***Match Thread*** TUE APR 30 19:15 WES1 Boards.ie 123.ie

Well, the joke is clearly on us. 1-0 loss.

I won't discuss the ref's decision in a public forum, suffice to say it's the first time in a couple of years I've had serious issues with a decision beyond a spur of the moment reaction.

Now, park that altogether as the reality is 123.ie deserved the win and that's only relevant to how they got it, they could've gotten it a few other ways. And they would've done had it not been for a truly outstanding performance from our keeper, absolutely top notch saves in several cases kept us in the game.

We started sluggishly, the lack of communication and urgency was shocking (with Derek an admirable exception at centre-half throughout), and our midfield didn't function as a unit and our challenges for headers were non-existent.

We improved a lot in the second half and got control of midfield and had the better balance of the play but didn't turn it into enough clearcut chances and put too much in the air - they were flawless in their aerial defence. That said, we played some nice stuff at times and were only inches from excellent moves leading to clearcut chances. So a much improved second half and it was good to see everyone fighting harder and the urgency increasing as the second half went on.

So, that's something to focus on ensuring we replicate right from the off next week. Early days and 9 points from 12 is no catastrophe but there's a few lessons from this game we hopefully will keep with us in future games.

Agree with what's been said, worst performance we put in as a team in the season and a half I've been there.

EVERYTHING was just so hurried, we didn't string 3 passes together in the 1st half, i remember asking the ref how long was left in the 1st half and he said 12 minutes and I thought "FOOK ME" have i actually touched the ball. There was ZERO link up play from back to middle to forwards, midfield got dominated in the 1st half and we got no balls up top.

It was disappointing and I did let the head drop a little, but some of the stuff we were doing was just sooooooo frustrating. I remember screaming for it in the middle with acres of space and clear run in on goal only for people to either play a long hopeful ball up the wing or run into no-mans land themselves.

We were bad last night but blips happen, we've been consistently good now for about 15 games so one terrible performance can creep in but lets leave it at that, no more. I think last night is one of those things you just have to put to the back of the mind and move on, everyone seemed to have a terrible game bar 1/2.

I'll be the 1st to admit I got a slice of humble pie and 123 were well worth the win, shocking decision but we should have been behind before that, great game Liam, yourself and Derek were the only good points.

mrDerek wrote: »

i agree the pitch is a hockey pitch we shouldnt be long balling anything especially out to the wings because even if you win the header chances are its going straight out of play because of the surface, everything should be to feet, the full backs should stretch out and receive the ball short 123 did this last night and it killed us also liam in goal should start throwing it out instead of kicking as its very difficult to control a long ball coming at ya at a 100 miles an hour with a big CH climbing all over ya

I've been screaming for us to play short to full backs, especially when we have the 2 best full backs in the league, quick, skillful and competent on the ball, with 2 passes we can get the ball to a midfielder or a winger and better yet to their feet. instead of kicking the ball out and hoping we win a header and then hope we win the 50/50, it's madness, but apparently playing it short is a no go.......

I can jump all day for headers, end of the day I'm not going to win them, never have never will, why not play to our strengths, we just need to think quicker, throw in's do NOT have to be taken by full backs just do someone if they are on quickly, same with free kicks in and around the centre, no need to pile the box and hoof it in and with goal kicks we should be encouraged to receive short and play quick balls into feet.

helimachoptor wrote: »

123 did it so well because as a team we sat back. An intelligent team pushes up to cut the short option out and that us normally what we would do but Tuesday seems to have been an exception.

Also in collie and Ciaran we have 2 excellent aerial players, we should not be afraid to send it long and that's not to mention Dave aswell

Wingers etc should be looking for second ball off those lads.

thing is the point i made about the surface is the ball just skips on like im quick enough but combine the surface with how high we push up and theres very little pitch left to catch up with the ball. route one long balls are a legitimate tactic but it doesn't play to our strengths im only new to the team but from what i have seen there is a good number of technically competent players in this team and we need to have more than 1 dimension to our attack.

helimachoptor wrote: »

123 did it so well because as a team we sat back. An intelligent team pushes up to cut the short option out and that us normally what we would do but Tuesday seems to have been an exception.

Also in collie and Ciaran we have 2 excellent aerial players, we should not be afraid to send it long and that's not to mention Dave aswell

Wingers etc should be looking for second ball off those lads.

Thats a good point, but the point also stands that then the ball drops you rely on 50/50's, of course short is not an option 100% of the time but it's an option a lot of the time and we never use, we shouldn't be afraid to play FOOTBALL Thats what the game is.

You have no idea how frustrating it is when the ball can be rolled out to left or right back or even in some cases to the midfield only for the game to bypass you as a result of winning the header and then you have 10 yards to play with.

Anyway, play football thats my moto...