That was coming... (Macclesfield away)

[Hamilton Pathetic]

Originally Posted by [Removed User

;2094414]To be fair the clown also says that we sat too deep initially whereas we in fact pushed up too much and allowed them space behind our full backs for 15 minutes. When we sat deep they ran out of ideas. So, good to know he was watching the game.

Scoring every player 5 out of 10 as a journo just means he's playing to his audience and not accurately reflecting what took place.

More like protecting his access to the club and players, being too critical could mean no one will speak to him.

[John Neals Dynasty]

Originally Posted by Hamilton Pathetic

More like protecting his access to the club and players, being too critical could mean no one will speak to him.

To be honest his 5 out of 10 across the board is pretty accurate in my opinion.
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[John Neals Dynasty]

Originally Posted by [Removed User

;2094362]I agree, but if we finish 1st; they finish 2nd and fail to get out of the play offs will you feel the same.

You could swap that opinion to the opposite finish them top us second miss put on play offs then how would you feel? Not that either is anymore than possibilities.
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[pagl]

Originally Posted by [Removed User

;2094416]I can't recall a game in which Keates applied pressure as you put it at all. He played deep lying midfield and when he couldn't get the ball often went virtually into the back 4. There was some nice 1-2s in our half but little in the attacking half other than against utterly useless teams. He certainly recycled the ball very well. Which bits of those qualities are you not seeing in this team? A very clear mirror I'd say.

In terms of captains I am not just talking organisation but if we're talking about communication then I was in row B Saturday and there was clear and constant talking between Pearson, Jennings, Roberts, Hurst, Carra and Ruthers. Boden was also surprisingly vocal.

I fully understood your points re: the work rate of the latter and delivery. You seemed to have not quite got to grips with my point that in order to deliver well you need energy and time and on Saturday he had neither. Try passing a ball 50m accurately. It's quite hard but most of us would get close. Now try doing the same after say 10x 50m sprints. Not quite so easy. Now try doing it with snow blowing in your face and on ice! He's been excellent this season but to take him down over Saturday when playing in a 2 man midfield is beyond harsh, and I am being as polite as I can in using that term.

The reality is that after the 1st 15 Macc had equal trouble finding their man and their range also. Singling out Rutherford in context doesn't really stand up. His "occasional" assists have been one of our main creative outlets all season.

Cant believe you are comparing any of the current midfield with Keates as none of them are a patch on him or his playing abilities. To describe him as a player that was just a deep lying midfielder taking it off the back 4 isn't how I recall it and remember many occasions where a lot of his football was played in the opposition half. He had the ability to pass and move, hold the ball, bring others into the game, tackle etc. etc. and no I don't see many of this midfield re-cycling the ball as all too often we are 2nd to the loose ball.

I am also not saying Rutherford has only failed to deliver quality delivery in this 1 game where it was snowing and I am not singling him out as - it happens week in and week out and his quality in the final 3rd has been poor since he joined. Harsh - call it what you want for all it matters but it doesn't mask the fact. Work rate unquestionable though.

Even after the first 15 mins Macc should have scored another 2 and put the game out of sight by half time.

My main point is that we are set up to concede the ball and possession and that isn't a good recipe for success. I was expecting a Keates team to be based on a passing midfield and also a 442 formation is all about a solid midfield 4 and we have anything but that.

We could debate and disagree for the rest for 2017 but performances, entertainment and football style show what it is.

[Ooh aah Paskin]

Keates played upfield quite often in periods where we were in control.
He won the penalty in the trophy final if I recall?

[Red Light]

Having had time to reflect on the match and having watched the match recording in full it was quite a bizarre end result.
The second half pressure built - eventually we scored - the noise level went up and we were really in the ascendancy - then that Jennings header that flashed just the wrong side of the post. With 14 minutes to go if a neutral had to make a bet he would surely have put his money on us to win it.
Another fact that hasn't had a mention was that the wind was with us - blowing the mini blizzard of snowflakes into the Macclesfield players faces - trying to defend crosses in those circumstances couldn't have been easy. Having been behind for so long and getting an equaliser only for us to be level for a mere 4 minutes must have been a monumental psychological blow - BT Sport commentator made the point that it was right against the run of play - and he was right.
A lot of aspects of our play were poor but we did some decent things too - the secret to success in either an individual match or the whole season is being consistent. We can have great periods of pressure and score a goal but if we can't defend for 90 minutes then any advantage we gain will be undone.
We need more goals - simple as - otherwise we wont win enough matches. Also the fraility of our squad depth was ruthlessly exposed - Wedgbury and Wright were missed massively especially the former. I would hate to think what could happen if we lost Pearson for any length of time.

[Foxy]

Originally Posted by John Neals Dynasty

To be honest his 5 out of 10 across the board is pretty accurate in my opinion.
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Really ? You can stick a minus sign in front of Hurst’s 5.

[pagl]

Originally Posted by [Removed User

;2094438]Er, I’ve not compared any of the current midfield to Keates not did I say he took the ball off the back 4. You’re just making stuff up now to suit your beliefs. I have said this team absolutely reflects him as a player. Paskin nails him too as a player. He didn’t wrestle control and drive us forward. He only got forward when we had control. In many respects he was Carra with a better passing range; real bite and a voice. Great player but just past his peak with us.

The stats. speak for themselves re: Ruthers. Thus far our best and most consistent midfielder. Nothing else to add on that.

And yes, our performances have been the most consistent in the whole division over half a season. I’d like more entertainment too but this is fifth tier football and without a sugar daddy this is how you do it.

I must be misunderstand some of your points then - beliefs!! I just say it the way it see it.

He played deep lying midfield and when he couldn't get the ball often went virtually into the back 4. - so what was he doing then in the back 4 as you indicate.

He certainly recycled the ball very well. Which bits of those qualities are you not seeing in this team? A very clear mirror I'd say. A mirror of what then if your not comparing the current midfield to DK?

You seem to be struggling to justify points you make - maybe you should stick with the basics sometimes.

[Joblessred]

Originally Posted by [Removed User

;2094438]Er, I’ve not compared any of the current midfield to Keates not did I say he took the ball off the back 4. You’re just making stuff up now to suit your beliefs. I have said this team absolutely reflects him as a player. Paskin nails him too as a player. He didn’t wrestle control and drive us forward. He only got forward when we had control. In many respects he was Carra with a better passing range; real bite and a voice. Great player but just past his peak with us.

The stats. speak for themselves re: Ruthers. Thus far our best and most consistent midfielder. Nothing else to add on that.

And yes, our performances have been the most consistent in the whole division over half a season. I’d like more entertainment too but this is fifth tier football and without a sugar daddy this is how you do it.

Dear me mike...

Rutherford for me, sums the team up and I have no doubt without reinforcements, we will be scrapping into the last two playoff positions at best. He works hard - nobody can argue that he doesn’t try. He does lack quality though. This lack of quality is prevalant, in our midfield in particular. Rutherford in particular, struggles to read for forward passes and spends 99 per cent of his time counting the blades of grass around his feet. His crosses are aimless and he doesn’t have the pace/trickery to beat a full-back.

Wedgebury and Akil Wright offer physicality, and whilst they are very good at getting in the way and breaking up play, they struggle to play simple 5 yard passes. I often think wedgebury is either sat too deep, or in a stark contrast, chasing a ball near the opposition corner flag, leaving a big gap in midfield. I also think the last minute lunges that get the crowd on their feet could be avoided if he read the game better.

Carrington, who I still think is the best suited to the defensive role out of all the options, can pass the ball better and reads the game far better. He doesn’t offer a lot going forward and doesn’t have the energy of the two above. Keates played the defensive role well (albeit in a three), and I think Carra could do the same.

Kelly is the only player who has the ability to unlock a defence. Amazes me why he doesn’t take all the set pieces. I don’t think it works playing Kelly in a central role in the current set-up, but he’s another who could play in a three. If Keates persists on playing 4 4 2, Kelly is best employed on the left.

What is very apparent, is all our players all have discrepancies in their game, hence them playing in the fifth tier. I don’t think hard work alone will gain us promotion. Very few of the current squad would cope in league two. If Keates can focus on attracting more quality in January, we may well in the mix.