Gotta say guys after reading the thread,that was a poor display by both teams,the slightly better side knicked it. The weather was a factor today,but it keeps us one point away from the playoff positions. However we are a fraction of the side that was beating all before us in 2017. 2918 has been poor,I just hope we can string 5 more wins which I think will give us a playoff place. You seem to have a major injury crisis as we have,that has hampered us big time. Duric who scored today has just started playing again after a long absence. What looked so promising for us pre 2017 is looking a tad harder at present. Can we get a playoff spot time will tell. P.S good turnout by you today well done.
Agreed San Diego, you've pretty much summed up our on-field trouble against the better teams in this division. I don't mind direct football if it gets results. And for two or three years, it did under McCarthy. Without Murphy, and without a suitable replacement, our long ball tactics and style of play are not as effective. When we try and play football on the ground, and early on it certainly seemed like we attempted this, we don't have to right balance on the pitch. As well as needing more technically comfortable players starting, we crucially need a manager who has the initiative and confidence to implement this style of football.
Could it be as simple as saying that this is the standard of the players we have available now and have had for the majority of the season? Quite honestly I don't see any players of the required skills standard to play open attractive flowing football let alone the 5 or 6 needed to do so. I'm beginning to believe that there's not much else to be had from this group of players and the management style of play doesn't encourage anything else. Flogging and dead horse come to mind.
We've played better football with worse players under Mick.It’s the setup and mindset that’s the problem.
0-0 would have been about right yesterday, terrible game played by two very poor sides with the weather making it difficult for a passing game to happen. That certainly helped us contain Bristol City, but we rarely looked like doing a lot. They'll be happy with the points - sign of a decent side playing poorly and taking the points this part of the season. The days a bit of a blur, had about 10 pints did Brew House before / Tobacco Factory after then a couple more bars so had a decent day. Very little to say about us - insulting to use two subs when behind, wait an age to bring on Celina then Morris on 94. I actually for once stayed in the ground right to the end, spoke with the stewards who agreed two terrible sides and could see why I wasn't a happy chappy watching that. Hey ho, McCarthy is off and we'll have to see what happens in the summer re a new manager. Players didn't look massively interested in playing the game the way they've clearly been instructed to play - which I get considering budget / injuries etc. Still doesn't make it a lot of fun - but it definitely will end in May and we'll see who comes in / what happens. Season tickets are also coming down / some creative strategies inplace there. I can assure you of that. That information I wasn't given any more info on than that from the same individual who assured me Mick will not be here next season. The F*** Off comment has been the absolute final straw from Evans - and the news will be released in the next 2-3 weeks regarding Mick's departure / new season ticket cheaper prices
There has been a debate before about whether this current batch of players can actually play the attractive style of football we want to see. My opinion is that while we have a few technically proficient players, as well as an encouraging academy, we are some way off playing a style of football like Fulham's, for example. What this squad can and should be capable of doing is playing to its strengths and providing more entertainment to the supporters. Westy, are you sure this information is definite and not someone having you on at the Bristol match? I definitely hope it's true, and I think it's a best case scenario for the club, but the cynic in me is resigned to more McCarthy football.
100% mate - I'll look like an absolute mug when this doesn't happen and I'm not on the wind up here - but yes he's off.
Well fair enough if that is the case. I'm certain that cheaper tickets and a change of manager is what a majority of Town fans want to see.
Completely agree BigAl I've seen teams with worse players than us play better football. We had little money to spend under both Royle and the early Magilton reign and both played good entertaining football and we've got more talented players now than we did then in a lot of positions, particularly the youngsters. To be fair we've had a few injuries but I'd expect to see a better standard on the ball than what we see, I'd expect to see a conference team play better football than us. I'll give Mick credit, on the whole his recruitment has been pretty good over the past few years unfortunately it seems his improvement in recruitment hasn't seen an evolution in style
Mick's just very much his own man - clearly happy with 0-0 half time / try to nick one / knows if the side plays the same home v away then the players will always know their role and really isn't worried about style of play. For what it's worth, given the injuries this season / budget .... I think trying to play a different way could have had a scary result - the thing is we'll never know as MIck just sticks to it. Not been pretty at all - don't get me wrong. Dull. But I get it. That said, it would be great to see better stuff played next season - which won't be hard. I do miss us trying to have a go / play a way I appreciate more than the guff I'm given under Mick. It's not pleasant viewing! See who is up next...
