⚽ Match Thread vs. Mansfield Town FC 14.10.23 [EFL L2]

[cher1]

We were embarrassingly bad, it's the first match I've watched on TV, normally just listen, and the defending was absolutely dire. Have we been that hapless - and just lucky - previously?

The Stags fully deserved their win, well done to them.

Us? We've got the second worst defensive record in the division right now, obviously we've played an extra game, but even with the attacking options we have, it's not possible to keep scoring more than the opposition when we're letting in so many at the other end. It's a real worry. Have we got the players to defend better (or even adequately) if we played a different formation? Or are they simply not good enough at the back?

[KeepTheMagpieFlyingH]

Yep nearly 2 goals a game but on a positive nobody has scored more than us.

Today we gifted them chances with sideways passes behind players and also the weird tactic of Slocombe kicking it to 5ft 5 Nemane.

Hope Slocombe isnt in next week he scares the sh*t out of me.

I was thinking the same. We take short corners to obviously retain possession yet instruct to go long from the keeper and put our smallest player in constant aerial duels.

[countygump]

Not that we were bad then, it's Mansfield who were very good, mmmmm.....

[drillerpie]

I honestly can't think of a single positive to take from that. The complete opposite of what you want to see in a derby game.

For me that's the worst day of the season so far. At least at Sutton we had the excuse of being away from home and down to ten men.

After the goal we barely even did anything. I can't believe I was so hyped for that game and then I've just watched an hour and a half of our defenders and keeper playing low tempo keep ball before launching it to Nemane.

Our passing game never really looked like getting us out. Our long ball game was awful. If that's plan A and plan B, we need a plan C quickly.

Our goals conceded were sloppy, and it seems like we only have 2 or 3 ways of creating a chance. Performance always drops when one of Palmer or Bostock goes off.

Actually I've thought of a positive - Mansfied are a good team and we won't play them every week, but this performance should give LW plenty to think about.

[marky]

Exactly the sort of result and performance where if Ray Trew or Alan Hardy were still the owner then you would fear for the manager.

[the_anticlough]

Agree with OchPie about the officiating. They were allowed to get away with a lot of hands and arms.

Even so, we collapsed and not necessarily just at the back, nothing was working or happening ahead.

LW's is a positional-based system. Cloughie did his homework and where our players are on the pitch can be too predictable, especially when we can't win the individual battles.

Overall no complaints though, we were well-beaten by the better side.

[SmiffyPie]

Taking the dog for a walk.

[Notts78]

Not that we were bad then, it's Mansfield who were very good, mmmmm.....

A combo of both. Tactically they were miles better than us. Forced us to go long, to dwarves.
I dont think Cargill and Flint will have easier days than today… we have them practice and then let them have a free header from corners.

[drillerpie]

AS good as Langstaff is, would we be better with Scott up top when he’s fit?

Not as a replacement but to play with Langstaff - yes. He gives us a bit of something different.

[BanjoPie]

Hate to say it but I honestly think these tactics are some of the worst I've ever seen it's like the bad days of Fullarton, Kiwomya etc.

You are fullarcrap!