“We play some lovely football under Graham Westley. I think he prefers to let the attacking players play the football and the defenders just to get the ball away from the goal. I mean why play pretty football around the back four? Under GW we're an organised unit too, so passing the ball 40 yards down field isn't really hoofing it.”

Stevenage v Manchester United

Stevenage and their manager are reunited after a season apart, and have missed each other greatly. Westley had an unhappy season at Preston and Boro only missed relegation to League Two by the skin of their teeth.

“Undoubtedly we are rough round the edges. We will rely on strength and attitude as much as we will on flair, but that has served this club well the last few years. When we tried to rely on technical ability and ignored the team ethos under Smith, that's where it all went tits up. We don't have the money to buy and retain technical quality in abundance.”

His predecessor Gary Smith is not missed: “I nearly didn't renew my season ticket because of last season when we supposedly played football in ‘the right way’ which was an utterly dreadful spectacle and ended up in many defeats.”

“Gary Smith’s idea of football, ie defend and don’t commit too many players forward, was not an attractive passing game. It was a mind-numbing defensive game that was always destined to fail once the opposition found us out.”

“We are a side with an average home crowd of less than 3,000 competing against sides which can sell players for millions of pounds, have parachute payments or have huge crowds. We're never going to be able to afford technically gifted players.”

“I'm happy with whatever works. Sure, you might not like wearing blue suits, but if you can't buy a black suit within your price range, then shut up and wear a blue suit.”

The Wrong Attitude

“I think Westley has a battle on his hands to bring this group together. The sooner some of those, Haber, Dunne and Akins are gone, the better in my opinion.”

“I see too many others from his generation dropping their heads and giving, what looks to me, like very negative body language.”

“There is too much 'I' and not enough 'we'. I'm not seeing happy players with positive relationships. Instead, I see individuals with egos that want only what’s best for them. Interestingly, every single player that I see this attitude in is a survivor of the Smith era.”

Whipping Boys

“Are we deluded?” “We were singing we are going to win the league” “It’s better than singing ‘let's hope we come fifth from bottom’." “Taking into account the upheavals that have occurred in the last two seasons avoiding relegation is going to be a major achievement.”

Expectations for the season are modest: “I’d guess that this is simply down to our budget. We are by far the smallest club in this league going on crowds and spending power.”

“I feel that it is going to be a tough campaign this season. I don't know why, because this is our third year in the division. If anyone can keep us up, or even get us promoted it is GW. The guy seems to be exceedingly astute.”

Passion

Stevenage were beaten 4-3 at home to Oldham on Saturday, conceding two penalties, and they substituted their left-back before half-time as a precaution against him getting a red card. Many fans blamed fussy refereeing, but others felt that they were over-exuberant in their approach.

“The players’ passion all game was fantastic though.” They weren’t afraid to “get stuck in” and showed “great fighting spirit”. “Some horrific officiating costs us a point.” “I think we showed amazing strength of character to get back from 3-1 down (to 3-3), when I thought we were dead and buried at that stage and deservedly so.”

The Tactical Overview in One Sentence

Stevenage play with a healthy balance of technical ability and hard-working players, and fans are happy with the attitude and commitment shown, but their fear is that they lack enough quality in certain places, especially in defence.

Defence

Boro fans are anxious about what they see as a fragile defence which is still developing a collective understanding, but which can perform rashly under pressure. “I thought our entire back four was poor yesterday.

“They can’t cope with speed at all, and the line is far too high for players who are quite slow (Ash and Jones). We are pressing them almost into the midfield at times, which is always going to leave gaps.”

“We still continue to make some stupid challenges. At times players need to realise that you cannot always win the ball. Instead get tight and make it difficult for your opponent. Do not go straight through them. This is common sense and basic defending.” “Four goals conceded due to a combination if impulsive defending and fussy refereeing.”

In goal, Stevenage have been playing 38-year-old veteran Chris Day, who has also played for QPR, Millwall and the England U21s. He is widely seen as a respected and experienced safe pair of hands.

Chris Day

The same cannot be said for left-back and former Palace player Lee Hills. “Hills was a very lucky man, it seemed like he was trying to get sent off or something! Silly tackles to make.” “He was guilty of some shocking defending.”

Hills was booked in the first minute of Saturday’s defeat and substituted before the break. “He should have been sent off.” “He looks good going forward, but we always concede down his side.”

“Just shows why we need a left back desperately. He should have been sent off.”

“Right-back Sam Wedgebury looks good going forwards but got caught out a few times.” “He puts a shift in and looking a good right back when it isn't his natural position.”

The 24-year-old former Macclesfield player is “new to the position. He will be found out a few times but he's already positionally better and less rash than last year’s regular starter David Gray.”

Former Mansfield centre-back Luke Jones is the popular most centre-back pairing with captain and ex-Rushden player, the 30-year-old Jon Ashton.

“I’m not entirely convinced by Luke Jones yet.” “I like this Jones but he made a few mistakes defensively, and he needs to work on his communication with Ash.” “They do the basics well, but their defensive partnership with is still a work in progress.”

“Keep at the back of our minds that Jon Ashton will be wearing the armband and is six feet wide, that the Stevenage way is to play with our minds first giving us a great foundation and solidity.”

Centre-back and captain Jon Ashton is widely seen as “solid, commanding and organised,” and “still brilliant in the air.”

“Losing our captain on a free to a lower league team with a lower average gate can't have helped either.”

The loss to Fleetwood Town in the summer of defender Mark Roberts, “our best ever player”, in the words of one fan, is keenly felt. “Robbo is part of our past, an amazing past, but the past nonetheless. We must now look to the future.”

Midfield

Although there is much to do knitting the midfield together, supporters are confident that this aspect of the team is a piece of solid work in progress.

Greg Tansey

“Tansey was anonymous yesterday. He is OK on the ball, but without the ball he is bordering on being a liability.” “I think Tansey is technically the most gifted player we have, but consistency is a problem that Westley needs to address.”

“I stand by Tansey at the moment because I see him as a professional. He wants his shirt, he wants to work. He is receptive to this system and talks positively on the pitch.” “When he's got the ball he sets the tempo of our attacks. When he hasn't, the game just passes him by.”

Some are more scathing. “You must be joking. The bloke is a passenger. Always second to the ball, and everyone raves about his passing because he passes like Gerrard, but almost all of them are over-hit.”

“Heslop worked tirelessly. He linked up midfield and defence and generally kept us ticking.” “Heslop has a good work rate and breaks up play well but seems to lack quality on the ball.” “Heslop in particular seems to be fitting in to the Westley way quite well.”

“Dunne and Heslop will be an excellent midfield duo though. I'm certainly excited by that prospect.” “With Heslop and Dunne you will get stability, strength and tenacity. They have a good workrate and break up play well but seems to lack quality on the ball.”

“James Dunne is good enough to play in League One. The only problem is whether Westley sees him fitting into his vision of things. I personally would love to keep him.”

The 23-year-old former Exeter player’s ability is not questioned, but some fans believe that he may move on in the near future with the arrival of the new boss.

“Freeman hard and got in good positions. I wish he'd release the ball better. His crossing could be better too.” Left-winger 21-year-old Luke Freeman is seen as a work in progress by supporters.

“Freeman had a few good runs here and there, but nothing stood out. He played OK but not great looks much sharper defensively now.” “He literally looks a different player, having shed some weight.”

On the right flank, former Oldham and St Johnstone player Filipe Morais is talented but can also be erratic. “Love or hate Morais, he is up for it every game. His tenacity can get other people going - and his passion was obvious when we scored the third goal against Oldham.”

“In all honesty, Morais doesn't impress me much on the wing.” “Gave away a penalty and looks clumsy in defence. He is a threat going forward though if we can get him in the right positions.” “Morais was at it all game too.”

One fringe player worth a comment is ex-Tranmere winger Lucas Akins. Although some fans think that Akins is talented, many have written him off over his attitude. “We need to get rid of Akins ASAP so we can actually bring in a proper right-winger.” “Akins has ability but doesn't deliver.”” If you’re not interested, go.”

Attack

“We have the basis of a good squad here. We look quite good going forward, players making the runs getting into the box and getting into goal scoring positions, I think as a team we will score the goals we need.”

Twenty-three-year-old French player Oumare Tounkara is the most popular choice up front. He has obtained most of league experience on loan at Oldham when on the books of Sunderland. His finishing is not perfect, but his athleticism and attitude are more than seen to make up for this.

Oumare Tounkara

“Tounkara was crap. I don’t get all the hype about him. He was constantly offside and no spatial awareness. He is another target man who can maybe do a few flick-ons. Wow.” “Towards the end of the first half I think Tounkara was very lucky to avoid a red for an elbow.”

“You are incorrect. His lack of ability to head the ball means he is clearly not a target man. He plays on the shoulder of the last defender and need someone like Haber to flick on for him, or Lopez to provide service for him.”

“Yeah, he was well crap when he cut the ball back inch perfect for the second goal against Oldham.” “He worked hard, without much joy.” “He was the fittest and hungriest player. Got in behind with some good runs and should have scored at least two but his finishing was off by a whisker.”

Former Brentford player Darius Charles is a versatile all-round player, who has been utilised by Westley to compliment Tounkana. Many supporters have included him in line-outs at left-back instead of the higher-risk Lee Hills.

“Darius will play in every position before the end of the season and do a good job.” “Charles is also not a target man. Just because a striker is over 5'11 doesn't mean he is a target man.” “No mistakes and he does looked solid.”

“He played in three different positions and had a good game in all three.” “I wouldn't agree with you. It was his man that scored the equaliser and you just can't slide in to block with your arms raised.”

“Hopefully, Lopez or whoever comes from a bit deeper will snag a few goals.” Twenty-seven-year-old Dani Lopez has played for a variety of lower league Spanish teams, and is seen as withdrawn striker in a 4-4-1-1 or 3-5-2, which Boro can occasionally play.

“Lopez does look good in the role behind strikers. He's creative and sees passes others do not, but he can fade away.”

The attitude of former St Johnstone striker and Canada International Marcus Harber is widely questioned. “Haber has all the tools to be a very good striker but either doesn't believe it or doesn't want to put in the work to prove it.” “Haber does need to go. It looks like he's going through the motions.”

“He and Tounkara could be good - Haber flicking it on and utilizing Tounkara's speed. However, it is completely pointless if you're not going to allow Haber to do what he does best (win headers and bring others into the game) by not directing the long balls in his direction.”

There was this ominous assessment: “Haber might hang around and collect a pay packet, but Westley will not play him if he doesn't do things in the Westley way. It's his way or the highway or a shootout at dawn at which point you find GW removed all the bullets from your pistol.”

The March for Mitch

A team of 11 Stevenage fans walked from Oxford United’s Kassam Stadium to The Lamex Stadium in time for last Saturday’s game, wearing shirts from each of the 11 clubs that Mitchell Cole played for, along with his squad number. Their aim was to raise £10,000 for the Cardiomyopathy Association.

“The March for Mitch is complete. 65 miles of simultaneous joy and pain, and 100% the best thing I've ever been a part of.”

“Your support has been immense, so thank you for that.” “A massive thanks to the East terrace for breaking into "Mitchell Cole" (Spandau Ballet Gold) song, while we were winning, very emotional, makes it all worthwhile.”

Mitchell, who died aged 27 from cardiomyopathy at the end of last year, played for the club between 2007 and 2010 and scored in the first competitive final at the new Wembley Stadium - his goal helping them lift the FA Trophy for the very first time.

I thought that it might be helpful to alert everyone to this brilliant fund aising gesture in case they hear the song or if there is a charity collection at the game.

Other Information and Websites

There has been little discussion of the match or ITFC yet. I will update the forum on Stevenage fans thoughts on Tuesday afternoon.

The one Stevenage supporters site worth visiting is the well informed Borochat.

Photo: Action Images

JimmyJazz added 12:25 - Aug 5 I'm fairly sure Lee Hills was quite highly rated by Palace at one point - on a par with Nathaniel Clyne. Then he had a bad injury and I'm not sure he played for Palace again. Interesting read as usual
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mightytown added 13:36 - Aug 5 might I suggest joining in a verse or two of the Mitchell Cole Spandau ballet song for those of us attending the game, if and when its sung. great stuff as always harry
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megamoth added 13:57 - Aug 5 Thanks as ever Harry. Btw, a bit late in the day I know but did you ever produce a Bristol City fans' report for Cole Skuse when he signed for us?
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Seasider added 17:36 - Aug 5 It looks as though Harry puts a great deal of time and effort into this;but feel he could be a bit more concise as not everyone has time to read his whole tome'.
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HarryfromBath added 23:42 - Aug 5 JimmyJazz, the Lee Hills comments were not just about his poor game on Saturday. Fans were anxious about his form in the pre-season. Mightytown, I know that we will certainly join in and support the cause if enough of us are aware of the Mitchell Cole story. Megamoth, I never did a forum round-up on Cole Skuse, as a number of threads were started linking us to City fans websites when the story broke, and I felt that it would be superfluous. Thanks for the kindly meant feedback, Seasider. It is fair to say that the Mitchell Cole section did make the notes longer than they would normally have been, but I didn't want to leave this out.

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