Aldershot Town match thread

[themaster]

All true. Simon Grand is usually the scapegoat in the long ball argument, but more often than not Grandy has no other option available to him. Many times in a game he has the ball at his feet, is looking for options, looking for an outlet, gets closed down and has to clear it long. The team desperately needs a centre mid who WANTS the ball, a player who is the conduit for everything, an "engine room". In the past we have been blessed with such players - Wayne Bullimore, Graham Anthony, Kenny Lowe, Mark Boyd, Darren Sheridan to name but a few. All players who were comfortable with the ball at their feet, had good vision, and could create an opening with a decent pass. Maybe Dave Mellor was signed to be that kind of player...?

He is no scapegoat, its just every time he gets the ball at his feet he just punts it long.

Just keep an eye on it at the next game you attend. Gets the ball , looks high and forward, puts it out for a goal kick.

Its a serious problem, we can't keep giving away the ball over and over again.

Teams will murder us.

From reading the Aldershot forum on Friday they were confident about "beating a side with Simon Grand in defence".

[DaveP]

lets hope we can manage to finish in a safe position this season then we can clear out all the dead wood which isn't good enough for this league (manager included if necessary) because if the owner wants league football he'll get nowhere near with this lot.

[Big E]

But would it be different if a darren Sheridan type was there demanding the ball off him and then directing procedures from cent mid, either by spraying it wide or actually just keeping the ball for a few minutes? It would make the CH's job easier and Cook and Walker might get better quality service.

Think Mellor was the man brought in to di this but believe he's been carrying an ankle injury for a while - hence his absence?

[Steeley]

Get Grimes in centre mid, Paddy and Cowps around him for kicking people, job jobbed.

[beachy01]

Sat is the first time ive been to watch Barrow for a good few years so was the first time ive really seen this group of players, from what i saw sat,

the 2 fullbacks i thought were barrows better players on the day

i dont know if the 2 lads that played centre midfield arent CM's by 'trade' so to speak but they were both terrible on the ball and didnt look comfortable at all!!

the 2 wide lads looked ok, i thought Cook looked very cumbersome but to be fair if he had 2 yards of real pace he'd be playing at alot higher level

thats obviously my view having not watch for a number of years!!pitch looks fantastic compared to when ive played on it in the past, just a shame the ball didnt spend enough time on the deck to make use of it

[PRR]

We look a better side with Williams in it simply because he tries to play the ball out. Grand's 'if in doubt boot it out' style of defending loses possession far too often and is not good enough against the better Conference Prem sides. Williams and Grand are probably just about equal when it comes to defending but Williams edges it with his distribution. Unfortunately Williams seems to be turning into a bit of a sick note so maybe some new blood needed in the centre. A quality defender alongside Livesy and we'd be looking pretty good at the back. As for the centre mid...needs rethinking...

[Hitthebar22]

I've only seen half of this season's games, home and away.
There don't seem to be any tactics, but you can't be tactical without the ball.
It's agonising how often it's given away.
At the moment the players don't seem to be good enough to hang on to it; the only option is to hoof it upfield and hope for a lucky knockdown.
Some of the new faces are poor. Haworth is soft and lazy, and flatters to deceive on the ball - hardly ever delivers a telling pass.
Mellor runs around a lot, but doesn't tackle or pass as much as he should. Fofana is just a poor player and panics.
Ashton, Dixon and George Williams doing ok.

[McMark]

Barrow cameraman, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EcIXKlae-e0
Aldershot cameraman, https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=380&v=sM_ajMX2d9E

Thought the Aldershot highlights showed more of our action than ours actually did! I wasn't at the game but viewing from the highlights it looked like all three goals came from defensive mistakes and our own naivety once again, and until we address this area of our play we will be on a hiding to nothing more often that not!!!

[SayitagainSam]

From reading the Aldershot forum on Friday they were confident about "beating a side with Simon Grand in defence".- THEMASTER POST Sep 21. 11.19am.

That's because they know him, he played 6 games for Aldershot-Team No. 1 - RELEASED. Same as:

2. Rochdale - RELEASED
3. Carlisle - RELEASED
4. Grimsby Town - RELEASED
5. Morecambe - RELEASED
6. Northwich Victoria - RELEASED
7. Fleetwood Town - RELEASED
8. Mansfield Town - RELEASED
9. Southport - RELEASED
10. Telford Utd - RELEASED

Are we sure this guy isn't really Engelbert in disguise..."PLEASE RELEASE ME, LET ME GO".....

Hey I'd love to be his rental agent. He'd be my only client.

Being RELEASED seems to be a common thread for this youngster with only an 11 year playing career, but Barrow know something different don't they.....so they sign him.

Club No. 11. Barrow - NOT RELEASED.......YET (stay tuned) and CLUB CAPTAIN to boot. (no pun intended). Brilliant.

But when he is eventually RELEASED, reckon he'll walk right into the Miami Dolphins Football Team as their Punter. Everyone's entitled to work in their profession.

BUT let's not get carried away, defence is only half the picture, offence is the other. On that subject, Heaven forbid Cookie gets injured....who's going to score? Name that tune?

Not a problem, I have the answer, little Jason will slot away another penalty. Sorted.

[boyliegladbach]

I thought Telford wanted him to stay.

[McMark]

I thought Telford wanted him to stay.

They did but didn't stand in his way when he told them he wanted to play nearer home! http://www.shropshirestar.com/sport/afc ... rrow-deal/
Si Grand has his shortcomings but no more than most of his teammates!

[Renfrew Refugee]

Don't know if Edmo reads the forum or not but why take a forward off and replace like for like when we are chasing a game 3-1 down? Any other manager would sacrifice a midfield or defender and at least try and go for a result, does he really have any tactical ideas?

[Blue and white]

Grand played a major part in getting us out of North , so greatful for that! He hasn't been superb or shocking this term ,give him a 6 !half the time he smash's it other times he makes a good ball too his teammates , Livesey has been class this term , but even he smash's it clear! Centre mid is our problem , needs too stick with the same 2 for 4-5 games , centre mid is vital for a team!

[Just A Barrow Fan]

Grand played a major part in getting us out of North , so greatful for that! He hasn't been superb or shocking this term ,give him a 6 !half the time he smash's it other times he makes a good ball too his teammates , Livesey has been class this term , but even he smash's it clear! Centre mid is our problem , needs too stick with the same 2 for 4-5 games , centre mid is vital for a team!

I wont last watching 4/5 games of Lacey and Cowps in centre mid if that's what your on about...
Cowps was absolutely dreadful against the shots and Lacey wasn't any better
Mellor HAS to play, he is by far our best centre mid with football league experience to!

[Holkerbird]

The attendances may be going down but the new forum memberships appear to be increasing.
Family members?