I didn't go to the match yesterday, and after reading the write-ups, I'm glad I spared myself the 90 mile round trip. We are incredibly Austin dependent. If he plays and is, or is near, fit, then we generally fire, if he's not available, we're a damp squib. Here are my options for the season: THE GOOD 1. Austin is not sold in Jan and gets reasonably fit - we have the ability, unless Hasslehoff is a complete dud, to get into the play-offs. The season is therefore not a write off, even if, as is likely, we eventually find ourselves staying in the Championship and Austin rides off into the sunset. 2. Austin is sold this January window, and Hassleblad starts to build for the future with perhaps one or two canny buys from lower leagues - and plays them rather than leaving them on the bench like Chery. We have slim chances of reaching the Play Offs but I'll buy into that if Hassleblad shows some of the acumen he did at Burton THE BAD Austin is not sold and stays semi-injured for the rest of the season, and we watch what in hindsight was £12 m ride off into the sunset. THE UGLY Hasslehoff and Ramsey take it in turns between them to decide on tactics and, it doesn't matter who we bloody play, the thinking behind formation etc are so off the wall, we look as inept as it appears we did yesterday
Sorry Goldie but Austin or no Austin I will be amazed if this team got into the play offs. They are not good enough.
The basic problem is they lack a spearhead imo. There's enough talent there to give Austin good service if he gets fit and stays
I understand you're disillusioned at the moment, Stan, but this team reminds me of the one with Rodney Marsh in at the end of the 1960's. It was only average without the talisman, but pretty decent with it. In part, it's psychological. This present team will come together and challenge for the play offs (a) if and when Austin comes back fit and (b) Hassellblad works out which player plays naturally where, and puts out the best team.
We haven't seen Charlie fully fit for some time but he came off the bench to get the winning goal against Reading, and got two to get a draw against Brighton. A fully fit Charlie would get us rising steadily up the table (so long as Hassleblad isn't counter-intuitive) I'm convinced of it.
Although I agree we are not that good I have yet to see anyone that is in this division. That suggests the play offs will contain some very average teams this season.
I'm still staggered by my thought that Mr. Henry may have been our most constructive player yesterday! Thank god I returned to work today to recover my usual faultless thought processes!
The missing element yesterday wasn't Austin but Faurlin. Without him the decent possession and creativity we have enjoyed in the last several home games simply evaporated. Sandro in particular (one of a number of revitalised players in recent games) looked totally lost without Faurlin to ping the ball to when under pressure and he was quite rightly booed off. Henry was more solid but has no idea how to play a forward pass. The less said about Tosser the better - even Faurlin couldn't help him.
Now, would a keeper who was concentrating allow a wall set up like that, with 2 opposition players hanging around and no one to block when they ducked/ moved? I've lost patience with Green, overpaid ****wit.
Why would you pick Doughty over Luongo? Luongo needs to get in the side and for the first time at the club, play him in his proper position Doughty is pony. Not fast, not strong, and not technically good. Always knew he was **** and Carlisle this year looked like they'd stuck a kit on a steward. Luongo, League One team of the year, Asia player of the tournament. Proven ability but our fan base bangs on about nobodies like Doughty who've shown nothing It's that mentality and obsession with putting forward 'youth' who ain't good enough that sealed relegation and landed us with Ramsey Do agree that likes of Henry, Toszer and on form Green and Fer should be no were near the team but JET, Chery, Luongo and Smithies have earne the right to be in that side. Other kids need to get games and excel at a lower level first but Doughty ain't one of them
Exactly. The whole team are just going through the motions. We knew where the ball was going to go when they were setting up. 'Bottom left, bottom left' we yelled ... oh! Shame they couldn't see it and it's a shame the wall wasn't stronger. But you're right, someone ( Green ) should've spotted what was about to take place and scuppered their cunning plan. Possibly a foul and a free-kick to us but that sounds a bit desperate.
Let's give the lad a chance hey Pete. You said much the same about Hall pre season and look how that's turned out. Probably one of if not our best player this season
Agreed on Chery. What position did Luongo play in the Asian tournament? He looked poor playing deeper for us but very good further forward. So I wouldn't play him as a holding player. Doughty looks a good player to me.
I've not seen enough of doughty to make a proper judgement. Have seen luongo and agree with you Col. Looks too light weight to put a decent tackle in. Better when further forward but he needs to learn when to run and when not. A lot of his energy is spent aimlessly
