Pointing the way. Stevenage at home Sat, 3rd May 3-0'clock

[Bertie Wooster]

I've not gone today, watching on TV - Schumacher's face tells the story every time the camera pans to him. he looks flabbergasted at what he's seeing.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Hmm. And what's the thinking when he dribbles five yards inside, bumps into a team-mate (usually McAtee), turns towards his own goal and passes it backwards?

I get that inverted 'wingers' works if you have overlapping full-backs. We don't, or at least not today. I'm bored of watching us turn inside and not create.

Fair, though my read atm is this is the ideal shape now, we'll fit in who's available and who's trained well enough to get a goodbye. I'm not sure it's "3 points at all costs".

Yeah, reasonable.

I dunno. I just think Schon regularly makes the wrong decision. And it's not just him - we're constantly cutting inside and thus walking into the defensive wall you mention. Just seen the early chances replayed and Stevenage have wised up a lot since then.

Had a look on some Stoke forums from when Schumacher was there and they seem to think he wanted both full-backs bombing on (but with a decent defensive midfield to help the two centre-backs). We really need that width - held - to stretch defences, or we're rope-through-needling it.

And oh look, it's yet another home league first-half blank. 17 in 23 this season. Astonishingly poor for a team that was targeting automatic promotion.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Got a big jump on him too, for a little un does Szabi, fancy him to get a couple of Stelios like headers at the back stick.

I'd like to like him (and we definitely have less likeable players) but I remain to be convinced. Not the first priority though...

Effort levels are there from Schon this season.

Definitely good to have around. Even if there's no clear use for him positionally. Man for most spots.

I mean he *could* be good. And again, I like his attitude. I just don't quite know what he is and I'm not sure he does either.

[Spartan2]

On a positive note, Thomason has been excellent

[Spartan2]

Hmm. And what's the thinking when he dribbles five yards inside, bumps into a team-mate (usually McAtee), turns towards his own goal and passes it backwards?

I get that inverted 'wingers' works if you have overlapping full-backs. We don't, or at least not today. I'm bored of watching us turn inside and not create.

Fair, though my read atm is this is the ideal shape now, we'll fit in who's available and who's trained well enough to get a goodbye. I'm not sure it's "3 points at all costs".

Yeah, reasonable.

I dunno. I just think Schon regularly makes the wrong decision. And it's not just him - we're constantly cutting inside and thus walking into the defensive wall you mention. Just seen the early chances replayed and Stevenage have wised up a lot since then.

Had a look on some Stoke forums from when Schumacher was there and they seem to think he wanted both full-backs bombing on (but with a decent defensive midfield to help the two centre-backs). We really need that width - held - to stretch defences, or we're rope-through-needling it.

And oh look, it's yet another home league first-half blank. 17 in 23 this season. Astonishingly poor for a team that was targeting automatic promotion.

We might see that next season but right now there's nothing to hit with a cross, not one in the front four players can come close to winning a header.

[Bertie Wooster]

On a positive note, Thomason has been excellent

As has Matete IMO.

[Bertie Wooster]

And the crowd looks to be about 13,000-14,000 at best, possibly less.

[DJBlu]

Aaron Collins will not get 20. There I've said it Aaron.

[Mar]

Aaron Collins will not get 20. There I've said it Aaron.

Is 20 the contract extension confirmed? Maybe he doesn't want twenty given how he's been playing

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

I dunno. I just think Schon regularly makes the wrong decision. And it's not just him - we're constantly cutting inside and thus walking into the defensive wall you mention. Just seen the early chances replayed and Stevenage have wised up a lot since then.

We might see that next season but right now there's nothing to hit with a cross, not one in the front four players can come close to winning a header.

That's true mate but I'm not just saying "hit the byeline and cross it" - that's often a low-percentage method of chance creation. I'm talking about attacking in the final 25 yards using the full width of the pitch, so defenders have to commit themselves and leave gaps.

[Prufrock]

On a positive note, Thomason has been excellent

The two George's been head and shoulders above the rest, for me.

[Mar]

I dunno. I just think Schon regularly makes the wrong decision. And it's not just him - we're constantly cutting inside and thus walking into the defensive wall you mention. Just seen the early chances replayed and Stevenage have wised up a lot since then.

We might see that next season but right now there's nothing to hit with a cross, not one in the front four players can come close to winning a header.

That's true mate but I'm not just saying "hit the byeline and cross it" - that's often a low-percentage method of chance creation. I'm talking about attacking in the final 25 yards using the full width of the pitch, so defenders have to commit themselves and leave gaps.

We built a team getting forward and cutting back. We're not built to hit a header.

[DJBlu]

That was some decent football that. Ball in by Gethin Jones evades everyone.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Blackpool now beating Bristol Rovers, so if we go behind we drop to 9th.

Reading losing at home to Barnsley, so with Orient 3-1 up at Huddersfield it looks like their season is over.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

I dunno. I just think Schon regularly makes the wrong decision. And it's not just him - we're constantly cutting inside and thus walking into the defensive wall you mention. Just seen the early chances replayed and Stevenage have wised up a lot since then.

We might see that next season but right now there's nothing to hit with a cross, not one in the front four players can come close to winning a header.

That's true mate but I'm not just saying "hit the byeline and cross it" - that's often a low-percentage method of chance creation. I'm talking about attacking in the final 25 yards using the full width of the pitch, so defenders have to commit themselves and leave gaps.

We built a team getting forward and cutting back. We're not built to hit a header.

That's true mate but I'm not just saying "hit the byeline and cross it" - that's often a low-percentage method of chance creation. I'm talking about attacking in the final 25 yards using the full width of the pitch, so defenders have to commit themselves and leave gaps. And yes, that includes cutting it back.

[knobpolisher]

Randall is actually looking like a footballer.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

See that was better. Schon didn't cut inside until 18 yards, meaning the defence had to shuffle across to meet him, meaning Murphy was unmarked for a pop from the edge. Anyways... Collins off, no "get your 20" sympathy from Schuey. And farewell Geth.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Randall is actually looking like a footballer.

As the 10 in a 4231 he might just have a chance

[Spartan2]

I dunno. I just think Schon regularly makes the wrong decision. And it's not just him - we're constantly cutting inside and thus walking into the defensive wall you mention. Just seen the early chances replayed and Stevenage have wised up a lot since then.

We might see that next season but right now there's nothing to hit with a cross, not one in the front four players can come close to winning a header.

That's true mate but I'm not just saying "hit the byeline and cross it" - that's often a low-percentage method of chance creation. I'm talking about attacking in the final 25 yards using the full width of the pitch, so defenders have to commit themselves and leave gaps.

We built a team getting forward and cutting back. We're not built to hit a header.

That's true mate but I'm not just saying "hit the byeline and cross it" - that's often a low-percentage method of chance creation. I'm talking about attacking in the final 25 yards using the full width of the pitch, so defenders have to commit themselves and leave gaps. And yes, that includes cutting it back.

That's fair, I hope we see a proper 9 next season though, with a finishers instinct and who can head it and hold it up. I can't stand our current "forwards".

[Prufrock]

Randall is actually looking like a footballer.

As the 10 in a 4231 he might just have a chance

He's still soft as shite and needs to offer more, but that's a lovely ball to JDC