Rage Online

Excellent analysis: the biggest worry is that, as some have said, it was so predictable. Stevenage won in the way that we (and CW) knew they would win - commitment, strength and niggle. We even gifted them another classic howler of a goal.

So why could Wilder not even begin to plan his way out of it?

I also detected some weak spirits in the second half: Potter backed out of a 70 / 30 ball in the middle of the pitch, and at that moment, I think we had definitely lost.

Despite the generally poor performance, I thought Wright sorted out a number of defensive errors which might have led to an even worse scoreline...

&quotSackcloth Ox&quot wrote:I

We have to get rid of three of our full-backs during the close season. And boy, does this team need some pace!

Possibly all 4 ? This is something that struck me a few months back but not a view that I have expressed on here because I thought I was in a minority of one.

&quotty cobb&quot wrote:[

Fair point about the service being really poor, it was. Was also a good pen under pressure. However, apart from that I, and the people I was with, thought he was awful - he lost the ball 90% of the time he got it, the runs he made were poor, he didn't pick any of the scraps up from Midson and I just don't see what he adds to us, I must miss all the games when he plays well. .

90% is something of an exageration I think, but yes he did lose it more than he should have done.
Scraps - hardly giving him much of a chance. And scraps were all Midson was providing, not that I am placing the blame on him.
I didn't think there were many (any?) decent runs from our forwards. Both Craddock and McLean were too deep too often for my liking.
You must have missed the chance Craddock set up for McLean at the East stand end.

The main problem for me all season has been the defence. Its like having the likes of Ashton and Roget back, constant errors and sloppiness which unfortunately are getting punished pretty much every time.

All the talent Worley must have had at Chelsea has disappeared, Tonkin looks like he's never played football before, Wright seems to want to give up playing football, Batt thinks he's a winger, Purkiss is, well, Purkiss, and Kinniburgh has barely kicked a ball in anger all season.

Creighton also has his obvious weaknesses but players of that ilk were built for the majority of games in League Two. No nonsense, tough defending. There's been too little of that this season!

Worley is still young and could still be an asset. We know Jake Wright can play football. But perhaps the two don't go together.
As for the full-backs, it's only recently that Tonkin has looked as bad as people are now declaring.
The Beast lacked pace and I am not sure he would not now be getting critisism if he were still here.
Luke Foster ? Strong, rugged, uncompromising on Tuesday night. NB: After some reflection I agreed with the decision to let him go. Oh, and until recently he was behind Jon Ashton in the pecking order. Presumably Ashton is now either injured or suspended.

I agree with TheOx, it's pretty clear it's the defence that's the problem. How many clean sheets in 30 games now - is it 2? And one of those at Morecambe where Clarke saved a penalty. As I've said before it's the one part of the team that hasn't changed much since promotion and in my opinion it shows. Worley/Wright have a lot of potential but young defenders will make mistakes. I wouldn't get rid of them but sometimes I think they've been in need of a rest or the opportunity to hide on the bench. Batt has always been an attacking right back liable to get caught out, which is a trade personally I'm happy enough with and Tonkin at least recently looks a little out of his depth.

I don't think there's too much wrong with the attack, it's got goals in it - the problem is that no team plays well every game but the best teams still manage to get a result on an off day and good results hide bad performances. Even on Tuesday we scored, but we always concede at least 1 and often it's the first goal which makes it even more difficult to get a result.

Just seen Baboo's post - I don't really think any of our old defenders are the answer, I'm not sure any are better than Worley/Wright although Creighton is certainly very different from them. I think perhaps at the last transfer window Wilder felt midfield and attack were the priority, he was probably correct but if I'm being greedy a sturdier centre half would have been nice too.

Creighton was not good enough, but a better Creighton-style player would be an asset. Wright is class, and Worley has some useful qualities.

I also agree with those looking for new full-backs. They are OK, but the number of apparently unconnected errors is worrying. Tonkin, in particular, looks accident-prone.

So we've got a dodgy defence and a goal-shy attack. I know! Let's sign an inexperienced midfielder!

&quotIsaac&quot wrote:
Just seen Baboo's post - I don't really think any of our old defenders are the answer, I'm not sure any are better than Worley/Wright although Creighton is certainly very different from them. I think perhaps at the last transfer window Wilder felt midfield and attack were the priority, he was probably correct but if I'm being greedy a sturdier centre half would have been nice too.

I don't think our old defenders would be the answer either. I was just making the point that they seem able to do a very solid job elsewhere at this level. I don't think Stevenage are wondering whether they are up to it.

I didnt think Stevenage were as bad as i had expected them to be in terms of previous gamesmanship we have seen.

They seem to have a far more confident defence than we do thats for certain........Maybe i should change that to &quotTheir defence has a prescence&quot that we have lacked all season in my view.

My concern as with some others is that we dont seem to have a great deal of pace aside from Batt.

&quotOUFanatic&quot wrote:I didnt think Stevenage were as bad as i had expected them to be in terms of previous gamesmanship we have seen.

They seem to have a far more confident defence than we do thats for certain........Maybe i should change that to &quotTheir defence has a prescence&quot that we have lacked all season in my view.

My concern as with some others is that we dont seem to have a great deal of pace aside from Batt.

I would say one of the main resons Stevenage's defence looks so good is Roberts. Looked the best CB in the Conference and still looks class at this level. Was also Westley's guy on the pitch. Always talking to the linesman. Not aggressively, but chatting away constantly and making his view heard.

We don't have that presence. Tend to agree with a lot of what has been said on here. Worley has a lot of potential and Wright can be class. But not sure that they work together and may need a big more experienced CB to play alongside Wright.