Chesterfield

[A view from the east]

Truth is we're still not very good and Chesterfield sort of showed us where we really are. Mid Table and thats it.
Aidy rambles on about having strength in depth in the squad but tell me who he could have brought on today to make a difference ?
 
The loans have gone back and it looks like Charles is on the move too.
Is our cash flow under pressure again ?
Hope there's a little bit in the kitty for one or two new faces. It all needs freshening up a bit.

[TheEdgeyMole]

To be honest we were due one of these, against Aldershot and Dagenham they both missed shed loads of chances.

[bungle]

Hopefully the return of JJ and Artell will improve the defence. As I've said before, we need a specialist right back, particularly when playing against wingers of the quality we faced today. Artell is no world beater, but he will at least put pressure on CC to keep his place and provide another defensive option off the bench.

It's interesting that AB mentions that two of the three goals came from counter attacks which is something we've been 'working on'. This is clearly a weakness for us, and one that might have been exploited by Aldershot and Daggers had they been more clinical. Addressing a tendency to overcommit when going up for one of our infamous long throws is one thing, but what we really need is someone at the back with the pace to recover and keep track of the division's pacier wingers and forwards. I'd still like us to sign a pacey young centre back/right back, either permanently or on a long-term loan.

[Luton Cobbler]

A truly shocking first half performance, comparable with the second half at Barnet. We were awful all over the pitch with CC being the biggest culprit. You knew what was coming when he manage to miscue the first three clearances of the game. Marc Richards gave him and Langmead the run around. The midfield were totally over run by a Chesterfield team who, to be fair, gave us no time on he ball and dragged us all over the pitch. Each of the goals was down to an individual error & poor decision making.

The second half was better and we created chances but our luck wasn't it. Poor finishing and players not wanting to take responsibility meant we never gave ourselves a chance to get back in it.

Final word for the officials - Stuart Atwell and his pathetic excuses for linesmen. Their 90 minute performance was as pitiful as our first half performance was.

[southofthecounty]

Anyone there today also reminded of last seasons defeat to Port Vale? Three down after twenty five minutes to a team playing a quick, direct, and very accurate passing game.
 We were better in the second half, but still some way short of really competing.
What a waste of a Saturday!

[A view from the east]

 "Quick , direct and very accurate passing game"
A way of playing that we forgot all about long ago.... and therein lies the rub !

[BackOfTheNet]

God knows what was wrong with us today, we just didn't turn up. The worst performance of the season.

Carlisle had a nightmare, Widdowson was subdued, Tozer kept getting dragged infield, Langmead struggled manfully but couldn't do it all himself and I don't think Nicholls could be blamed for any of the goals.

Actually, despite the scoreline, I think the main problem today was the midfield rather than the defence. They didn't hold the ball, win the ball or find the strikers... Hackett was ok second half but just couldn't get involved in the first, Harding was anonymous and Luke Guttridge had the worst game I've ever seen him have. I'd have subbed him after 20 minutes, it was that bad. Robinson deserves a bit of credit for his performance. It wasn't the type of performance you'd want him to put in, but he put himself about, filled gaps and made himself a nuisance.

Upfront, Platt looked ok without getting much and Bayo had a quiet one although to be fair neither got any decent service.

Still, hopefully today was just a blip. A bloody terrible blip.

[wrigleys]

I am literally beside myself, shaking like a sh!tting dog by the fact that a team like ours, with 4-6 best players in the league in their positions, and Bayo being practically Champions League Ballon D'wotsit standard that we didn't win 18 nil.

Aidy out.

[Bog Paper]

Quite frankly I was ready to go home at half time. An abysmal performance in every area. "Special" mentions to Carlisle, Widdowson, who kept knocking the ball into their right midfielder; all of the midfield and Bayo had a game to forget. He had a foul given against him a few seconds into the game and every time he went near the ball after that Atwell usually gave a free kick to Chesterfield.

The space that Chesterfield found at times was unbelievable: time and again in the first half they had two men free down their left wing as Tozer kept getting dragged across. I don't know how much training Carlisle is doing, but he needs to do more and he needs to keep his eye on the ball and stop slicing it. He seemed to just give up for the 2nd goal which Guttridge was also at fault for. Hackett didn't have a kick for 20 mins or so. It really was pathetic.

2nd half was a different kettle of fish and we did start to play a bit but didn't get much luck in front of goal. I expect AB tore them all a new one at half time but one who didn't get the message was Harding who seemed to be the reason most attacks broke down.

I hate going to Chesterfield, which has loads of bad memories for me and have vowed not to return there in a while.

On a general basis, AB needs to look at his away tactics. They are not working.

On the other hand, I agree that we have had this coming. We have flattered to deceive at times and won games we have been lucky to. Today the chickens all came home to roost and we were found out. Playoffs? Not on that performance and certainly not if we can't start getting some away form together.

On a brighter note, Jamile Matt got off to a great start at his new home today....,,,,,,,,,,,

[wrigleys]

On a serious note, again I see people saying 'Bayo didn't get the service'

FFS, he's just a bit s*** at times.

[ntfclad]

Pathetic today. Really was. Shambles all through the team, didn't have any time on the ball and we just couldn't get moving.

Did we even have a left midfielder today? Hackett was in the middle and Robinson was on the right from what I saw. Harding played the worst I've ever seen him do, and he rarely passed to a Cobblers player.

Special mention to us fans, who kept behind the team even at 3 down.

[cricketside]

Somebody on here's having a paddy. If you're still allowed to say that?

[guest47]

Let's hope today was the blip and not last Saturday.

[Elad]

They embarrassed us today.

[Dan]

We were awful today, but hopefully it will only be a blip. I agree with Back of the Net, the midfield were all terrible today. The amount of time and space that we allowed them was embarrassing. I thought they were good though and expect them to make the top seven if they maintain that level of performance.

Bayo, Carlisle, Harding and Guttridge get special mentions for poor performances.

On the plus side, pubs were good. 

[Bingers]

On the plus side, the half time music was good.

That's it really.


Who was worse today Carlisle or Harding?  Stiff competition between the two.

[mackemcobbler]

we were out thought,out fought & out played by a Chesterfield side who were the better side in every area of the pitch,why do we keep bringing every one back to defend a corner when we are losing & i didnt think the ref or linesmen were that bad

[everbrite]

Who was worse today Carlisle or Harding?  Stiff competition between the two.

I often wonder which game our supporters watch

The problem today is that we were simply outclassed for most of the game. The main problem being was that our midfield was simply "useless".
Gutteridge who looked off the pace all game, slow and ineffective to boot. People on here forget that Gutteridge was directly responsible for at least one of their goals. As for Harding the least said the better! Widdowson was awful as well  and was given the run around all game. Its all well and good blaming Bayo and Carlisle; but Bayo received terrible service and Carlise was needlessly exposed by our midfield time and time again; but his passing and particularly his heading was sub standard. We know that both players are slow but by being exposed by the midfield made it worse.  Langmead was only slightly better but his marking of Richards was non existant. Tozer is not a right back and looks more effective in front of the back three. Hackett also had a poor game through out! Robinson - was more like Mrs Robinson all fluff and no bite.

So unless AB sorts out the midfield and right back we will at best remain mid table. Basically the fwds are adequate - especially if Bayo is on song!

For me the following had poor overall games : Platt,Bayo,Carlise,Robinson and Hackett. As for Gutteridge,Harding and Widdowson  

[everbrite]

There's nothing to worry about. Aidy is trying to assemble a squad. That takes time and patience. There'll be a few half wits predicting the end of the world.

very true - I had no idea we had so many half wits on here though

[Bingers]

I often wonder which game our supporters watch

From your comments in the paragraph afterwards, it looks like we watched the same game.

PS You missed out Carlisle's airkick early on that left him shaking his head.