rjdgull
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Post by rjdgull on Aug 29, 2019 17:07:59 GMT
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Rob
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Post by Rob on Aug 30, 2019 21:22:41 GMT
Someone mentioned elsewhere that it’s 28 years ago today that Cyril Knowles passed away. Fans of both clubs tomorrow will have many fond memories.
I don’t think I’d make any changes to the side that lined up at Barnet from the personnel at our disposal. We did fade, but on reflection, and as Johnson mentioned it was very hot and Barnet played extremely well in that second half. Our play at times in the first half was exceptionally good. I thought Ruairi looked well below par when he came on.
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rjdgull
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Post by rjdgull on Aug 30, 2019 21:56:07 GMT
Pity about Ruairi as he is a much improved player and looked good pre season but I am sure he will be back to form shortly. However, as you said, likely similar line up as Johnson seems to be settling on his best XI with only the short term Injured Edwards out.
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rjdgull
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Post by rjdgull on Aug 30, 2019 22:01:19 GMT
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petef
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Post by petef on Aug 31, 2019 11:16:08 GMT
I get the feeling that Ruari is feeling like a "nearly man". Maybe playing a peripheral role is beginning to take its toll.
Form has dropped off and body language isn't the same as it was at the end of last season. I may be wrong he may just be going through a poor patch of form but when you way it up he has rarely been a game changer though work rate cant be faulted but I have no idea now what his favored position and is now used as a "do any job player" which is a bonus for any manager with a small squad.
I noticed from the TV footage last week that the players appeared to be wearing trackers that record distance between there shoulder blades and under their shirts.
GJ is ruthless in his goals and will be looking hard at the stats though I would imagine some would not be too happy if singled out. Personally I think its a mistake to single out players in interview after games when hes emotional and hasn't had time to reflect. Some words should be kept in the dressing room.
Better conditions and less draining today I hope the players can breath a bit better last week was ridiculous heat no wonder they tired second half.
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chelstongull
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Post by chelstongull on Aug 31, 2019 16:14:55 GMT
39 points at least required.
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petef
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Post by petef on Aug 31, 2019 17:12:36 GMT
Well just back from the game - As poor a performance as I've seen for a very long time and found out big time in so many areas against a pretty average side for this level.
Something just didn't look or feel right today, the players body language looked different and the malaise and distinct lack of concentration seemed to affect every player.
In truth Hartlepool should have been out of sight by halftime as we allowed them to dictate play in all areas. We conceded corner after corner and couldn't clear our lines so many times it became obvious we would pay the price eventually. Once we handed over the initiative and an early goal the game was as good as dead and buried despite the one moment of quality when JR struck early to equalise in the second half which raised false hope. We huffed and puffed with little effect in the second period with final balls and passes going astray and far to many desperation hit and hope long balls that inevitably creep in.
Our style of play, an open attacking game leaves us with very few options when seven or eight players are not on top of their game. every where you looked today looked nervy and full of errors. The usually dependable Cameron, Wynter and Davis all looked poor. Niate, I thought played at his usual level which although not brilliant I thought he did slightly better. Covalan had a very good game and kept us in the match. Kalvin Kalala looks a shadow of the player he was last year and was again withdrawn at halftime. That's a real shame it takes away a genuine threat. No other player when on his game can get defenders in a tangle and backing off like he does and despite Duku making a marginal difference with we lost any width and looked so narrow despite Wynter and Davis's attempts to get forward their final ball was usually dreadful. Glaringly missing today were the quick triangle passing interchanges and commitment to attack. The long ball seemed to take over. - bad sign at any level.
Asa Hall is showing his age at times and although he has the nous and positional sense he has no pace whatsoever and needs young player around him firing on all cylinders.
I cant Imagine GJ will be a happy man tonight after watching that performance but he should be asking himself why 8 or 9 players simply didn't turn up today and this result and perfomance is a symptom of the way we play and when so many are off their game we get so easily exposed. Few plus points today thought Reidys goal was cracker and Covalan in goal kept us in it with a couple of outstanding saves but other than that completely forgettable. Not looking forward to Tuesday if we play like we did today we will get slaughtered . Woking win again and will be rubbing their hands for revenge!
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Post by Swanny on Aug 31, 2019 17:41:46 GMT
We were beaten by the better side today so I have no complaints about the scoreline. Torquay rallied well in the second half and deservedly equalized through Reid but Hartlepool got a second wind in the second half and it was no surprise when they scored the winner. Had it not been for the heroics of sponsors MOTM Covolan, it would have been a heavier defeat for the Gulls. Torquay played well in patches and when we play passing on the deck with pace and skill the opposition struggle to live with us. The trouble is when that is not working, there is not much else in the locker to offer. We have no real big men up front to hold the ball up or to win headers so when we did try it high it was a fruitless exercise. Crowd a disappointing 2,683 with an excellent 228 away turn out.
From a neutral viewpoint it was an entertaining match to watch with both teams best when attacking. For the first 15 minutes it was end-to-end stuff but the turning point was Hartlepool scoring from a corner, they won a header and scored at close range. It was a disappointing goal to concede and there are times when our defence is not solid enough and look vulnerable. This changed the complexion of the match and in the next 15 minutes Hartlepool should have put the game to bed as they attacked with real purpose and Torquay were hanging in there. They hit post (they had hit the crossbar before the goal), scored the rebound but it was ruled out for offside. Covolan looked solid in Torquay's goal thankfully and saved us when needed. Their goal disrupted Torquay's game and confidence and Torquay were having to do some last ditch defending.Reid was the only Torquay player who was making things things happen in attack and had our clearest chance. Through on goal Reid tried to take it around the keeper then seem to get his bearings wrong and put the ball wide of goal. At least Reid was putting a real shift in whereas other attackers / midfielders were not really in the game. Once again Kalala was substituted at half-time and on came Duku.
Torquay were transformed in the second half as the team seemed better balanced with Evans back in midfield. Davis did great work feeding Reid to find the top corner of the net with their keeper standing and watching. The game swung in Torquay's favour, the quality was back in the passing and movement and Torquay were on top. The highlight for me today was a save by Covolan. A powerful header from a free-kick was heading for the far corner of the net when Covolan at full stretch got a strong arm on the ball and pushed it away. Sadly the warning signs were there and following a breakaway with appeals for offside in the build up, Hartlepool finished on our left planting the ball beautifully in the far top corner. It was a quality finish. You felt then, that Torquay did not have enough in them to come back again. Niate should have done better with a clear header in added time but put it wide. It was a disappointing finish and sums up our lack of players who can score with their head. Sadly, we seem too reliant on Reid in scoring. Again, even though Duku was ok in build up play, he never looks like he is going to score.
Today made we realize that we are a long way off from mounting another promotion challenge. There is a lot of talent in our team but our young players are too inconsistent and when we go a goal down it clearly affects them. For all our good play today there were equally too many times when our passing went astray or our crosses went to nobody. Even our most talented players like Evans, Little and Hall were guilty of this. We are very reliant on our passing game working and when one player makes a bad pass, we have to win the ball back and start all over again. We are currently looking like a mid-table team. I think we missed Opi Edwards on the bench today and our options on the bench looked quite limited today.
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rjdgull
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Post by rjdgull on Aug 31, 2019 18:52:19 GMT
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petef
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Post by petef on Aug 31, 2019 19:35:24 GMT
Not sure that 20 minute spell was so brilliant. Better certainly but a few minutes of decent play just papered over some rather alarming cracks.
Thought we played with fear, afraid to make an error which only lead to more errors of which there were far to many.
Haven't seen that before under GJ reckon he read the riot act after the Barnet game, he almost said as much in interview and that some were not going to survive at this standard.
Interested to see who he believes isn't up to scratch. No doubt in the coming months there will be changes out and in to try and make us more competitive.
Of Garry Johnson's signings Duku for me has been totally underwhelming other than the odd moment hes done little to push out CL Evans who has done a better job in supporting Reid.
Covalan took a while to get his chance but hes grasped it with both hands and MacDonald will struggle to regain his place.
Little has impressed in patches, you can see quality there but today he looked short and just before half time with a free kick just outside their penalty area he chose to pass and it all broke down when he knows has the ability to hit the target. Why did he not hit that free kick perfect angle and well within range. Just didn't wan't to risk missing when only a few weeks ago he would have been wrestling the ball to take it!
Matt Buse not even making the bench...
Joe Lewis not sure why we signed him really doesn't look ready for this level yet on a very long loan.
Conclusion we have not really improved the quality of the squad while stepping up to a tougher league and still adopting the same steamroller tactics that worked so easily against the semi pros of the NLS.
God knows what Woking did in the close season but loseing Armani Little had zero effect. Gonna be a tough test on Tuesday that's for sure and AL is sure to inf or some stick from the terraces..Lets see what hes made of.
Today the team were crying out for some individual inspiration but nobody could rise to the occasion and drag the rest up to a decent level. Really needed an experienced leader in there today.
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petef
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Post by petef on Sept 1, 2019 14:39:52 GMT
Everyone saying Niate with a last minute header straight at the keeper I could swear it was Duku.
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rjdgull
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Post by rjdgull on Sept 1, 2019 21:16:08 GMT
Everyone saying Niate with a last minute header straight at the keeper I could swear it was Duku. I could swear it was Niate! |
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Jon
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Post by Jon on Sept 1, 2019 22:56:07 GMT
It was great to meet up with the former Chairman of HUST before the game. Extremely informative.
Hartlepool fans were a credit to them.
I thought Hartlepool were a far stronger team than any of our three previous visitors.
In patches we outplayed them. I think we could outplay any team in the league in patches.
Last season, I often commented that we had not really played for 90 minutes - but it seemed a ridiculous criticism after a 7-2 win or a 5-2 win.
We do need to play for 90 minutes against teams in this league.
Two exceptional saves from Covolan who also exuded a sense of confidence and authority.
Reid was also excellent. Never stopped running and another very well taken goal. He is getting far better at receiving the ball with back to goal, holding up and laying off - even if he is not quite Rene Howe yet. Not sure if that is the best use of him though.
When we are playing like we can, you get all excited that we could top the league. When we are being sloppy, you fear we could get relegated.
On balance, we are very mid-table - P8 W3 D2 L3.
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rjdgull
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Post by rjdgull on Sept 2, 2019 11:22:59 GMT
Tufc match highlights I thought Hartlepool were a decent side and as said many times elsewhere we played well in patches. I think Hartlepool just about shaded the win as they had more decent chances than us and it was Covalan who kept us in the game. Having said that the Niate header would’ve been in if directed either side of their keeper from such short range to get a draw late on. The Reid goal set up by Liam was the best move of the match by some way.....
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petef
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Post by petef on Sept 2, 2019 12:14:48 GMT
Everyone saying Niate with a last minute header straight at the keeper I could swear it was Duku. I could swear it was Niate! I stand corrected Rob definitely Niate . Oddly looked a better performance on video a video that had all of the errors edited out! Definitely had enough chances to get something from the game but I though Hartlepool were worth the win on chances created though I still reckon the second was off side in the build up. Not very clear in the video. Pretty obvious that JR needs the ball to his feet in the areas where he can do most damage - another super strike. |
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