Barrow v Southport match thread

[finbar17]

I hope the attendance is viewed with a desire to get those people in regularly rather than a great big feeling of what's the point by mr caisson.

[mulholland]

That was awful, midfield just aren't good enough, attendance can be put down largely to what's been on show lately. Decent gates for the Gateshead/Rochdale matches which got some floaters in and we've played no decent football in either game. Just too predictable and as for this long-throw-in tactic..whose idea is that exactly?

[Jonty]

Too many key players out of sorts at the moment. Need to freshen things up.

[Dalton Bluebird]

Crowd or players didn't turn up tonight. Nothing more to say!

[Moribund]

Has Hannah shown anything to warrant inclusion though? He looks like he's either trying too hard or panicking - never composed. I'd be more content with a like-for-like replacement for Bennett coming in (just better, obviously).
And if selling Williams can fund that, I can honestly say it wouldn't bother me if it left. Feels like a Goodfellow situation where we know he's good enough, but he's just content to pick up a wage.

Hannah proven at this level, what more is there to warrant inclusion.

He's also had a lot of long streaks without scoring many in recent years, but based purely on the few starts he's had and the sub appearances, he's snatched at a lot of chances.
Just asking the question, but there's no guarantee he's the answer.

[finbar17]

The crowd pays for that privilege and the players Are payed to be there. Absence justified? Can we all stop pretending to be shocked by the attendance now.

[Middleton Nick]

A woeful performance from our team and the referee.A mini slump which we need to get out of ASAP. On the way home Paul Cox was eventually interviewed about 2215 on RC and he said it was an unacceptable performance and he is going to do something about it.
He will earn his money because the next month is massive for us. I will turn up saturday to make the numbers up because plenty round me aren't bothering.

[boyliegladbach]

Hannah proven at this level, what more is there to warrant inclusion.

He's also had a lot of long streaks without scoring many in recent years, but based purely on the few starts he's had and the sub appearances, he's snatched at a lot of chances.
Just asking the question, but there's no guarantee he's the answer.

But we continually play someome who's never played or scored at this level.

[Steeley]

Not too surprised by the attendance. The sell out crowd obviously weren't all barrow regulars, what exactly have the club done to encourage people to attend more than just the Rochdale match?

Yes we are doing well this season, but the more everyone talks about promotion and we don't look like achieving it, the town will presume the team are under achieving and go back to the same "Barrow are shite" mindset. Causes unrealistic expectations IMO.

[finbar17]

Not too surprised by the attendance. The sell out crowd obviously weren't all barrow regulars, what exactly have the club done to encourage people to attend more than just the Rochdale match?

Yes we are doing well this season, but the more everyone talks about promotion and we don't look like achieving it, the town will presume the team are under achieving and go back to the same "Barrow are shite" mindset. Causes unrealistic expectations IMO.

Itso facto

[McMark]

Commitment, desire other teams were petrified!

Confidence just seems at the lowest it has been under Cox and Co we need to instil the right mentality back into the team, watch a few dvd's of what we have been doing right, maybe a bonding session instead of training.

Get that ethos of us against the world back within the squad. The league doesn't lie we were up amongst the play off contenders because we deserved to be and we are much better than our recent form.

The players need to start believing in themselves once again only they can change things result wise, give that bit extra for the cause, it's fight or flight time if we want to remain in the mix!

[Optimism]

We look tired, in body and mind. The boundless enthusiasm we've applauded all season has waned. Second to the loose balls, we seem much more lethargic. This is worrying. Why is this? I suspect a combination of factors: a) physical fatigue through an over-burdened small core squad that has scarcely been rotated b) a degree of morale failure, the cause of which could be multi-factorial c) speculating here, have players been denied moves and sunken into this lapse in their standards? Certainly there's been a significant drop off lately.

Tonight was hugely disappointing. We hardly threatened. I didn't sense any chance of momentum building for an equaliser. We were flat-footed and simple. Southport won most of the seconds, an unprecedented amount in a home game during Cox's reign. Still, our principal tactic is long from the back and, increasingly frustratingly, there's practically NOTHING beyond that. We're painfully stereotypical. To be successful, our up-tempo style relies on physicality and a relentless commitment to it. But we're tired. We're not delivering it effectively. The front two were neutered. The wide men lacked spark. On the rare occasions Harvey and Wright engaged on runs through the centre, there was a semblance of threat. But these forays were under-used.

While not an excuse for a deserved defeat, the officials were abysmal. A few instances: in the first half, a clear Southport throw was given to us in advanced territory; Bennett was clearly felled denying a second-half counter but the referee deemed an accidental collision; but the worst of the lot - a Barrow strike clearly deflected behind for a corner, the body language of all players a giveaway, inexplicably flagged a goal kick. The referee was poor if he didn't recognise this himself. But if, as I suspect, he simply supported his lineswoman's wrong decision out of misplaced loyalty, not wanting to overrule, he's even weaker still. Inexcusable ineptitude, I hope an assessor was in attendance among the pitiful sub-1000 gate.

A refresh needed. We need to refind that pride and enthusiasm in absolute commitment to performing the basics. A real test of Paul Cox's managerial abilities to come.

[McMark]

For anyone not there, it's hard to believe just how bad that was.
Southport are awful, let's not pretend they are even a half decent side or put in a decent performance - Burr did a number on us with some of the best (or worst) spoiling tactics.

Can't blame the ref, though he was awful - as too was the lineswoman on the Wilkie Rd side. Blatant penalty in there too, when Livesey got a punch in the face at a corner.

That punch was criminal, couldn't believe it went unpunished!!
Did Cox get much wrong? Hard to put any plans into practice when half the team puts in half-arsed performances. Can anyone recall the last good game Williams had? September time I reckon.
Bennett is okay, but he'll be down in the Conference North not long after he gets dropped here. Those two were the worst offenders, though Moussa was shown up to be positionally awful on a few occasions too.

Yes, we're still "in the play-offs conversation", but on the last two league showings we're clearly just gonna drift away quietly.

[Adam29]

https://soundcloud.com/adam-johnson-898 ... port-10117
Here's what Paul Cox said to Radio Lonsdale after another Disappointing night

[The Real Slim Azza]

Well well well!

What a difference 3 games makes. Fans planning their away trips next year in the football league are now slating players performances. Too many negative comments on this thread, needs locking whilst bans are administered.