Wilson looks very good. I used to watch the reserves at Aldershot and Wilson always looked brilliant, but I suspect it was more to do with his pace than his actual technical skills. Seems he's added a lot more to his armoury since then. Glad to see him doing well. I wouldn't mind Freeman in our side next season
Why are they or horrible. They are extremely professional and know exactly what their job is. Perhaps they should just lay down and die for teams because they are a small club ? Those who say they are long ball merchants obviously have never seen them play. Well done Stevenage.
Fair play to them, they deserved their draw but they didnt exactly trouble us. Cudicini only made one save the entire game. They'll only be one result in the replay.
Would actually be nice if the Spurs players took the FA cup seriously. Our performance today even trumped how bad we were going forward against Watford.
Didnt Bostwick play for Ebbsfleet a few years back?
Hopefully televised as well, they also play Wednesday night so might see our game to rest a few. Going to be a tough game maybe one where BWP scores again.
Sheff Wednesday may have been thinking they'd rest a few and be below par last Tuesday, was not the case and don't expect it to be next weekend. We have a really tough test.
On the face of it I think they could give us a lot of problems, but I also think the players are still fuming about that defeat at their place so I reckon we'll see the best Charlton come out against them which should be too much for them
With respect there was only one side trying to actually play football. What Stevenage did and did very well was to stop football being played. In terms of work rate and discipline I do not for one moment decry their efforts. They deserve every congratulation on completing a thoroughly impressive and professional performance. It had all the hallmarks of the Wimbledon of old without any of the attacking menace of a Fashanu or a Wise. Defensively they are even more compact.
I do not know if Westley (I know Smith is now the manager) was a military historian but he seems to work to the adage "military tactics do not win wars - military mistakes lose wars". It was all about getting the ball out of their dangers areas and into the opposing danger areas.
I hope Preston fans are up for it because what Westley has done refine the old Wimbledon methodology and worked in a few more wrinkles in the percentages game. No wonder some of the Preston squad were a little at odds with his training methods. Some of the process was more akin to the territorial approach to modern rugby i.e. kick for distance, chase and harry like mad on the basis the opposition will have to work the ball 60/70 yards to score and probably cock it up. Any ball into their back four comes out again at 100mph aimed at or behind the opposing back four.
It was so effective, in fact the only time they fell short was when they actually tried to play football. In open play I think I only saw just 3 effective examples of real skill the Freemen cross in the first half, the Byrom shot over the bar and the Wilson cross at the end.
It is to Spurs credit that on a poor surface, (how many times did you ever see Parker struggle to control the ball before) they were able to respond to a game plan so foreign to that they usually encounter. That said, it shows even with the array of talent they had available just how difficult it is to play against.
What we should remember is that more than a few League 1 sides will try and do play (not as effectively) in largely the same way against us on similar surfaces. So instead of perhaps regularly whingeing about the lack of open expansive football with which we should be destroying teams perhaps we should acknowledge our current team will roll up their sleeves, put their shift in, to at least get a result.
As for the game next week it will not be for the faint hearted.
Why are they or horrible. They are extremely professional and know exactly what their job is. Perhaps they should just lay down and die for teams because they are a small club ? Those who say they are long ball merchants obviously have never seen them play. Well done Stevenage.
I agree. I cant do anything but respect the club for what they have achieved in a relatively short time
I think it was BWP that said a couple of months ago that the players were looking forward to this game because of the 'dirty' tactics Stevenage used at their place.
They did a job on us at their place, but we had enough chances to get at least a draw. We should not fear them, but be very wary as they tend to do better against the better sides.
We made a mistake by leaving out Solly and playing Morrison at RB, hope Powell is not tempted to do the same again against the giants of Stevenage.
Why are people so scared?fair play to them they are a good organised side but we can beat anyone in this league if we play are best,we have the players to overcome stevenage.
Wasn't expecting to beat them next week, although obviously we are more than capable. They are a very good team who are very difficult to beat. I'd be happy with a draw. Tuesday's game should be seen as the must/should win.
On that pitch I'm not surprised that they lump it and that Spuds couldn't get going. It will be interesting to see if they can play it on the ground when they come down to a ground where cows aren't let out to feed between games.
Don't forget in the October game we lost to a deflected goal and BWP missed a couple of good chances, on paper it's probably the toughest home game we have left. But let's beat Rochdale first then worry about them at a packed Valley
Both Chris Powell (Morrison at right back) and Redknapp ( 3 centre backs), changed their systems to counter the Stevenage style of play and it hasn't worked. There might be something in that.
added to the change of Solly, we just didn't play well up there, probably the worst performance of the season. We've got enough about us to dirty out a win, but think we'll put a performance on.
There is a habit on this forum to massive talk up the teams around us, almost like the supporters don't believe in the team, and think it's all a big bluff that will come to the end
Both Chris Powell (Morrison at right back) and Redknapp ( 3 centre backs), changed their systems to counter the Stevenage style of play and it hasn't worked. There might be something in that.
I agree with that. I was quite irritated that we changed to counter them rather than let them worry about us. I was also watching today's game with great interest to see if Spurs could do better than us. I was surprised to see them hit long balls on quite a few occasions and thought how that wasn't the right approach.
Stevenage harry opponents very well but I think that if you pass the ball around, make them chase everything and keep the score at 0-0 then they will tire more. I would like us to do this against them and then try to hit them hard in the last ten minutes.
This way I think we could beat them and the least we'd get is a 0-0 which would be a good result imo.
Anyone who doesn't hold Stevenage in the respect they deserve clearly has Sheff Wed type blinkers on.
Stevenage drop back quickly in 2 lines of 4 to defend the 18 yard line and are very compact. If you are not quick enough to get between their Back 4 and Midfield, they are difficult to break down. I was suprised to see how much difficulty Spurs had trying to pass into the last third. It wasn't until they changed their midfield and tried to stretch the play across the width of the pitch, they got around the outside and opened them up. Stevenage are a counter attacking team who look to capitalise on the opposition losing possession and then launch direct attacks using quick supporting runners. It's easy to get caught the wrong side of the ball as they counter attack. They attack space very well and have a shoot on sight policy within 25 yards of the goal. Sometimes they get lucky.
It's important to be aware of their pattern of play and set the team up properly. However, changing your system sends out the message that you are worried about them and the game might be a problem.
Stevenage look a strong side to me. They'll be as up for it as us. Wouldn't be surprised if this ended 0-0 (unless we get a penalty or free kick just outside the area).
Some of the comments on here are totally bananas. Hoping for a draw at home to Stevenage?! Give me a break.
Absolutely nothing to fear from that set of cloggers, I'm sure they expended a lot of energy defending for 90+ minutes last night. Spurs were woeful (probably in part due to an equally unimpressive pitch), yet all Stevenage could muster were about umpteen harmless efforts from distance (1 only just whizzing past the post, in fairness).
I am under no illusions that the game will be a stoll in the park. Their work rate is immense and it will be a tight game but we should go into it with a very good chance of securing 3 points.
Stevenage have a tricky game away to manager-less Notts County on Wednesday evening and they will have one eye on the replay at WHL. They might even look quite jaded by the time they roll up to the Valley on Saturday afternoon...
Do people think we might have got something out of Stevenage away if Chris Solly, solly he's only 5 foot 3, was playing right back instead of Michael Morrison?
It will be a tough game, as Stevenage are a hard team to break down, but hopefully the prospect of a cup game at White Hart lane - amongst the highlights of their professional lives - will distract them, and reduce their intensity
Comments
by my count anyway
Those who say they are long ball merchants obviously have never seen them play.
Well done Stevenage.
Would actually be nice if the Spurs players took the FA cup seriously. Our performance today even trumped how bad we were going forward against Watford.
Didnt Bostwick play for Ebbsfleet a few years back?
Solly against Freeman will be a good battle.
They are a good side who have beaten us and both Sheffield sides and I think they could give us a few problems
I wouldn't be unhappy with 4 points this week
I do not know if Westley (I know Smith is now the manager) was a military historian but he seems to work to the adage "military tactics do not win wars - military mistakes lose wars". It was all about getting the ball out of their dangers areas and into the opposing danger areas.
I hope Preston fans are up for it because what Westley has done refine the old Wimbledon methodology and worked in a few more wrinkles in the percentages game. No wonder some of the Preston squad were a little at odds with his training methods. Some of the process was more akin to the territorial approach to modern rugby i.e. kick for distance, chase and harry like mad on the basis the opposition will have to work the ball 60/70 yards to score and probably cock it up. Any ball into their back four comes out again at 100mph aimed at or behind the opposing back four.
It was so effective, in fact the only time they fell short was when they actually tried to play football. In open play I think I only saw just 3 effective examples of real skill the Freemen cross in the first half, the Byrom shot over the bar and the Wilson cross at the end.
It is to Spurs credit that on a poor surface, (how many times did you ever see Parker struggle to control the ball before) they were able to respond to a game plan so foreign to that they usually encounter. That said, it shows even with the array of talent they had available just how difficult it is to play against.
What we should remember is that more than a few League 1 sides will try and do play (not as effectively) in largely the same way against us on similar surfaces. So instead of perhaps regularly whingeing about the lack of open expansive football with which we should be destroying teams perhaps we should acknowledge our current team will roll up their sleeves, put their shift in, to at least get a result.
As for the game next week it will not be for the faint hearted.
Grapevine49
Definitely going to be tough.
We made a mistake by leaving out Solly and playing Morrison at RB, hope Powell is not tempted to do the same again against the giants of Stevenage.
Wasn't expecting to beat them next week, although obviously we are more than capable.
They are a very good team who are very difficult to beat. I'd be happy with a draw. Tuesday's game should be seen as the must/should win.
I do wish you would come on here more often as I do enjoy your opinions and well thought out posts.
Too much of a maverick to be in any clique though :-)
There is a habit on this forum to massive talk up the teams around us, almost like the supporters don't believe in the team, and think it's all a big bluff that will come to the end
Stevenage harry opponents very well but I think that if you pass the ball around, make them chase everything and keep the score at 0-0 then they will tire more. I would like us to do this against them and then try to hit them hard in the last ten minutes.
This way I think we could beat them and the least we'd get is a 0-0 which would be a good result imo.
Anyone who doesn't hold Stevenage in the respect they deserve clearly has Sheff Wed type blinkers on.
Stevenage are a counter attacking team who look to capitalise on the opposition losing possession and then launch direct attacks using quick supporting runners. It's easy to get caught the wrong side of the ball as they counter attack. They attack space very well and have a shoot on sight policy within 25 yards of the goal. Sometimes they get lucky.
It's important to be aware of their pattern of play and set the team up properly. However, changing your system sends out the message that you are worried about them and the game might be a problem.
Absolutely nothing to fear from that set of cloggers, I'm sure they expended a lot of energy defending for 90+ minutes last night. Spurs were woeful (probably in part due to an equally unimpressive pitch), yet all Stevenage could muster were about umpteen harmless efforts from distance (1 only just whizzing past the post, in fairness).
I am under no illusions that the game will be a stoll in the park. Their work rate is immense and it will be a tight game but we should go into it with a very good chance of securing 3 points.
Stevenage have a tricky game away to manager-less Notts County on Wednesday evening and they will have one eye on the replay at WHL. They might even look quite jaded by the time they roll up to the Valley on Saturday afternoon...
-OA, optimist.