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tomogull wrote:Mostly agree with much of what has been posted. Hector is right - only us diehard fans will turn out to watch 'football' of that standard. It's all up in the air. Someone accused Mansfield of playing 'hoof ball'. Well, if that's what they were playing, what were we playing?? Having said that, I thought it was slightly better than against Harlepool and York. Had Bodin's shot gone in off the post, I think we would have gone on to win comfortably. Mansfield are what's best described as a rugged team. I try not to criticise refs but I did think today's ref seemed more ready to penalise us than the opposition. It would be interesting to hear what one of our local referees thought if reading the posts on here.

I thought the defence looked reasonably solid with O'Connor and Pearce having a good first game together. But up front - well, what can you say? Chappell had a very quiet game, Hawley was ineffective, Azeez looked dangerous but didn't really achieve much in my opinion - he definitely needs to get some practice in on his heading! Bodin had a decent game I thought. He seemed to be playing in a slightly different role behind Hawley and Azeez instead of being stuck out on the wing. Modgull posted that we will be okay when the injured players are back. Well, apart from Poke, there's only Downes and Harding out. We're missing Downes of course, but young O'Connor had a solid game. And would anyone really pick Harding ahead of McCourt ?

That would be me (probably as one of a few).

Hoof ball, for me, is playing fairly aimless 70 yard balls up to the "big man up top" and hoping for the best. This is all Mansfield did all day and, judging from their forum they are A) used to it and B) delighted to be playing that way. None so queer as folk. What we did today wasn't so much that, as it was simply choosing the header up in the air over bringing the ball down and playing football. Whenever we did make the right choice, we looked alright.

Disappointed with Knill's comments on the FLS. It doesn't feel like a win for me, Alan, it feels like a loss because, once again, we've failed to beat a side which would have likely been defeated by our womens' team.

I forgot to mention also that we should have had a penalty from the looks of it, when Manse was clearly bundled over in the box while making a bee-line for the ball. Had it been up the other end, I guess it would have been given by the most clearly and unashamedly biased referee I have seen for years.

Matt.

I just watched a recording of the Football League Show. I saw a team in yellow, white shorts and socks with bits of blue in their kit, playing some sublime football, with incisive passing and some wonderfully taken goals. Unfortunately, it was Exeter City with their 4-0 AWAY win over Scunthorpe - you know, that Exeter City, with their much reduced budget, so reduced they couldn't even afford Steve Tully and tipped by many to struggle. But they have an excellent manager.

The next item was OUR team in yellow, white shorts and socks with bits of blue. A turgid 0-0 draw at HOME. Cut to our 'manager' saying that this 0-0 draw, after 90 mind-numbingly dull minutes, felt like a win!

A 0-0 draw, at home, to a team who were non-league last season, yet we are supposed to celebrate that. What excuses what passed for a football team before Pierce was sent off?

But no, it felt like a win. :Oops: That is why we are 4th from bottom.

So while Exeter have Tisdale, we have Alan Knill. They are 3rd, we are 21st and we have won only twice since April. We may only be Torquay United. We may have small crowds and a small budget but the way things are going this is just going to perpetuate. The crowds will get smaller and so will the budget.

I don't suppose many but the most blindly optimistic would imagine that we would get much from the next two games and if that is the case, how long do we wait for the club to act?

Lets sack another manager. All problems solved.

Dutchgull wrote:Lets sack another manager. All problems solved.

Or let's wait until to March and do what we should have done in October instead...much better idea!

How much have you got to pay them off ??

Dutchgull wrote:How much have you got to pay them off ??

How much more will we lose if do nothing?

Knill shouldn't of been given the job in the first place.

Nothing to do with swimming against the tide - I thought we should we should have won yesterday. We created all the chances before the sending off. Mansfield didn't create anything. Didn't they actually beat Chesterfield last week.
We just seem to make the wrong choices in games though. Pearce and O'Connor were excellent but for the red card Pearce miscontrolled the ball - there was no need to bring their player down - he was forty five yards from goal amd O'Connor would have tackled him.
Then we were under pressure Rice let the ball run out when it was a corner.
Then in injury time we had a free kick in a a really dangerous crossing position just outside the box which Craig put over the bar - a real waste.
We need Poke back in goal desperately. With Harding and Downes returning I don't suppose we will renew the loans of McCourt and O'Connor - a shame as they look two really good players.
We need a striker to replace Hawley - can't fault him for effort but he doesn't look the answer.

We deserved a win yesterday. We should have had a penalty.

Mansfield are all about about roughing the opposition up, they didn't come to play football. When we did get the ball on he ground we outclassed than and showed out potential. The ref did nothing to protect us and because of that I think we were unable to get the ball down and play as much as we'd like.

McCourt is quality. Azeez plays better away from home. Hawley was better than he has been and was roughed up the whole game with no support from the ref.

Found myself wondering if the officials had placed a bet before the game.

Knoll deserves a few more months yet I feel, it looks like he is putting together a decent side but frustratingly it's taking time to come to fruition. The comparison to tisdale is a little unfair, if knoll is at united as long as this tisdale has been at exeter I would suggest we'll be a much better side than exeter are now.

We have some good players to come back I and also Mozika to look forward to.

This mythical Mozika? The one that never plays because he is always injured or unfit. I'm not sure we should pin all of our hopes on him because even if, in one far off day, he does make it into our team, it won't be long before he is injured again. Look at his track record. It is the same with Knill. Do people in football not ask for references or look to see what went on before?

It is all mapped out, if only people would open their eyes and look.

I agree hector I watched mr mozika in training on Friday and he is a long way off from being the messiah.

My patience with Knill is running thin, I do believe we have a better squad than in previous years but too many players are having off days. How does Mansell retain his place, there is a player past his sell by date, who looks to motivates the team on the field By waving his arms around and also constantly moaning and back chatting the officials !!!

I thought Bodin looked good in the position of the front man, but needed to get closer to Hawley.

You do wonder what is practiced in training though, example being corners, how many were lofted into the box, no pace, until Craig whipped one in !!!

Yes Mansfield were bullies and a big big side and fairly dreadful, but we need to stop giving it "poor us" "we were unlucky" and realise that we are in a dogfight already. Much as it hurts me to say so but that lot up the road seem to have got it right AGAIN and you have to admire TIsdale for this, but then laff at his dress sense !!

Knill, not Knoll, predictive text is the bain of my life.

Bobbytanz wrote:You do wonder what is practiced in training though, example being corners, how many were lofted into the box, no pace, until Craig whipped one in !!!

That would be the one that was too high and long that went straight out for a goal kick?

Think it was a shot actually !!! :~D