MotM: 29-11-25. Chorley (H) Reynolds

[Cyberia]

A win’s a win I suppose but take the goals out of the equation and you're left with a dire game of football. It was on a par with the Chester match for me. AM stated in his last interview that they don't set out to play hoof ball but that's the default style of play that I've seen from Harriers so far this season. No creativity whatsoever- just lump it up in the air and hope it sticks. I was very pleased to see Gyasi get off the mark but he, like KW needs the ball played to him on the floor so that he can run on to it or balls in behind the defence. The substitutions turned the game and Walker showed once again that he can deliver a telling cross into the box. Cooper didn't offer an awful lot but it would be harsh to judge him on one appearance and he clearly needs time to build an understanding with the rest of the team. The defence were pretty solid (the goal aside and one or two dodgy moments). TSS offered nothing again and it just highlighted how much they missed AMS’s presence today. He may not be the quickest player but he really unsettles and occupies the opposition’s defenders. I must admit that I fear the worst for the upcoming game against South Shields as they are streets ahead of the majority of teams in this division.

[Mirage Molby]

We did nothing after the equaliser for about twenty minutes. It was boring and I thought ‘here we go again…’. Credit where it’s due - the subs did the job. A horrible game, but most of them are in the NLN unfortunately.

[Swansea Harrier]

And a word for Chorley, who remain a dirty, horrible team. Happily they can take their brand of GBH football back up the M6 with them empty handed.

I really don't get how officials let so much go in terms of nasty tackles, short tugging, arms round necks, etc. Chorley are frankly a disgrace for their approach - but they get away with it week after week because of officials as poor and weak as the ones we had today.

Mind you, we were lucky not to concede a penalty just after the equaliser...

[COYRedder]

It’s a sad conclusion to come to but I’ve decided that individually the players we brought in before the season started and since are not good enough for us to be top of the table contenders. This means we have to accept mid-table football with some results going our way like today and some not.
The manager and the players are trying their best and we should applaud them for that. Assuming there is no money to improve the squad we have to limp on to the end of the season and start again.
There’s no point getting on the back of the players we’re stuck with them; it is what it is.

[Pershore Harrier]

A 3-1 win at home sounds like it was a good game but sadly it wasn't - for long periods it was boring with little quality play from either side. As someone remarked Murray has secured his job for a few more weeks at least but things could turn out nasty as we head off to South Shields and then Fylde at home both of whom on paper should see us with nothing. Thankfully football is not played on paper and there is not much football played on grass either by us at the moment but you never know - it's a funny old game. Good to see Gyasi and Willoughby score and the headed goal from Spokes was a gem.

[Grenoble Harrier]

It's quite a surreal situation we find ourselves in - currently in play-off territory, yet resigned to ending up mid-table come the end of the season. Usually with us it's the other way around. We don't start firing until March, and then win ten on the bounce.
Sounds like damage limitation until the end of season now, and some hopefully smarter recruitment come the summer.

[Badger]

I would like us to play football, get the ball on the floor but all we did today was hoof it up field and hope . I do not enjoy watching this dross we tried to play Chorley at their own game and…….. failed

What game were the sponsors watching by the way as there is no way in a month of Sundays did Obi deserve to be man of the match, he is turning into a liability IMO, the line up was much better when went to 4 at the back.

I have another moan at Dubble not for there goal there wasn’t anything he do but why when we are on top does he decide to go down injured has he never read the boy who cried wolf , one day he will be injured and no one will take any notice and all it did was add 5minutes on to the end of the 1st half and how many goals have we conceded in time add on (both halves)

I thought Reynolds was MOTM and my second place would be Evan’s ( good find).

I like Walker great cross for the 3rd goal and just before that he did a brilliant bit of defending …… has a bit of star quality

[Grumpy old man]

Hang on folks - I suggest we need a reality check.
This was Harriers v Chorley in NLN. The first half was always going to be physical particularly with neither side in the best of form. What pleased me was not the football (most of it was v. poor) but the fact that a number of our players won their physical battles and there was clear evidence of players battling for each other - which has not always been the case this season.
Gyasi's goal was totally out of context but showed what he is capable of doing. Sadly he failed to take his chance in the second half which looked easier than his goal.
Credit to AM or whoever made the decisions regarding substitutes. I wonder when two different substitutes last scored for Harriers in the same game. Willoughby scored from within the 6 yard box which is exactly what Willoughby has done for other clubs and the third goal was created by Walker's pace.
In the second half, Chorley created absolutely nothing - for once our work rate did not drop off and we even played out the extra time in reasonable comfort.
Others have been critical of TSS. I actually thought he was better today than on some other occasions - but that is not saying much!
Finally, I have seen far poorer refs at this level than today's. Particularly in the second half, he allowed the game to flow when possible. There were certainly a few elbows flying around but not the reckless tackles that have cost us some players in the past two seasons. (For those not aware, he was also the referee in the match when Summerfield's leg was broken.)

[Harrier1994]

I would like us to play football, get the ball on the floor but all we did today was hoof it up field and hope . I do not enjoy watching this dross we tried to play Chorley at their own game and…….. failed

What game were the sponsors watching by the way as there is no way in a month of Sundays did Obi deserve to be man of the match, he is turning into a liability IMO, the line up was much better when went to 4 at the back.

I have another moan at Dubble not for there goal there wasn’t anything he do but why when we are on top does he decide to go down injured has he never read the boy who cried wolf , one day he will be injured and no one will take any notice and all it did was add 5minutes on to the end of the 1st half and how many goals have we conceded in time add on (both halves)

I thought Reynolds was MOTM and my second place would be Evan’s ( good find).

I like Walker great cross for the 3rd goal and just before that he did a brilliant bit of defending …… has a bit of star quality

On the Dibble one Murray called him over as we got a corner. My brother said Dibble wil lbe going down in a minute. 2 minutes later he was on the floor. Dibble isn't at fault for following instructions given to him.

He's told to go down so the team can have a mini team talk

[Phil]

[JoburgHarrier11]

Been critical of Murray but I’m with Grumpy Old Man here largely. Wasn’t pretty but wasn’t going to be. The game was there to be won and AM’s changes did that. But yes we’re still not good enough to go up

New lad looked ok as game went on. TSS seems to win flick ons but they don’t really go anywhere useful.

[George1968]

Hang on folks - I suggest we need a reality check.
This was Harriers v Chorley in NLN. The first half was always going to be physical particularly with neither side in the best of form. What pleased me was not the football (most of it was v. poor) but the fact that a number of our players won their physical battles and there was clear evidence of players battling for each other - which has not always been the case this season.
Gyasi's goal was totally out of context but showed what he is capable of doing. Sadly he failed to take his chance in the second half which looked easier than his goal.
Credit to AM or whoever made the decisions regarding substitutes. I wonder when two different substitutes last scored for Harriers in the same game. Willoughby scored from within the 6 yard box which is exactly what Willoughby has done for other clubs and the third goal was created by Walker's pace.
In the second half, Chorley created absolutely nothing - for once our work rate did not drop off and we even played out the extra time in reasonable comfort.
Others have been critical of TSS. I actually thought he was better today than on some other occasions - but that is not saying much!
Finally, I have seen far poorer refs at this level than today's. Particularly in the second half, he allowed the game to flow when possible. There were certainly a few elbows flying around but not the reckless tackles that have cost us some players in the past two seasons. (For those not aware, he was also the referee in the match when Summerfield's leg was broken.)

I actually agree with most things said above. How many times have we played chorley and got nothing. They are a boring side that kick the s##t out of you most of the time and have no flow whatsoever. Im actually over the moon that we firstly won and then scored 3 goals!. It was never gonna be pretty was it. Saw AMS before the match and didn't realise he wasn't playing. We missed him today in that sort of game. I agree with grumpy we didn't give in and fought til the end. Its probably really pissed some people off that we won cos the Murray bashers will be disappointed im sure. We have a long way to go. There's lots to be done . Where will we end up?who knows. However we currently sit joint 5th in a league where anything can happen with a long way to go. Oh and just a note yet again on the children behind the goal . Yet again embarrassing total garbage they were singing and totally uncalled for.

[harry211]

As the first game I've seen since Scarborough at home...

My days. What an awful game, with an awful performance and an awful attendance.

We were dreadful. Lump it forward and hope. I remember we were criticised under Brown for being direct by opposition fans. But in hindsight that was with a purpose. For large parts of today, it was defenders taking a touch, looking up and lumping it 30 years into an area they hope a teammate is in. If not, nevermind. Wait, recycle, and go again.

Good goals, but few redeeming features. Brought a friend and family of mine, they thought the same. It's very hard to see what Murray's ideal style of play is if it clicks. The depressing thing is that since the opening day we seem to have gone backwards.

The attendance felt like one of the middle-Yates era. 1400-1600 at best. No passion, no enthusiasm and little interest. It's rather worrying, if I was in Lane's boots.

Yesterday afternoon I bumped into Adam Murray in Sports Direct. I wished him good luck, said we all were behind him, and that we knew it would come good. I feared I was being overgenerous but trying to boost the confidence of a man noticably on the edge. Today I met fans who willed him to lose to see him move. The chants were self evident and perhaps self inflicted but perhaps it's gone too far. I wonder if it will improve.

[tonythescout]

With some fans after Radcliffe there wasn’t any going back. His comments and lack of self awareness/accountability has gone deep with a few
He’s trying to turn it around. Only wins and performances will do thag but chanting abuse at him when we’re 1-1 with 30 to go isn’t going to help
The jury is well and truely out on him and rightly so. Time will tell

[Sheffield Harrier]

Given our squad and confidence a win is a win.

No, not perfect, but we have to be realistic at this point.

Well done lads.