30-12-2018, 13:22
It certainly was. I didn`t enjoy the first one much either, but the second was really good to watch and, on the whole, the way the youngsters performed was very encouraging. It`s a shame about the open goal miss – that would have been quite a story – but there you go. These things happen.
I`m not sure I agree though, Dancing, about being lucky to be only 1 down at half-time; I can`t remember Hartlepool creating that much apart from the goal (which came as a result of Smith, I think it was, trying to play a ridiculously difficult ball across midfield when another much simpler pass was available and giving away possession as a result). Neither did we, admittedly, but I reckon that 1-0 at half-time was about right.
I can`t remember how many times this season I`ve said this, but by the end we should have won comfortably. Two or three great chances missed – but at least we were creating them – and a refereeing decision that defied belief to me. What the hell the ref and the linesman were looking at when Shaw was brought down I`ve no idea, but it sure as hell wasn`t the match. We could have had another one as well. There were a lot of strange decisions – both for us and against us, I should add – so another example of what passes for competent officiating at this level, I`m afraid.
I couldn`t agree more about Amantchi. I suppose we didn`t have a lot of options in the absence of Denton and Kiwomya, but it was ridiculous to expect him to do that job; just like it was against Solihull. It just doesn`t suit his game at all. It was noticeable that when he had somebody playing closer to him he looked a lot more effective. When are some of our idiots going to remember that he`s just turned 18, he`s playing in a struggling side and he needs all the encouragement he can get.
In the second half we kept the ball on the ground more, we ran the channels , we created a few chances and looked a completely different team. My eldest was with me – he hadn`t seen us play since Salford away (God, that seems a lifetime ago) – and said at the end that if we play like we did in the second half for the rest of the season we`ll survive okay. Unfortunately, as I pointed out to him a) we only play like that one half in six and need to be a lot more consistent and b) even when we do we`re only picking up 1 point rather than 3 as a rule; and we`re getting to a point now where it`s becoming rather important that the 1s become 3s.
I heard the rumours about Sheridan as well and have to say that the overall reaction didn`t seem to be overwhelmingly positive. If not him, though, then who?
I thoroughly enjoyed the VIP hospitality business and can recommend it – what`s a club with facilities like that doing where we are? – but I have to say that the experience of having to listen to Bob Newton singing has left me with psychological scars that may take a long time to heal.
I`m not sure I agree though, Dancing, about being lucky to be only 1 down at half-time; I can`t remember Hartlepool creating that much apart from the goal (which came as a result of Smith, I think it was, trying to play a ridiculously difficult ball across midfield when another much simpler pass was available and giving away possession as a result). Neither did we, admittedly, but I reckon that 1-0 at half-time was about right.
I can`t remember how many times this season I`ve said this, but by the end we should have won comfortably. Two or three great chances missed – but at least we were creating them – and a refereeing decision that defied belief to me. What the hell the ref and the linesman were looking at when Shaw was brought down I`ve no idea, but it sure as hell wasn`t the match. We could have had another one as well. There were a lot of strange decisions – both for us and against us, I should add – so another example of what passes for competent officiating at this level, I`m afraid.
I couldn`t agree more about Amantchi. I suppose we didn`t have a lot of options in the absence of Denton and Kiwomya, but it was ridiculous to expect him to do that job; just like it was against Solihull. It just doesn`t suit his game at all. It was noticeable that when he had somebody playing closer to him he looked a lot more effective. When are some of our idiots going to remember that he`s just turned 18, he`s playing in a struggling side and he needs all the encouragement he can get.
In the second half we kept the ball on the ground more, we ran the channels , we created a few chances and looked a completely different team. My eldest was with me – he hadn`t seen us play since Salford away (God, that seems a lifetime ago) – and said at the end that if we play like we did in the second half for the rest of the season we`ll survive okay. Unfortunately, as I pointed out to him a) we only play like that one half in six and need to be a lot more consistent and b) even when we do we`re only picking up 1 point rather than 3 as a rule; and we`re getting to a point now where it`s becoming rather important that the 1s become 3s.
I heard the rumours about Sheridan as well and have to say that the overall reaction didn`t seem to be overwhelmingly positive. If not him, though, then who?
I thoroughly enjoyed the VIP hospitality business and can recommend it – what`s a club with facilities like that doing where we are? – but I have to say that the experience of having to listen to Bob Newton singing has left me with psychological scars that may take a long time to heal.