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Messages - TheCultOfIanTunnacliffe

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1
Altrincham FC First Team / Re: Last chance slaoon
« on: March 24, 2024, 07:37:28 PM »


Since that glorious victory over Rochdale when all seemed right with the world, we have taken merely nine points from a potential total of 30.

Quite astonishingly, notwithstanding this current relegation form, we still have a chance of reaching the play-offs.

Seven points from our impending three games is now looking essential in order to turn the tide.

2
Altrincham FC First Team / Re: Gateshead Match thread
« on: March 24, 2024, 07:28:21 PM »


Aside from the opening 30 minutes or so, I thought that Gateshead were the better team and ultimately deserved their victory.

We really struggled to get going in that second half and our defending was well below its customary standard this season. Two uncharacteristically poor headers by Jake Cooper which teed up their second and third goals.

Superb strike from Dan Mooney, but their debutant in goal largely had very little to do. The introduction of Linney for Kosylo came far too late, to my mind.

What troubles me is that Gateshead exhibited far more facets to their game overall. Yes, we are fully aware that they can play it out from the back and always have good technical players in midfield who can pass the ball around nicely, but they were also not afraid to be more direct (as demonstrated by their first goal).

We rarely take the opportunity to put a speculative cross into the opposition penalty area, after which we might profit from a defensive error. I can't help but feel that on too many occasions we overelaborate and appear to be on a mystical quest to score the 'perfect' goal.

Ironically, Alex Newby's goal did result from an enforced 'route one' punt from Ethan Ross, which their defender duly made a complete hash of.

I thought that the booing of Dinanga when he was being substituted was rather uncalled for. If he scores the winning goal for Gateshead in their forthcoming FA Trophy Semi-Final against Macc, I will consider crowdfunding for a statue of him to be erected on George Street.


3
Altrincham FC First Team / Re: Woking Match Thread
« on: March 11, 2024, 08:32:26 PM »

It was sh*t or bust. We were going for the points and the gamble didn't pay off.

In the cold late of day I think Woking shut us down with their resolute tackling. It was one of those games where we didn't get any luck and all of our shots were straight at their goalie.

Hopefully, things will turn out different on Tuesday.



It wasn't a case of that though, was it? We weren't losing that game and chasing a late equaliser.
By all means, attempt to capitalise on our attacking corner, but we should also have endeavoured to preserve the point that we were already holding.

In his post-match interview, Phil Parkinson described conceding that goal from our attacking corner as being "An absolute disgrace." That's now the third occasion in recent weeks on which we have contrived to concede a breakaway goal after losing possession on the fringe of the opposition penalty area (see Aldershot and Dagenham).


4
Altrincham FC First Team / Re: Woking Match Thread
« on: March 10, 2024, 05:00:43 PM »


Rewatching the totally unprofessional manner in which we conceded that late goal has certainly not improved my mood!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f3SAm9xJDkw

5
Altrincham FC First Team / Re: Woking Match Thread
« on: March 10, 2024, 04:58:28 PM »

It worries me a little that our issue is clearly lack of numbers, the available players are running on empty and yet there appear to be no funds whatsoever for a couple of short-term replacements.



I suspect that the construction of the current squad has already required a fair degree of financial investment this season.

Remember that one of our probably highest-paid players, Crankshaw, is presently completely out of the picture.


6
Altrincham FC First Team / Re: Woking Match Thread
« on: March 09, 2024, 07:21:56 PM »


I sincerely hope that I am incorrect, but I fear that I witnessed the effective end of our season this afternoon.

That was truly torturous viewing. We looked entirely devoid of any attacking threat and were simply pressed and outworked by the poorest quality Woking team that I have seen in years.

After that opening wretched 45 minutes, I would readily have settled for 0-0 at full-time.

Angus just looks so ineffective and brittle, and he spent so much time inspecting the pitch this afternoon that I can only assume that he is thinking of applying for the currently vacant role of groundsman.

Conceding that 90th-minute goal after we had a corner was utterly criminal. Echoes of similar breakaway goals scored against us in our matches at Eastleigh, Aldershot and Dagenham respectively.

Misery duly compounded by seeing Marriott carried off on a stretcher. We can only hope that the injury wasn't as serious as it looked.

Six defeats in our last seven games really does require some sort of explanation from the management team. Our season appears to have imploded.

7
Altrincham FC First Team / John Williams RIP
« on: March 09, 2024, 02:40:52 AM »


It's sad to learn of the death of another one of those renowned characters from 1970s & 1980s Non League football.

John Williams was appointed as the manager of Altrincham FC in May 1986, as part of that unexpected and, frankly, bizarre exchange of bosses between the Robins and Runcorn in the almost immediate aftermath of the two clubs having contested the FA Trophy Final at Wembley Stadium, which of course witnessed that delightful 1-0 triumph for John King's men.

Notwithstanding Williams' considerable accomplishments in charge of Runcorn, which had included the impressive capture of the 1981/82 Alliance Premier League title, he was unfortunately unable to replicate that success during his relatively brief tenure at Moss Lane.

A decent sequence of results during the autumn of 1986 had engendered hopes of a significant title challenge, but this optimism rather evaporated after a particularly negative and dispiriting FA Cup Second Round exit at Telford United in December.

Further cup disappointment ensued in January 1987, when the Robins were eliminated from the FA Trophy via a 2-0 defeat at Maidstone United.

A respectable fifth-place finish in the 1986/87 GM Vauxhall Conference (GMVC) league table was duly attained, but the Robins finished 22 points adrift of the eventual promoted champions Scarborough.

Williams had undoubtedly made some good signings for the club e.g. left full-back Paul Edwards, midfielder Eddie Bishop and striker John Timmons, however there was also a collection of transfer flops such as the likes of central defender Graham Jones, forward Mark Hilditch, winger Stewart Hamill and, most notably, the expensive and injury-plagued forward Martin Hanchard. 

You sensed that Williams' previous strong connections with Runcorn had acted as a barrier to him becoming truly accepted at Moss Lane by the Alty faithful.

Despite a flurry of new recruits for the 1987/88 GMVC season, including such figures as goalkeeper John Butcher, midfielder Ossie Smith, winger Garry Worrall and experienced striker Colin Williams, a 2-1 defeat at Bath City in merely the 10th match of the campaign proved to be John Williams' swan song as Alty manager. He was duly relieved of his duties, which facilitated the dawn of the Tommy Docherty circus at Moss Lane.

For a variety of reasons, things just never worked out for him at Altrincham FC.

Sincere condolences to his family and friends.

Here's a splendid obituary on the Runcorn Linnets website:

https://www.runcornlinnetsfc.co.uk/post/most-successful-linnets-manager-john-williams-dies-at-88
 
 

8
Altrincham FC First Team / Re: Dorking Match Thread
« on: March 06, 2024, 02:27:41 AM »

Epic performance. This was the red card by the way...

https://x.com/dmaudsley/status/1765139214679597335?s=20



Please don't rush to judgement solely on the basis of that particular clip though, as it only comprises the first instalment of the ongoing incident which resulted in Linney being sent off.

From my seat in the main stand, I happened to catch a good view of the whole altercation.

Following Linney's initial barge of the Dorking defender, I kept my eye focused on the two players, as verbals were being exchanged and you just sensed that a sequel was impending.

Alas, Linney proceeded (both senselessly and naively) to run back towards the Dorking player, raise his right arm and then barge into him across the upper chest with a trifle more force. Inevitably, the Dorking defender cynically capitalised on this impetuous deed by promptly holding his face and collapsing onto the turf.

I doubt that the referee witnessed the incident, so I would suspect that the red card was issued on the advice of his assistant (who was in front of the sponsors lounge at the time). Harsh, to my mind, but Linney needs to learn that such indisciplined behaviour almost cost us dear on the night and will now almost certainly result in him being unnecessarily absent for three matches at a vital stage of the season.

All I will add is that it was a pity that the same linesman wasn't quite so eagle-eyed when it came to spotting a Dorking player's assault on Marriott in the aftermath of our opening goal.

As for the game itself, that second half resembled Rorke's Drift in Zulu, only with Lewis Baines instead of Michael Caine.

Potentially a pivotal victory, both in terms of the ultimate league position and the team's morale in the wake of five consecutive defeats.
         

9
Altrincham FC First Team / Re: Dorking Match Thread
« on: March 05, 2024, 05:48:42 PM »
if Ethan is not fit i would play Ollie Byrne in goal
His old man, posted a picture on Twitter of a car losing its wheel, with the caption "The wheels are falling off" just after his son had been named on the bench in the game we lost.

After the sh*te I would be fining him his wages and sending him down to the donkey field to train with the under 9's. Our social media policy must surely include close family & "representatives".



Definitely an instance of a Byrne being a talking head who had begun to stop making sense.

10
Altrincham FC First Team / Re: D&R Match Thread
« on: March 03, 2024, 06:49:29 PM »

11
Altrincham FC First Team / Re: Southend
« on: February 28, 2024, 03:33:19 PM »


The following observation by a Southend United supporter on their fans form regarding last evening's game did raise a wry smile:


"Is this the first time this season we've got more subs than the opposition?"
 

12
Altrincham FC First Team / Re: Southend
« on: February 27, 2024, 09:56:55 PM »

A fair outcome.

They dominated the game and we never got to grips with their left winger Bridge.

That's the third consecutive game in which we have scored the opening goal and then lost.

We never looked like salvaging anything during that second half and merely mustered one tame shot on target from Conn-Clarke (who was our sole hope up front).

Running on empty here. Only being able to nominate four subs is embarrassing for a full-time team.

At least a couple of favourable results elsewhere redeemed the evening somewhat.



13
Altrincham FC First Team / Re: Maidenhead Match Thread
« on: February 25, 2024, 06:48:56 PM »

The scoreboard is indeed fabulous.

Arguably our best player today 🤣



Aside from when they left the clock/timer on it running throughout half-time... :D

Another highlight was that bizarre rectangle of lush green turf located amongst the sand dunes directly in front of the main stand.

 

14
Altrincham FC First Team / Re: Maidenhead Match Thread
« on: February 24, 2024, 06:58:52 PM »


Comfortably our worst performance of the season to date, and you now wouldn't be at all surprised if that by the time that we play our next fixture at the JDS, it will be on the back of five consecutive defeats. Our impetus appears to have evaporated.

Relentlessly ponderous, pedestrian and utterly predictable. Losing 3-1 at home and we are still stroking the ball around in our own half as if we were 3-1 up. No apparent ability or plan to change the pattern of the game.

I don't recall us mustering even a single shot on target during that second half.

As others have stated within this thread, why on earth do we persist in starting without our best defender, Lewis Baines?

Fair play to Maidenhead, who worked tirelessly and took their chances. Nonetheless, they must have been astonished by just how inept we were.

A painful experience. Like listening to a seven-inch single being played at 33+1⁄3 rpm.


15
Altrincham FC First Team / Re: Maidenhead Match Thread
« on: February 23, 2024, 05:41:31 PM »

Some context re. tomorrow's visitors, courtesy of the splendid John Laidlar:

"It's now four defeats on the spin in the league for Alan Devonshire's men, who briefly rekindled hopes of a play-off charge earlier this month... Since then, missed chances and misfortune have afflicted the team at a crucial juncture of the season, with the side losing a game they should have handsomely won at Boreham Wood before going down to a 2-1 defeat in the 98th minute at FC Halifax Town last week.

Saturday's 3-1 loss to Oldham Athletic and last night's 2-1 loss to Southend United were much more disappointing performances and few could argue they deserved anything from either contest.

United briefly came to life towards the end of the first half, when Kevin Lokko rose well to head home Sam Barratt's free kick to make it 1-1, but generally, they were second best to a Shrimpers side who started the night four points below them in the National League table....

Devonshire's men hav[e] failed to score more than one goal in all but one of their last 12 matches, now 13. It means that whenever they fall behind, there's a general unease about whether they have the firepower to get back into a game."

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