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Post by Amber Aleman on Nov 18, 2023 22:21:45 GMT
The term 'two poor teams' comes to mind. On the evidence of this game, both these clubs are likely to be gracing the National League again next season.
The other club right in the relegation scrap is Forest Green, against whom Dominic Wilson scored a late equaliser for Grimsby this afternoon.
Tranmere got their first away point of the season; we've now failed to win in seven out of ten home league games.
Before this game I identified Tranmere's right-winger Rob Apter as their main threat. I assume our management team did their homework. With both our left backs unfit today, the right-sided Joe Kizzi again filled in at LB, which looked like an accident waiting to happen. And so it came to pass in the 17th minute, Apter skipping past Kizzi and his cross deflecting into our goal off Ben Goodliffe.
We did have some decent opportunities to score in the first half, Harry Beautyman forcing a good save and Aiden O'Brien twice going close. And I'm really not sure how clearly Harry Smith has to be fouled in the opposition area for us to be awarded a penalty.
1-0 down at the interval; two goals needed, something we'd managed in our last two home games. Nope, not this time. A pretty abject second half was rescued late on only by Louis John's strike following a corner, I think his first league goal since we came up.
So better than nul points. But not by much.
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Post by fourfourtwo on Nov 18, 2023 23:25:17 GMT
Agree with a lot of the comments made here tonight. That wasn’t a great watch.
The pass back to the keeper for the big long ball is frustrating to watch, particularly when it isn’t being done successfully. Some of the players are actually decent on the ball and I would like to see them play it more on the deck.
Tranmere had one pot shot against the outside of the post and one cross. They were so poor and were there for the taking. But the performance wasn’t good enough to take the 3 points. Without getting into the in/out argument, Matt seems too scared to go for it and attack teams, maybe scarred from some of the hammerings that have happened, but for a second week running his substitutions were too late and could it have cost a win?
From a team perspective, there is not enough talking. A few times 2 players are going for the same ball, and the own goal is panic coupled with no shout over who’s ball it should be.
I have previously been critical of Joe Kizzi this season but I’m going to defend him tonight. His best season was his first when he was playing solely as a right back. His level has dropped since he’s been asked to play at centre half and now at left back. I thought last week he was a little exposed but today, not fit as mentioned earlier, he only got beaten when he slipped. He was better on the ball and was solid in defence.
I will also defend Gape. As mentioned earlier, it’s his 2nd game since the summer. His tackle in the first half bailed out the centre halves to stop a certain goal and he managed to win a foul in the process. His off the ball work is a step up from where the midfield has been. He is just a bit rusty on the ball. It’ll come back soon, but that lad is a player. Coincidentally I haven’t heard many people say we miss Eastie recently.
I feel for Omar. Best of the back 4 last week and has been one of the better players all season, dropping him was a big miss today, both going forward and at the back.
Next week is huge. With some tough fixtures before Christmas, this has become near enough a must win. Keep it tight for 60/70 mins and if not winning, let the shackles off and just throw everything forward at winning it (I can dream). Up the Us
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kpinwp
1st team Player
Posts: 1,245
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Post by kpinwp on Nov 19, 2023 1:12:47 GMT
Agree with a lot of the comments made here tonight. That wasn’t a great watch. The pass back to the keeper for the big long ball is frustrating to watch, particularly when it isn’t being done successfully. Some of the players are actually decent on the ball and I would like to see them play it more on the deck. Tranmere had one pot shot against the outside of the post and one cross. They were so poor and were there for the taking. But the performance wasn’t good enough to take the 3 points. Without getting into the in/out argument, Matt seems too scared to go for it and attack teams, maybe scarred from some of the hammerings that have happened, but for a second week running his substitutions were too late and could it have cost a win? From a team perspective, there is not enough talking. A few times 2 players are going for the same ball, and the own goal is panic coupled with no shout over who’s ball it should be. I have previously been critical of Joe Kizzi this season but I’m going to defend him tonight. His best season was his first when he was playing solely as a right back. His level has dropped since he’s been asked to play at centre half and now at left back. I thought last week he was a little exposed but today, not fit as mentioned earlier, he only got beaten when he slipped. He was better on the ball and was solid in defence. I will also defend Gape. As mentioned earlier, it’s his 2nd game since the summer. His tackle in the first half bailed out the centre halves to stop a certain goal and he managed to win a foul in the process. His off the ball work is a step up from where the midfield has been. He is just a bit rusty on the ball. It’ll come back soon, but that lad is a player. Coincidentally I haven’t heard many people say we miss Eastie recently. I feel for Omar. Best of the back 4 last week and has been one of the better players all season, dropping him was a big miss today, both going forward and at the back. Next week is huge. With some tough fixtures before Christmas, this has become near enough a must win. Keep it tight for 60/70 mins and if not winning, let the shackles off and just throw everything forward at winning it (I can dream). Up the Us Agree with most of that. Except that the first of the 'must wins' was today.
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markf
Top Performer
Posts: 3,310
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Post by markf on Nov 19, 2023 7:11:38 GMT
4 4 2, for the record, like Joe K, Omar S had missed most of last week's training. He wasn't "dropped".
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Post by halftimet on Nov 19, 2023 9:04:37 GMT
That was not a good result for us. Our reliance on long kicks from the keeper to Smith, throw ins exclusively to Smith for knockdowns and free kicks to Smith is woeful considering how much training time we have now had.
I did notice we tried a short corner in the first half but nothing else different that I could see. What are we working on during the week?. Everyone in the ground including the Tranmere fans knew we were predictable after 5 minutes. It must be so easy for opposition managers.
Angol and Faduhansi did not have time to boil an egg let alone influence the outcome of the game. Surely you make last minute substitutions when you are seeing out the game not chasing it.
I personally think that the way we play makes some players look worse than they actually are.
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Post by halftimet on Nov 19, 2023 9:43:12 GMT
I think the young guy chucked out was abusive towards one, maybe more, of the American students who were guests of the club today. Not a good look for the club, so if true, rightly removed. The ball boy who petulantly kicked the ball at the Tranmere player in the first half should never again be on the touchline. He is representing the club. Idiot.
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Post by scorpioeyes on Nov 19, 2023 9:59:53 GMT
So do we think we'll stay up? Based on performances so far, I would say it's unlikely, although of course there's a very long way to go.
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Post by brian54 on Nov 19, 2023 10:23:47 GMT
Well that spark of improvement I felt was there last week was stamped out by that performance. if Bouzanis was aiming for smith with his goal kicks he needs a new rangefinder, the Tranmere goal showed a lack of communication between this keeper and defender, my question how does he stay ahead of Rose and the lesser spotted Arnold, such an effective summer signing? Now with Harry Smith suspended, again for showing his frustration at the referees failure to notice his shirt being pulled and his upper body being overly fondled by opponent defenders I guess Bouzanis will practice this week aiming for the head of Lee Angol. I look forwards to seeing the results next week at Grimsby. Few options available to freshen the team up for the BSM match Tuesday I doubt the loan wingers will be back from international duty, two more effective summer additions. All first teamers with a knock should be rested league is paramount, so bring in the older academy players as we did for SSC can't see any other way we get 9 on the bench other than to name the 3 spare keepers as well.
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Post by brisfitboy on Nov 19, 2023 10:39:14 GMT
I think the young guy chucked out was abusive towards one, maybe more, of the American students who were guests of the club today. Not a good look for the club, so if true, rightly removed. The ball boy who petulantly kicked the ball at the Tranmere player in the first half should never again be on the touchline. He is representing the club. Idiot. It was quite embarrassing and to be honest I was actually shocked when it happened and amazed the Tranmere player didn’t say anything.
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Post by Big Al on Nov 19, 2023 11:45:34 GMT
Poor performance from a poorly coached team against another poor team. Matt’s inability to recognise the need to change things up earlier shows a naivety at this level - what’s the point of bringing on subs so late in the game. A frustration I heard shared by one of the subs as he was warming up speaking to a friend in the crowd.
We are not adrift yet but had we not snatched a messy late equaliser and FGR given up a 2 goal lead then we would be. I still believe that we do have the players in this squad to compete so I have to lay the blame at the feet of the coaching staff.
Matt’s been great, we have some wonderful memories but it’s time….
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kpinwp
1st team Player
Posts: 1,245
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Post by kpinwp on Nov 19, 2023 12:27:37 GMT
So do we think we'll stay up? Based on performances so far, I would say it's unlikely, although of course there's a very long way to go. For what it's worth the view on the Tranmere fan's forum seems to be that we're both going down. Sutton. Currently twinned with Birkenhead.
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Post by paz on Nov 19, 2023 13:07:29 GMT
With all the 6 pointer talk, I knew if we didn't win, people would say all this negative stuff.
We are in a bad position no doubt, and I have been one to not hesitate with criticism, but lets not pretend that over the last 5 or 6 games we have not seen improvement. It is unrealistic to think we can outplay an oppotion every week, even when we desperately need to.
As for who we play, there is little in this league and the margins are fine. I personally felt Bradford were better than Wrexham or at least just as good. While currently Tranmere are close to us now this might not be the case in 10 games time.
We can only focus on our own performances and with a few good players out or unfit we are 4 games unbeaten which is progress. Yesterday was a crap game and to be be fair Tranmere were solid and defended very well, as their new manager also saw them play very well in their last couple games. The main grumble I have is we are now without Smith again for our next game. Thanks to another crap reff.
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Post by halftimet on Nov 19, 2023 13:16:26 GMT
We can remain unbeaten for the rest of the season and still get relegated. We need to win games.
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Post by miken on Nov 19, 2023 14:02:35 GMT
I think the young guy chucked out was abusive towards one, maybe more, of the American students who were guests of the club today. Not a good look for the club, so if true, rightly removed. The ball boy who petulantly kicked the ball at the Tranmere player in the first half should never again be on the touchline. He is representing the club. Idiot. Hi there, I am one of the volunteers who looks after the ball assistants on a match day. I didn’t see this incident, but would be grateful if you could email me with as many details as possible so I can investigate please? Approx time? Description of the young boy? Area of the pitch? Many thanks in advance, Mike mike.nicholson@suttonunited.net
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Post by baboonfish on Nov 19, 2023 14:30:41 GMT
Shocking game. Wouldn't have looked out of place in the Conf North/South. Some dire performances out there. Louis John getting MOM was laughable as he had a mare until the goal. So many poor headers. He and Goodliffe do not look anywhere near their previous standard, with Sowumni by far our best central defender. If he'd been fit to start, we would have won. I'm starting to wonder if our defence were being shielded so well by our midfield and Omar up top, and perhaps they were never as good as we thought.
I've previously stated Deano is in the team due to his Premier League quality distribution. Well today it was Isthmian Premier quality. Rose is the better keeper in every other area and he must feel very hard done by. I'd like to see him come back into the side, especially without the ariel threat of Smith to aim for.
Midfield 2 battled well but their positioning was really suspect. Not sure who to blame for the gaping (no pun) holes, especially where the first goal was concerned. The poor clearance header (from I think John?) fell in an area of the pitch there should have been a CM 100 times out of 100).
I totally understand why Gray is playing Harry on the left as PAtrick can't defend, but its square pegs. We need to play 3 CMs week in week out. Harry + whichever 2 are fit. Patrick's confidence is shot to hell being left out for Harry, but the 3 CMs should give the full backs enough protection for him to roam.
Disagree with those who have said we should have made subs sooner. Once Patrick came on, our best players were on the pitch. It was a very weak bench. Coley only came off because he was limping. Still, we somehow nearly stole the win - how their defender cleared Smith's goalbound header with his bonce, I have no idea. It was going straight in the top corner, keeper nowhere. Still didn't make the highlights even though there was only League 2 to show this week. Absolute joke!
Unfortunately, Sutton and Tranmere looked like nothing other than relegation material playing out a dire draw in which neither team deserved to win.
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