Lessons learned . Away to Cambridge Tues, 26th Nov. 1745.

[officer_dibble]

A lot of money has been spent to go backwards.

Surely even Evatt's remaining supporters wouldn't be in favour of him getting more money to spend in January?

If he’d spent my money to turn out some of the worst football I’ve ever seen, week in, week out, I’d be fuming. I don’t get how passive the board are. There’s already plenty not turning out now - whose paying to watch this shit?

[Worthy4England]

A lot of money has been spent to go backwards.

Yep. And that’s nothing to do with a stronger division. It’s our own performances that are way, way, way below par.

17 games last season we were top with 38 points. Pompey were second on 36...

[Harry Genshaw]

This formulaic way we approach games, when it goes well, can be very entertaining but it appears to have drained any individuality out of the players. When things aren't going to plan, when it needs something out of nothing, a piece of individual brilliance or bravery there's just nowt there.

[BWFC_Insane]

I’m not sure that the board understand how disliked this group of players and manager are by the fans. I can’t remember anything like this. And it’s switched quite swiftly. I’d say it’s worse than the Megson scenario because it’s almost despair because there seems no point in anger.

[TiredTrotter]

A lot of money has been spent to go backwards.

Yep. And that’s nothing to do with a stronger division. It’s our own performances that are way, way, way below par.

17 games last season we were top with 38 points. Pompey were second on 36...

What a difference 12 months make, please don't let this continue in 2025...

[DJBlu]

A lot of money has been spent to go backwards.

Yep. And that’s nothing to do with a stronger division. It’s our own performances that are way, way, way below par.

17 games last season we were top with 38 points. Pompey were second on 36...

Derby were also joint 6th on 30 points, we're currently joint 6th on 27. Which could be 30 if and when we play 17 games.

Wycombe might fall away but I can't see us getting into 2nd. Not when we know that performance is in us at least 45 minutes of every 90.

[BWFC_Insane]

I think now we are 4 months in it’s safe to say the league is not stronger than last season. Maybe top 8 are stronger but top 4 not as good.

Which is maybe surprising given the money spent. But looking at lack of experienced managers about perhaps explains why.

[Worthy4England]

A lot of money has been spent to go backwards.

Yep. And that’s nothing to do with a stronger division. It’s our own performances that are way, way, way below par.

17 games last season we were top with 38 points. Pompey were second on 36...

Derby were also joint 6th on 30 points, we're currently joint 6th on 27. Which could be 30 if and when we play 17 games.

Wycombe might fall away but I can't see us getting into 2nd. Not when we know that performance is in us at least 45 minutes of every 90.

Aye - we finished 4 points off Derby, too...Point, is, we're a long way from where we were last year at the moment, when we managed 3rd!

[officer_dibble]

Mcatee let their man cross on his left for the goal. Show him onto his right and then it’s much harder ball. Basic stuff. Training ground needs fixing. How’s that root and branch review doing dickheads?

[Worthy4England]

I’m not sure that the board understand how disliked this group of players and manager are by the fans. I can’t remember anything like this. And it’s switched quite swiftly. I’d say it’s worse than the Megson scenario because it’s almost despair because there seems no point in anger.

Not sure the comparisons fit (for me), Megson's scenario was much, much worse, overall and probably for a longer period. I don't actually dislike most of our players, I don't even dislike the manager. Just think we need to change him.

[officer_dibble]

He’s starting to grate now.

Has he come out and said Pep got pulled back tonight from being in the lead, so it’s a sign of a good team?

Or pointed out that in the home form table stretching back one game we’ve got a 100% record?

I’m intrigued where he ends up when he finally goes from here. I can see him being given the season through either apathy or ineptitude by the board. Which will mean we all end disliking him a lot more.

[truewhite15]

Fast approaching 12 months of a standard of football which could perhaps be charitably described as "erratic". 2024 overall has seen a handful of good performances, but many more, far too many, performances that have been uninspiring at best and appalling at worst.

Over the year as a whole, we don't look anywhere near promotion contenders. We look like a patchy mid-table side. And for a club which has clearly stated that the expectation is promotion, that just isn't good enough.

[Prufrock]

If you wanted to build a case for modern football being rubbish that would be a good place to start. Truly turgid game 11v11. Then an idiotic slap for what was deffo a ref card by the letter, but George did not cover himself in glory collapsing like a sack of spuds. Then we go 1-0 up v struggling 10 and then nothing. Shrunk into our shell again waiting for the inevitable.

Absolute fannies. 352 and 343 haven't worked, maybe there's a common theme. Soft as shite.

I don't think it's anywhere near Megson and he's done enough that I'd like him to leave with a thanks and goodbye. But it's grating now, and can't be far off for the love of god go.

Nothing is changing is it? We've spent a load of money to get worse, and I'm fecked if I know what the plan is. Wasting time.

[Mar]

I’m not sure that the board understand how disliked this group of players and manager are by the fans. I can’t remember anything like this. And it’s switched quite swiftly. I’d say it’s worse than the Megson scenario because it’s almost despair because there seems no point in anger.

Not sure the comparisons fit (for me), Megson's scenario was much, much worse, overall and probably for a longer period. I don't actually dislike most of our players, I don't even dislike the manager. Just think we need to change him.

Totally agree.

We've got a squad full of players that are going through a bad situation and are struggling to fully get behind what needs to be done. I don't think it's down to any one player in particular, just a bit of bad management.

Evatt's style of play is really entertaining when everyone's on form. When its not working, we've got quite the challenge.

I think we're stuck in limbo where the players aren't fully behind Evatt's tactics but are supportive of Evatt and those that are wanting change aren't getting it as we're rinsing and repeating the same issues.

People just want a change from the struggling.

[Prufrock]

Maybe they couldn't see each other.

[Mar]

Evatt speaking to Bolton FM:
'...it is just a mental thing, all of our issues are psychological I think...'

I haven't once heard of us accessing psychologists or at least approaching the game in a manner that addresses psychological problems. Maybe they are doing it, maybe they're not. It was clearly evident when Allardyce was managing that we were doing it, so why isn't it evident now. Is it a pride thing that we don't acknowledge the mental side of the game?


On the question are you slightly disappointed we didn't test their keeper more...

'We don't have to, we've got the goal. We don't have to. Theres no point making terrible decisions. They were in a really deep low block waiting for restarts or transitions to hurt us. So we had the game won, we just had to manage it out.'


So we don't have to test their keeper more because we've scored one goal?

I know he's saying things in the spur of the moment and it might not necessarily reflect his actual thoughts, but to say we shouldn't test the goalkeeper more when we're against 10 men in order to get ourselves a comfortable situation seems a bit daft, especially when you take into consideration we've had 3 clean sheets so far this season (Wrexham, Crawley and Peterborough). 3 clean sheets from 16 games. We concede goals, what possible reason would you have to sit off and hope we get a clean sheet against 10 men when we are known for conceding more goals than we are scoring.

Maybe Evatt needs to start thinking about where the pressure should reside.

Is the pressure on our defence or on theirs?
Maybe addressing that would lead to less pressure on himself.

Cambridge despite only having 28% of the possession where applying more pressure on our defence than we were on theirs. Having our defence constantly under pressure in games can't be a good thing.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Didn’t win a must-win. Again.

My feelings chime with Worthy and Prufrock. It’s nowhere near the existential angst of Megson - it’s not even anger really. Just a sadness at the drift. And a desire, becoming a longing, for change before it gets bitter.

[Frank Drebin]

Like everyone else, I want Evatt to leave.

If I was a board member I’d be looking at Morley and thinking why is he ripping up trees at Wycombe but he can’t get a game here. It could be any number of reasons why Morley is playing well at the table toppers but it should be looked at. Is it the player or is the manager the issue.

[officer_dibble]

Manager signs players who can’t deliver his ‘brand’.
Spends good money on players - better money than the likes of Wrexham and Stockport but we’ll soon be told we shouldn’t expect to compete with them and their investment. Gaslighting!

[boltonboris]

I think now we are 4 months in it’s safe to say the league is not stronger than last season. Maybe top 8 are stronger but top 4 not as good.

Which is maybe surprising given the money spent. But looking at lack of experienced managers about perhaps explains why.

I think you’re the only person who hates him here and this is absolutely nothing like the Megson situation. With Megson it was day 1 with a bit of leeway midway through, but waiting for him to fail.

With Evatt, the large majority think he’s done a pretty good job overall. Some good memories, some great football, tons and tons of goals, but it needs to change