TheBigDog

I was referring to you recent spate of “we’ll smash these easy” predictions

Love the irony of using sarcasm to suggest that others believe it can only be a good thing to ‘criticise players publicly’ when that quite clearly that is not what the counter argument is How dare Unsworth point out that Vaughan didn’t close the player down for the goal? Doesn’t big Dave know that little Harry’s ‘only a kid’? etc etc etc

One of these days you will be proved right…

The big questions: 1. ”Will we see a reaction (to the Tuesday performance) in the team selection?” 2. ”Will the players who start the game step up and play with energy, drive and desire?” The big answers: 1. Given that we haven’t brought in anyone, it’s down to which of the current squad are available. Is Hope ready to be on the bench? What is the injury status of Clark, Carragher, Porter, Gardner… and will he go with Vaughan and Carty from the off? (*) 2. <shrugs shoulders and grimaces> (*) not really an answer in that the response just raised more questions

This.

And that’s my point exactly @League one forever Stop treating him like a kid and he will grow in confidence - I would be willing to bet that Vaughan himself is not in the least fazed by the ‘criticism’.

If Harry Vaughan wants to play in the first team then I suggest we stop calling him a ‘young kid’ - it does him no favours whatsoever. He’s Eighteen and a half years old - he ain’t a kid anymore Didn’t someone once say: “If he’s good enough then he’s old enough”? In my opinion Vaughan is good enough and maybe treating him like a kid is holding back his development. The manager points out a mistake that is indicative of one aspect of Vaughan’s play and gets pilloried for it by some. If Vaughan has anything about him, he will take the criticism on board and come back stronger. And I believe he will.

If only we could…

I think that you (and others) are making far too much of Unsworth’s comment. The manager was speaking about the goal we conceded, the goal that proved decision in our defeat and called it how he saw it. Young kid? Now that’s plain silly.

Thanks Pete Wild

Immediately post match when emotions are running very high, Unsworth was speaking about the goal that won it for Altrincham. Irrespective of how many others were goal-side, Vaughan was the nearest. Harry should have made more of an effort to close down - nothing weird in pointing that out. I genuinely believe Vaughan will take on board the criticism and will learn from it. Expect him to start on Saturday

Norman has been one of our better players of late - making some vital saves.

If he cannot see that his chosen tactical formation is simply not working, then maybe he is not going to make it as a manager full stop.

‘He’s a talented player who needs to work harder off the ball’ ?

Not nice but understandable

Their recent form has improved - and they seem to be scoring more whilst still vulnerable at the back. I’ve never been to Altrincham but imagine that it’s a classic non-league ground - ramshackle stands and an uneven pitch. They seem to have a solid core of 1,600 or so fans so we might match them for numbers tomorrow. It will be like a cup tie and not an easy game. The weather forecast is for rain late on so take your wet weather gear. Let’s hope Latics are up for this one

I genuinely believe that modern footballers do not do enough thinking for themselves. How often do we see one of the coaching staff with a substitute flipping over pages from a PowerPoint slide deck? Meanwhile the player himself stares blankly at the information… If things on the pitch don’t work out as they have been led to believe, many just seem lost out there. Leaders on the pitch is what we need - Hogan, how long until you are back?

It will take time but, if given more game time, he will continue to develop. Let’s get some ‘B’ team games in the diary…

I didn’t go to the cup game but the Maidenhead performance was dire for the full 90 minutes give or take a couple of five minute spells. Against Chester, going off the highlights and reports, it seems like we had a decent first half but then reverted to our usual ‘drop deep’ style of play. Is that a reasonable assessment on my part or am I way off the mark?

This.

David Unsworth rightly points out, something we can all see, that many of our current first team players are clearly not fit enough to last more than sixty minutes. Also, he correctly states that the players drop deeper as the game progresses and look to defend a lead rather than pushing for a second goal. To a certain extent, the first contributes to the second. He also talks of returning players and of two coming in which indicates that he is not happy with the quality he has at his disposal. All of this is plain to see and, to a certain extent, the approach he is adopting understandable. Though his preference for the likes of Cooper over Vaughan is perplexing. Generally we are overly defensive and play with a lone striker. Is it any wonder that the players lack any ambition to attack in such a system? Furthermore, this approach also leads to players not wanting the ball, with clearances being rushed and passing lacking precision. The only way we will see improvement is if two or three of our better players (Hogan, Angol, Hope) return from injury AND the club brings in two or three good additions. Until this happens, it will be more of the same.

Bolton Wanderers B have signed former Oldham Athletic and Oxford United goalkeeper Mackenzie Chapman

That’s what the ‘B’ team is for, surely?

Not really interested in whether or not you are going to this game to be honest… I’m more interested in what the actual prices are - so I thought I’d post them below: Tickets Admission has been agreed by both clubs and is as follows: Adults - £12 Concessions (O65/U21) - £5 U7s - Free Tickets will be available to purchase on the day of the game at no increase, with all the stands open at Boundary Park for the fixture. Season tickets holders will be able to secure their usual reserved seat when booking. Tickets will go on sale from 10am on Friday 7 October online, in person from the Ticket Office and over the phone on 0161 785 5150.

I’ll be there