Also what was the ****ing point in signing Defoe? We should have gone all out for a striker who was ready to go. This club is a joke.
as i said in my previous post, for all his faults i cannot remember the team being so 'open' through the middle when flanagan was in the team...i have also noticed evans getting a lot of stick yet he was the only one who actually tried to move the ball forwards when the passing around at the back started. there must be a reason arby is not getting a start yet he apparently had the best 'data' of any league one defender so i am unsure exactly how this 'data driven model' is working for us, right now it would appear to be failing in the fitness and attitude department.
For a large part of this season Flannagan and Doyle were good. As everyone says club dropped an absolute clanger letting him go before getting someone in. I cant believe Xhemajli is fit enough or he would be getting a game so Doyle could get a break surely.
has been obvious for weeks i think that doyle needs a break, cirkin i am unsure about as at least he had a break through injury...i think the entire fan base cannot understand the logic of letting two players leave without guaranteed replacements when these young lads have given everything and deserve a break, as a club, we seem to find new ways to feck up with un-nerving regularity.
As you say, Doyle definitely needs a break and I think Wright is better as a RB than a CB. With what we've got, getting Arby up to speed is imperative if we want to play with 3 cb's. The worry is that he has been playing again for a few months now and there is still no sign of him being match sharp. However, Batth with 2 from Doyle, Arby and 09 should do the job. Wright/Hume at RWB. Cirkin/Gooch at LWB. Selling Flanno and Denver has buggered us for adequate cover. Winchester has got to be in the middle with Matete and Pritchard. Personally, I would get rid of Evans in the summer. Stewart and Clarke/Broadhead up top, with Defoe coming off the bench.
This is what Johnson wanted it seems. Whether Clarke Harris was right or affordable was one thing, but the idea was right.
Just watched the highlight. Evans is a disgrace. Him wearing the armband is an affront to all who wore it before, even Bali Mumba.
I was with you till you said Bailey Wright at RWB. Need someone with speed and mobility there. Hume or Gooch for me. That said I don't think our squad suits Wing backs. 4231 for me with Matete and Neil/Winchester/Onien in the middle Pritchard as a 10 and any 2 of Clarke Roberts Dajaku Gooch and hopefully soon Mcgeady on the flanks. When you list our players like this it actually makes it rather incredible that we are currently falling like a ****ing stone.
Yes I suppose the old saying "every little helps". My concerns would be, relying too much on data rather than input. For instance a manager identifying a player he knows from old as an influence on the team, be it combatant, calming, a joker round the camp to lighten the mood etc. Which leads to how much input the coach has ? Alex Neil or Speakman ? IF it ultimately lies with Speakman and coaches have no say, and we keep failing then questions need to be asked.
If they're doing it properly, the way I understand its done at other places, data will just be one of the things they look at and mentality, the right characters, will also be a big a part of it. I've got no idea if they are doing it right, mind. I'm sure Johnson talked about having final say on transfers so I assume Alex Neil will too.
is it just me? i mean, i watched (again) a very dis-jointed, slow and cumbersome team on the pitch and would struggle to say any one of them had a good game although some did appear to be trying yet all i keep reading is that a certain two players were shocking...not sure how anyone can 'pick' two players to lay most blame on when the whole team/squad look shot. if AN can get them working as a unit again i honestly feel those players will show their worth, the defensive unit has been bad all season, we simply cannot find a 'working' midfield and ross stewart is mostly fighting a losing battle on his own..i hate to do it but i think i am giving this season up as a lost cause but hoping AN can get some end of season momentum going to get us off to a flying start next season.
If I am honest, I am not sure what team I would put out...I think we have tried most combinations and formations and lately none of them have worked. Imho mistakes have been made by the DoF etc in ending up with a squad.. We have lots of wingers We needed to have replaced Broadhead and didn't, Stewart needs back-up there isn't any. We have a deficiency of CBs and fullbacks. Selling Flanagan and D Hume was idiotic. Nothing wrong with talented young players however they need experience alongside them (lacking atm) and a break now and then, unless they get injured they haven't had one. So the squad of players available atm to make up a team are not fit for purpose to string a number of winning runs together.
I have been thinking about why Johnson got the bullet. The reasons given in the minutes of the fans group I find unlikely, and a bit of an insult to our intelligence. You dont let him bring in Baath, which is clearly his choice, then fire him. I do wonder whether there was some serious disagreement about the deadline day plans. Any experienced manager wouldnt have done the business we did that day. I particularly doubt he thought Defoe was needed. Just guessing but I know I would have been scratching my head at our business as a coach.
Hoff hume Wright. Batth Doyle. cirkin Matete. niel roberts. Prichard Stewart Patterson xhemajli evans Clarke Defoe Winchester Dajaku not much other options untill the others are fit maybe this is the way forward
He really is no use at all mind. As brittle as a stick of barley sugar and doesn't look like he has much heart. It's not an eleven man team with him in it. Ten and a half at best.
