Stratford Updates

[Dazzie76]

Expected a defeat today we got it
Does anybody want to win this league

[andy]

After we went 2 down we looked much better and created numerous chances. That though was after Stratford had decided job done and sat much deeper. In the end though we were actually unlucky to lose. First half as I said in an earlier post we made it so easy for Stratford with our pointless long punts up to their defenders and I have to say it's becoming tedious. Everyone around me was saying the same thing yet the manager obviously doesn't see a problem. Just once can Platt roll a ball out to a defender, or a defender find a midfielder in space? And if we ARE going to keep this up, get a centre forward!!!

[Simons]

Certainly not scoring enough goals away
Since Barwell, 4 away games and only 1 goal, and that was a penalty at Bedford. Also terrible record against the other leading teams. Both Bedford and Stratford have now done the double over us, and we lost at Telford

[andy]

Certainly not scoring enough goals away
Since Barwell, 4 away games and only 1 goal, and that was a penalty at Bedford. Also terrible record against the other leading teams. Both Bedford and Stratford have now done the double over us, and we lost at Telford

Also, these other 'leading' teams are not that good. No consistency anywhere. In fact there are only 20 points between top and second bottom at the moment. And the leaders have nowhere near 2 points per game average, the normal minimum expected for a promotion. It's crazy.

[YeltzBaggieNick]

Good point. If we'd shown more professionalism over the Christmas period and perhaps won today we'd be sitting pretty on top with points to spare.but I appreciate that is all aunties, uncles and testicles...

[RobYeltz]

Hugely disappointed. After somehow finding a way to the top of the league we really lacked any kind of urgency and tempo. Since thumping Barwell 5-0 in mid December we've scored one goal in four away games at Telfud, Bedfud, Sudbury and today Strafford. Not really the form of a team who should be top of the league. This league is there for the taking but we seem (like teams around us) only intent on not being able to string two or three results together.
I'm sick of commenting on the size of the players in our squad, when Platty gets the ball under pressure he has to launch it and inevitably it comes back within seconds, when he had the ball today he was trying to hit Mini knowing that their full back was only a couple of inches taller because he couldn't possibly hit KD as he was beaten in the air by McCone and the absolute unit next to him.

I'm all for us having quick, skilful, tricky players, I want us to play the kind of football that entertains us, but ultimately - I don't want us to get bullied. Stratford bullied us today. Stratford and Bedford have taken 6pts off us this season and I can't really argue they haven't deserved it. Those are teams around us, teams we should be competing with but we've not really laid a glove on either team.

If we have aspirations of promotion we need to start beating teams around us. So far teams have, against us

Bedford - 6pts from 2 games
Stratford 6pts from 2 games
Telford 3 pts from 1 game
Kettering 0 pts from 1 home game
Harborough - 0pts from 1 home game

We've picked us 6pts from those possibly 21pts. - Not promotion form.

[YeltzBaggieNick]

Unfortunately we were spoiled by Ponticelli being in the side. We've still hot nearly adequately replaced him.

[drummyb]

After we went 2 down we looked much better and created numerous chances. That though was after Stratford had decided job done and sat much deeper. In the end though we were actually unlucky to lose. First half as I said in an earlier post we made it so easy for Stratford with our pointless long punts up to their defenders and I have to say it's becoming tedious. Everyone around me was saying the same thing yet the manager obviously doesn't see a problem. Just once can Platt roll a ball out to a defender, or a defender find a midfielder in space? And if we ARE going to keep this up, get a centre forward!!!

Didnt go today, but I thought a couple of games back that it was very much how we played pre-Ponticelli. Lots of hoofing it up. I dont think its coincidence thats how we have reverted. It didnt work last year or the year before. The problem I guess is how to replace him and I dont think we found the answer yet.

[drummyb]

Unfortunately we were spoiled by Ponticelli being in the side. We've still hot nearly adequately replaced him.

Didnt read your post before mine, but bang on.

[andy]

Hugely disappointed. After somehow finding a way to the top of the league we really lacked any kind of urgency and tempo. Since thumping Barwell 5-0 in mid December we've scored one goal in four away games at Telfud, Bedfud, Sudbury and today Strafford. Not really the form of a team who should be top of the league. This league is there for the taking but we seem (like teams around us) only intent on not being able to string two or three results together.
I'm sick of commenting on the size of the players in our squad, when Platty gets the ball under pressure he has to launch it and inevitably it comes back within seconds, when he had the ball today he was trying to hit Mini knowing that their full back was only a couple of inches taller because he couldn't possibly hit KD as he was beaten in the air by McCone and the absolute unit next to him.

I'm all for us having quick, skilful, tricky players, I want us to play the kind of football that entertains us, but ultimately - I don't want us to get bullied. Stratford bullied us today. Stratford and Bedford have taken 6pts off us this season and I can't really argue they haven't deserved it. Those are teams around us, teams we should be competing with but we've not really laid a glove on either team.

If we have aspirations of promotion we need to start beating teams around us. So far teams have, against us

Bedford - 6pts from 2 games
Stratford 6pts from 2 games
Telford 3 pts from 1 game
Kettering 0 pts from 1 home game
Harborough - 0pts from 1 home game

We've picked us 6pts from those possibly 21pts. - Not promotion form.

Very much this.