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He would if he was through on goal. That’s not what you said originally either. You said if he’d fouled him outside the box.

I know what I said.

Had Raff fouled him earlier in the play he wouldn't have been sent off. He wouldn't have given away a penalty although we probably would still have got beat.

Do you disagree that he should have fouled him earlier in the play?

Besides we still would have lost. Was more highlighting that Raff is not good enough.
 
Had Rafferty brought him down earlier in the play he would only have been booked. Players don't get sent off for hacking someone or shirt pulling on the half way line.

The problem was Rafferty was too slow and blowing out of his arse after about four yards.

Regardless it was shite defending.
Shite defending from a truly shite player, but not his fault he’s only div 2 at best.
 
3 of our 4 full backs have a recent history of injury problems and not being available. Hughes has done his hamstring yet again. Fisher is about to get yet another ban and yet again didn’t complete 90 minutes tonight. Once again Josh Earl, when a chance actually arises, is injured again.

The manager has wanted this area strengthening for years and we just don’t bother.

Fuck knows what we’ll do at the weekend but I’m starting to think that most of the stop gap options can’t do any worse than Rafferty.
 
I know what I said.

Had Raff fouled him earlier in the play he wouldn't have been sent off. He wouldn't have given away a penalty although we probably would still have got beat.

Do you disagree that he should have fouled him earlier in the play?

Besides we still would have lost. Was more highlighting that Raff is not good enough.
I don’t think he should have fouled him at all, he wasn’t close enough at any point to foul him until he did anyway. Much rather play 11v11 0-1 down.
 
Had Rafferty brought him down earlier in the play he would only have been booked. Players don't get sent off for hacking someone or shirt pulling on the half way line.

The problem was Rafferty was too slow and blowing out of his arse after about four yards.

Regardless it was shite defending.
Easy to dissect and use hindsight now, I get that but why did Rafferty not bring Gallagher down on the halfway line? He had a chance to make an attempt for the ball which had he failed, would have led to a free kick on the halfway line and a booking at worst. Then get into halftime with 11 men at 0-0 and regroup because even with 11 we were taking a battering.

Gallagher has played him like a fiddle with one of the oldest tricks in the book. Got in front of him, held the jostle until the penalty area and then gone down. Simple, simple stuff and Rafferty just went along with it.

What's even more worrying for me is that it stemmed from a DJ chance on his left foot but he had literally no idea what he wanted to do with it. Have we forgotten what to do in the penalty area with a decent opportunity? Rather than get in behind where possible we seem to want to play it back to safety. He looked like a rabbit in the headlights despite having it on his left, he was dying for a runner to slot it back to. Then we lose the ball and the rest is history.
 
Easy to dissect and use hindsight now, I get that but why did Rafferty not bring Gallagher down on the halfway line? He had a chance to make an attempt for the ball which had he failed, would have led to a free kick on the halfway line and a booking at worst. Then get into halftime with 11 men at 0-0 and regroup because even with 11 we were taking a battering.

Gallagher has played him like a fiddle with one of the oldest tricks in the book. Got in front of him, held the jostle until the penalty area and then gone down. Simple, simple stuff and Rafferty just went along with it.

What's even more worrying for me is that it stemmed from a DJ chance on his left foot but he had literally no idea what he wanted to do with it. Have we forgotten what to do in the penalty area with a decent opportunity? Rather than get in behind where possible we seem to want to play it back to safety. He looked like a rabbit in the headlights despite having it on his left, he was dying for a runner to slot it back to. Then we lose the ball and the rest is history.
Rafferty just isn't good enough. Not his fault players have levels and we sre above his.

As for DJ he has been very poor since his return to the side and for a player we are so reliant on to create to be off his game is massive
 
Rafferty just isn't good enough. Not his fault players have levels and we sre above his.

As for DJ he has been very poor since his return to the side and for a player we are so reliant on to create to be off his game is massive

This is the most concerning bit for me. Our best player from last season hasnt played well since February. For me Maguire is the best option at the moment. Not like he is going to score or anything, but DJ's movement and awareness has been so poor recently. Maguire's movement in the final 3rd would be a useful addition at the present moment.
 
Rafferty just isn't good enough. Not his fault players have levels and we sre above his.

As for DJ he has been very poor since his return to the side and for a player we are so reliant on to create to be off his game is massive
The full back area has been an issue for a while now and one we seem so reluctant to address. We have a bang average right footed RB playing at LB and teams are sussing it out and targeting him to good effect.

Who else in this division has this issue? We've had a few windows now to address this area and failed. We seem to love round pegs in square holes.
 
The full back area has been an issue for a while now and one we seem so reluctant to address. We have a bang average right footed RB playing at LB and teams are sussing it out and targeting him to good effect.

Who else in this division has this issue? We've had a few windows now to address this area and failed. We seem to love round pegs in square holes.
Look at the full backs the manager has identified in the last 2 years then look what we are left with
 
Rafferty wouldn't get in any other team in the division. Not Wycombe, Rotherham or Coventry. It is shocking that he is anywhere near our squad.
 
Easy to dissect and use hindsight now, I get that but why did Rafferty not bring Gallagher down on the halfway line? He had a chance to make an attempt for the ball which had he failed, would have led to a free kick on the halfway line and a booking at worst. Then get into halftime with 11 men at 0-0 and regroup because even with 11 we were taking a battering.

Gallagher has played him like a fiddle with one of the oldest tricks in the book. Got in front of him, held the jostle until the penalty area and then gone down. Simple, simple stuff and Rafferty just went along with it.

What's even more worrying for me is that it stemmed from a DJ chance on his left foot but he had literally no idea what he wanted to do with it. Have we forgotten what to do in the penalty area with a decent opportunity? Rather than get in behind where possible we seem to want to play it back to safety. He looked like a rabbit in the headlights despite having it on his left, he was dying for a runner to slot it back to. Then we lose the ball and the rest is history.
DJ's lame messing about was so poor, especially on the back of that goal he scored for Jamaica the other day.
 
DJ's lame messing about was so poor, especially on the back of that goal he scored for Jamaica the other day.
Doesn't look the same player at all.

Re-watched some Youtube highlights of recent games against Blackburn yesterday. The 1-0 away when DJ scored, we picked the ball up from defence, Browne played to Ledson, Ledson whipped it wide to Nmecha, he ran at the full back and squared for an onrushing DJ to bag.

That style of football feels a million lifetimes ago. One touch football on the deck from defence to attack and then running at players with intent.
 
Bidwell and Freeman too, there are bound to be more
Wow, totally forgot about those two. Pretty sure Freeman is still a free agent. Not for long though, I'm sure a team stacked with full backs will pick him up for strength in depth whilst we continue to run with players struggling out of position.
 
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