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March 26, 2026 at 8:55 pm in reply to: Howe Can We Not Integrate A Proven Goalscorer In To Our Team? #318398
Realistically Dec is back on the bench unless Whitehall picks up another injury or he is rested in the last game or two before the playoffs.
That does not mean he is not going to get opportunities to have a big impact.
When Whitehall works hard (like he did last night) he’s pretty much done after an hour.
4-3-3 doesn’t work for Dec. Needs to be one of a front 2 but that doesn’t work for Whitehall.
Dec needs to bide his time and keep his gob shut (if rumours are to be believed). He could have a vital role to play.Rochdale’s crowd numbers must be disappointing to their players and their rich owner but then how must Borehamwood feel?
The EFL are probably hoping for York and Southend to be promoted. National League will have their fingers crossed for Rochdale and Borehamwood.
Hopefully we can upset both of them.Offside Mick, Linesman had his flag up sharpish for a change.
Casuals want to buy into something with positivity.
FFS don’t tell Dave.
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Final ball often let him down but he shows promise. Injects a bit of pace which obviously Roberts and Whitehall don’t have.
The pace was the only thing that made a good back 4 look nervous – apart from the gift they handed to Roberts.
The young American lad also had them scrambling for much the same reason.
NL defences don’t like facing genuine pace including ours.Clunan was OK but Rowley is a better footballer. He has been a revelation in a position he didn’t seem to have the attributes for.
Credit to Joe of course but a fair bit of credit to Butler as well for seeing that.
We’ll need all of the midfield 3 to be at their best to get results tonight and Saturday.1 user thanked author for this post.
March 25, 2026 at 11:23 am in reply to: Howe Can We Not Integrate A Proven Goalscorer In To Our Team? #318305Thought Becks move was a permanent one.
Neither him or Chadwick got a game last night in Gateshead’s performance of the season.March 25, 2026 at 10:58 am in reply to: Howe Can We Not Integrate A Proven Goalscorer In To Our Team? #318303Brogan, Campbell and Dec?
Given he has been the only fit centre back at the club for the last few weeks it’s hardly surprising he has been playing.
For an older pro having to play 2 games a week in a team who’s midfield has gone pretty much AWOL the old fella has not done too badly. Did we not just win 3 games in the last week despite 25 hours sitting on a bus?3 users thanked author for this post.
Love the first team grounds bit. Didn’t know we had any other teams – or grounds.
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Agree with Ironawe that Westbrooke has gone off the boil a bit recently.
A bit like Ewing did a little bit earlier. Even the ever reliable Rowley has looked a bit jaded of late.
Not questioning the effort of any of the midfield 3 but they have played a lot of games.
We are obviously short on options apart from left wingers so appreciate it’s difficult to give them a break but it might be an idea to rotate them through a couple of games rest each while Beestin is fit and looking sharp.
If we do make the playoffs we need our midfield at its sharpest to stand any kind of chance.2 users thanked author for this post.
The pitch is looking better.
Do they do them with tractor tyres?
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Said when it was first rumoured he would have been better staying for the season and getting regular game time.
As it has worked out Jones looks like he may be more dynamic than TSF and we hopefully get the rewards of his development for another 2 seasons.Connor Smith judging from his previous spell is a clever player with the ball at his feet. Not unlike Roberts.
Neither have a clue what to do with “fight” balls hoofed from the back.
Even our beloved centre forward who loves a fight is not very effective at dealing with fight balls.
Pre Christmas our midfield 3 won their midfield battles and passed to the forwards pretty well – at least by National League standards.
For whatever reason that has stopped happening. The alternative front players, Beestin, Hurst and Carlton (now Jones) are not exactly John Fashanu wannabes either.
During our relative success of the last 3 seasons we have struggled against teams that turn the game into a scrap. Think Tamworth, Buxton, Scarborough etc. Carlisle and Boston examples from this season.
Like it or not (and I for one do like it) we are much more likely to win games by playing some football than we are by joining in with a scrap proposed by opponents and usually aided by poor officials.
Our midfield are all decent footballers but none are capable of winning games emulating the Bishops, Murphies, Togwells etc.
Too much I fear has been made of the pitch as a reason we can’t play football – it didn’t bother York or Borehamwood too much.
Only way out of this slump with the players we have is to attempt to play football again. Yes we will make mistakes which will cost us the odd goal but if we are scoring 2 or 3 it won’t matter too much.2 users thanked author for this post.
Good luck Carlton. Always gave 100% and scored some very timely goals.
His first touch not quite good enough for top half National League but will do well at KL.4 users thanked author for this post.
Apologies meant that one for the Sutton thread. Senior moment.
With Cass on this one. We know Smith is a quality footballer. Just lacking match sharpness and a bit of confidence. He won’t find those on the bench. If we can get him firing it would be great to have quality and a goal threat from both flanks during the run in.
Leave Danny to frustrate the centre backs for 70 minutes then bring the two youngsters on when their extra pace should make a difference. We might just start scoring late goals rather than conceding them.2 users thanked author for this post.
March 8, 2026 at 12:22 pm in reply to: Howe Can We Not Integrate A Proven Goalscorer In To Our Team? #317219The York game for Altrincham makes no difference to us. York and Rochdale are well out of reach but if Dec can help take points off Southend and Halifax when Alty play them it could well be useful to the Iron.
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Until the last 5 matches I would have thought he could have done better than that.
On recent form he shouldn’t be near our first eleven. Let’s be having Beestin in for the run in please Andy.1 user thanked author for this post.
I thought the lad did pretty well but obviously the Iron Bar think Whitehall and Roberts have won it too many times already.
If you want truth on a forum only Bru will do.
UK’s version of Truth Social.1 user thanked author for this post.
If we get the kick off please do something other than booting it out towards the left for a throw in. That’s all I ask.
It’s not so bad if you only have one or two kick offs per game. We are having 4 or more a game lately which is the real problem.
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One point from them would be a start Rene.
Even when they gifted us 3 first half goals with defensive howlers we managed to concede 4 in the second half.Not a moan but some advice which of course he will ignore. Quality trumps form. Pick the highest Quality players in their correct positions and stick with them for the run in.
Injuries aside that would currently be:
Mahady
Rose Evans Belahoun Horton
Westbrooke Rowley Ewing
Roberts Whitehall SmithFor now Barrows for Rose and Boyce for Belahoun.
Beestin would be the only sub worth using (for any of the front 6 that might be struggling). Get Howe back as a second option but any other potential substitute weakens the team significantly. But then I’m just an ex U-11 and Sunday League manager.
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Arrogant and conceited are not necessarily drawbacks for a successful football manager.
See Ferguson, Clough, Wenger, Shankly and Alf Ramsey for evidence. Bill would probably add Laws to that sample.Andy could do with a bit more of it then perhaps he would be a bit less sensitive. None of the above gave much of a toss what anyone else thought. Football fans moan about stuff. On odd occasions a few make valid points but mostly it’s just gripes that we don’t play silky football and win every game by at least 3 goals whatever our circumstances.
Any 3 or 4 from York, Rochdale, Forest Green, Carlisle and Southend will be looking for new managers in the summer when they don’t get promoted as Andy probably would have been had the Iron not been promoted last season.
No worries about relegation this season means he has done OK. Top ten means he has done reasonably well. Playoffs means he has done very well even if tht means limping into 7th place. Promotion and he’s a miracle worker and he will be looking at offers above our budget.
Hopefully once we get our customary beating by Solihull out of the way we can get back on the playoff train.Disagreed with 95% of Alcy’s posts but he used to add a bit of life to the debate.
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