Bluebirds Fans Forum / St. Albans MOTM Poll

**Posted by Eden** 01/3/2025 6:58 PM

FT 1-1. Torn between wasteful and unlucky today. At least we got the equaliser.

**Posted by Wellard** 01/3/2025 7:51 PM

Not wasteful as we created nothing and not unlucky as we were pants.
Why oh why do we only play one up front when at home but do away.
Bumper crowd enjoying the sunshine, who we want to attract back and we play negative. We really do shoot ourselves in the foot.

Last edited by Wellard (01/3/2025 11:26 PM)

**Posted by chippy** 01/3/2025 9:02 PM

Yet another boring crap performance at home!! How the hell can we play so well at away games and then turn in a performance like that today!!!
The home supporter deserve a lot better and let’s hope we do just that on Tuesday against Torquay but I wouldn’t put money on it!

**Posted by Argus** 02/3/2025 12:20 AM

Bearing in mind St Albans arrived late and spent a few hours on a coach, the logical approach would be for us to get at them from the off - but as normal we didn't. We play like a cautious away team at home, instead of taking any initiative, so it produces boring performances.

Lost count of the amount of sideway passes our midfield made in the first half....then again as our lone striker is always isolated, with two big centre backs on top of him, any rare forward pass to them is normally cut out. Think the management would play a team of midfielders if they could! Too much emphasis on rotation and have to wonder why Dawes is now a bench player and Gravata who has played on the left cutting in all season is now shifted to the right. Even when there is nothing to play for and another season where we will end up mid table - the handbrake remains on when playing at home. Puzzling.

Last edited by Argus (02/3/2025 12:58 AM)

**Posted by Joiner** 02/3/2025 12:43 AM

Agree with everything said in previous posts. Boring defensive we've witnessed it all season and nothing changes. I would like to know how the management come to arrive at their team selections. Today playing a team in the relegation zone and what do we do, play one striker against 2 big centre backs while keeping 2 strikers on the bench. Game after game our build up is so slow and predictable that by the time we get into the opponents half they have got all their players back and in their defensive formation. And if that wasn't bad enough we rarely attack in numbers. In one of the manager's post match interviews would be good to see the interviewer ask why he always picks a defensive lineup. Might work away from home but stats show certainly doesn't at home. Obviously we have performed well away from home but its home performances which bring in the fans.

**Posted by johnnycomelately** 02/3/2025 2:18 PM

Although ultimately a disappointing result, we did show more signs of chasing the game than we did a month or two back. Our forward was too isolated and we didn't use pace on the wings like we had potential for.

**Posted by Rambler** 02/3/2025 3:08 PM

I didn't think we were that poor . Similar to the Welling game, neither side really took a firm grip on the game. It was all very patchy and broken up. We had spells when we built well but like St Albans, our final ball was often poor and we wasted good positions and developments. It was certainly odd to see us start the game with a lone central striker and finish it with three! Dawes was brought in on the left and Gravata moved out right perhaps because their Number 24 had skinned Leone on 2 or 3 occasions? Will Dawes offers better ball-winnng and defensive options. Our back 5 must be physically the shortest and smallest backline in the League. Led by Freddie they did a very good job generally. Jac Poffley grows in strength and confidence. He made several crucial 2nd half interventions and attacked the ball in the air better than I've seen him do before. He has the perfect role-models for that in Freddie and Luke Haines. Spokes didn't look his usual self at all. He has such an influence on the way we play normally.. perhaps his below par-ness affected our fluency.
As I said after Welling... earlier in the season we would have probably lost this game. To our credit we are becoming harder to beat because we are learning not to lose even when we're not playing that well. Every team needs that gift.

**Posted by Argus** 02/3/2025 3:40 PM

Gravata played his entire game yesterday on the right wing.Dawes came in on left side for Johnson.
As Dawes was projected as the star summer signing from Yeovil, it's noticeable that he is in and out of the team, often a sub at home like yesterday and when starts - gets hooked regularly like a Caine Bradbury or a Matt McClure.Just watched the manager interview - nothing about one striker up front or tactics but more grumbles regarding the pitch and claiming it's all positive notching a point against a team that by the way - has won twice away from home all season.

Last edited by Argus (03/3/2025 7:34 PM)

**Posted by chippy** 02/3/2025 7:39 PM

On the post game interview Gary moaning about the pitch again! It’s the same for both sides and St. Albans handled it better than us.
The team selection was completely wrong with only one forward. Let’s start being positive from the start on Tuesday night and see where that takes us!! Or is that wishful thinking!!!

Last edited by chippy (02/3/2025 7:43 PM)

**Posted by Chipp54** 02/3/2025 9:07 PM

Difficult to disagree with much of the above although I don't think the performance was quite as bad as some have said. My main gripe would be the slow starts we often make at home....why? I also think the team are probably being coached into playing the possession football that apparently is rife among the many academies that exist these days. Too much emphasis on keeping the ball rather than what you can actually do with it.

Looking forward to Torquay Tuesday.