First game we have lost by 2 goals since Millwall in March, first game by 3 since Middlesbrough in November
I know we've had our two best players out injured but apart from Jacko today our midfield has a clean bill of health, yet that is where our problems seem to be. I'm baffled by Hughes' non-appearance.
The whole situation is baffling. This is, after all, pretty much the same side that gelled so well towards the end of last season. The coaching, tactics, man-management, line-ups and substitutions must be to blame. Surely Chris Powell and his Dyer backroom staff are to blame.
Ponders you say that but it doesn't mean that the quality of other teams hasn't improved. Look at Huddersfield, Burnley and Blackburn who are doing much better this season. Then look at us and Bolton who are doing much worse. TBH on next 4 fixtures are tough and if we get a point from any of those games I would be delighted.
If we get a point from the next four games, we will all be digging out our route maps to Carlisle again for next season. The point Ponders makes is a valid one, which the RoseTinted Spec CP Lemmings surely have to address ? Why, with an almost identical group of players, has CP's team gone down faster than an intern in the White House ? We beat Barnsley 6-0....four months later we scraped a draw. Donny pulled our pants down and smacked our arses...oh forget that one...there was a puddle in our goal mouth. Even newly promoted Bournemouth beat us. I will answer my own question. The Owners have sawed Powell's managerial legs off. The players have downed tools for the Club because they know they are not getting new contracts. And CP turned out NOT to be The Messiah after all.... Just a very naughty boy.
Playing 4-5-1 without Kermorgant or someone of his ilk is utterly futile. As much as I love Church he's not a lone front man as long as I have a hole in my arse...!! Kermorgant's ankle must be ok, otherwise he wouldn't have made the match day squad. Even if he's struggling a little for match sharpness, starting with him and getting a good 60 mins out of him is a no brainer for me. Having him up top holding the ball up and bringing others into the game, would've given us a platform from which to build away from home against a good side. It's decisions like this one that make me think the gaffers time to go could be fast approaching...
But we have signed Church - an upwardly mobile player - to replace Fuller. And we have signed Mark Gower - a less injury-prone midfielder - to fill in for Hughes. Plus we have Jordan Cousins - who should be like signing a new player given his undoubted talent and enthusiasm. The first two were Powell signings, so if they are not good enough, who is to blame? Blaming the board is like biting the hand that feeds you. They bought our club, oversaw promotion, and continue to pay in hundreds of thousands to keep it afloat. So where would we be without them? ****ed, I reckon.
Burnley have released more players than they've signed. Moreover, they let their star striker leave and then spent money on players from Oldham, Stockport and Whitby Town. I wouldn't say their squad is particularly stronger than ours, yet they battered us today. Maybe they have a better manager than us...
Ponders I agree re Burnley's strength in comparison to ours. However, being able to weigh out the best part of 1.5m on two forwards (Vokes & Ings) helps. Also... having some semblance of a midfield doesn't hurt either. Ours is absolutely bloody pathetic...!! For me our midfield is so bad I wouldn't rule out playing three up top and sticking one either side of Kermorgant and going more direct. It's not the way I want to see us play, but I'd rather see us play ugly and stay in this league than play pretty football and get thumped into League One.
Out of interest, if we had limitless funds and Bolton offered Sordell for sale, how much would we value him at. From what I've Heard, he is'nt switched on as yet, and apart from as a free gift, I'd rather offer the money to Burnley to take Vikes or Ings (or both).
Fortunately, drinking from 11 to the early hours has blurred my memory. However, I can't shake being sat in turf moor and seeing us fall apart in the second half. We're in the ****. Nothing much between the two teams, but they've won 3-0 at home- something we can't do. Will do a match report tomorrow. Back to sleep
Fuller gave us an alternative to Yann. Different type of player but both strong with a good touch. Without Yann we have no one that can hold up the ball. It makes huge difference. Gower's ok but he's there to add another option in the squad. Nothing more. They are the level of player we can afford. If it wasn't them it would be two other questionable signings. I'm not blaming everything on the board. They did oversee promotion and so far have kept the club running. But how much has that hand feeded in the past year, how much longer can it feed us for and how much will it cost them if we get relegated?
Would the collective wages of Gower, Church, Wood and Sordell cover Fuller's salary? I think so. Therefore, the failure to keep Kermit's replacement must be Powell's fault. What was the point of signing Gower? Hollands is younger and probably better, yet he finds himself out on loan in League One. This is a Powell mistake. If Powell is going to play a rookie up front in the South London derby, surely it has to be Smith (currently out on loan in League Two)? Another Powell mess-up. Wiggins is on the wane, yet Evina continues to warm the bench. If Evina is not up to the job, then why bother re-signing him? Pritchard needs to get back to basics, yet he continues to hold a starting berth. There are mistakes being made all over the place - mistakes that can be been avoided - yet the board receives the lion's share of the abuse.
Yeah right...!! Based on what I've seen thus far, I wouldn't want him even if we could get him on a free...!!
