17/18 VNL - Barrow 0 - 1 Maidstone Utd

[whitty1969]

The presenter on RC after the game was goading the Barrow fans a bit I thought along the lines of you complained about hoofball and now when the new manager is trying to play out from the back you are compaining about that too.

Okay he's trying to get some reaction to energise the show and there was quite a bit of comment about this style of play - more so Edmo than Cox I think. However, 'Route One' is a recognised tactic - not for the purist maybe but if it's successful as a supporter you'll take it. What we seem to have under 'WB' is "nothingball" which isn't a recognised tactic as recent results would testify.

Under MM, we also play "dontputtheeffortinball", "wehaventaclueball" or the "whogivesashitball"

[liverpoolann]

Think we gonna die death of a series of 1 0 defeats all from mistakes .Cant see change of manager in short term unless we ship a lot of goals in a couple of consecutive defeats.Club needs stability but I agree with previous poster mickey may be nice bloke have the knowledge but having listened to his interviews and watched him on touchline he appears to lack motivational skills.We need experience and charisma from manager to get out of this mess and it don't come cheap.

[Middleton Nick]

We need a Roy Keane type geezer, to frighten the shit out of them.

[Ste Story]

Chronic lack of width in this system, we're so easy to set up against and play against. Yesterday was so flat, yet we had changed to make and didn't make them. Going into the last 15 minutes, I just don't know what Micky Moore was expecting to happen different from the previous hour. There's absolutely no leadership either on or off the pitch, nobody to step up and drag everyone up a gear, or at least try and control the pace and flow of the game.

We need wingers, shape and a bit of coherence. Football is a simple game made complicated by managers trying to over think it.

White and Hall are [SwearFilter] useless by the way, completely ineffective and unable to have any sort of positive impact on the game.

Relegation battle as things stand.

[spirit of 1990]

Livsey public stated he was suprised he was not offered a contract.

One - last - time....THE PREVIOUS MANAGER RELEASED LIVESEY.

If your point is you think he should've been retained, I'd agree with you, but Coxy didn't.

[mulholland]

Think Livesey-type player is the key here: we no longer have one. Should replace like for like, look at Everton.

The key to what ? Our defence has been our strongest area to be fair and we are missing the excellent Moussa.Creativity in midfield is lacking and we have white upfront who is,well it rhymes with his name,and unfortunately dixons back, his decision making on coming out for balls is atrocious.We like a relegation dogfight,midfield security is for wimps,or peoples from swarthmoor.

Livesey-type player does not necessarily mean in that particular position it could be a Bishop-type player in goal for example, more presence and attitude I'm getting at.

[mr_grey]

Chronic lack of width in this system, we're so easy to set up against and play against. Yesterday was so flat, yet we had changed to make and didn't make them. Going into the last 15 minutes, I just don't know what Micky Moore was expecting to happen different from the previous hour. There's absolutely no leadership either on or off the pitch, nobody to step up and drag everyone up a gear, or at least try and control the pace and flow of the game.

We need wingers, shape and a bit of coherence. Football is a simple game made complicated by managers trying to over think it.

White and Hall are [SwearFilter] useless by the way, completely ineffective and unable to have any sort of positive impact on the game.

Relegation battle as things stand.

I'm at a loss to understand why Hall is the captain. Infact yesterday he was substituted. Was it an injury or was he just bad. ?
White don't bully defenders. Harrison still limps. Is that pain or psychological?
AL Ray scared to get stuck in after his sending off. Jones although very vocal at the penalty made some very poor and lazy passes and then just thought. Tell you what I can't be bothered tackling back.
Apears to me that there is a discipline issue. Needs to be a few players told that they are no where near as good as they think they are . Pity you can't just sack them off

[HenneysKnee]

No injury, he's just bad

[Sonofsam]

That was gutless yesterday no shape no passion we need wingers with pace hall and white are [SwearFilter] poor players we are going nowhere with this lot only harrison put a shift in yesterday

[barrowfan]

Livsey public stated he was suprised he was not offered a contract.

One - last - time....THE PREVIOUS MANAGER RELEASED LIVESEY.

If your point is you think he should've been retained, I'd agree with you, but Coxy didn't.

Sorry spirit - genuine question.

What is the difference between being released and not being offered a new contract? If there is a line between them it's a very fine one!

[liverpoolann]

Anyone know the winning raffle numbers.Couldnt hear the speaker in the stand.Know things got changed /damaged when new lights fitted.I have pointed out to Andrew that I am not deaf but still can't hear the tannoy he says he is going to get audio guys to sort it out!

[mall]

. I have no idea whether Cox or Ogden was responsible for bringing in players last season but it should have been obvious to anybody after a few games that the level of player brought in this season was far inferior to last season. Whether that was because whoever chose the players last season was not allowed to do it this season or whether it was just because the budget available was much lower and therefore we couldn't afford any decent players I have no idea. I'd be pretty sure that Cox resigned because he knew exactly what was going to happen with the players brought in and that he wouldn't be able to do much about it but I'm pretty sure he'd make a better effort than Moore even with what is a distinctly mediocre squad of players. IMO, we've lost 4 of our 6 best players from last season in Livesey, Anderton, Williams and Bennett and of the other 2, Diarra will be out for weeks and Harrison is patently not yet fit. We've also lost 3 more in Beeley, Hannah and Turnbull who would get into the current team as would last season's loanees, Tuton and Wright. Even last season we weren't quite strong enough to get into the playoffs but the current team is a shadow of that team.

Russell, thats the best post I have read in a long while with this particular point of yours really ramming it home,- "I don't for one second believe that Paul Cox was allowed to get the players he wanted".

[PRR]

At times in the first half we knocked the ball round pretty well and kept some decent possession but never looked like scoring. We play one pace slowly knocking the ball back and forth from defence to midfield and back again. It's just not going to win football matches. Well not with the present set of players anyway.

Ironically we've had decent footballers here in the recent past stiffled by long ball tactics and now we have average footballers stiffled by their own ability playing a passing game.

Long ball will get results. It's been successful for many average teams over the years and would possibly keep us in the league.

If we continue with the passing game we're trying to play we need a serious injection of quality, some width and the players we have to learn the quickly how to play in the final third and open up defences.

We seem to have the perfect storm for relegation. Average players low on confidence, very few shots on goal or chances even, lack of discipline leading to mistakes costing goals, lack of leadership from the dugout, some players not giving 100%, constantly changing first team, loan players padding out the team, injuries and apathy from the crowd.

Maidstone were a very average team but they are in the payoff places. It wouldn't take much to match their performance but we need to do something quickly before the rot really sets in.

Play to our strengths, we simply don't have the quality. If that's long ball then so be it. Get rid of the deadwood and the players that aren't putting it in for the manager.

Or, hold our hands up now, admit the appointment of Moore was wrong and get an experienced man in to get the best out of what we have. Someone like Paul Cox. That's exactly where we've regressed to, the point before he came in. If AC needs to swallow his pride he needs to do it now, not Christmas, not with a month of the season to go. If he really believes Moore is the man, support him and give him the resources he needs. Cause we need at least five new quality players to get results out of the way we are playing.

There are some strong teams in the Conference North right now and I wouldn't fancy our chances of bouncing straight back.

I actually had a little optimism after the first half but our lack of ideas and effort in the second half indicates a much deeper problem. I can't even see where any win is coming from. If we were to go down you couldn't even argue with it, say we were unlucky or blame injuries. We are playing horseshit pure and simple. And going backwards rapidly to boot.

I was hoping I could post something more positive after a period of reflection after the game, but I just can't.

Shite.

Harry looked ok when he came on, put the effort in at least. New lad looked solid but must be wondering what he's let himself in for. I like Dixon but Moore must be wondering what the [SwearFilter] he did wrong. Harrison looked quality but is totally lost leading the line. Defence is just thrown together at the moment and looked disjointed without looking like shipping too many goals...if that makes sense...Jordon White's confidence looked shot, couldn't even get the basics right. Maidstone won't get an easier away win all season.

[Moribund]

. I have no idea whether Cox or Ogden was responsible for bringing in players last season but it should have been obvious to anybody after a few games that the level of player brought in this season was far inferior to last season. Whether that was because whoever chose the players last season was not allowed to do it this season or whether it was just because the budget available was much lower and therefore we couldn't afford any decent players I have no idea. I'd be pretty sure that Cox resigned because he knew exactly what was going to happen with the players brought in and that he wouldn't be able to do much about it but I'm pretty sure he'd make a better effort than Moore even with what is a distinctly mediocre squad of players. IMO, we've lost 4 of our 6 best players from last season in Livesey, Anderton, Williams and Bennett and of the other 2, Diarra will be out for weeks and Harrison is patently not yet fit. We've also lost 3 more in Beeley, Hannah and Turnbull who would get into the current team as would last season's loanees, Tuton and Wright. Even last season we weren't quite strong enough to get into the playoffs but the current team is a shadow of that team.

Russell, thats the best post I have read in a long while with this particular point of yours really ramming it home,- "I don't for one second believe that Paul Cox was allowed to get the players he wanted".

On that point, it's probably best that Casson didn't let Cox get some of the players he wanted: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/41453248

[burntisland]

MM post game interview ,to me,showed why he isnt right for manager.He saw a totally different game to me ,we were very poor all over the park and so one dimensional.
There was never any urgency ,body language all wrong from majority of player and only player to try to inject effort was Harry P ,not best footballer but does try more than some do.These players imo are capable of playing better than they are showing at present with right management
This is definitely looking like a relegation season at moment and think BOD need to review decision they have made on appointment of MM now not in 90 days!!!!
We are struggling with attendances now more of same will only turn more away and will definitely not encourage more to attend.
Cant see where next points are going to come from