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Post by Yellow River on Nov 8, 2017 10:31:35 GMT
How do you know it was done on the cheap? Is it another throw away dig at the club you profess to support? It is interesting question isn't it. If we did pay a lot of money to many of this years signings I would be concerned as so far we are not seeing good value for money from quite a lot of them (injuries have unfortunately not helped here). I don't believe the comments along the lines of we could no longer afford to continue looking for talent from around the higher leagues in terms of their younger players, and we had to look abroad. Foreign players are a high risk strategy and one which has a high failure rate (I think we are seeing the beginnings of this). I look at our squad this year and although on paper it has greater numbers and more experience, I can't help thinking that we are going back to the bad old days where many of these players are either not fit or not of the quality of a first team regular (leaving us weakened if we have to play them). I would have rather the experience came from more reliable league 1 players (like Henry) with the addition of some young talent from the leagues above (more like Payne), rather than the variable talents of the likes of GVK or Tiedalli. The squad also lacks a little balance with little pace out wide and little variety in the type of attacking options we possess. Add to this that outside of our best back four any replacements make us look ropey at the back. I think some of this contributes to our lack of consistency. I think I'm right in saying that Appleton's squad was smaller than Clotet's but better balanced and more quality in my view. As I've said before we should be aiming for quality not quantity in the squad. The club had struck on a successful recruitment policy, then appeared to rip it up. Some fans are obsessed with the size of the squad, it's no good if you fill it with ageing/injured/lack of English League experience players.
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Post by Yellow River on Nov 8, 2017 10:19:02 GMT
I believe that there is too much uncertainty at our club. This uncertainty stems from the fact that the club is for sale, it's been going on for almost a year now and has finally seeped its way down to the coaches, manager and the players.
Appleton was spooked by the apparent lack of funds that had been promised last January. Key players such as the captain Lundstram, and Maguire publicly made it very clear at their concern that Appleton might not be at the club at the beginning of the new season.
The alarm bells were right to be ringing. The saga of the Sartori bid dragged on, Appleton wanted to complete his transfers/signings early, that didn't happen and he wasn't prepared to wait any longer. We lost our best manager in decades because of the uncertainty.
I feel a bit sorry for Clotet in that he had to do a lot of his business late in the day, but he is responsible for packing our squad full of overseas players with little English League experience, a gamble for sure and so far it's not paid off. Injuries have not helped
The club feels rudderless compared to the Appleton era.
So back to the uncertainty at the club, another takeover rumoured. Clotet is probably worried about his position at the club if new owners come in, Fazackerly and Allen probably worried too. Players are only human too, they will be concerned, it all seeps down from the boardroom to the pitch.
Eales needs to show some leadership, the short/medium term future of the club needs certainty and stability.
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Post by Yellow River on Nov 6, 2017 22:24:29 GMT
It's a matter of patriotism for me. You can't love your country if you actively seek to reduce your tax bill. Tax pays for the education of our children etc, there's no excuse. Does that mean the Queen is unpatriotic and hates her country?
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Post by Yellow River on Nov 6, 2017 15:02:14 GMT
I view City a bit like a younger sibling, I'm happy for them if they do well so long as they don't get too cocky.
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Post by Yellow River on Nov 5, 2017 16:17:17 GMT
If and when this takeover happens I wonder if Pep will be in the plans of the new owners?
Pep is probably also wondering this as well.
Sometimes easy to lose focus when stuff is going on which affects your future.
Uncertainty usually has a negative affect.
The previous 'takeover' uncertainty possibly led to Mapp's departure and unsettled key players.
Clarity about the club's future is needed PDQ.
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Post by Yellow River on Nov 4, 2017 10:24:25 GMT
All these overseas signings! I make that 5 in total now, Tiendalli, Ricardinho, Xemi, Pekalski, Van Kassel plus a Spanish manager. So how do we all feel about it? I really don't quite know what to make of it all, suppose I'm a mixture of bemused, excited, apprehensive, intrigued, positive, negative. We have to trust Pep on this, quite a gamble I'd say but if it comes off the potential rewards are huge. Shades of Ramon Diaz.? Interesting season ahead for sure. And so it continues....... Albanian international striker Agon Mehmeti signs on a one year deal. Strange days indeed! Apart from our Brazilian leftback (currently injured) the foreign legion has been pretty disappointing so far. Perhaps some bad luck with injuries, but gambles have been taken which so far haven't paid off. In my view too much quantity and not enough quality in the squad.
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Post by Yellow River on Nov 4, 2017 10:16:34 GMT
When we're good we're very good, and when we're bad we're horrid.
Mid table team at best, not enough pace in the team, too much quantity and not enough quality in the squad.
I'll be glad when we reach the 50 plus points mark.
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Post by Yellow River on Nov 3, 2017 13:01:21 GMT
If you look at the league positions of the two clubs we should win fairly comfortably, but life is always like that.
Scrappy 1-1 draw. Obika.
One consultation is that a few squad players get some valuable match time.
No exciting cup runs this season.
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Post by Yellow River on Nov 3, 2017 11:02:17 GMT
It's all gone very, very quiet........
Crouching tiger, but who's the dragon?
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Post by Yellow River on Oct 31, 2017 9:58:57 GMT
Just a quick word on the goal: The short answer to why no-one closed down their player is, it fell between two defensive phases of play. The indecision about which mode we were in allowed the space which allowed the shot. For background, defending corners and other wide set plays you adapt a specific phase of play (PoP for short)- it's not rocket science, players good in the air, regardless of position, go to the middle, smaller players on posts etc. But crucially wide positions are usually abandoned. E.G. the LB stops guarding the left flank, the right winger stops looking after the opposing full back, as defending the middle of the pitch becomes the priority. Usually a corner obviously does or does not return back into open play PoP. E.G. the ball is cleared, positions are taken again. If the ball is cleared to a wide area (headed back to the taker, or a long throw opportunity arises) the corner PoP remains, for obvious reasons. In 99% of cases it's clear which PoP you are in. Here it isn't. Everyone firstly switches off to allow the ball to be salvaged (an error, but an obvious one). But what happens next is easy to see, but not so easy to understand why it happened. Because the ball starts off by being in a wide area, but moving infield, you can see the players looking at each other thinking... Is this now open play? Are we still in corner mode? Where is the LB? Should I cover him? Should I leave my man? If I cover the LB, am I allowing a free header from a cross? This indecision leads to the space. It's a collective failing, and someone obviously should have taken charge of it. I would also ask questions of Eastwood - I would want my keeper yelling his head off at the back line to step up as the ball moves away from goal, otherwise everyone sits in the six yard box, which is what happened. Perhaps he did and they ignored him. And although it took a deflection on the way, it is once again a shot from distance, across Eastwood, conceded on his right side. Sound familiar? I rate Eastwood, and in my limited knowledge of goalkeepers he appears to be a good one at our level. However as has been noted before it does appear he often gets beaten from distance when the ball is struck hard and low across him on his right hand side. Coincidence? Any goalkeepers out there who can explain the reasons why this might be the case?
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Post by Yellow River on Oct 27, 2017 7:33:05 GMT
Apparently pre-match on Saturday at No.1 Tasty Chinese Takeaway in Fleetwood Mr Tigger will personally be dishing out complimentary bags of prawn crackers (dip you have to pay for) Mrs Tigger will be available for a selfie. Loyal home fans lose out again.
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Post by Yellow River on Oct 26, 2017 16:32:06 GMT
It still puzzles me why he was less than hugely successful with us like he was elsewhere. He never built a team even in the year we got promoted looked totally convincing (that year saw us slump out of the automatics). The playing style of his teams was often dull to watch and terrifying in the way they sat deep (and lest not talk about set pieces). His signings were a real mixed bag with many terrible failures. Was there something very wrong behind the scenes while he was with us? We know the scouting was awful, and the youth system slowly recovering after being shot to pieces by Kassam, but was that it? Or was it that he never truly won a large proportion of the fanbase over? Alan Knill his assistant at Northampton and Sheffield. Mickey Lewis at Oxford. Not the be all and end all, but an important factor in my view.
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Post by Yellow River on Oct 26, 2017 14:23:17 GMT
Tiger Tiger, burning bright, In the forests of the night; What immortal hand or eye, Could frame thy fearful symmetry?
In what distant deeps or skies. Burnt the fire of thine eyes? On what wings dare he aspire? What the hand, dare seize the fire?
And what shoulder, & what art, Could twist the sinews of thy heart? And when thy heart began to beat, What dread hand? & what dread feet?
What the hammer? what the chain, In what furnace was thy brain? What the anvil? what dread grasp, Dare its deadly terrors clasp!
When the stars threw down their spears And water'd heaven with their tears: Did he smile his work to see? Did he who made the Lamb make thee?
Tiger Tiger burning bright, In the forests of the night: What immortal hand or eye, Dare frame thy fearful symmetry?
Related
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Post by Yellow River on Oct 26, 2017 8:11:08 GMT
So does that mean his masterplan to steal Faz from us isn't definitely 1000% no going back going to happen? Even an Assistant needs an Assistant. It’s DEFINITELY still going to happen. Indeed! Also an assistant's assistant needs an assistant, bye, bye Chrissy Allen.
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Post by Yellow River on Oct 25, 2017 8:09:08 GMT
Surely the source of any money potentially being invested in our club should be the major factor as to whether it's morally right or wrong.
I get the feeling that some fans are desparate to accept any 'investment' regardless of how that money was originally obtained.
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Post by Yellow River on Oct 24, 2017 10:58:07 GMT
Stop reading the Yellows Forum! Because the news contrives to frighten you To make you feel small and alone To make you feel that your mind isn't your own (With apologies to Morrissey) ps tempting though it was I decided not to stay in bed all day.
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Post by Yellow River on Oct 24, 2017 7:55:35 GMT
Apparently Ryan Giggs is interested in becoming Everton or Leicester manager.
Not a chance.
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Post by Yellow River on Oct 23, 2017 18:11:43 GMT
It’s not my intention to have a go at any individuals and I know that Jerome has to maintain a polite dignified presence, but some of the callers have absolutely nothing to say and then spend way too long saying it. Sometimes I think both those that did and didn’t go are vying for various awards: the most bleedin’ obvious statement of the week, or most nonsensical, or failure to mention key facts. And that’s before we get onto the texts.Ha, Ha, so true Paul, they talk in riddles, go round and round in circles. Barry's alright though, you tell he's passionate.
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Post by Yellow River on Oct 23, 2017 17:50:19 GMT
Before the game I would've been horrified at the idea of a drum in the East Stand, however from the North Stand it sounded ok, not too obvious and within reason. Therefore you have my guarded approval so long as it stays where it is and at the current volume and frequency. As an aside, I always used to enjoy the chants from the London Rd, "Beech Road, Beech Road give us a song" and "Osler, Osler give us a song" usually got a response too with "come on you yellows" No harm in the Ultras giving the North and South stands a gentle reminder to start a song or two.
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Post by Yellow River on Oct 23, 2017 10:07:21 GMT
Perhaps Appleton has come to the conclusion he would prefer to be a coach/assistant at the highest level as possible rather than as a manager/no1 at a lower level.
Maybe he just feels more comfortable in that role and enjoys it more.
I think he did an excellent job at Oxford, brought in some exciting young players and turned the club around. Put some pride back into the club.
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Post by Yellow River on Oct 22, 2017 9:02:54 GMT
Right hand side definitely louder than the left yesterday, but then again it always was even at the Manor.
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Post by Yellow River on Oct 21, 2017 17:23:07 GMT
Appleton's first game as caretaker manager resulted in Leicester 2-1 winners away at Swansea today.
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Post by Yellow River on Oct 21, 2017 17:15:48 GMT
Disappointing to be 3-1 up at home and end up sharing the points, but probably a fair result in the end.
Both defensives struggled with the swirling wind particularly defending the fence end.
We missed Ribeiro at right back, Carroll wasn't at his best today, headed back into a dangerous area for their first and got caught out for the equaliser.
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Post by Yellow River on Oct 20, 2017 16:02:36 GMT
To lose a brother in a tragic accident at such a young age must have devistating for the lad. Also he will have seen the affect it has had on other members of his family. Not an easy thing to deal with.
It appears the club has been patient & understanding and James now has a chance to move forward with his career, probably needs to drop down a division or two, so unlikely to be with Oxford at League 1 level but I wish him well for the future.
However wouldn't it be great if he came off the bench to score the winner on Saturday.
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Post by Yellow River on Oct 20, 2017 15:51:27 GMT
I know of three people who didn't renew their season tickets because of the hike in prices, they decided to pick and choose the matches to go to. So far they have attended a couple of matches each.
It's very easy to get out of the habit of going to the football, plenty of other leisure activities to tempt people with their hard earned.
Personally I believe the price increases were too high and it felt to me at the time that loyal regular supporters were being taken for granted a little.
Agree with others who say that marketing of matches has been poor compared to previous seasons.
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Post by Yellow River on Oct 18, 2017 15:15:07 GMT
We seem to do a zonal/man marking hybrid. I remember at the start of the season man marking with Williamson free on the penalty spot free to mop up and control the middle of the box. I didn’t pay huge attention to it last night however. Will look again this Saturday! There is scope for huge improvement from all of our set pieces. Considering Pep loves to analyse the game, I’m surprised we haven’t used corners etc to create an edge. With the quality of delivery (Henry/Payne) and Mousinho/Nelson we should be better than we are. As an aside, I assume to protect Thomas a little we now have Ledson doing his running? Ledson often breaks out of the midfield to press the opposition back 4, with the rest of the team backing him up. Absolutely room for improvement. What worried me was they didn't learn and made the same mistakes on subsequent free kicks when defending. For example the 1st clear chance they created from a freekick, the Charlton player was free at the back post but fortunately he missed. They got a free kick in a similar position and did the same routine yet we did exactly the same with the same result except 2 of their players got free, fortunately the kick was overhit. On both free kicks, we had 4 vs 4 but Nelson took up a strange position and nobody seemed to be taking control. I agree on the attacking set pieces, we really should be doing better. Why do we use the short corner as the norm when surely it is a greater surprise when used more sparingly? Good point on Lego, hadn't really thought of it like that. Re the marking at free kicks, I also noticed certainly on at least one occasion in the first half, Charlton's two centre backs getting a run at the back post with Nelson & Mousiniho in the centre. I've never seen an Oxford defence zonal mark before but I think that's what was going on. We looked vulnerable at those particular free kicks.
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Post by Yellow River on Oct 18, 2017 7:52:46 GMT
Echo what others have said, a very entertaining game of football. I thought Charlton looked like a play-off side and we matched them.
My main concern is our lack of pace particularly in the last 20 mins when the opposition is tiring. On the counter attack it would be nice to have that pace to really scare defenders.
Obviously Hall can give us that when fit, I can see him becoming an impact player coming off the bench for the last 20-30 mins. Van Kessel may also be able to fill that role but needs to work much, much harder for the team in my opinion.
Early days for the young Xemi, adapting to a new country with a new football culture won't be easy but is going to have to learn fairly quick to make an impact in this squad. Pep obviously sees something in him.
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Post by Yellow River on Oct 17, 2017 10:12:52 GMT
Win this, followed by another victory over Rotherham and I might just start to BELIEVE.
Think it will be a 2-2 draw.
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Post by Yellow River on Oct 16, 2017 9:35:32 GMT
Home tie against one of the lower sides in the competition. Ditto for 2nd round, then go for the money spinner in round 3 onwards.
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Post by Yellow River on Oct 15, 2017 12:25:46 GMT
Joshua Andrew Bernard bloody Ruffels Is that right? Joshua Andrew Bernard bloody Ruffels FFS Letters after his name as well. Fellow (of the) Footballers Society. Impressive.
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