[ Sat 12th Mar ] v Royston Town, KO 3pm SL1DC AWAY

[Rushdenjim]

Stevenson looked like he won his shirt in a raffle today

[Formic]

Did we have a plan today? I haven't a clue what Elliot Sandy was doing on the pitch. We seemed to bypass central midfield far too often, and with the strange decision to play Lorraine in a wider role there was no link-up play up front and too many long balls towards Stevenson which were simple for the two Royston Centre backs to deal with. I can't remember any crisp one-touch passing to feet - it was usually a case of a player taking too long and being challenged, especially as the Crows had realised that Claudio can't do much when two men close him down at the same time.

Why was Jepson left on the bench when we were so poor in midfield? Why were we reduced to playing the ball around at the back when the midfield went missing - resulting in the embarrassment when we put the ball out of play on the left. Why bring on a youth team player who is yet to score a senior goal when you are chasing an equaliser in a season-defining game against a close competitor, taking off a player who has scored goals at Step 2 level?

How can a side go from a coherent well organised, fully committed unit into such a bunch of also-rans showing mid-table form (at best) / bottom-of-the-table commitment (at worst) in such a short space of time?

Only Finlay, Ashton and Dolman came out of the game with any credit today.

[diamondsteve]

Did we have a plan today? I haven't a clue what Elliot Sandy was doing on the pitch. We seemed to bypass central midfield far too often, and with the strange decision to play Lorraine in a wider role there was no link-up play up front and too many long balls towards Stevenson which were simple for the two Royston Centre backs to deal with. I can't remember any crisp one-touch passing to feet - it was usually a case of a player taking too long and being challenged, especially as the Crows had realised that Claudio can't do much when two men close him down at the same time.

Why was Jepson left on the bench when we were so poor in midfield? Why were we reduced to playing the ball around at the back when the midfield went missing - resulting in the embarrassment when we put the ball out of play on the left. Why bring on a youth team player who is yet to score a senior goal when you are chasing an equaliser in a season-defining game against a close competitor, taking off a player who has scored goals at Step 2 level?

How can a side go from a coherent well organised, fully committed unit into such a bunch of also-rans showing mid-table form (at best) / bottom-of-the-table commitment (at worst) in such a short space of time?

Only Finlay, Ashton and Dolman came out of the game with any credit today.

Agree with everything there , trouble is i have no answers . I just cannot work us out at the moment. Where do we go from here? Just go again I suppose

[Trek]

Strange team selection today and I was amazed that Kennedy, Jepson and Hall didn't start. No width at all and zero creativity from midfield. Aimless aerial balls from the back to Stevenson won't work so why are our defenders persisting with this tactic, have they forgotten that Dunks no longer plays for us? Our management need to get back to basics because what they are asking the players to do clearly isn't working and I'm seriously fed up watching the fare on offer. We've havn't troubled the opponents keeper in our last three matches so how do we expect to win matches? At present one goal is enough to see us off. Dreadful!

[Pigman]

It's all been said above! Very disappointing and we need to sort it out quickly! Can't be arsed to write anymore - it's just deflating isn't it?

Three defeats on the trot and no goals scored !!

Still, on the plus side, we have a football club - we didn't have that a few years ago and I was shopping or decorating on a Saturday afternoon, now THAT was depressing!!

[Formic]

....<<snip>>..

Still, on the plus side, we have a football club - we didn't have that a few years ago and I was shopping or decorating on a Saturday afternoon, now THAT was depressing!!

True, and its great credit to those that made that possible. Hopefully the players realise that and will strive to make sure they deliver equivalent effort.

It we've built up from a midtable position to reach fourth place in the league by this stage of the season we'd be praising them - but at the moment I just can't understand why we suddenly look so listless.

[BartonRaz]

Did we have a plan today? I haven't a clue what Elliot Sandy was doing on the pitch. We seemed to bypass central midfield far too often, and with the strange decision to play Lorraine in a wider role there was no link-up play up front and too many long balls towards Stevenson which were simple for the two Royston Centre backs to deal with. I can't remember any crisp one-touch passing to feet - it was usually a case of a player taking too long and being challenged, especially as the Crows had realised that Claudio can't do much when two men close him down at the same time.

Why was Jepson left on the bench when we were so poor in midfield? Why were we reduced to playing the ball around at the back when the midfield went missing - resulting in the embarrassment when we put the ball out of play on the left. Why bring on a youth team player who is yet to score a senior goal when you are chasing an equaliser in a season-defining game against a close competitor, taking off a player who has scored goals at Step 2 level?

How can a side go from a coherent well organised, fully committed unit into such a bunch of also-rans showing mid-table form (at best) / bottom-of-the-table commitment (at worst) in such a short space of time?

Only Finlay, Ashton and Dolman came out of the game with any credit today.

Glad I gave it a few hours before posting as I think you've saved me a job Formic. Absolutely spot on in every respect, as usual.

Not only have we failed to score in 4 successive away games and 3 successive games generally, but I can only recall two shots on target in those games - Claudiu last week in the second half and an overhead kick from Lorraine against Kings Langley. 5 games and 2 serious shots on target. If we were playing Barcelona week-in week-out i'd be pissed off with that, let alone Beaconsfield, Royston, Fleet, Kings Langley and Potters f*****g Bar.

For this more than capable squad to have performed miles below par for such a long period now is total garbage.

[Dowlo]

Well that game wont live long in the memory. I honestly can't think of a single half decent shot we had all game. Having said that Royston hardly had to be at their best to get the 3 points. We seemed to almost roll over and forget how to play basic football. It was a case of 1 pass 2 pass hooooof!

Why Lorraine was deployed as a winger when you have Hall on the bench baffled me. It made our attacking threat (what little there was of it) completely consigned to long hopeful balls down the middle due to the lack of width down the right. Lorraine to be fair tried hard all game but asking him to play that role seems completely unfair to him and Andy Hall sat on the bench.

Realistically after today the best we can hope for is a play-off place. However performances like today can't continue if we are to secure a place in the top 5!

Despite the above 2 paragraphs of negatives, on the drive back to sunny Suffolk I thought to myself actually is a play-off place that bad. Yes at one stage we looked favourites to win the league, but a dip in form has seen that fade away, but if you were to offer any fan a play off place at the start of the season they'd have bit your hand off. We may have "peaked" to soon almost, if you are to pardon the pun. Other teams have now caught us up and perhaps we are getting a bit of a wake up call, just sadly at the wrong time.

We have been spoilt with success, promotions and trophies ever since we re-formed. Even including the U18's cup win. So perhaps some perspective is needed. We can't keep winning all the time and getting promoted again and again. The name Rushden and Diamonds doesn't give us the divine right to plough our way up the leagues at will. We are going to come up against well organised clubs who field decent footballing sides. (I would like to say the behaviour of some of the Royston staff was moronic and pathetic today though). Getting out the UCL was vital but now we are starting to see the difference in standard.

So yes although we aren't playing well as we know we can and have done in the past, please don't get too down beat. We have the majority of our remaining games at home and all it needs is 1 win and we can hopefully get back on track and finish strongly in time to compete in the play-offs. Ensuring another exciting end to the season, to celebrate the clubs 5th birthday!

[updiamonds]

I agree with all the above, very disppointing, very, we need to buck up are ideas and show more passion towards it, and get the 3 points on Saturday, (Uxbridge home) Saturday is a must win.

Otherwise we could miss out on the play offs. (If we don't buck up are ideas soon)

[Roystonjez]

If you are referring to the behaviour of our club treasurer (bloke in the cap) then I agree. However the behaviour of some of your fans was disgusting and moronic too.

Two fans took it upon themselves to shat and urinate on the roysia stone in the centre of town. Yes it was Rushden fans... One who was quite vocal at the game telling one of our disabled fans that as easter was here and miracles happen to get out of his chair and walk.

thankfully the majority of your support is decent and passionate just a tiny few that let your club down