AFC Telford Updates

[gazwcfc]

City 0-1 Telford

[gazwcfc]

2-0 Down, not looking good!

[wakefield]

3 - 0

[gazwcfc]

3-0 down, att: 1636, 524 from Telford according to Telford forum

[Deleted]

522 from Telford according to Evening News report - do they count them? do Telford people look very different? I'm assuming they've counted the number through the Canal End turnstile. Anyway, its a good crowd on a bitterly cold day, and goals a plenty to entertain.

[Croc]

ah yes - the usual thing - pack em in with the promise of goodestness - and then capitulate by a big margin

[gazwcfc]

jcp said:

522 from Telford according to Evening News report - do they count them? do Telford people look very different? I'm assuming they've counted the number through the Canal End turnstile. Anyway, its a good crowd on a bitterly cold day, and goals a plenty to entertain.

Maybe 2 left early to beat the traffic ;D

[gazwcfc]

Full Time: City 0-3 Telford

[wakefield]

Any post match report?

3 - 0 is a big margin. I hope it doesn't dent the team's confidence.

[gazwcfc]

I hope not too, we all knew that Dryden's unbeaten run would come to an end sometime but i didn't think it would be by such a big margin!

[Deleted]

Reports I've had suggest the margin was slightly bigger than the scoreline suggests - but an entertaining game from all accounts.
I dare say it was all the ref's fault anyway.

[creaner]

We were lucky to get the nil...Held our own in the first half but conceded a goal just before the break. Outplayed second half by a decent Telford team- first to the ball nearly every time. Could easily have been 5+.
Back to the drawing board for some fresh ideas.

[StopfordianWCFC]

I'm afraid it was the result that we have perhaps been fearfully anticipating for some time.... a reality check!

A brave performance in the first half which was keenly contested and we did well into a very stiff breeze. Disatster to fall behind when we did - shocking decision for the initial free kick - but not really an excuse (there was also a lot of chasing the linesman for offside but I was miles away). If it had been 0-0 at half time I would have quite fancied us based on the 1st half.

2nd half (with the wind) a bit of a mare to be honest. Players looked to be struggling with injury (Smith and Price) and the midfield went completely awol. It was back to hoofball and Telford counter attacked with pace.... the 2nd was a lashed clearance straght through the middle for the striker to steam through unmolested to finish well. The third looked to be a nudge on Belford, but frankly it was academc by then and we were a tad fortunate to keep the score as it was.

Disappointing but still the effort was there and the support remaind loyal. Dryden now can see what he's got to do to make us real challengers and I think over the next few months we will see some squad surgery.

[gazwcfc]

Also reading on the Telford forum that one of their supporters coaches was bricked as it was leaving the ground, not the sort of thing we want to see at Worcester!

[Deleted]

Where did they get the bricks from?

[salmon]

Telford were by far the best team i've seen in conf-north, a wake up call for the city lads as they were shown how to play football from defending to attack, how to pass the ball on the floor, i could go on but i'm afraid this would happen. It will now test the new manager to get the lads to respond to this thrashing, he knows new players are needed and Mr Boddy must support him if he wants to city to get anyway near a classey side like Telford.

[blackpole]

Beaten by the better side who handled the conditions better than we did. As usual, and I said it during the 1st half, the wind would drop after half time, and it did. But I won't take it away from Telford although the scoreline does flatter alittle. We still competed, although seeming to be chasing too many long balls, and Danksy seemed too occupied having a personal spat with their keeper and their fat centre half instead of doing what he does best by talking with the ball! Best of luck to Telford 'cos with that sort of support they deserve bigger and better things. Our support stayed behind the team, but Dryden must by now see the weak links in our armour by now. Sorry for Rapid, but at the moment he does look out of his depth, and I still feel that Cleggy doesn't have the legs to compete with a swift moving midfield that Telford had. Up front i wonder what is needed to support Craig who again battled all game, but the injuries to Smith and Price didn't help our cause at all. But onwards and upwards, and lets take this out on Redditch next Tuesday. Acouple of new faces in January and play-offs are still a realistic hope, but we need more pace and agression in the middle.

[shaunafctu]

Was A really nice day out today, Had a chat Pre match with a few of your fans and you seem a friendly bunch!(ashame about the bricks really). Heard about your new ground and good luck in the Future.
If you would like to see te highlights of the game then I could post the link up here if you wanted me to? (when they become available)

[wakefield]

I was disappointed to read about the 'brick' incident. Not the usual behaviour I'm pleased to say. I was also disappointed about the result - but hey ho

I personally would welcome a link - Provided its not too biased!!

[B*ue dragonstander]

Just parked the Lagonda and agree with much of the above.

City looked jaded today after their heroics of the past few weeks and were cuffed by a better team who played football and didnt resortto roughhouse tactics. Had we had the wind at our backs in the first half it might have been a different tale but the half time magic didnt work this time and moving Price back to left back didnt really help as Troy Wood didnt contribute much in the middle of the park.

At the back we looked OK. On the plus side Spencer had a good game and Clark did well again. Up front we couldnt get going and in the end surrendered without a lot of fight. Most things we tried were snuffed out by a Telford team who to be honest outfought and outskilled us. They look certs for the play offs. Well played AFC.

As for the ref ...

.. he was bloody awful.

Still cant be too down hearted. Lets hope for a good response and three points at the Valley Stadium. 2 home games over the festive period and 3,000 through the gates - superb. A much needed bosst to the coffers.

A couple of new faces to strengthen the squad shouldnt be long in coming. A new defender? A couple of midfielders (including a wide man) and possibly a new forward.

Up the Blues.

[wh]

The ref was useless he should have counted the Telford players, I was sure they had more than us

Credit to them they look a good side and deserved the victory.

[colinlayland]

Not a very good day at the office,we really must get some new blood in very soon, and I am sorry to say Gill as not got what it takes in this league,and one or two of the others were chasing shadows. we got beat by a very good attacking side.and if there was a brick incident, it must have been one of the idiots who becomes a City supporter when we have big games.

[gobby cow]

City were outplayed today by an excellent Telford side. I dont know why people are berating the ref. He was ok, there was not a lot he missed, he was consistant and played advantage well.

I am disappointed to hear about the brick incident but some of the telford fans did chant lots of things to incite a reaction from the home fans, so no doubt some ignorant people stooped to their level.

Kevin Spencer was outstanding today.

[Deleted]

I was surprised Raps was taken off - I didn't think he'd done too bad, and once Price moved back we lost the plot and just hoofed it. It's been his presence in midfield that's spurred us forward of late. Today we saw the gulf we have to cross to make the grade. 3-0 was about right - the squad has good heart but it needs strengthening.

[dorothy]

No midfield when we are defending and no midfield going forward. I agree with Ealing once Jamie moved back there was no middle at all. Gill was taken off because he can't play at this level yet. Cameron will make a good keeper but someone needs to have a word about catching and punching and when to stay near his line.

We were beaten by a team that were fitter than us, better organised than us and who wanted it more.

It would have been a great game for a neutral.

[wh]

The way I see it with the Gill substitution is that RD tried to give us a bit more of an attacking option down the left side and sacrificed Gill for Troy in left midfield. Troy had been outstanding in a reserve match in that position, so on paper it was a smart move to try it but Troy was well short of the mark and got caught every time when in possession.

I don't mind RD trying things out when its going wrong at least you could see a method in the changes and he didn't go 4 or 5 up front and hoof it in an act of desperation.

I thought Telford were outstanding and probably the best team I've seen at SGL this season.

[alfiepie]

To me (and others near me) it is obvious we are short in 5 maybe 6 positions. The keeper showed his first few shaky moments today, concentrating on one upmanship with players instead of defending the Telford attack. The same guy should have scored for Telford with the same header (with us making the same mistakes) for a fourth.
Danksy was also guilty of this, I know its good to see passion and commitment, but play with your feet first! and never mind trying to wind up or having handbags with the opposition.

Incidentally the Telford manager stayed over in Worcester last night and his thoughts were we weren't fit enough and we weren't clever enough to match them and he thought we might have done a better 'job' on them on the day.

Still, Richard has certainly managed to get the best out of 'other peoples players' up until now and i'm sure that everyone on here is of the opinion that we have had a great run of results, but it will take a fair bit of time to turn things around fully - It remains to be seen what signings RD will be able to make, but the whisper is that he is very active in going to other games in order to learn what is out there and keen to make our players as technically aware of the opposition as possible.

Onwards and Upwards..............

[Deleted]

wh said:

I don't mind RD trying things out when its going wrong at least you could see a method in the changes and he didn't go 4 or 5 up front and hoof it in an act of desperation.

Now that sounds promising, as it seems the situation would have brought about that move from the previous incumbent. Dryden sounds like he's got a bit more savvy about him, making changes in midfield. He'll sort it I'm sure.

[Deleted]

alfiepie said:

Incidentally the Telford manager stayed over in Worcester last night and his thoughts were we weren't fit enough and we weren't clever enough to match them and he thought we might have done a better 'job' on them on the day.

.

Sounds about right, we still have remnant of the Preece problems of course, a single unchangeable game plan in the players heads. This will change with time I am sure!
The fitness bit is worrying, not sure who's in charge of fitness regimes at the club now.

[dazza]

gobbycow said:

Kevin Spencer was outstanding today.

Good to hear as i think we will be calling him back from his loan spell, we were without two first choice defenders yesterday, lost a third during the game and ended with a winger at right back

I would say Kev Spencer will be back in our squad for our New Years Day game with Solihull