Just got back..
Probably one of the most quietest last game of season matches from our end singing....but then we have been blessed in recent times of fairy tale endings.
But hey, when you see a walking pizza rolling up to the away end with a banana and what appears to be an avocado, you know it's probably better grub you'd get at Irene's Kitchen!?
Anyhoos, onto less important things...
Rightly m o m Luca gets his just rewards goal for a fabulous debut season in league 1, rising to the challenge admirably (if he isn't picked to play CB against a hungry McGoldrick!?) plus a sumptuous ball for Scotty to run on to for the Coburn headbut post incident!?
...a real asset and attitude this season. A real turn up, as Mansfield away first game of season last campaign seems ages away when we were scratching around for a RB/RWB. He's made this position his own, been a star at this position, undroppable, appears to live his football but JAB still insists on tinkering and I think this displaces his form, and that has effects on the whole team...
Other wonders to see were an Azza 360 twirl that back healed pass.
I really have enjoyed his contributions since signing....I know he hasn't turned up in last few weeks, but I saw him pre match yesterday and he was as cheerful and jovial and took time with fans and staff alike....his on the pitch football has always been played with a smile and just looks like he's enjoying himself. Whether he will continue after us in the same way, who knows?
To me he's obviously departing before the end of the next transfer window, I truly hope he stays as he's entertainment enough and emulates what we are all her for: to be happily entertained and to try.
Other wonders to see was Thommos @rse! A genuinely hilarious slapstick moment where Finley "accidentally" slipped and pulled down no25 shorts to reveal he's wearing a thong!? Haha! Brilliant!?
Other wonders to see were the Butcombe Bar pre match Thatchers cider pump playing up so they turn to cans....£5.50 a shout!
Yes, £5.50 for a can you can buy for £1.50?!
Absolutely disgraceful.
I have de funded the club this season as I prefer options to pay cash so it wasn't my party, but if it were me I would've walked away!
.... although some paid £100 nicker in the restaurant corporate for a salad! Haha!
Never disappoints to see the club I don't recognise getting further away from me, but hey if it floats your boat carry on.
JAB said post match he feels like a failure and in some ways I very much agree.
Some of his decisions have been truly baffling and opened himself up to failure, that successful managers and clubs just don't make.
Celery Ballscombe is a case in hand ... Whom signs a goalkeeper with conditions they have to play? If it was the only option in the whole world, I would agree, but there must have been other loan offers out there...? ... and then goes on to concede 5 goals away to a now relegated club!? A keeping failure....which set of a run of games we lost to teams in the bottom of the table that spelled our doom on play off ambitions.
Too many players have underperformed and still get their gig. The manager has to take responsibility for that. An indirect failure.
Going public with chastising players has always appeared crass and disrespectful, but perhaps we might have gotten more if it had been dealt with in a more trustful way? A diplomatic failure.
The defence has been a major cause for concern.
Maybe Kevin Bond departure had an effect? Who knows? But we couldn't settle and Connolly couldn't regain his last season form.
To counter...
Scotty has played some delicious football worthy of admission fee alone.
The loan sources of Gibson, Bogarde and Coburn have been well researched and thought out.
Rossiter and Ward have been two midfield dynamos that warrant more credit as support for our mid play.
Gordon looking better and better in the second half of season. Would love to see him springboard his form into next season.
John Marquis is the quiet assassin that adds an extra dimension to not just his finishing, but how he conducts himself on the pitch to create chances for others. Great acquisition.
We may be seeing the end of Coutts and Whelan, thanks for their input.
Also, McCormick....troubled and displaced. I hope he finds his form with us, and potential.
All in all, this season it was better seeing some of you off the pitch than some of play on it!
But we had some exhilarating times, great away days and some players we'll never see again in the quarters...
Hope we all make it through to August without giving up our faith, well done to all contributors here and always, always UptheGas!
Until then...Cobblers or Stockport?
