The first home game in a while since the cancellation due to the FA Cup game against Cardiff. Barnsley last played here back in '88 when town lost 3-2 with a Moyes own goal. We have had 13 changes to the squad since the start of January and perhaps MM has sneaked another in before the cut off for today's game too? Its be a tactical surprise for the opposition if he had. I'm guessing MM will play a similar squad to the Cardiff team, potentially a 532 formation with Vernon and Mangan up front. Ogogo is still injured so Wellens in cm might be the thing. Lets hope we extend today's game to be a wnnjng streak?
Only 2 players in the starting line up that also played in the win at Barnsley. That tells the whole story. Why waste money on a bunch of of over age players?
This team is a complete shambles and the management must bear the responsibility. In the last two league matches we have shipped 10 goals against two teams in the bottom half of the table. We put out a midfield today with two players who cannot pick out any opposition runners let alone stop them and a holding midfielder who could get sent off in virtually every game he plays. I have supported MM so far but for me this is the last straw - both he and Jackson must go. Turner kept us up in his first season back in league 1 with a smaller budget and ( on paper) a weaker squad of players. Apparently we are negotiating with Whitbread and Gerrard for thousands each a week - why? A simple ball over the top takes them both out of the game again and again. MM has wasted so much money this season on players whose legs are gone or players who are nowhere near the standard required in this division. We will surely finish bottom of the league and if the present management is still in place they will squander even more money in League 2. Lets bring someone with experience of managing in this league NOW (Cotterill anyone?) and he might be able to bring players in so we can at least be competitive in League 2 next year. I would also pay off fringe players such as Akpro and Grandison who do not want to be at the club and bring back Collins and Barnett if we can. Mangan will surely be injured within the month and we will be left with no strikers worthy of the name. I may go to the cup game but if we keep serving up dross like this every week I will give the 170 mile round trip to every home game a miss until we have something better in place, even if that is next season.
The first half was ****ter than ****. The new players showed promise in the second half. Wellens put forward a few good balls and dealt with stuff, Wallace was also good. Vassell also looked threatening and although he has come with a reputation of not scoring many, actually hit the side netting more than Vernon. Black is a concern. He's as dangerous to our squad as to the opponents lower limbs. He has positives but was he worth a two and a half year contract? The chap I go with said that after the last match, he'd sign both Whitbread and Gerrard, yet after today he's completely changed his mind!
I do not think it matters too much about the new players at the moment as we are a complete shambles all over the pitch - there is virtually no-one playing well. Apparently there was a frank and passionate discussion in the dressing room afterwards - its just a pity that this passion or even a smattering of pride in putting in a professional performance was nowhere to be seen on the pitch. The management are ultimately responsible and they should all go as they are clearly way out of their depth in this league. No more old-stagers please - lets develop a young side (using the Walsall model) in League 2.
