Proper end of season fare that. Neither team exactly busting a gut to get anything. 50-50 possession, three shots on target each, dull stuff all round. In the end though it's a point against a team in 8th place and everyone below us lost so that's another game ticked away until we can start over.
Stevenage are a team that struggle to score but don't concede many either. Only 3 teams have conceded fewer than them this season and they're all in the play-off spots. We've conceded 19 more goals than them but also scored 7 more so it shows the importance of being solid and not gifting teams goals. I think this regression stuff is inaccurate and it's unnecessarily negative thinking. We would have lost that under Appleton because we would have made a stupid mistake that even their strikers would have managed to put away and they would have shut us out. We have massively improved at the back under Jones. Isted now has his third clean sheet of the season which is one more than AMB in 9 fewer games and he's conceded 18 in 16 as opposed to a miserable 41(!) in 25. That's not regressing back, that's major improvement and that's because of improvement in the defence in terms of both players and coaching.
The challenge now is improving the attacking side but given he's managed to bring in only two players he specifically wanted and one of them has been injured almost the whole time that's not that surprising. I think our biggest issue right now is fitness; we're playing a very high-energy pressing style and I'm sure we can all remember how unfit this team was even at the start of the season under Holden. We gave up so many late goals because we didn't start with the right season preparations and we've paid for it all season. It's no wonder the players look jaded now after a decent start, but hopefully we'll bring in players with better engines and start off the right way next season for Jones's style of play.
Yeah, that was dull but we've only got 5 games left and then we get to see if Jones can be given what he asks for and deliver as opposed to having to play with this patchwork squad of nothing. The defensive improvement is encouraging enough for me to feel like we have a good coach, he just needs the right resources now
PWR. Hector had a good game, Kanu's workrate is off the scale (take note Loadapoo), clean sheet. Other than that all a bit meh.
Massive overhaul needed. Not convinced by REG, his passing is poor as is his positional play, Watson not good enough for wing back, can't defend and doesn't get forward enough.
Of all the loanees Bakinson may be worth keeping but I'd like to see him start a couple of games before I'm convinced. The rest send back, especially that lazy, useless lump up front.
Good luck Nathan, you are going to need it. At least he's had time to assess the squad whilst staving off relegation but he's got a job on his hands.
Two months of good performances and then back to the poor displays we're used to.
Need a complete rethink in the summer. None of this 'we're only 4 signings off' nonsense.
Agree with this, a lot of players seem to be turning up for work because they’re getting paid rather than turning up to play a football match because they love the game. I’ve seen more passion from Sunday pub teams.
Boring game between two teams who will ultimately both finish mid table. Do think in January we would have lost that game. Just feel sorry that @Braziliance didn’t get to see Piergianni against Aneke!
We got to see it once and he dealt with Chuks which is a rare sight.
That Vadaine Oliver on the other side causing as grief when we play him as usual. Wins headers for fun that bloke does.
Shows what an opportunity missed this season has been when that Stevenage side is still near play offs, theyre so ordinary
Dobson won man of the match our fans are beyond clueless
He was dreadful. I know it's sacrilege on here to say it but I really don't think we'll miss him. Replace him with someone who can go forward and play a pass and it will completely change us.
Dobson won man of the match our fans are beyond clueless
He may not have been man of the match but we are going to miss him big time next season. And anyone who thinks otherwise is mistaken.
For me, he was one of our few good players today. Getting stuck in, winning the ball, trying some passes that might have unlocked their defence (OK some didn't come off but far better than a 2 yard sideways one). And don't forget his block right at the end when he threw himself at a Stevenage shot and even more importantly right at the death, when he won a header and took the ball right off a Stevenage player's head.
So many don't realise what you have until you don't have it anymore.
That includes defenders. Look at what they average over a season and add them up and if it doesn't add up to 80 plus you probably won't be doing anything. You don't need super computers. Obviously, players like Kanu you can't assess but if I am an opposing manager and know if you stop two to three players you stop us, it isn't that hard a job. At least the terrible errors seem to have dried up.
Proper end of season fare that. Neither team exactly busting a gut to get anything. 50-50 possession, three shots on target each, dull stuff all round. In the end though it's a point against a team in 8th place and everyone below us lost so that's another game ticked away until we can start over.
Stevenage are a team that struggle to score but don't concede many either. Only 3 teams have conceded fewer than them this season and they're all in the play-off spots. We've conceded 19 more goals than them but also scored 7 more so it shows the importance of being solid and not gifting teams goals. I think this regression stuff is inaccurate and it's unnecessarily negative thinking. We would have lost that under Appleton because we would have made a stupid mistake that even their strikers would have managed to put away and they would have shut us out. We have massively improved at the back under Jones. Isted now has his third clean sheet of the season which is one more than AMB in 9 fewer games and he's conceded 18 in 16 as opposed to a miserable 41(!) in 25. That's not regressing back, that's major improvement and that's because of improvement in the defence in terms of both players and coaching.
The challenge now is improving the attacking side but given he's managed to bring in only two players he specifically wanted and one of them has been injured almost the whole time that's not that surprising. I think our biggest issue right now is fitness; we're playing a very high-energy pressing style and I'm sure we can all remember how unfit this team was even at the start of the season under Holden. We gave up so many late goals because we didn't start with the right season preparations and we've paid for it all season. It's no wonder the players look jaded now after a decent start, but hopefully we'll bring in players with better engines and start off the right way next season for Jones's style of play.
Yeah, that was dull but we've only got 5 games left and then we get to see if Jones can be given what he asks for and deliver as opposed to having to play with this patchwork squad of nothing. The defensive improvement is encouraging enough for me to feel like we have a good coach, he just needs the right resources now
Dobson won man of the match our fans are beyond clueless
He was dreadful. I know it's sacrilege on here to say it but I really don't think we'll miss him. Replace him with someone who can go forward and play a pass and it will completely change us.
He was good before he signed for someone else though. Clearly is playing at 70% or less, s o why play him every week?
Think our worst home performance of the season but saying that how bad Stevenage at least they had something to play for ..
getting concerned about Jones ,why does he keep playing both Coventry and Dobson especially at home .. Dobson had a stinker today .. we’re crying out for a Scott Fraser someone who can create. The midfield created nothing .. May struggled .. and Small service today after getting into a number of good positions was very poor . The ref was awful and made it difficult for us , but positive was our defence with Hector again was outstanding and MOM,
It is what Stevenage do. They keep it tight and hope to grab a goal and to be honest, a month or so ago we would have gifted them one. I am not crying out for a Scott Fraser.
- All positive, still unbeaten. Want to finish season strong.
- We didn't use ball enough, and create in final third. Could have been better with the ball.
- If we're playing like that this time next year, I haven't done my job properly.
- Players giving me everything. Not many teams are beating us.
- We're starting to build something but I want us to be better.
You missed out the 25 superfluous uses of the word “look”.
That’s two hours of my life I’m not getting back. Utterly awful game of football. This league is complete shite. Not a single player in our squad that I would lament for long if they left. About three from that line up today that I’d keep if it was that simple. What was the point of getting Lua Lua in on trial and then not play him? Have we broken Wickham already? Have we discarded L Watson completely? Where is Jones? Does T’other Jones not rate him? Does T Taylor exist? Surely we know by now that the Ladapo experiment has failed. Can’t blame a dodgy pitch or the wind this week. Stevenage were horrible but should have won with their one dimensional approach. Two clear headers missed. I’ve never bought into Jones as the Messiah. He’s done well to keep us up with the resources we have. I hope he’s right and that he turns this around next season but on the evidence of the last few games it’s a big ask.
We have nobody who can move the ball forward intelligently from the centre of the pitch. Either play Coventry or Dobson but not both. They are the same player
Grim game. We showed a desperate lack of quality, whether someone with a bit of individual flair to create something out of nothing, or someone in midfield with some vision and creativity. May as a number 10 didn't work.
And while it was a clean sheet, we looked worryingly vulnerable in the air in the second half, losing far too many headers, both the first and second ball.
Bakinson has been underplayed in recent weeks. He might not be the answer for next season, but at least he shows some enthusiasm out there.
Dobson won man of the match our fans are beyond clueless
He was dreadful. I know it's sacrilege on here to say it but I really don't think we'll miss him. Replace him with someone who can go forward and play a pass and it will completely change us.
He wasn't dreadful but some of his passing was. Without his industry in the middle we would have been even more over-run than we were. I don't think having May deeper helped, as Ladapo is a waste of space and Kanu is still learning his trade so not making runs for the midfield to find. I guarantee we will miss him next season.
Stevenage tackle well, run hard and close down well. They won the majority of second ball and looked a good, spirited mid table league One side - better than us - certainly on the day.
I have to believe there's more to come from us though. I mean, I have to, otherwise what is the point?
With the much vaunted 'structures' and 'building blocks' in place the team can only get better eh? I'll renew my season ticket with a song in my heart ... and my fingers crossed
Poor poor game, shocking passing, couldn’t win many headers in attack or defence, battled throughout and the bonus was a clean sheet and a point. Their number 5 looked excellent all game and their number 33 won every header for them. Both better than anyone we’ve got.
Stevenage tackle well, run hard and close down well. They won the majority of second ball and looked a good, spirited mid table league One side - better than us - certainly on the day.
I have to believe there's more to come from us though. I mean, I have to, otherwise what is the point?
With the much vaunted 'structures' and 'building blocks' in place the team can only get better eh? I'll renew my season ticket with a song in my heart ... and my fingers crossed
Comments
our fans are beyond clueless
Massive overhaul needed. Not convinced by REG, his passing is poor as is his positional play, Watson not good enough for wing back, can't defend and doesn't get forward enough.
Of all the loanees Bakinson may be worth keeping but I'd like to see him start a couple of games before I'm convinced. The rest send back, especially that lazy, useless lump up front.
Good luck Nathan, you are going to need it. At least he's had time to assess the squad whilst staving off relegation but he's got a job on his hands.
That Vadaine Oliver on the other side causing as grief when we play him as usual. Wins headers for fun that bloke does.
Shows what an opportunity missed this season has been when that Stevenage side is still near play offs, theyre so ordinary
For me, he was one of our few good players today. Getting stuck in, winning the ball, trying some passes that might have unlocked their defence (OK some didn't come off but far better than a 2 yard sideways one). And don't forget his block right at the end when he threw himself at a Stevenage shot and even more importantly right at the death, when he won a header and took the ball right off a Stevenage player's head.
So many don't realise what you have until you don't have it anymore.
getting concerned about Jones ,why does he keep playing both Coventry and Dobson especially at home .. Dobson had a stinker today .. we’re crying out for a Scott Fraser someone who can create. The midfield created nothing .. May struggled .. and Small service today after getting into a number of good positions was very poor . The ref was awful and made it difficult for us , but positive was our defence with Hector again was outstanding and MOM,
Other teams have worked us out now.
Hector our best player today.
And while it was a clean sheet, we looked worryingly vulnerable in the air in the second half, losing far too many headers, both the first and second ball.
Bakinson has been underplayed in recent weeks. He might not be the answer for next season, but at least he shows some enthusiasm out there.
I don't think having May deeper helped, as Ladapo is a waste of space and Kanu is still learning his trade so not making runs for the midfield to find.
I guarantee we will miss him next season.
I have to believe there's more to come from us though. I mean, I have to, otherwise what is the point?
With the much vaunted 'structures' and 'building blocks' in place the team can only get better eh? I'll renew my season ticket with a song in my heart ... and my fingers crossed
Their number 5 looked excellent all game and their number 33 won every header for them. Both better than anyone we’ve got.