Barrow v Northampton Town match thread

[Jim]

We are not too far off being a team that can compete with the top 6 or 8 clubs in our league. Fans need to be realistic. This is a work in progress. The team is better than last year and I hope, and expect, that Wild and Temple, with support from iain Wood, will be looking to improve on the areas of weakness - both in personnel and tactics. I thought it was interesting that Wild said that he would aim to get about 75% of the players who are out of contract sorted with new contracts in a couple of months.

Defensive lapses such as the first goal yesterday are frustrating, but I don't think we are too far away regarding defenders. Midfield is work in progress, but we are short of a playmaker/general - (like most other clubs I imagine). The main problem for me is that we have quite a few attacking players who all look useful individually, but we don't offer much of an attacking threat. Perhaps that is a matter of tactics, combined with midfield weakness.

IMO (we can all be armchair managers) we need to capitalise on the skills of Whitfield, Kay and Newby (if he gets a chance) and then if we are going to play Billy Waters, he needs to be a poacher, 'fox in the box'. Meanwhile, let's view this season as consolidation and a learning opportunity and not get too downhearted when better teams put us in our place.

[jaycarter]

Why are we now playing hoofball instead of football like we played in the early part of the season where is Whitfield playing, in the early days he was wide on the wing and was scoring goals and making goals do that and it might help us scoring, why is the ball constantly in the air to Gorden get it on the ground their back were all six foot plus Bennett looks as though he is not interested send him on loan, and start playing football like Northampton did and we did at the beginning of the season.

[Big E]

Why are we now playing hoofball instead of football like we played in the early part of the season where is Whitfield playing, in the early days he was wide on the wing and was scoring goals and making goals do that and it might help us scoring, why is the ball constantly in the air to Gorden get it on the ground their back were all six foot plus Bennett looks as though he is not interested send him on loan, and start playing football like Northampton did and we did at the beginning of the season.

Coz teams are working hard to stop this and we dont really have that no.10 creative midfielder player to effectively open sides up. We're a work in progress, be patient

[Matty]

I'd definitely be freshening up a couple of bodies in attack and midfield on Tuesday. If we were to keep Waters in the team I'd bring Newby in for Gotts and move Waters central.

[Jonty]

Plan B- think we’ve got the players for a 442 with Kay/Newby/Whitfield providing the options for width and this gets Bennet on from the start. Flat back four.

[andyg]

Why are we now playing hoofball instead of football like we played in the early part of the season where is Whitfield playing, in the early days he was wide on the wing and was scoring goals and making goals do that and it might help us scoring, why is the ball constantly in the air to Gorden get it on the ground their back were all six foot plus Bennett looks as though he is not interested send him on loan, and start playing football like Northampton did and we did at the beginning of the season.

Coz teams are working hard to stop this and we dont really have that no.10 creative midfielder player to effectively open sides up. We're a work in progress, be patient

Absolutely correct. We need to move the ball quicker - and more importantly accurately our of deep positions to get our fast men in play more. Yrd we need a creative midfielder but at this stage of the season where do you get one from? We have also played a series of top teams (apart from Rochdale & maybe Tranmere). It will be interesting to see how we perform against a re-vamped Colchester team next month plus Stockport & Walsall who I feel are on the up in this division.

[blue nige]

Coz teams are working hard to stop this and we dont really have that no.10 creative midfielder player to effectively open sides up. We're a work in progress, be patient

Absolutely correct. We need to move the ball quicker - and more importantly accurately our of deep positions to get our fast men in play more. Yrd we need a creative midfielder but at this stage of the season where do you get one from? We have also played a series of top teams (apart from Rochdale & maybe Tranmere). It will be interesting to see how we perform against a re-vamped Colchester team next month plus Stockport & Walsall who I feel are on the up in this division.

Funny how we did ok with Foley, Gotts and Neil teams didn't get the chance to low block because we pressed really high we're just not doing that now we seem to have no energy at home

[behind the goals]

With only 9 home games remaining 5 Southern Clubs plus Newport can only see Stockport & Carlisle bringing a good away following and with Salford coming midweek can see many home games gates now falling below 3,000, we know performances at home are again not great to watch but we really do need more home fans in the ground.

[Main Stand SeasonTct]

With only 9 home games remaining 5 Southern Clubs plus Newport can only see Stockport & Carlisle bringing a good away following and with Salford coming midweek can see many home games gates now falling below 3,000, we know performances at home are again not great to watch but we really do need more home fans in the ground.

Credit card bills for xmas and winter energy bills need paying higher mortgage rates for many etc etc hardy a surprise to see crowds drop a little.

[Big E]

Absolutely correct. We need to move the ball quicker - and more importantly accurately our of deep positions to get our fast men in play more. Yrd we need a creative midfielder but at this stage of the season where do you get one from? We have also played a series of top teams (apart from Rochdale & maybe Tranmere). It will be interesting to see how we perform against a re-vamped Colchester team next month plus Stockport & Walsall who I feel are on the up in this division.

Funny how we did ok with Foley, Gotts and Neil teams didn't get the chance to low block because we pressed really high we're just not doing that now we seem to have no energy at home

As I said teams teams have worked us out, They close our midfield down quickly, get close to the side men, so forced to go back to the CH's who have no option to pump it fwd. Gotts is a great lad and works his socks off, but is better running with teh ball. Neal and Foley both good ratters, as is Tom White. But none of those 4 is going to control the game from midfield - and that is by no means diminishing their worth, it's just where we are.
Wild has alluded to it himself many times, it's easier to sort out the shape when we dont have the ball, the hard bit it getting it right when we do have the ball. It's worked with success at times, but the more organised sides will have also reduce it's effectiveness.

Those sort of players dont fall off tress, as dont 25 goal a season strikers. It's just where we are atm - in my opinion....

[mikeyb]

Think we are seeing Manager learning hus trade in the EFL.
Luckily Pete Wild has managed to collect enough points to hopefully see us safe.

Totally agree with this. I think Pete Wild is trying to figure out how to grind out a bit of consistency from the team and we are seeing a manager find his feet over the long term.

[Barra Marra]

Funny how we did ok with Foley, Gotts and Neil teams didn't get the chance to low block because we pressed really high we're just not doing that now we seem to have no energy at home

As I said teams teams have worked us out, They close our midfield down quickly, get close to the side men, so forced to go back to the CH's who have no option to pump it fwd. Gotts is a great lad and works his socks off, but is better running with teh ball. Neal and Foley both good ratters, as is Tom White. But none of those 4 is going to control the game from midfield - and that is by no means diminishing their worth, it's just where we are.
Wild has alluded to it himself many times, it's easier to sort out the shape when we dont have the ball, the hard bit it getting it right when we do have the ball. It's worked with success at times, but the more organised sides will have also reduce it's effectiveness.

Those sort of players dont fall off tress, as dont 25 goal a season strikers. It's just where we are atm - in my opinion....

This