Can I ask what you expected? We made 5 signings in Jan, 2 were Grant players and another 2 were rushed last minute deals. It's fundamentally the same squad we had under Grant and it was a side that was playing well for him too. Shota's come in and there's been some decent improvements made but it's the same squad Grant had so nothing drastic was ever going to happen. For the lowest budget in the league, we're doing alright, we're going to stay up and that's objective achieved
What decent improvements??? I cannot see any. Is his points per game any higher than Grants from earlier in the season??
I personally don't think shota is the answer for us long term. But I am willing to give him the first half of next season with his own players that can play his system ( as I think anyone who's fair should give him as a minimum ) before we can really judge him
one thing I read this morning was the lack of an enforcer on the pitch, KLP was getting 10 bells kicked out of him everytime he got on the ball and no one was doing anything about it. no one screaming at the ref or at the very least getting in a tussle with the opposition player who did it, something Magennis always used to do.
We are a very soft team all-round imo ( 6th in the fair play league if that shows anything ) we never seem to leave a boot in, put the keeper on his arse from crosses/corners or ruffle feathers full stop. I know of the softer fans will say this is possibly a good thing, but for me football is a contact game and you let the opposition know they are in a game and you are going to make it as uncomfortable as possible for them
The takeover was protracted There were pics of Shota learning English in what October? Surely they had identified targets they wanted in quickly? Loads of money to spend apparently so what happened? weak cheap targets is what I find that disappointing
I was at a wedding yesterday, so missed the game, what lead to the free kick for the 3rd goal? Was it soft, stupid tackle, last ditch or a hard tackle?
I was underwhelmed at the Jan window but understand the reasons behind it. Summer will tell us all we need to know about the aims of the new regime. I think we all need to remember that Acun is a media man and knows exactly what to say, how to say it and when to say it. Words are easy...the proof will be in his actions. This summer is going to be an interesting one
But the necessity of the window changed. We were in a much stronger position than expected and it's difficult to do a lot of good business in January. I'm glad we didn't throw money about, but it was a complete kick in the teeth to get turned down by Pesic. He'd have been a huge improvement for us.
Pesic was a blow and would have been an interesting signing. Summer plans look impressive, they just have to follow through with it
I don't get to see many home games (last one was Swansea - lucky me!) but by contrast seen the last 5 away (4 live and one on Sky). So of course I'm left thinking Shota and his assistant beginning to make a positive impression as team looks well organised, good on the break and showing plenty of spirit. However, i readily accept if I'd seen the last 5 at home instead I'd be thinking the guy is taking us backwards. So overall agree with those who say we just have to get through to end of the season with a team of players very inexperienced at this level and he then deserves a chance to try and turn us into a top 10 team next season. Having seen us away from home, I'm not surprised we struggle at home - we simply don't have enough effective attacking players in the starting 11 at the moment to put teams under sustained pressure. I suspect as well there is some anxiety playing at home. But there is something rather 'typical City' about losing 5 on the trot at home when we are making so much effort off the field to recruit supporters back to the fold.
5 unbeaten away from home, 5 losses in a row at home. 9th best away record in the league, 24th best home record. This hasn’t been an issue exclusive to Shota.
Yeah, we’re pretty good away but at home we’re cack. It must be a confidence issue and the pressure playing in front of home fans.
Spot on. Luton are where they are in the league because they do just that. At Kenilworth Road earlier this season they kicked ten bells of **** out of us in the first half and I imagine they do that to most teams at home. They make it as uncomfortable as possible for any team ( and their fans) visiting them, and it works because they are third in the league with a very limited squad. Yesterday they targeted KLP and we just stood back and let them. The second they went if front we got the usual time wasting and spoiling tactics that we see all too often at this level. We are as soft as **** and there is a reason and it's not just tactics that we have lost five games on the bounce at home and scored only one goal in the process. Acun said he wants our home ground to be a fortress and it's turning out to be just the opposite for visiting teams, it's more like a visit to Alton Towers on a sunny afternoon for them.
