100% I personally think we can still go up but I’m very much expecting us not to, and have for a long time now. I see the rest of this season as essentially a trial period for all of these players to prove they deserve to stay. And frankly that includes LJ. As I’ve said a few times, I really like him. But unless I see improvement in this awful team between now and the end of the season, I’m not sure I want Speakman and KLD buying an entire new squad to suit this manager.
All hope has not evaporated... but it is starting to... Arithmetically of course we can still make the play-offs, automatic promotion now looking unlikely.
We should be fighting, with everything we have, to win these games ... that's not happening. There's something lacking. In previous campaigns the size of the crowd had been accused of 'putting pressure' on players who struggle as a result. Last night, in an empty stadium, we were making endless unforced errors and giving the ball away time after time. I think, at the moment, the players look confused and struggling to absorb the information they're receiving. It seems to be working in periods but then falls apart, Wyke goes from one extreme to the other as one example. There's just a lack of urgency and I never see signs of panic in the opposition ... ... something that, sadly, is all too evident in our players.
I think you could be right. I've had the sense that Johnson has been giving these players lots of info since he arrived,you get that from his interviews. It could be they're suffering from overload,just can't process everything at once and getting confused. I think he needs to change system,get some consistency in his selections and work on a few things at a time,instead of trying to achieve everything in one go. If he transmits the pressure he feels he's under to get promoted this season to these players,it can all go tits up very quickly,particlarly given the contract situation of most of them. It's a long haul game to get back to where we need to be and needs to be taken at a sensible pace. I think most fans will buy into that if they can see progress,which is a bit difficult at the minute after a performance like yesterday.
I think apathy has set in among the players. Most are out of contract and probably already know they won’t be getting an extension. Those that are still in contract know they probably won’t make it as Championship players if we get promoted and will be sold, so why bust a gut for the cause. I believe all footballers want to win, it’s in their DNA but those who really succeed are the ones who give that extra 10-20% and I don’t think we have any of those types here. Has to be frustrating for LJ because he clearly has a plan of how we should play, quicker press, more players in the box etc but he doesn’t have the players with the quality and more importantly the desire to carry out those plans. A big clear out and recruitment drive in the summer will give us a good chance for promotion next season, sickening but it is what it is.
Now we have lost the away record of not losing... can we now go on a streak of winning at home. As the couple of posts above mention, at times we are very good at others we fall apart, several times in one game. We are creating more chances which is good we have to create more and score 3 or 4 goals...
Just been having a look at Patterson, he's 21 in a few months so not too young, 6 foot 2 which is 4 inches taller than Burge, heavier too. Apparently his main attributes are his passion and bravery. Sounds like just what we need if that means he'll come for crosses and take everybody out to get the ball. He's been analysed and the experts reckon he'll go on to be "considerably better than McLaughlin" was how they put it I think. Take that with a pinch of salt obviously.
That’s been said on here for seasons and I’ve vehemently argued it... but I’m starting to wonder!! the only way that doesn’t make sense is the fact that if these players get us promoted, they may walk away but they walk away with a nice bonus in their pockets. Surely leaving with a bit more money and a reputation for getting a club promoted and working fir that looks better to prospective new clubs than apathy?? or maybe I’m being too “idealist” either way, I’m not reading too much into last night as it was undoubtedly our worst 45 of the season second half. First half was ok and I thought we deserved to be in front. That’s about it!!
I don't think O'Brien is that bad, and he took his goal last night brilliantly. And he definitely brings the best out of Wyke. But... it's at a huge cost to our shape and style of play. It's hard to explain what it does to us, but essentially it's one step forward and two steps back. Whilst O'Brien alongside Wyke helps up top, it hinders further back which then reduces the amount of chances we get whilst also making us more vulnerable. For the life of me I can't understand why it's not 4-2-3-1 with Gooch CAM pushing on and joining with Wyke to give him support. Gooch is fit enough to get up and down.
I watched O'Brien specifically, last night, and he did twice the work of Wyke but he was continually given the ball when he's tightly marked. It's the lack of speed and movement, in our attacks that's a major problem. On 3 or 4 occasions we were having to shoot with a totally packed 6 yard box in front of us. It would be a brave move but I'd rather see Gooch and O'Brien as the front two. Gooch was always trying to get a shot away but, by the time he was given the ball, the defence was always in place. McGeady had the same issue although that's sometimes of his own making. O'Nien, playing though the middle, would get us upfield quicker and create clearer chances imo. FFS, who knows, I'm going out!
Give it up man Nacho, the season will be over by the time we’ve gone through your list of keepers. Who next? Harrison Bond from the under 18’s has a name that suggests he’ll be brave and commanding. He’s 6ft 1 so taller than Burge but smaller than Patterson but not so heavy therefore lighter on his feet which is good for leaping. The ‘experts’ reckon anyone with a name like Bond will instil confidence in those around him
I know your Burge Boner is a powerful one but I'm sorry to say (along with nearly everyone else) that he's not very good, neither is Matthews by the look of it. What's wrong exactly with trying a promising youth keeper whose profile fits what we need? Why are you trying to make me sound daft for suggesting something perfectly logical? PS. If Bond isn't scared of his own shadow then he's already better than Burge and I'd give him a go.
Your logic is to give the gloves to a 20 year old unproven 3rd choice keeper from the under 23 squad? You’ve banged on for weeks about dropping Burge in favour of Matthews and after 1 game you now want to move on to the next keeper on the list. My Burge Boner isn’t as big as you imagine although I do get a warm feeling when I see that he keeps a clean sheet every other game on average. You’ll say that it’s because he’s played most of the games, well fair enough, if Matthews was your preferred keeper for weeks now why don’t you want to stick with him for a while and see if he can improve with a little more playing time. Thats the problem these days, a player comes into the team has a bad one and it’s ‘drop him he’s ****e’ new manager doesn’t win every game of his first 5 then it’s ‘LJ out’ the keeper let’s a couple in ‘ play the youth goalie’ How do we get any kind of consistency when everyone is calling for changes every single game?
It's a good thing you weren't in charge when Pickford was unproven, you'd probably have released him without giving him a go. It's not that I'm a big fan of Matthews but he was worth a go, looks like he's as scared as Burge so what's the point persisting. If Patterson comes in and he's a big confident lad who comes for crosses and bosses the defence around we're laughing. If he's scared of his own shadow then we're stuck with your pal Burge. Patterson isn't some random twat I've dreamed up he's a highly thought of keeper. Worth a try.
