Can Wanderers Mackem pay? - Official Match Thread

[wanderers_on_tour]

Also, although the result has pretty much overshadowed the positives (albeit few and far between), rodrigo really looked a handful when he came on! Although there is a risk he may also remain a 'super sub', at Bolton or otherwise, I really think he has potential and despite a shaky performance at Blackburn may be a good buy at the right price.

[a1]

didn't we beat arsenal a couple of weeks ago - or was I dreaming?

no . but it only got us 3 points. like winning today would have.

4-5-1 might stablize them enough to get 3 points at blackpool.

cram the midfield to replace 2 injured first teamers.

[spikeykev]

Can we just stop this 'One who cannot be questioned' crap here, its utter bs and everyone knows it.
For example every supporter in the country questioned him over his choices at Wembley (starts for petrov and klasnic especially) and he took this on board and beat Arsenal the next week. Of course he can be questioned, he's only human at the end of the day, but unlike HWCNBN you can tell Owen is really trying, and giving his all to the club and to us the fans.

What people have to remember is there's only so much a manager can do with limited resources at a relatively small club (in terms of overall attendances/cash flow). Still feel a top 10 finish would be a job well done, would love to see us hold on to 8th but il settle for 9th if blackpool can stay up and wigan/west ham go down.

When Sturridge isn't playing Klasnic is the only one of our players who is a goal threat, he pretty much got us to the semi final with goals his goals against Wigan and Fulham, so exactly how is that a bad choice. The crap midfield and defence and goalkeeping were the problems in that game Klasnic didn't get any service.

[Prufrock]

Anyone comparing this year to GM wants their bumps feeling. Yeah it's a damp end to the season, but we've spent nearly all of it in the top half, worry free, got to an FA cup semi final and had some of the best days in years. Fecking miles better. Though on the other hand we didn't win the league. Injuries hurt teams with small squads. Small and quality over big and shit ta.

As for today, we deserved a point. Defo didn't deserve to lose. Folk saying Sunderland were good were going off the expectation their wonky team would be dreadful. They weren't and played pretty well. That said, Jussi made two saves? Mignolet saved two one one ones, Sturridge hit the bar, rolled one past the far post and Davies had one he couldn't have hit any sweeter cleared off the line. Added to the fact we should have had a penalty twice (maybe freekick for the second? ) in the space of seconds JUST before they scored.

We're a good team missing depth.

[keveh]

Just seen it on MOTD and how the hell did that last goal go in?!

[BWFC_Insane]

I think the argument about "we're 8th safe since easter semi final etc etc" is fine, and I can't exactly explain why I feel so fed up with them. But I do and I'm not the only one, either on here or in the ground. The relationship between the players and the crowd is very very low.

What I will say is that I can't see much difference between this season and 2 years ago, especially if we (as I expect) lose the last 2 or don't win either. We'll finish bottom half, having had a brilliant November/December a poor run thereafter, a revival then a shite end. The FA cup run is great and all, but completely fooking destoyed by the non show at Wembley. I don't remember an awful lot of positivity after the 08/09 season when we finished 13th, safe by easter?

Look I know Coyle has brought the fans closer to the club and all and I know that with Coyle as manager just staying up will be good enough, but if he left and we got someone else in who played "negative football" the standards for league finish and results would miraculously change. I'm fully aware that we've played some better football in patches this season. And its definitely better having a manager who "goes for it".

But I don't feel any better about the dross we're experiencing now. It doesn't help that we're going to need a considerable number of players in the summer and the 4.5M our manager has spent up to now on two players, neither of which are deemed good enough to get into the side (why the fook is Zat Knight deemed better than anyone? beyond me it really is) and one of them won't ever play for the club again IMO!

Anyone who knows me, knows I always no matter how shite things are, try to be positive about BWFC. Heaven knows the Megson era was a test.

But I don't feel at all positive right now. I just look at the squad today and the fact that a Sunderland side who have 11 first teamers out, completely outplayed us, had more heart desire and bottle and I can't see what there is to be positive about. Next season fooking scares me. I can't understand anyone who isn't scared. Our back four are leakier than 20 year old watering can, our best defender is offski, our only striker who can run is offski, our striker who is having to play as a midfield player is gone as well. 3 of the bench are out of contract/finishing their loan.

We need a lot of players in. And for the life of me where we'll find them I don't know. Thats not to mention Kevin Davies most definitely at the end of his spell as a regular (everyone can see that surely?) and thats a lot of work to do just to get the squad at an equal basis to this season. Let alone making some improvements.

So apologies that I'm a miserable bastard right now. I really don't want to be. But I'm struggling to see many positives since Wembley. And rationally I fail to see what real positives we have for next season right now. I suppose if folk think Zat Knight is ok, then perhaps they can be more positive than me!

[wanderers_on_tour]

Can we just stop this 'One who cannot be questioned' crap here, its utter bs and everyone knows it.
For example every supporter in the country questioned him over his choices at Wembley (starts for petrov and klasnic especially) and he took this on board and beat Arsenal the next week. Of course he can be questioned, he's only human at the end of the day, but unlike HWCNBN you can tell Owen is really trying, and giving his all to the club and to us the fans.

What people have to remember is there's only so much a manager can do with limited resources at a relatively small club (in terms of overall attendances/cash flow). Still feel a top 10 finish would be a job well done, would love to see us hold on to 8th but il settle for 9th if blackpool can stay up and wigan/west ham go down.

When Sturridge isn't playing Klasnic is the only one of our players who is a goal threat, he pretty much got us to the semi final with goals his goals against Wigan and Fulham, so exactly how is that a bad choice. The crap midfield and defence and goalkeeping were the problems in that game Klasnic didn't get any service.

Klasnic wasn't the problem per say but the choice of going 4-4-2 ,with him being one of those upfront, against a team who are well known for playing 2 out and out wingers in a five man midfield was. There was no way we could carry both Klasnic (with all the question marks over his fitness and such) as well as Petrov defensively. He didn't get any service because Stoke packed out the midfield, worked their socks off pressuring us in possession and maybe another midfielder would have eased the burden. Anyway all of this is in the past a should really be left there, i was just using the day as an example.

[Lord Kangana]

Got more points, been further in the cup, as far as Wembley, played some better football at times.

Its clearly been better than two years ago.

[CrazyHorse]

Just a quick one .... was the first goal offide or not ?

By a clear country mile from where I was sat, and with my gypsy rosey-lee tinters on. Yeah.

Anyone disagree?

[keveh]

Just a quick one .... was the first goal offide or not ?

By a clear country mile from where I was sat, and with my gypsy rosey-lee tinters on. Yeah.

Anyone disagree?

Video replays?

[officer_dibble]

didn't we beat arsenal a couple of weeks ago - or was I dreaming?

no . but it only got us 3 points. like winning today would have.

4-5-1 might stablize them enough to get 3 points at blackpool.

cram the midfield to replace 2 injured first teamers.

451 would be useful...reckon it's also worth sticking Cahill in midfield and pAiring KNight and Weater. We have tried everything else...even the 'bring ankid' in shout...nowt else is working.

I dunno...I just expected more of a reaction from Wembley. We won't finish top half I doubt either...i reckon 10th 12th which will piss me off as well after a good season.

[wanderers_on_tour]

our best defender is offski, our only striker who can run is offski, our striker who is having to play as a midfield player is gone as well. 3 of the bench are out of contract/finishing their loan.

We need a lot of players in. And for the life of me where we'll find them I don't know. Thats not to mention Kevin Davies most definitely at the end of his spell as a regular (everyone can see that surely?) and thats a lot of work to do just to get the squad at an equal basis to this season. Let alone making some improvements.

So apologies that I'm a miserable bastard right now. I really don't want to be. But I'm struggling to see many positives since Wembley. And rationally I fail to see what real positives we have for next season right now. I suppose if folk think Zat Knight is ok, then perhaps they can be more positive than me![/b]

a) For around 20 million + 1/2 players if the city rumours are to be believed.
b) The future of both is still not certain, imo Sturridge on a season long loan would be a great achievement!.
c) A few more performances like today and I believe Gardner will be offered another contract to see out his career at the club. Rodrigo's future all depends on the fee, the last is an enigma.

The point about Kevin Davies is a good one but as his legs tire he may become a wonderful super sub, with some strong reserve talent coming through the ranks (Ward, Eaves, Obadeyi) and further investment/bright young talent on loan, and Holden/Mark Davies/even Sean Davis fit again I think we have a great platform on which to build next season! The potential sale of AlHabsi could also raise some spending potential.

[CrazyHorse]

Just a quick one .... was the first goal offide or not ?

By a clear country mile from where I was sat, and with my gypsy rosey-lee tinters on. Yeah.

Anyone disagree?

Video replays?

They're not good enough to beat my rose tinters. You're gonna need like split screen, slow motion and Quantel.

[officer_dibble]

Anyone who thinks Rodrigo is the answer wants their head feeling. Coyle doesn't even play him in his proper position! If we spend 6 mil, a huge chunk of our budget on him I'll be pissed off.

[keveh]

Yeah Rodrigo is a big no no, have people actually said they want us to sign him?

Who knows, he could be a future star and we'll look back and kick ourselves, but right now he's nowhere near the player we need.

As for the post about Cahill in midfield, I don't know why we haven't tried it yet as he is very comfortable on the ball. We'd obviously be losing our best defender, but we've got to get used to that anyway!!

[thebish]

I think the argument about "we're 8th safe since easter semi final etc etc" is fine, and I can't exactly explain why I feel so fed up with them. But I do and I'm not the only one, either on here or in the ground. The relationship between the players and the crowd is very very low.

I can be a bit of a worrier - but i try not to worry too far ahead... right now - it's this season - and there's not a huge load of stuff to worry about - we beat arsenal a couple of weeks ago - that wasn't bad!

for me - next season is a looooooooooong way off and a lot of stuff will flow under bridges before it kicks off.

I'm happy to have the relief that we actually will be in the premiership AGAIN next season - and some memories of quite a few highlights THIS season.

I'll start off next season with the first priority of NOT being relegated - and anything more than that will be a bonus - as it has been this season.

[Hoboh]

I'm in BWFCI's camp here and can see shades of the breakdown with Coyle happening much as happened with big Sam if we don't invest and times cash wise are harder now than back then.
BSA knew he needed money when everything was rosey to push on and didn't get it Coyle is near the same situation and could do with £25-30 million to overall the squad, pie in the sky I know but without it should we reach a similar position next season we will again fade away and one wonders just how long Coyle will be happy with this?
Some of the current players have let us down badly recently and proved they have not got either the skill, mentality or legs for a seasons work and they need to be shipped out, chest beaters need to be skilfull as well to cope at the level this club plays at. Overall its been a great season but Arsenal apart whats happing now is ruining it for the supporters.
We need this season to end now like then Coyle can shake out the chaff.

[Armchair Wanderer]

There's definitely a change in the post-match interviews from boundless positivity and optimism to something slightly more grounded.

[CAPSLOCK]

some strong reserve talent coming through the ranks (Ward, Eaves, Obadeyi)[/quote]

well, at least you've made me laugh

[BL3]

Overall its been a great season but Arsenal apart whats happing now is ruining it for the supporters.

Only if your view of the season is based on the last few results.