nik wrote:Last night was truly awful and totally bereft of any quality.
The tactics for a start were woefully inept with smacks of utter stupidity, we played Macc a month ago and were totally dominated by them due to their height and physicality, so last nights game plan was to try and mix it with them and compete for high balls - Genius.
Secondly we seem to have a team totally incapable or unwilling to bring the ball down and aim to pass to feet. We show very little in the way of movement, no one seems to want to receive a pass, drop into space for a pass etc. I have never seen a 'football' (I use that term loosely) team look so very uncomfortable with the ball at their feet.
Morecambe have always been known for playing football on the deck, this goes back to the Griff days. At times we were guilty of being a soft touch and not mixing but at least we tried to play football the right way. I wish could be said the same at the moment, we look totally lacking in quality.
Last night we made a decidedly average Macc team look decent due to poor tactics and lack of composure from our players. Sinclair, Reid are good players, Bensherif is average we just played right into their hands.
People on here have blamed the ground, the prawn sandwich brigade etc. I'm sorry but we all seem to be looking back on CP with exceedingly rose tinted specs. At times on wet Tuesdays nights we were getting 1300 and the atmosphere was terrible, the fact that the mood seemed lighter at CP was down to having a team who endeavoured to play entertaining football. This year it has been wholly uninspiring which has spread onto the terrace.
In my view, we haven't been playing decent football for any sustained period for the whole of Sammy's tenure. Whilst that may seem slightly harsh, and some will suggest it is just bandwagon jumping in light of the flow of negativity oozing from this message board currently, I said as much during our promotion season. In truth, since Sammy took charge, I can recollect two games - Bury at home 07/08 and Bournemouth at home 09/10 - where I've been truly thrilled by the football we've played.
The rest of the time it has been cautious and insipid. In 2002/2003, on our march to the Conference playoffs, we were playing some truly brilliant football I thought. Whilst that may be blinkered nostaglia, I'm sure I also recall us being the darlings of fans from other clubs because we played football the right way, for example. Because of this, there was a mood of positivity and and excitement at the club that's not been replicated since (or certainly hasn't for me) - and that includes Wembley and 2006/2007 in general.