Cheltenham 2 Morecambe 0 LIVE thread

[Redalert1970]

That's the story of the season so far !!

[dannymorc1]

2-0. Game over. Just got to hope other results go our way. It’s looking grim.
Got to hope that we can bring in a SCORER in the transfer window.
We’ve gone completely to pieces now since second goal.

[Keith]

Howler in defence. Should have been cleared by the defence, but then the ball comes back in and Burgoyne all at sea, and gifted them a second.

Very poor. As bad as last week.

I said we were perhaps in a false poition because we'd played well against lots of good sides, and we needed to wait until we play lower sides. Tranmere we were poor in the second half. Today we've been dreadful. I'm not sure Dackers has touched the ball yet (actually, he's just made a great defensive tackle on the edge of our penalty area).

Gab Sutton said "Morecambe have been playing at 6's and 7'" I think he's being charitable, I'd say 5's & 6's at best.

[Keith]

Hope>Paul Lewis

[jona77]

I just fear that by the time we get to the January transfer window we may have been cut adrift! Unless we sign at least 1 quality striker and a mid fielder we are definitely heading for the national league! The amount of games where we have had either zero shots or 1 shot on target over 90 minutes is staggering! Toothless up front!

[Redalert1970]

I'm clutching at straws but I also think accy and harrogate could get sucked into the relegation scrap as well

[Keith]

I just fear that by the time we get to the January transfer window we may have been cut adrift! Unless we sign at least 1 quality striker and a mid fielder we are definitely heading for the national league! The amount of games where we have had either zero shots or 1 shot on target over 90 minutes is staggering! Toothless up front!

We're clutching at straws, waiting for January. But Carlisle & Swindon will have more money to spend in the window than us. They'll both be looking at us as the one to go bottom.

White>Millen

[Redalert1970]

Don't think Swindon have much money

[redrobo]

Not a single shot on,target. Begs the question what do we do in traing other than run around aimlessly.

[Redalert1970]

We need 26 points from remaining 26 games to even have a chance of staying up

Possible YES
Probable NO

[Keith]

I'm clutching at straws but I also think accy and harrogate could get sucked into the relegation scrap as well

We'd need ten games to catch up with Harrogate!
They're seven points ahead of us, we've got 14 points from 20 games. Other sides can be in free-fall, but if we don't improve A LOT it won't matter

[Angler1]

It's sad to see but the league doesn't lie, we are absolutely terrible this team will struggle in the conference league (if that's what it's called now).

[Redalert1970]

Bottom 3 today ...

Swindon 0 shots on target
Morecambe 0 shots on target
Carlisle 2 shots on target

Table doesn't lie

Boxing day is massive for both us and Carlisle

Can't believe we have won 3 games from 20 and are still only 2 points from safety

[Keith]

Must win three of the next four games, but we can't do that with zero shots.

[Redalert1970]

3 wins from 20 to all of a sudden winning 3 from 4

Would be brilliant but can't see it Keith

[dannymorc1]

This has got to be our worst performance this season. Cheltenham are certainly not the best team that we played, but we just didn't get into the game. Listening to the Cheltenham commentators and they have been nervous most of the afternoon, but they needn't have worried, we never looked like scoring. They were complimentary about our commitment, but it didn't get us anywhere. Second best all over the pitch today sadly.

[Redalert1970]

It looks like Brown will be shipped out in January

Possibly Dackers back to Salford and maybe Max Taylor loaned out somewhere

We need a Callum Lang type striker, a pacy winger, another centre half and a creative midfielder

Not asking for much lol lol

[fulwoodshrimp]

It’s beginning to look desperate for us. Another game with no shot on target. We need a bit of quality in the January window but I fear it could be too late to save us.

[Keith]

Radio Lancs: Quinny asked Derek if we're hitting the target and looking like we're capable of scoring but then don't in games...

"No, not really"

"We allowed Cheltenham to score the first goal and the second was calametous"

Derek sounded quite down, and frustrated, and said we clearly aren't good enough.

Everyone works really hard, and gives their all, but we simply lack quality.

[redrobo]

The days of getting depressed and taking it out on our cat are such a regular occurance that he just sits there as if he knows what's going on..

Loosing has become such a regular occurrence that it's now part of the lads make up.

[Redalert1970]

Very strange interview from Derek tonight

He said Tutonda is better at defending than Adam Lewis

But Tutonda was on the bench

[Keith]

Very strange interview from Derek tonight

He said Tutonda is better at defending than Adam Lewis

But Tutonda was on the bench

To be fair, he also said that Lewis is better going forwards. He started Lewis for the attacking side of his game, bu changed it early because he wasn't coping in defence.

I'd rather see Lewis further forwards, with Tutonda behind him, and Slew more central, attacking. Slew did very little today, and was never in a shooting position. Not picking him out as particularly poor, as no-one had a good game, but he was another anonymous player today.

[MfcChris]

We need 26 points from remaining 26 games to even have a chance of staying up

Possible YES
Probable NO

No team will ever stay up on as few as 40 points.

You cannot assume the other bottom clubs will remain at this level of points per game, as they will improve especially after January signings.

We are just too low in quality due to having to build a brand new team with little money. Simple as that.

[black morse]

Until now I've sort of gone along with the hope that we had played decently against all the teams in the top half and would pick up points when we faced the lower teams. I don't think so anymore.

It's so sad as the fans support is still better than it was during our previous time in League two (about 200 made the journey today). I just hope that Derek doesn't walk. It seems as if there was a clause in his contract which might allow him to. If he does we have no chance of staying up.....or was today just the manager of the month curse?

[Phoenix Shrimp 2017]

Very strange interview from Derek tonight

He said Tutonda is better at defending than Adam Lewis

But Tutonda was on the bench

To be fair, he also said that Lewis is better going forwards. He started Lewis for the attacking side of his game, bu changed it early because he wasn't coping in defence.

I'd rather see Lewis further forwards, with Tutonda behind him, and Slew more central, attacking. Slew did very little today, and was never in a shooting position. Not picking him out as particularly poor, as no-one had a good game, but he was another anonymous player today.

Totally agree with this. In recent games Adam Lewis has been totally exposed at left full back. Against Grimsby Obikwu broke through easily on his side and scored two. The same against Bradford but fortunately good saves kept them out. I think Derek plays him because he gets forward and adds a bit of an extra attacking dimension. Fine but then he is expected to get back and defend and is usually exposed due to being knackered and not getting much assistance from his colleagues. Why not try Tutonda as full back and Lewis playing in a more forward position of him to attack and assist in defence when required?

We can't just play Lewis as left back at Chelsea because if EFL 2 teams are skinning him then Chelsea's latest wonderkid from Spain Guiu will score a hatful against us. He really is rapid and very skilful!