Of course we’re going to stick with you Mat- for now.
The general consensus of fans on the team selection proved to be true though.
If the fans can see where it’s going wrong why can’t you?
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Three other things:
- As on Saturday - our goal was not the catalyst to go on and win the game but more of a catalyst for the opposition to step up and and take the game away from us.
- How on earth did McEntee (I think it was him) miss that volley on his right foot near the end from the header back by Matt. He had ages to steady himself and make a connection. No excuse. If you did that on a Sunday morning you would be embarrassed.
- I take no consolation that their goal was a wonder strike. They had plenty of other opportunities to score and it was at times good fortune that the ball fell to our defender in the box or they fluffed the shot. Our defence at times did not know what day of the week it was. On another day we would have conceded more.
UP THE SADDLERS
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Anyway 8th ay a bad finish for us is it…incremental progress 
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How far off fitness is PF anybody know.
Booing at the end ain’t though, nor was the usual crap home atmosphere
Big rut but some perspective needed, they don’t deserve to be booed pretty loudly
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Absolutely this, we could have signed Jude Bellingham and Mbappe and Sadler would still start McEntee and Josh Gordon. I mean people talk about the two midfield loanees not making the squad, however we ended the game with a CB and CF in midfield, whilst having two established midfielders on the bench in Comley and Lakin.
I genuinely think Sadler is having a mid-season crisis. That lineup wasn’t set out to win the game not a chance. If Gordon hadn’t got injured it would have taken even longer to see changes. To constantly watch Okagbue and Williams shirk challenges due to being on yellows and not change it is just bizarre. I know Johnson nearly scored but when he was bought on I was scratching my head thinking who was going to create anything as we hadn’t done so up to that point.
I know it hasn’t been luck to get to this point in the season and position we are in but many more performance like those of late I’m going to end up questioning myself on that view.
To think we were well clear with games in hand, if Notts County win their game in hand they are 4 points behind.
Imagine heading into March, early bird offers up and being knocked off top spot 
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Turning more into incremental retrogression
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Sadler’s team selection set the tone for that tonight.
There was absolutely no logic in starting Josh Gordon, he’s looked nowhere near good enough in his second spell with us. Tonight, he’s miles off the play - a yard slow when we are breaking, and losing 50/50s that other players would win. Worryingly, having just listened to Sadler’s post match comments - he said he JG was brilliant off the ball, and came off because he was injured.
I hate to get at an individual player, but there’s something bizarre in Sadlers persistence with Gordon. The same can be said for McEntee - another anonymous performance in midfield, scrappy and messy and completely fluffed a volley in the 2nd half.
Then to top off a poor evening for Sadler his substitutions were baffling - we were crying out, absolutely crying out for some fresh legs in midfield. OM was blowing, so was Jellis, so was Stirk - what does he do? Nothing except for moving Harrison - a forward - back in to midfield.
We signed Amantchi because he wasn’t getting enough minutes at Bromley, so we bring on DJ with 25 mins left and leave Amantchi til the dying embers.
Worst of all, I think Gillingham were there for the taking - absolutely nothing about them, but we contrived to nearly lose to them. That in itself is worrying and doesn’t bode well for the rest of the season.
Make no mistake, we are in the process of throwing away this wonderful chance at promotion - Sadler needs to do away with this dozy attitude and sharpen up pretty quickly, or someone in the club needs to have a word. Play your best XI.
And as for Trivela, and all the simps who thought that was a good transfer window - give your heads a wobble. We’ve passed up a great opportunity to consolidate a massive lead and could well squander it within a month. If that comes to pass, it’ll surpass any of the recent January debacles. It was clear what we needed - quality & experience, it’s what all clubs in commanding positions do. We didn’t, and we could well pay the price. I hope I’m wrong but I have a nasty feeling about this now.
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Just got in, very flat and nervy performance. The other 4 games didn’t worry me too much but tonight’s has as its the first bad performance at home in this bad run. Sadler has showed last season he can sort bad runs out so I think he will at some point. After 9 games winning on the trot, you can never imagine a bad run and vice versa right now but we will turn this round, I just hope it’s sooner rather then later.
Bang on
Anybody twitchy now…
Highlights
For what it is worth, i dont think we will make automatic promotion unless Sadler comes up with an effective plan to beat teams with different styles.
Gillingham were a big, bruising, ugly side and i think Sadler decided to try and go head to head with them which probably explains why the angry hippo was in midfield and Gordon upfront.
Unfortunately it resulted in too much aimless hoofballs and a complete lack of composure on ghe ball.
Playing like that we look a bottom half team and unlesss changes are made i feel we will just drift down to where those types of performances belong.
Very poor and all on MS
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I cant think of a single type of opposition style that woupd suit Josh Gordon starting.
He doesnt press or harry effectively. He’s not quick. He doesnt create. He doesnt move off the ball. He’s not a target man. He doesnt hold the ball up.
What does he bring?
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Team has needed freshing up for last few games. Sadler could have done it by gradually changing the odd player here and there,now probably needs to take a big gamble and change 4 or 5 in one go. Doubt he will do it and cant see anything other than the slump continuing
“Positive first half performance” made me laugh.
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I’m still baffled with Mats decision to just abandon the midfield for the last ten minutes. We were shambollic.
How can someone go from being do tactically astute to downright kamikaze so quickly? Was Lowe making the subs too?!
All on Sadler that. Played more like a sunday league team than like a team top of the league. Get the ball down and play, get some actual footballers who want to make passes and create chances. Poor Evan Weir was the only player today with the technical ability and desire to pick out passes and create things.
It’s honestly rare football makes me angry. I’m more of a sad wallower type - but today actually infuriated me with what felt like tactical cowardice.
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I heard that. An astonishing comment. On par with the bloke who rang WM to say we played well tonight.
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He brings the square root of fork all mate
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Sadler needs to shoulder the majority of the blame for this one, both in terms of team selection and substitutions. He deserve praise for what he’s done so far but shouldn’t be immune from up to criticism either
The selection of Josh Gordon was baffling. I understand his merits and there are situations where his selection would be worthwhile, but playing at home against one of the worst sides in the division certainly isn’t one of them. His skill set would be better used in central midfield, ratting round, which is where he did most of his better work
Similarly, McEntee in midfield. He’s fine when asked to do a job on someone and stopping them from playing. Again, that shouldn’t be against the likes of Gillingham (no disrespect to them). How he remained on the pitch, especially when chasing the game is beyond me. The midfield in general is really lacking in energy and I’m shocked that neither of the two new loanees were in the squad, to provide a lift
As for the subs, I can’t believe Adomah didn’t get on the field. Barrett was struggling (clearly he’s been running on empty for weeks) and we needed someone to get us up the pitch. Couple that with he’s Sadlers go to man.
I can only think Lakin has a knock as the game was crying out for his work rate. If so, that makes the decision not to have at least one of the other loanees in the bench instead
It was never a game for DJ, he’s a penalty box player and if you can’t get the ball into those areas consistently then it’s the waste of a change.
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