Crewe Alex 1-2 Barnet 25/26 Review - Paying the Penalty

Sometimes thinking of match review titles is very tricky. But sometimes they just fall into your lap, as this one does today. The Alex are left to rue not 1 but 2 missed penalties as Barnet came away with 3 points at Gresty Road for the first time in their history. So, where do we even start to pick the bones out of this shambolic defeat? Well, let's start with a group that far too often get a pass:

The Players

Weak. Pathetic. Spineless. Their slide at the end of 23-24 was excused by injuries, fatigue and the pressure of pushing for the play-offs. The slide last season in the 2nd half was excused by blaming the manager, injuries, the pitch, etc etc. But rarely do we question the players. Well today I very much am doing that. I'm sorry, but professional football players should be able to score a penalty. Both penalties were woeful. March's was a nice height for the keeper, all he had to do was go the right way. Then for Sanders' effort, it's a similarly poor shot on the opposite side.

The lack of mental strength to hold onto the lead and let it slip so soon after it was earned was pathetic. The defending for the 2nd goal would be embarrassing if a Sunday league team did it. Their lack of resilience for the 2nd week in a row to defend a lead and then to put in a horrendous attempt at chasing the game means they deserve the lion's share of the blame. They have to do a lot better!

Tactics

The players deserve 75% of the blame, but we are back to the same conversations about the managements sheer lack of tactical nous. The set up from the start made sense, but the football employed once again was confusing. Long balls one minute, playing out from the back the next. No discernable patterns of play. The high press, high intensity style of the opening weeks now a long faded memory. And we'll get on to what was served up in the final 20 minutes shortly.

But I do think it's fair to ask if Bell is a Crewe Alex manager. Because he talks the talk, but too often his teams don't espouse the style and philosophy this club preaches. They don't dominate possession or pass through teams. They are weak in attack all too often and defensively shaky. And this isn't new either. I said there were no excuses before the game and there definitely aren't now. Him, Dicker and the staff are starting to look out of their depth tactically. Again.

Subs

Part of the concern about them once again comes in the subs made. Ok, it wasn't the best game, but it was 1-1 heading into the final 20 minutes. The game was there to be won. They had Moult, Tezgel and Rankine all ready to go as attacking changes. So why on earth are you bringing off an attacking midfielder in Holicek for a CB in Goulding and plonking him in midfield? Whatever justification Bell will use for that, he's wrong. It ruined what little midfield shape they had.

Then for the 2nd change, it was even more confusing. A RB in Billington off and Moult, a striker, coming on, with Golding moving to either RCB in a back 3, or RB in a back 4. Whilst a player signed to play RB in Jay Mingi sits on the bench. Go figure. Then they take off Lunt for Tezgel and it gets even more baffling. It left them with no midfield, unless you count the clearly gassed O'Reilly and Agius as a midfield. Why did those 2 stay on with Mingi and Rankine sat on the bench? You have 5 subs, use them!

The final shape of the team was just bizarre and it smacks of a management team who are struggling for ideas. We aren't far away from having a conversation about their future once again.

Win or Bust

And ultimately, we are now at the point where the club need to start considering what they will do should the results continue to plummet. The football is poor, the results shocking and the fan unrest is growing by the week. They might not want to discuss it, but should they fail to win either of their next 2 to end September, then I think based on the entire body of evidence in 2025, it warrants a serious look at making a change. Yes, that change would be Mike Jackson, David Vaughan or some other coach internally.

But the fact is, since beating Morecambe in January, Bell and his management team have won 7 of 28 games. That's a 25% win ratio. It's nowhere near enough. Can they turn this around?

Ref Assessment

I can't even grumble too much as he gave 2 penalties. But he should have given a penalty and a red card on the Holicek 1st half chance, then should have given a 3rd penalty for the blatant handball late on. Oh and him not giving March any free kicks despite being in a headlock or having his shirt ripped off was bizarre.

Management Assessment

Said all I needed to say above. It's becoming rather clueless once again, as they are unable to affect the flow of a game or get any subs correct. The pressure is growing.

Player Assessments

Tom Booth

Fine for the majority of the game, but his save in the lead up to the Barnet 2nd goal was poor, as he pushed it right back into danger. He wasn't to blame for the defeat, but he has to do better.

Lewis Billington

He's a solid defender, but he gives them nothing going forward. I'm good with giving Jay Mingi a run of games now. He's just a limited player and it's time to see if Mingi gives them an upgrade.

James Connolly

The evidence is growing that he isn't an EFL calibre defender. His mistakes are becoming more frequent. Miles away from their striker for the equaliser and he made a number of other of gaffes. Time for Golding to start ahead of him.

Mickey Demetriou

He can cop some blame too. He's the captain and leader and whilst he can't do everything, these embarrassing collapses are happening on his watch. Time for him to start earning the armband.

Reece Hutchinson

Got caught out a few times defensively, but he was fine for the most part.

Max Sanders

He did his best, but regardless of how the 2nd penalty came to him, he has to score. It's not good enough. Just blast it down the middle, no keeper it standing still there.

Owen Lunt

Scrappy and tenacious, but we are into the "he doesn't stop goals, score goals or create goals" conversation with him I'm afraid. He keeps his starting place, but I'm not really sure what he adds currently.

Tommi O'Reilly MOTM

Yet again the only creative spark in the team. He took his goal really well but he faded late in the game and absolutely should have been subbed off. Still, he was decent.

Matus Holicek

Looked more comfortable in the number 10 role than he had done in previous attempts to play there. Was lively and was moving around to make things happen. A welcome return to the squad.

Calum Agius

He gets the assist on O'Reilly's goal, but that aside he wasn't great. He got no joy on the left hand side and he didn't track the runner better for the equaliser. I'd be tempted to have him on the bench at Barrow and start with O'Reilly, Tezgel and Holicek.

Josh March

There is a lot to like about him and how he's started the season. But I will not forgive a professional footballer who can't score a penalty. His spot kick was atrocious. All Slicker had to go was go the right way. I do admire him for handing over the 2nd kick without a fuss if that's what he was instructed to do.

Subs:

James Golding

Why him as the first change? I don't get it. He starts at Barrow, but as a CB only. Stop putting him on in midfield!

Louis Moult

A positive change, but he once again looked a yard off the pace and added little.

Emre Tezgel

I couldn't even tell you where he was supposed to be playing, but he also added nothing when brought on, but I don't blame him too much for that.

Overall Verdict

A shambolic effort on and off the pitch. Everyone gets blame and we now get to see if they have any ideas of how to rescue this poor run of form. Because if they don't, there will be nowhere left to hide, be that the players, management or board. The next few weeks will be very interesting.