Tranmere Reports

[Steve G]

More like a ****ing coma.

Don't worry the board has sent off for some adrenalin to try and resuscitate the patient and it's expected to be here by 2020.

 

[RodBee]

No shots on target all game, 5 goals in all away games (3 in the first match) tells it's story.

Strevens did not win one header so to sub him with Murphy left us two midgets up[ front - Cort came on on 89 minutes but too late to alter the game.

Goals win matches and last year AS brought in Bowditch, Williams, Clarke, Spencer and Rhodes to do that and we did.

This year we have:
Charlie - unproven at this level
Strevens - unproven at this level
Cort - good touches but not a goalscorer
Kabba - sent out on loan, 'nuff said
Ademola - sent out on loan, 'nuff said

As soon as we go one goal down you know we will lose as we cannot sco0re.

Relegation looms after such a good year last year.

 

[eyeseebee]

a loss is a loss and a blow - but when we went down three years ago we were being hammered 3-1 and 4-0. they are hopeless results not 1-0 away from home and in the north west.

we are short but are still picking up just about enough points each month.

we beat colchester only a few days ago and they are a top side.

not everything in life is black or white, hero or villain, there are dozens of shades of grey also.

Sorry Blunstone, but anyone who was there yesterday and had 2 eyes working will tell you that if we had been playing a quarter decent side ( thats half as good as a half decent side), we would have been beaten 4 or 5. Tranmere will probably go down this season, they are no good, but they were better than us. I know it was in the north-west, the M6 going there and back told me that, but Yeovil, Exeter, Wycombe and Orient are not in the north west, and we got cock all from those games as well.

 

[RodBee]

Tranmere, Yeovil, Exeter, Wycombe and Orient are not in the north west, and we got cock all from those games as well.

these are the sort of teams we must beat if we are to avoid relegation.

We have scored just one goal against the five of them which does show where our major problem lies.

 

[Holysmit]

I haven't read this thread, as in all honesty the neagitivy and fickneless of some people on here depresses me.

But it wasn't as bad will make out. It was an awful game of football as both sides cancelled each other out and we feel asleep, and then punished us for this, from a nicely worked and planned free kick.

I don't think we should be looking to much in to this, as it was a much improved peformance from a few weeks back, and Tranmere's league position, as they are not the worst side in this division, but rahter stupidly put John Barnes in charge at the start of the season.

We should be fine. A bit of fine tuning, but we seem to be working on that already

 

[Westlad]

Positives are that we defended well bar one mistake for a well worked goal, purely on the basis of that match Legge was solid. Chesney looked like one of the most assured keepers I've ever seen playing for us and I think it's a good sign that we've stopped leaking goals - even against Millwall when we were supposed to have turned the corner the whole ground felt we were about go concede everytime a cross came in, it was pretty obvious the only way we were going to concede yesterday was through a wonder goal or a mistake.

Negatives that we didn't have a single shot on goal, Bostock had the free-kick but the strikers didn't get any service at all. We should have brought Cort on earlier for Strevens as both Carl and Charlie are better at going deep and holding up the ball - Strev was completely isolated and wasted with no service.

People can go on about Kev and his backwards passing but at the end of the day he's a defensive mid and he knows it's about keeping the ball instead of hoofing it aimlessly into touch. Bean's a similar player, more energetic but as said he's not going to make the defence splitting passes and isn't as comfortable going forward last season. I can see why AS brought Hunt on because the only way we were going to score was by lumping it into the box and hoping for the best it was that bad, but other than long throws I don't think he's the answer. For people saying play Bostock in the centre it's never going to happen he's way too lightweight and gives the ball away too easily. Haven't seen bees since Millwall and it's pretty obvious why we need a new CM.

As for Scott slagging off players in public it's ridiculous, I'd like to know what he's trying to get out of blaming individuals every time we lose. Someone needs to have a word because he's going to lose the dressing room sooner or later (if he hasn't already). I don't think we should get rid because he's a young manager etc. still learning, he knows the club and he's obviously got good contacts but he needs to prove he's prepared to learn from his mistakes and not be as arrogant as he is being.

 

[South Acton Bee]

god this is depressing . why don't we just give Leeds the three points and not bother!

 

[shouldbee]

I haven't read this thread, as in all honesty the neagitivy and fickneless of some people on here depresses me.

But it wasn't as bad will make out. It was an awful game of football as both sides cancelled each other out and we feel asleep, and then punished us for this, from a nicely worked and planned free kick.

I don't think we should be looking to much in to this, as it was a much improved peformance from a few weeks back, and Tranmere's league position, as they are not the worst side in this division, but rahter stupidly put John Barnes in charge at the start of the season.

We should be fine. A bit of fine tuning, but we seem to be working on that already

"I haven't read this thread, as in all honesty the neagitivy and fickneless of some people on here depresses me"

Perhaps the penny will drop next Saturday when we're in the bottom 4 :sad:

 

[hypa123]

Tranmere will probably go down this season, they are no good

Tranmere: two wins, two draws in their previous five games, including an away draw at Huddersfield who themselves just drew away at Leeds.

 

[Les Beeavinu]

"I haven't read this thread, as in all honesty the neagitivy and fickneless of some people on here depresses me"

Perhaps the penny will drop next Saturday when we're in the bottom 4 :sad:

You must be sweating on that one - let's hope we don't put in a good performance and end up 12th.

 

[BillyReeves]

5 points from the 7 sides around us in the bottom 8. Good performances v Colchester, Walsall, Millwall, Hartlepool, Huddersfield. We're going to beat Leeds.

 

[IslandBee]

Please name a game this season where the crowd have turned?
You think we all live in another world, sorry mate but I've got news for you. Like I said I witnessed Orient, Wycombe, Exeter and Yeovil and they hurt, yesterday didn't hurt at all as I was wrapped up in the warm at home. It's easy to be living in happyland when you're not cold, wet and spent up watching that shower perform like they have done at away games this season. Apologies to al that went but yesterday was all that expected after watching us away this season, again I would humbly suggest that I was less of a mug than usual by choosing to stay at home.

I didn't say they had - I said this was a danger if the negativity that is constantly displayed on this thread filtered through to the crowd. I think our support is great, particularly our away support. This is one of the reasons why I find the tone of this site so surprising.
The world I am living in is one where we cannot afford to buy £1 million pound strikers (like my local team); where our manager is having to make do with a mix of loanees, young players still learning their trade, and older players who are probably playing a league above their ability; and where people make mistakes. Doesn't sound like cloud cuckoo land to me!

 

[N11bee]

Let's get real.

We lost 1-0 to a side as hypa 123 says is on a run. At half time our mood was positive. AS was right in saying the match had 0-0 written all over. The goal was embarrassing, but that's football.

Its no small thanks we've got AS to get players with quality like Chesney and Bostock to play for us, and Leon is an example to any aspiring player.

Don't be offended by Andy naming names, he's as frustrated as all of us.

You can see from Danny Foster's painful interview that the team was hurting, I trust Andy to pull the team through.

 

[wanderer paul]

Let's get real.

We lost 1-0 to a side as hypa 123 says is on a run. At half time our mood was positive. AS was right in saying the match had 0-0 written all over. The goal was embarrassing, but that's football.

Its no small thanks we've got AS to get players with quality like Chesney and Bostock to play for us, and Leon is an example to any aspiring player.

Don't be offended by Andy naming names, he's as frustrated as all of us.

You can see from Danny Foster's painful interview that the team was hurting, I trust Andy to pull the team through.

at last, a post worth reading, thanks

 

[jlove]

... blaming individuals every time we lose.

We've lost 10 times so far; are you sure it's every time? This season, we've generally conceded goals due to some very elementary mistakes by individual players. At the end of the match, they know who they are, we know who they are and Andy can say thing he may later regret.

 

[Westlad]

We've lost 10 times so far; are you sure it's every time? This season, we've generally conceded goals due to some very elementary mistakes by individual players. At the end of the match, they know who they are, we know who they are and Andy can say thing he may later regret.

I'm not defending the players - but he should keep it in house, the players still know where they've gone wrong but it doesn't hurt their confidence as much. AS needs to take a bit more responsibility himself for the performances imo

 

[Westlad]

Does anyone know how many fans we brought up there?

 

[WarrenBee]

Does anyone know how many fans we brought up there?

240 I think.

 

[To Bee Someone]

5 points from the 7 sides around us in the bottom 8. Good performances v Colchester, Walsall, Millwall, Hartlepool, Huddersfield. We're going to beat Leeds.

and if we play as well as we have at home, these teams around us dont stand a chance at our place

 

[TW3Bee]

we were poor again

You did a great job with a bad game.

 

[Bigbee]

Let's not go knee jerk here.
We need someone to sit in the middle of midfield and open up defences, get the ball wide and have a few pops on target.
Once we find him we will be fine because no side that can play like we did against Colchester should be flirting with the bottom four.
.

Dyou mean like a higly rated young midfielder from Spurs?Shall we sign him on loan and play him out of position?Oh,whoops,we've done that.

 

[NorthamptonBee]

Mr Levack is right when he mentions the Colchester performance and not flirting with the bottom four. That makes these losses all the more baffling and why they wind me up so much.

 

[Salford Bee]

Let's get real.

We lost 1-0 to a side as hypa 123 says is on a run. At half time our mood was positive. AS was right in saying the match had 0-0 written all over. The goal was embarrassing, but that's football.

Its no small thanks we've got AS to get players with quality like Chesney and Bostock to play for us, and Leon is an example to any aspiring player.

Don't be offended by Andy naming names, he's as frustrated as all of us.

You can see from Danny Foster's painful interview that the team was hurting, I trust Andy to pull the team through.

I agree with this post and hypa 123's. I think Andy is showing his inexperience publicly criticising Kevin O'Connor as I believe you should keep things like that in-house (unless clearly obvious). We all know that Arsene does see these incidents but says "I didn't see it" to avoid publically criticising his players. I think Andy can learn from that. As for the free kick it was a well worked move which caught us napping. I can see us trying that move as well.

Huddersfield's results at home make interesting reading:

Stockport 3-1 (Carling Cup)
Southampton 3-1
Brighton 7-1
Yeovil 2-1
Brentford 0-0
Stockport 0-0
Exeter 4-0
Leyton Orient 4-0
Dagenham 6-1 (FA Cup)
Wycombe 6-0
Hartlepool 2-1
Tranmere 3-3

They've wiped the floor with most teams that have come up there including scoring 6 (or more) goals three times. The mean score is Huddersfield 3.333-0.75 Away Team.

Tranmere's 5 games before Saturday:

Leyton Orient 0-1 Tranmere (FA Cup)
Leyton Orient 2-1 Tranmere
Tranmere 2-0 Southend
Tranmere 0-0 Aldershot
Huddersfield 3-3 Tranmere

Our record there is awful and our away from is currently poor. Leeds is a game where we might pull a surprise. Scott's detractors who are now saying I didn't want him as if they've now been proven right are showing the fickleness. I didn't want him, at the time, however I can't forget last season with the likes of Bournemouth and Darlington away and he has been our most successful manager this decade (We never achieved promotion under Coppell and Allen). The bottom of the League is tight, as shown by the League Table below, and while I think we will end up in the bottom four at some stage I do believe if we pick up a couple of good results everything looks rosy again.

12 Carlisle 20 -3 24
13 Yeovil 20 -4 23
14 Southend 20 -4 23
15 Southampton 20 10 22*
16 Gillingham 20 -5 22
17 Exeter 20 -6 22
18 Brentford 20 -6 22
19 Leyton Orient 20 -11 22
20 Oldham 20 -10 21
21 Brighton 20 -14 20

 

[Owlsmoor_Bee]

Just got back and feel strangely compelled to post a match report, I couldn't find the right thread, so I'll post it here.

It was like a slo-mo rerun of the Wycombe match but with better defences. Both teams ran around a lot in the first half, we seemed to have a bit more control but neither goal was ever really in danger; our GK made a decisive save after a scramble in the box and we almost threatened from set-pieces. There was some witty singing that was not fully appreciated by the local plod. Half time came and went.

Second half started like the first but then got scrappier; Bostock was given a freer rein to try and create something but lost his composure. O'Connor seemed the only player trying to do something, with assistance from Charlie. We gave away a free-kick... everyone in the ground knew what was going on... lots of theatricals to fool us... the only people fooled were in black on the pitch... GOAL!

Tranmere, whose defence looked quite good (meaning I was expecting a 0-0), woke up and realised they could win. We slowed to a snail's pace. Foster and Wood were particularly guilty of standing off, even 70-30 balls they stopped to watch instead of tackling. Bostock and Legge both lost composure and position completely at times. Dickson was pinned in our own half and Bean moved out the the right to keep out of the way. Passes forward consisted of aimless punts to their goalkeeper... we'd decided we'd lost.

You can't blame Scott for what happened thus far but substitutions should have been made at that point. Cort's cameo showed he could win and hold the ball and Murphy found good positions... I really can't understand why they did not get 25 minutes.

We're in danger of playing superbly against the top teams and losing, then playing like donkeys against the bottom teams and losing.

Pretty much agree with this, one of the few sensible reports IMO.

This certainly wasn't the horror show that Exeter and Wycombe expecially have been. Although pretty uninspiring, we had the best of the first half and at half time I was confident that we'd be coming away with all three points if we could turn our possession into chances.

Second half was much scrappier. The two forwards were once again starved of decent service and were well marshalled by an improving Tranmere defence, with Goodwin especially barely missing a header or tackle the whole game.

On the few occasions we fashioned a move, the final ball often let us down and despite a couple of decent efforts that whistled just wide, and a very good shout for a penalty, we really created nothing of note.

All that aside, and despite what the doom mongers would have you believe, a point up there would've been a good result, certainly bearing in mind their recent improved results. And a point is what we'd have come away with had we not switched off completely for their goal. Yes it was well worked, but I doubt there were many in the ground who couldn't see what was coming so how none of our XI realised is a complete mystery.

It was incredibly frustrating, a win would've seen us climbing away from the relegation zone and calmed some of the posters who seem to have completely lost their heads over the past few weeks. Even a point would've been a positive step forward. Instead, we switch off and come away with nothing.

The goal aside, defensively we were fine. Foster has once again attracted criticism but I thought he was very solid. True he doesn't offer much offensively but in fairness, Bostock's tendancy to roam inside often leaves him two on one so I've no complaints if he's inclined to hang back.

Midfield is still where the current problem lies. Sam Wood played excellently on Tuesday, had a good first half on Saturday but faded in the second and we miss Myles as another option when things aren't quite working.

On the right, Bostock was well marshalled and drifted inside looking for the ball. He certainly carries our biggest threat but where to play him is a difficult one. He's probably restricted out wide but his lack of defensive capabilities means I wouldn't advocate playing him in the centre unless we played with five across the middle which may allow him the license to be creative without leaving us over-run.

The central midfield pairing is the biggest problem. The recent criticism of KOC is absolute drivel IMO. As the defensive player, he does everything that is asked of him and although his passing is limited, very rarely does he concede possession. In contrast, Marcus has been dreadful for the past few weeks. He offers too little defensively and has seemingly lost the ability to make those gut busting runs forward that were so synonymous with his performances last season. He looks uncomfortable in possession at the moment and is simply not contributing enough. Although not his greatest fan, I'd be very tempted to play Hunt in his place next week.

As a final note, although Andy had every right to play the same team that did so well against Colchester, the time it took to make changes when it became apparent things weren't working, was ludicrous and is a weakness of his.

It was patently clear that Strevens was beaing nulified by the Tranmere back four and Cort should've been on much earlier, even before the goal. Likewise, having worked his socks off, Charlie was knackered midway through the half and Murphy should've been introduced then to freshen things up.

 

[lanceybaby]

Just got back, what a town Liverpol is
I can't remeber us having a single shot on target?

We only played our decent passing game for ten minutes before half time.
Two really poor teams that struggled to create a couple of chances between them.
I'm starting to panic now as we gift 3 points to a team in the bottom four again.

 

[Les Beeavinu]

Pretty much agree with this, one of the few sensible reports IMO.

This certainly wasn't the horror show that Exeter and Wycombe expecially have been. Although pretty uninspiring, we had the best of the first half and at half time I was confident that we'd be coming away with all three points if we could turn our possession into chances.

Second half was much scrappier. The two forwards were once again starved of decent service and were well marshalled by an improving Tranmere defence, with Goodwin especially barely missing a header or tackle the whole game.

On the few occasions we fashioned a move, the final ball often let us down and despite a couple of decent efforts that whistled just wide, and a very good shout for a penalty, we really created nothing of note.

All that aside, and despite what the doom mongers would have you believe, a point up there would've been a good result, certainly bearing in mind their recent improved results. And a point is what we'd have come away with had we not switched off completely for their goal. Yes it was well worked, but I doubt there were many in the ground who couldn't see what was coming so how none of our XI realised is a complete mystery.

It was incredibly frustrating, a win would've seen us climbing away from the relegation zone and calmed some of the posters who seem to have completely lost their heads over the past few weeks. Even a point would've been a positive step forward. Instead, we switch off and come away with nothing.

The goal aside, defensively we were fine. Foster has once again attracted criticism but I thought he was very solid. True he doesn't offer much offensively but in fairness, Bostock's tendancy to roam inside often leaves him two on one so I've no complaints if he's inclined to hang back.

Midfield is still where the current problem lies. Sam Wood played excellently on Tuesday, had a good first half on Saturday but faded in the second and we miss Myles as another option when things aren't quite working.

On the right, Bostock was well marshalled and drifted inside looking for the ball. He certainly carries our biggest threat but where to play him is a difficult one. He's probably restricted out wide but his lack of defensive capabilities means I wouldn't advocate playing him in the centre unless we played with five across the middle which may allow him the license to be creative without leaving us over-run.

The central midfield pairing is the biggest problem. The recent criticism of KOC is absolute drivel IMO. As the defensive player, he does everything that is asked of him and although his passing is limited, very rarely does he concede possession. In contrast, Marcus has been dreadful for the past few weeks. He offers too little defensively and has seemingly lost the ability to make those gut busting runs forward that were so synonymous with his performances last season. He looks uncomfortable in possession at the moment and is simply not contributing enough. Although not his greatest fan, I'd be very tempted to play Hunt in his place next week.

As a final note, although Andy had every right to play the same team that did so well against Colchester, the time it took to make changes when it became apparent things weren't working, was ludicrous and is a weakness of his.

It was patently clear that Strevens was beaing nulified by the Tranmere back four and Cort should've been on much earlier, even before the goal. Likewise, having worked his socks off, Charlie was knackered midway through the half and Murphy should've been introduced then to freshen things up.

A very balanced and welcome summary.

Clearly, things need to improve but I don't subscribe to the "get rid" theory as all this will do is bleed money and de-stabilise the club. Regardless of performances on the pitch, the club is pulling in the right direction and anyone who wants to change the manager (and thus the entire backroom staff and the Director of Football who appears to seal a lot of the excellent loan deals) has to think very seriously about whether this is what is needed at this time.

I suggest that we need to look for the answer on the pitch, not off it.

 

[Owlsmoor_Bee]

As an aside, rather unsurprisingly I suppose, there doesn't appear to be a Champagne Moments Thread but for me, the Flat Beer Moment has to be some of our fans considering it acceptable to sing "You let your dogs eat your children". :sad:

Has to be one of the most distasteful chants I've ever heard sung by Bees fans, who I thought (hoped) were above that sort of behaviour. You should be ashamed of yourselves lads.

 

[jlove]

Has to be one of the most distasteful chants I've ever heard sung by Bees fans

Although a low point of terrace wit, that, and the response of "calm down, calm down" when the stewards and local plod came to point out that it was inappropriate, at least brought a private smile to a gloomy day out. "There's only one John Barnes" was another.

 

[Salford Bee]

there doesn't appear to be a Champagne Moments Thread

https://griffinpark.org/forums/showthread.php?t=76562

 

[Owlsmoor_Bee]

https://griffinpark.org/forums/showthread.php?t=76562

:blush

 

[thatcham bee]

gentlemen, i missed saturdays game as i could not put up with the away performances of late, only my second game this season i have missed, but as has been well said on here andy scott has to learn when to use his subs and the times he has made changes have been of no benifit to the team or us lot in the ground.
on a lighter note, have just been on a leeds fans forum and they are saying they are playing with no confidence and that the back four is a shambles with a clown in goal, and we thought we had problems!!

 

[NorthamptonBee]

on a lighter note, have just been on a leeds fans forum and they are saying they are playing with no confidence and that the back four is a shambles with a clown in goal, and we thought we had problems!!

Brentford fans are the most fickle in the land according to the happy clappers on here.

 

[lanceybaby]

Although a low point of terrace wit, that, and the response of "calm down, calm down" when the stewards and local plod came to point out that it was inappropriate, at least brought a private smile to a gloomy day out. "There's only one John Barnes" was another.

'Chuckle chuckle vision!'lol
Why they sent the most scouse-typical staff memebr to difuse the anti-scouser songs is beyond me.

'Feed the scousers' with crisp packets and fivers being waved lol

I found it funny when the big Brentford fan was aggresively singing 'You're getting eaten by a big dog', got told off and then apologised really politely to the stewards. Modern metrosexual football i guess.

Ended up at goodison for the game yesterday and the spurs fans had a good one, 'We've got Jermain Defoe and you've nicked my stereo'

 

[scruff puppy pup]

and if we play as well as we have at home, these teams around us dont stand a chance at our place

errr, well actually it would seem like they do. Brighton, Oldham, Walsall have all taken points off us at Griffin Park. Walsall may be up to 8th now, but they are still a pretty ordinary Division One side.

 

[Sweepy]

'Chuckle chuckle vision!'lol
Why they sent the most scouse-typical staff memebr to difuse the anti-scouser songs is beyond me.

'Feed the scousers' with crisp packets and fivers being waved lol

I found it funny when the big Brentford fan was aggresively singing 'You're getting eaten by a big dog', got told off and then apologised really politely to the stewards. Modern metrosexual football i guess.

Ended up at goodison for the game yesterday and the spurs fans had a good one, 'We've got Jermain Defoe and you've nicked my stereo'

The day when fans are not allowed terrace chants containing naughty swear words is coming ever closer.

 

[Davee]

The day when fans are not allowed terrace chants containing naughty swear words is coming ever closer.

I got told I'd be ejected from the New road for calling the ref 'sh*t'.

Bernie would be turning in his grave, GRHS!

 

[lanceybaby]

The day when fans are not allowed terrace chants containing naughty swear words is coming ever closer.

A spurs fan at goodison got called out a dressing down aby the old bill for flicking a v when Everton taunting them. That was seriously the only bit of swearing directed at there fans the whole day and it led to a search party of four stewards abd two police to hunt the culprit down

To be fair the stewards were ok at Tranmere, gave us a load of tips about the night life in Liverpool, actually knew a thing or two about league one football and pretended to throw a row of us out for singing the John Barnes song. They didn't even seem bothered by the dog songs, which is sort of a statment of fact, hence the arrest of the dog breeding uncle.