[Maddix]

Besides anything else, knockout football is good practice for the play-offs  

we could have done with a replay, extra time and a penalty shoot out just so we know what we're doing at the end of the season 

so think about that one PEI  

[madsteve]

Will do report tomorrow. Not feeling great today. I am on the match video behind tango when we score our second goal (although you can only see me from the chest down).

[peiowl]

You forget that I was at Wembley in '66. But times are different now. Back then, we were a Div 1 club playing alongside Man U, Spurs, etc. Now, we are a Div 2 (old numbers being used) with an outside chance of promotion.

No, I haven't played in any competitive team. I was never very good at football. I was a half decent bowler in cricket, I'm embarrassed to say. What a game that is.

I don't see this as a demoralizing defeat unless players and fans let it be so.

[Maddix]

We've all been there PEI be it '66, '91 or '93 and plenty of semi-final heartbreak in between.

The biggest upset for me was the Arsenal defeat in '79 ? in the 4th replay. Now that would really piss you off at least it's a maximum of 2 games these days

BTW, did you manage to see your mates in the Anglo-Italian Cup ?

[Statesideowl]

It was a xxxx wank performance, real grimy shit.

The players that were looking for a first team spot can xxxx off the players that tried hard can look at the bench or possible relief of a first teamer.

No effing excuses, it was shite. I think Consilio summed it all up adequately

Price.. Jesus Cristo. I initially thought He'd be better than Kirkland. he makes Kirkland look like Banks

[Imre varadi]

Im stoping this shit now ! even though weve lost leave the old git alone ! there are more things to consider here like madsteves heatlth !! how you doing old boy ? hope your ok and 50000 defeats wont mean shit if your not with us !!

[Towinjustonce]

Very disappointing result. Just shows that we aren't as far along the road as we think we are..... I wanted CC to put out the second side as I thought they would be still good enough to win. It just shows what level are back up players are at. A lot of them will be gone in the summer either way. Are strength in depth will really be tested now over the run in. We move on to Tuesday. I'm staying isotope about it as I am expecting a backlash from the club.

[madsteve]

Cup Glory or League Success?

Think we all tend to mix issues in situations like this. As I see it, there are at least three elements to everyone's thinking:

1) Beating Shrewsbury

2) Preserving First Choice Players for League Matches Ahead

3) Maximising Points Against Burnley

So far, we have failed on 1) & succeeded in 2) so the overall strategy's success depends on how we do against Burnley.

CC's team selection was pretty much as expected - a shadow team made up of players that needed a game plus a couple of first choice players. The first half was straightforward. We totally dominated the game without doing much. McGugan & Semedo sat in front of our back four while Matias, Hooper & Sougou rotated around behind Joao. Shrewsbury could hardly get the ball off us as we passed it backwards & forwards across our back four. The only problem was that we weren't creating much up front.

Matias started brightly & Hooper found good positions but weren't found. However, we got lucky when McGugan slung over a free kick and everyone missed it and it nestled in the net. It was almost embarrassing to see some of our players celebrating like it was a cup final winner. We probably should have had a second before half time but we didn't create enough & missed a couple of half chances.

At that point it was going to plan.

However, Shrewsbury upped their game, our midfield disappeared and the match changed course. It was still a bit of a surprise when Shrewsbury equalised as it was their first real chance of the game and we had looked solid defensively up to that point of the game.

Nuhiu replace Hooper which didn't help & Wallace replaced Sougou which did. We went back in front when a poor clearance went to McGugan and his shot deflected in. It should have been over then but our midfield stopped tracking back and our defenders were starting to tire. Lee replaced Matias - strange as we were leading and Bannan's intensity was what we were missing. Two breaks later and we were behind courtesy of a rebound after Price saved a penalty and a bullet header.

The whole of the second half was wrong for me. The players' attitude didn't seem right. Once Hooper left, we had little attacking threat. Sougou was a waste of space, Matias tired, Joao hardly got involved & Nuhiu seemed far more interested in spoiling for a fight. McGugan drifted deeper & deeper so had little attacking influence. Only Wallace's late cameo gave any hope.

Nuhiu was lucky not to get a red card in an off the ball incident after already being on a yellow. Our back four, that had looked so assured in the first half, got shown up for their lack of fitness as our midfield offered no protection.

Price - 6
Palmer - 6
Sasso - 6
Turner - 6
Bennett - 6
Semedo - 5
McGugan - 5
Matias - 5
Hooper - 6
Sougou - 3
Joao - 4
............................
Nuhiu - 4
Wallace - 6
Lee - 5

McGugan will grab a bit of glory for two fortunate goals but for me he showed why he will never be a first choice player if we are looking for promotion. He drops so deep but offers the defence no protection, putting him way behind Hutchinson in that role. He also lacks the intensity of Bannan, which makes it easier for the opposition to dominate the game.

No-one really advanced their claims to a starting role yesterday. Bennett, Turner & Matias can be allowed some rope as they were in need of match fitness but the rest just lessened their claims.

However, had we held on at 2-1, everyone would have said that CC had judged it perfectly.

It moves on to Burnley now & if we win then this game will be quickly forgotten. Presumably only Hooper will start again from that starting eleven and we need to be at our best against a form side.

[Statesideowl]

Great summary ,MS.

I'd have still called it a shower of crap had we held on to 2-1. I don't think CC got it right at all with regards to a midfield that doesn't track back and a defence that doesn't really know one another.

His options were limited though, as stated we needed to preserve first team starters. Our main problem. Price, whilst not completely awful yesterday, he still wasn't great. he doesn't have the authority of his area like Westwood. I can't see Price barking at his defenders for being dick heads, Westwood does.

Bennett, first game in a new side. Hoping he shows something but you have to wonder. If he was quality he'd be in the first team at Villa keeping them out of relegation.

Turner, Sougou, Bus, Wiggins and probably Semedo or Melo and Price to go at the end of the season.

CC needs to drill them, we can't go into the Burnley game with the Shrewsbury mentality. Our GD will get ravished.

[Imre varadi]

Just watched the highlights and are you taking the piss Turner & price ? they were xxxx awfull !! turner cost us 2 goals and couldnt be bothered to challenge for the penalty rebound ? i think peiowls reflexs is faster ? and price for christ on a bike and all that !! the third goal he jumped at the post it was like watching a dwarf trying fling himself when he dieved he reached about 3 cms more than when he first started ? sasso aswell is getting complacent ? lees and loovens and westwood needed super fast !!meaning aswell we need to buy a center back and get rid of turner hes not worth a fiver !! alo good goals from Barry , but he was either not match fit or he didnt give a xxxx ? very lazy not a scratch on hutch lee and Bazza ?