Mark, Sammy this is not acceptable

[Ned]

If the alarm bells were quietly ringing in the latter half of last season then based on the woeful performance against PNE the bells must be now deafening the ears of Messrs Mcillroy and Lillis. Of course supporters can accept that old chestnut from losing managers about results not being important in friendlies but that does not apply to the performance or lack of it!
On the face of it PNE who a few months ago were struggling in the Championship and were no doubt anticipating a problematic fixture against a Morecambe team who finished in the top half of Div.2, were playing at home with an influx of new signings and making noises about being stronger than last season. The end result of this one sided stroll was summed up by the PNE manager who after complimenting his team then ensured they kept their feet on the ground by stating that they were unlikely to face an easier task all season than they did today. High praise indeed for a Morecambe team who were lacking in every department. To be fair the keeper and Wainwright can be satisfied with their input but as for the rest:- the fullbacks are a liability, the ongoing problem with the centre backs is ongoing, the midfield does not have the creative quality required for the football league and the strikers are average non league and of course there is no pace!. An early comparison was the ability of the PNE forwards who with their backs to goal could receive the ball on their chests and control it compared to Blinkhorn who could not control it and would immediately concede possession.
On the evidence of this performance one has to question if Mr Lillis training regime contains any work on technique or is it that the players are just not good enough.
Hopefully Sammy has a bit of time to rectify the situation because as it stands we continue to look like a team that will concede goals and struggle to score which as we all know can only have one outcome.

[Phoenix]

I was discussing how long it would be before someone got stuck in, I expected something before now. I'll start with your old chestnut, friendly results aren't important. Your problem is you see yesterday's 11 as our first team 11. In reality you saw less than half our squad with sammy using the game to see how well/if they worked together. Some did, some didn't. There's still more friendlies to come and you won't see the same 11 on the pitch again. You should have had a look on the school field where some more of the squad were doing some light training.

[Christies Child]

For a first time poster, that really takes the biscuit.

Something tells me that you are not an MFC follower

Tell me where to find the PNE post match comments, 'cause I'd be interested to read his actual words and tone.

[Keith]

For a first time poster, that really takes the biscuit.

Something tells me that you are not an MFC follower

Tell me where to find the PNE post match comments, 'cause I'd be interested to read his actual words and tone.

Oh I don't know... From the style of the writing and the content I'd simply suggest that not everyone re-registered with their old shrimpsvoices name! This name is more appropriate

[Sammy h]

Are you there Robert?

[marky No.1]

"Negative Ned" - how appropriate

If we'd had a right back in position in the first half it would have been a different story. PNE just played it into the wide open space with ease. Roache was doing his nut and rightly so..

Its early days. Get off their backs FFS

[campdave]

HELP! WE'RE GOING DOWN

[Ned]

For a first time poster, that really takes the biscuit.

Something tells me that you are not an MFC follower

Tell me where to find the PNE post match comments, 'cause I'd be interested to read his actual words and tone.

Are you for real? No manager would say this in post match comments; it was said in the changing room to his own players. As with all things this was passed on by one of the PNE players to his friends who are PNE followers and exchange banter with me regarding football.

At least the Chairman believes I am a MFC follower and acknowledges the validity of some if not all of my points of view.

[Keith]

...friends who are PNE followers and exchange banter with me regarding football.

At least the Chairman believes I am a MFC follower and acknowledges the validity of some if not all of my points of view.

Bloomin' 'ek Robert, you actually have banter? You should try some of that on here occasionally!

[Martin]

As with all things this was passed on by one of the PNE players to his friends who are PNE followers and exchange banter with me regarding football.

Send three and fourpence, we're going to a dance!

[Christies Child]

Are you for real? No manager would say this in post match comments; it was said in the changing room to his own players. As with all things this was passed on by one of the PNE players to his friends who are PNE followers and exchange banter with me regarding football.


ahhhh....just as I thought...'hearsay'.....

Concrete proof please, my friend!

[PUNKISDEAD]

NEGATIVE NED IS EITHER A WIND UP MERCHANT WHO WE SHOULD IGNORE, OR A THICK TURD WHO WE SHOULD IGNORE!!!

[church of england]

howard of bury top bloke at the castle come back to your true spiritual home at deepdale.remember bobby ham gerry ingram , alan spavin +ricky heppolette etc.

[james456]

I dont even think this is real, but if it is: There is no shame in losing to a superior side. I think we deserved a goal for our 2nd half efforts, and 3-1 would have been a fair score. Considering the amount of games we have played in this short space of time, you cant expect us to play our first team (Baker didnt play) and am I the only one who thinks we played ok???

[heysham_mfc]

I would be more worried if we won every pre-season game and made no mistakes

[Harry]

I'm sure the game yesterday will be used as a learning curve, and a measurement for the management to see how well the team performed against a better side. We have 5 more games, 3 against higher league opposition, to improve as a team before August 9th

[Voice at the back]

Jees, I've heard it all now.

Ned, do you honestly believe it is not acceptable that we did not beat a CHAMPIONSHIP side that will be pushing for promotion to the PREMIER LEAGUE.

Go and make a coffee and make sure it's black with plenty of suger in it

[HALMA 1983]

I paid to see a training game and that's what it turned out to be, Preston were far superior in every department as expected and our side was about as weak as it could have been so there would only be one outcome,
Was I bothered about the score? NO....................... I expect the same on Tuesday truth be known (unless we field our best 11) but for all the shortcomings I did see a few signs that we'll do ok in League Two with the new lads and what we have already.
Wainwright was excellent as was the traillist Turner (could turn out to be another gem) Carr put himself about and parrish looked useful, O'Carroll ran himself into the ground without any real success but he did have a thankless task against those giants at the back and against lesser quality might shine, Roche didn't command his area enough for me in the first half and the first two goals highlighted a severe lack of agility, he seemed far more focused second after no doubts getting the rocket in the dressing room and restored my faith with a string of fine saves, before that I was praying Davies would enter the fold.
Wayne had a cracker and Blinky was a real thorn in their side and certainly kept the defence on their toes, The introduction of Artell helped shore up a defence that was all at sea and restored some much needed calm in there, overall it was a good runabout against a hard working championship side who'll be in the top half of the table under this manager so no shame in defeat.

More swapping and changing on Tuesday until we head towards that final tweeking and do the business when it really matters.

[Bare Ben]

I agree when Blinks came on he seemed to have a new found confidence about him, thought if anybody was going to score it would be him.

[Harry]

http://www.morecambefc.premiumtv.co.uk/ ... 66,00.html

[B.H.C #3]

I think Ned is telling the truth

[Heaton Shrimp]

"Negative Ned" - how appropriate

If we'd had a right back in position in the first half it would have been a different story. PNE just played it into the wide open space with ease. Roache was doing his nut and rightly so..

Its early days. Get off their backs FFS

I don't think Yates has much to worry about when it comes to competition for his place.

A number of times PNE were knocking into our right back spot as there was acres of space.

[fretz]

there were 5 or 6 first team squad sat in stand who will probably play tuesday so lets not panic yet

[Vinny]

I think Negative Ned (Robert, or whoever you are) needs to take his negativity and criticism elsewhere. I seriously thought the subject title was meant to be sarcastic! We can do without that at this stage.

We see games differently, and I agree totally with the views in Oldhamades post. It takes time to develop a coherant defence and with several new faces and a couple of trialists facing determined pressure of an improved Championship side, it was always going to be a challenge. But I thought our team showed some great promise. Our full-backs were found out early on, including our previous 'Mr Reliable' and I thought McCann was perhaps too keen to get forward, but gave good support play, passes and made good crosses. We didn't play Adams, Fraser, Twissy or Baker, who individually would no doubt have made a difference. Thought the new lads up front looked like they will do well against League Two defences and Blinks was very unlucky not to get on the score sheet. I agree it's not nice to loose, but it really doesn't make any differnce in a friendly.

It was good to see we played the ball out from the back well (instead of the regular long punt up to Thomo's head last season) and I noticed the touch-lines seem to have been brought in half a yard. Further indications we are going to see a different team and style of play this season.

[Phoenix]

Negative Ned hasn't commented on the Barrow game so I take it they're happy with the result, we beat a team 2 leagues below us. So why is it the end of the world if we're beaten by a team 2 leagues above us?