⚽Match Thread vs. Crewe Alexandra FC 24.02.24 [EFL L2]

[the_anticlough]

Was Warner injured?

No just absolutely terrible. And we'd already spent too long 0-2 down with Macari as a right-winger.

This is on SM. He convinced himself (but obviously not the players) that we can switch systems game to game, and within games but that performance shows we're way off being able to do anything close to that.

So another shape swap between games and then after 15mins.... tactical flexibility or dithering and confusion?

The other big problem is Warner wasn't the only one having an absolute stinker. Bostock too. Involved in both goals conceded and really off it general play.

[irish_pie]

Half time and that was poo...absolutely shocking first 20, Notts came into it more as halftime approached but nothing coming off for them... Crewe look the better team by far and well organised compared to our shambles of a backline... Still hope we can get something out of this but up front we are looking pretty toothless
..get the big man on.. it can't be worse surely?

[Davy500]

That first fifte.en to twenty minutes was a horror show. We were slow, pedestrian, static and created no space at all. The passing was messy as well so our game completely broke down. It didn’t help that we gave the opposition two goals, firstly by failing to close down an attacker on the edge of the box and like Mansfield they were able to get a shot off that nobody reacted or intercepted. Then the second which came from Baldwin and Bostock both going for the ball and messing it up between them leaving a 1v1 with the keeper who had no option but to go for the ball. He brought him down it was a penalty so no arguments.

We got better after the substitution and fair play to Stuart Maynard for seeing it wasn’t working and changed it earlier. We were much better after that but the bar was set low. Crewe just keep getting on the end of all of Jones crosses.

We’ve left ourselves with a mountain to climb to get anything out of the game through our own fault, but if we can get a goal early in the second half we might stand a chance.

Very frustrating.

Think it shows that we are not up to the standard of the top 3 or 4 teams in L2, but we already knew that anyway having lost twice to both Wrexham and Mansfield and increasingly looking like losing twice to Crew as well

[hissingdwarf]

Jesus H. What an absolute sh it show.
We look so weak in the challenge, constantly passing back and no motivation to offer space for a pass.
The system at the beginning was all wrong with Macari as right winger when Jones floated off to the left. Totally unbalanced and the idea of a flat back four has been abandoned by the management. Bostock looks a waste of a shirt if all he does is slot in as CB.

Robertson is trying his best.
McGoldrick is at least trying, as is Nemane since he’s come on.

Absolute garbage and if Maynard can sort this out and we come back in the second half…he’ll have proved himself as this has been terrible so far.

[legs77]

FGR winning which puts the pressure on Sutton v Colchester. The Sutton result today will be very significant I think as to whether or not Maynard will have a much needed easy 3 points up for grabs Tuesday night. If they lose, they will be despairing and ripe for picking off, but a win for them and it could suddenly be a tricky one if we're low on confidence.

Im more worried about us the way we are playing ANYONE could come here and win.

We are losing at home now this didnt happen often under LW not only losing getting hammered too.

[Bohinen]

Employing a non-league manager with a 30% win rate has consequences. This one is down to Richard Montague, imo, as is the failure to replace the defence. To think we truned Warnock down for this.

[SmiffyPie]

Stall saying passing back to the keeper when there is nothing on is fine, and it is if we need to recycle the ball, only thing is it looks like we constantly need to recycle the ball because there is no pass forward. So slow, so cumbersome just plodding around the pitch. Apart from the possibilty the new lad can shake things up I just can't see anything positive on the pitch or in the way we are applying the possession we have from the back.

[Rainbowpie]

Couldn't go to the game today because of surgery i had in the week. Watching this is more painful
Cameron, bostock Crowley and macca might as well be laid next to me. Bostock looks like he can't be arsed. should've closed down cross from corner
i keep banging on about him but Caneron is sunday league at best, no challenge for the header and just shrugs his shoulders, he's pathetic
Crowley looks like a lost sheep, no energy to create space. And macca just doesn't look at it, misconstrol. out of position. header straight at keeper.
We are sooooo easy to play against, just close us down

[Davy500]

Im more worried about us the way we are playing ANYONE could come here and win.

We are losing at home now this didnt happen often under LW not only losing getting hammered too.

Simply not true mate. We had alrady started playing crap under LW - we were thumped by Tranmere 4-2 on new years day.
In defense of SM , we lost to Mansfield and losing to crew now, a point against Barrow all top teams, barring Gillingahm

[upthemaggies]

Harrogate 0 Walsall 1

Notts down to 12th as it stands.

Fword score a 2nd at Villa. 3-2