Match Thread Fylde H

[JAM]

The Gorman Quandry. The Walker Conundrum. Sounds like episodes of the Big Bang Theory or something.

Re: Walker, this certainly isn't his level to be a striker. He needs a couple of seasons a league or 2 below.

Re: Gorman...no doubt he has proven quality. He's only ever showed it in about 6 games for us. And he isn't Captain material and has very rarely stamped his authority on a game...

See what you did there

[CardsWFC]

I don’t dislike Walker but he has more yellow cards for us than goals. A couple decent games over an entire season is just not good enough. If we actually want to finish in a respectable position next season we simply need better than him.

[Kanu's Nan]

Saturday's first half in particular should be stapled to the head of all those suggesting we keep a large chunk of this squad.

But hey, we won. All we needed!

[Meerkat]

I don’t dislike Walker but he has more yellow cards for us than goals. A couple decent games over an entire season is just not good enough. If we actually want to finish in a respectable position next season we simply need better than him.

Whilst I tend to agree, I would agree less if Inih wasn’t on contract for next season taking up a striker spot (is that true?).

I don’t think it’s a coincidence that Walker has looked much better since Ardley gave up with the poncing about around our own area nonsense and told Will to belt it upfield. It’s a really hard gig for a striker to make the runs when they have no idea when, or even if, the ball will get over the halfway line.

PS Is it slightly worrying that Ardley said he was setting up to be solid at home against a terrible Fylde side, or is that just sensible pragmatism?

[readingcard]

Walker has looked much better since Ardley came in but its still not good enough for what we need. He works hard and i dont mind him off the bench towards the end of the match to keep energy levels up. But we need to move on, and aim for a min of top 7 next year and walker wont help us achieve that unfortunately.

Re Gorman - after the aldershot gig, I said he had the rest of the season to prove himself- Saturday was a good start lets see how he goes for the rest, he can't put a foot wrong really and the Bank Hol game will be a big test as he will be getting some stick- he will have to control himself!

I'll be happy with a draw on friday,

[WFC96]

PS Is it slightly worrying that Ardley said he was setting up to be solid at home against a terrible Fylde side, or is that just sensible pragmatism?

Fylde HAD to win that game to stand any chance of staying up. I think it was sensible to start solid and see what they were going to do. When NA realised that they literally had nothing to give, he changed it up and we won fairly comfortably. I'd be so embarrased to be associated with them as they didn't even seem to give it a go.

[KT22Card]

Agreed, Houghton didn’t look interested despite 18 goals this season , he should be aiming to stay in this league .

[JAM]

I’ll be surprised if he’s not on this league next season

[Chobham Card]

Surprised nobody's mentioned NA's post match interview, because I think it was excellent. Makes me think I was harsh in my initial assessment.

Interesting conversations on Okoli. Whilst he's class, we've had Mazionis and Dyche this season on loan and it's a really difficult one for me to select who is best. Dyche is now getting FL minutes and until injury, Mazionis looked our best defender in the season IMO.

If we could get one of Okoli or Mazionis on loan for next season, I'd be delighted. Timi is brilliant, but having one of those monsters alongside him really transforms the defence.

One of the few things we've been able to benefit from throughout the whole season is a good core back three of Jaask and two good centre halves. Harries, Mazionis, Okoli, Odusina, Akinola, Dyche is not a bad stable at all.

You can see it in the table. 11th for goals conceded isn't too bad at all. Unfortunately, we're also 23rd - TWENTY THIRD - for goals scored.

[Lars Muller]

Chobham Card you lost a bit of credibility there when you classed Harries as a good centre back

[Growler]

And yet he’s playing for a team in third, better placed than any of the others 🤷‍♂️
Go figure.

[JAM]

And yet he’s playing for a team in third, better placed than any of the others 🤷‍♂️
Go figure.

Werent they in the title race when he joined them in January

coincidence that they arent now?

[Chobham Card]

Chobham Card you lost a bit of credibility there when you classed Harries as a good centre back

I don't think that's a controversial take when he's actually used properly!

If you can compensate for his pace and make the most of his passing, he can be very effective. It's just that we failed in both of those missions most of the time.

The Yeovil game (his last I think?) is the best example off the top of my head. If he's not desperately trying to escape a press, he can pick out this sort of pass. He's not a competition winner.

Ironic, like Gorman, that he was signed to play a significant role as a distributor in a team that would sideways-pass itself to death. Would've been interested to see how he looked in an Ardley team that could actually attack / would actually try to, but we sold him for a fee and replaced him with two children who are both even better. Good business all round.

[kansasCard]

Chobham Card you lost a bit of credibility there when you classed Harries as a good centre back

I don't think that's a controversial take when he's actually used properly!

If you can compensate for his pace and make the most of his passing, he can be very effective. It's just that we failed in both of those missions most of the time.

The Yeovil game (his last I think?) is the best example off the top of my head. If he's not desperately trying to escape a press, he can pick out this sort of pass. He's not a competition winner.

Ironic, like Gorman, that he was signed to play a significant role as a distributor in a team that would sideways-pass itself to death. Would've been interested to see how he looked in an Ardley team that could actually attack / would actually try to, but we sold him for a fee and replaced him with two children who are both even better. Good business all round.

For a club with pockets the size of FGR - I wouldn't want to be compensating. I was happy for the guy when he got his move but if I were told he has no pace but can ping a 70 yard ball?? I'd be thinking No. We want both pace and ping. His ping came in a little useful for us because we had a midfield who could only collect yellows and dust.

[Old Woking United]

Last time I checked the FGR forum(last week I'm sad) Rovers fans have already sussed him as not up to it so I'm starting to think he's not up to it. Harries I mean.