Todays ratings

[Jantje]

Loach 6.5 steady enough
Williams 6 ok but caught for pace a couple of times
O'Brien 6.5 thought he cleared his lines well
Wethers 6.5 steady as usual
Bower 7 good game today,next seasons capt?
Daley 6 hot and cold again
Colbeck 7 worked hard & great goal
Penford 4 poor today, game passed him by
Nix 8 MOM, covered every blade of grass
Thorne 7 poachers goal
EJ 6 see Daley

Subs
Conlon 6 decent contribution
Medley 6 set up colbeck goal
Rhodes4 not on long enough to contribute

[BBB]

no surprises there although daley sounded dreadful on the radio again but ill take your word for it I hope they give nix a contract but from what ive heard its unlikely

[Jantje]

I hope they give nix a contract but from what ive heard its unlikely

If thats true, then none of them should get new contracts. He's the only one thats impressed all season with his effort, versatility and don't forget, 8 goals from midfield.

[Skyebantam]

If thats true, then none of them should get new contracts. He's the only one thats impressed all season with his effort, versatility and don't forget, 8 goals from midfield.

f'kin too right Jantje, I hope this news is not true as he has definitly been one of our most consistent performers. and to get those goals as you point out is no mean feat in a side that's had an average season.

[emj]

Nix has got to be given a new deal. I think he will get even better, although some players do struggle with a second season syndrome.

[Lofty]

If thats true, then none of them should get new contracts. He's the only one thats impressed all season with his effort, versatility and don't forget, 8 goals from midfield.

From what Macca said on the radio I'd be surprised if Nix isn't offered a contract, he praised his desire, guts and effort once again.

Can't argue with those ratings Jantje, Penford proved he's not worth another contract with another poor display, as did Williams although he improved after the cock up for the first goal.

Only Nix and Bazza would be getting another contract from me. So bye bye Williams, EJ, Penford and Rhodes.

[Jantje]

From what Macca said on the radio I'd be surprised if Nix isn't offered a contract, he praised his desire, guts and effort once again.

Only Nix and Bazza would be getting another contract from me. So bye bye Williams, EJ, Penford and Rhodes.

Didn't hear Macca after the game, thats good to hear.

Agree that only Nix and Bazza should get deals, I think i might be tempted to give Medley another year, he's still raw but he's growing still and looks to have some power. Luke O'Brien might get a year also but like you say, all the others plus Evans can go.

[Spoonhead]

I thought Penford did ok today. Nowhere near 4 out of 10 JS! Nobody had a bad game for us really. I'd give the worst mark to Daley as he should have scored at least 2 goals today and put both efforts wide. He also fluffed a 1 on 1 when the linesman had given him offside...the goal wouldn't have stood but he had ****ed up the chance anyway. Very poor when it counted today (and other days). I thought EJ and Thorne looked pretty good together up front to be honest. It wouldn't surprise me if EJ doesn't get a new deal though.

[Jantje]

I thought Penford did ok today. Nowhere near 4 out of 10 .

I thought he was swamped, passed the ball poorly, got caught in possession. No surprise when he was taken off.

[emj]

I thought he was swamped, passed the ball poorly, got caught in possession. No surprise when he was taken off.
To be fair to Penford,in the first half he as the only one that held his position.
Nix and Coleck were everywhere trying to fill gaps leaving Penford on his own in the middle when Grimsby broke. Having said that, he didnt look too good.

[lee]

Must be just me who thought we were garbage today then! :confused:

We looked disjointed, unorganised, unenthusiastic, we gave the ball away too easily and we let them have acres of space... if Grimsby could have made their dominance in possesion count in the first half they would have walked away with it as they did everything we weren't doing!

If I was a Grimsby fan I would be gutted as we've robbed 'em twice IMO!

Noone stood out except Nix for me... sorry maybe I'm getting the end of season blues.

Still at least we won. :rolleyes:

[Spoonhead]

Must be just me who thought we were garbage today then! :confused:

We looked disjointed, unorganised, unenthusiastic, we gave the ball away too easily and we let them have acres of space... if Grimsby could have made their dominance in possesion count in the first half they would have walked away with it as they did everything we weren't doing!

If I was a Grimsby fan I would be gutted as we've robbed 'em twice IMO!

Noone stood out except Nix for me... sorry maybe I'm getting the end of season blues.

Still at least we won. :rolleyes:

End of season game that meant nothing in reality to either side. That was reflected in the game I thought.

[Macca Ha Ha Ha]

we hoofed it in the first half which did not help with that wind, second half was better.

Loach 7 not that busy really but confident
Williams 6
O'Brien 6 shaky start but knuckled down and competed well
Wethers 6 steady as she goes
Bower 6 same as above
Daley 5 still not convinced by him, sorry
Colbeck 7 inconsistent as ever but confident now and getting goals
Penford 5 struggled in the main, pressure getting to him?
Nix 7 busy bee and full of tricks - must get new deal
Thorne 7 classy as ever
Johnson 6 physical when needed, Stu likes him so ermmmmm

Rhodes 5.5 good skill but ot convinced by him now
Medley good touches in the 7 minutes he got! (ffs?)
Conlon 6 ahhhhh Bazzer,some great play and some dozy headers

Still the stats prove that 2008 form over 46 matches would see us in the play offs, so that is proof of the big improvement - 08/09 and auto promotion the aim.

[Macca Ha Ha Ha]

the game did matter though - ask McCall and Jakes - 62 points now.

[lee]

End of season game that meant nothing in reality to either side. That was reflected in the game I thought.

Even so we desperately need some quality in the summer as despite churning out results recently we've looked average, maybe it's because we've been playing teams with little to play for.

I think despite having a decent record since the Mansfield loss the only time we've actually played well was against Darlo in the second half and that was more about coping with the obstacles that the conditions threw up for us. (I didn't see us at Brentford admittedly so we might have played well there.)

We are so hot and cold (mostly cold) and I honestly can't see how people are raving at certain player's performances unless I am missing something glaringly obvious.

Do we have the money to improve the squad? As when the chips are down I really can't see us doing much different with this squad next season as we have done this season.

[briggus]

Even so we desperately need some quality in the summer as despite churning out results recently we've looked average, maybe it's because we've been playing teams with little to play for.

I think despite having a decent record since the Mansfield loss the only time we've actually played well was against Darlo in the second half and that was more about coping with the obstacles that the conditions threw up for us. (I didn't see us at Brentford admittedly so we might have played well there.)

We are so hot and cold (mostly cold) and I honestly can't see how people are raving at certain player's performances unless I am missing something glaringly obvious.

Do we have the money to improve the squad? As when the chips are down I really can't see us doing much different with this squad next season as we have done this season.

Lee my thoughts entirely - the team is not consistent enough and a lot of the players do not seem to be able to deliver for a full ninety minutes. We do not press enough and give other teams players too much time on the ball - especially first half.
Williams today was poor leaves oceans of room on the flank and his distribution - albeit a windy afternoon was not up to scratch. Our right with Wethers and him is exposed by players running at them.
EJ was one of the better for me (I am not fan of him in midfield).
Penford looked to me the only one trying to make a pass.
Omar - you have to remember teams put two players on him - when he is on the ball - for me it is the CM and full back that should take advantage of that - something they have failed to all season.
Omar and the team have to find a way of making him more effective. For me he did not warrant the boos fron certain morons. Loach, Bower, Nix and Colbeck were the better EJ and Thorne (well taken goal), Conlon were not too bad. O'Brien was steady enough - if he continues - he could be an asset. Having said that the overall product was poor and I understand the away team had more possession - says - it all for me.

[Macca Ha Ha Ha]

Remember the 3 players unavailable - Bullock, Topp and Clarke - they would fit into any League 2 side.

Right about the consistency, but that has improved since the 4 home defeats in 5 played. Does that also not tell you how avergae this division isa - with new recruits in and our best players fit then should be aiming for the Top 3.

I like a rant as much as anyone and todays 1st half was frustratingly poor, but 3 points gained was very welcome.

[The Gent]

Loach 7 not that busy really, needs to command area more
Williams 5 shocker
O'Brien 6 shaky start, poor positional play
Wethers 6 steady
Bower 7 won almost everything he had to
Daley 6.5 not usually a fan, but at least he wanted to play
Colbeck 7 does everything well apart from final ball
Penford 4.5 can see tha lad at halifax next term
Nix 7.5 plenty of energy and skill
Thorne 7 typical thorne, genrerally a step above the rest
Johnson 6.5 good effort

Rhodes 5.5 he try`s but is just not good enough
Medley 6 wanted to see more of him
Conlon 6 usual Baz

Poor first half, improved in second. We are now winning when we don`t play that well. It just could be promotion next term if we keep that up!!! jump:

[lee]

Remember the 3 players unavailable - Bullock, Topp and Clarke - they would fit into any League 2 side.

Right about the consistency, but that has improved since the 4 home defeats in 5 played. Does that also not tell you how avergae this division isa - with new recruits in and our best players fit then should be aiming for the Top 3.

I like a rant as much as anyone and todays 1st half was frustratingly poor, but 3 points gained was very welcome.

I think Clarke and Bullock are very good and will definitely give us a certain steadiness but I still think we need a bit of consistent quality going forward. It's gonna take a major overhaul over a few seasons maybe, I hope Lawn's got a trick up his sleeve after next season as he seems to be relying on big crowds to break even... we could forseeably still be in this division the season after next and I'm pretty sure we won't be able to lure in the big crowds anymore.

[Jantje]

I'm fairly encouraged Lee by the team since Christmas. Not the performances as a whole but the form shown.

I think Macca is learning fast what could be needed for a push next year. He needs the backing though.

Get rid of some dead wood like Evans, Rhodes etc and add a bit more quality that will be first team players rather than squad players and i don't think we are too far away.

With peterboro & the Dongs gone, it will be a more open league next year, i don't envisage Bournemouth, Gills,Port Vale or Luton being major players next time

[lee]

Not to sound like Chuckle or owt but I'm not blaming Macca, he's on the main part endeavoured to play attacking football even if at times it hasn't been pretty. You said it yourself though if we're gonna get out this division we need backing off the field... the results recently have been decent I think mainly because the teams we've been playing have had nothing to play for and we've simply wanted it more.

The thing is if Mansfield came here next week then I would fancy them to get something out of the game because they'd come to be organised, they'd fight and they'd keep the ball... when we come up against teams like this we simply go to pieces at times. We desperately need people who can get hold of the ball and keep it and create things... I look around the team at times and I'm struggling to see who can do that.

[Wicker Man]

Think people are being harsh on penford, it was odd he had a bit of a mare at times but then made some awesome passes to put people through, a score of 6 would be far more fair ... he just seemed to be lacking concentration


BTW barry is the Zidane of league 2

[Macca Ha Ha Ha]

A lot is now up to the fans renewing tickets - the club has again offered really good pricing - and off field activities are generating income streams.
Next season needs to be the one when we gain promotion to keep the fanbase solid - some of the old crew will be grumbimg and moaning (including me sometimes) but Lawns put his money in whatever is said.
We need a squad of 20 1st team players in my opinion to make a real challenge.

[wellers]

I hope Lawn's got a trick up his sleeve after next season as he seems to be relying on big crowds to break even... we could forseeably still be in this division the season after next and I'm pretty sure we won't be able to lure in the big crowds anymore.

I spoke to David Baldwin at the end of last week and he said that the club aren't relying on big crowds to break even - the ticket offers are not about getting more people into the ground to make money but to make affordable football sustainable.

The hard core support (5,000) would most likely have still bought a ticket at a realistic League Two season ticket price which generates the same as twice as many people buying one at half price.

The only way affordable football can be sustained is if somewhere close to the 9,000 renew. If we don't manage that then why should the club reward a city's apathy with additional effort that brings no further financial gain? They might as well return pricing to its former levels...

[lee]

Surely 10000 is more beneficial financially than 5000 turning up - not only are you getting increased extra sales such as merchandise, pies, programmes etc. through sheer weight of numbers, but more people than usual are likely to buy things because they think they've saved pounds on the entrance fee so can afford to do so.

I realise not a lot of the extra sales goes directly into City's account but later on the clubs bank balance must feel the benefit of a share of the increased profit margins by EMC/Surridge etc.

[park bantam]

Not to sound like Chuckle or owt but I'm not blaming Macca, he's on the main part endeavoured to play attacking football even if at times it hasn't been pretty. You said it yourself though if we're gonna get out this division we need backing off the field... the results recently have been decent I think mainly because the teams we've been playing have had nothing to play for and we've simply wanted it more.

The thing is if Mansfield came here next week then I would fancy them to get something out of the game because they'd come to be organised, they'd fight and they'd keep the ball... when we come up against teams like this we simply go to pieces at times. We desperately need people who can get hold of the ball and keep it and create things... I look around the team at times and I'm struggling to see who can do that.May be true earlier in the season we are not losing many now are we.

[lee]

I don't get your point.

I haven't said the results have been bad, that wasn't my point. Fact is since Mansfield we've played 3 teams who've had something to play for: Chesterfield who were dire, Darlo who I've said we played well against and Rochdale who bossed us.

Fact is the rest were pretty much non-events and in the crunch matches against organised teams who come to VP to keep the ball and play to win, we simply lack people who can get on the ball and keep it and fashion chances of our own. I'm sure Stu has identified players who he would like to bring in to rectify the problem but he needs money and to strike while the iron is hot rather than relying on freebies and trialists who are hit and miss at the best of times.