Why O why do we play long ball when we do not have the

players to get on the end of them  

Oh dear, oh dear. It was obvious within the first 5 minutes that we were just not interested. Coombes seemed unable to chase anything down and Goldberg kept trying to win Ariel challenges against much taller opposition. Whatever happened to keeping on the ground and playing it short to negate the wind effects?

Bath were certainly the better side and deserved the 3 points from their first half performance.

I certainly wouldnt have given Rooney the motm, but then there werent any other candidates.

looking, very hard, for positives - MG did try and shake things up at half time and with a few decisions going our way and a bit more luck in front of goal we might have salvaged something.

but on this performance its going to be a long, long season. 

The only positive today is that well hopefully never play that badly again this season. 

Riverstown wrote:

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I cannot see why they have the nerve to give a MOM award after a performance like that. Its embarrassing for the winner. Rooney must of won it for his assist in Baths second goal.

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 I think that it's part of the sponsors package. I've no idea who I would have picked. 

MarkX wrote:

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We thought the best of the bunch was Sanchez

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 He would have got my vote, best of a bad bunch.

Firstly we should keep this game in a bit of perspective as it's only our third competitive game of the season and perhaps we were seduced by good results and performances in the first two?? Secondly hats off to Bath for a very good team performance. Their management team and a number of their squad have been together a while now. They were a very good passing team last season and they seemed to have added a bit more of a cutting edge - no doubts they will be in the play offs again this time around.

The first half from us was very poor. Both our central midfielders seem to be playing some sort of holding role and were so deep they were virtually sat on the toes of our centre halves..?! That gave Bath all the time and space to control possession and move the ball around at will. It was such a large gap for us between front and back that we just lumped it forward and neither of our strikers were the big physical types to get hold of the ball. The first two goals we conceded were terrible as the manager alluded to. Bath are not a big side so to win two uncontested balls in our area for the first goal was very poor and, for a bloke of his experience, Rooney simply has to do much better all round for the second goal. What worries me more is this (almost) obsession with playing 4-4-2 come what may when we are clearly getting murdered in the middle of the park and can't get a foot hold in the game - surely somebody has to drop into midfield to make the numbers up and give them something to think about...we were playing Bath not Barcelona..?! At least in the second half, without playing a whole lot better,  we got closer to them and gave them something to think about although they quite possibly declared at half time as well. The one positive for me was that the subs all did ok and at least got some game time going forwards. Last but not least thanks to the match sponsors for at least giving us all a laugh at the end of the game!

Another tough game ahead tomorrow night and I trust we will get a reaction from the players and management to that first half that was served up on Saturday. As MG rightly said it is still early days but we can't afford to as far off the pace as we were at the weekend on too many occasions this season.

Up the Wings!

Indeed BUt is it after the game or could he get it right before the game...he has applied for the managers job several times.....he should get it I agree