Buxton win at Chester

[Fosters Cigar]

Buxton’s win at Chester tonight shows how disastrous our dropping of two points was at the Silverlands last Saturday.

Stephens had no need to make that tackle, giving AL a tactical headache at half time.

The Linnets outstanding player in the first half was Rogers, easily the most creative player on the field.

So what does AL do? Takes Rogers off and Buxton’s manager can’t believe his luck. Into the second half and we take

Hughes off ,leaving no creative playmakers on the pitch. Predictably we surrender mid field and it's like the battle of

the Alamo. Two goals conceded and almost a third in the last minute.

We will be relegated if we don’t keep skilful playmakers on the pitch and we still desperately need a striker.

The discarding of skilful players is becoming a trend with AL. This is worrying because without playmakers we will be

relegated. Nice to praise the 100% runners but look how many points we’ve dropped with a team full of runners and

no playmakers. Could it be that the differences between AL and JB will ultimately get us relegated? Surely not?
Stop acting like kids and sort it out like grown men. Time to put the team first!

[Squire of Langham]

A fixture to keep an eye on Saturday is Spennymoor v Banbury.  Both currently have 2 games in hand over Lynn.  At present Banbury is the only team that can replace Lynn in the bottom four and that is only possible if Lynn win at Hereford and Banbury lose.

With the games starting to run down it is vital to come away from Hereford with something.

[TonyM]

...
The discarding of skilful players is becoming a trend with AL. This is worrying because without playmakers we will be
relegated. Nice to praise the 100% runners but look how many points we’ve dropped with a team full of runners and
no playmakers. Could it be that the differences between AL and JB will ultimately get us relegated? Surely not?
Stop acting like kids and sort it out like grown men. Time to put the team first!

Whilst I wouldn't disagree with your questioning of AL's treatment of 'skilful' players at times, I am not sure bringing JB into the debate is fair as you could equally argue that MH and AL (when he first arrived) were both guilty of giving JB too much game time in the hope that our most talented player would produce some moment of magic to inspire a struggling team, a gamble that didn't often pay off.

Personally I liked the midfield trio of Rogers, Hargreaves and Hughes selected for Buxton and would like to see AL stick with that for a few games to see if that can inspire us to play a bit more football and if we can manage to keep 11 on the pitch maybe pick up a few more points.

[Mallard]

All this questioning of Barrett not getting a start.  Maybe time people asked themselves why A player with so much undoubted talent is at a bottom 4, step 2 team ? Not only at this level but actually can’t get a game.

It might be suggested that no Manager has got much of a tune out of him for any length of time and given up trying.

[Nigel1505]

Probably right Mallard.

[Fosters Cigar]

...
The discarding of skilful players is becoming a trend with AL. This is worrying because without playmakers we will be
relegated. Nice to praise the 100% runners but look how many points we’ve dropped with a team full of runners and
no playmakers. Could it be that the differences between AL and JB will ultimately get us relegated? Surely not?
Stop acting like kids and sort it out like grown men. Time to put the team first!

Whilst I wouldn't disagree with your questioning of AL's treatment of 'skilful' players at times, I am not sure bringing JB into the debate is fair as you could equally argue that MH and AL (when he first arrived) were both guilty of giving JB too much game time in the hope that our most talented player would produce some moment of magic to inspire a struggling team, a gamble that didn't often pay off.

Personally I liked the midfield trio of Rogers, Hargreaves and Hughes selected for Buxton and would like to see AL stick with that for a few games to see if that can inspire us to play a bit more football and if we can manage to keep 11 on the pitch maybe pick up a few more points.

So taking JB out of the equation, that leaves just the two playmakers, Rogers and Hughes. The point I am making is that at the first signs of us looking under pressure AL takes off playmakers, whoever they may be and goes negative, therefore encouraging the opposition to push further forward. We drop further back and with having no out-ball it becomes their attack against our defence.
Looking at the league table I can’t see where the necessary 23 points are coming from to keep us in this league?

[Lord Milsom]

Buxton’s win at Chester tonight shows how disastrous our dropping of two points was at the Silverlands last Saturday.

Stephens had no need to make that tackle, giving AL a tactical headache at half time.

The Linnets outstanding player in the first half was Rogers, easily the most creative player on the field.

So what does AL do? Takes Rogers off and Buxton’s manager can’t believe his luck. Into the second half and we take

Hughes off ,leaving no creative playmakers on the pitch. Predictably we surrender mid field and it's like the battle of

the Alamo. Two goals conceded and almost a third in the last minute.

We will be relegated if we don’t keep skilful playmakers on the pitch and we still desperately need a striker.

The discarding of skilful players is becoming a trend with AL. This is worrying because without playmakers we will be

relegated. Nice to praise the 100% runners but look how many points we’ve dropped with a team full of runners and

no playmakers. Could it be that the differences between AL and JB will ultimately get us relegated? Surely not?
Stop acting like kids and sort it out like grown men. Time to put the team first!

Rogers was replaced at half-time due to injury. (calf problem) hope this helps

[Fosters Cigar]

Thanks for that LM

[dillydilly]

Fosters is right!  Players win games, and a team without them are always likely to lose to teams that have them.  Everyone seems to include the description “most talented player in the club”, then express doubt about playing him!  We are a poor side because we have no playmakers on too many occasions, nor regular scorers.  Leaving out Barrett is surely the result of poor judgement, imho.

[Linnet465]

  Part of the problem is lack of communication by KLTFC is JB fit physically and mentally or just not prepared to put a shift in to satisfy AL? I think looking at how he warms up its most likely the later.

[John H]

This is my first post for some time. Barrett was released from Bristol Rovers by their, then manager Paul Tisdale. Reasons being - Barrett’s fitness and application. Their previous manager Ben Garner also came very close to releasing him for the same reasons. Tisdale said it was in the interest if both parties and although he admitted that Barrett clearly had talent, it was in both parties interests for him to move on. He of course then signed for Reading.
I know there are differing opinions on Josh, but it would appear that he has fallen back into his unwillingness to keep fit and apply himself correctly. With that sort of attitude, what would it be telling the other players if he was being picked every week. Barrett is showing disrespect to his team mates, fans, manager and chairman. As good a player as Josh was, or could be, he has clearly lost his way again. That’s a shame for the club and for himself.
I think Lakeland is fast losing patience with him and I wouldn’t be surprised to see Josh depart. At least that would free up some money to maybe bring in a forward.

[dillydilly]

Physically fit, mentally fit (whatever that means), and whether”prepared to put in a shift”.  Any chance of putting his football ability into the equation?  I give up!  Enjoy the United Counties League with a team that “fight for the shirt”, or any of the other cliches!  We might even finish above Wisbech!

[Mallard]

Barrett wouldn’t qualify as a Nipster I would he Dilly ?  Why would you think with all this money being invested in the Club from abroad that we will end up in the UCL ?

[dillydilly]

Mall - I think if we don’t pick good players because we prefer effort and “putting in a shift”, that’s where we will finish up!….