Chelmsford thread

[Luton Roman]

Buoyed by their midweek mauling of Maidstone the home team flew out of the traps and put City under pressure from the get go. Corners and crosses rained in and though well defended City could get no purchase in the opposition territory. Without a hold up target man the ball generally returned quite quickly despite the industrious Phillips and Sol trying to get on the end of channel balls, but the sheer physicality of the home defence meant that we were getting little out of the game as the 1st half wore on. A couple of half chances in the box and a header always going over were our best threats and it was little surprise when the home pressure paid off in the 31st minute when a far post cross was nodded in, Jose's positioning might have been better.

Half time saw Fisher and Sweeten replace Clark and Frear and City's more direct approach at last gave the home defence something to think about. Fisher began to do the hold up job required and a lovely flick almost put Sol in. City now had more of the game in a key period and perhaps should have levelled when Tilson had space on the edge of the area to only to curl the ball jus wide. Likewise Sol might have tested the keeper more, but in the end we were undone again when Batten lost the ball on the edge of the area resulting in a simple header at the far post. A third came when another cross and another far post header came back off the bar to be tapped in.

While the 2nd half display was better and showed perhaps what an almost injury free team could do, Chelmsford were not flattered by the result and their fans will now be looking towards the play offs after back to back wins with a glut of goals. For City 6 goals in 8 games shrieks where the challenge is. We can only hope Wilson is fit soon and he can begin to form a partnership with Fisher. While the best moment of the day was seeing the return of Luke Russe on the pitch as a late sub for Raynes injured in the build up to the 3rd goal, any watching Merthyr scout will have gone away undaunted about their upcoming FA Cup trip to Twerton Park.

[2weirdtown]

Thanks for that summary, much appreciated.

[comrade powell]

“ the sheer physicality of the home defence meant that we were getting little out of the game”…
which is a fair summary of so many of our games these past few years.

[comrade powell]

As Luton has been quoted on their forum tonight, here’s what a Chelmsford fan thought of us…
“ If I was a Bath fan I’d be seriously worried, I thought they came to MP with no plan and no sense of direction. I felt sorry for their GK who comfortably had one of the worst opposition individual performances in a long time. Alex Fisher looked pretty comfortable when he came on but apart from that they looked relegation fodder. I wouldn’t be suprised if Gill was gone by Christmas.”

[Luton Roman]

JG interview already up, apologies to fans, quite down. Casa Geande didn't make howlers but I thought he didn't react quick enough for first goal. Its up front where the issue is. Cooke late defection has left JG too late to find a replacement.  Fisher may come good but so far all we have in absence of Scotty.  Sol might feel he could have done better with couple of chances today, but still scraps rather than consistent build up play.

[BenE]

I must admit my feeling before the season started was that we would be short of goals, and others said the same. My impression is that Fisher will score if he gets crosses into the box. Possibly with Freer back he will get some, although he is a bit off the pace yet.

[Peter Newman]

Not sure if the way the fixtures have panned out has had an impact on performances but we seem to be on the M25 or at Paddington station every Saturday.
I know we have to visit every other club but only having 2 scheduled home league fixtures on a Saturday upto the end of September is somewhat odd.

[Paul1978]

Yes after Cooke shafted us and left us late into the summer with no time to replace him properly we look to be dry on goals. Strikers are not easy to replace and don't grow on trees, especially late pre season. So Cooke might not have celebrated against us when he scored but he shafted us by leaving late so Gill had little time to properly replace him. Is what it is though and we need Wilson back badly. Maybe get JT back on loan, he never starts for Cheltenham and my Cheltenham Town mate says there fans are furious he doesn't start. My mate watches City too when Robins are away. I'm chuffed Russe came on, he'll fire up the team higher up the pitch. A real leader. At least we got the bleakest fixture of the season out the way. A ghastly athletics ground, miles away at a team we never beat away. Glad that's done and dusted. Onto Merthyr Tydfil. Wow what a tie. Get behind the City and enjoy the game.

[comrade powell]

Whether he shafted us or not is open to debate, Paul, unless you have inside information. But I agree that his departure didn’t leave long to sign a decent replacement. But who knows - perhaps Torquay made an offer some time before and the Club were aware he wanted away.
However if the sum I’ve heard Torquay paid us for him is correct then I think it was good business on our part. I find it amusing that many are using his departure as an excuse for a lack of goals. Yes, he scored 18 in 34 League starts last season - a goal every two games looks a decent return but nine of those were penalties. I don’t think we saw the best of him for nearly two years, dating from his injury. And as someone else posted, his drop in form possibly was down to the end of his productive partnership with Fletcher. Whatever the reason, he looked to me to be going through the motions in many games last season, and as with Tom Smith, looked like he needed a change.

[BenE]

We got a fee for Cooke so he shafted no one. He doesn't owe us anything, he has rewarded us with plenty of goals (despite seemingly not being up for it).
In my opinion we have too few shots at goal and haven't done for some time. We don't create a lot of good chances and by and large opposition goalkeepers very often have little to do.
I'd like to see us just making the goalkeeper earn his keep.

[Luton Roman]

Whether he shafted us or not is open to debate, Paul, unless you have inside information. But I agree that his departure didn’t leave long to sign a decent replacement. But who knows - perhaps Torquay made an offer some time before and the Club were aware he wanted away.
However if the sum I’ve heard Torquay paid us for him is correct then I think it was good business on our part. I find it amusing that many are using his departure as an excuse for a lack of goals. Yes, he scored 18 in 34 League starts last season - a goal every two games looks a decent return but nine of those were penalties. I don’t think we saw the best of him for nearly two years, dating from his injury. And as someone else posted, his drop in form possibly was down to the end of his productive partnership with Fletcher. Whatever the reason, he looked to me to be going through the motions in many games last season, and as with Tom Smith, looked like he needed a change.

I think Cookes on field value was more than his goals His hold up play, assists, general penalty area nuisance value all contributed. We haven't replaced any of that. And penalties do count we've missed plenty so having a reliable take has been a plus.

[Paul1978]

Yes Wilson is a better striker than Cooke but we need 2 decent strikers. Cooke only scored penalties but he was a target for hold up play and decent at holding it up. No inside information but leaving us so late in pre season wasn't ideal. Oh yes forgot we got 15k for him. Can we sign someone with that 15k? I'm glad Torquay lost away to Welling yesterday after using the Plymouth Argyle team coach and bedding down in Welling the night before the match.

[comrade powell]

I think Cookes on field value was more than his goals His hold up play, assists, general penalty area nuisance value all contributed. We haven't replaced any of that. And penalties do count  we've missed plenty so having a reliable take has been a plus.

Apart from nuisance value, I agree. I wasn’t there yesterday but watching the highlights it was noticeable what a handful several of the home players appeared to be. It’s not just the opposing keeper we fail to really work, it’s those in front of him. I really hope there’s an improvement next Saturday as yet another failure to beat lower level opponents would be inexcusable.

[Beau Nash]

Alexander Anthony Fisher, 30 June 1990 (age 34), height 6 ft 3 in.

He is the replacement for Cody;  has the physical attributes and experience.  
He needs to get match fit and that should take about 12 weeks, so long as he doesn't have any underlying injury problem.

When he and Scott Wilson are playing together I would expect them collectively to score at least one goal every two games.

Missing these two and Luke Russe, one of the most combative midfielders in the division, from the spine of the team, is why City are currently lower in the league than they should be.

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