MotM: 13-09-25.Telford (A). FA Cup. Foulkes

[Eggsontoast]

If Murray can't see the system isn't working that makes me worried, I get trying to give it time to gel but 9 games we have only scored more than once in 1 game.

If he wants to carry on with a back 3 we have to go for more of a 352. Willoughby on the wing makes no sense and it's a waste. This is what I want to see against Buxton

GK no sure with the Dibble suspension

Obi Tunnicliffe Bird
Foulkes Reynolds Davis Spokes Devine (walker or Innocent if Devine is injured)
TSS/AMS Willoughby

We need to keep a settled defence, I'm okay with changing the midfield or attack but for me you need a settled and consistent defence..

I saw the back 3 for yesterday and was worried, Innocent got bullied he is definitely not a Richards replacement for a LCB and I personally don't think Bird is the best as the central CB. Tunnicliffe has been the most comfortable there but Obi is the standout for me, seems to be in the right place and is very composed, a bit unorthodox sure but so far for me he's been our best defender.

And a final word for Foulkes who is by far our best player, we'll be lucky to keep him.

Id go for this, i thought bird was shocking Saturday and i dont rate innocent at all at the moment

[Swansea Harrier]

We seem to be cultivating a reputation of being a Billy big balls club who moans about referees and have a manager who is deluded about what he’s seeing on the pitch.

I agree with Pershore’s comments.
From this juncture making the play-offs will be a good season.
Murray needs time.

That's all well and good - but we actually have been wronged by decisions by officials two Saturdays running. It's not unreasonable to call that out.

Disallowing Willoughby's goal is mystifying, especially when you consider that same linesman failed to flag for a pretty obvious offside for Telford's third goal.

Had the early goal counted, as it should, it would have been a totally different game and Telford's tactics would have had to be different. These decisions did have a massive impact.

When you then consider how decisions went against us during the game (most 50/50 calls, lots of offsides against us in that first half), it all adds up.

Don't get the criticism of Pierce Bird from some. He had a perfectly decent game for me, did nothing wrong. It was a surprise to see him in the centre of a back three, but he was far from a weak link.

As ever in football, it's all fine margins. Foulkes and Willoughby have better first touches with decent half chances, it's a different story; another day the overhead kick flies into the stand; if my aunty was a bloke she'd be my uncle, etc...

My point is that the strength of feeling, the derogatory chanting second half from the high school kids, the impression that we're rubbish is way OTT. My Telford-supporting mate thought we were on the verge of blowing them away.

The truth is somewhere in between - we're not great, we're not terrible. But the narrative will forever be reactionary depending on who scores more goals every Saturday afternoon

[Majestic]

I still don't understand why Dibble was sent off for deliberately handling the ball. He can hardly be accused of denying an obvious goal scoring opportunity because of his distance from the goal when the offence was committed.
If an outfield player had handled it a yellow card would have been issued together with a free kick. Same punishment should have been given to Dibble.

[HarrierN2]

The offside didn't make any sense to me, but looking at it again - is the player who does the second flick on goalside of the defender when the first flick on is made?

[ograzebrook]

The offside didn't make any sense to me, but looking at it again - is the player who does the second flick on goalside of the defender when the first flick on is made?

It doesn't look that way at all. Looks like a really poor decision.

[HarrierN2]

It could be a poor decision and that was my first instinct. But if you look carefully at the position of the second Harriers player who flicks the ball on, they may move from an offside to onside position before the flick on... Just saying there's an element of doubt. It's very tight and I think the lino should have just left it alone, but that might have been his thinking.