⚽ Match Thread vs. Aldershot Town FC 30.04.22 [NL]

[MAD_MAGPIE]

We have nothing beyond playing well. Invariably when we play well we win, but this side just isn’t capable of going ‘okay, we’re not quite at it today, we just need to grind our a win’. There’s a total lack of spirit and fight when things are going a bit wrong.

These are key qualities required if a team is going to be successful and get promoted. Winning ugly, sometimes winning when you've not played well, winning away from home 1-0 in a smash and grab when your backs against the wall, winning when you are two goals behind. That's what spirit and fight can get you.

[jacobncfc]

These are key qualities required if a team is going to be successful and get promoted. Winning ugly, sometimes winning when you've not played well, winning away from home 1-0 in a smash and grab when your backs against the wall, winning when you are two goals behind. That's what spirit and fight can get you.

Yes I agree. I think Burchnall has done fine in a purely coaching sense, we play nice football and generally look like we know what we’re trying to do. But we don’t have ‘it’, that intangible mental thing that turns you from a good team into promotion contenders or title winners or whatever.

[Glad2BeAPie]

I was just talking to my lad about that. The reality is exactly as you say, and had it jot been for woeful finishing, Weymouth could quite easily have won. But, the win papers over the cracks.

It's just very disappointing that we're limping into the playoffs, but then if we're honest that's what we've done all season.

Limping into the play offs and Sprinting out again

[jacobncfc]

I wouldn’t count us out of the play-offs at all btw. We are what we are, and if it’s our day we have the kind of side that can breeze past whoever in this division. Problem is that when we aren’t on it we are a total disaster, but you never know.

[Elite_Pie]

Looking forward to seeing some match ratings to highlight the players lack of performance as well as the errors made by the head coach.

The best way to get them is to start a 'Player ratings v Aldershot' thread if you were there.

[TSANHO]

The only surprising thing about today is that so many on the prediction thread thought we were going to win. Everything that has happened this season pointed to yet another ‘shocking’ performance.

The players are capable, the head coach clearly isn’t. A proper manager would be able to get a consistent tune out of this squad. He’s proven himself to hold little to zero motivational skills and his time is surely running out now after another gutless performance.

Would there be any harm in giving him the boot now and giving Doyle a few games to ‘get into’ the players and instilling a simple style of play that everyone understands to give us at least a fighting chance of making/winning the playoffs. It seems so unnatural for him to be stood there on the sidelines…silent. He must be dying to tear into some of these players.

I am starting to wonder, like some others on here, if the owners rigid playing philosophy has become detrimental to our chances of getting out of this division.

[Elite_Pie]

Yes I agree. I think Burchnall has done fine in a purely coaching sense, we play nice football and generally look like we know what we’re trying to do. But we don’t have ‘it’, that intangible mental thing that turns you from a good team into promotion contenders or title winners or whatever.

I wouldn't join any calls for Burchnall to be sacked, but I don't have much confidence in him getting us promoted. He is clearly part of the plan our owners have, but my concern from day one has been that the plan is based on stats and analysis from levels above ours. If we fail in the playoffs, I'd still give him a bit longer in the hope that both owners and head coach will realise that we are lacking something. I just don't know if a couple of 'beasts' fits in with their tippy tappy philosophy.

[laddo]

The best way to get them is to start a 'Player ratings v Aldershot' thread if you were there.

I'm patient, I can wait and will be happy to contribute.

I don't think I will have to wait too long after a defeat.

[optipez]

I wouldn’t count us out of the play-offs at all btw. We are what we are, and if it’s our day we have the kind of side that can breeze past whoever in this division. Problem is that when we aren’t on it we are a total disaster, but you never know.

I've not seen us breeze past any half decent team this season. I really wish I could have some belief in this team, there's enough talent but we are so passive / negative during games. We tend to start slowly, score few early goals, are always capable of letting in a soft one, struggle to up the tempo if we start slowly and have too often come out second half in tight games and not changed up to impose ourselves.
I've only been to four away games (W1 D1 L2) but we've been poor in each and nowhere near the team we can look at home and its why I'm so short of belief in our play-off hopes.

[Elite_Pie]

I'm patient, I can wait and will be happy to contribute.

I don't think I will have to wait too long after a defeat.

Why wait? There are no right or wrong marks on this type of thread, it's all down to opinions. I wasn't there so can't contribute, but I would love to hear the thoughts of those who were there.