More lively game now, time for a goal...and sprint on over the line, with a flourish, a will to live and play adventurous attacking play, take it to them and give rather grim faced McCarthy something at last to smile about. And all of us long suffering fans some overdue cheer for the busy Easter period.
No, we dont want Luke on!..bring on an attacking player for heavens sake, whats not to lose now. Brum are there for taking methinks.
Absolute ****e again. It baffles me to think that our corner kick training consists of nothing more than letting our top scoring number 9 take them from both sides. Do we really have nobody else that can deliver a ball into the centre with no pressure? Even with Celina and Carayol on the pitch it was still Waghorn taking all corners. Nothing changed for this match, it was all very much the same as any other. I'd be very tempted to just let Nash take charge for the remaining games.
We've now come full circle with McCarthy,when he arrived we were a soft touch and he's leaving us in a similar state.And before any of his apologists say we were in a worse position then,our recent form is relegation fodder.No goals,no points and no idea!
Depressingly predictable. Seven games remaining and I think we are set to slip into lower mid-table now. I can easily picture us in 15th or 16th, which would be two consecutive bottom half finishes. We are 18 points off relegation, so that is not a concern (for this season at least). Obviously McCarthy isn't going to be concerned with any long-term benefits to bring to the club, but I think we should get shot of the loan players and play fringe / academy players where possible. I don't think I'm alone in saying that I would have both Emannuel and Downes back at the club and on the team sheet, if we had the option.
According to the BBC dude at the end, we did alright today. Not that I really care - season over - wake me up, when the season ends.
Tend to agree, there were some encouraging glimpses of Emmanuel & Downes, before they were farmed out. Basically, we have some young talent on our books, but time to clear much deadwood out. With respect, to bring on Luke doesnt give any confidence, other than a pat on the back for old time's sake...
Pretty disgusted with that. Both MM and the players actually had the chance to go out and play with some sort of pride but instead they turned in another dreary performance. The players showed where their loyalties lied today and that was to MM and not to keeping the fans onside. I hope MM takes most of them with him when he finds a new club.
I think Downes looked good the few times I saw him play earlier this season. He's the standout academy player, for me, and I think the loan spell at Luton will benefit him. Emmanuel is a bit different, I think it was the 3-2 defeat to Brighton last season when he played an awful 45 minutes and I think he got substituted at half time. Admittedly, I haven't seen much of him while at Town, but he must doing something right at Rotherham to be a first team regular during their impressive recent form. I just hope he hasn't found his level. Nydam needs more minutes, but seems to lack a cutting edge. Again, he is young and learning. Hopefully the new manager has some patience, but I'm not sure how much time he'd get before the atmosphere turns again. Kenlock is a promising player, I'd like to think that the new manager and coaching staff can work on his defensive game, which needs strengthening. He is behind Knudsen in the pecking order, and I know he gets some stick on here, but I'd choose Knudsen as my player of the season so far. He has looked impressive every time I've seen him this campaign, particularly in the first half of the season. Hyam needs to be moved on. I'd keep Bishop for another year, simply because he isn't a technically talented player who would relish a more on-the-ground, passing style of football. He was the only a stand-out attacking player in that Boxing Day 0-0 against QPR, before he had to be taken off. Unfortunately, injuries have blighted his career. Maybe a new coaching regime would help end some of the spate of injuries we've suffered over the last couple of years?
Knudsen is garbage as a LB (decent as a CB though) and one of the reasons we're not very dangerous. Kenlock offers far more when it comes to attack and suits the wing back role very well. I'm not sold on the idea that Emmanuel will make it at Championship level, he looks more like a CB than a FB with his talent set. Agree that Downes is the most promising and think that Nydam needs a loan to improve before getting a regular spot in our team. Bishop should be retained and as you say Nuggets, hopefully we'll get less injuries under the new manager's style of training/playing.
Disagree regarding Knudsen in general. Yes, he does look very good at centre back, but I think he is a more than competent left back at this level. Not the best going forward, I agree, and in a 5-3-2 that would count against him, but he has been one of our best players this season.
With the players currently at our disposal I'd go with a back three of Spence, Webster and Jonas with Iorfa and Kenlock as wing backs. Both Jordan and Jonas did ok early in the season when played in the centre and are also both comfortable defending in the wide areas, an important skill when playing in the outside positions of a back three.
Sorry Nuggets, I'll have to disagree with you on this. Jonas gets done too easily by wingers and allows too many crosses into the box..
Jonas is just "meh" wherever he's played.The only improvement I've seen since he joined us is that he's desisted with the godawful long throw.
Funny you should mention the long throw Bigal, I was just thinking today that maybe the new manager might be able to make better use of it than Mick ever did I agree with you though, Jonas is average
Fair enough San Diego. I wouldn't place Knudsen in Cresswell's class, far from it, but I think he is comfortably the best full back we have at the club. He wasn't great last season, but with the exception of Bart and Lawrence who was? Yet I think Knudsen is a much improved player this season. Defensively, we've looked fairly solid this season and I think Knudsen has certainly contributed to that with several man of the match displays. It's up top where we have had our issues over the past few months. When the new manager comes in, I hope he will rectify our goalscoring problems and spend what little cash he will get to invest in those attacking areas. Defensively, right back looks like it's still a problem area and, if we want to replace Carter-Vickers and Chambers, then a new centre back will be in order. As you say though, Knudsen at centre back and Kenlock at left back could work, I just feel the latter will need to improve defensively for that system to be successful over the course of a season.
Kenlock suits the wing back position better than full back but if he doesn't play regularly he won't improve the defensive side of his game either way. Right back berth needs a new body, as you say. Not sure we actually need to spend that much on the attacking personnel so long as we can keep players fit for a season. It's more down to the instructions from the manager in my opinion. Centre of the park is well covered, get Carayol on a permanent and look for another winger, RB and CB and we should be good. A striker with a good record of goals from league one (dare I say it...Marriott or Pitman!) would be a welcome addition
Agreed Westy, we are treading water until the season is over. McCarthy won't be bothered what happens here now. He can point to a degree of success at Ipswich and say he did it on a tight budget. Clubs like your Sheffield Wednesdays and Derbys will appreciate that. I mentioned West Brom as a potential destination a couple of days ago and I noticed Mick is 6/1 to get that job. Apparently they are skint but Mick will shift the deadwood, sell Chadli for a few quid, and get the basics right there. He knows this division well and will likely get them top six and possibly an immediate return to the Prem. With nothing to lose this season now, I'm sure some supporters would hope Evans just let Mick go now and give a caretaker job to Nash for the rest of the season to see what he could do. Personally, I'm not sure what Nash could do with this squad, but you'd like to think he'd be more inclined to give the academy lads a run out.
