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Post by stewart on May 13, 2012 19:20:05 GMT
Well, I thought that Cheltenham were full value for their win.
They were physically stronger, had more expansive attacking ideas, passed better and particularly marked better. On the other hand, the two goals they scored, although ultimately well constructed and taken, were handed to them on a plate.
Yes, we did have chances throughout the game, but they arrived accidentally rather than being created, and many of them were squandered through haste and panic. There was a period of 15 to 20 minutes in the second half when we virtually set up camp in the Cheltenham half, but never looked like scoring.
The other glaring difference between the two teams was that Cheltenham played with dual strikers who frequently linked up dangerously and also brought their wingers into the play because their joint presence constantly turned our defenders.
We, however, persisted with this policy of a single, isolated forward. Neither Howe nor Atieno had any chance either of scoring or of linking with the wingers, because they had two big and uncompromising centre backs on their heels throughout the game. For me, this approach defies logic.
Surely, surely, the manager will now realise that this policy of trying to score one or two goals through midfield passing patterns, and then holding on by all-out defence, has gone stale and is now failing miserably.
I know that some posters believe in these tactics and feel that they are the way forward in the "modern" game. I, however, most definitely do not, because I want to watch more open and entertaining performances than that. At my age, having been a supporter for 58 years, I don't really care that much about results as long as I can support a team which can produce exciting attacks and which I can therefore be proud of.
After today's dismal effort, I have made up my mind that if the manager fails to adopt more enterprising plans for next season, i.e. by signing two or three decent forwards, then I shall not be wasting any more of my pension on the current dross.
I know that I have said all of this before ad nauseam, but I am really annoyed about the way my lifelong team is playing now, so no more pictures of broken records, please !!
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JamesB
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Post by JamesB on May 13, 2012 20:53:04 GMT
You can't judge our style of play based just on today. For a start we were lumping it a lot more than we were earlier in the season. Same against Hereford. I wonder if Ling's changed tactics since Howe's injury/ies started creeping up on him, as he's not as mobile as he was (could also just be down to nerves, of course). Not only that but the first half was very positive - we created a few chances, more than Cheltenham in the same period. For some reason it just didn't work in the second half
While I have been as critical as anyone over the last couple of weeks, you can't use these performances to criticise the team in the broader sense. It's not representative. The way we played in the first half at Hereford and in the second half today were so frustrating because we've been so good this year - otherwise, people wouldn't be so disappointed, because expectations would be lower
I reiterate that I didn't think much of Cheltenham. With that carthorse Burgess up front (can't understand why Ellis gave him so much space for the goal) and a keeper and a couple of centre-backs that looked dodgy on several occasions, I certainly can't see them getting past Crewe (especially on the big Wembley pitch), and doubt they'll get past Southend either. They were also adopting the time-wasting tactics of Westley's Stevenage of last year (even before half time had arrived). You can definitely see the legacy of Martin Allen there, which is a real shame as they were a very good footballing side when they first came into the league under Cotterill. Pack, McGlashan and, to a certain extent, Summerfield are clearly good players but I think they've benefited more from having depth up front - to choose from Burgess, Mohamed, Duffy and Goulding is a great luxury, which serves to underline the need for Ling to get another striker in this summer
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Post by cheltenhamwembley on May 13, 2012 23:54:04 GMT
You were DIRE.
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petef
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Post by petef on May 14, 2012 8:53:23 GMT
Time to kick him off.
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Post by gullone on May 14, 2012 10:19:00 GMT
Have enjoyed the season, been some cracking afternoons. Wont forget that afternoon at Bristol or the double over Argyle in a hurry ! Just hope we dont get caught on the break too often on thursday if we are in headless chicken mode chasing goals.
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Post by frankfurt gull on May 14, 2012 17:58:25 GMT
This game seems to be terribly important to "cheltenhamwembley", poor lad has nothing better to do than post silly little messages on the TFF. I hope he can get time off school to come to the match on Thursday with his daddy.
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Post by alunmeerkat on May 14, 2012 20:41:12 GMT
He has got a point though - we were dire. I watched the game when we won at Cheltenham in the league and Ellis completely dominated Burgess to such an extent that he threw a tantrum and was substituted,
Very disappointing that he scored. If we had been beaten by a good side then all well and good but Cheltenham are piss poor. Their wingers are basically headless chickens who can run fast but neither can really beat a man and their defence looked shakey.
I am hoping Crewe make the final - they will beat Cheltenham easily.
As for us we have got no chance.
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chelstongull
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Post by chelstongull on May 14, 2012 21:37:24 GMT
Cheltenham are piss poor. Their wingers are basically headless chickens who can run fast but neither can really beat a man and their defence looked shakey. Interesting how opinions differ, I thought the Cheltenham wingers were very good (either that or we were indeed poor) with McGlashin scoring the first from a tight angle and was a constant thorn in our sides all game. Mohamed bought the ball out well and set up many moves. Someone earlier called Burgess a donkey but he put away a good header. If your going to lump the ball into the box, he's the type of player you want there. Would agree that Crewe or Southend would/will beat them in the Final. Fair play to Cheltenham, better side on the day. |
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Post by jmgull on May 14, 2012 22:09:26 GMT
As for us we have got no chance. ;D He's back  |
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rjdgull
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Post by rjdgull on May 15, 2012 13:34:23 GMT
As for us we have got no chance. ;D He's back Actually, with his prediction record on here that has cheered me up!  If we do somehow get through to Wembley, I can see us using the impetus to gain promotion. If not, it has been a great season and we will be in a stronger position that this time last year to move forward. Look at Shrewsbury for example...... |
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Jon
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Post by Jon on May 15, 2012 23:07:22 GMT
A nice day out spoiled by ninety minutes of football.
If I had a pound ......
Woke up to a beautiful morning. All arrangements went to plan with large breakfasts and accompanying drinks ordered just before ten.
We like to bemoan the huge chains that rob our towns of their individuality, but when you want a large plateful of decent food at a good price, sod the principles and head for a Wetherspoons.
Nice plate management with beans placed at opposite end from eggs to minimise risk of yolk / bean juice cross-contamination. Barty was the only "real man" going for black pudding over a field mushroom.
A walk through the town centre provided proof that this was going to be our day. Even the town centre newsagents had thrown in the towel and rebranded in honour of the all-conquering yellow army. Picture anyone?
The game started brightly, then all went horribly wrong.
How wafer-thin is that line between success and failure?
We had a patch when every evenish game saw us keep the back door tight and nick a chance rendering victories (usually 1-0) inevitable.
Now every evenish game sees us punished for slips at the back and miss decent chances rendering defeats inevitable.
The tide will turn back, won't it?
At the risk of upsetting my antipodean friend, Mark Ellis has returned to his pre-Christmas form, peppering his heroic defending with blunders - something he seemed to have stopped doing.
The second goal was preceded by a ridiculous charge out of position to go for a header he got nowhere near. He then ran back looking confused and disorientated before leaving Burgess more space than James Sharp left Donkey Broughton at Rushden in 2006 for a free header.
It was only when I watched the highlights on telly later that I realised he had made a similar "charge of the light brigade" just prior to slicing the ball Bramhall Lane style against our post.
Then there was the time he cleverly jockeyed his striker out of the penalty box towards the safety of the touchline only to then pointlessly hack him down and concede a free kick in a dangerous position after all the hard work had been done.
Apart from that, he had a good game.
The journey home went smoothly, with a little radio entertainment courtesy of QPR. City's winner hit the net just as I parked up back at home.
Manchester United must have started the day accepting of their fate and thinking they had no chance, only to have the prize dangled tantalisingly in front of them before seeing it snatched away in the 95th minute.
Just the emotions we ran through in the Crewe game. The tortures at Hereford and Cheltenham didn't seem quite so cruel somehow.
Next stop Plainmoor Thursday. Victory against the odds? Tame defeat without a whimper? Or 3-0 up after 90 minutes only to let in 2 in injury time? That over-imaginative script-writer who has been torturing us for the last 25 years wouldn't be so cruel, would he?
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on May 16, 2012 7:11:16 GMT
Nice plate management with beans placed at opposite end from eggs to minimise risk of yolk / bean juice cross-contamination. Barty was the only "real man" going for black pudding over a field mushroom. Sadly no Hog’s Pudding alternative but otherwise excellent. A walk through the town centre provided proof that this was going to be our day. Even the town centre newsagents had thrown in the towel and rebranded in honour of the all-conquering yellow army. Picture anyone?  At the risk of upsetting my antipodean friend, Mark Ellis has returned to his pre-Christmas form, peppering his heroic defending with blunders - something he seemed to have stopped doing. The People’s Champion. How dare you! The journey home went smoothly, with a little radio entertainment courtesy of QPR. City's winner hit the net just as I parked up back at home. Which just goes to prove that championships can be won and lost in the time it takes you to get home from the corner of Old Mill Road and Avenue Road. |
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If we do somehow get through to Wembley, I can see us using the impetus to gain promotion.