Harriers Chatter

Phil wrote: Tue Apr 07, 2026 8:10 am Robinson, like Walker, is no where near 1st team defensive duties yet.

Too easily knocked off the ball and too slow getting a foot in. Next season, with a bit of beefing up he could be but not Walker. No way is he a defender.

harry211 wrote: Tue Apr 07, 2026 8:56 am Be patient with Robinson. Murray played a very cavalier game yesterday, in the hope that we would be able to hit Telford on the break if they lost the ball. That meant that both Evans and Robinson were left completely exposed at the back when Telford were on the attack. Walker and Donnelly simply didn't track back in the way that especially Devine would normally. That, and he's just played three first team men's games for the first time in his life. It's a lot.

Largely agree on Walker, but his pace did mean their player had to hack him down to get sent off (a definite foul, and a definite red).

As above, Murray played a very risky game yesterday and it paid off. Walker isn't good enough defensively, fine, and Donnelly gave the fans no illusions he was prepared to help Evans out. It did mean we could attack with pace, and created chances when we did. Telford could, and probably should, have scored at least another goal. It was only through their own wastefulness that they didn't. Stenson failed to impress as well.

Johnson, Cooper and Davis all had very good games. Sounded from Murray's interview yesterday that Davis will need a bit of rest before the end of the season, so I wonder if he might be on the bench Saturday, or against Radcliffe. Cooper's goal was one of the best I've seen in a long time, let alone this season, a fantastic looking goal. Johnson was everywhere, scrapped and harried well.

I'm not persuaded by Reynolds up front as the '9'. See the piece I put elsewhere over the weekend about the 'death of the Number 9'. Fits into that category, playing a physically slight, diminutive (and yes, hardworking) player up front. It's a very modern coaching manual approach, but I would much rather see AMS or Waldron at the top of the three, if we are going to play Donnelly off the left to attack.

Donnelly was good, but I'm not sure I see the wonder player others do. He reminds me of a more technically gifted version of Ethan Freemantle. Not knocking that - I rated Freemantle! But the idea of paying £50k to get him in? Not sure I can see him scoring 15 or more next season if he does. I hope to be proven wrong (and if offered for free, I would take him).

Obi looked good (before anyone accuses me of having 'an agenda' ). I'm still not terribly convinced by Faakye, personally. As others have said, what has Bird done wrong? Lovatt still doesn't reassure me either, but was quick off his line at times and made some good saves. I wonder if others will try to exploit it. He is still far too short for my liking.

Was anyone else surprised at the low Telford attendance? We got to the ground at about 1.30pm and I only saw Harriers fans around the ground, and only clocked a couple of Telford fans in the Cock. I thought they would have a bumper attendance for Bank Holiday Monday, especially with the Wolves not playing.

A word for our fans. A great turnout numberswise. But the actions of the idiots who travel away never fail to frustrate me. Seeing teenage lads doing cocaine on the train on the way up was a desperate sight. Get a grip. It's Telford away. Disappointing to hear of some of them attacking someone who wasn't at the game on the train on the way back.

I said on Good Friday we would need to be better than against Hereford, to beat Telford. And we were. Credit to Murray and the team for that. The main thing now will be to fend off the Macclesfield charge, to hopefully mean Radcliffe and/or South Shields is a chance to rotate and rest players before the playoff campaign.

George1968 wrote: Tue Apr 07, 2026 10:03 am

harry211 wrote: Tue Apr 07, 2026 8:56 am Be patient with Robinson. Murray played a very cavalier game yesterday, in the hope that we would be able to hit Telford on the break if they lost the ball. That meant that both Evans and Robinson were left completely exposed at the back when Telford were on the attack. Walker and Donnelly simply didn't track back in the way that especially Devine would normally. That, and he's just played three first team men's games for the first time in his life. It's a lot.

Largely agree on Walker, but his pace did mean their player had to hack him down to get sent off (a definite foul, and a definite red).

As above, Murray played a very risky game yesterday and it paid off. Walker isn't good enough defensively, fine, and Donnelly gave the fans no illusions he was prepared to help Evans out. It did mean we could attack with pace, and created chances when we did. Telford could, and probably should, have scored at least another goal. It was only through their own wastefulness that they didn't. Stenson failed to impress as well.

Johnson, Cooper and Davis all had very good games. Sounded from Murray's interview yesterday that Davis will need a bit of rest before the end of the season, so I wonder if he might be on the bench Saturday, or against Radcliffe. Cooper's goal was one of the best I've seen in a long time, let alone this season, a fantastic looking goal. Johnson was everywhere, scrapped and harried well.

I'm not persuaded by Reynolds up front as the '9'. See the piece I put elsewhere over the weekend about the 'death of the Number 9'. Fits into that category, playing a physically slight, diminutive (and yes, hardworking) player up front. It's a very modern coaching manual approach, but I would much rather see AMS or Waldron at the top of the three, if we are going to play Donnelly off the left to attack.

Donnelly was good, but I'm not sure I see the wonder player others do. He reminds me of a more technically gifted version of Ethan Freemantle. Not knocking that - I rated Freemantle! But the idea of paying £50k to get him in? Not sure I can see him scoring 15 or more next season if he does. I hope to be proven wrong (and if offered for free, I would take him).

Obi looked good (before anyone accuses me of having 'an agenda' ). I'm still not terribly convinced by Faakye, personally. As others have said, what has Bird done wrong? Lovatt still doesn't reassure me either, but was quick off his line at times and made some good saves. I wonder if others will try to exploit it. He is still far too short for my liking.

Was anyone else surprised at the low Telford attendance? We got to the ground at about 1.30pm and I only saw Harriers fans around the ground, and only clocked a couple of Telford fans in the Cock. I thought they would have a bumper attendance for Bank Holiday Monday, especially with the Wolves not playing.

A word for our fans. A great turnout numberswise. But the actions of the idiots who travel away never fail to frustrate me. Seeing teenage lads doing cocaine on the train on the way up was a desperate sight. Get a grip. It's Telford away. Disappointing to hear of some of them attacking someone who wasn't at the game on the train on the way back.

I said on Good Friday we would need to be better than against Hereford, to beat Telford. And we were. Credit to Murray and the team for that. The main thing now will be to fend off the Macclesfield charge, to hopefully mean Radcliffe and/or South Shields is a chance to rotate and rest players before the playoff campaign.

On the Fans. Obviously the majority of us are proper fans there to see the team do well. Then you got the flare throwing burberry teenagers!!! Something has to be done about them. They have absolutely no interest in the match whatsoever. Little fish Little bond Little brains

King Monkey wrote: Tue Apr 07, 2026 9:52 am The other observation over the two games was the utterly awful delivery from set pieces, especially from corners. Hereford concede week in week out from corners and the two Telford conceded against Chester were laughable yet we didnt clear the front post from memory once yesterday. Unforgiveable really at this level.

harry211 wrote: Tue Apr 07, 2026 11:32 am

King Monkey wrote: Tue Apr 07, 2026 9:52 am The other observation over the two games was the utterly awful delivery from set pieces, especially from corners. Hereford concede week in week out from corners and the two Telford conceded against Chester were laughable yet we didnt clear the front post from memory once yesterday. Unforgiveable really at this level.

This is absolutely spot on. Very obvious against Hereford where we didn't even clear the first man.