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I think we saw two decent teams last night. I think overall 2-2 was a fair result and either team cold have won it. Yes, we had plenty of chances to make it 3-1 when we were leading and we squandered them. A that point you know it is going to come back and hurt you but admittedly, Cheltenham had plenty of chances to equalise before they eventually did and once it was 2-2,they were the more likely winners.

I cannot see Cheltenham struggling. They Mighgt do what we did...lose a play off final, and reach and lose in the play offs the following season.

I think we will finish somewhere outside the play offs this season.

As for the players, Macklin did do well before his injury, which is such a shame for him as it could have been that he was starting to turn it around and therefore to get, what could be a long term injury a this stage of his 'rehabilitation' must be devastating for him.

Lathrope will be missed also. I didn't really notice Easton once he came on, which may be a good thing. I was puzzled by the decision to take Howe off. That must have been quite reassuring and encouraging for Cheltenham, unless there is some sort of injury for Howe.

No Craig in the squad tonight - does anyone know as to why? tatical or injury?

still sulking about my lost report, but one comment I'd like to make is about the pitch, I sat in the bench directly behind mark Yates, and there were all sorts of pits and holes for about 6 feet from touchline, these seemed to cause the ball to behave very strangely, macklin in particular seemed to struggle to control the ball in this area, strange bobbles and spins which can only have been caused by these pits.
He didn't seem to suffer so much in front of pop in 2nd
I thought oastler was good, a couple times in 2nd he made vital clearances, one header in particular sticks in the memory
howe and bodin superb, Downes faultless apart from the heart he should have buried in 2nd
a thrilling game from start to finish, chelts fans superb, really noisy through 2nd period when their attack was truly buzzing, how I'd love mcg and pack in our squad

bixieupnorth wrote:how I'd love mcg in our squad

We said this. He's a dick, but if offered a swap between Stevens and McGlashan you'd take McGlashan every time!!

McGlashan was actually quite poor I thought - diving all over the place. Unfortunately I sat behind the away dug out and what an absolute prick Yates is. He spent the whole game berating the ref, moaning about every decision even when their players committed obvious fouls. He is actually worse than Evans.

A cracking match between 2 good teams. Took my 9 year old granddaughter to her first match at Plainmmoor.
We really should have won. We had 3 or 4 clear chances early in the second half to make it 3-1. We have to be more ruthless with our finishing.
Saah was not to blame. Ball was way over his head but Oastler lost his footing and Zebs could not miss. He did celebrate.
So impressed with much of our play. We look much better going forward. Rene and Billy will score 30 goals between them if they avoid injury.
Aaron Downes is a massive signing for us. Very good in the air could well score six or eight goals this season.

Absolute wonder save from Michael Poke in second h alf and fantastic clearance from Craig Easton off the line when a goal looked certain.

Lots of positives from a really entertaining game. My only real negative is Ian Morris who works hard but is an extremely frustrating performer but perhaps needs a bit more time in his favoured role in centre midfield. I really would like to see more of Nathan Craig who impressed me in the PSF at Exeter.

Looking forward to Rochdale on Saturday which promises to be another tough match.

Still could not hear the announcements in Bristows Bench.

NickGull wrote: A few things I disagree with here...

1. McGlashan DID get the better of Nicho on more than one occasion. Nicho did alot better than he did in the PO's, but McGlashan was still a big threat. I think Lingy brought Cruise on to help stifle him which worked quite effectively in the second half.

2. Oastler had a solid game. Don't blame him for the goal as he slipped but Saah let it bounce in the first place. Again though, chances are that wouldn't have even bounced at all if Damon had still been on the pitch.

3. Morris I thought did really well in the first half. I guess he is just a scapegoat for abuse from some supporters though.

4. Cheltenham fans, despite low in number, made some good noise.

Overall, very impressed with Downes, Macklin caused problems before his injury and I also thought Lathrope was having a great game. Hopefully they'll be back in a couple of weeks (ideally before the Argyle game).

A well deserved point though - we haven't lost against two sides expected to finish in the top 3, so I'm happy. It's a very tough start; Rochdale will be no different.

McGlashan failed to USEFULLY beat Nico, might be more accurate. First half he didn't beat him at all (twas right in front of me and I was counting).

Plain old disagree about Oastler, who was at nothing like his usual level. Did well coming forward though.

Morris isn't a scapegoat, I'm not Brucie, I don't just berate players for no reason. He wears yellow, I want him to do well, but when he makes a hash of 2 things for every thing he does right, it's bloody frustrating and cause for him to be given a game or two to sharpen up or face losing his place to, probably, Nathan Craig.

It's the numbers to which I refer. "Little old Torquay" take 800 to Cheltenham, they bring 237 to us, it's pathetic.

Agree entirely about Downer et al, although quite how our convict cousin managed to miss that second header is a mystery.

Matt.

Howe went over to the bench to talk to Lingy just before he came off. It looked as though he asked to come off. He had alot of stretching done by DD before the game. Really hope all is well, but cant help thinking that Rens stilll has some fitness problems.

goodluckgull wrote:Howe went over to the bench to talk to Lingy just before he came off. It looked as though he asked to come off. He had alot of stretching done by DD before the game. Really hope all is well, but cant help thinking that Rens stilll has some fitness problems.

Hope things are well beacuse I have very ltiile confidence in Jarvis at this moment. Since he has been here he has never really shown anything that has impressed.

I thought Howe visibly tired before he came off. Seemed to want to come short and lay the ball off rather than run at the defenders/get in behind them.

Also, I thought Morris had an ok game in the middle. He did a perfectly capable job in there in my opinion and I don't have any problems with him like some on here and at the game do. You've got to remember that in Pack, Penn and Deering and McGlashan, Cheltenham have a pretty formidable midfield.

It was only when Lathrope went off that they started to really impose themselves on us and if anything, I feel that this is the only area of weakness (apart from Rene Howe) that we don't really have cover for.

Overall though, pleased with many of our teams performances, even though it was a bit backs to the wall by the end. Looking forward to this season immensely.

I've put a panaoramic photo of Plainmoor on the Bristow's Bench thread for anyone that's interested. The ground feels like a proper football stadium now. Very impressed.

The thing I have with Morris (which isn't really a thing at all) is two fold.
Firstly, he does still make far too many frustrating mistakes. Sloppy misplaced passes, tripping over his feet, just silly things. He does, of course, balance it out with some excellent play, I'm delighted to be able to say that. However, his ratio of good to bad just isn't quite enough.

Secondly, and this element really isn't his fault, is that we have Nathan Craig. Morris doesn't do anything that Craig can't do, but NC is capable of doing things that I haven't yet seen Morris achieve.

It's not an anti-Morris sentiment, it's just how I see it. I want Morro to do well, he wears yellow, but I still think NC is the better option.

Matt.

Hi, first post and only my views as an avid fan but also a genuine realist.

Having watched most of pre-season and the the game against Cheltenham I have a couple of observations.

1) Martin Ling spent all of pre-season in my opinion learning very little. I appreciate he wanted to get games into the players but in the three competitive games we have played nothing has changed from last season with respect to style or manner of play.

2) Clearly Downes is a good solid defender and Bodin we all knew would be a great signing but I question his attitude towards Morris who clearly thinks he is the next midfield meastro? The inclusion of the new signings I have mentioned gives us parity in defence in comparison to last season and another option on the wing that can and will score goals but out Midfield is woefully boring, we needed a player along the lines of Stanley who had the ability to make the killer pass.

3)... and finally, I would love to see another succesful Yellow season but where have all the realists gone, is it only me or did I watch a game on Tuesday night that was full of shoddy defending, poor passing and players that struggle to knock down a barn door? I may agree that Cheltenham will make top halk but to keep quoting them as promotion contenders surprises me. An ealry indication would tell me that last season we rode the wave of luck, we set up not to conceed and won games by the odd goal. I think Mr Ling will need to get his thinking cap on because we don't have a bag of goals in the team each game and that same tactic could if anything produce a season of dissapointment, one that I personally believe will be down to tactics rather then the group of players.

Not looking forward to getting destroyed with the replies, but all the same.

YELLOW!

Cracking post yellow and i actually agree with you. I went to Fleetwood and the performance and style of play was EXACTLY the same as it was away last season just with a few different personnel. Like many away days last season we were battered for large parts, rode our luck but created very little. It was the type of game last season we may have nicked 1-0 and if Morris had his shooting boots on then we might have done that again. For me though it's the lack of urgency to get forward, Howe is always having to chase down the ball into channels instead of being fed consistent and accurate service in areas where it matters. We lack a cutting edge and we did last season. I believe last season we got lucky but we got found out in the end when a 1 goal win just wasn't enough anymore and we hadn't the attacking options to change things. Like you yellow, i often said that if the other team get 2 or more then we're screwed because we just don't have the threat in the team.

I just wish that Martin was sometimes more adventurous and more gung ho as we have decent attackers now so lets use them. I wished that at Fleetwood because, although we defended stoically, we should have been offering more at the other end and it was disappointing and predictable. I'm in no way criticising Martin because despite some alarmingly negative performances this season, we finished a million miles ahead of where i thought we would but if he let loose a bit more often with a quicker, more direct style of play i feel we have the ability to really put teams to the sword. The thing about containment and tentativity is that when you go a goal down it's harder to find that extra gear which is what has happended at times last season. I genuinely and honestly believe that if Martin had been more frivolous with his tactics towards the end of last season then we would be a league 1 side now.

Again, not having a go, just observations. Martin has done a quite incredible job since he arrived and i will continue to support him and the boys to the hilt.

got a lovely picture but it wont let me post it!!!

rachii12 wrote:got a lovely picture but it wont let me post it!!!

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