Tranmere v Barrow match thread

[McMark]

We went at it like a sprinter in a marathon, for twenty odd minutes we were leaving the Tranmere players in our wake. Then all of a sudden we were like rabbits caught in headlights getting picked off at will.

The Kirby and Nick Anderton tackle was right under our noses, both going in solidly to compete for the ball, if anything Kirby was a little late and unfortunately came out of it by far the worse. The Barrow support not fully knowing the extent of his injury wanted a yellow for Kirby and probably rightly so, but when his injury became evident warmly applauded him as he left the pitch on a stretcher. I for one wish him a thorough recovery.

Lastly the vocal support throughout by those that made the journey was tremendous, they really tried to make a difference right until the final whistle, but sadly on this occasion it was all in vain.

[Moribund]

He doesnt make subs because theres a couple on there with decent appearance bonuses should they come on

That's [SwearFilter], and you know it.

Panayiatou doesn't play because he's shit, and just making up the numbers on the bench.
Hannah is the only other player you can be referring to, and he's been brought on 15/20 times, sometimes with a couple of mins left. Absolutely nowt to do with money, but a handy little myth to perpetuate.

[The Real Slim Azza]

He doesnt make subs because theres a couple on there with decent appearance bonuses should they come on

Crikey your back and straight away making assumptions or otherwise you have some real contacts in high places.

Here's to three weeks of negative energy before you find yourself on holiday again!

Yes before you ask everyone on a forum is entitled to opinion but rather than the glass half full half empty your's only appears to have the dregs at the bottom.

Having watched most of the game yesterday I think Coxy could have put his subs on yesterday without taking anyone off second half and we would still have got mullered, Tranmere played that well second half end of!

Oh dear! Bit of a sunday implosion from Cuffers like.

If you fill a glass half up the its half full

If you empty a full glass by 50% then its half empty

If the club brings of Ross Hannah/Harry it costs the club too much in the long run, hence the lack of numbers in their appearance stats. ( Cassons orders)

Hope this helps.

[cuffy]

Thanks Real Slim a former member of this forum for clearing that up. If I was into fishing I think I just got a bite!

[HenneysKnee]

Needed to take the lead into half time, that first goal of theirs was an absolute shocker to concede and the "defending" just got worse and worse from then on

[Optimism]

There's no implosion, no self-destruction just wear and tear and tiredness - perhaps the one area where legitimate questions could be asked of those in charge.

From another excellent, thoughtful post, Suffolk Blue, I've highlighted a particularly relevant line. Our small squad looks drained after impressive commitment to our hardworking style. Within this, I don't think the small squad has been best used, with the likes of Hannah and Meikle used scarcely. Even when signs of fatigue have been obvious, on several occasions substitutions have felt delayed. The benefits that continuity brought are now being burdened by fatigue. A notable contrast was apparent in the home game against Forest Green, who delved into their deep squad to bring on fresh-legged substitutes, driving them on to a late winner. They had a full team of reserves back at home. We struggle to fill the bench.

For these reasons, related to the infrastructural deficiencies you allude to, we're punching well above our weight. Undoubtedly, under Paul Cox, such an astute manager, the attitude and culture of the playing side is improving towards Football League levels - but at a rate well ahead of the club's.

[The Tomahawk Kid]

Heavy defeat yes, disappointing second half performance yes, but let's put some perspective on thing. If we fall short then it's because these players aren't quite good enough and we strengthen to go one better next season. Whatever happens from here on in it's been a good season with some great results to look back on. We are on a massive learning curve and this isn't going to be overnight success. So many things need to happen on and off the pitch for this club to be a sustained progressive club.

What are you drinking Jonty because I need some of it .....

The flip side of this is we have been garbage since mid December, two recent gutsy (and lucky) results have put a rosy tint on things and we are sliding away from the play-offs as others gain momentum.

We had a chance to have a good crack at play-offs by strengthening in January with 2 or 3 reasonable signings. Instead we have lost our best player (Yates), lost our second best to injury (Harrison) and brought in so many loanees that at times we may struggle to field a full squad due to restrictions on number of loanees in a match-day squad. It must be like a speed dating session at times in our dressing room at 2pm as everyone meets each other.

We are light years away from having the infrastructure to be a football league club. As for "sustainable progressive club" - having 8 loanees, taking so long to resolve the floodlight issue, a club shop that is past being a joke and lots of broken promises on ground investment would suggest otherwise.

There are a few good people at the club trying very hard to steer the ship in the right direction but we seem to lack any sort of clear map of where we are heading and almost appear to be anchored to the shore by our recent history.

It is probably going to be our best season in terms of pure league performance in our non-league days but it doesn't feel like it.

We've never been the same since Ryan Yates got injured. He was the driving force in our team. I believe our performances and our team spirit have suffered since he left. Still can't understand why he didn't return - he seemed to like it here. Shrewsbury have him now.

Agree regarding the loanees - far too many. Like you say, the players will hardly know each other.

We needed to spend; Paul Cox indicated this in an interview shortly before his meeting with Paul Casson just before the transfer window in January. I haven't read/heard the interview Cox gave after the Tranmere game but posters on here have suggested that he's not happy. Maybe it's because he wasn't given any money when he'd asked? Time will tell...just hope he doesn't leave the club - many managers have when they've been refused money for strengthening the team.

Have a feeling the next two games will make or break our season.
Maybe the club realise this with the two game ticket offer - we're going to need great support for those two games - one fixture against a team fighting relegation and the other against rival promotion hopefuls.

I don't want to sound pessimistic but watching the game at Prenton Park on Saturday I was getting the feeling that the wheels may have come off...

Hope I'm wrong!

[Jim]

We've never been the same since Ryan Yates got injured.

Nobody else seems to have cottoned on to the fact that the decline in consistency and results dates from when Joel Dixon was injured. Just saying

[Lancaster Branch]

We've never been the same since Ryan Yates got injured...Still can't understand why he didn't return - he seemed to like it here. Shrewsbury have him now.

Forest wanted him to play a better standard of football - can't blame them for that - although the difference in standard isn't exactly a gulf.

[boyliegladbach]

We've never been the same since Ryan Yates got injured.

Nobody else seems to have cottoned on to the fact that the decline in consistency and results dates from when Joel Dixon was injured. Just saying

I said it on here somewhere a couple of weeks ago.

[Jim]

Nobody else seems to have cottoned on to the fact that the decline in consistency and results dates from when Joel Dixon was injured. Just saying

I said it on here somewhere a couple of weeks ago.

Glad we are on the same wavelength Boylie.

[SKIPPER]

We've never been the same since Ryan Yates got injured...Still can't understand why he didn't return - he seemed to like it here. Shrewsbury have him now.

Forest wanted him to play a better standard of football - can't blame them for that - although the difference in standard isn't exactly a gulf.

Reading the Shrews forum several fans feel he may be finding the step up too much.