be given longer.

I don't feel the same about Ryan Sparks and our head of recruitment.
I'm not sure failure can be any more sustained and total than Spark's time. I don't think keeping the club going is enough for him to keep his job. It's not nothing, but in American football, both Head Coaches and general managers (the equivalent of Chief Execs) pay with their jobs if they oversee sustained failure. Why should we sack managers every 4 months and not the walloper hiring them?

I'd also like to see the back of our head of recruitment. Stephen Gent. I think the main reason we're struggling isn't tactics or formation. it's that the players aren't good enough, and we have about 6 fantastic strikers but positions where there's nobody.

We've been totally outclassed by Crawley. They have no money, no CEO. The main person responsible for finding players seems to be the derided co-owner Eben Smith. They might be in the playoffs with matches in hand in 13 hours with players that people thought weren't good enough to start in the conference.

So I'm happy for Alexander to stay. I'm happy for the owner to keep pumping the small amount of money in that he has been, but he needs to stop rewarding incompetence.

 

[THE LAST WALTZ]

Thanks I wasn’t sure, fair play to you great following

There was a national rail strike when we played them away this season.
Just saying

 

[GTFCfish]

There was a national rail strike when we played them away this season.
Just saying

Yeah but I’m reliably informed that we also had around 1800 in your home end so swings and roundabouts.