Woeful performance. Left at 4-0 down, if they couldn’t be bothered then neither could I.
Hard to say anything positive about that performance, Kearney was dreadful, we gifted them the four goals I saw. Skem were quick and organised but frankly looked nothing more than average, we were that bad! They will not win an easier game this season.
Big question marks for me with Holt who looks very weak at right back, Maguire looked great on his debut but has done nothing since, Botham does not have the pace to take players on and his knocked off the ball far too easily, Stott’s head goes down and he gives up far too easily, Pugh did nothing throughout. We are still four or five players short.
Unfortunately games against Chester and Skem confirmed our league position as being a bit false based upon the weakness of the opposition to this point.
The ‘work in progress’ has hit some snags and we need to address these quickly before sliding down the table.
Winning the monthly fair play award and the Evo-Stik golf day are nice but it’s results on the pitch that matter!
Dreadful today. Not many excuses either, the pitch was good and it was a lovely day!
We created a few chances in the first half and hit the bar twice in a couple of minutes. Other than that there wasn’t a lot created and we were probably fortunate to keep it to two before half time. The second half we created nothing and there was some calamitous defending for their fourth goal.
I hope people don’t start to get on the manager’s back now though, we haven’t played well in the last 3 games but still find ourselves in a good position for a play off spot. I think we still need to be patient but there are one or two players that aren’t really good enough, not naming names.
League Cup game next so it will hopefully take a bit of pressure off the lads. Although I don’t think we’ll see a full side out.
Whatever happens lets all pull together in a positive direction, our budget is nothing compared to the likes of Chester and Chorley so to expect a league challenge is maybe a tad optimistic, but there’s a lot of poor teams in this league, we have to beat the weaker sides to give ourselves any chance.
Dear God what were we watching today ? only 2 or 3 players came out with any credit, matt woods and frosty 2 that spring to mind, both right full backs were awful and to be honest the rest of the team were not far behind them, I was told we had scouted skem and knew that they play with 3 pacy players up top and were busy, thats how it played out and they ripped us apart !! why were we not set up to deal with there style if we knew, playing both full backs wanting to be wide exposed us to there front 3 we should have played much narrower at the back and may have defended better - although with most players off form today it may have not mattered - maybe we were feeling the effects of the chester game ? agree with the comments previous need right full back desperately, need partner for macca, need heler back, need left winger, and a third striker to challenge simple then ? sorry to be negative but hard not be after watching that.
To be frank we were shite ! Lethargic in the first half could be probably put down to wednesdays game against Chester ? Second half the manager ( in which he never lifted his arse off the bench ) made things worse with his changes ! Playing 3 centre backs never works and it did’nt ! To be fair it was a toss up between Holt and Kearney to make way for Pritch,but even he could not stop the rot. He then proceeded to take off Ben Harrison ( injured ?) and things got worse.
Macca has’nt got the legs anymore for the box to box role and he should be used either just in front of the back four or behind the frontman (preferred). Although not having a great game Holt was not to blame for the first 2 goals. The first a cross from the right for which only the Skem player went for and the second Kearney got skinned. Kinsey has scored goals and did’nt get much support but I am afraid he is a Winsford player ! We are desparately short of a playmaker in mid-field and Peter Heler was sadly missed today ! Frosty gives his all but injuries have taken their toll !
Let’s hope Oggy can sort it, I know he is on a limited budget but then Skems must be similar to ours on their gates ?
MOM Ian Latham (ex-Witton !) cultured left foot,not yet fully fit but ran the game for me !
Only plus point another ground ticked off the list !
Two good posts and agree with the comments made. Our league position is still better than we probably thought it would be at this stage of the season and those points we have amassed already are very important. We can’t be pointing the finger at the manager at this stage, I think that a number of players are not good enough and generally we looked tired today after the Chester game.
There was a lack of positional discipline today and players need to stick to their basic jobs. We need three or four more players and on our budget some will have to go to make way for new ones.
You can’t blame Macca for the result, one player can’t carry a four man midfield. Unlike others he put the effort in.
Your wrong about Kinsey too, 9 league goals in 12 league games!!! He has a better touch and footballing brain than arguably anyone else in the team, what he does not have is pace. He earned a couple of free kicks that we wasted and I believe he scored our one goal.
Like a p****d off Wittoner I didn’t stay to see it!
We were dreadful, individually, collectively and tactically. That said, we could easily have scored 6 goals ourselves, although to be fair the hosts could very easily have netted more than the half dozen they did get.
Two things were obvious from the first few minutes of play : we were far too slow on the ball and Skelmersdale knew how to play on a pitch which was very deceiving, looking nice and flat but the longish grass disguised a poor surface underneath which was very bobbly and made measured passing and dribbling a lottery. We failed to adapt completely, and the home side seemed to be favoured by every bounce and ricochet because they went in with determination that was sadly lacking in the Albion side.
We can’t expect to be given time to play nice football. Skelmersdale esentially spent the game smacking the ball forward as soon as they could, and we had no defence against it. Whenever we tried to build up passing moves we were closed down immediately, and that combined with the ball not running true meant we never built up a rhythm in our play. The pitch was poor, and played a major part in at least one of the goals, but it was not to blame for numerous unforced errors.
The ridiculous thing is that bad as we were, we could easily have score half a dozen or more goals, and should undoubtedly have got at least four. Macca skied a 6 yard tap in, two players got in each others way when the keeper missed a cross and the ball only required nodding into an unguarded net, and late on when the keeper botched his catch and dropped the ball a couple of yards from the line our players were standing dejected rather than ready to knock the ball home - a couple of weeks ago there would have been two or three players fighting to tap it in. Combine those easy chances with us hitting the bar twice, the keeper making a brilliant save from a free kick that was heading right in the top corner, and us being denied a clear penalty a couple of minutes from time then we could have had a hatful, but that would have only papered over the deficiencies of this performance.
I’m sure the management will have learned from this and will have the team ready to bounce back.
Sounds like a real bad day, but lets not get too disheartened we are still in a fairly good position, I think the points about being short of 2 or 3 players are valid ones, although the comment about Andy Kinsey being a winsford player is a little unfair he is a good striker not only for the goals he scores but the knock ons and his ability to contol the ball is excellent, perhaps we need to look at someone who can feed off him. Instead of relying on a striker who allows his head to drop far too easily.
Holt and Harrison have been immense so far, we have a good set of players and the positives far out weigh the negatives.
Lets forget about yesterday and concentrate on the games to come we will be challenging for a play off spot so lets stay positive and get behind the lads and management and look forward to the rest of the season.
I do have to say, Andy Kinsey isn’t one of the ones I’m concerned about, his first touch is excellent and he knows how to finish chances. He was also previously at Nantwich Town when they were in the equivalent division and Premier division. Finally, from what I’ve heard from our resident Winsford fan, he was a class above their other players…
Well calmed down a bit now, not doubting the mgt team at all im fully behind them , it was real off day and I dont know why, I suspect though that we will see new players sooner than later, two decent sides chester and skem have battered us so if we want to be in the playoffs we must improve on the weakest areas - no doubt we can beat the weaker teams and look good ! but we need to be stronger and more solid when under the cosh and to date this team has failed the test, a new solid right full back and centre mid will do for me ( with Heler back ), kearns had a one of bad day imo and yes the strikers went flat but they got nothing to work on, stott needed a ball to chase down on the floor bkinsey needed balls into feet but all we got were high balls pumped in for there very good centre halfs to win 90% of the time ? all that said we are still probably further on than we thought preseason so lets hope we can learn and build from here.
No need for me to calm down CJ it was plain to see - the team spirit went missing and little wonder the manager had the players locked in the dressing room after the match. Oggy knew at half-time where the match was going he just sat on the bench scratching his head !
RABBIT did i blame Macca for losing the game - NO. I pointed out that his box to box days against strong teams have gone !
Kinsey - I did say that he has scored goals and that he lacked support - but I still say he is a WUFC player because he lacks pace - but we have nothing better at the minute and he gets my support !
We do need 3 or 4 better players and i am sure Oggy will do the busines !
WHS has asked me to refer the " Doom Merchants " to his programme notes for the OSSETT game and get behind the team ! ( For the full 90 minutes )
Wasn’t at the game - so can’t comment on it, obviously it was a bad day and poor performace BUT -
First objective this season - 40 points and safety - 23 so far, very good start.
Budgetwise - we are probably bottom 6 not top 6 and I think on that basis the manager has to be applauded, people’s expectation level needs to be realistic and as I stated earlier in the season, Top half IMHO would be an achievement and Top 8 would be fantastic.
Pre season I looked at Chester, Skem, Chorley and Fylde as being the top 4 and I don’t think I’ll be far wrong given the level of support both financially and supporter wise, so the rest if it goes to the form book are ‘realistically’ playing for a play off place.
We’ve just WON 7 on the spin with the players who now have all these deficiences and nearly got a remarkable result against Chester.
We have seen enough from Oggie this season already to be extremely confident in his ability to continually tweek the squad where resources and players are available.
Re. Kinsey - he is the most intelligent and skilful footballer at the club, and its a bloomin insult to suggest he’s a North West Counties player. Some of the players read this board and they’ll know better than anyone how they performed on Saturday measured against their recent performances.
Yes the teams we have beaten this season are all in the bottom half but they all count 3 points!
I really dont understand the criticism of Kinsey - just look at the scoring stats!
Yes we know he lacks pace, but that’s why you play to his strengths. He will hold the ball up all day long, and he rarely wastes a pass. His best work is in the 18 yard box, and it’s up to the creative players in the team to put him in those positions.
I would rather have Kinsey than Dorryl Proffit - and which one was quicker?
I really dont understand the criticism of Kinsey - just look at the scoring stats! Wrote Robbo.
Not a criticism merely pointing out the lack of pace. Even at this level pace is important. Not sure if he ever had pace because have never seen him play previously.
What about my other comments - take it you agree with them ?
As for Andy’s post - well if he says it, it must be right !
We have to keep level heads here and take the hit. We are doing far better than expected so lets just take a deep breath and move on. We have exceeded expectation so far and lets hope we can continue to do so. Riding individual players is not the answer. We have a management team who know what they are doing and will sort out the problems.
Pace isn’t important if you get the players around Kinsey functioning correctly. Think John Carew at Villa for example.
Macca has still got the legs, it’s ridiculous to suggest otherwise. He is still covering more of the pitch than most do. His performance was better than McGuire’s on Saturday, so does that mean McGuire doesn’t have the legs either? Let’s not start using Macca’s age against him. If there is one fault in Macca’s game, it is that he tries too hard. Again, i would point you to his scoring record this season - which is better than when he was with us last. Yes it is at a lower standard, but likewise he is playing in a less creative team.
It is a shame to criticise individual players by name, but when they put in a performance like this then they leave themselves open to any criticism that comes their way. 4 or 5 players didn’t perform. On top of that, a further 2 or 3 just didn’t try - and that is much worse.
Goals from Macca yes and that is why I said I would prefer him to play higher up the pitch. Don’t know his exact age but he is at the stage of his career where some players do start to slow down naturally.
Can’t think of the 2 or 3 who were not trying though ? PM in confidence !
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