Gary Bowyer - when do we judge?

I said the performances have been poor, but last night apart we have looked solid at the back. Against Cambridge going forward we were terrible in the final third with no width or pace until we brought Scannell on. But anyone who thinks these teams are just going to roll over for us will have to rethink we need two or three players in the right areas including competition for Donaldson. But a point at Grimsby might in the end be a good one

 

No has said they are expecting teams to roll over for us, i've never seen a team do that, well, apart from us last season. I agree we need players in, i'd say more than three, that would make us into genuine promotion contenders. As i've said before i think Vaughan and Donaldson will pull us out of the brown stuff on a fair few occasions this coming season, but one of them gets injured and we are royally stuffed.

 

Jewell thought he was going after the Ipswich defeat.

 

We can always look back over history to our successful managers like Jewell and PP for inspiration, managers who have had slow starts but in given time have delivered beyond our wildest dreams.
On the flip side there have also been managers who have been given too much time which has led us to sink to our lowest points for many years.
If we see an improvement and a change in personnel over the next few games then i will give Bowyer the benefit of the doubt and have faith in him, but if he remains stubborn, choosing to stick with the same failing players whilst not getting any kind of response then serious doubts will come in.

 

I don’t disagree with any of that. I’m backing Bowyer on the principle of stability and this being the start of him reshaping the squad. It takes time. But I’ve said on here, his team selections and formation choices so far have baffled me.

 

I agree, and I'm coming round to the view that the club isn't expecting promotion this year, maybe not even trying for it. That might explain the resigning of three very mediocre midfielders. Just a holding operation for this season, then go for it next year without the deadwood. Bowyer might even have suggested it himself, and got the agreement of the owner, which also might explain his very relaxed approach. But would anyone ever dare to admit this to the fans?

 

Probably not. However, dangerous game to play for mediocre, we could end up at the bottom of the heap

 

If we weren’t trying for promotion we wouldn’t have signed Vaughan and Donaldson. We need extra players but it’s very early days yet and much to soon to judge our chances for the season

 

It was not good last night by any stretch. Preston were very slick and just more ruthless all round. Ledson was very good. Composed, physical and has an eye for a through ball. In Akpan and Anderson, I didnt see any of that. Doyle looked lost on his own up front, won very little in the air and can't run in behind.

If GB is dead against 442, we have the players to work in a 352. Both O'Connors and BRE as a three, Mellor and Henley wide, Palmer & Devine in the middle, McCartan behind Vaughan and Donaldson. Seems to me he persists with 433 to accommodate Doyle, JV & CD with the rationale being if they are all on the pitch, at least one of them will score but in reality, not one of them can play the number 10 role.

Being out of the studio and into the ground opens your eyes a little. For me though its too early to write off this squad and GB. An addition or two would help mind.

 

I get the idea of having a long term plan, its something hasn't had since the Richmond days, but surely we can put together a decent enough side to get out of this god forsaken division at the first go. If you had told me the club were planning for two years and were expecting consolidation in the first year of that i'd have gone and done something else for 12 months.

 

"if you think this team will roll over for us..." this is the laziest point in the history of football forums.

I can guarantee you that no City fan that posts on here genuinely thinks any team are going to roll over and let us win, but if you can't beat Cambridge at home, and Grimsby then it's safe to say you aren't playing well enough.

 

I feel sorry for Bowyer,its a tough job when half your budget is taken up with overpriced rubbish you wouldnt have bought but that you have to try get the best out of.

It made sense to get two decent strikers in but it has meant theres been little left in the kitty for other positions and has probably backfired - strikers still need chances. Given how we are playing its hard to see anything positive right now, still too many passengers stealing a wage.

 

We are a league two side and competing on an even footing with other league two side both Grimsby and Cambridge are unbeaten and both beat sides from a higher division.last night As I said with the amount of possession we had over Cambridge we should have won but I still say a point at Grimsby is a good one if we take Oldham out