Match Thread vs. Woking 02.10.21 [NL]

[Big Bob]

IB has assembled a side to play the beautiful game, but overlooked the fact you need to do the ugly things to win games too. It is also pointless asking players to be more physical if they’re lightweight to begin with. You need a physical presence to compete at this level against teams who will put it into your box at every opportunity.

We’re a soft touch - huge game at Halifax now.

But they don't play a beautiful game. It's crap football & Birchnall won't change it so we're staying in the national league for the forseeable future. No bottle at all

[Killerkline]

Hugely disappointing and I have to take my medicine. For 70 minutes we were pretty much in control.

Observations;

- Brennan got bullied
- Nemane, decent game, needed replacing sooner
- O’Brien needed replacing sooner

Blind faith maybe, still believe in what we are doing and that we’ll turn it around.

I know, ridicule incoming.

[Big Bob]

If we don't qualify for the playoffs then the players, IB and Doyle should be hung from the goalposts by their knackers. Unacceptable. If the only teams we've beaten are 15th and below then this is really concerning.

Relegation contenders with these performances. Absolutely abysmal football Birchnall. Birchnall and Co won't last til the play offs at this rate. Also discipline is shocking.

[uysapie]

Relegation contenders with these performances. Absolutely abysmal football Birchnall. Birchnall and Co won't last til the play offs at this rate. Also discipline is shocking.

Weak as gnat's xxxx, total capitulation. We will be lucky to make the play offs. Too soft, no real ball winners in midfield.

[TSANHO]

A real shame today. I thought the first 60 minutes were the best I’ve seen this season, more intensity, moving the ball faster, getting into decent positions and not giving Woking a sniff really. Having said that our dangerous positions didn’t actually create many clear opportunities.

The old problem of a weak midfield came back to bite us once again though, far too easy to play through, not enough challenges being put in or won and too many defensive calamities….although I thought Chicksen was class today, which sounds odd considering we conceded four goals.

I did fear that these types of results were never far away when we were only just scraping wins. It’s hard to suggest how IB solves it now with the system and players he has 🤷

[jackal2]

A real shame today. I thought the first 60 minutes were the best I’ve seen this season, more intensity, moving the ball faster, getting into decent positions and not giving Woking a sniff really. Having said that our dangerous positions didn’t actually create many clear opportunities.

I agree we played very nicely for a good part of the game, but that makes the outcome all the more worrying. They say good teams can play badly and steal a win, but today we played well and lost badly. We don't need to play attractive football to win this league, we need to play winning football, and with players in the lower leagues I would suggest pragmatism is wiser than idealism.

[meoldlaner]

Soft as $hite

[upthemaggies]

Charlie has asked him a few times about getting new players in. Burch said loans are an option but doesn't seem overly keen and more inclined to sort things out with what they've got. That was my impression anyway.

[countygump]

Soft as $hite

This^^^

Up until we scored, we looked good. After our goal, we decided to faff about for 40 mins rather than get a second and in the last 25 mins The Woke Folk showed gave us a lesson in tactics and how to score goals and win games at this level. We could use this particular game as a learning curve but I doubt we will, we're far more likely to continue to try and look good rather than be effective.

[the_anticlough]

One point, IB's pre-match presser.... These things are watched by all on Youtube and this one would've been essential viewing for the Woking squad, because he made them sound like bloody world-beaters.
Managing expectations is one thing but bigging up the oppo like that has to be a mistake