Crewe Alex match thread................
 

Nice and early for a change......... I want to forget about Yesterday!!

Looking forward to this trip, cracking chippy next to the ground :)

Who would your Starting XI be???

Me personally..............

Murdoch
Coid
Bender...... If fit???
Winnard
Mcintyre
Joyce
Devitt
Hughes
Evans
Amond
Smith

Bench
Bavs
Willis
Murphy
Barnett
Lindfield

Re: Crewe Alex match thread................
 

I hope we go 4-4-2 in order to keep width that is sought for by Cook but to plug the gaps that have been so evident of late.


Subs: Dunbavin, Murphy, Hughes, Barnett, Carver

That line up is set providing that Coid, Craney and Bender are fit, of course. Hopefully they will be.* Send Nsiala and Evans back to their parent clubs as we have more useful options here. It's a shame for Bavs as I don't think he's done a whole lot wrong, but with the amount of goals shipped of late it's only fair to give Murdoch a chance. Hughes didn't look fit yesterday, perhaps he's in need of a rest. Tactically, keep the bank of four at the back fairly static as Crewe are difficult up front. Allow Joyce to break up the play and Craney to instigate it. Wingers to swap and move but primarily to work the touchlines. Smith and Amond to get into the right areas, cause the centre-halves problems and be selfish with chances.

That's just my view after yesterday's implosion.

*If not, Murphy for Coid, Willis for Bender, Barnett for Craney.

Re: Crewe Alex match thread................
 

Cant see how any of them need a rest to be honest, they have hardly played for two weeks.

Hughes was our best player in Dec & Jan, play him for an hour then take him off would be better.

As for Craney............. Injured again, will be lucky to even make the bench I think.

Lindfield didnt look fit either yesterday for me.

Re: Crewe Alex match thread................
 

To be fair, Lindfield is in the process of regaining his match fitness. Playing 90mins yesterday would've helped him. His work rate was as high as ever, I think he should be fine for Tuesday. For me he's a starter. With regards to Hughesy, nothing came off for him yesterday at all. If Craney is fit, he should start ahead of Hughes in my opinion, for the same reason that Murdoch starts ahead of Bavs: Fair competition.

We'll have to wait and see what Cooky does.

Re: Crewe Alex match thread................
 

Not a time for carrying passengers as a quick look at the table will show top six places are moving away from us seventh is still within our grasp but we need to be fielding our strongest starting eleven as well as the bench being full of options to change the shape if needed.

I understand fully that it is a transitional period for the Club, Management & players but I also think some of the football we have played up until recently was every bit as good as last season and there is no reason to think that with the right mix we can't go one better than last season.:)

All sides will suffer a blip let's hope ours is now behind us.

Re: Crewe Alex match thread................
 

I think one of the problems,like at Rotherham ,is we just are not showing for or holding the ball up front and the reluctance then to run beyond them.Young smith is now on a fast learning curve,and I would go with podge,as he has better movement ,with devitt starting along with Coidy , maybe getting murph in the middle to add a bit of steel

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I'm traveling a few thousand kilometers so they better win that game! :D

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As with Saturday this is two of footballs best names going head to head. None of this "Town" "United" or "Rovers" rubbish. Alexandra v Stanley right after Stanley v Argyle. :)

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Agreed Al!

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Tom Bender is a "doubt"................ Aka He aint fit :(

Willis plays for me :)

Hatfield onto the bench.

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Spoke to Ian Craney on saturday,hes out for up to 10days and Sean Hessey out for a month:( Strange one that smudgie ie Hatfield is he injured as well,he didn't make the bench on saturday:confused:

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Can't understand how we get so many injuries,considering our bowling green training pitches

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Although toto had a bit of a mare on Saturday,he played well against burton and Rotherham,so I would stick with him,just needs to be more focused IMHO

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:eek: Sorry f19 toto in't up to it imho,although it did look like he was held back (fouled) leading up to the opening goal.

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No wonder we got beat by plymouth,just watched the soccer am style video on the fishy site,we couldnt hit a cows arse with a banjo :),hope our passing improves tonight !!

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The match is live on BBC Radio Stoke on 94.6FM if anyone's far south enough to pick it up.

Re: Crewe Alex match thread................
 

BBC News - Stoke & Staffordshire

can get it through this link

massive game, win and we are still in with a shout of the playoffs, lose and could potentially go 7 points behind

Re: Crewe Alex match thread................
 

Accrington Stanley

25 Dunbavin
02 Coid
03 Winnard
05 Nsiala
12 Murphy
08 Barnett
11 Joyce
14 McIntyre
17 Devitt :D
07 Lindfield
23 Amond

Substitutes
01 Murdoch
18 Willis
19 Evans
27 Hughes
21 Smith

So most of us got that wrong then ..............;)

Re: Crewe Alex match thread................
 

.. but it's likely to vanish on kick-off! :(

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brave? i haven't made a game since gillingham and hughes seemed a cut above everyone else and smith seemed to be wide open all day.... have both of them had a run of poor form?

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Happy with that.

Come on Accy.

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Well 0-0 half time, so far so good, cmon reds.

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:( 1 - 0 :(

Re: Crewe Alex match thread................
 

2-0.:(:(:(

Re: Crewe Alex match thread................
 

Well, Cooky has taken a match winning team and turned them into relegation fodder! Make shift defense not working, midfield can't pass the ball or keep it and strikers have lost confidence over night and can't hit the target. Back to hoping we can stay-up some how.

Re: Crewe Alex match thread................
 

Have a word with yourself. The rot was set in well before Cooky's appointment. We lost 3-0 against Barnet, didn't make any chances against Aldershot or Rotherham and even conceded three against Gills.

At least Cooky is trying to change things up in order to get more out of the boys.

Keep the faith.

Re: Crewe Alex match thread................
 

Are you on summat?:rolleyes:

Re: Crewe Alex match thread................
 

2-0 Was harm in my opinion - some disagree - the game had 0-0 all over it until a great finish from a corner, after that we were chasing the game!!

We did not create a great deal, but neither did they!!

Strange XI, could not understand Hughes,Smith starting on the bench???

Tough one coming up against Swindon...................

Re: Crewe Alex match thread................
 

First time on but I can hold back no more.

Wife and I home regulars for two years and away occasionals.

As someone who loathes the sellout of the sport I love I have fallen for the club and virtually everything to do with it. My dad educated me about Stanley's demise as a child during the 60s when one Ken Bates was trying to do the same to Oldham Athletic, my then local team. (old habits clearly die hard).

Having taken a passing interest in Stanley's resurrection since the Ewood Cup game against Crewe in 1992 (weirdly I attended this- my first Stanley game- with my best Uni mate who happened to be Bill Fox's nephew!) I have since been utterly blessed to see thrilling, exciting, creative football at the Crown, sometimes frustrating, never dull. The banter and bonhomie my wife experience at the ground is utterly wonderful. The atmosphere generated by such a small number is at times unbelievable. Its a real community club and I feel proud to support it. And on one level, I feel the spirit, the history of the place, is more important than the results.

Having said all that, I finally managed to persuade a couple of other family members to come along on Saturday. I don't pretend to know technically as much about the game as the learned and extremely entertaining contributors to this excellent forum, but one thing seemed abundantly clear to me. There's been too much tinkering too soon. Paul Cook has impressed me in his interviews since he arrived, he seems utterly capable and knowledgeable and an ideal candidate. But why change what was a winning formula so dramatically at such a crucial stage of the season? The bemusement on the faces of Winnard, McIntyre and Murphy as they endlessly exchanged triangles around the halfway line seemed clear to all.
The confidence they had in Toto and by extension themselves seemed to have evaporated. As had the wonderful atmosphere and spirit generated during Leam's one home game as manager. It's change for changes sake. Our new manager at my work did the same thing and quickly converted what was a silk purse into something else.

My advice for the little it's worth is -don't be too proud to go back to what was a winning-not perfect-but winning plan A, Mr Cook. Plan B can wait till June. And regardless, the very best of luck to you, Leam and the boys.:hehetable

Re: Crewe Alex match thread................
 

Well my humble opinion on tonights events........

Looked a 0-0 stinker but make no mistake we simply did not create enough, until Hughes came on with 20 to go or whenever it was.

For me we have three main areas that seem to be the problem.

1. Goalkeeper. Bavs confidence looks absolutely shot, as well as the defence's confidence in him to claim corners and high balls etc. Second goal went through him like a knife through butter. Another poor performance, even the Crewe fans said the same. What does Murdoch have to do to get a chance???

2. Central Defence. Toto was better than Saturday but its clear to see he simply is not up to pace yet with League football. If Hessey & Bender are injured its time to either give Willis a chance or play Murphy there.

3. Central Midfield. Tonight we had Barnett/Joyce/Murphy. All decent players within their own right, but the total creativity between them is very small. Hughes made a massive difference when he came on, yes we conceded two, but we actually looked like scoring when he was on.


Postives.

Coid was my MOM without a doubt. Never missed a tackle all game. The RB position is his as far as im concerned.

Devitt. Again ran his socks off but was knackered after 70 mins. Played some good balls in but what chance did Paddy have against the likes of Artell etc...... Surely playing Smith was the better option????

Fish & Chips..........................

Thats it!


Work needs doing, and if Cooky can drop Evans, Smith & Hughes, then he can do the same to Bavs and Toto!

Re: Crewe Alex match thread................
 

Whole lot better than the Argyle match, but the usual gremlins snuck in at the end :o the Lads were doing well for about 75 minutes & it looked to be a point apiece (fair enough), but then ........ well the result speaks for itself. Loss of interest ? Switched off ? Either way, a disappointing finish to what started off looking like a probable 3 pointer, but faded away to a single pointer as the time crawled by, but sadly ended "Null points"

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Oer a cliff fer me please.:D

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Spot on from Smudgie. I did think, however, that Crewe gave us a footballing lesson tonight, in that they played incisive, controlled football on the deck which was a joy to watch. We huffed and puffed without any real cohesion and absolutely zero threat up front, apart from some good breaks from Devitt. Unfortunately both Joyce and Murphy were passing to red shirts all night and we got what we deserved in the end. You couldn't fault the lads commitment, just the lack of quality in the final third, and too much lumping the ball in the air to Pod and Linfield, who were in the pockets of Artell and co. Couldn't believe my eyes when the team came out and Smith wasn't on the pitch. Worrying times.

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Re: Crewe Alex match thread................
 

Bugga!

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Still need 3 pts for season 2012-2013 of league two footy still happy

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There's as much chance of going down as there is of me buying a season ticket for Rovers :D

Re: Crewe Alex match thread................
 

Re: Crewe Alex match thread................
 

As a woman perhaps I watch and see the game differently. I thought we played great football last night , MOM for me was Davitt the lad never gave up, neither did Coid for that matter. Handballs on both sides were ignored by ref , plenty of corners but sadly Crewe were the ones to benefit . Once they were one up there spirit lifted. Sadly we came away with nothing , but that was not a true picture of the game we played. Like others I think its time Ian Dunsavin was given a rest . Roll on Saturday but I won't be there , I shall listen to up dates. Stay positive we played 100% better than last Sat thats got to be a good sign.

Re: Crewe Alex match thread................
 

The performance was 100% better than at the weekendBoth teams went4-4-2 but crewes mid-field was more of a diamond,were we had wide men.
This caused us a few problems in the first half,and Crewe had some decent possession
We got over-run a little but not in areas that hurt us.
There was only one team (acci) what was going to win it and the substitutions were positive,unfortunately we got done with the sucker punch.
It's good watching the difference in styles between coley and cooky
Fullbacks attacking,were coley liked them to defend,wide men staying wide,were coley liked them to tuck in when not in possession.
There's loads of different styles of play,so we will just have to see how it develops, one thing is for sure,cook is a first class coach,whether we have the right players for his preferred system is open to debate.
Bit strange playing linfield up top when cookys way is to get as many crosses in as possible,although smith hasn't broke any pots recently.
Does seem strange watching a team go from two holding midfielders and clean sheets,to none and playing with wingers.
As others have said,keep the faith

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This bit puzzles me somewhat??????? :confused: :)

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May sound daft, But have a good feeling, things will come together oer a few weeks time, Keep The Faith.

Re: Crewe Alex match thread................
 

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21St Jan was last clean sheet,before that Jan 6th, We was getting a bit iffy,before Cookie n Leam, IMO,in fact the 4-3 against the Gills was nowt to write home about either.

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Disappointed with the scoreline from last night. However, I saw a better performance generally from the team. Coid and Winnard had very solid games and Toto was much improved from Saturday. We had a run of 4 games in October when we didn't score a goal and it was difficult to see where the next goal would come from then. It is a bit like that now and with the managerial changes complicating the issues it really is frustrating for the fans but also for the players. Cooky is playing a different formation and finding his feet with the players at the moment. Keep the faith, the tide will turn soon. A bit of luck and we will stick a couple of goals in and the confidence will return.
On Stanley On.

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Val,regarding young smith,he hardly set the world alight against aldershot,Rotherham or Plymouth,indeed I can't recall an effort on goal.I like him and he's got all the tools to be a good player,but like andy Carroll at Liverpool,he doesn't yet look comfortable as a lone striker,and experienced centre backs have played on this.
Hopefully he works hard and cooky develops his game and at 6-3 he should be bullying the opposition and holding the ball up more

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Ah good to see a chap that dont panic.:)

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It's strange cashy,as I feel the same.i know it's a results business,but even last night ,I was happy with the progress made.No doubt it will eventually make the lads better players,but some may struggle with change.
It may upset a few posters on here,but another managers tactics were to read the oppositions team and match them,the theory is that his players are fitter and win the battles ---- Westley lol !!!!

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there's nowt wrong with Westley's tactics, just the fella is a tool

Re: Crewe Alex match thread................
 

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True,RR,When playing the lone striker,you encounter two centre halfs and an holding midfielder on your toes!!,didnt say it is easy (as Andy Carroll is finding out),Thats why Cookys methods are exciting,ie; forward thinking fullbacks etc,but its a results business.
Take Mourinho for example,they won the league with two great wingers (Duff and Roben),scored a ton of goals,but then got rid of them the following season,in favour of 4-3-3 as he thought that system gave them a better chance in europe.
As the players bed into the new way,we will certainly become more exciting,but getting results?,I am on the fence:)

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I'm pretty certain results will come, Providing any who can't adapt are replaced by some that can, Mind i never was a fence sitter.:D Its just a matter of time to me,Cook seems to know what he requires n am prepared to give him benefit of any doubt, at this point.;)

Re: Crewe Alex match thread................
 

He played well against The Shots - I watched this game with a Shots FAN, who thought Smith was very good!! - he scored 3 against Gills, the whole team were pathetic against Plymouth and he did not play against The Alex!!! Hence, I do not understand your analysis.......... :confused: :) :)

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Totally agree with you Val!

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That makes a nice change :D

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Have to disagree val,and me eand smudgie always disagree, he is on a learning curve,and needs to work on holding the ball up,and get more aggressive, and get more into dangerous areas
He's got loads of potential ,and shouldn't ease up.
Suspect the coaches felt the same as if was on the bench against crewe
Hopefully with more service he can blossom,and show what he's capable of