BAFC V Rochdale.

[The Tomahawk Kid]

Optimism's summary pretty much spot on. We need to freshen things up, both personnel and tactics. I can understand Paul Cox not wanting to mess about too much with things that have worked so far, but we have been generally unimpressive now for a few weeks. I feel that the 'hoofball' style tends to show a team under pressure - we can play better football when we are confident (eg Lincoln away). In spite of all the high balls yesterday, our best chance came from Bennett running into space and a ball to feet.

It may smack of panic, but I would be tempted to play Howarth in place of Williams and Hannah and Pana up front to give the front two a rest. Give them 2 games against Southport and Matlock and see how it goes.

The Rochdale fans I spoke to suggested that the 'hoofball' style was all we had...
I never went to Lincoln so I can't comment. The best Football I've seen us play was at Forest Green. I haven't seen much of that since...

[boyliegladbach]

So with us losing it means 28th v FGR is on. Hopefully Lincoln win there replay and get a huge draw, as they come to us on the Tuesday prior to the cup weekend.
Can't see tranmere being on the Saturday after as we both have Winnable trophy ties.

[The Tomahawk Kid]

Wish Lincoln could have been arranged for a Saturday. We'll miss out on a lot of revenue from their away support + their fans would have contributed to what could have been a cracking atmosphere...
If both us and Tranmere are still involved in the FA Trophy then another re-arranged mid-week game would see another massive reduction in away support.

The FA Trophy is becoming a bit of a liability...just hope we put a weakened side out against Matlock and don't risk injuries to key players...

An FA Trophy run or Promotion? I know what I'd rather have! Focusing on BOTH could prove costly...

[Hadrian]

It isn't as simple as that. Cox has seemed very focussed on a 'winning mentality' and can't se him treating the Trophy or LSC with anything less than seriousness. Nevertheless I agree that Hannah and Panayiotou could be told that they are to start both of this week's games to give them a fair chance and allow the first-choice (thus far) forwards some rest.

I wouldn't want us to treat the Trophy with the disdain some top level teams have treated the Cup. Bournemouth, for example, cheated their fans and those of Millwall by sending a weak side to The Den. While I am sure the latter fans will be delighted to be in the fourth round, the manner of their victory must seem rather hollow.

If the squad size improves, the LSC might allow more scope to experiment as it isn't a straightforward first team competition but I just can't imagine the managerial team thinking it doesn't matter.

[Moribund]

A lot of overreaction within these 10 pages, from people saying Cox is shit, that the performance was shit, that the atmosphere was shit etc - but it only seems to be the usual moaners on the forum that are picking faults.

We were playing a team two divisions higher - that's the be all and end all. If we were expecting to match them in every department, then all our players should be playing for top League One sides too. Of course we were going to have to resort to negative tactics and ragged defending, otherwise it'd have been a lot more than two.

The tactics weren't wrong, the starting XI was sensible (Wright is considered more of an attacking midfielder than Rowe - Rowe is a midfielder that is defensive to the point he sometimes becomes part of the back line, and that's what we needed tactically), and the subs were sensible. I would have had Williams off, as he seemed a bit out of his depth, but that aside, there's not a lot that Cox could have done better. Our players were worked incredibly hard, and by the hour mark most our players were knackered.

Even seen someone saying that Harrison should be dropped. That person has clearly never watched football before.

Livesey was incredible in the second half yesterday, and stood behind him on the Holker Street End, he won so many tackles that he had no right to win. Anderton also put in a real shift too.

If Barrow graft as hard as they did yesterday in every match for the rest of the season, we'll probably end up promoted.

[russell_anderson]

A lot of overreaction within these 10 pages, from people saying Cox is shit, that the performance was shit, that the atmosphere was shit etc - but it only seems to be the usual moaners on the forum that are picking faults.

We were playing a team two divisions higher - that's the be all and end all. If we were expecting to match them in every department, then all our players should be playing for top League One sides too. Of course we were going to have to resort to negative tactics and ragged defending, otherwise it'd have been a lot more than two.

The tactics weren't wrong, the starting XI was sensible (Wright is considered more of an attacking midfielder than Rowe - Rowe is a midfielder that is defensive to the point he sometimes becomes part of the back line, and that's what we needed tactically), and the subs were sensible. I would have had Williams off, as he seemed a bit out of his depth, but that aside, there's not a lot that Cox could have done better. Our players were worked incredibly hard, and by the hour mark most our players were knackered.

Even seen someone saying that Harrison should be dropped. That person has clearly never watched football before.

Livesey was incredible in the second half yesterday, and stood behind him on the Holker Street End, he won so many tackles that he had no right to win. Anderton also put in a real shift too.

If Barrow graft as hard as they did yesterday in every match for the rest of the season, we'll probably end up promoted.

Agree with pretty much all of that although my impression was that very few people were criticizing Paul Cox. I think the atmosphere relies on the team and Rochdale never really allowed Barrow to get a foot in the door and most people seemed to give the Rochdale team credit for its performance. Maybe people were expecting more after the Barrow performance at Bristol Rovers but Rochdale were a level up from the Bristol Rovers team we played. Completely agree with your comments about Harrison, Livesey and Anderton. For me, Livesey and Anderton were the stand-out players yesterday (even though Anderton lost his man for the first goal) and are both top performers in every match I've seen this season and Harrison is the one forward we have who is a Football League level player.

[Jim]

but it only seems to be the usual moaners on the forum that are picking faults.

I am a 'happy clapper' but was still disappointed with the performance and have seen us play better. No criticism of Mr Cox and I think he said much the same in his post-match interview.

[Bingo]

Thought the atmosphere was great where I was

I'm.not really one for chanting and singing but I joined in

I don't think the so called lack of atmosphere can be blamed for us losing - I went to watch man u once and with 74k in the ground it was rubbish

[Moribund]

but it only seems to be the usual moaners on the forum that are picking faults.

I am a 'happy clapper' but was still disappointed with the performance and have seen us play better. No criticism of Mr Cox and I think he said much the same in his post-match interview.

Yes, definitely seen us play better, but I haven't seen us play better opponents!

[BAFC_Lewis]

Need Andy Parry, no presence in midfield

[Jim_Delsey]

I am a 'happy clapper' but was still disappointed with the performance and have seen us play better. No criticism of Mr Cox and I think he said much the same in his post-match interview.

Yes, definitely seen us play better, but I haven't seen us play better opponents!

Yesterday was a bit of a one-off for us, but now we're L1 we see some pretty good sides who are better than us and, on occasions, win comfortably.

We used to think we'd played shit and have a good moan, criticise the manager etc. like much of this thread, but we've learned that it's not always us not turning up, most times it's the opposition who deny you the chance to play as well as you know you can do.

Not seen your lot before, but then you haven't seen us before.

I'd sum up by suggesting that we did a job on you, and denied you your natural instincts. eg: we played a massive CH at Right back and we played our quickest available midfield 3.

In other words don't bemoan your lot for not turning up. They did, but our lot had a game plan designed to stop your lot, which is exactly how we've suffered some quite heavy defeats in the league this season.

[Moribund]

Yes, definitely seen us play better, but I haven't seen us play better opponents!

Yesterday was a bit of a one-off for us, but now we're L1 we see some pretty good sides who are better than us and, on occasions, win comfortably.

We used to think we'd played shit and have a good moan, criticise the manager etc. like much of this thread, but we've learned that it's not always us not turning up, most times it's the opposition who deny you the chance to play as well as you know you can do.

Not seen your lot before, but then you haven't seen us before.

I'd sum up by suggesting that we did a job on you, and denied you your natural instincts. eg: we played a massive CH at Right back and we played our quickest available midfield 3.

In other words don't bemoan your lot for not turning up. They did, but our lot had a game plan designed to stop your lot, which is exactly how we've suffered some quite heavy defeats in the league this season.

That's exactly it. For every good win we've had this season, it's probably been a terrible performance to their fans.

[Jo am back]

Negative negative shit, we actually caused them a lot of problems yesterday and just needed that lucky break in the box. They were a good side as ive stated before, but not that good.The atmosphere was pretty good as well,ive just watched plymouth defend out a draw at livpool,if it wasnt for the plymouth fans in a 50,000 crowd it would have been like a library.

[DIXIE]

Watched the game at home in Chiang Mai. I have seen us play better this season, but i was surprised at how good Rochdale were.
So we are out of the cup, now we need to regroup and make sure we win on Tuesday night.
The main ambition, which in my eyes is promotion is still acheviable.

[The Real Slim Azza]

Negative negative shit, we actually caused them a lot of problems yesterday and just needed that lucky break in the box. They were a good side as ive stated before, but not that good.The atmosphere was pretty good as well,ive just watched plymouth defend out a draw at livpool,if it wasnt for the plymouth fans in a 50,000 crowd it would have been like a library.

We had 2 shots. Every long ball was swallowed by the two centre backs.

That was the most comfortable win they will have for years