Never thought I’d do this but I’m going to defend McCann, his selections up top we’re pretty much what everyone has been crying out for, as it didn’t work tonight people are now crying out for Magennis. You couldn’t make it up. As for the midfield, what were the alternatives? Defence? Elder had a shocker, it happens. Jordy has never had me convinced but it appears that he owns that position. Josh didn’t look the startling prospect that some have been raving about. It was a bad day at the office, it happens, and Fleetwood played us off the park. Move on.
Agree about experience. You also need some organization,muscle and attitude down this pothole. Early days but the drums are starting already...
When this game was switched to a Friday for SKY I feared the worst. It handed Fleetwood a cup final at home against one of the divisions form teams live on SKY, which was right up Joey Barton's street. All the motivation he needed and he used it well because his team were wound up for this one. The sheeting rain and strong wind arrived as if Barton had ordered it himself. Thought we matched them at first and KLP's wonder strike in the opening minutes which was disallowed for offside but oddly never re played on SKY so we could all see just why the lino's flag went up so quickly, might have changed the outcome of this game. But it never. Huge let off for Barton's Boys and they cashed in with the opening goal thanks to Ingram's first mistake of the season. Soft goal and one nil down. We came back well and looked good up to half time playing with the wind and rain on our backs. Second half, again Honeymans first bad pass of the season handed Fleetwood the advantage just after the re start then McCann gambled too quickly and took Batty off when at least other two fellow mid fielders were more likely candidates. Big mistake and it let Fleetwood run through us at will. Joey Barton was everything ,McCann wasn't. Massive win for him. Bad defeat for us. But its only one defeat. I don't think we were 4-1 worse then them but Barton won this one over McCann. I just hope the damage done tonight isn't lasting. Had it down for a draw, then two thirds down a bottle of red stuck a tenner on City 2-0 with KLP scoring the first. UTT.
got to agree and no one is more disappointed than me, it makes me wonder if Smallwood and Mcguiness had played then would it have been different. I don't know but the one thing tonight points out to me GLP is that have we got the balance right between skill and aggression regarding players. Plus obviously the fact can the defence stand up when under pressure? Because on tonight showing the answer is no. We have a number of cb but mistakes were there to see tonight. We have done well before tonight but this game highlights our problems. Had i said in post i do think we have a squad to compete however tonight still shows we are lacking in certain areas. Every team gets beat, let's hope we bounce back but more importantly let's hope the management realise we have weaknesses and we do something about it.
Okay, we lost, **** happens. Instead of looking for issues, let's celebrates what unite us. Both us and Fleetwood are fishing villages on the edge of an island, and people have to go out of their way to visit us for one. So to celebrate that, let's have a bit of light entertainment to cheer us up.
First half in general we were OK. Some level of experience / leadership is needed when mistakes inevitably happen. Smallwood has a huge role to play and on that showing has to get fit and stay fit. The spine of the team just needs to be stronger to deal with teams like Fleetwood who have a good amount of battling in them. Jordy and Reece need to man up quickly and learn to deal with lower league pros - they should be good enough to do that. Thought their forward line was fairly good to be honest and Saunders looks a decent prospect. Plus he makes a decent coffee. In Eaves, Magennis and Wilks we surely have enough going forward at this level although someone like Forrester would be the icing on the cake. KLP could become that player over time. We just need a couple who you don’t mess with to counter act the intimidation factor of League 1. Compare and contrast Whelan and Coutts with Batty and Docherty. No panic but McCann urgently needs to make sure we don’t become a soft touch. Their half time team talk was clearly about Barton telling them we could be bullied and that gets to me
Batty is a very poor man's David Meyler. He tries, but he's not good enough. I was wrong in thinking he was adequate cover/back-up for our regular midfield three. He isn't. I'd play Alfie Jones ahead of him if Smallwood's unavailable.
The difference between this division & last is, in this division we need battlers, in the Championship, we need a bit of magic to go with the battlers.
When they got the second goal early in the second half, I knew the score line was only going to go one way. The signings have been better than expected. Though I was disappointed in our signing from Sheff Utd. Just not what we need, no disrespect to him. We just need more guile in midfield. Like Whelan for Fleetwood. We don’t need anymore kids coming to us for work experience. You need some battle hardened senior players. We’re lacking. That’s why Grant will be lucky to see Christmas in this job.
Well that feels somehow familiar..... Bump in the road or wheels coming off? Still think we lack experience to dig in when things go against us. Same old ****e from mccann...
We're batting .800 - that's excellent. Tonight we gave future opposition a false sense of security. After 10 games we'll have 25 points. No sweat.
...and more points than 22 other teams to get automatic promotion or 4 teams to avoid relegation. Simple old game really.
I didn’t realise the whelan I saw, was that Glen Whelan, that was always a pain in the arse with Stoke!
That's the point innit? Same soft underbelly bespite brimming with talent and youth - well at this level anyways and frankly we're a couple of seasoned bastards away from being a reasonable championship side too
