Bideford Game

Colin · Press Officer Joined: 03 Mar 2007 Posts: 151

I thought it was a good game, and I can see why Bideford are drawing so many games, as they do tend to flood the midfield and play an offside trap which is fairly unusual these days. There was a time when lots of teams came and played those tactics, resulting in about 20 yards of congested midfield and numerous offside decisions. They used to say that if you cut Tony Adams' right arm off, then Arsenals defence lost 50% of it's effectiveness, but strangely, you don't see it so much these days. Maybe the confusion over who actually is offside these days has eventually filtered through and produced a more open game? Not sure.

I thought the defence did exceptionally well again for the second week in a row. Brislington scored 2 against Truro on Saturday, so to keep a clean sheet with only 10 men for an hour showed how well they played last week, and let's face it, Bideford are no mugs.

Given the increasingly wet and slippery conditions, I did wonder if Deano might have made more from a longer period in the second half? Anyone know why he was booked in the second half ... I know it was for "getting in the way of the keeper", but I didn't actually see exactly what happened.

Asa · Joined: 02 Mar 2007 Posts: 142

Bit dissapointed to have drawn the last two games as so have Truro so we havnt gained nothing but we didnt do enough to win it i dont think against Bideford.

They were hard working but not as good as some of the great Bideford sides we have played against before.

Think its about time Griffiths was given a start as our front line looks a bit week at the moment and we are missing alot of chances which sometimes you cant afford to.
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Frome town till i die!!!

Colin · Press Officer Joined: 03 Mar 2007 Posts: 151

Thanks Asa ... you'll see I edited the posts ... my mistake ....

Stuart · Joined: 17 Mar 2007 Posts: 15

So Derek's pledge to not get booked for the rest of the season lasted all of three games....I assume Ian is now just a little bit richer.

Deano · Joined: 19 Mar 2007 Posts: 32

No that dont count cus i never did anything wrong
if i did i would pay up!
but that bookin was riddiculous!

Asa · Joined: 02 Mar 2007 Posts: 142

A bookings a booking Deano, get your money out!!!

Think you were too close to the Goalie for the refs liking, the ref was very overprotective of him as when anyone went near him he blew up for a foul, maybe they were `special` friends and you were getting in the way and he didnt like it!!!!
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Frome town till i die!!!

Twoscarves · Joined: 04 Mar 2007 Posts: 63

Can't agree with Colin's comment about our defence.....in the first half we were poor at the back giving Bideford too much space and not getting to the ball first often enough. Things improved after the break but a point was all both sides deserved. I assume Deano's yellow card was for unsporting behavior as its now an offence to prevent the keeper from releasing the ball.....

Deano · Joined: 19 Mar 2007 Posts: 32

i never stopped him though
i stayed completely still and he hit me...lol
cant believe you guys are talking about the game..... that hasnt happened in weeks.

Colin · Press Officer Joined: 03 Mar 2007 Posts: 151

This protection of goalkeepers has almost become a joke. It seems to me now that if you're an attacker stood still in the penalty area and the ball is coming down on your head, all the keeper has to do is bounce into you, fall backwards and throw his hands out and most referees will blow the whistle and award a free kick in the keeper's favour. Strangely though, on the rare occasion that a keeper goes outside of his area, different rules seem to apply, and they're MORE likely to be penalised than the attacker.

On the other hand, it seems OK for defenders to wrap their arms round attackers, and even pull them to the ground (Carragher the other week) and it's not deemed a foul.

I wouldn't like to see it go back to the days when a keeper was fair game for bundling into the net, but it does seem like the pendulum has swung too far in the opposite direction at the moment.

Regarding the defence, two games, one away to Brislington, one home to Bideford and only let one goal in .... I'd have said that was pretty good.
Project that over a season and we're on course to only concede 21 goals or so.