The last straw

[Easy 10]

Dull game, it happens. Tranmere are on a decent run and probably one of the better teams in the division, they could well be top six so in that context a draw isn't a bad result.

What DID leave me absolutely mystified was bringing on Hart for the last 15-20 as a striker. What on earth has he done in the last few SEASONS to justify a place up-front when we're looking for a goal ? Elder was banging them in regularly for the ressies week in, week out and popping up with the occasional goal in the first team, yet if he was ever brought on, he'd get 5 minutes tops if he was lucky. Hart has been SUSPENDED for the last three games and hasn't looked like scoring for years, yet he comes on for the last 20 minutes, when we've got Robinson on the bench who played and scored Saturday !

Am I missing something ? I don't geddit.

 

[Knotty]

To be honest, I dont think ANY of our players did anything really WRONG, it's a shame we didn't capitalise on the several chances we had and I dont think Murray was very effective, hence his sub, and the Trannies were def. wanting a point, but we could have taken three, had we taken a couple of chances. Hey ho.

Agree completely with that. It wasn't exciting from either side but we did create chances. Against Tranmere and the way they palyed we were never going to be able to play flowing attacking football. The only player that really disappointed me was Murray - he seemed totally out of it.

I heard a comment from someone near me last night "This is very much third division football, isn't it."

Er...yes...we are in the 'third' division, with 'third' division players. Should we be expecting anything else? Hoping, of course, but not expecting.

 

[Tom Hark Preston Park]

First time I've seen the Albion since New Years Day and didn't think it went that bad. Probably a point salvaged as Tranmere, tho nothing startling, seemed like one of the more competent sides to visit Withdean. Reckon the rest of this season will have to be marked down as a transition period. The January transfer window saw a lot of boys being replaced by men which is a start. Just remains to get rid of the rest of the dead wood in the summer (Hart, Mayo, Gatting, Loft) and we might be in with a shout next time around.

Massive overreaction by the original poster BTW. It was cold? woopie-doos, it's February, it's SUPPOSED to be cold.

 

[Mrs Coach]

There is a guy who sits near me with a lovely Scottish accent, and I count how many times he growls "GET INTO THEM", during the match with the INTO stretched out over a couple of seconds. It's become quite a habit now. Usually it's at LEAST seven or eight. Last night it was ONE. Right at the end. So I can usually judge our posession rate by my smashing Sean Connery-alike, so we had a lot of the ball, but we were blocked, neutralised and it's no wonder we resorted to the long ball play (although I think Richards does that a lot anyway, which frustrates Little Coach no end).

I was just wondering - does anyone else have a seating compadre that shouts the SAME thing over and over? And what is it?

 

[Easy 10]

I was just wondering - does anyone else have a seating compadre that shouts the SAME thing over and over? And what is it?

"will you PLEASE stop touching me there"

 

[Dave the OAP]

I tend to repeat the phrase......"For f*** sake"

 

[CHAPPERS]

Re the mayo substitution


Didn't Mayo nearly score?

 

[Spiros]

Tranmere looked to me a typical Ronnie Moore side. They worked hard and closed us down all over the park without being that creative themselves. I thought Murray looked knackered at least 5-10 minutes before he came off and the only surprise about the Butters/Mayo substitution was that it was as late as it was.

Okay, it wasn't the most exciting game ever at Withdean but it wasn't as bad as the original post made out. This is a team made up of the remaining fit players - look at the bench. It included a goalie for the first time in ages, Hart, Mayo and McFaul, none of whom are match fit and Robinson who had to come off on Saturday with an injury.

As an aside I watched the first half of Chelsea v Liverpool on the box last Sunday and last night's game was a feast of entertainment compared to that served up by 100s of millions of pounds of 'talent' so despite the best intentions of coaches you still get poor games. Get over it.

 

[Mendoza]

Re the mayo substitution


Didn't Mayo nearly score?

yes, last minute of injury time, the header straight at the keeper

 

[CHAPPERS]

So on another night (possibly in a parallel universe where mayo can head the ball) the substitution might have won the game?

 

[Mrs Coach]

"will you PLEASE stop touching me there"

Hehehehhe

 

[Barnet Seagull]

So on another night (possibly in a parallel universe where mayo can head the ball) the substitution might have won the game?

That's just silly talk.

 

[Deportivo Seagull]

Well, that's it as far as i'm concerned. Another customer gone.

Tonight? Well, i paid good money to sit in the freezing cold watching absolute shit. Again.

It's all very well saying a draw against Tranmere isn't a bad result.
But watching us playing for a draw at home is not on.
It's NOT entertaining watching a team who seemingly don't care.
It's NOT entertaining watching a dugout who seemingly haven't got a f***ing clue.

I lost it at Withdean tonight. That's never happened before. Wilkins and subs. Again. Jesus H Christ.

Hart - now, i like Hart, but there is NO WAY that the man is a striker. Jesus wept, he makes Revell look like a chicken WITH a head. No positional sense, no strikers instinct. A joke substitution - the only way it could have been justified would be by putting the impressive Bowditch up front and having him on the wing. There is no doubt Hart can cross a ball and fly into a slide tackle, but can he do much else? I think not.

Mayo - what a f***ing shambles. I've never really understood the 'hate Mayo' thing on here, but what the HELL is the point of bringing on a left back for your centre half 2 minutes from time. At home. What a PATHETIC, negative change. We're at home - GO FOR IT, don't make pointless, woeful subs like that. I have NEVER been so LIVID at a substitution in all my life. NON-LEAGUE.

Robinson - Yep, genius Wilkins. Leaving the man who actually stuck the ball in the net at the weekend OUT of the team. Inspired decision. Two defensive midfielders in the centre of the park, but do we make an ATTACKING change in the middle? Behave.

The result tonight? Not the end of the world, but final confirmation that we're NOT going to challenge for the play-offs. The performance tonight? Boring, dull, and proof that, despite the board/managers insistance, we are NOT even trying to challenge for the play-offs. Absolute crap.

I'm not paying to watch again - the games are meaningless, and i'm going to join the thousands staying away. I won't be missing much. Well, not unless Wilkins packs it in. No effort, no passion, no commitment. I can't be bothered with it, and i'm not the only one. This is why nobody wants to watch us anymore. We're going BACKWARDS with the current management.

Over-reaction? Probably. But one that's been on the cards for a while though. I'll be at the Gillingham game, and the Forest game that i've paid for. Any more than that though...well, if Wilkins doesn't call it a day (which he won't, sadly), it'll take some UNBELIEVABLE signings to make going to Withdean value for money again.

Anyway

 

[TSB]

Yes but 12 hit the corner flag. We had 1 shot on target all 90 minutes

Absolute bollocks. I counted 5 shots on target.

You really are a whining, pining (for magoo), waste of space aren't you Gareth!?

 

[pasty]

Well, that's it as far as i'm concerned. Another customer gone.

Tonight? Well, i paid good money to sit in the freezing cold watching absolute shit. Again.

It's all very well saying a draw against Tranmere isn't a bad result.
But watching us playing for a draw at home is not on.
It's NOT entertaining watching a team who seemingly don't care.
It's NOT entertaining watching a dugout who seemingly haven't got a f***ing clue.

I lost it at Withdean tonight. That's never happened before. Wilkins and subs. Again. Jesus H Christ.

Hart - now, i like Hart, but there is NO WAY that the man is a striker. Jesus wept, he makes Revell look like a chicken WITH a head. No positional sense, no strikers instinct. A joke substitution - the only way it could have been justified would be by putting the impressive Bowditch up front and having him on the wing. There is no doubt Hart can cross a ball and fly into a slide tackle, but can he do much else? I think not.

Mayo - what a f***ing shambles. I've never really understood the 'hate Mayo' thing on here, but what the HELL is the point of bringing on a left back for your centre half 2 minutes from time. At home. What a PATHETIC, negative change. We're at home - GO FOR IT, don't make pointless, woeful subs like that. I have NEVER been so LIVID at a substitution in all my life. NON-LEAGUE.

Robinson - Yep, genius Wilkins. Leaving the man who actually stuck the ball in the net at the weekend OUT of the team. Inspired decision. Two defensive midfielders in the centre of the park, but do we make an ATTACKING change in the middle? Behave.

The result tonight? Not the end of the world, but final confirmation that we're NOT going to challenge for the play-offs. The performance tonight? Boring, dull, and proof that, despite the board/managers insistance, we are NOT even trying to challenge for the play-offs. Absolute crap.

I'm not paying to watch again - the games are meaningless, and i'm going to join the thousands staying away. I won't be missing much. Well, not unless Wilkins packs it in. No effort, no passion, no commitment. I can't be bothered with it, and i'm not the only one. This is why nobody wants to watch us anymore. We're going BACKWARDS with the current management.

Over-reaction? Probably. But one that's been on the cards for a while though. I'll be at the Gillingham game, and the Forest game that i've paid for. Any more than that though...well, if Wilkins doesn't call it a day (which he won't, sadly), it'll take some UNBELIEVABLE signings to make going to Withdean value for money again.

Agree with most of that. I was bored shitless for most of last night. How anyone can say we weren't playing for a draw is beyond me. The amount of times we had a break, and I counted just 3 Albion players in the opposition half against 6, 7 or even 8 defenders. And the one time we did get something like 4 against 4, the ball ended up back with Kuipers FFS! No wonder we couldn't score. It was a dire performance.

 

[Pavilionaire]

It wasn't dire, just uninspired. It showed up our strengths (decent back four) and our weaknesses (lack of creativity and leadership).

My overall feeling is one of disappointment - that we didn't "give it a go". Bringing on Hart and Mayo was more about holding on to a point than going for the win, but we still dropped 2 places to 16th so the overall effect was negative.

It certainly wasn't worth £20-odd quid and nobody watching for the first time will be in any rush to come back.

 

[Uncle Spielberg]

Absolute bollocks. I counted 5 shots on target.

You really are a whining, pining (for magoo), waste of space aren't you Gareth!?

With respect f*** OFF waste of space

 

[NMH]

Perhaps if the faithless moaners effed off to another space on earth for matches, perhaps the team might have a better time of it, then other supporters might turn up to watch games and enjoy them more.

 

[Left Footer]

I find all this incredible.
To me and my friends Tranmere were one of the best,most organised teams we have played all season.I would say a sure bet for the play offs.
The second half was a non event.However,i don`t believe that either side were playing for a draw.
Everytime we got forward it was noticeable how quickly Tranmere got their 2 rows of 4 behind the ball not allowing much space.
The only time we looked dangerous is when we were running directly at them.

 

[Kylies Stunt Arse]

Agree with most of that. I was bored shitless for most of last night. How anyone can say we weren't playing for a draw is beyond me. The amount of times we had a break, and I counted just 3 Albion players in the opposition half against 6, 7 or even 8 defenders. And the one time we did get something like 4 against 4, the ball ended up back with Kuipers FFS! No wonder we couldn't score. It was a dire performance.

See to me that says that Tranmere came for the point and made damn sure everytime we broke forward they got numbers back behind the ball and made it difficult for us to break them down, not that we were playing for a draw.