We looked OK for around ten minutes during the first half, but the rest of it was a shambles and we were completely outplayed. It was the worst that I’ve seen us play since that 5-0 debacle at home to Nantwich nearly three years ago. I know people often say these things off-hand but it could really, genuinely have been ten but for Bazza.
The defence looked like they’d never met each other. Jelleyman was below his best but at least he put in a challenge occasionally and supported the attack when necessary.
Austin is far too slow – he couldn't cope with the pace and movement of Altrincham's attackers. We put together a handful of passing moves which broke down once the ball was played to him because of his hap-hazard, anywhere-will-do approach.
I fully appreciate that Stainfield is young and we didn’t have much alternative than to play him but, that said, he looks out of his depth. Perhaps he could do with a spell out on loan? Altrincham played some very simple, composed, one-touch moves in and around our back-line, teasing out centre-backs who seemed utterly terrified to put a foot in (or do anything at all to stop them!).
Jordan Fairclough is too lightweight for a right-back. He gets muscled off the ball too easy and found it difficult to so much as pass the ball to a team-mate. His confidence seemed to collapse as the game went on and he did little but launch it long in the second half.
The midfield… we had a midfield?
I’ll be polite and suggest that perhaps central midfield isn’t Armstrong’s preferred position. I’m not sure I remember seeing him touch the ball in the first half.
I felt a little sorry for Wilkinson because he essentially had to do the work of about three players. He tired badly towards the end and left the defence exposed. Quite why Sleath was dropped from the squad entirely, I have no idea. On his way to Alfreton this week perhaps?
Ben Fairclough is very quick. That’s about it. Taking on a man is not his forte and neither is crossing. It would be a mistake to play him on the wing again.
Hall is an incredibly frustrating player to watch. He saw a lot of the ball yesterday, yet didn’t do much with it. Jelleyman often came up to support him but was rarely given the ball. When he gets the ball out wide, Hall seems to take an age to decide what to do, rarely looks up and then puts in a cross that nine times out of ten finds no-one. He's anonymous when playing in central midfield and frankly doesn't work hard enough there. (In fairness, his delivery from corners was pretty good.)
The two young lads who started up front put in plenty of effort. Burrow holds the ball up well and finds whatever support is around him. He seems a little afraid to shoot though; perhaps that will come with confidence.
Mulready looked quick and likes playing on the shoulder of one of the centre-backs, waiting to pounce on through-ball into his path. Unfortunately, whenever he was spotted the pass to him was often over-hit or intercepted.
Lee looked strong when he came on but gave away too many fouls (nothing new there, then). Semple looked lively but didn’t see much of the ball; Newsham similarly.
If you look at the starting XI, all were LC & JL signings bar Jelleyman (Austin was on loan last season). I’m not sure how much thought went into it (e.g. what was the rationale for dropping Sleath and/or Milnes?) but the net result was embarrassing. The key to the gulf between the sides yesterday was the Altrincham looked well-organised and played with confidence on the ball, keeping everything simple and always providing each other with options. We looked like a team who had been patched together at short notice without a game plan.
I’m glad I don’t have to make the decision about the managers’ futures. Walking out of the ground, I’d have sacked them there and then but emotions were high and, on reflection, I think October’s too early to make changes. We’re closer to the play-offs than the relegation zone, there’s still more than 70% of the season to go and I’m not convinced the job is as attractive as some would have you believe.
What is key now is how the players and managers react to this mauling.
