Lincoln was my first ever Alty game, so I don’t have the history of last season or beyond, so for what it’s worth, here’s my thoughts (based on the Lincoln game only).
Lincoln are a big and powerful team. They have filled their ranks with guys that are quick and strong. The only team really looking to play football last night were Alty. But unfortunately at this level, strength and pace are key, and in my view both were clearly missing.
Coburn looked slow, and his kicking off the deck, whether dead ball or passed back to him, is poor, this only increases the pressure on the back line. Also, if he dominated his area, the first goal wouldn’t have gone in as he should have been collecting it.
I completely agree with the OP, Marshall looks so unfit and overweight it is unreal. I can’t believe that players like him and Perry are still able to get a game Conference level.
On Perry, my guess is that he was in for his height and, erm, size against a big team. He may as well not have bothered, only won a single header in the entire match until he was hauled off, and was muscled off the ball far too easily.
Crowther was woeful in the first half. Left the left back exposed and 2 on 1 far too often as he was wandering all over the pitch and looked completely spent after 10 minutes. Didn’t tackle, and looked scared to compete in case he got hurt.
On the positive note, and as I said earlier, I thought Alty were trying to play football. And the Skipper (forgive me I didn’t catch his name) played well, as did Williams and Gillespie.
I’ll be coming back to watch more games, and hope to be cheering a successful season, but I think an injection of pace and physical presence is a must.