Shropshire Social: Supporters have their say

Steve Jones - Shrews

Last weekend Shrewsbury were among the EFL teams whose Saturday 3pm matches were streamed live for the first time in the UK.

There’s an obvious appeal in this; you can sit in the comfort of your front room away from the adverse weather conditions of terraces, avoid the overpriced food, and enjoy the match without a several hundred mile round trip.

But it’s dangerous. For one, it’s a threat to the atmosphere on the terraces which is central to the match day experience. All too often we hear about the role of the crowd as the 12th man, but you can’t recreate that at home. And a last-minute winner is also more euphoric when witnessed in the flesh.

Those who streamed the match will vouch for the poor connectivity.

Although last weekend was a ‘one-off’, it has opened the door for similar initiatives in future. However tempting they may be, they should be avoided.

David Matthias - Shrews

There was a new experience this week as many were able to watch an away Saturday game via the website for the first time. Plus there was a decent contingent of travelling fans.

They saw what can only be described as an excellent attacking team performance, where we totally dominated Portsmouth for long periods. Yet the two clear weaknesses of the side were exposed with our inability to convert our dominance into a clear lead, and our ability to see the game out.

John-Lewis is a hardworking pro but starting this season relying on last season’s third choice striker is an act of folly, pure and simple. He’s giving 100 per cent every game but in this system it’s ruthlessly exposed his limitations.

These penalties and free-kicks are hugely costly and while Saturday’s was very soft, and we had better shouts for penalty ourselves, it’s something we’ve got to wise up on.

A point away at high-flying Portsmouth is a great result in the course of a season. To get it by absolutely taking the game to them is hugely encouraging. But the monkey on the back from not having won yet is getting heavier.

The Southend game suddenly becomes huge in our season because we really do have to win soon.

Rich Worton - Bucks

There's an idea that you shouldn’t read too much into a league table until teams have played at least 10 games.

If that’s true, then Saturday at around 5pm should give AFC Telford United their first opportunity to gain a realistic view of what they might achieve this season.

The visit of Stockport County will take the Bucks into double figures in the played column, and even if they were to suffer a defeat, a record of 18 points from 30 available would likely be above most fans’ expectations before the season began.

What’s more pleasing is that the Bucks players and management aren’t expressing any surprise at how well they’ve started; in fact, the vibe seems to be that they were almost expecting it. It may sound like arrogance to some, but the belief at the club suggests the players knew what they had, and what they were capable of.

It’s perhaps that level of belief and expectation which made last weekend’s 3-0 loss at Darlington so surprising, in that it was largely unexpected.

Bucks boss Gavin Cowan has backed his side to bounce back; that now feels more like an expectation than just hope.

Steve Humbles - Bucks

It was only a matter of time before AFC Telford United fell to a first defeat of the season but, after such a phenomenal start, nobody quite saw it coming in the manner in which it did.

Gavin Cowan’s team just never got going and, right from the first whistle, Darlington displayed energy levels and an intensity which were in stark contrast to their unusually sluggish and lethargic visitors.

It’s hard to explain why Telford were so lacklustre on the day.

Maybe the long journeydidn’t help, or perhaps some complacency had crept in. Boss Cowan even went so far as to question his team’s desire and attitude in the immediate aftermath.

However, one extremely forgettable performance shouldn’t be allowed to overshadow Telford’s outstanding start to the season.

The key now is how Telford respond to their first setback of this promising campaign.