In terms of league position we aren't (although until last month we were) but in general terms, the club is in a much better state than it was prior to KLD coming in and Speakman has played a big part in that. Clearly something has happened in or around January. Its possible that whatever that is might be rectified and our next window will be much better than January's.
DOYLE OVERPLAYED Alex Neil has admitted that youngsters such as Callum Doyle have played far too much football this year, but is unable to rest the defender due to a lack of depth. LOTS OF FOOTBALL “We've got a lot of younger lads who have played a hell of a lot of football, and when I say that, I mean this year." DEMANDS “There's a lot of them who haven't even played 50 games in their career and there's a lot of demands on them in terms of trying to get us out the league." NEIL “I managed to rest Dan Neil tonight because I've got options in that position and I can afford to do it, but other areas I can't." OUT OF POSITION “So what I'm probably going to end up doing is putting square pegs and round holes, and that's a problem. But it's something I have to consider, because some weren't looking particularly good towards the end of the game." DOYLE “Callum is probably number one [in need of a rest], but the simple fact is that he's the the only left-footed centre back that we've got. The kid has played far too much football, there's been far too much reliance on him. He will be a very, very good player but it's difficult for him at the moment because when you're not fully fit and you're not refreshed, it's difficult to show your best.” Great job Speakman. Lets get rid of 2 CBs (one left footed), and a Leftback and rely on an 18 year old to get us promoted when we already have 2 out of the other 4 injury prone (Wright), and CB that hasnt even played a competitive game for us yet (Xhemajli). Lets also expect Cirkin who has also never played a competitive season other that the U23s before us to play every single game. Its not really hard to see really is it in why this season has gone up in smoke. Play silly games and expect silly prizes.
I'm not ****ing having that as an excuse. Hundreds of players down the years have played left side of a 2 when they are a right footer. Tony Adams made a ****ing career out of it. He actually preferred it. To say Wright or Bathh can't play there is an absolute joke
Thats by the by maybes they can, maybes they can't. It doesnt change the fact letting Flannagan go was a complete joke of a decision. Xhemajli is clearly not upto speed, so why leave us with Batth, Wright who plays 2 games and misses 2, and a young upcoming kid. Xhemajli hasnt even played a game for us yet. We have been masters of our own destruction this season.
We obviously let Flannagan go to get a little bit of money from the few months he had left on his contract. Probably about 500 quid. No worries though we're rich and we have........ 'The plan'. .
I think Luke O’nion started his shoulder treatment in December. Shortly after that we fell into this death spiral. Do you think we will come good when Luke is playing again.
Our downward spiral started when Broadhead got injured in a needless cup game with already a bad injury record with his Hamstring.
But is it that much better? How hamstrung is KLD with 41% and uncertain funding arrangements? There do look to have been some good moves, but I get the impression that this process is an end in itself to Speakman and the very high priority of getting out of this league has been left to swing. Certainly we looked good for a good while on the pitch , but a young and inexperienced team hitting the wall was not a blinding shock and it happened with time to try and fix it in the window. The focus for that window should have been entirely on this season IMO, which should not have derailed any forward plan. That guy doesn't sit well with me at all. Maybe it's because I've met quite a few who sound exactly liked him and who are not up to their jobs. But Speakman is as inexperienced in his job as these very young players are in first team football. It is unnecessarily experimental, and could have been done in a more pragmatic manner, as it will be eventually. But we'll have to wait until he's gone.
He always gives a 100%, often with a smile on his face... but will take time to get up to speed. He will help but he is not the whole answer.
Neil bombshell press release I'm into flagellation, necrophilia and bestiality! and i need to be as im flogging a dead horse here
Of those Pritchard has been fine, one of our best. Evans is a waste of a football shirt who would probably hide in the broom cupboard if he could. Defoe will help given time, but Baaht and Wright are both a bit off it. Gooch maybe but he has been played all over. I though we needed to find an experienced midfielder above all else..
I honestly can’t see us winning another game this season. Does anyone know if any bookies are offering odds on this? I will lump on.
Corry Evans is so bad at football that I take it personally. I'd hobble the **** if I saw him in the street
I think its infinitely better. Someone is actually trying to run the football club in a modern, progressive way. I don't think KLD is hamstrung in any way in terms of reorganisation of the club. Financially, it might be a different story but there must have been some significant outlay on the players that have come in, even if its not announced. I don't agree with those who think that the whole thing has been an unmitigated disaster; it demonstrably hasn't up, until the Bolton game. Nor do I think that Donald has significant input- thayts just paranoia. I don't agree that its experimental either- they've tried to get the best players in that they can and its not true that they've brought in only young, inexperienced players- Evans, Batth, Defoe all have plenty of experience. But, at our level, you don't have the pick of the crop, so you have to compromise somewhere and in a lot of cases we've had to go for inexperienced players to get the quality. What I do think thats happened is that someone within in the club has had a bit of panic in January, possibly because of the slightly depressed form in Nov and Dec (see my post from this morning) combined with Johnson's lack of popularity amongst the fanbase, and they've taken their eyes off the road and made some silly mistakes.
Well let's hope so. I agree on there being some proper improvement, but the recent chaos has suggested we are not the serene ship we had hoped. As for Donald, he is just a self serving limpet, but depending the structure of the share splits, he may, just by not being able to keep up with KLD, be holding us back. We just do not know. One day though, as I always used to say to my lads, One day.
