I agree with Steve. Disgraceful reaction from home fans behind the goal. They were asleep for most of the game, didn't hear one positive chant even when we were level and Orients chant you r supporters are F-----g s--t was very apt. Being in the west stand I cant claim to be any better with the chanting but when we turned on the team and the ultimately the manager it was totally unwarranted. The team could have done better no doubt but to castigate them so early in the season was unwarranted and a total disgrace. Shame on us all.
Shame on us all? Shut up. I didn't boo the team or slate KB or the players, despite the piss poor performance today.
What gives you the right to tell anyone on this forum to shut up? He has as much right to say his piece as you do.
When Mick Fox spoke the other day about why he doesn’t post on messageboards because of all the personal sniping, this is the kind of thing he was talking about, it stops people contributing to this forum
I waited a day to respond in order to let a cooler head prevail, so here goes. In the interest of balance, I'll give both sides of the argument, just to make sure everyone disagrees with me in some way.
It was a turgid performance. We lost our final home game of last season to Leyton Orient 2-0, so technically an improvement, but I've just checked and we had 18 shots that day, rather than 3. Yesterday, as others have said, first half was fine I guess. The move that ended with Tilley missing was sublime, and Betsy rightly pointed out it was exactly what we want to be doing (apart from ballsing up the finish). The EFL highlights show even mentioned it as the best passing move in the country yesterday.
The problem was, not only did we not do it again, we didn't even seem to try. Apart from that our tactics appeared to involve playing risky passes at the back, before launching 60 yard high balls to the two smallest strikers in the league. I actually disagree with people who say it was too 'tippy tappy'. It was too one or the other for me. Every pass either seemed to be too safe and backwards, or smashed long with no hope of it resulting in anything positive for us. 'Tippy tappy' involves lots of/too many short passes, which it wasn't. It was some short and some very long, with nothing in between.
The main worry so far is that we don't seem to have an idea how to get the ball to Telford in any way, let alone giving him service where he can get some goals. The long ball thing might even work if he had a strike partner who was more Ollie Palmer than Tom Nichols. It did seem to be a tactic as well, because from what I could tell, the shape appeared to be when we had the ball, four would stay in a line at the back and pass around to try and find space, while six would go forward in another almost straight line, but about 40 yards away from anyone at the back, so the only option would be to smack it long. We didn't seem to have a midfield half the time, which is probably why Balagizi stood out so much when he became a one-man midfield for periods of the first half. Jenks showed some promise early on but I don't remember anything he did after about the 25th minute (or whenever that Tilley chance was).
Second half and they get the goal. Not sure it was even a corner, our players were pretty outraged at it being awarded, but someone had to be closer to James on the edge of the box, especially given he did the exact same thing last week. After that, it just felt like we had a young team with lots of players unfamiliar with being in that position. Too many players not willing to take a risk, which again just ended with Conroy smashing the ball out for a goal kick more often than not. The intro of Nadderz and Kwesi made a difference, although the former was far too wide in a position where it nullified his pace, arguably his only useful attribute in those circumstances.
My main takeaway was that there is a long way to go for this team. Wherever it wants to get, it doesn't even look 10% of the way there right now, which means by the time we start to see results, hopes for a promotion challenge could be more or less over. That being said, it was always likely this would take a while. It is a style of football that you are never going to drill into a team overnight, especially when you can't just bring in a bunch of elite players. I am a bit confused by some of our recruitment choices, with seemingly too much experience gotten rid of and replaced by complete inexperience. Way too much was asked of young players with hardly any senior football under their belt yesterday. We are absolutely crying out for an experienced centre midfielder who knows the league, can direct traffic in the middle of the park, help out the likes of Balagizi and Jenks and take a game by the scruff of the neck. As we can't pop Bully into a time machine, that must be priority number one before the end of the month. May sound harsh but I just don't think Hess or Powell can do that.
All that said, and while I understand the frustration, the booing on the final whistle was beyond the pale. Yes it was a poor performance, yes it was frustrating to see players with space in front of them turn around and pass backwards in the 91st minute, but make no mistake about it, every single player on the pitch wanted to get a result yesterday as much if not more than any of us did. I thought he was poor but hearing Travis's post-match interview you could hear the disappointment in his voice, not just through media training. He was genuinely gutted.
We have a tremendous hardcore fanbase who go home and away and live and breath this football club, so if any of them booed, ok. I still disagree with it but they've probably earned the right. The vast majority from yesterday though, you want to talk about players giving it their all? What about this town's complete inability to get behind the football club? So some people who came yesterday won't be back again? Good, **** em. If you only support a team if they do everything you want them to do all the time, Crawley definitely isn't for you.
This manager is new, a lot of these players are new, it hasn't started well, but that's all it is. A start. Two bloody games. If you don't like Betsy and you don't like the players, fine, everyone is entitled to an opinion. And to be clear, airing those grievances on here is of course completely fine. It's what places like this are for, some good old fashioned venting, but in the ground, if you expect the players to do their job then you have to do yours too, and support. Actually support. Not just clap the odd tackle and then scream abuse at a player because he passed it backwards.
Here's to only improvement from here on in, on both sides of the debate.
That's a great point about the midfield. I reckon a Richie Smallwood type player could be absoulutely ideal for us right now, someone with plenty of experience yet still has a few good years left in them
Much I was disappointed by the result today, I was more disappointed by the reaction to Betsy at the end. For a young guy starting out here in management, he needs better support than that.
The game was nothing special, pretty even mostly. My Orient mate was moaning about their performance at half time on text to me which sums up fan expectations quite broadly. The story was we missed what looked like a tap in for Tilley and they took a more difficult chance, albeit from our poor organisation - but was that their first corner of the game in the second half?
I’ve heard a lot about Betsy being a restricted passing play guy but there was numerous long balls by us today, few of them any good.
At this early stage, the problem looks to me Nichols and Telford look too much similar players and lacking a hold-up player up front to keep the ball there. A few other of the signings looked below par.
On the plus side, there were decent performances from Balzagi, Omole and Tilley. Something to build on if it wasn’t for the pressure being put on so early, trying to manufacture a crisis here before the season barely starts. Hmmm
I agree on Balgazi and Omole but not Tilley; he was way off his game today lacking confidence and any real contribution. In fairness to him he went from left wing back to right side attacking midfielder - what is going on? I thought Johnson at right wing back was poor again lacking any confidence. We never seemed to know what to do with the ball except pass sideways and backwards and we lacked any urgency when we needed it. Looking forward to Lynch and Brandon Mason being fit. Give it 4 or 5 games and it will get better, I hope.
I guess I like Tilley as he has the technical ability to cope with pressing midfielders/attackers. Yes I’m a bit concerned some of our other players didn’t seem quite as good but I’m wary to name and shame given I’ve seen so little yet. I can well remember how Tony Craig was made the early scapegoat of our mixed start last season and that bizarre nonsense carried on for months even though it was obvious he was doing Ok. Once there is greater fluency, I think it’s possible even the current players who look a bit unsteady will suddenly look ok. I like Lynch but Omole was really decent in his left centre back slot so we’ll have to have a think where to play him, maybe he can push Conroy. There wasn’t huge problems with our defending yesterday, Orient were limited to very little except exposing us at a set piece. Our problems were the other end where Nichols as our main playmaker isn’t getting going
Shame on us all? Shut up. I didn't boo the team or slate KB or the players, despite the piss poor performance today.
What gives you the right to tell anyone on this forum to shut up? He has as much right to say his piece as you do.
When Mick Fox spoke the other day about why he doesn’t post on messageboards because of all the personal sniping, this is the kind of thing he was talking about, it stops people contributing to this forum
You are the most opinionated, self important person on here. Always telling people what they can and can't say/do/think. I don't know why you think you have the right to do that. Because you don't. You have a complete inability to accept any opinion on here that doesn't gel with your own. You should work on that.
I said shut up because i don't like being tarred with the same brush as those that were booing the players and shouting abuse. I wasn't doing that. Never have, never will. When he said "shame on us all" he's implying we - all CTFC fans - are as bad as each other. Very presumptuous of him and a sweeping generalisation. I strongly disagreed with that and said so. It wasn't aimed at you, had nothing to do with you yet you still stuck your oar in and got involved. Leave your ego at the door before you post again.
This manager, coaching team and players are going to get in trouble in games this season and I, and everyone else here, wants them to play their way out of the problems.
If we start getting on to the players every time something goes wrong we will make the go into a shell and be afraid to trust anything.
There are some decent players out there. If they try something and it doesn't work let's all of us give them support.
I need to remind myself of this because, although I didn't shout it out, I was taking the piss out of players too.
This manager, coaching team and players are going to get in trouble in games this season and I, and everyone else here, wants them to play their way out of the problems.
If we start getting on to the players every time something goes wrong we will make the go into a shell and be afraid to trust anything.
There are some decent players out there. If they try something and it doesn't work let's all of us give them support.
I need to remind myself of this because, although I didn't shout it out, I was taking the piss out of players too.
Jim Baker
And also it is worth reminding ourselves, we are not as dire as Man. United
Shame on us all? Shut up. I didn't boo the team or slate KB or the players, despite the piss poor performance today.
What gives you the right to tell anyone on this forum to shut up? He has as much right to say his piece as you do.
When Mick Fox spoke the other day about why he doesn’t post on messageboards because of all the personal sniping, this is the kind of thing he was talking about, it stops people contributing to this forum
Yep, social media and message boards have become a scourge of modern day football. Can't stand it/them to be honest.
What gives you the right to tell anyone on this forum to shut up? He has as much right to say his piece as you do.
When Mick Fox spoke the other day about why he doesn’t post on messageboards because of all the personal sniping, this is the kind of thing he was talking about, it stops people contributing to this forum
Yep, social media and message boards have become a scourge of modern day football. Can't stand it/them to be honest.
I am sad to hear people are put off on messageboards and this one in particular, due to sniping/personal remarks.
Please can all users refrain from making personal remarks or insults at other people. You can politely and respectfully disagree with other people even if you really don't like what they have posted.
What gives you the right to tell anyone on this forum to shut up? He has as much right to say his piece as you do.
When Mick Fox spoke the other day about why he doesn’t post on messageboards because of all the personal sniping, this is the kind of thing he was talking about, it stops people contributing to this forum
You are the most opinionated, self important person on here. Always telling people what they can and can't say/do/think. I don't know why you think you have the right to do that. Because you don't. You have a complete inability to accept any opinion on here that doesn't gel with your own. You should work on that.
I said shut up because i don't like being tarred with the same brush as those that were booing the players and shouting abuse. I wasn't doing that. Never have, never will. When he said "shame on us all" he's implying we - all CTFC fans - are as bad as each other. Very presumptuous of him and a sweeping generalisation. I strongly disagreed with that and said so. It wasn't aimed at you, had nothing to do with you yet you still stuck your oar in and got involved. Leave your ego at the door before you post again.
One day you’ll realise telling strangers to shut up on the internet is behaviour that says a lot about you and very little about anyone else, but I guess today is not that day
This manager, coaching team and players are going to get in trouble in games this season and I, and everyone else here, wants them to play their way out of the problems.
If we start getting on to the players every time something goes wrong we will make the go into a shell and be afraid to trust anything.
There are some decent players out there. If they try something and it doesn't work let's all of us give them support.
I need to remind myself of this because, although I didn't shout it out, I was taking the piss out of players too.
Jim Baker
Very well said. Vent on here. Support in the ground.
You are the most opinionated, self important person on here. Always telling people what they can and can't say/do/think. I don't know why you think you have the right to do that. Because you don't. You have a complete inability to accept any opinion on here that doesn't gel with your own. You should work on that.
I said shut up because i don't like being tarred with the same brush as those that were booing the players and shouting abuse. I wasn't doing that. Never have, never will. When he said "shame on us all" he's implying we - all CTFC fans - are as bad as each other. Very presumptuous of him and a sweeping generalisation. I strongly disagreed with that and said so. It wasn't aimed at you, had nothing to do with you yet you still stuck your oar in and got involved. Leave your ego at the door before you post again.
One day you’ll realise telling strangers to shut up on the internet is behaviour that says a lot about you and very little about anyone else, but I guess today is not that day
One day you’ll realise telling strangers to shut up on the internet is behaviour that says a lot about you and very little about anyone else, but I guess today is not that day
Yawn 😴
You must anodyne in all your comments now, NR, "steve" has been moaning to the invigilator. "steve", is quite touchy, you see. He is also a self-appointed expert and arbiter of opinion.
I agree with Steve. Disgraceful reaction from home fans behind the goal. They were asleep for most of the game, didn't hear one positive chant even when we were level and Orients chant you r supporters are F-----g s--t was very apt. Being in the west stand I cant claim to be any better with the chanting but when we turned on the team and the ultimately the manager it was totally unwarranted. The team could have done better no doubt but to castigate them so early in the season was unwarranted and a total disgrace. Shame on us all.
Shame on us all? Shut up. I didn't boo the team or slate KB or the players, despite the piss poor performance today.
Didn't mean for you and Steve to get into a spat!! The reason I said shame on us which includes me was that I felt as a crowd we let the team down. Sleeping in the stands until near the end when like a bad dream the vitriol appeared and there it was, large crowd, first home game and already we as a crowd were demeaning our own team. I have read some comments saying fans have a right to criticise but surely there needs to be a settling in period before the abuse starts. No place for it on Saturday and lets hope tomorrow doesn't see a repeat.
You must anodyne in all your comments now, NR, "steve" has been moaning to the invigilator. "steve", is quite touchy, you see. He is also a self-appointed expert and arbiter of opinion.
The forums the place for us to make our comments, his are as valid as yours or mine
Shame on us all? Shut up. I didn't boo the team or slate KB or the players, despite the piss poor performance today.
Didn't mean for you and Steve to get into a spat!! The reason I said shame on us which includes me was that I felt as a crowd we let the team down. Sleeping in the stands until near the end when like a bad dream the vitriol appeared and there it was, large crowd, first home game and already we as a crowd were demeaning our own team. I have read some comments saying fans have a right to criticise but surely there needs to be a settling in period before the abuse starts. No place for it on Saturday and lets hope tomorrow doesn't see a repeat.