All of the above (save for the Jamaican woodbines) I would put down to poor coaching, poor man-management, poor tactics and poor transfer dealings. What was the point in signing Gower? Why destroy Harriott's confidence by dropping him and playing an unfit Jackson on the left? Why didn't we sign another right-back instead of Gower? Where are the innovative set-piece routines? I could go on, but I need to roll another doobie...
I agree with Gower, I didn't see the point in signing him. Harriott is a young player and he will have ups and downs, do you think he should stay in the team if he is playing badly? The problem with Jackson is that he can now only play in central midfield. Powell has a quandary with Jackson, he tried him on the left side but when that didn't work, he dropped him. Is that good or bad management? I still say that if Powell was backed in the Summer to bring in two to three players for fees it would have made a big difference. We didn't have the money so it couldn't be done, was that Powell's fault. I don't understand why the set pieces aren't more innovative, because I have watched the first team squad train many times and they practise set pieces a lot, but they don't implement them in live play.
Interesting comment on set pieces, Dickp. I'm trying to digest the implications. What do you make of it?
I see why Gower to a point and I for one was really pleased to see us sign him in the summer. For me, he showed enough technical ability in his loan spell last season to demonstrate he has it in his locker to make a difference at Championship level. He got a bit of stick last season but having not played for a while at Swansea I put this down to rustiness. However, there can be no doubt that the money spent on his wages would have been better served strenghening the forward line. At the time I agreed with the decisions to let BWP (needs 5 chances to score a goal which you dont get in the championship) Fuller (only looked interested once his contract was coming to an end) and Haynes (chocolate hamstrings) go but in hindsight even keeping one of these around would have given us a different option upfront.
We do have options for the left wing, be it Harriott, Stewart, Evina or even Wiggins as a wing-back, but never should Jackson have been played there. The set-piece conundrum must be down to weak management.
If I were Powell having seen us looking so unlikely score in recent matches I would revert to the wing back system played against Leicester. It is clear at present the most likely we are to scoring is from a set peice. Wing backs would give us an extra centre back on the pitch and an added 'big man' in the box for set peices. Wiggins and Wilson have more than good enough engines to patrol the flanks, Cousins providing excellent cover for the three centre backs, allowing Stephens to go and express himself and Jackson to support the front two (although I am starting to agree with those who argue his legs have gone). With that in mind, CP should play this vs Yeovil. Alnwick Morrison Dervite Wood Wilson Cousins Wiggins Stephens Jackson Church Kermorgant Where do I sign? I will be after a 3 year deal minimum
dickie plumb has hit the nail on the head. This squad is poor. How many of them would walk into another Championship side as a starter ? I reckon two - Solly and a fit Yann. What we lack is a player with a little bit of class, someone who can turn a game with a brilliant pass or an audacious bit of skill. Every game we are crying out for that player....what have we got....Bradley "Cement Boots " Pritchard taking a touch.... and depositing a ten yard pass near the mosque in Thamesmead. What we are seeing on the pitch now is the legacy of 18 months of under/no investment. It is also fair to say that other sides who have similarly limited resources ie: Bournemouth, Barnsley & Donny to name but three, have all played better passing football than us this season. That is Powell's fault. He may be a good defensive coach but he is a lousy attacking one.
so reading this thread the consensus is we all want SCP to stay, a take over to happen and then he be given loads of money to spend and some pitch covers. gotta have pitch covers.
We should have the best pitch in the country with the amount of shyte we see in it every fortnight........
Why are we worrying about the condition of our pitch, we should be more concerned with low cloud cover.
