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Post by Hayfield Yellow on Sept 16, 2017 18:15:12 GMT
If anyone knows someone called Kyle who lost his debit card at Bloomfield Road (won't mention the surname or the bank for security reasons) please let him know that I picked it up and handed it in to the Blackpool Club Shop.
Having to endure that first-half performance AND losing your bank card...the lad's not had a good day, but at least no Blackpool scrote will clone his card now, hopefully.
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Post by charliesghost on Sept 16, 2017 18:15:57 GMT
Sorry to rain on the "we're building for the future" parade, but really we are not. We had that option, but signed two totally different kinds of players: players nearing their mid-30s and loanees from a higher level. Today's team? Eastwood: 28 Ricardinho 33 Nelson 24 Williamson 33 Mousinho 31 Ledson 20 Rothwell 22 Payne LOANEE Thomas 30 Hall 24 Henry 28 Van Kessel LOANEE So the average age of OUR players today was 27 and a half. By next summer, that's 28 and a half. And our model dictates that we sell a young player or two every summer. Take out the players in their mid-30s, the loanees and a couple of youngsters and we will be looking at another huge turnover of players next summer as well. The reason we signed a truckload of ageing players and loanees was to succeed THIS season. And that is what the whole club should be focussed on, not the stale get-out of "it's all a project". Yes it is when you are signing Lundstram, Roofe, Nelson, Ledson and co. No it's not when you are signing Williamson, Ricardinho, Henry and Mousinho. I think that we do have the players to challenge this season, but it's going to require a pretty substantial ditching of the Koolade and a determination to front up to other well-funded well-organised sides. In four games against top half teams (Scunny, Shrews, Bradford, Blackpool), we've garnered two points and been second best in three of those games. I've been very impressed by what Pep managed to pull together in such a short time, but after today's game he sounded less coherent. I think he claimed that the reason we lost had nothing to do with how we played, but because we conceded the first goal. Really? James Henry was much more realistic - one advantage of a "mature" dressing room is that hopefully they'll be able to work out for themselves that they can't afford to play at half pace. As for your claim that Tuesday was the best you've seen in 30 years, what are you on?? 30 years ago, we were in the top flight. Since then, I could name 100 games that were far more impressive than a draw against Bradford. I hesitate to nominate any one performance, but smashing Kevin Keegan's Newcastle? Deservedly beating Chelsea at the Bridge? Beating Man City away 2-0? Mashing Barnsley's "Brazil side" 5-0. It's axiomatic that to achieve in any walk of life, first you have to be sane and realistic about the challenge. We have some decent players, and under the right circumstances they can play nicely. They now need to work out how to win when circumstances are not in their favour, and how to impose a positive style on teams who don't just lie down. None of this is criticism (other than criticism of your judgement!), but a real hope that we don't waste a season that could be successful drifting along in an LSD dreamland of future projects. Yey mr I don't read a f*cking word of what anyone says but then go off on a rant against them is back. I didn't say Tuesday was the best game I've seen in 30 years, I said the first 30 mins was some of the best football I've seen. I didn't say we're building for the future, I said we've had mass adjustment of a manager and half the squad. Oh the we must front up to teams comment is back, you know the one u said appletons sides didn't do, that we would never get promoted playing that passing attractive football, and that we should replace him with mickey Adams immediately if we didn't want to get into a relegation battle . Hahaha excuse me if I don't criticise your judgement 😉 The manager has never managed before. Half the players have never played in this country before, others haven't played in years through injury, yet u think that instantly they should be able to work out how to change things around when things ain't going in our favour? I'd say we're doing bloody well with all the upheaval Also sorry to p*ss on ur parade but barnsley was 5-1 not 5-0 😉 We do need need to work out a few things. But f*ck me were 8 games in? What do u want sack pep and bring in woy No, I don't. I think that Pep is a good guy and can do well for us. And I don't look at today's line-up, or the one against Bradford, and see a bunch of players who can't play right now. Who in today's line-up do you have in mind when you say that? I think we've done decently so far - I'd have taken 9th place after 8 games. But I think we can and should improve from here. And I'm hopeful that we will improve. You harp on and on and on about me pointing out that we were struggling under Apples in November 2014. But I certainly never said that he should be fired. I (and you) were amongst the few who fought against that view. But I did think that he needed to get a bit more direct and realistic. And he did. He ditched 4231, and we became more workmanlike. I'm on the record as thinking that we are one top League 1 centre forward away from being seriously competitive for automatic promotion. I stand by that. But we can still be competitive towards the top of the table with what we have. I think that it is entirely reasonable for a football club to be stung by a bad defeat where the side has played terribly. In fact, I think it is good to be stung by it. Apples HATED being whupped by Cambridge United 5-1. And really the performance today was not that different. But my main point of disagreement with you is the idea that "staying up" is the point of this season because we are "building" for the future. I don't think that that theory stands up to scrutiny, for reasons elucidated above.
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Post by dubaiyellow on Sept 16, 2017 18:22:25 GMT
i agree, we need more time, i think we have a decent team but today was poor, you can say we were better 2nd half (impossible not to be) but lets face it the game was already lost and Blackpool used every trick in the book to break up play and slow the game down. Like Pep mentioned, you learn more from a loss than you do a win so lets hope we learnt something today.
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Post by oufcyellows on Sept 16, 2017 18:24:13 GMT
Yey mr I don't read a f*cking word of what anyone says but then go off on a rant against them is back. I didn't say Tuesday was the best game I've seen in 30 years, I said the first 30 mins was some of the best football I've seen. I didn't say we're building for the future, I said we've had mass adjustment of a manager and half the squad. Oh the we must front up to teams comment is back, you know the one u said appletons sides didn't do, that we would never get promoted playing that passing attractive football, and that we should replace him with mickey Adams immediately if we didn't want to get into a relegation battle . Hahaha excuse me if I don't criticise your judgement 😉 The manager has never managed before. Half the players have never played in this country before, others haven't played in years through injury, yet u think that instantly they should be able to work out how to change things around when things ain't going in our favour? I'd say we're doing bloody well with all the upheaval Also sorry to p*ss on ur parade but barnsley was 5-1 not 5-0 😉 We do need need to work out a few things. But f*ck me were 8 games in? What do u want sack pep and bring in woy No, I don't. I think that Pep is a good guy and can do well for us. And I don't look at today's line-up, or the one against Bradford, and see a bunch of players who can't play right now. Who in today's line-up do you have in mind when you say that? I think we've done decently so far - I'd have taken 9th place after 8 games. But I think we can and should improve from here. And I'm hopeful that we will improve. You harp on and on and on about me pointing out that we were struggling under Apples in November 2014. But I certainly never said that he should be fired. I (and you) were amongst the few who fought against that view. But I did think that he needed to get a bit more direct and realistic. And he did. He ditched 4231, and we became more workmanlike. I'm on the record as thinking that we are one top League 1 centre forward away from being seriously competitive for automatic promotion. I stand by that. But we can still be competitive towards the top of the table with what we have. I think that it is entirely reasonable for a football club to be stung by a bad defeat where the side has played terribly. In fact, I think it is good to be stung by it. Apples HATED being whupped by Cambridge United 5-1. And really the performance today was not that different. But my main point of disagreement with you is the idea that "staying up" is the point of this season because we are "building" for the future. I don't think that that theory stands up to scrutiny, for reasons elucidated above. Again did I say staying up is the point of the season ?? Or did I say so long as we stay up and are playing decent football I'd be happy ? Also where do I say we have players in the lineup who can't play right now? Or that we are "building for the future" ? U talk in riddles Charles. My point to mr kip is that I'm more than happy with what we've done so far and there is room to improve as the manager and new players get used to each other, you then come on and say I'm wrong and we could and should improve ? Ur making the exactly the same points but arguing that ur right 😂 You're slipping old boy, that boardroom coup power struggle must be taking it out of you 😉 Are you now saying 8th or 9th isn't acceptable ? If mapp in your opinion shouldn't have been fired, why we're pointing out the merits of appointing mickey Adams? Or did you have the foresight back then that mapp was looking to become a no2 😉
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Post by scotchegg on Sept 16, 2017 19:30:55 GMT
And what we're you seriously f*cking expecting when we've changed the manager, lost several key players and replace half a squad. This season was always going to be an adjustment, why not accept it for that rather than moan at every bloody loss. First 30 mins on Tuesday was some of the best football I have seen oufc play in 30 years. So long as we keep playing like that, and not some boring hoof ball I'll be happy and we will have more than enough to stay up and hopefully build for a serious challenge next season spending in the areas we're lacking Sorry to rain on the "we're building for the future" parade, but really we are not. We had that option, but signed two totally different kinds of players: players nearing their mid-30s and loanees from a higher level. Today's team? Eastwood: 28 Ricardinho 33 Nelson 24 Williamson 33 Mousinho 31 Ledson 20 Rothwell 22 Payne LOANEE Thomas 30 Hall 24 Henry 28 Van Kessel LOANEE So the average age of OUR players today was 27 and a half. By next summer, that's 28 and a half. And our model dictates that we sell a young player or two every summer. Take out the players in their mid-30s, the loanees and a couple of youngsters and we will be looking at another huge turnover of players next summer as well. The reason we signed a truckload of ageing players and loanees was to succeed THIS season. And that is what the whole club should be focussed on, not the stale get-out of "it's all a project". Yes it is when you are signing Lundstram, Roofe, Nelson, Ledson and co. No it's not when you are signing Williamson, Ricardinho, Henry and Mousinho. I think that we do have the players to challenge this season, but it's going to require a pretty substantial ditching of the Koolade and a determination to front up to other well-funded well-organised sides. In four games against top half teams (Scunny, Shrews, Bradford, Blackpool), we've garnered two points and been second best in three of those games. I've been very impressed by what Pep managed to pull together in such a short time, but after today's game he sounded less coherent. I think he claimed that the reason we lost had nothing to do with how we played, but because we conceded the first goal. Really? James Henry was much more realistic - one advantage of a "mature" dressing room is that hopefully they'll be able to work out for themselves that they can't afford to play at half pace. As for your claim that Tuesday was the best you've seen in 30 years, what are you on?? 30 years ago, we were in the top flight. Since then, I could name 100 games that were far more impressive than a draw against Bradford. I hesitate to nominate any one performance, but smashing Kevin Keegan's Newcastle? Deservedly beating Chelsea at the Bridge? Beating Man City away 2-0? Mashing Barnsley's "Brazil side" 5-0. It's axiomatic that to achieve in any walk of life, first you have to be sane and realistic about the challenge. We have some decent players, and under the right circumstances they can play nicely. They now need to work out how to win when circumstances are not in their favour, and how to impose a positive style on teams who don't just lie down. None of this is criticism (other than criticism of your judgement!), but a real hope that we don't waste a season that could be successful drifting along in an LSD dreamland of future projects. Ok, another quick summary! Our team is too old (see hundreds of Charlies previous posts for more info!) We've got no young saleable assets (except Nelson, Ledson, Hall, Ruffels and Rothwell). There follows a large about of the usual guff with nothing of substance, and you are all to stupid to understand anyway!
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Post by uptheus on Sept 16, 2017 19:36:15 GMT
What a f*cking waste of a journey that was
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Post by scotchegg on Sept 16, 2017 19:40:02 GMT
Yey mr I don't read a f*cking word of what anyone says but then go off on a rant against them is back. I didn't say Tuesday was the best game I've seen in 30 years, I said the first 30 mins was some of the best football I've seen. I didn't say we're building for the future, I said we've had mass adjustment of a manager and half the squad. Oh the we must front up to teams comment is back, you know the one u said appletons sides didn't do, that we would never get promoted playing that passing attractive football, and that we should replace him with mickey Adams immediately if we didn't want to get into a relegation battle . Hahaha excuse me if I don't criticise your judgement 😉 The manager has never managed before. Half the players have never played in this country before, others haven't played in years through injury, yet u think that instantly they should be able to work out how to change things around when things ain't going in our favour? I'd say we're doing bloody well with all the upheaval Also sorry to p*ss on ur parade but barnsley was 5-1 not 5-0 😉 We do need need to work out a few things. But f*ck me were 8 games in? What do u want sack pep and bring in woy No, I don't. I think that Pep is a good guy and can do well for us. And I don't look at today's line-up, or the one against Bradford, and see a bunch of players who can't play right now. Who in today's line-up do you have in mind when you say that? I think we've done decently so far - I'd have taken 9th place after 8 games. But I think we can and should improve from here. And I'm hopeful that we will improve. You harp on and on and on about me pointing out that we were struggling under Apples in November 2014. But I certainly never said that he should be fired. I (and you) were amongst the few who fought against that view. But I did think that he needed to get a bit more direct and realistic. And he did. He ditched 4231, and we became more workmanlike. I'm on the record as thinking that we are one top League 1 centre forward away from being seriously competitive for automatic promotion. I stand by that. But we can still be competitive towards the top of the table with what we have. I think that it is entirely reasonable for a football club to be stung by a bad defeat where the side has played terribly. In fact, I think it is good to be stung by it. Apples HATED being whupped by Cambridge United 5-1. And really the performance today was not that different. But my main point of disagreement with you is the idea that "staying up" is the point of this season because we are "building" for the future. I don't think that that theory stands up to scrutiny, for reasons elucidated above. Part 2! Pep is a great guy (he also said that DE was a great guy before saying that he was a bastard so watch this space!) We're doing ok with an ok bunch of guys but nothing special. It was only when MApp finally listened to the wisdom of Charlie that we started to turn things around 3 years ago (thanks Charlie!) It remains promotion or bust which is great because it gives Charlie more ammo to moan at every lost point.
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Post by oufcyellows on Sept 16, 2017 19:52:32 GMT
No, I don't. I think that Pep is a good guy and can do well for us. And I don't look at today's line-up, or the one against Bradford, and see a bunch of players who can't play right now. Who in today's line-up do you have in mind when you say that? I think we've done decently so far - I'd have taken 9th place after 8 games. But I think we can and should improve from here. And I'm hopeful that we will improve. You harp on and on and on about me pointing out that we were struggling under Apples in November 2014. But I certainly never said that he should be fired. I (and you) were amongst the few who fought against that view. But I did think that he needed to get a bit more direct and realistic. And he did. He ditched 4231, and we became more workmanlike. I'm on the record as thinking that we are one top League 1 centre forward away from being seriously competitive for automatic promotion. I stand by that. But we can still be competitive towards the top of the table with what we have. I think that it is entirely reasonable for a football club to be stung by a bad defeat where the side has played terribly. In fact, I think it is good to be stung by it. Apples HATED being whupped by Cambridge United 5-1. And really the performance today was not that different. But my main point of disagreement with you is the idea that "staying up" is the point of this season because we are "building" for the future. I don't think that that theory stands up to scrutiny, for reasons elucidated above. Part 2! Pep is a great guy (he also said that DE was a great guy before saying that he was a bastard so watch this space!) We're doing ok with an ok bunch of guys but nothing special. It was only when MApp finally listened to the wisdom of Charlie that we started to turn things around 3 years ago (thanks Charlie!) It remains promotion or bust which is great because it gives Charlie more ammo to moan at every lost point. Promotion or bust. And must do better than last seasons 8th or 9th. 🤔 yet 8th or 9th is acceptable , 1 forward away from auto promotion, but if we doesn't sign anyone on transfer day, midtable 😂 r.tapatalk.com/shareLink?share_fid=98885&share_tid=26266&share_pid=715316&url=http%3A%2F%2Fyellowsforum%2Eco%2Euk%2Fpost%2F715316%2Fthread%2F26266&share_type=tr.tapatalk.com/shareLink?share_fid=98885&share_tid=26298&share_pid=716741&url=http%3A%2F%2Fyellowsforum%2Eco%2Euk%2Fpost%2F716741%2Fthread%2F26298&share_type=tThose long screaming phone calls from alastair campbell must have effected your judgement old boy 😉
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Post by williammuir (banned) on Sept 16, 2017 19:54:04 GMT
come on everyone stop arguing and get behind pep and darryl
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Post by blox21 on Sept 16, 2017 19:57:25 GMT
Most of us are but there always one or two with an agenda!
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Post by oufcyellows on Sept 16, 2017 20:01:25 GMT
Most of us are but there always one or two with an agenda! I think allowing him the benefit of a season of adjustment is more than getting behind him, it's worked very well for us in the past, and I see no reason why that same continuity can't again, it's not settling for mid table, it's giving ourselves a firm base from which to build from, see what we need (who we don't ) and then making the changes that are needed. Hopefully far less than in previous seasons. If we can fast forward that and bring it all together much quicker then brilliant. At the min that's exactly what I'm seeing, glimpses of what pep is trying to bring, but with maybe a few gaps in the players to do it. A loss isn't a major bad thing, it might speed up his decision making that certain players can't be played in certain roles and changes can be made to suit what we have.
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Post by gofish2 on Sept 16, 2017 20:27:14 GMT
I wasn't there but clearly there is work to do. having watched the Bradford game, and being really impressed and excited, I am also realistic enough to remember that new manager, and virtually new squad, means that it will take some time before a cohesive and consistent performance pattern establishes itself. There are some really reactive posters on this forum and it's clear to me that some have got an 'agenda' which finds a rather boring and pointless frequent expression. Others are more reasoned and take the longer term view. I know which I prefer.
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Post by eraser on Sept 16, 2017 20:29:04 GMT
Most of us are but there always one or two with an agenda! I think allowing him the benefit of a season of adjustment is more than getting behind him, it's worked very well for us in the past, and I see no reason why that same continuity can't again, it's not settling for mid table, it's giving ourselves a firm base from which to build from, see what we need (who we don't ) and then making the changes that are needed. Hopefully far less than in previous seasons. If we can fast forward that and bring it all together much quicker then brilliant. At the min that's exactly what I'm seeing, glimpses of what pep is trying to bring, but with maybe a few gaps in the players to do it. A loss isn't a major bad thing, it might speed up his decision making that certain players can't be played in certain roles and changes can be made to suit what we have. Totally agree. As soon as Pep changed to a 3 at the back - albeit unfortunately too late today - it showed he can identify the problem. As did MApp when he realised we didn't have the players at the time to play nice football AND get results. Looking at the teams pressing the panic button already (Palace, Brum, Chesterfield, Port Vale) it's ridiculous. Maybe Northampton have bucked the trend but I'm behind DE and PC... patience is a virtue. All teams will lose when they should win, draw when they should lose etc. Keep the faith and get behind the Club.
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Post by ZeroTheHero on Sept 16, 2017 20:30:18 GMT
Speaking personally, the jury is very much still out as to whether the approach to the way we play is likely to be positive in the long term.
When it works properly (first 20 minutes at MK, 30 mins of the second half vs Bradford) it is both effective and lovely to watch. That's when the ball is being moved quickly and when there is plenty of movement off the ball. However, when it doesn't work (when the tempo is slower) it looks incredibly predicable, rather toothless and relatively easy to play against.
The fact that we cannot sustain the quality for longer periods is worrying. As is the fact that we start slowly quite a lot of the time and seem to have a habit of conceding late (and important) goals. Whether that is because the team needs more time playing together or hasn't yet learned what Pep is trying to teach them, who knows? Of course, it maybe that he is trying to play Championship football with L1 quality players; who are much more likely to play a poor pass, lose the ball or fail to take advantage of the chances created.
It will be interesting to see what he has learned form today's poor performance. While I am sure he won't throw the baby out with the bathwater, maybe it will cause him to rethink some aspects (and well done to him for changing the shape in the second half today).
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Post by eraser on Sept 16, 2017 20:42:42 GMT
Speaking personally, the jury is very much still out as to whether the approach to the way we play is likely to be positive in the long term. When it works properly (first 20 minutes at MK, 30 mins of the second half vs Bradford) it is both effective and lovely to watch. That's when the ball is being moved quickly and when there is plenty of movement off the ball. However, when it doesn't work (when the tempo is slower) it looks incredibly predicable, rather toothless and relatively easy to play against. The fact that we cannot sustain the quality for longer periods is worrying. As is the fact that we start slowly quite a lot of the time and seem to have a habit of conceding late (and important) goals. Whether that is because the team needs more time playing together or hasn't yet learned what Pep is trying to teach them, who knows? Of course, it maybe that he is trying to play Championship football with L1 quality players; who are much more likely to play a poor pass, lose the ball or fail to take advantage of the chances created. It will be interesting to see what he has learned form today's poor performance. While I am sure he won't throw the baby out with the bathwater, maybe it will cause him to rethink some aspects (and well done to him for changing the shape in the second half today). Again I agree with this. Oxford have for years under MApp and Pep struggled against 5 men midfields. We are always outnumbered and then cannot play "nice" passing football. You can only beat a 5 man midfield by either bypassing it and going long to a target man - but Obika is injured, or match them. Pep identified that and we went 3-5-2 which stemmed the tide. Fair play and the team will learn, plus I have no issues with 3 at the back with MW, CN and JM - those three should nullify a lot of front men in this league.
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Post by gofish2 on Sept 16, 2017 20:55:57 GMT
I listened to Pep post match and I liked his open comments about the match and the fact he recognised the need for careful analysis and more attention to concentrated work with the squad. He strikes me as an open minded manager who wants to learn and develop. He reminded me a lot of Mapp in his intelligent understanding and professional overview.
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Post by tatabanya on Sept 16, 2017 21:04:49 GMT
Lots not to like today, but I left with a far higher opinion on Pep than before.
First half was atrocious, but the tactical tweaks he made were spot on. We learn and move on
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Post by uptheus on Sept 16, 2017 21:08:42 GMT
has anyone else noticed that our dip in form co-incided with Ruffels being benched? two right-footed CMs doesn't work. And playing stronger teams. We have a team with a high number of crocks/weakness, with no recognised striker. Mid table at best.
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Post by Paul Cannell on Sept 16, 2017 21:10:44 GMT
No pace.
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Post by Gary Baldi on Sept 16, 2017 21:13:11 GMT
We were always going to have a clunker game and today was that. Some of the talk over the social media channels is a tad extreme. Our performance was not good enough, but it happens and you have compliment the opponent for getting one over you.
It feels like the team really needs to gel a little not the transfer window has closed. Thankfully the players are off on a team building exercise for 3 days with the armed forces - the lucky things.
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Post by brassmonkey on Sept 16, 2017 21:25:32 GMT
If their scout has done his job he'll have noticed Eastwood gets beaten from distance a fair bit. Closing down and controlling the midfield will be essential if we're to get anything. "Hi Dave. When taking shots against this keeper be sure to take them from a along way out and curl them past the keeper in unreachable positions. Should be an easy hat trick for you if so" All 3 goals were shots outside the box. Hmmmm Sent from my SM-G930F using proboards
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Post by charliesghost on Sept 16, 2017 21:38:11 GMT
"Hi Dave. When taking shots against this keeper be sure to take them from a along way out and curl them past the keeper in unreachable positions. Should be an easy hat trick for you if so" All 3 goals were shots outside the box. Hmmmm Sent from my SM-G930F using proboards Whereas Blackpool missed at least four great chances from inside the box in the first half. Clutching at straws is natural, but not realistic. This isn't about Eastwood. Even if the second was his fault, he still made several other good saves. We look like conceding goals against top-half sides. Not sure exactly why, but our defensive shape is not quite right. Nor is our attacking shape. Work in progress. Certainly not the best we've played for 30 years, but some good players who hopefully can be moulded into something practical in the next few weeks. Is it promotion or nothing, as some halfwit said? No. Staying in league 1 is much better than being in League 2 or the Conference. But the relatively exalted budget we have right now has been dependent on major sales. Not seeing that next summer just yet, but then Marvin hadn't made his mark this time last season so there is time.
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Post by eraser on Sept 16, 2017 21:41:39 GMT
"Hi Dave. When taking shots against this keeper be sure to take them from a along way out and curl them past the keeper in unreachable positions. Should be an easy hat trick for you if so" All 3 goals were shots outside the box. Hmmmm Sent from my SM-G930F using proboards The question here is why are they getting those shots away??
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Post by uptheus on Sept 16, 2017 22:13:18 GMT
We're accommodating 3 central defenders. It was obvious that Williamson needed to de substituted today pushing Mousinho in the middle with Nelson bringing Canice in at right back.
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Post by eraser on Sept 16, 2017 22:23:08 GMT
We're accommodating 3 central defenders. It was obvious that Williamson needed to de substituted today pushing Mousinho in the middle with Nelson bringing Candice in at right back. Candice was red hot on America's Next Top Model
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Post by scotchegg on Sept 16, 2017 22:54:12 GMT
All 3 goals were shots outside the box. Hmmmm Sent from my SM-G930F using proboards Whereas Blackpool missed at least four great chances from inside the box in the first half. Clutching at straws is natural, but not realistic. This isn't about Eastwood. Even if the second was his fault, he still made several other good saves. We look like conceding goals against top-half sides. Not sure exactly why, but our defensive shape is not quite right. Nor is our attacking shape. Work in progress. Certainly not the best we've played for 30 years, but some good players who hopefully can be moulded into something practical in the next few weeks. Is it promotion or nothing, as some halfwit said? No. Staying in league 1 is much better than being in League 2 or the Conference. But the relatively exalted budget we have right now has been dependent on major sales. Not seeing that next summer just yet, but then Marvin hadn't made his mark this time last season so there is time. Another little summary for all you Charlie fans! We're rubbish at the back, we're rubbish upfront, we'll go a long way!!!
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Post by makv on Sept 17, 2017 3:55:03 GMT
And what we're you seriously f*cking expecting when we've changed the manager, lost several key players and replace half a squad. This season was always going to be an adjustment, why not accept it for that rather than moan at every bloody loss. First 30 mins on Tuesday was some of the best football I have seen oufc play in 30 years. So long as we keep playing like that, and not some boring hoof ball I'll be happy and we will have more than enough to stay up and hopefully build for a serious challenge next season spending in the areas we're lacking Sorry to rain on the "we're building for the future" parade, but really we are not. We had that option, but signed two totally different kinds of players: players nearing their mid-30s and loanees from a higher level. Today's team? Eastwood: 28 Ricardinho 33 Nelson 24 Williamson 33 Mousinho 31 Ledson 20 Rothwell 22 Payne LOANEE Thomas 30 Hall 24 Henry 28 Van Kessel LOANEE So the average age of OUR players today was 27 and a half. By next summer, that's 28 and a half. And our model dictates that we sell a young player or two every summer. Take out the players in their mid-30s, the loanees and a couple of youngsters and we will be looking at another huge turnover of players next summer as well. The reason we signed a truckload of ageing players and loanees was to succeed THIS season. And that is what the whole club should be focussed on, not the stale get-out of "it's all a project". Yes it is when you are signing Lundstram, Roofe, Nelson, Ledson and co. No it's not when you are signing Williamson, Ricardinho, Henry and Mousinho. I think that we do have the players to challenge this season, but it's going to require a pretty substantial ditching of the Koolade and a determination to front up to other well-funded well-organised sides. In four games against top half teams (Scunny, Shrews, Bradford, Blackpool), we've garnered two points and been second best in three of those games. I've been very impressed by what Pep managed to pull together in such a short time, but after today's game he sounded less coherent. I think he claimed that the reason we lost had nothing to do with how we played, but because we conceded the first goal. Really? James Henry was much more realistic - one advantage of a "mature" dressing room is that hopefully they'll be able to work out for themselves that they can't afford to play at half pace. As for your claim that Tuesday was the best you've seen in 30 years, what are you on?? 30 years ago, we were in the top flight. Since then, I could name 100 games that were far more impressive than a draw against Bradford. I hesitate to nominate any one performance, but smashing Kevin Keegan's Newcastle? Deservedly beating Chelsea at the Bridge? Beating Man City away 2-0? Mashing Barnsley's "Brazil side" 5-0. It's axiomatic that to achieve in any walk of life, first you have to be sane and realistic about the challenge. We have some decent players, and under the right circumstances they can play nicely. They now need to work out how to win when circumstances are not in their favour, and how to impose a positive style on teams who don't just lie down. None of this is criticism (other than criticism of your judgement!), but a real hope that we don't waste a season that could be successful drifting along in an LSD dreamland of future projects. I liked that, because it had big words in it, spelt all our players' names correctly and contained Koolade and LSD. What's not to like in a post?
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Post by eighteen93 on Sept 17, 2017 5:44:23 GMT
www.blackpoolfc.co.uk/news/2017/september/ref-watch-oxford-united-h/Why was there a change from the original referee appointment ? Richard Clark was down to be the man in charge but we had the hopeless Darren Handley from Bolton in charge instead. The guy never seems to keep up with play and he made some really poor decisions. I did not go to Scunthorpe last month when he was the ref. but I remember how bad he was at Walsall in April. His lack of fitness is frightening for a FL referee. It was never a foul on Vassell at the end for the third goal - the free kick - and there were other odd decisions. We did not lose because of him - we were so poor.
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Post by ox4eva on Sept 17, 2017 7:32:25 GMT
Any figure given on how many U's fans were there yesterday?
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Post by finlandia on Sept 17, 2017 7:34:12 GMT
Good to see things are back to normal! Really cheering me up on a Sunday morning after yesterday - some of the posts are just pure comedy gold. Talk about changing your tune - lol!!! Just gets better and better!!!
Anyway, yesterday. Was poor, no doubt - but this is a new team, new manager and as people have said, there was always going to be a few shockers. The key will be how the team react to this. Hopefully, Rib's will be fight to slot into right wing-back and Obika will be fit to start up top next week.
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