This is the entirely predictable consequence of what happens when a Company is systematically asset stripped, after a while the cupboard is bare.
That is all.
That is all.
Poor starting eleven
- Thread starter Spanish
- Start date
decided to go last night, thought I'd see if we're as bad as people have been saying recently as not seen us much this season. Firstly the line up made very little sense, still not really sure what formation we were trying to play. It was criminal that MM didn't change it during the 90... we were completely overrun in midfield we may as well have not had one. I've tried to give some objective ratings based on what I saw..
Gerken - 6 | Other than his kicking, didn't do much wrong. Got dog's abuse from some fans, which is unacceptable
Emmanuel - 5 | Started ok, atleast wanted the ball, but look shot of any confidence or ideas when he got it
Chambers - 4 | Another who got abuse from fans, but never looked comfortable & took too many easy options of row z or down the channel
Berra - 3 | Harsh score perhaps, but possibly the worst performance I've seen of him or any CB for number of years, was completely bullied by their fat lump and looked like bambi on ice when in possession, the least 'technical' player we have.
Digby - 4 | Started ok, looked like he wanted to pass it out rather than hoof, but without many options got progressively worse as the game went on
Knudsen - 4 | Willing runner, just not got enough quality and looked completely short of confidence or belief when in possession.
Skuse - 3 | Might as well not have been on the pitch, game passed him by completely
Douglas - 4 | Willing runner, but never able to put a glove on their midfield and again, the game passed him by (although there were 2 occasions when he was the only player running beyond the striker, although at far too slow a pace)
Ward - 5 | Same as JE, started ok but looked so short of confidence & belief, probably should have stayed on longer
Lawrence - 5 | Looked ok 1st half, but Not sure he had more than 5 touches in 2nd half.
Best - 3 | May as well have left his pyjamas on as he looked like he'd just rolled out of bed, barring 2 or 3 decent touches he was so slow to react & offered practically nothing
Subs - 4 | Not sure they had many touches
There were plenty of things to be embarrassed about, the overall performance as well as a couple of things that stuck out: Skuse (unchallenged) lazily trying to lob the ball down the line but it coming off his two and going square into the crowd as well as Skuse laying a simple pass behind Knudsen who instantly swiveled and kicked into touch under no pressure. The match probably summed up with Digby having no one to throw ball throwing the ball straight to their unmarked player then promptly going over and fouling him. No tempo, no desire and players desperately trying to hide.
But the most embarrassing (I thought anyway) was the abuse aimed at Gerken and Chambo in the 2nd half. I was frustrated, annoyed, embarrassed etc. etc. but other than calling for Mick "sort it out" I can't understand the need for such vitriol toward our own players. There has only been one player who deserves that and that was Chopra. There are far more things in life that infuriate me than Gerken kicking the ball out from a goal kick & the abuse he got for it was ridiculous
Gerken - 6 | Other than his kicking, didn't do much wrong. Got dog's abuse from some fans, which is unacceptable
Emmanuel - 5 | Started ok, atleast wanted the ball, but look shot of any confidence or ideas when he got it
Chambers - 4 | Another who got abuse from fans, but never looked comfortable & took too many easy options of row z or down the channel
Berra - 3 | Harsh score perhaps, but possibly the worst performance I've seen of him or any CB for number of years, was completely bullied by their fat lump and looked like bambi on ice when in possession, the least 'technical' player we have.
Digby - 4 | Started ok, looked like he wanted to pass it out rather than hoof, but without many options got progressively worse as the game went on
Knudsen - 4 | Willing runner, just not got enough quality and looked completely short of confidence or belief when in possession.
Skuse - 3 | Might as well not have been on the pitch, game passed him by completely
Douglas - 4 | Willing runner, but never able to put a glove on their midfield and again, the game passed him by (although there were 2 occasions when he was the only player running beyond the striker, although at far too slow a pace)
Ward - 5 | Same as JE, started ok but looked so short of confidence & belief, probably should have stayed on longer
Lawrence - 5 | Looked ok 1st half, but Not sure he had more than 5 touches in 2nd half.
Best - 3 | May as well have left his pyjamas on as he looked like he'd just rolled out of bed, barring 2 or 3 decent touches he was so slow to react & offered practically nothing
Subs - 4 | Not sure they had many touches
There were plenty of things to be embarrassed about, the overall performance as well as a couple of things that stuck out: Skuse (unchallenged) lazily trying to lob the ball down the line but it coming off his two and going square into the crowd as well as Skuse laying a simple pass behind Knudsen who instantly swiveled and kicked into touch under no pressure. The match probably summed up with Digby having no one to throw ball throwing the ball straight to their unmarked player then promptly going over and fouling him. No tempo, no desire and players desperately trying to hide.
But the most embarrassing (I thought anyway) was the abuse aimed at Gerken and Chambo in the 2nd half. I was frustrated, annoyed, embarrassed etc. etc. but other than calling for Mick "sort it out" I can't understand the need for such vitriol toward our own players. There has only been one player who deserves that and that was Chopra. There are far more things in life that infuriate me than Gerken kicking the ball out from a goal kick & the abuse he got for it was ridiculous
A lot of anger and finger pointing has been directed at MM and ME over last nights result, but the truth of the matter is, the 11 players on the pitch should have swept Lincoln off the park, regardless of Mick's tactics. These are 2nd tier professionals and some internationals. The loss last night was, in my opinion, down to the players 100% - there was no fight, no tackles made - an insipid, weak and gutless performance - the players should be disgusted with themselves (bar Gherkin, who I'll give the benefit of the doubt too) - our performance was summed up by the so-called pushing match with Lawrence and the other fella - it literally was like watching schoolgirls, who then proceeded to laugh about it. (if you're gonna push someone, do it like a fecking man and puff your chest out you big girl!)
Best, who should've been fighting for his place and a contract, was too busy falling over and complaining (you can feck off back to wherever you came from)
Douglas was running around like a headless chicken who couldn't control or pass the ball two feet. Skuse I didn't realise was on the pitch until midway through the 2nd half.
Ward - well, looks like the opening day was a total one off, like all the others, didn't seem interested.
As for the 3 cb's, well, they should be ashamed of themselves - being overrun and outmuscled by an ageing fat lump with a comb-over.
As for Emmanuelle- well, for all those that think he should start ahead of Chambers at RB are clueless (don't get me wrong, Chambers is not a great RB at the best of times). Yes he's young and inexperienced, but lets face it, he's overweight and has the manoeuvrability of a robot.
Best, who should've been fighting for his place and a contract, was too busy falling over and complaining (you can feck off back to wherever you came from)
Douglas was running around like a headless chicken who couldn't control or pass the ball two feet. Skuse I didn't realise was on the pitch until midway through the 2nd half.
Ward - well, looks like the opening day was a total one off, like all the others, didn't seem interested.
As for the 3 cb's, well, they should be ashamed of themselves - being overrun and outmuscled by an ageing fat lump with a comb-over.
As for Emmanuelle- well, for all those that think he should start ahead of Chambers at RB are clueless (don't get me wrong, Chambers is not a great RB at the best of times). Yes he's young and inexperienced, but lets face it, he's overweight and has the manoeuvrability of a robot.
Totally agree that the players need to take a large part of the responsibility for that mess last night.
Watching MM's post match interview did make me feel for him to be honest. Whatever I think about his tactics etc I think he's a good man who's tried his best at this club.
Watching MM's post match interview did make me feel for him to be honest. Whatever I think about his tactics etc I think he's a good man who's tried his best at this club.
Whilst I don't disagree that he's basically a decent bloke, Castro, I don't think he is trying his best for the Club and hasn't been for some time.
Some might trace it back to his contract extension last year, but I honestly think he'd lost the plot before then. I think he's happy to take ME's money knowing that if he doesn't rock the boat about lack of transfer funds he is in a cushy job.
He seems to be treading water and lacks all motivation or desire to do better.This along with the poor quality football is the reason I have been calling for him to go for some time. Bring in a younger manager with desire and up to date techniques.
Dear god what a joke.
Not that I'm massively bothered about the cup - 4th round at home to Brighton but seriously........
Not that I'm massively bothered about the cup - 4th round at home to Brighton but seriously........
Disgraceful performance
It must be the panto season, the team the rear end of the horse, ME and MM
the ugly sisters.
If it was not so sad it would be funny
I've never understood what is so wrong about fielding your strongest possible side for every match, and how is the FA Cup now considered an inconvenience? What an insult to the oldest Cup competition in the world.
I thought we did - bar Bart and possibly Sears instead of Best, and Dozzell or Bru instead of Dougie.
That's what makes it that more embarrassing, it was pretty much the strongest team he could put out.
Typical.
Never injuries to the regulars but always to the players who the fans actually want to see.
It's a sad time to be an ITFC fan.
Never injuries to the regulars but always to the players who the fans actually want to see.
It's a sad time to be an ITFC fan.
With both Webster and Kenlock out and Knudsen, Berra and Chambers low on form/confidence Bart's got his work cut out for him. We'll probably beat Huddersfield now with a good display!