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Post by davox on Sept 27, 2017 6:49:00 GMT
What worries me most is Peps interview. The guys in complete denial. Those lads need a rollicking not a pat on the back with the assurance everything will be ok in the long term. You've got to actually win some games in the short term to realise the long term 'project'! 3 out of 10 isn't good enough with the calibre of players we have.
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Post by bigronaldo on Sept 27, 2017 7:11:05 GMT
okay. Lets get this straight, before we all get whipped up into a whrlwind of hysterical rants. Just 3 weeks ago, we were playing some of the best football that i have seen ANY Oxford side play for 25 years. Quite how we have slunk to the depths plumbed by some keyboard pundits on here I can't quite fathom. We haven't played well, no-one can deny that, but some of our 'so called' SUPPORTERS? really need to get a f*cking grip. We are a club in transition from one long term manager and with a whole new group of talented players. Trust them to get to grip with the situation. They haven't all become donkeys overnight. We will be okay provided the doommongers and negative posters shut the f*ck up and let pep and the players sort it out. Get a f*cking grip people!!!!
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Post by HeyMcAleny on Sept 27, 2017 7:11:09 GMT
I think people can read too much into post match interviews. A manager is nearly always going to try and look for positives when facing the media.
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Post by notaswindonfan on Sept 27, 2017 7:20:40 GMT
Personally prefer mapp's style of management, pep's response after the Cheltenham debacle had me worried, softly softly and calm responses to questions is not what I wanted to hear, needed to convey like mapp that it was unacceptable in measured tones. Since then his response to set backs does not fill me with confidence that he can turn it round.
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Post by Belgian Yellow on Sept 27, 2017 7:34:07 GMT
I thought we were doing reasonably ok until the first goal. They could have had a couple, but we had a couple of good chances too. What's worrying is the capitulation after that, not helped by Pep's bizarre substitution. No one looked like they know what to do and confidence was shot. At the end the players looked too embarrassed to come over and applaud the fans properly so they did it from a distance. Unlike Maguire who showed proper respect. Loved his shoulder challenge on Henry, if only we could swap them!
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Post by palmersgreenyellow on Sept 27, 2017 7:54:20 GMT
Bury 3 - 0 Oxford A long awaited confidence-boosting win against a strong Oxford team helps turn Bury's season round. 3 shots on target for Oxford so some signs of improvement. Maguire nailed on to score. 567 hardy away fans. Hate to say I told you so
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Post by rickyotto on Sept 27, 2017 8:09:06 GMT
What I can't quite get over having watched on ifollow was the complete lack of desire or tenacity in the first twenty minutes. It showed me that the statements in the press during the week by the likes of Ledson were mere sound bites as there wasn't a genuine belief that there's a problem. I think they believe that they're a technically competent enough set of champions league and ex championship players that they can walk through games. Even though it was evenly bad in those twenty minutes, bury still wanted it that little bit more and the outcome seemed almost inevitable
Disappointing. It can be turned around though and we must remember that Mapps first three months were awful so I'm willing to be patient.
I hope pep learns quickly though and I hope he respects league one a little more. It's not the Swedish, polish or Czech league. It's stronger.
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Post by ryaniobirdio on Sept 27, 2017 8:09:26 GMT
I thought we were doing reasonably ok until the first goal. They could have had a couple, but we had a couple of good chances too. What's worrying is the capitulation after that, not helped by Pep's bizarre substitution. No one looked like they know what to do and confidence was shot. At the end the players looked too embarrassed to come over and applaud the fans properly so they did it from a distance. Unlike Maguire who showed proper respect. Loved his shoulder challenge on Henry, if only we could swap them! A shoulder barge? I can only dream of us having a player who fancies the physical side of things, and is willing to needle an opposition player like that in order to win the ball and stamp their authority on things. Our players seem to resemble a gathering of rag dolls who are happy to get lobbed about.
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Post by brassmonkey on Sept 27, 2017 8:18:45 GMT
BURY hadnt won at home for 10 games.....
Walsall hadnt won away for since what January.....
shambles.
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Post by victor1986 on Sept 27, 2017 8:24:29 GMT
Bury 3 - 0 Oxford A long awaited confidence-boosting win against a strong Oxford team helps turn Bury's season round. 3 shots on target for Oxford so some signs of improvement. Maguire nailed on to score. 567 hardy away fans. Hate to say I told you so Let me have 6 Lottery numbers for Friday please!
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Post by Gary Baldi on Sept 27, 2017 8:40:17 GMT
I think the team has to better in the head . After Bradford, we've had a massive wobble. Even though lots of players are in, it needs some leadership. Talent and tactics are fine, application is not.
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Post by highlights on Sept 27, 2017 8:58:45 GMT
They had a pre-season to plan, we didn't. Planning for a new season starts in Fed/March and its executed in the summer. Missing that planning time is hugely challenging. Clearly the performances haven't been good enough recently. But getting on a manager's case after 10 games, who came in half way through the summer isn't helpful. So your saying Appleton was being inept by not having a pre-season plan sorted in Feb/March what planet are you on? Literally the entire plan hinges on the manager - at this level. When they go 60-70% of the future planning goes out the door with them. It's about the manager convincing you to come to the club, picking players that fit into how you play football, where you want to spend money, players you think still are yet to show their potential. Take Chris Maguire - he said his future depended on Appleton staying - just a small example. Appleton had a plan for sure- but when he left it was thrown into chaos - you can bet he didn't do much the two weeks before he left either (no malice, just how it works).
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Post by bazzer9461 on Sept 27, 2017 9:02:29 GMT
So your saying Appleton was being inept by not having a pre-season plan sorted in Feb/March what planet are you on? Literally the entire plan hinges on the manager - at this level. When they go 60-70% of the future planning goes out the door with them. It's about the manager convincing you to come to the club, picking players that fit into how you play football, where you want to spend money, players you think still are yet to show their potential. Take Chris Maguire - he said his future depended on Appleton staying - just a small example. Appleton had a plan for sure- but when he left it was thrown into chaos - you can bet he didn't do much the two weeks before he left either (no malice, just how it works). Pep hadn’t a plan irrespective what f when he joined. Faz and Chrissy should have been way ahead in the planning dept and as for our recruitment it looks like Pep shut that down in favour of his imports
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Post by ciaranjonlucas on Sept 27, 2017 9:14:40 GMT
Just watched the highlights for the first time and it confirmed what I initially thought. That is the softest penalty I have seen in a long time.
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Post by charliesghost on Sept 27, 2017 9:20:41 GMT
Don't interrupt the soothsayer with your ruddy logical questioning. Its disrespectful to the great man. Tonight, we had Eastwood, Nelson, ruffels, Ledson and Hall all starting. So half the team (including its spine) was here last season. And if Ribeiro and Thomas had been fit that would have been 7 out of 11. The situation is not abnormal in modern lower league football. The question is whether the group is progressing. That question just has to be assessed on an ongoing basis, rather than imposing arbitrary time horizons. Were Palace wrong to fire DE Boer after five games? Nope. Were we right to hang on to MApp after three months of poor results? Yes. Considering your limited understanding of football it is embarrassing to question someone who actually works in the game. This time 3 years ago you were panicking about us being in a relegation battle. I stated that it was far too early to panic and the team needed to be given more time. How did that work out for us? Again, you can't help but jump for joy after another defeat. It won't be long before we get a few more essays talking of relegation battles and must win games to show that you learn nothing. Give the team a chance, give Pep a chance, and give you pompous b*llshit a rest. Out of interest, where do you get your rather oddly angry view that I know nothing about football? I don't know of your past involvement in the game - honestly, I'd be interested to know. But I worked in the game, for Arsenal, for two years. I played the game at university level and turned out a few times in what is the 8th tier. Only 20 quid a game (back in the early 90s) but how many posters on here have been paid to play? I was then brought in by the Lenagans 7 years ago to help resuscitate the youth system and community trust None of which is exactly stellar; I'm not kidding myself that I'm about to appear on match of the day. But with the above (ie having been properly coached and having spent extensive time watching many games with serious professional people) I think that I qualify to have an opinion. Your nonsense about me panicking in November 2014 is fascinating. I had a laugh with Michael Appleton about it once. He said, and bless him for his humility: 'it was going horribly wrong and I couldn't have complained if I'd been sacked. I had to get amongst the players, find the ones that were willing to fight and just set them up to battle. There were a couple of times that we were one bad result away from being in real trouble.' The good thing about MApp is that he got it. You could see, in every fibre of his being, how much he cared and would do everything to get it right. The question being asked on here - and which you are too complacent to consider - is whether this manager and these players have the fight in them.
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Post by charliesghost on Sept 27, 2017 9:25:21 GMT
So your saying Appleton was being inept by not having a pre-season plan sorted in Feb/March what planet are you on? Literally the entire plan hinges on the manager - at this level. When they go 60-70% of the future planning goes out the door with them. It's about the manager convincing you to come to the club, picking players that fit into how you play football, where you want to spend money, players you think still are yet to show their potential. Take Chris Maguire - he said his future depended on Appleton staying - just a small example. Appleton had a plan for sure- but when he left it was thrown into chaos - you can bet he didn't do much the two weeks before he left either (no malice, just how it works). But your example, as so often with your pontificating, is bollocks. Maguire said on the radio last night that he had met with Pep and was happy to sign but that after that meeting contract negotiations stalled and he had to find himself a club. I note that you have stopped analysing the highlights since we started getting whipped. Perhaps it's time to start analysing what has been going wrong on a tactical basis, rather than offering trite overviews of how a football club works.
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Post by charliesghost on Sept 27, 2017 9:28:03 GMT
I'm actually past the point of being angry or worked up now. I'm already numb to it all. There were warning signs - the Cheltenham capitulation, and the second half against MK being primary examples of genuinely awful football and a really worrying mentality and attitude - but these last three games have been too much. The manner of the defeats has been unforgivable. I went to Blackpool and was at Walsall and saw for myself how horrific it was on both occasions, and after that I cancelled my plans to go tonight because I predicted we would lose 3-0 in this very thread. That is what happened because it was inevitable. I have also predicted another spanking at Peterborough and see no reason what so ever as to why this will not take place. I will not be going to that game either because not only are the team giving me no reason to spend time, money and effort travelling to support them, but our manager doesn't sound remotely arsed or bothered, shows no emotion and frankly comes across as a walkover. No wonder some of the players supppsedly feel able to pull sickies if his response to a third defeat on the spin - a third spanking in a row at that - is to say he can only 'fockoos' on the positives and that it was all about the first goal. Ooooh, what a steady first half we had of pumping the ball long, if Radio Oxford are to be believed. This is progress, this is. What the flying f*ck is this man on about? Is he for real? Where is the frank assessment? Where is even the slightest hint that this isn't good enough? Where is the smallest hint of anger or frustration in his voice that suggests he takes this seriously? Sometimes you have to kick a few cups of tea around the room, fella. You don't have to do it every time because it means nothing if you do it constantly, but sometimes you have to do it. Sometimes you have to go out there and say it isn't good enough, that it's unacceptable, that you need to see more, that this simply isn't going to cut it, and that we are very quickly getting into a lot of trouble. SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO GIVE A SHIT, MATE. SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO f*cking MEAN IT. This guy has had several stints in management earlier in his career and most ended in relegation, whether he was there to see the ship go down or whether he jumped overboard before it slammed into the iceberg. He has since had a reputation as a decent coach. Fair enough. Good for him. But his managerial record is bollocks, he's signed a load of foreign journeymen with virtually ZERO experience in English football, and even least season he was heavily involved in Leeds utterly collapsing and throwing away a playoff place that was all but secured by losing pretty much every game for the last month. He's actually got very, very little on paper as a manager or a direct assistant manager that screams success. As a manager he has failed universally, as an assistant he has achieved nothing but mediocrity at best. So the least he could do - all he CAN do - is start to show that he understands this isn't good enough, speak some frank home truths, and give us a reason to believe that he gets it. Give us a reason to believe that he knows how to fix this - that he WANTS it. Give us a reason to believe he is going to fight and scrap until his knuckles are red raw, and that he is going to drag these players into the brawl with him whether they like it or not. SHOW US THAT YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT IS GOING ON, PEP. PLEASE. End of the day, this is where we are. We are stuck with this squad and these players until January now, and god knows if we can even bring anybody in at that point. So with that in mind, all we can do is try to change. Change the tactics, the mentality, improve the spirit and the willingness to fight. All we can do now is NOT do what we have aimlessly and religiously been doing recently. What do we know is that THIS - whatever the hell this actually is - does not work. It cannot work and we are now getting our arses handed to us game after game. So stop doing whatever the hell this is, act like you mean it and smash up the joint just once. Because those players are playing like they don't know what to do and some of them don't appear arsed at all. And some, seemingly, can't even be bothered to play. That is a cultural issue, and combined with Pep's awful managerial history, I think it's a very dangerous cocktail. I don't know what to do at present, I just know that this season looks like it's really going to hurt. Quick, quick, Wiggy and Scotchers. Ryan needs some of your Koolade.
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Post by essexyellows on Sept 27, 2017 9:38:58 GMT
Still 80% of the season to go...............onward & upwards!
I might have to go to a game .....
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Post by ryaniobirdio on Sept 27, 2017 9:47:13 GMT
I'm actually past the point of being angry or worked up now. I'm already numb to it all. There were warning signs - the Cheltenham capitulation, and the second half against MK being primary examples of genuinely awful football and a really worrying mentality and attitude - but these last three games have been too much. The manner of the defeats has been unforgivable. I went to Blackpool and was at Walsall and saw for myself how horrific it was on both occasions, and after that I cancelled my plans to go tonight because I predicted we would lose 3-0 in this very thread. That is what happened because it was inevitable. I have also predicted another spanking at Peterborough and see no reason what so ever as to why this will not take place. I will not be going to that game either because not only are the team giving me no reason to spend time, money and effort travelling to support them, but our manager doesn't sound remotely arsed or bothered, shows no emotion and frankly comes across as a walkover. No wonder some of the players supppsedly feel able to pull sickies if his response to a third defeat on the spin - a third spanking in a row at that - is to say he can only 'fockoos' on the positives and that it was all about the first goal. Ooooh, what a steady first half we had of pumping the ball long, if Radio Oxford are to be believed. This is progress, this is. What the flying f*ck is this man on about? Is he for real? Where is the frank assessment? Where is even the slightest hint that this isn't good enough? Where is the smallest hint of anger or frustration in his voice that suggests he takes this seriously? Sometimes you have to kick a few cups of tea around the room, fella. You don't have to do it every time because it means nothing if you do it constantly, but sometimes you have to do it. Sometimes you have to go out there and say it isn't good enough, that it's unacceptable, that you need to see more, that this simply isn't going to cut it, and that we are very quickly getting into a lot of trouble. SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO GIVE A SHIT, MATE. SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO f*cking MEAN IT. This guy has had several stints in management earlier in his career and most ended in relegation, whether he was there to see the ship go down or whether he jumped overboard before it slammed into the iceberg. He has since had a reputation as a decent coach. Fair enough. Good for him. But his managerial record is bollocks, he's signed a load of foreign journeymen with virtually ZERO experience in English football, and even least season he was heavily involved in Leeds utterly collapsing and throwing away a playoff place that was all but secured by losing pretty much every game for the last month. He's actually got very, very little on paper as a manager or a direct assistant manager that screams success. As a manager he has failed universally, as an assistant he has achieved nothing but mediocrity at best. So the least he could do - all he CAN do - is start to show that he understands this isn't good enough, speak some frank home truths, and give us a reason to believe that he gets it. Give us a reason to believe that he knows how to fix this - that he WANTS it. Give us a reason to believe he is going to fight and scrap until his knuckles are red raw, and that he is going to drag these players into the brawl with him whether they like it or not. SHOW US THAT YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT IS GOING ON, PEP. PLEASE. End of the day, this is where we are. We are stuck with this squad and these players until January now, and god knows if we can even bring anybody in at that point. So with that in mind, all we can do is try to change. Change the tactics, the mentality, improve the spirit and the willingness to fight. All we can do now is NOT do what we have aimlessly and religiously been doing recently. What do we know is that THIS - whatever the hell this actually is - does not work. It cannot work and we are now getting our arses handed to us game after game. So stop doing whatever the hell this is, act like you mean it and smash up the joint just once. Because those players are playing like they don't know what to do and some of them don't appear arsed at all. And some, seemingly, can't even be bothered to play. That is a cultural issue, and combined with Pep's awful managerial history, I think it's a very dangerous cocktail. I don't know what to do at present, I just know that this season looks like it's really going to hurt. Quick, quick, Wiggy and Scotchers. Ryan needs some of your Koolade. I'll drink if you drink. You first, old boy
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Post by HeyMcAleny on Sept 27, 2017 9:57:18 GMT
Literally the entire plan hinges on the manager - at this level. When they go 60-70% of the future planning goes out the door with them. It's about the manager convincing you to come to the club, picking players that fit into how you play football, where you want to spend money, players you think still are yet to show their potential. Take Chris Maguire - he said his future depended on Appleton staying - just a small example. Appleton had a plan for sure- but when he left it was thrown into chaos - you can bet he didn't do much the two weeks before he left either (no malice, just how it works). Pep hadn’t a plan irrespective what f when he joined. Faz and Chrissy should have been way ahead in the planning dept and as for our recruitment it looks like Pep shut that down in favour of his imports I don't think that's what happened. I remember hearing Pep being asked how busy and stressful the week leading up to transfer deadline day had been. His response was that it wasn't that busy for him because he was leaving it to the recruitment dept. who were following the plans that had been in place for some time. I guess this is where the likes of Obika, Williamson, Mous, Payne and Mowatt came from. He also said that some of the foreign imports were already targets of the club and he was simply able to facilitate them. So I was if anythimg quite surprised at how happy he was to accept the work of the recruitment dept. and not interfere himself more strongly. I imagine the above mentioned players had been agreed with Appleton. I would also refer people to DE's chairman notes before the Gills game: www.oufc.co.uk/news/2017/september/chairman-gillingham/There were clearly other players we were in for, but felt they were over priced. It was clearly a sellers market and DE has cashed in several chips. Whether he really wanted to or not is another matter.
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Post by charliesghost on Sept 27, 2017 10:13:32 GMT
Quick, quick, Wiggy and Scotchers. Ryan needs some of your Koolade. I'll drink if you drink. You first, old boy I'm only gonna drink my Koolade if 'highlights' shows me how to do in a manner appropriate to someone who - da da - 'is a professional'.
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Post by Beav on Sept 27, 2017 10:18:11 GMT
Is there a link to the post match interviews yet?
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Post by eighteen93 on Sept 27, 2017 10:20:02 GMT
Just watched the highlights for the first time and it confirmed what I initially thought. That is the softest penalty I have seen in a long time. How about one of the softest penalty decisions ever seen - that was an appallling decision.
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Post by Eaststandboy on Sept 27, 2017 11:16:01 GMT
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Post by dabigfella on Sept 27, 2017 11:29:00 GMT
Just watched the highlights for the first time and it confirmed what I initially thought. That is the softest penalty I have seen in a long time. How about one of the softest penalty decisions ever seen - that was an appallling decision. Maybe. But it doesn't excuse the pathetic collapse thereafter.
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Post by shosho on Sept 27, 2017 11:40:15 GMT
Literally the entire plan hinges on the manager - at this level. When they go 60-70% of the future planning goes out the door with them. It's about the manager convincing you to come to the club, picking players that fit into how you play football, where you want to spend money, players you think still are yet to show their potential. Take Chris Maguire - he said his future depended on Appleton staying - just a small example. Appleton had a plan for sure- but when he left it was thrown into chaos - you can bet he didn't do much the two weeks before he left either (no malice, just how it works). But your example, as so often with your pontificating, is bollocks. Maguire said on the radio last night that he had met with Pep and was happy to sign but that after that meeting contract negotiations stalled and he had to find himself a club. I note that you have stopped analysing the highlights since we started getting whipped. Perhaps it's time to start analysing what has been going wrong on a tactical basis, rather than offering trite overviews of how a football club works. Because I have some time and was intrigued...the goals we have conceded this season and where the assists have come from: Blue = goals Black = assists 1 - scunthorpe 2 - shrews 3 - Mk 4 & 5 - bradford 6,7,8 - Blackpool 9 & 10 - Walsall 11,12,13 - Bury Im a standard fan, but at least at the start of the season if we conceded teams were having to score from pretty low percentage locations. Even against blackpool, some long range efforts. However, since Blackpool, taking out last nights penalty, all of our conceded goals have come pretty much penalty spot inwards, and centre of the goal! Twin the above with a big fall in our attacking output and its not great.
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Post by charliesghost on Sept 27, 2017 11:54:21 GMT
Just watched the highlights too. Soft penalty, but we've all "seen them given". It's not an out and out mistake by the ref; there is some pressure, but probably 4 times out of 5 you get away with it. But what is much more interesting/ worrying is the sheer number of chances that we gave Bury. Quite apart from the three they DID score, there were another 4 or 5 very clear chances. And we had, maybe, two? So I'm not overly keen on the narrative that is coming out of the team/ management that broadly goes like this: "We played really well/ professionally for most of the game, got a soft pen against and then got caught on the break because it's always difficult when you concede the first goal." That is not the game reflected in those highlights. There is a saying/cliche that defeats are the best learning experiences. Yes, but only if you actually want to learn. If what you really want is to stick you fingers in your eyes, close your eyes and shout "La la la la" then defeats are actually just defeats. To be clear, I wasn't there last night, but I was in our previous defeats against Cheltenham, Blackpool, Scunny and Walsall. Here are the lessons that I think I would be learning from those games: 1. The team is not winning enough second balls and contested headers. This means that we do not have a platform to perform from 2. The full backs, especially left back, are allowing crosses to come in from wide areas without even trying to pressure the ball. I think this is mostly because they think that they'll get beaten if they try to get close to the winger 3. Mike Williamson has lost confidence or, maybe, his "legs" and is a liability against a channels runner with any pace. Beckford and Tyler Roberts are hardly electric... 4. Ryan Ledson is badly out of form and struggling, as 20 year-olds sometimes will. Spell out of the side needed. He'll doubtless come back stronger. 5. There is very little movement ahead of the ball, which is something that 4231 depends on (since you are giving up width and midfield flooding) 1. The answer to the first problem is, I'm afraid to say, a good old-fashioned smashing up of the dressing room and demanding to know who wants to play and who doesn't. Then a public bombing out of those who aren't up to it, even if it means playing "inferior" players in their place. To lose out for lack of desire once is annoying but it happens (Cheltenham). Twice is a problem; thrice a real concern; by the fourth time, this has become a gaping wound that needs healing urgently. There will DEFINITELY be players in that dressing room right now looking at certain colleagues and thinking "Can't rely on him..." 2. Mousinho isn't a full-back. Yes, I know that he CAN play there, but he is stop gap. Play Canice Caroll there. He's quicker, has total desire and is better going forward. He'll make mistakes, I expect, but you're going to get 100%. Mousinho deserves a run at centre back. He is definitely trying his best, and shouldn't be asked to be a square peg in a round hole indefinitely when there are other options, and Williamson is struggling so badly. 3. Formation-wise, we have a major, major problem, which is our lack of fit strikers. This means that we HAVE to play one upfront. But I would take it to a 451 for the meantime, play Mowatt just off the frontman and then flood the midfield and get some proper width. But the main, most critically-important thing is going to be effort. We need 11 fit, hungry, passionate players who are going to fight for each other for the whole 90 minutes. Not just until and unless the opposition score their first goal.
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Post by socrates on Sept 27, 2017 13:44:59 GMT
I have an issue with this notion that we have slumped because there is lack of intensity, fight or passion. What posters are actually saying is 'they're not trying'.
And just as it is balls when that criticism, which is lowest common denominator stuff, is levelled at England in major tournaments, I'm sure it is balls here.
It's way more nuanced than that.
The team which looks like it isn't trying is often trying too hard. Which is why passes go astray or tackles are missed. It's 1.01 of sports psychology.
So in fact our chief problem is, seemingly, that we are playing with too much fear or pressure and too little joy and freedom. Now, against Bradford and Gills the players were doing the opposite. So there has been a significant switch.
An additional problem in this context is that if you have average players (which I think our squad, sadly, is) playing with joy and freedom they look much better than they are. Which is great management.
And despite there being undoubted issues with pace in the squad, Mous at RB, Ricardinho being unable to defend and a striker issue, these should all be solvable or tweakable.
However, average players who are playing with fear. That's a shitstorm and recipe for relegation battle. You can't tweak that.
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Post by victor1986 on Sept 27, 2017 14:33:11 GMT
Just watched the highlights too. Soft penalty, but we've all "seen them given". It's not an out and out mistake by the ref; there is some pressure, but probably 4 times out of 5 you get away with it. But what is much more interesting/ worrying is the sheer number of chances that we gave Bury. Quite apart from the three they DID score, there were another 4 or 5 very clear chances. And we had, maybe, two? So I'm not overly keen on the narrative that is coming out of the team/ management that broadly goes like this: "We played really well/ professionally for most of the game, got a soft pen against and then got caught on the break because it's always difficult when you concede the first goal." That is not the game reflected in those highlights. There is a saying/cliche that defeats are the best learning experiences. Yes, but only if you actually want to learn. If what you really want is to stick you fingers in your eyes, close your eyes and shout "La la la la" then defeats are actually just defeats. To be clear, I wasn't there last night, but I was in our previous defeats against Cheltenham, Blackpool, Scunny and Walsall. Here are the lessons that I think I would be learning from those games: 1. The team is not winning enough second balls and contested headers. This means that we do not have a platform to perform from 2. The full backs, especially left back, are allowing crosses to come in from wide areas without even trying to pressure the ball. I think this is mostly because they think that they'll get beaten if they try to get close to the winger 3. Mike Williamson has lost confidence or, maybe, his "legs" and is a liability against a channels runner with any pace. Beckford and Tyler Roberts are hardly electric... 4. Ryan Ledson is badly out of form and struggling, as 20 year-olds sometimes will. Spell out of the side needed. He'll doubtless come back stronger. 5. There is very little movement ahead of the ball, which is something that 4231 depends on (since you are giving up width and midfield flooding) 1. The answer to the first problem is, I'm afraid to say, a good old-fashioned smashing up of the dressing room and demanding to know who wants to play and who doesn't. Then a public bombing out of those who aren't up to it, even if it means playing "inferior" players in their place. To lose out for lack of desire once is annoying but it happens (Cheltenham). Twice is a problem; thrice a real concern; by the fourth time, this has become a gaping wound that needs healing urgently. There will DEFINITELY be players in that dressing room right now looking at certain colleagues and thinking "Can't rely on him..." 2. Mousinho isn't a full-back. Yes, I know that he CAN play there, but he is stop gap. Play Canice Caroll there. He's quicker, has total desire and is better going forward. He'll make mistakes, I expect, but you're going to get 100%. Mousinho deserves a run at centre back. He is definitely trying his best, and shouldn't be asked to be a square peg in a round hole indefinitely when there are other options, and Williamson is struggling so badly. 3. Formation-wise, we have a major, major problem, which is our lack of fit strikers. This means that we HAVE to play one upfront. But I would take it to a 451 for the meantime, play Mowatt just off the frontman and then flood the midfield and get some proper width. But the main, most critically-important thing is going to be effort. We need 11 fit, hungry, passionate players who are going to fight for each other for the whole 90 minutes. Not just until and unless the opposition score their first goal. Agree with every word Charlie. Charming man is our Pep but I think his continuing use of the words "good moment" & "phase" will get me & others screaming at his interviews. I just don't think he has the 'hairdryer' qualities that we need to rectify our malaise.
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Post by hackneyjack on Sept 27, 2017 15:01:31 GMT
Just watched the highlights too. Soft penalty, but we've all "seen them given". It's not an out and out mistake by the ref; there is some pressure, but probably 4 times out of 5 you get away with it. But what is much more interesting/ worrying is the sheer number of chances that we gave Bury. Quite apart from the three they DID score, there were another 4 or 5 very clear chances. And we had, maybe, two? So I'm not overly keen on the narrative that is coming out of the team/ management that broadly goes like this: "We played really well/ professionally for most of the game, got a soft pen against and then got caught on the break because it's always difficult when you concede the first goal." That is not the game reflected in those highlights. There is a saying/cliche that defeats are the best learning experiences. Yes, but only if you actually want to learn. If what you really want is to stick you fingers in your eyes, close your eyes and shout "La la la la" then defeats are actually just defeats. To be clear, I wasn't there last night, but I was in our previous defeats against Cheltenham, Blackpool, Scunny and Walsall. Here are the lessons that I think I would be learning from those games: 1. The team is not winning enough second balls and contested headers. This means that we do not have a platform to perform from 2. The full backs, especially left back, are allowing crosses to come in from wide areas without even trying to pressure the ball. I think this is mostly because they think that they'll get beaten if they try to get close to the winger 3. Mike Williamson has lost confidence or, maybe, his "legs" and is a liability against a channels runner with any pace. Beckford and Tyler Roberts are hardly electric... 4. Ryan Ledson is badly out of form and struggling, as 20 year-olds sometimes will. Spell out of the side needed. He'll doubtless come back stronger. 5. There is very little movement ahead of the ball, which is something that 4231 depends on (since you are giving up width and midfield flooding) 1. The answer to the first problem is, I'm afraid to say, a good old-fashioned smashing up of the dressing room and demanding to know who wants to play and who doesn't. Then a public bombing out of those who aren't up to it, even if it means playing "inferior" players in their place. To lose out for lack of desire once is annoying but it happens (Cheltenham). Twice is a problem; thrice a real concern; by the fourth time, this has become a gaping wound that needs healing urgently. There will DEFINITELY be players in that dressing room right now looking at certain colleagues and thinking "Can't rely on him..." 2. Mousinho isn't a full-back. Yes, I know that he CAN play there, but he is stop gap. Play Canice Caroll there. He's quicker, has total desire and is better going forward. He'll make mistakes, I expect, but you're going to get 100%. Mousinho deserves a run at centre back. He is definitely trying his best, and shouldn't be asked to be a square peg in a round hole indefinitely when there are other options, and Williamson is struggling so badly. 3. Formation-wise, we have a major, major problem, which is our lack of fit strikers. This means that we HAVE to play one upfront. But I would take it to a 451 for the meantime, play Mowatt just off the frontman and then flood the midfield and get some proper width. But the main, most critically-important thing is going to be effort. We need 11 fit, hungry, passionate players who are going to fight for each other for the whole 90 minutes. Not just until and unless the opposition score their first goal. Have to say I agree with everything here. We've all seen countless times over the seasons when a team lacks quality, but the heart is there, and the team ethic of each player giving everything they have with complete commitment really does work, and results come. I'm just feeling that the recruitment over the summer with so many new players who have no domestic football experience here, and hiring various injury prone players is biting hard. And I agree to give Canice a long run out. It's worrying times I think - it's not beyond repair, but to lose by three last night, and some recent key home fixtures is going to take some turning around. I'm gutted to hear about Williamson, as the games I've seen him in this season he's been an astute signing - but maybe his legs aren't there at the moment. I'll be at Peterborough, giving unconditional support, but the players do have to commit, also.
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