Barrow v Oldham match thread

[Toffeebluebird]

I can see a very good team in this squad but sloppy mistakes again cost us. We are definitely missing that calming influence of Hardcastle.

don;t see us being far off but we have to be cutting out all these mistakes, I think somebody mentioned the other day that they could not think of a goal against that was not down to sloppiness on our part and tonight was a perfect example of this.

Slow to react, across the pitch, to their first goal, very poor defending for the second (no way should they be scoring at the near post at a corner, one area that should always be covered), extremely poor decision making for the third, we can ignore the 4th as it invariably happens that the side up at that point will score that type of goal.

We easily have enough scoring power to be winning these games relatively comfortably but as soon as we concede an opportunity (never mind a goal) the whole team seem to go into panic mode.

[LCBAFC40]

We're not physically strong enough you can tell because every time someone tackles one of our players they need treatment or need to go off , every team we've played are big strong lads ours just get knocked off the ball too easily.

Some comedy cold on this forum at times

To be fair they have a point. Brown, James, Angus, Biggins all get pushed off the ball way to easy in games. Opposition teams do seem to have bigger physical players compared to us

[PerthBluebird]

I can see a very good team in this squad but sloppy mistakes again cost us. We are definitely missing that calming influence of Hardcastle.

don;t see us being far off but we have to be cutting out all these mistakes, I think somebody mentioned the other day that they could not think of a goal against that was not down to sloppiness on our part and tonight was a perfect example of this.

Slow to react, across the pitch, to their first goal, very poor defending for the second (no way should they be scoring at the near post at a corner, one area that should always be covered), extremely poor decision making for the third, we can ignore the 4th as it invariably happens that the side up at that point will score that type of goal.

We easily have enough scoring power to be winning these games relatively comfortably but as soon as we concede an opportunity (never mind a goal) the whole team seem to go into panic mode.

Ill have a bag off what you are on please

[Electricblues]

Fun fact: There are 10 (TEN) League 2 teams with a worse g/d than us.

With 2 berths in the relegation zone Southend United look set to fill one having gained only 5 points out of a possible 39 and a g/d of -20. We'll have our off days but as long as we keep scoring goals we'll pick up points and stay clear.

[MisterPleasant]

I can see a very good team in this squad but sloppy mistakes again cost us. We are definitely missing that calming influence of Hardcastle.

don;t see us being far off but we have to be cutting out all these mistakes, I think somebody mentioned the other day that they could not think of a goal against that was not down to sloppiness on our part and tonight was a perfect example of this.

Slow to react, across the pitch, to their first goal, very poor defending for the second (no way should they be scoring at the near post at a corner, one area that should always be covered), extremely poor decision making for the third, we can ignore the 4th as it invariably happens that the side up at that point will score that type of goal.

We easily have enough scoring power to be winning these games relatively comfortably but as soon as we concede an opportunity (never mind a goal) the whole team seem to go into panic mode.

Ill have a bag off what you are on please

Well, I must have a bag here, as well, because I agree with TB. I was more than a little surprised to hear John Goodwin say last night, early on, that defensively we are OK and that we just need to start doing the business up front! There are only 7 teams which have scored more than our 20 but only 3 have conceded more (one of which is Oldham!). Twice we have scored 3 goals at home and failed to win. That is unacceptable in anybody's book and shows exactly where the problem lies. If it is that midfield is allowing more pressure on defence than last season it is no more than conjecture to suggest that Hardcastle/White/Rooney would have fared better at this level (but is easy to say). Only one game ago folks were saying how much improved Biggins had become and what a bonus Taylor was. Last night everybody had nothing short of a stinker and came up against a rapidly improving Oldham who have won 4(?) away games on the bounce including against higher-placed teams than us.
Things are far from perfect but look how we responded after Bolton. We need the same again. No need to man the lifeboats.

[PerthBluebird]

Ill have a bag off what you are on please

Well, I must have a bag here, as well, because I agree with TB. I was more than a little surprised to hear John Goodwin say last night, early on, that defensively we are OK and that we just need to start doing the business up front! There are only 7 teams which have scored more than our 20 but only 3 have conceded more (one of which is Oldham!). Twice we have scored 3 goals at home and failed to win. That is unacceptable in anybody's book and shows exactly where the problem lies. If it is that midfield is allowing more pressure on defence than last season it is no more than conjecture to suggest that Hardcastle/White/Rooney would have fared better at this level (but is easy to say). Only one game ago folks were saying how much improved Biggins had become and what a bonus Taylor was. Last night everybody had nothing short of a stinker and came up against a rapidly improving Oldham who have won 4(?) away games on the bounce including against higher-placed teams than us.
Things are far from perfect but look how we responded after Bolton. We need the same again. No need to man the lifeboats.

We have nt beaten a team with 11 men on the pitch all season in the league we have won 2 games against 2 teams down to 10.

[SayitagainSam]

At 33, Jason Taylor no longer possesses the stamina, nor the speed (never his best attribute) to play flat out for 90 mins, especially against young and energetic League 2 opponents.

New signings, Mike Jones and Chris Taylor are also 33 years of age.

Means our 3 'engine-room' mid-fielders are way past their peak and physically on the decline.

27 years of age is the recognized peak physical fitness for a footballer.

If M. Jones and C. Taylor were signed-up because of their experience, they fit the bill.

Younger mid-field signings were Biggins (24) and Gribbin (21) but alas young Calum is out of favour.

And remember we lost 2 young, fast, hardworking mid-fielders in Rooney and White.

[russell_anderson]

Fun fact: There are 10 (TEN) League 2 teams with a worse g/d than us.

With 2 berths in the relegation zone Southend United look set to fill one having gained only 5 points out of a possible 39 and a g/d of -20. We'll have our off days but as long as we keep scoring goals we'll pick up points and stay clear.

I wouldn't be so certain that Southend are bound to be bottom. They have started to improve and in the last 2 games have beaten Walsall which we couldn't do and only lost by 1 goal against Forest Green. Still need to improve further but definitely not the guaranteed bottom team we thought in the early season.

[mickycarrol]

Fun fact: There are 10 (TEN) League 2 teams with a worse g/d than us.

With 2 berths in the relegation zone Southend United look set to fill one having gained only 5 points out of a possible 39 and a g/d of -20. We'll have our off days but as long as we keep scoring goals we'll pick up points and stay clear.

Why do people even mention goal difference???? It only matters if you are level on points with someone. It’s points we need forget goal difference!!

Jesus wept

[LCBAFC40]

Fun fact: There are 10 (TEN) League 2 teams with a worse g/d than us.

With 2 berths in the relegation zone Southend United look set to fill one having gained only 5 points out of a possible 39 and a g/d of -20. We'll have our off days but as long as we keep scoring goals we'll pick up points and stay clear.

Why do people even mention goal difference???? It only matters if you are level on points with someone. It’s points we need forget goal difference!!

Jesus wept

Agree GD only helps if level on points which you never know might help us in the final league standings but it does show we aren't as bad as some people are saying on here.

[Toffeebluebird]

I can see a very good team in this squad but sloppy mistakes again cost us. We are definitely missing that calming influence of Hardcastle.

don;t see us being far off but we have to be cutting out all these mistakes, I think somebody mentioned the other day that they could not think of a goal against that was not down to sloppiness on our part and tonight was a perfect example of this.

Slow to react, across the pitch, to their first goal, very poor defending for the second (no way should they be scoring at the near post at a corner, one area that should always be covered), extremely poor decision making for the third, we can ignore the 4th as it invariably happens that the side up at that point will score that type of goal.

We easily have enough scoring power to be winning these games relatively comfortably but as soon as we concede an opportunity (never mind a goal) the whole team seem to go into panic mode.

Ill have a bag off what you are on please

We have scored enough goals to win games but defensively we are woeful and it is due to sloppy mistakes, lack of concentration and you can add game management and ball retention in the midfield to that list of reasons, as well.

We have not been beaten by more than 1 goal in any game this season. The 2 games we have won is partly down to the other team being down to 10 because we have been able to have more space, they are not bad footballers, it is about consistency. Biggins, for example has a lot about him but sometimes his first touch is awful and he gives possession away far too much, defenders having brain farts.

There is no doubt that we have goals in us but it is defensively (as a team) that we are lacking and lacking in a big way, at the moment.

[MisterPleasant]

Final point: Oldham won away - again - today at Bradford in the Cup. That's 5 away wins in succession. We have not been the only ones to suffer.

[saltcellar]

Bradford have, twice.