Going back to the game, how did the ref give Derby a FK when the keeper jumped on Hudds, dropped the ball, laying there pretending to be hurt? Then within 5 minutes did the same thing again, but didn’t get a FK, just waved his arms about complaining. Lastly, we made Ravel Morrison look like Ronaldo last night.
I don't think we can discount late 2019/early 2020 that quickly. We (fans) have returned in person to the KCOM/MKM, and the team is playing like we (fans) were last time we were there. PLT has an excellent point about our home form - I don't think the fans are to blame, but maybe there's something culturally going on behind the scenes at the club - we know all about the antagonistic relationship between owners and the fan and the control of media access to match day commentary and manager interview. Maybe that attitude of the fans being the enemy bleeds over everything? In that situation the loud and warm reception that Hudd got can go several ways - either the team hear it and think wow the fans are really on our side. Or - wow, they really like Tom, they never cheer like that for me, they can't like me very much. The culture of the place can really influence that kind of thing.
Agree. But a couple of additional comments: - we will likely more often than not have 1,2 or more key / important players missing at any one time. Once Honeyman & Wilks are back, it's likely others will be missing, say Magennis, Docherty, Elder. Meaning, that's just how it is, and isn't really a reason for much optimism once they return. - even with the financial constraints set by our owners, it should still have been possible to add experienced heads. For whatever reason, it appears that the combination of McCann, Ehab, Darnborough have deliberately chosen not to do so. Big mistake; last night demonstrated why and what we are missing. - To add 'McCann' into your sentence ..... "We have to keep the faith and hope the young lads AND McCANN can adapt quickly. Fair play for last season but I remain unconvinced (understatement).
What’s to be done then. Is it a motivation or coaching issue ? Is the application not there ? We have seen what hard working sides can do is this division but let’s be honest we might have good honest lads who are good team larkers but the quality of actual players in skill terms might not be on a par with several teams in our league. As I say what can be done.
I think this is an interesting point. The negativity and toxicity between fans and owners for the past 6 or 7 years can definitely have an effect on the players and bleed onto the pitch. Maybe the MKM is a hostile environment but not for the away team. The players do seem anxious when playing at home in front of fans compared to when we play away when there’s less pressure. I guess we’ll never hear the players’ opinion on it. Today, players are just expected to trot out cliches like ‘we go again’ and ‘we need to do better for the fans’. A lot of the top players don’t even run their own social media accounts and have some PR agency manage their tweets and Instagram posts. And we’ve seen when players do voice their own opinions on certain topics, they’re met with an attitude that football players just need to shut up and do their jobs. If there’s a general anxiety amongst our squad about playing in front of home fans due to a fear of failure then I’d rather know about it from the players themselves.
Positives include: - good team spirit and apparent 'togetherness' - very promising youngsters (in the squad and coming through the academy) - no journeymen / in it for one last last pay day - local lads Concerns include: - serious lack of experience - potential fragility of team spirit and 'togetherness' if things continue south - big questions marks over quality for this level here and now - lack of depth of quality within the wider squad - big remaining question marks over McCann's ability / nous at this level - unnecessary restrictions / complications from EFL loan What can be done? Given we are so dependant now on youth / developing potential, probably the most glaring shortcoming is the failure to add experience to support the development, and maybe to push the boat out just that little bit more to add that bit more quality given we've taken a big step up.
On that point, it doesn't help that our repertoire of chants includes barely anything about any of our players. I don't like bashing the people trying to make an atmosphere, and I stand in that area and sing along so I guess I'm as guilty as anyone, but all we ever sing is angsty **** at the away fans, usually ***** or Jeremy Kyle related, the occasional "come on cheer the boys" or similar but then that peters out and it feels like we've ran out of things to sing. There's nothing sung in support/appreciation of a player, except for Huddlestone now. But then I suppose that's part of the cost of turning over your entire squad every couple of years, no one's here long enough to be loved.
Interesting way you are saying, but reading McCann in the Daily Fail today, he put the defeat down to lack of belief and for the first time he actually doubted the group.... not a good combination...
that last point, not been in the ground for 18 months hasn helped with that either, despite a good season last year and local lads involved watching the tele isnt the same. feels like watching a bunch of strangers at the moment, coincidentally thats also how they played last night
I suspect that the team were following a "safety first" approach which failed. Players passed sideways or backwards to keep possession, rather than turning and passing (why they spent 90% of the time facing our goal I don't know) and they were also avoiding reckless tackles around the box to avoid free kicks and cards. It turned into a game lacking any vibrancy.
Chill out, I am calm. Believe it or not I am entitled to an opinion. I don't see a lot of difference between this squad and the one that took us down when it comes to performances. You can see it in their displays. There is some effort at times but little thinking, guile or creativity. Even when we press we don't do it as a team. Not enough experience or quality in the squad. I hope I'm wrong.
Do the fans of other clubs have a problem with chants and singing because they haven't been in the stadium for18 months ? Or is it just a 'Ull thing?
the highlighted issue was singing songs about individual players, i would assume they might if they are in same position of hardly ever seeing them play yet, not singing in general, but the atmosphere at most home grounds is **** these days, we outsung preston , we will probably outsing Fulham....until 3-0 anyway
I can hear a deafening chorus of 'we're doomed'. FFS Get a grip. We're three games into a 46 game season. Permission to panic if we're bottom three after 12.
Yet a few QPR fans were heard from the North Stand. They must have improved the acoustics as the poor acoustics were given as the reason for 4 or 5 times the number of home fans in there not being heard. Atmosphere is created by people opening their mouths and shouting or singing. Our away fans do, a lot of them don't go to home matches, and they are altogether not dispersed amongst people tutting if they are vociferous. Same reason away fans at the KC often outsing the home ones.
