Pitman seems to score with his chances at the minute though, much like Murphy last year. Wonder what the chances created stats are for this/last season, probably similar. We had a striker on fire last year who didn't need too many attempts and then Freddie was good too. We're missing both of those elements at the moment with Sears playing more minutes wide. I wish he'd get played up front
Noticed Mick seemed to emphasize the injuries in the midfield as a big contribution to the patch form at the moment.. is this justified?
And there will probably be more and more fans who start to share that view Spanish. A similar pattern to his previous clubs, where fans can't deal with the style of football on display and the strange team selections any longer.
I cringe every time i hear that fecking 'super Mick Mcarfy' song, hopefully that will now be sung less and less, saying that, there still seems to be quite a few out there still thinking he is doing ok!!! Personally i think he has to go and go now, that then gives the new guy time to evaluate what he has inherited but i know that is not gonna happen, i think that if things dont improve, ME will have to act though as attendances will drop rapidly. its bad enough watching dross when we are scraping a win and in the playoffs but watching dross and losing whilst sat mid table will be the final nail in the coffin imo!!
Spanish that was absolutely abysmal. Bloody awful. Though, the awfulness of the day started for me when I met Ian Milne and co in Toto's in Bristol.... Milne was doing a Q+A session, and all I will reveal my end is I thought he looked bloody shifty throughout. Someone ( I won't say who ) asked what happened with Dyer, and he said he wasn't offered a contract. Doesn't add up to me. Also, the same person asked ( again won't say who COUGH ! ) about Jay Tabb. Now he's played ZERO minutes in the league this season - clearly some sort of issue as again he played zero @ CM with Hyam / Douglas / Skuse all out.... Apparently Mick likes Tabb and he's welcome to play. Funny how he plays in the cups though - something doesn't add up. He kept babbling on about academy this academy that - shirked the question about Cat 1 and appears we WON'T be applying to get the status again as he was just listing negatives.....His main points seemed to be we have some class young prospects, we're not a selling club ( give me a break ) and we're adhering to FFP - in other words, he seems to want every other club to self destruct first then us pick up the pieces. We're in there here and now, he supports Chelsea for heavens sake so do one. Apparently we " bid " for " several " players in Jan - no names mentioned..... but yeah.... I came out of the meeting VERY VERY VERY disengaged/ disillusioned with where in gods name we're going actually. While I DON'T WANT a Derby County approach, or a Fulham approach, we clearly need to do more. Adding Ben Pringle ( will get onto him shortly ) alone is unacceptable ( well that's so far, we'll have to see what else happens ) - CLEARLY we need one or two. I have sympathy that Fraser / McGoldrick have had injury hit seasons, and Bishop has been missing the lot. IF ONLY we'd have had a fully fit side this season I'm sure we'd be having a different conversation but that's the nature of it. As for the game, well it was the first time both my friend and I thought we'd lose. I met up with city fans before and after who I am good friends with, the two lads before thought they'd win too. I told them we ALWAYS LOSE to sides with a new manager. Anyway, my thoughts on the game in bullet point format ( that warrants points ) - * When we lose any game under Mick under the " football " on offer it's bloody frustrating - I love the guy and he does get good results, but when we lose christ you wonder why we've gone with that approach. You really do! I always have but the results under Mick have been better than the last three idiots so I'll always try to cut him some slack but jesus christ. Same AV IT aimless lumps and some of them, not even in a good area but christ out for throw ins. SERIOUSLY do better Chambers and Knudsen - the latter was back from being average to bloody rubbish. * CM - Now Bru is fine in a 4-3-3 but seriously in a 2 he is bloody hopeless headless chicken going bloody awol all the time. Always 15 metres out of position sets up F all doesn't come looking for the ball out of defence ( none do and I'm sure that's a manager decision and not theirs ) but boy was he gash. My friend said after in the pub " if Bru left where would he go ? " some said " another champ side - my mate though league 2 and I agree. Based on that he was hopeless. Foley did alright in there actually and needs to be given the LB slot - decent debut. * Pringle was VERY GOOD. Poor guy wondered what in gods name was going on around him with the pinball and was always head up progressive he's well worth adding happy with him. As for our away support, bloody hell. We're loud in London, or at games when we go 1-0 up. Otherwise we are pathetic. May have been a full away allocation there but lots of people with no interest in singing bouncing or doing anything fun. Bloody awful. Summary - Very very unhappy. Wendy have got McGeady to go with their class players -going the expensive route but they will be top 6 all day long. To me, 6th STILL up for grabs due to Derby County players. Do they WANT promotion? As football fans, we thinks players must want to go up. Do they? They know the club are spending and they'd all be replaced when they get top flight. Bradley Johnson and Chris Martin know they'd get asked to leave etc. I believe Shane Supple and players aren't stupid... they know what's up. Now FORTUNATELY we have a mini break before Hull - which looks tough but we've won our last 16/16 on a Tuesday at Portman Road so gotta live in hope. Gives Pringle time to get fit, some of the players a rest, Hyam back, Douglas back, and perhaps a loanee or two in for the next game. Yes yesterday did my sodding head in, but we're 3 points off the play offs. Looks a tough ask, but gotta believe... C O Y B I'm at Huddersfield away mainly due to being up Yorkshire seeing the Mrs, and going Cardiff away for an all day bender with the lads ( numbs the pain! )
Good summation of the day. Fans were subdued all day, I've never been to a london away day but even I recognised the lack of anything. Not that there was much from Bristol either. Maybe it was the weather but I think the flat atmosphere is far more a reflection of the general atmosphere around the club in recent weeks. I thought "you've only got three stands" was a chant that deserved far more time/participation though. Play-offs are looking a very long way away now, in points its only 3 but in performance desire and belief it seems much further away.
Their fans were plenty better than ours. Oh Mike I recommend a London day anyday of the week, only place our fans are any good. Awful everywhere else.
Our away is usually good everywhere, we're extra good in London because it's very easy to get to, we get there early and get on the lash by mid morning, and we usually go there mobbed up... Yeah, can't beat an away day in London.
No it's really not Welly, sorry but have away days with other clubs and compare and contrast. Newcastle away support was unreal the one time I went. Wendy superb at Reading. Our lot, seriously outside London are so damn quiet on the stands. It's a lot worse than it used to be, songs get half heatedly sung and it's getting worse. Wendy at Reading were a million times better than when we went there. We're very good at giving it out when we're flying, or ahead, but behind boy are we quiet. Very poor at Ashton gate Saturday. Yes the performance was but other clubs away supports may well get behind their team more.
No it's really not Welly, sorry but have away days with other clubs and compare and contrast. Newcastle away support was unreal the one time I went. Wendy superb at Reading. Our lot, seriously outside London are so damn quiet on the stands. It's a lot worse than it used to be, songs get half heatedly sung and it's getting worse. Wendy at Reading were a million times better than when we went there. We're very good at giving it out when we're flying, or ahead, but behind boy are we quiet. Very poor at Ashton gate Saturday. Yes the performance was but other clubs away supports may well get behind their team more.
I did see on the TWTD forum you lot in the SW getting a lot of praise for the event that was organized, so well done for that!
Interesting, but a sadly unsurprising, take on the Milne Q&A. I really do despair at the future direction of this club, especially with his vague, PR-friendly statements being churned out. Several of us have been going on about the lack of investment for months now, and we've naturally been overtaken by other clubs that are spending money and attaining some semblance of consistency. Mick has ensured we're still scrapping for play-offs, but who realistically expects us to repeat last season's heroics? We've been hit with injuries, fair enough, but this underlines our complete lack of strength in-depth and highlights the poor quality of Mick's signings this summer. I wasn't at the game on the weekend, but I have a lot of sympathy for those who make the trip and get subjected to the poor style of play which, when we don't get a result, is tedious and frustrating to watch. Regardless of whether you think Mick should stay or go, it's the complete failure to invest or speculate in the transfer market for the past three years which are starting to affect this side. The sheer fact that we're not looking to upgrade our academy status to Category One, after the board have been harping on about the importance of youth, is sheer hypocrisy! We're not a 'selling club'? Explain the big-money departures of Aaron Cresswell, Tyrone Mings, and Conor Wickham, and how we've failed to build on the profit made from those sales! At most other football clubs, this kind of plain double-speak and evident display of 'taking fans for a ride' wouldn't be tolerated. And don't get me started on the obscene ticket prices!
Interesting read Westy. The clubs lack of ambition must start to have a detrimental effect on the players morale. Apart from questionable tactics/ selection at times, Mick's hands are tied also. We cannot deny his achievements with the lack of investment but the gamble of players staying fit has backfired.
