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Originally Posted by Staveros
Just back myself Tin and I must echo your sentiments. Excellent spirited performance and they almost got something against all odds.
I must say, I thought the lad was a crackpot with that challenge to get sent off though.
Ive got more analysis to give but I cant be ar5ed right now, be back on 2 moz.
Night peeps.
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Bit of scran and a brew soon picks you up, im back and raring to go.
Right....where do we start.
Whilst admittedly the away end wasn't the best vantage point from which to judge Butlers challenge it looked extremely 'rash' and unnescassary to me. I'd be interested to hear others views on that one. After that it was obviously going to be a struggle.
I think John Coleman deserves a HUGE amount of credit for the way he set the team up following the dismissal. I suspect most managers would have gone 4-4-1, dropping Jaggers to full back and putting Brown wide right and hoped to hold on. Not Coley though. The 3-4-2 he went with was extremely bold and adventurous and it ensured not only that Stanley still had a realistic chance of WINNING the game but that the match wasn't ruined as a spectacle for the punters. WELL DONE COLEY, superb to see such a positive mentality!!
The first half was absolutely fantastic, utterly superb, I cant praise the lads enough. A beautifully controlled performance with great movement and guile oozing throughout the side. Mully played a blinder, Brown was awesome, Craney, Jags, Cav, they were ALL brilliant. To go behind was an absolute travesty but I think sometimes you have to hold your hands up and say 'fair play'. That was a hell of a strike by the lad.
After the goal normal service resumed with our boys well in control and the equaliser was the least we desereved. The deflection that took it by the keeper, I was hoping, would signal lady luck being with the blues. Wasn't to be unfortunately!!
The turning point of the game was clearly Morecambe's second goal shortly after half time. I think it was a classic case of the concentration having been left in the dressing room with the half time cups of tea. It would be unfair to pinpoint anyone in particular as being at fault because we had numerous chances to clear our lines before the goal. Again you must admit though, after shrugging off Barry's somewhat 'powderpuff' challenge, Twiss unleashed one hell of a strike.
That goal clearly took the stuffing out of the lads after they had worked so hard to get the equaliser. To their credit though they stuck to the task. The effort throughout was unqestionable even if the second half performance did lack some of the 'craft' of that of the first. In fairness though, once they had the comfort of a lead AND the extra man, Morecambe did shift the ball around much better.
The third goal had an element of luck with the ball breaking to their player after several ricochets and was also aided by Stanley having pushed up a little too far in search of the second equaliser. Nobodys fault, just one of those things.
Again though, the boys plugged away without ever really looking likely to breakthrough again. But then, out of the blue, a penalty. Looked a good decision by the ref to me as Mully was again being climbed all over for something like the 7000th time in the game. Very brave call as well, well done ref!! Cav notched with minimum of fuss, game on!!!
Then comes my only gripe.
10 ish minutes or so left and I was expecting the alamo, all guns blazing. Never really happened though.
Odd criticism to make maybe but I think Stanley are too used to playing 'nice' football. That last 10 minutes called for some ugly, high pressure, long ball, 'in your face' football. They attempted it( I think!?) but it really was a dismal excuse of an attempt.
Quick free kicks and throws were taken when we should have flooded the box and wound up a 'big one'. Total waste of possesion and a release of pressure for them. Also, when we had Boco and Mangan playing as what I would call 'wing forwards' they were not getting anywhere near close enough to Mully when the ball was in flight. Mully is Mully. He wins some, he loses some. He's always a nuisance though. When you hit it long, you dont NEED to win it. Its all about the second ball. We didn't get close enough to him and we didn't win enough second ball. The midfield were just as guilty. When the ball was in flight they should have been on their bike and making a 'gamble' run, I didn't see enough of it though. Might as well get beat 4-2 as 3-2 in my book!!!
Anyway, enough with the gripe, maybe a couple of set training sessions and a few Wimbledon and Bolton Wanderers vids would help for the future on that one!! Im always available!!
All in all a great display in tough circumstances. I saw enough craft and guile tonight coupled with a wonderful attitude and team spirit to suggest that, as long as we can keep everyone fit, this is a team that is going places.
Well done Coley and the lads, you've got the Staveros back on board in a big way!!