FA Cup StockPOORt

[tangerinedream]

There's not really a great deal you can say that's complimentary after today's desperately poor FA Cup exit at Stockport. Other than a decent effort from Pooley close to the end we never looked liked scoring in a month of Sunday's with the overall 'performance' being close to our worst of the season. So the goal drought continues, we lack any sort of incisiveness and cutting edge and if not for Jay Lynch and some poor finishing by Stockport it could have been a lot worse. Too many players are under performing at the moment which combined with seeming lack of passion and general creativity means that there is plenty of hard work to be done by both players and management alike if we are to recapture our early season form which presently looks a long distance from where we were after our opening nine games.

[salfordiandude]

I was really disappointed with this performance. Sure, we had spells.... but that just wasn't good enough! Beaten by the better team today.

Pooley, Burton, and Barnesy are the only ones in my eyes who had a half decent game, and obviously Lynchy made some cracking saves, but we look deflated, uninspired!

I didn't see any change of tactics from the team, it was the same old "hoof it up" type tactic. Don't get me wrong it's great sometimes to do so, put their defence under pressure, but if it doesn't work don't keep on doing it. I'm starting to feel like we're getting ourselves in to a rut, and we're struggling to climb out of it. I can't put my finger on it, maybe it's just that we're coming up against good, strong, conference experienced sides?

Quite a few players out there were missing, and didn't play anywhere near their ability. I do hope we can turn it around and show County we are no push overs next Saturday!

[Chris P. Bacon]

Had to be elsewhere, so couldn't get to the game. First of all, I'd happily sacrifice the cup for a win in the league next week. I WILL be at that one by the way! 👍

I've never seen Jonno SO angry, and I've seen him interviewed after poor performances before. God knows what was said in the dressing room. But it looks as though recent patterns were repeated. When we can't find a way through, we play like an Allardyce side. Hoof it up and hope for the best. Those it's being hoofed up to.....well they just stand off the defender and hope he misses it. It didn't work for Bolton and it won't work for us.

I don't see any attacker really fighting for the ball. We can't keep allowing the opposition a free ball. Challenge at least. Make them work to win it. A ball goes loose in their penalty area, and nobody is on the end of it. We don't really have a goal poacher, the closest being Phenix.

I've never seen so many loose passes from a Salford side, even pre-Cof92. Simple no-pressure passes going straight back to the opposition, putting us under pressure. We are being outrun in midfield, something I really wouldn't have expected.

What worries me even more though, is our defence. I don't care who we brought in, where they came from and how long they have played at a higher level. We have NOT replaced Chris Lynch. Can any fan on here honestly say that they don't worry every time the opposition get a corner or free kick? We look completely vulnerable every time we are attacked....and that is NOT acceptable. When I said I'd have Lynchy back in an instant, someone said.....nah, he doesn't have the pace. Our defence doesn't need pace. It needs a captain that can organise and manage his defence and it needs someone who can both head the ball and tackle....and is fearless in getting in there and clearing the ball. Last season, that was a certain Mr Lynch. How many times is a cross going to go straight through our defence with nobody clearing it.....and that's when the opposition don't get on the end of it.

This team isn't currently going to challenge for promotion. I don't know if we just caught the league by surprise early on, because now, every team must come to Moor Lane, knowing they can win. Not enough players in our team want it enough, and don't look like a team that Bernard and Jonno would normally put out. Perhaps we need a period of consolidation? Learn to play at this level first, and then move on upwards. Perhaps that would bring our players back to reality? Maybe they are starting to believe the hype that surrounds the team and think we deserve promotion just because we're Salford. But it ain't good enough! 😡😡😡

[salfordbwfc]

For me the biggest disappointment was that the lack of cutting edge up front, and given such a large following with no doubt plenty of new faces (and kids) hopefully it hasnt put anyone off from returning in the future.

After a flying start in the division and the performance against Alferton, I think expectation levels rose to the highest point, with the team playing expansive free flowing football.

Id happily take a 1-0 grind next Saturday and get some solidity back in our play