What an absolutely hopeless home performance. Having been well on top for a fifteen minute spell, when Leeds put a tiny bit of pressure on we gave the ball away easily and gave away countless needless corners. Scott Loach makes no attempt to stop the goal and after that we're pitiful. The quality is there, we know we have a good set of defenders, we look dangerous in spells, but there's no winning mentality, no confidence, no composure. Time for a change now so we can get some momentum going before we are out of touch again.
We played some good football with the ball on the ground and kept possession well. It all went tits up after the Leeds goal when we started sending balls forward in the air. Murphy didn't offer much today but McG looked bright.
What kind of change are you suggesting Hamps?? I would say the biggest concern is the quality isn't there Hamps in key positions such as infront of goal and in terms of creativity. I'd say there wasn't a poor mentality just lack of purpose and creativity.
Taylor, Wordsworth and Anderson were brought to the club to add some creativity but none are being used properly so we end up with a game like today.
Up front we really don't have much going on and I think Loach isn't up to it OR he needs someone like Richard Wright behind him in training to build him up. But, we've got the kid who scores for fun and we've had the opportunity over the summer to sign a forward or two - and we've let JET go. McCarthy really has to ring the changes - for me Skuse and Hyam together don't have the strength. I haven't seen that much of Tabb but he was poor today but Tunicliffe looked good when he came on. So, I think the options are there in the squad, but McCarthy needs to put a rocket up their arse or if there's not an improvement for me McCarthy's got two more games to prove himself and then its time for that axe to come down. McCarthy's tone in press conferences has really worried me, I'm interested to hear how he sounds today. I think you can read a lot about our chances of turning it around from his press conference today and whether he shrugs it off or sounds down and has run out of ideas.
Bloody Nora. It was pretty dismal - vaguely reminiscent of Jewell dismal. Hopeful punts, lack of creativity, though a bit more balls (as in knackers). Under Jewell for most part we might as well have had frightened five-year-olds on the pitch. Not Keane dismal – that was generally dismal because youth central defenders had to play at full back and so on and his idea of solving the striker deficiency was Priskin, the left sided deficiently was Martin, left back deficiency with Delaney etc; and as for right backs – you don’t even need ‘em. I appreciate MM and TC took over a basket case of a club and we are in more hock than a German wine grower to various Marcus Evan companies, but I still hoped for a bit more. I’m not panicking yet, but there might come a time in the not too distant future where I start to get a touch agitated. A creative spark is required and as San Diego mentions, the only players we have that you might think can give it, MM (whose judgement most would trust in these matters) doesn’t currently deem them worthy of a start. A signing or two is required.
Perhaps he's pissed at not being given any cash so far. In a way I wish that we didn't give him a million for keeping us up, we should've told him "you'll get a million to spend on a player if we survive" If he wants to stick with Hyam and Skuse in the middle then the wingers need to change. If he wants to stick with Edwards and Tabb then change the middle a bit. I have a feeling there may still some business in this transfer window.
I think asking for a change of management after 4 games is a bit harsh. MM did really well last season. I don't think too many supporters would have expected us to pick up anything from QPR or Reading so this is the 1st game this season that we haven't got what we expected. I agree that it is the midfield that is unbalanced. I wouldn't play Skuse & Hyam together (especially at home) which means either bring Tabb in to CM or playing Tunicliffe. I also wouldn't play Edwards & would rather see Anderson / Wordsworth given the chance. There is no money at present to bring in any more players (only loans or free transfers) so the only other option would be to sell Cresswell & buy a midfielder (as well as a replacement LB) with the proceeds.
How can I stay away when Yorkie is talking his usual knee jerk bollocks! We have had a bad start but to be honest what the hell did we all expect when all we have spent is a paltry 20k? Evans has obviously lost interest in the football club and will not spend the money we need on bringing in quality players. This isn't Micks fault as it is obvious that he has his hands tied and yes he will be off when another job comes along and who can really blame him?
We do have more creative players available to us though JWM, it's just that Mick chooses not to use them.
SD it really is papering over the large cracks though! Most other teams in this division certainly the ones that we should be viewing as our rivals for promotion have all strengthened with some quality players. All we have done is pick up some bargain basements and a few kids! We are never going to seriously compete with even the Huddersfields of this world! They have brought in the likes of James Vaughan and Adam Clayton...The quality player we have got is Cresswell and he will be gone when a club comes in for him. Mick has worked wonders for us but the complete absence of ambition shown by the faceless one over the summer will mean that we will lose Mick when a suitable vacancy comes along. The mood music at Portman Road is not great and I know this to be a fact. It's time for Evans to put up or feck off as we will be better off without him.
I thought the “million to keep us up” thing was a th’internet myth. I don’t know that ME has lost interest as such, but a practiced businessman will be baulking at the state he’s got our accounts in. He went for it under Jimbo and Keano and it went horribly backwards. He’s fannyarsing about now hoping Mick will work a miracle, but it won’t happen unless he stumps up some more money. His options are only more inter-company loans (so vast that this probably isn’t an option at all), or putting his own personal money in as a share issue. Unless someone else can enlighten me on other options that might exist. Either way something needs to be done. If Mick gets the right hump and goes we might as well be where we were when Royle left. Cash-strapped, we gave the job to Magilton and hoped for the best. Is Edwards the next in line?
Agree Lancs we don't have alot going on upfront, this this is because a) we don't have alot of creativity, think is says alot about our team when our LB is our most creative player and is the only player who looks like getting a few assists this season b) we have a 4 support strikers, none are going to be the 'main man' so we lack that potency and movement uptop to trouble teams that leaves us looking blunt and only getting half chances. Agree it's a shame we got rid of JET because at least in a game like this he could come on and changes things. Skuse and Hyam partnership isn't working for me, neither are showing enough, Skuse looks good but in a 442 needs to do more going forwards and Hyam isn't a midfielder who should be played as an attacking midfielder, he doesn't have the game for it in a 442!!! I'm not overly concerned and calling for Micks head is ridiculous IMO, I've probably been one of his biggest critics but with the squad he's assembled we'd be stupid to get rid of him!!! As basically IMO we have a poor/average squad and with most other managers in charge I'm pretty sure we'd go down this season, but Micks built a Mick style team and he's the manager who's most likely to get the best out of it. Although I'm not the biggest fan of his style, we look solid enough and are competitive to be in every match, the thing which has concerned me is when we need to chase the game, Mick doesn't seem to know what to do!!!
Whilst clearly we haven't had alot of money to strengthen and has probably tied Micks hands a bit he has chosen the type of player we have brought in and got rid of a few players who have a bit of creativity/quality about them. He's built a Mick team and it's always 'don't get beat' over trying to win the games and that reflects the team he's built, which is why we look so poor when we're chasing games!! Interesting to see people who thought Mick had brought in some quality players have no quickly changed their mind and are now blaming a lack of funds!!
