I'VE thought long and hard for some positives to write about in this week's column but in truth, other than the traffic-free trip home from Port Vale, there were very few to be found.

Everything about Saturday up in Stoke-on-Trent was poor, especially on the football front.

It came after a less than convincing draw on Tuesday night against Bristol Rovers, only salvaged by a very well-taken 88th-minute strike from Noah Chilvers to gain us a share of the spoils.

The goal was celebrated like a win but as well as papering over the cracks, it was also a reminder of how far we have fallen when a point against Bristol – and not the good side from the city – is seen as a good result. At home, no less.

So the hardy souls that set out North on Saturday could be forgiven for thinking this could be a trip that proved very difficult.

But never in our wildest imagination could we have foreseen what was to unfold into a tactical disaster class from a manager in my opinion out of his depth and almost certainly out of ideas.

When the teams were announced, most of the comments from our travelling supporters were that we are setting up with three centre-backs and wing-backs out wide.

It's something that has worked well for us in the past and after recent results, something that would have been ideal to revert to in a bid to improve our fortunes.

But alas, the actual right-backs on the bench were overlooked and instead centre-back Luke Chambers was played at full-back.

So along comes half-time and although we had created a few chances, we went in 2-0 down and looking in need of something to change.

Out come the sides for the second half and now we have a right-back - Miles Welch-Hayes - on the pitch. So far so good.

But then we realised it was at the expense of Tom Eastman, one of our better players and saviour at Barrow.

The obvious answer, and indeed the only answer we could think of in the stands, was that Tom must have picked up a knock and it was a precautionary move ready for the coming games.

But no, Tom was not injured and for some reason was hooked off as the sacrifice to play the correctly-suited back four.

In my opinion, it would have made more sense to take off Chambers, who was not having a good afternoon and leave Eastman on.

Also, during the break, Sylvester Jasper was seen warming up with intent, leaving us hoping that he would be called into action very soon.

Yet this change failed to happen at all. He never got on the pitch, despite being one of our most promising wide players over recent games.

I can't see why Luke Hannant has played 90 minutes in the last two games, despite in my opinion offering nothing to the side.

The list goes on - I could talk all day and all night about how I feel the team is mis-managed, such as subs not being used in a timely manner, the body language on the sidelines, the lack of fan engagement.

It goes on and on but only leads to one damming conclusion in my opinion and that is we need to change our manager ASAP or else we are on a slide to non-league.

To put it in to perspective, we are actually worse off points wise than this time last season.

To try and end on a positive, it was good to see either by design or by default Frank Nouble ended up playing on the left for a period of the game.

It was clear he enjoyed it and was able to get so much more involved in the few forward moves we did create, something I hope (but not holding my breath for) that we will see more off.

Shamal George was again on fine form to keep it from being the 6-0 it could well have been.

Then there was the highlight of bumping in to former U's physio Tony Flynn outside the ground for a chat.

Other than that, it was not an afternoon I wish to repeat anytime soon.

In the current climate where the fashion in football seems to be people working for free, I'd like to inform Mr Cowling that if he's looking, I am more than happy to take the side for a few matches.

After all, in my opinion I don't think I can do any worse that what we have at the moment. Up the U’s.