The term “non-league team” is so outdated and disrespectful. The National League has at most, 3 part time teams now. Chesterfield are top of the 5th division and this time next year will be near the top of L2 (look at where Stockport, Wrexham and Notts C are now).
Well technically it's true, they are non-league, but in recent years there's been a slew of teams who have been absolutely dominant over the rest of the teams in that league, meanwhile there have been a lot of teams in League 2 struggle. Reckon we'd have had a much easier time against someone like Colchester, Sutton or Troy Deeney's Forest Green Rovers™️
No it was recommended on YouTube for some reason but I enjoyed the poor camera work it made me feel as if I was really there
Oh ok. I was going to say, having a John Motson wannabe in my earhole during the game would have driven me nuts. But that footage is actually very realistic as to how you see the game from the stands. Just look at how poor Watford were on the ball. Just shocking for the most part. When you see it on TV is looks a lot more polished, but that really shows all the miscontrols, the running into players and the holding on the the ball for far too long. I would recommend everyone to watch it.
I’d say that’s a complete lack of confidence rather than cowardice. Pisspoor goalkeeping whatever the cause though.
2nd on Match of the Day and but for a couple of late goals we missed out on being 1st ! Personally I enjoyed the game, we weren't at the races 1st half, trying to stroll through the game and hope to take the sting out of their game and would have done if we had put away the two 1 on 1's. The changes made the difference, Asprilla to the left wing and Andrews down the right with TDB in the middle worked with two quality moments. FA Cup games are almost always like this with the lower league team playing inspired football with a nothing to lose attitude. Superior fitness & the skill difference won out in the end but it was a close thing.
As it was a cup game I managed to get 3 good seats in the UGT stand - great view. If I was to sum up the mood up there, I’d go with negative, so actually I think as much as some like to believe we are a club of happy clappers that certainly wasn’t what I saw yesterday. Maybe not loudly and ferociously negative but there wasn’t much in terms of positivity towards the team until the 72nd (well technically the 73rd) minute. Hope this wasn’t anyone on here as wouldn’t want to cause offence, but we sat in front of a couple and the wife (I assume) gave us a full 90 minute commentary on why we so bad, every pass, every movement, every player etc. My 8 year old nephew gave me a nudge after about 5 minutes and we started chuckling away at it. The husband said about 3 things throughout. Random and rather dull story. I’ve typed it now though so I’m posting. Apologies!!!
Depends if we play like we did in the first half we would definitely lose but if we play like we did in the last 20-30 mins we should beat them easy.
I think sometimes in life we often are so busy living in either the past or the future, continually expecting the coming of some rare special moment, that we forget to also focus on the present. I’m as guilty of this as anybody else. I must remind myself sometimes that it’s the match day that really counts. Not looking back wistfully at the 80s when were a terrific cup outfit, or trying to look forward and predict where we will be in May, or 2025 or 2026. Or even if we will lose in the next round. Life is as much about the now as yesterday or tomorrow, and the now is we won a cup tie and went to bed happy.
It is like a finger pointing a way to the moon. Don't concentrate on the finger or you will miss all that heavenly glory.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/67894677 Was the 2nd main game on MOTD too. https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001v6hl EDIT: Sorry guys already been said !
One very encouraging thing about this season has been that we’ve become a team who score late goals and draw/win matches at the death, rather than the other way round, which it’s felt like for years! Yesterday was the 6th time we’ve scored in stoppage time this season (the 5th different match). Four of those matches we’ve won, with the other drawn. On the other hand, we’ve only conceded three times after the 80th minute. On two of those occasions, Leeds (89 mins) and Bristol City (83), the matches were lost anyway. On the other, Birmingham took the lead (86) but we then equalised in stoppage time. So in other words, we’ve gained 7 league points and a cup win in stoppage time, but haven’t lost any points by conceding late on. Yesterday was the 4th match this season we’ve won from a losing position. All four have come in our last 10 matches, since the end of November. Better of course not to go behind in the first place, but again it’s a positive characteristic of this side.
First half was shockingly bad. Wasn’t surprised to see Chesterfield take the lead- they deserved it. Played some tidy stuff (their number 28 in particular looked quite good) and controlled the midfield. Second half was much better, however it only seemed to kick in once the subs were made. Healey tried hard but just doesn’t have the pace and was isolated on his own. Martins is becoming rather predictable but at least Asprilla looked lively and looked like the only way we’d score and he was by setting up the equaliser. Rajovic’s movement for the header was something I’ve not seen from him before, it was pleasantly surprising. Once Andrews came on & TDB was moved back into midfield he looked the best player on the pitch. Terrific feet for the winner. I also thought Hurtado looked promising if a little raw. Plenty of time for him though. Looked like he could be a handful once up to speed. Lastly the tributes done yesterday were perfect. Hearing Tom Sawyer’s dad giving that tribute to him brought a tear to my eye. Superbly done for a young man whose life was taken far too soon.
They might have been first after beating Villa last year . WBA showing us how to deal with pesky non league teams .
That's the one fixture I'd least want, together with vs Man City or Liverpool - they play on a nasty astroturf pitch that results in terrible matches and probably increased risk of injuries.
