Taking Stock; A visit from the neighbours. V Hatters, Sat, 15th Mr. 12-30.

[TonyDomingos]

On a brighter note, our run in isn't too bad: the only game against a team above us is at home to Wycombe who seem to be falling away (only 3 wins in 10). It feels unlikely we'd be successful in the play offs, but it would be nice to get there.

[BWFC_Insane]

On a brighter note, our run in isn't too bad: the only game against a team above us is at home to Wycombe who seem to be falling away (only 3 wins in 10). It feels unlikely we'd be successful in the play offs, but it would be nice to get there.

Next two scream difficult though. And given the situation I’m not sure that if we get less than 4 from those 2 we’d be able to catch up easily. Huddersfield may well have a post sacking manager boost and finish strong. Rest are in good form.

[Bijou Bob]

I’m really not sure where to start after that. For me, the season’s hope ended when they gave Evatt that extra 5 or 6 games and I still think we’ll finish 8th. Next season is looking like a difficult one even now, given the clubs likely to be coming down, but I have confidence arhat Schuey can build a decent side.

We need to start with a decent spine - for all Baxter’s three great saves today, his distribution is just awful. He’s slow, laboured and just doesn’t seem to be able to read the movement in front of him. No new contract for me there. I thought Forino was decent today against a lad who pulled him all over the place, the sort of player we’re desperate for. I’ll be interested to see if and when Santos comes back, how they fit in together, but we still need an experienced head in there, an ugly, big unit who’s been there and done it.


Ben Toner should never referee a game again above Sunday league level. Having said that, he wasn’t the arbiter of our destruction and Stockport were fantastic today. Well organised, great press and stuck together. They came with a game plan and executed it really well. Tiny club with a tiny budget, yet they can make some of our expensive players look like embarrassing acquisitions - Collins, stop jumping backwards into players, put a feckin challenge in. McAtee, stay onside man, it’s the one job you have to do consistently and it’s not that hard. Randall…………no, I’ll be here all night……


The next two matches are the biggest of our season. We’re playing for pride in both games, nothing more. One or two have to stand up and be counted, or accept that they can FRO in summer and not be missed.

[TANGODANCER]

Randall is absolutely rubbish and whoever thought spending a million quid on him was a good idea should never work in the game again.

All in your personal opinion, of course? Watch this space..

[The_Gun]

I’m really not sure where to start after that. For me, the season’s hope ended when they gave Evatt that extra 5 or 6 games and I still think we’ll finish 8th. Next season is looking like a difficult one even now, given the clubs likely to be coming down, but I have confidence arhat Schuey can build a decent side.

We need to start with a decent spine - for all Baxter’s three great saves today, his distribution is just awful. He’s slow, laboured and just doesn’t seem to be able to read the movement in front of him. No new contract for me there. I thought Forino was decent today against a lad who pulled him all over the place, the sort of player we’re desperate for. I’ll be interested to see if and when Santos comes back, how they fit in together, but we still need an experienced head in there, an ugly, big unit who’s been there and done it.


Ben Toner should never referee a game again above Sunday league level. Having said that, he wasn’t the arbiter of our destruction and Stockport were fantastic today. Well organised, great press and stuck together. They came with a game plan and executed it really well. Tiny club with a tiny budget, yet they can make some of our expensive players look like embarrassing acquisitions - Collins, stop jumping backwards into players, put a feckin challenge in. McAtee, stay onside man, it’s the one job you have to do consistently and it’s not that hard. Randall…………no, I’ll be here all night……


The next two matches are the biggest of our season. We’re playing for pride in both games, nothing more. One or two have to stand up and be counted, or accept that they can FRO in summer and not be missed.

Stockport do not have a tiny budget. Plenty on decent wages there.

[Harry Genshaw]

That’s the problem in a nutshell with the team. Too many are too soft. And then there are too many mistakes too. Toal has an error in him. Like that one. Then we don’t have enough fighters who will just take a yellow or put a tough challenge in for the team. Goal was very very soft to concede and feel a bit sorry for Baxter. He played well.

I still think we will find it hard to get out of this league without a properly combative midfield. Sheehan might be a technically good player but he isn’t getting us out of the league imho.

Hard to disagree with any of this Insane. Another big occasion, big crowd, local derby etc where our players haven't turned up. I'll put all my trust in SS now and there isn't 1 player in there, that if he decided to transfer or release, I'd have any issue with. Evatt's soft underbelly strikes again .

[Worthy4England]

Agree. A team with too much talent (maybe). It's a bit strange sayìng that, but so lacking in "engine room" on a week 2 week basis, it's borderline criminal. Not a strategy, a bad Champ Man advisor.

[irie Cee Bee]

Sheehan and Randall in the same team from the start will always make us lightweight in the middle.

[BWFC_Insane]

Agree. A team with too much talent (maybe). It's a bit strange sayìng that, but so lacking in "engine room" on a week 2 week basis, it's borderline criminal. Not a strategy, a bad Champ Man advisor.

Funny you say that but at the game it was discussed that Stockport came and played a blindingly simple game. Defend in numbers. Have two forwards to offer you an outlet and hit on the counter when you can. They did it very well. But didn’t see many flicks or switch passes or needing to invite the press to find the space in the 2nd line or whatever. It was just simple. Their players didn’t show much individual skill beyond the job that was needed. Goal was decent, moment of quality even if we were soft.

Yet you look at us and we’ve centre halves overlapping as the spare man, a midfielder at centre half, needing to hit the perfect switch to find the free man, trying to invite the press, flicks, tricks, silly corner routines.

Yes we’ve got some technically skilled players but the problem is that all those skills don’t work week in week out, you need it to align perfectly and click.

Stockport could probably wheel that out week in week out, won’t always work but it’s repeatable as a performance and odds as you win more than you lose. Whereas we hit the heights against Birmingham yet have been pants since. Technically good doesn’t cut it in league one because you wouldn’t be here if you were technically good week in week out imo.

[Worthy4England]

Don't disagree mate. Tuesday, I thought we tried to do more "triangles" at the back and my overriding thought was "why?" When we beat Brum, it wasn't on the basis we stroked it round, it waa players doing their job, as needed

[irie Cee Bee]

I saw a Stockport team with a lot of triangle movements as they bounced the ball around us. It looked simple, but it isn't. They however all knew where the spaces were in the triangles, where to pass into, and who to pass to based on the positions of our players and where their players were.. almost with their eyes closed.. plus they have a good #9 that is fast, can move, and hold it up where necessary. I put it to you, that Schueys first signing will be a #9. We desparately need one.

[Abdoulaye's Twin]

I was shaking my head at the amount of eyes we were trying to thread needles through in a box more congested than Euston Station at platform announcement time Only saw patches of the match, but it panned out as I thought it would after seeing the team sheet. Hopefully a preseason will help Schuey figure out what to do with Randall.

[Bertie Wooster]

A fully fit and motivated (if that's achievable) Santos & Dempsey would make a big difference to this team. Santos being asked just to defend not play like prime Beckenbauer would be a big asset with his pace (if fit) & physicality and Dempsey is our best central midfielder IMO in all aspects of the role.

[BWFC_Insane]

A fully fit and motivated (if that's achievable) Santos & Dempsey would make a big difference to this team. Santos being asked just to defend not play like prime Beckenbauer would be a big asset with his pace (if fit) & physicality and Dempsey is our best central midfielder IMO in all aspects of the role.

How committed would santos be given he’s off in the summer? Dempsey would I think be a big plus if fit.

I think personally the back three of Johnston, Forrester and Toal is plenty good enough. Forino as a physical option when required.

I thought he played well yesterday actually but not sure I really want to see Thomason in there. What we need to do in the summer is ensure we have as you say no nonsense defenders in there who can do the job week in week out with right and left foot balance. I don’t think santos is that anyway.


I also think you can trace our defensive problems to whenever our back three is stretched - and I think no matter who you play if you aren’t prepared to be compact as we were at say Burton or Huddersfield you will struggle. Yesterday we stretched out and left centre halves in channels against strikers and even more so Tuesday. You are just looking for trouble doing that imho and I don’t really care who is at centre back. It’s too much for league one centre backs.

[TANGODANCER]

Blame it on the Bossa Nova...as the song says..

Not sure why bringing Forrester on (damage limitation?) at the end, and giving Shon, who is at least a creative threat, just four minutes at the death, were useful options. Collins and McAtee are at least always in with a scoring chance yet both were hawked off when a goal down? We had as many chances as Stockport to score yet couldn't hit the dartboard, never mind the bull's eye. We badly need shooting practise all round because the team are professional footballers and some of our shots were very Pub league to say the least. Okay, it's an old song, but just as true for it. Randall is just a convenient scapegoat to blame right now and I hope Mr Schumacher ignores the fact and persists with him.

If we're very truthful, we're neither better or worse than the rest and the sooner we admit it and stop the divine right thoughts we might move on a bit. We're not sheep dogs so herding the opposition needs bite rather than bark (take note Mr Sheehan, one man turned three defenders inside out and scored). The reason we lost the last two are because we were beaten by better sides on the night/day; it happens to the very best, so lt's time to take a reality pill and try harder. We could start by beating Blackpool and Wigan after a lengthy rest.

Amen.

[BWFC_Insane]

Blame it on the Bossa Nova...as the song says..

Not sure why bringing Forrester on (damage limitation?) at the end, and giving Shon, who is at least a creative threat, just four minutes at the death, were useful options. Collins and McAtee are at least always in with a scoring chance yet both were hawked off when a goal down? We had as many chances as Stockport to score yet couldn't hit the dartboard, never mind the bull's eye. We badly need shooting practise all round because the team are professional footballers and some of our shots were very Pub league to say the least. Okay, it's an old song, but just as true for it. Randall is just a convenient scapegoat to blame right now and I hope Mr Schumacher ignores the fact and persists with him.

If we're very truthful, we're neither better or worse than the rest and the sooner we admit it and stop the divine right thoughts we might move on a bit. We're not sheep dogs so herding the opposition needs bite rather than bark (take note Mr Sheehan, one man turned three defenders inside out and scored). The reason we lost the last two are because we were beaten by better sides on the night/day; it happens to the very best, so lt's time to take a reality pill and try harder. We could start by beating Blackpool and Wigan after a lengthy rest.

Amen.

Collins didn’t go off and the issue with him and McAtee was clear they had run out of legs after three games in a week. We also did not create as many chances as Stockport - not even close. We had one real chance all game and that was the one Collins missed.

First half Stockport had a one on one in the middle of the goal followed by a rebound that really should have been scored from. Second half they had another one on one. Forced Baxter into a full length save and scored.

If we are very generous we can add Collins going through and shooting from a tight angle. But that would be it. And the thing is we had more possession yet created less.

[TANGODANCER]

Amen.

Collins didn’t go off and the issue with him and McAtee was clear they had run out of legs after three games in a week. We also did not create as many chances as Stockport - not even close. We had one real chance all game and that was the one Collins missed.

First half Stockport had a one on one in the middle of the goal followed by a rebound that really should have been scored from. Second half they had another one on one. Forced Baxter into a full length save and scored.

If we are very generous we can add Collins going through and shooting from a tight angle. But that would be it. And the thing is we had more possession yet created less.
[/quote]

Oh dear, and I promised not to argue on a Sunday : So, Randall going through on his own and curving it the wrong way wasn't a chance, neither were the several efforts blocked on the line, or the blatant penalty fouls in the box and the referees obvious refusal to give us any decision. Oh, and Collins firing a space shuttle effort might well have been called a chance had anyone else hit it. . Add a couple of wallops from Tommo, a soft shot from Sheehan and a header straight at the keeper that was easier to score than miss and I wonder if we watched the same game?

On another note. Somebody needs to have a word with McAtee about arguing with referees. We really don't need suspensions right now and he sails very close to the wind at times.

Have a nice day...

[BWFC_Insane]

Amen.

Collins didn’t go off and the issue with him and McAtee was clear they had run out of legs after three games in a week. We also did not create as many chances as Stockport - not even close. We had one real chance all game and that was the one Collins missed.

First half Stockport had a one on one in the middle of the goal followed by a rebound that really should have been scored from. Second half they had another one on one. Forced Baxter into a full length save and scored.

If we are very generous we can add Collins going through and shooting from a tight angle. But that would be it. And the thing is we had more possession yet created less.

Oh dear, and I promised not to argue on a Sunday : So, Randall going through on his own and curving it the wrong way wasn't a chance, neither were the several efforts blocked on the line, or the blatant penalty fouls in the box and the referees obvious refusal to give us any decision. Oh, and Collins firing a space shuttle effort might well have been called a chance had anyone else hit it. . Add a couple of wallops from Tommo, a soft shot from Sheehan and a header straight at the keeper that was easier to score than miss and I wonder if we watched the same game?

On another note. Somebody needs to have a word with McAtee about arguing with referees. We really don't need suspensions right now and he sails very close to the wind at times.

Have a nice day...


[/quote]

I mean we can argue what constitutes a chance but I don’t think going over too easily in the box and appealing for a penalty does. Clear chances - Stockport had three and scored one. We had for me one and missed. Schumacher himself bemoaned our lack of chance creation in his post match.

Regardless in the ground it simply never felt like we were going to score - sometimes that feeling sets in - certainly did yesterday.

[Spartan2]

If we'd have dropped Randall, played a back four, with Tutu on the left wing we'd have caused their RB no end of problems he couldn't cope with him. We're back to our Evatt ways, massively overcomplicating things, sideways and backwards, causing all our own problems. It might not be popular but that result is on Schumacher. Of course he's done well so far and I'm not going to start slating him but if that performance was under Evatt he'd be getting pelters and rightly so.

[Bertie Wooster]

If we'd have dropped Randall, played a back four, with Tutu on the left wing we'd have caused their RB no end of problems he couldn't cope with him. We're back to our Evatt ways, massively overcomplicating things, sideways and backwards, causing all our own problems. It might not be popular but that result is on Schumacher. Of course he's done well so far and I'm not going to start slating him but if that performance was under Evatt he'd be getting pelters and rightly so.

It's really not, yes he over complicated the selection yesterday but these are all Evatt's players - the squad is so unbalanced, no No9's, no powerful combative midfielders, apart from Osei-Tutu there is no pace. Schumacher is limited with what he can do on the pitch as the squad is so limited - all of our attacking options are No10's, we have boat loads of them but no actual strikers. We have too many lightweight players IMO, a lack of leaders - all the same issues we had with Evatt but Schumacher is much more flexible tactically.

He really needs the summer, I'll be very surprised if Schumacher doesn't bring in at least 4 new starting players next season (possibly 5) - he'll surely add some physicality, size & power in midfield and bring in a couple of proper strikers / No9's (a pacy, direct one like Stockport's) and also a tall physical one. I'm sure Plymouth's team under Schumacher was much more powerful & physical that our current team.

Yesterday was an Evatt like performance from Evatt's players.