Sutton United V Gateshead - 23rd Oct 2024 - 7.45pm Kick Off

[os]

This side is lacking any sort of spark or magic, having said that the penalty was harsh, but U's hardly threatened and when they did the quality just wasn't there.

This team needs a spark and some magic dust.

[halftimet]

Unfortunately not the right game to drop Arnold. With his powerful kicking he could quite easily have scored against a goalkeeper who insisted on defending near the half way line.

[brian54]

Every player played as well as they could play last night,

[boomboom]

That's now 8 points from a possible 24 at home which is relegation form.

The positive was a poor defensive display can't, for once, be blamed for the defeat. We looked much tighter at the back and Sims won't have much quieter 90 minutes in the rest of his career. I don't usually comment on refereeing decisions but watching the replay in slow motion it looked to me that the ball hit the midriff rather than the arm, though Steve seemed to accept it in his post match interview.

The management will know far more about the game than I ever will but to my untutored eye:

(a) we appear to be more effective when we (try to) play the game through the midfield rather than the long ball forward which is too often insufficiently accurate

(b) Davies looks isolated up front and we seemed to perk up when Rush came on. Maybe time to give him a start?

As for getting in one or two older heads, that depends on their quality.
A Beautyman or Easty in their prime then yes please!
A Craig Clay-like journeyman, errrr, no thanks!

[banjo]

A frustrating night that, had one or two good opening but could not find the finish. Sims did not have a shot on target to save and as for the penalty, how can the assistant ref give it, initially he wasn’t going to give it, only when the gateshead players appealed for it he gave it and also the ref wasn’t going too give it. Now on too Saturday and a very winnable game. ⚽️⚽️⚽️

[markf]

Only watched highlights on a mobile so far but looked like ball went to arm via Kirk's torso. If the case not handball but will need to view on a bigger screen.

First half was like an attack V defence training exercise. Gateshead technically good backed up by their off the ball movement. Thought we did ok against it by not engaging too high up. Their keeper probably had the ball outside the box as often as any other player.

Great for the purists boring as hell to watch.

A fine bit of play ended with Vaz shaving the post while Davies turn in the box was good later on but blocked.

Second half more open and as stated elsewhere,Sims only shot on target to face was the penalty.

Would have been 0 0 but for that decision and about right if it had.

As for the shenanigans at the end their no 19 was the cause of that and the ref's response was both inept and lazy. Far easier to report both clubs for failing to control and the inevitable fine for both clubs. Should have at least booked the 19.

Onto Braintree which, while still early in the season has some significance re the table but more importantly to arrest the run of defeats.

Jayden Harris will be suspended while Ashley Nadesan will be back, injury permitting.

[FaultyyearsaU]

Oct 24, 2024 7:27:29 GMT brian54 said:

Every player played as well as they could play last night,

Which, with the greatest respect to the players, is currently the main concern.

With regards to some other points. I would be interested to see how Will Davies performed with better service. He has a good work rate and shows some good moments (excellent turn and shot on the penalty spot last night for example)

As to the "shenanigans" at the end of last nights game. (didn't surprise me their keeper was like that, something about keepers who play out of their box - not related to Alan Julian is he?  )  I have for a very long time thought that if pulling a shirt over your head is a bookable offence then celebrating in front of opposition fans to any degree should also be a bookable offence. We do it too (maybe not to the extent of last night) and it is embarrassing. When it is done to us in any capacity it is infuriating as we all know.  Celebrate in front of your own fans, they are the ones jumping up and down and wanting to celebrate with you. Anything else is "incitement" that is surely one the FAs "buzz words" and they do nothing about it.

And whilst I'm "on one"! They have to be able to stop the "cramp/war wound/sciatica/athletes foot/whilst I'm sitting here bring us out a biscuit" that goes on in the last 10 minutes of a game . Goalkeepers are the worst culprits, obviously when winning and most likely if the oppo is applying some pressure. Drives me absolutely insane

OK, I'll go and have a lie down now....

[halftimet]

First half was like an attack V defence training exercise. Gateshead technically good backed up by their off the ball movement. Thought we did ok against it by not engaging too high up. Their keeper probably had the ball outside the box as often as any other player.

Great for the purists boring as hell to watch.

Never going to be a great spectacle with a 4-5-1 formation. SM was afraid of conceding a hatful and we only responded when we went a goal down. Yes unlucky maybe to lose and expected formation if playing away but is it the right way to go for a home game?

A repeat on Saturday?

[Del]

Oct 24, 2024 17:15:29 GMT halftimet said:

First half was like an attack V defence training exercise. Gateshead technically good backed up by their off the ball movement. Thought we did ok against it by not engaging too high up. Their keeper probably had the ball outside the box as often as any other player.

Great for the purists boring as hell to watch.

Never going to be a great spectacle with a 4-5-1 formation. SM was afraid of conceding a hatful and we only responded when we went a goal down. Yes unlucky maybe to lose and expected formation if playing away but is it the right way to go for a home game?

A repeat on Saturday?

I don't think it really matters if we are home or away to be honest. Steve set the team up to win the game and but for a dodgy handball decision and some wayward finishing we came away with nothing. Sims had virtually nothing to do all game so the tactics worked all though it was as boring as hell to watch in the first half.
We all moaned when Matt Gray only played one way so we shouldn't really complain if the manager tries a different approach.