Scotimp
Vital Football Legend
You really think we are direct?
Match Thread: Lincoln City v Stevenage
- Thread starter Jules
- Start date
Absolutely.
mikeosullivan
Vital Squad Member
I didn’t think I was as bad a spectacle as some have said. It was always going to be a one goal game, and I thought we had a slight edge in the football we played. If we had won 1-0 I don’t think Stevenage could have had any complaints.
If we had have been able to play the same eleven as last week, I think we might have edged it. But McGrandles was a big loss, as well as Moylan played.
We are shaping up to be a very solid outfit. Yes MK made us a diefent defensive outfit, but today was nothing like a MK performance in my view. I’d rather watch today’s team any day of the week than some of the boring dross I had to watch a year ago.
If we had have been able to play the same eleven as last week, I think we might have edged it. But McGrandles was a big loss, as well as Moylan played.
We are shaping up to be a very solid outfit. Yes MK made us a diefent defensive outfit, but today was nothing like a MK performance in my view. I’d rather watch today’s team any day of the week than some of the boring dross I had to watch a year ago.
mikeosullivan
Vital Squad Member
I was puzzled by that too. There was a game recently where I thought we kicked it long too much, but the last two or three games we have been anything but direct.
Not that, with House and Draper upfront, there would be a lot wrong with long balls. We looked far more likely to snatch a goal today when Freddie came on to partner Ben.
I’m not sure I can agree with that entirely. I do think we’ve got more streetwise which has contributed to our unbeaten run.
What did you see that makes you say we’re cynical and niggly even close to Stevenage?
Our game plan seems to be getting Hackett, Sorensen, and Bishop on the ball running at the other team. Certainly not direct. We do start Joe Taylor up front, not exactly supporting the direct football claim.
sedgleyimp
Vital Champions League
Back home after a bit of a non-event at Sincil Bank today. We just didn't get going. Everything seemed a bit rushed and forced throughout and we just couldn't get to grips with Stevenage's game plan. They clearly set up not to lose first and foremost. They had at least two players on Ted Bishop and Reeco Hackett all game and if the game could be played in the air, it was. They were aware that we wanted to press their defence so at no point did they look to play it out. In fact there was only a couple of occasions where we could press their keeper and Moylan nearly made the breakthrough from one of those few moments. I overheard some people saying they would hate to watch Stevenage every week, but we've played like that in the past in order to not lose so we can't have it both ways.
The players have had a lot of game time in the recent weeks and I think that told on some today. Everything seemed that bit slower and we certainly missed McGrandles' nous in the middle of the park making himself some space. Not that his replacement Moylan played poorly. In fact he was close to my man of the match for his efforts and attempts at trying to get us moving forward, but you sensed that if Conor was playing, our midfield would have been able to take better control of the game.
Anyway a game which probably has put the expectations back to something more realistic for the rest of the season. We are not one of the best six teams in our league, not that Stevenage are either. Ten games left to make real plans for next season in League 1 with regard to patterns of play and tactics.
The players have had a lot of game time in the recent weeks and I think that told on some today. Everything seemed that bit slower and we certainly missed McGrandles' nous in the middle of the park making himself some space. Not that his replacement Moylan played poorly. In fact he was close to my man of the match for his efforts and attempts at trying to get us moving forward, but you sensed that if Conor was playing, our midfield would have been able to take better control of the game.
Anyway a game which probably has put the expectations back to something more realistic for the rest of the season. We are not one of the best six teams in our league, not that Stevenage are either. Ten games left to make real plans for next season in League 1 with regard to patterns of play and tactics.
I'm pretty sure Draper and House were competing for lots of aerial balls forward. Never why Taylor was taken off for the more physical Draper as he was more suited to the service he was getting.
We do our fair share of play acting and tactical fouling.
None of this is meant as criticism. Stevenage are a good side, look at their league position, we had to match them at their strengths and hope our more able players could make the difference, they didn't quite manage it today. On Tuesday we played against a less capable side and were able to outclass them pretty comfortably. It takes different approaches and skills to beat different opposition and we seem to be developing nicely.
We do our fair share of play acting and tactical fouling.
None of this is meant as criticism. Stevenage are a good side, look at their league position, we had to match them at their strengths and hope our more able players could make the difference, they didn't quite manage it today. On Tuesday we played against a less capable side and were able to outclass them pretty comfortably. It takes different approaches and skills to beat different opposition and we seem to be developing nicely.
nlondonimp
Vital Champions League
big difference between a top seven team and our february games.
we were a bit rushed because stevenage did much more energetic closing down than the previous 6 opponents. they made fewer errors, left fewer spaces, and were generally much better organised. they don't create much, but they give very little away. they also stopped our attacks v early with those black arts niggly fouls that rarely get a yellow.
erhahon should have been off for a second yellow. only explanation - ref and assistant must have had poor angle on it. lucky for us as he will be needed at barnsley.
thought moylan had a decent debut, and it was noticeable how much more of the long ball draper won than house or taylor. keeping stevenage a bit more on the back foot. draper also produced two headers at goal from our dead ball delivery, which is a good sign going forward.
we were a bit rushed because stevenage did much more energetic closing down than the previous 6 opponents. they made fewer errors, left fewer spaces, and were generally much better organised. they don't create much, but they give very little away. they also stopped our attacks v early with those black arts niggly fouls that rarely get a yellow.
erhahon should have been off for a second yellow. only explanation - ref and assistant must have had poor angle on it. lucky for us as he will be needed at barnsley.
thought moylan had a decent debut, and it was noticeable how much more of the long ball draper won than house or taylor. keeping stevenage a bit more on the back foot. draper also produced two headers at goal from our dead ball delivery, which is a good sign going forward.
Well I would be interested to know who those 6 teams better than Stevenage are .....
Just look at the League table.
In our unbeaten run 3 of the top 6 have failed to beat us or look better than us.
With the present squad available regularly...I don't think we are far away from a top 6 side.
Unfortunately that couldn't be said from September to early January...for reasons we all know.
sedgleyimp
Vital Champions League
Oh I agree we are not far off, but I'm basing that on where we are now compared to where we are likely to finish and those positions will be somewhere between 8th and 10th. Stevenage very well might sneak that 6th spot, but to me that won't make them one of the six best teams in this division. Portsmouth, Derby, Posh, Barnsley and Bolton are the best 5. Oxford are the best opponents we've faced in a single game this season but that was before Manning left them. I'd also put Blackpool ahead of them in a best top 6 discussion, but their away form is letting them down.
We are a very good team, progressing well and upwards. It just won't result in us getting that top 6 spot this season. I do expect the discussion will be very different in 12 months time.
GrotierBranfootLeigh
Vital Squad Member
Stevenage are on a different planet with their attitude to gamesmanship.
impsimps
Vital Football Hero
Not read whats above, but a very scrappy game which suited Fatties lot, stop start, niggle fouls, anti football, no flow to the game just what the other lot set out to do. Would not want to watch that every week. Our midfield suffered without McGrandles but Moylan did well on his first full start. Surprised he got subbed . What nearly won it for us was when Draper can on, they struggled to cope with him and House together. Neither Sorensen or Hackett had their best games, the other lot knew what to expect. Ted had moments of class. O'Connor missed very little, and our defence was barely troubled. We might have to watch that again next year !!
UTI.
UTI.
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I quite enjoyed the game and thought Stevenage were a cut above what we've seen recently at the Bank. Dreadful foul on Jensen & Erahon lucky to stay on. Thought O'Connor headed everything and House closed down as well as usual. Hackett and Bishop had their moments, although the former tried one trick to many in the second half. He still had a fine game. I think Draper would have been a better bet than Taylor today, he was terrific when he came on. I thought Moylan did well and should get sharper with more game time. Defence was great. In the past 2-3 years we haven't always stood up to strong arm tactics but thought we did today. Final observation, I wonder whether one or two players should go on a referee management course!
Well done Imps, keep it up.
Well done Imps, keep it up.
The FA haven't got a bog roll long enough to record them all on.
Allegedly.................
After returning to Boston following his suspension from football he was given a suspended fine of £1,000 after admitting to using insulting or abusive words to the match official in their game against Peterborough.
Four months later he was escorted from Grimsby Town’s stadium Blundell Park by Humberside Police at half-time after he berated the fourth official after being incensed when Grimsby goalkeeper Steve Mildenhall appeared to handle the ball outside his area and was immediately spoken to by a police officer after a complaint of alleged foul and abusive language.
Later that year Evans was removed from the dug out after 55 minutes in Boston’s 1-0 defeat against Wycombe following an altercation with Wycombe’s Tommy Doherty.
In his first season at Crawley he was sent from the dug-out six times. The first two incidents resulted in a four game ban but at the end of the season he was hauled in front of the FA to answer the other four red cards, which he amassed in just seven games, and was given a suspended ban for the start of the following season. He appealed the four game ban and had it reduced to two, but then appealed the suspended sentence. The FA responded by slapping him with an immediate ten match ban and another suspended ten match ban on top of that.
Evans was banned for six games and fined £3,000 after the FA found him guilty of using abusive and insulting words and behaviour with a reference to gender. The incident took place following an ugly game between Crawley and Bradford which ended in a mass brawl and five players being sent off in the changing room.
Went quiet for a while, then in 2018 while at Posh he got a £1000 fine for four yellow cards and somehow managed to avoid an automatic touchline ban.
In August 2021 while at Gillingham he got a one match ban and a £1000 fine.
In October 2022 with Stevenage he was fined £500 after receiving a red card.
March 2024 another yellow. Headline: 'Steve Evans fumes at referee after Lincoln draw.'
I might have missed some.
Can't think of another manager who comes anywhere close in terms of shithousery.
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Hence the caveat of not in the boring Kennedy way/we are pressing teams now and we could add finding more wins than that run :)
Binghamimp
Vital Youth Team
Yes we are very direct at times
impsimps
Vital Football Hero
Having slept on that, it was of the most anti football side I have seen for sometime, very good at what they do, following Evans instructions I am sure, but would you want to be associated with that every week ? The Ref who is normally much better than that got sucked into it. I still dont know what House was doing wrong standing still a yard away when their keeper was trying to clear and then being told off by the Ref. Second half they had the intent of getting Erhahon sent off, not much of a foul for the second potential yellow and the other lot were constantly in his ear baiting him, not a good watch. Both he and House though have to learn to keep quiet and not answer back to the Ref, picking up un necessary bookings. At least we wont have suffer them for another year.
Davidimp
Vital Football Legend
He fumes after every game where they don't win, when you read the match reports in the FLP he's always moaning about decisions that he believes that they didn't get.
He'll never change, just amazed his antics on the touchline and BMI haven't given him a heart attack!
