It must make more sense to play Sweeney so that the opposition can just walk through our midfield.

4-0

its sad but trying to play 4-4-2 the last couple of years has always left our shoddy defence exposed.

I blame Richie.

And Boydy.

Horrific this like, hope we can at least make a game of it second half becuase this is not what we need with the new league season upon us next week.

Oh well iv gave the cillit bang chance to soak in, back to finish off the bathroom.

Might do the kitchen next Saturday at 3pm.

I wonder if a few tea cups are getting thrown about in the dressing room?

P45's need throwing ...and tea

Poole on for James.

James must've been at fault for all 4 goals.

We're concentrating on the league (again !)

Attack minded Eh! Well its working, Im having a heffin heart attack here, and the seasons just started.

Not sure who's at fault for the goals but our full backs are pretty poor and big Sam really shouldnt be getting in before Baldwin.

This is going to be a long. long season

Think Baldwin and Hartley as a cb partnership is too small and weak.... I wanted Baldwin in this season as he is clearly talented but does need to bulk up

Austin and horwood are the worst part of the back 5 yet are guaranteed their places

Collins isn't up to it anymore so I'd rather see Baldwin or somebody brought in.

You need to start supporting England

Obviously we're not going to be able to dress this one up. Suck it up and improve for the next game, we need to hit the ground running at home this season.

Why is Sam getting the blame from the armchair fans. Very unfair to blame anyone in particular untill the facts are known.

Plenty of time...

It's been said various time but really don't think we can carry Sweeney in a 442 formation...doesn't have the ability and is much more suited to 451 formation which we seem to have the players for that now

..Escape to the Country was good on BBC2 though....

5-0......embarrassing !!!!

Who is an armchair fan?

Whatever formation we play, it's disgraceful that we let 4 goals in forty five fooooking minutes!

Yup. What will be the excuses I wonder?

All our new players will take time to gel?

as I said Crewe will probably do very well this year so we need to put this result into context, hopefully the reality check some people need.

All of us today unless your at Crewe.

I think the commentary and views of journalists who time after time mentioned mistakes and poor play by Austin and Collins in particular gives us a clue.......

Totally agree and we have probably known this for 5 seasons plus but the worrying thing is that Sweeney in the centre has been used most of the pre-season.

If Cooper wants to play wingers then fine but we need to have solidity in the centre and players who can take control of a game such as Paul Murray. As for the full backs - Holden should be starting at left back and Austin needs to up his game. Hope we have a plan B....

Walton has a lot to do if he is going to polish Murrays boots

Mate has just texted me from Crewe..... Fuckin discrace they wont get a easyer game all season defence is gash.

Sounds familiar

Sandybanks spot on I just can't take to Walton yet, there just seem something not quite right, I'll give him time to settle in though.

Are these journalists aware of the sacrifices the players made in pre-season?

Team for next Saturday then?

Flinders

Horwood Baldwin Hartley Richards/Rowbotham?

Left Side no idea?? Murray Walton Franks

Howard Poole

No idea who can play left mid / wing - not Monkhouse, move Horwood forward and change the left back?

Same team i recon. First league game of the season and i dont think the manager will change the lineup he has been preparing thoughout the close season. Wots done is done and if he thinks that is the best lineup he will stick by it.

We haven't really got the squad to make changes...but the fullback situation gives me the most worries....neither can defend

Another slight worry is the amount of shots with no goal, poor at
Both ends of pitch

Hartley was sat outside the tall ships last drinking orange.

If I was the manager I'd have left the useless foookers on as well, didnt deserve a rest after the 1st half performance.
I hope he has them on seaton beach first thing in the morning!

I may as well try and sum all this up with a match report:

Flinders 6 - Couldn't do anything about any of the goals, just shoddy defending.

Austin 3 - Very worrying if he is our best right-back. Granted the guy he was up against, Pogba, was strong and fairly quick, but Austin lost him far too many times.

Collins 4 - My main problem with Collins today was he was getting beaten in the air by strikers half a foot smaller than him.

Hartley 5 - Wasn't as dominant in the air as he usually is and I think he was at fault for the final goal.

Horwood 3 - Really poor. Defensive work wasn't great, but it was his crossing that was really shoddy, as well as his corners. Holden must be licking his lips.

Franks 7 - When Pools got the ball to him, he looked good. His crossing was accurate and he has plenty of pace. Wasn't given enough of the ball in the second half.

Sweeney 5 - Virtually anonymous.

Walton 5 - At times was very assured and looked good. At other times he just looked like a poor man's Murray. Constantly attempted Hollywood passes out wide to Franks in the second half, killing all momentum. The role he played didn't involve him bursting forward at all which is fine, but if this is the case I would rather see Murray occupy it. Overall I felt we needed another man in the midfield.

Monkhouse 5 - He and Horwood linked up in the second forty-five like we know they can but his pace has gone. Can't see what he brings to the team myself, can't cross and can't beat a man. Didn't win too many of his aerial battles either.

Howard 5 - Didn't look fit. He won pretty much everything in the air, but I'd say about half of his knockdowns found anybody. Couple of headers straight at the keeper was his only goal threat.

James 6 - Chased everything down but wasn't helped by the fact that the defence seemed to play similar long-balls to him as they were to Howard.

Poole (Sub) 6.5 - Not quite as good as Franks but I thought he looked better than James did. Bit more strength and linked up with Horwood and Monkhouse down the left. I would have liked to see him operating with Franks a bit more.

Overall Crewe were given far too much time on the ball in the centre of the park and their passing game was able to flow effectively. I think Walton will be able to break up the play like Murray can, but he didn't show that consistently today. We needed more bite and a marking lesson.

The signs were there for all to see after the Newcastle game but only a minority could actually see it. How cooper has stuck with that team baffles me. We were embarrassing defensively that night and once again concede 5. Finally peoples eyes are opened. Horwood/Monkhouse dosnt work and must be replaced in those positions. I'd also play Paul Murray. If that means a 4132 then so be it.

Swindon game is now a big worry rather than something Iv Looked forward to for 3 months.

Ryan noble please come back and bring a few mates with you

Maybe give Luscombe a go on the left. I dont see we have that many options really. And at least he can be creative at times.

It could be argued that defensively we were poor against Boro were we conceded 2 poor goals. Flinders played really well against Sunderland but has been a tad shaky since and from what I heard and saw on Pools Player was at fault for the goal against Hull. He is a good keeper though and hopefully Andy Collett will work with him to increase his confidence.

I was optomistic a few weeks ago, and I still am to an extent but our best players have to be playing no matter how old or how young they are.....

....................flinders...................
Austin....Hartley.....Baldwin...Holden
.....................Murray....................
......franks......Walton........Poole
...........James.........Howard............

Rafferty collins humphries Sweeney luscombe wignall horwood

I agree

I would go with that ...