Home vs Scunthorpe Jan 18th

Looking back to last season against Blackpool and that defeat at home. Bowyer was crowing that he'd signed most of those players who played with strength, pace and athleticism. I think we all hoped he'd bring that style to us.

He's correct that he signed them but he wasn't responsible for the way they tore us apart. Maybe the right coach could do the same with this bunch and when he's at another club, he will say the same thing.

I'd like him to succeed but as a few have said, we don't have an identity or blueprint of how we're going to set up. He doesn't know his best 11 and isn't getting the best out of the squad. He needs Devitt and Donaldson to change his fortune or I fear another managerial change and the merry go round starts again.

 

Showed yet again that Bowyer doesnt have a clue what his best team and system is.
If we play 442 the midfielders we have get overrun because he didn't think it was necessary to get someone with the bollocks to put themselves about.

If we play 532 our fullbacks get battered because yet again our midfielders dont work hard enough to get out wide and support.
It's all down to Bowyer. Constantly picking the likes of Palmer, who bottled at least 4 50/50 challenges and should never play for us again. Cooke is our only decent midfielder but Bowyer messes him about that much I dont think he knows if hes supposed to be sitting or getting forward.

The guy is clueless. Hes got a very decent squad apart from a few individuals who need shipping out, but he doesnt have a scooby how to manage players or how to set them up tactically. He needs to go or we can kiss promotion goodbye.

 

I 100% agree with this post - the coaching is poor - the team looks like no one knows what they are doing or what their jobs are,

 

The most telling comment came from jones. They are not competing and winning the 50 , 50 balls... I am not sure if he can coach but that boy could compete and tackle. So am inclined to listen to him.

 

Looked up his current situation, Gary Jones has a good job which he seems to be enjoying after football. However he might jump at an opportunity to rejoin BCFC as a Coach/Motivator with his current skills outside football as backup. We need someone like him to instill that fire-in-the-belly approach and inspiration, but as mentioned on another thread, some of the current squad might find it difficult. As it stands players who show anywhere near his passion are Connolly (not our player), Ismail when around, Pritchard when fit, Cooke in flashes (also not our player) and Donaldson.

 

Totally agree. I said it from the start of the season that the players look uncomfortable and have no idea what their roles are. Quite understandable due to Bowyer changing the formation/style/personnel every week because he's so shit scared of the opposition.

 

The atmosphere was good first half for the 10/15 minutes where we played well but there was always that nagging doubt that Scunthorpe were passing the ball around well. Once the goal went in you knew the inevitable was coming. I think yesterday was a culmination of a season that promises a good end but ultimately will fall short. 28 games in and we get worse, bit by bit, each week. Stats paint a playoff picture, the real world paints an entirely different one. The second half yesterday was a new low in season in a season devoid of anything really tangible to hang your positive hat on. And that was after an encouraging first half.
What an earth did he say at half time? The fans could sense very quickly it was going badly wrong, Bowyer seems bereft of ideas on how to counter it. Pretty much all the games this season could have gone either way. Worryingly the last two haven't, we were lucky to escape with a draw yesterday and Crawley deservedly beat us. This could go wrong very quickly if Bowyer keeps swapping and changing things, when you get to the stage where you're praying for a scruffy 1-0 here and there usually the writing is on the wall.

 

I'm not a fan of Akpan but if it hadn't been for his goal and assist, we'd have lost yesterday.

 

When Bowyer arrived, almost a year ago ........... He had little, if any impact on the team (results and performances). But that was OK - They weren't HIS players. This season again, we have entered a phase of little (Bowyer) impact. To some, that's still OK ........... As Bowyer says - "The players are not following my instructions."
The common theme with GB is it's never HIS fault......... Sorry Gary - But it is your fault. It is down to you to instruct and ensure each and every player knows and understands their role. This obviously isn't happening, and is clearer week by week. Sort it GB, or step down and let someone else in, who can.

 

Palmer was the chief culprit. Tinned out of several 50:50s

 

The only players in our squad with a Jones mentality and tenacity/bravery is Vaughan, and he is never going to play in CM for us. I agree we badly need an enforcer.....we've needed one for ages now.

 

This is has been evident for a lot of the season. Add to that movement. There is literally NO MOVEMENT when we have the ball in our first half of the pitch and don’t even start me on dead ball situations. Throw in’s are almost a catalyst of giving them ball straight back to the opposition. It’s no wonder we play so much either in front of then back 4 side to side or backwards.

We severely miss someone to connect midfield to those up front. The lack of consistent wingers or the likes of Pritchard, Devitt and Donaldson who either have the ability to make space or hold the ball up, is strangling us.

Palmer is one of the guilty parts of this. Perhaps there’s a decent player in there, but on performances so far not in this City set up. Can’t help but think we need to give McCarten an opportunity to sit behind the front two and try link this together until we have some of the returning players back fit.

 

For all I agree with EVERY word Olly .......... What truly grieves me is the fact most of your points are taught at school level football. How can seasoned pros just 'switch off' from the very basics of the game ? It beggars belief, really.

 

I recall the days (Way back), when 'obstruction' was considered a foul. This, more often than not, has now been termed as 'shielding' the ball, and so no longer a 'foul'. Alan Shearer, at the top level was a master of this - And the last player City had was John Stead. Jeeze ...... Citys current lot can't even obstruct, let alone have the skill to 'shield' a ball !

 

Bang on yet Bowyer insisted in effectively going with three centre backs, two full backs and two static deep lying central midfielders. Then we wonder why there is no movement upfield or options at throw ins. I've seen him play this line up a fair few times over the last dozen or so games, with either Oteh, Connolly or now Doyle partnering Vaughan. Its this sort of thing that has sucked the life out of the crowd, as soon as you see the line up it puts unwarranted pressure on the team. A good gauge is the reaction of opposition fans via games or on social media. Very rare do we get any sort of praise, more often its how are Bradford so high up in the table playing like that. Once in a while it would be nice to read a positive reaction or two, its an indication that others can see what you're trying to achieve, like Scunthorpe on Saturday who tried to play open expansive football on an absolute dog of a pitch.

 

We will never get any positive outlook from oppo fans. Bowyer isn't a positive manager so we will never be on the front foot in a game to make an impression to the away fans to make them fearful as we never put any attacks together or any sustained pressure. Never seen a manager so devoid of ideas and a side with the tools at his disposal look so toothless in attack. It's a disgrace what we have been served up by that idiot. I can't wait until he's out the door. Worst manager I've seen in my 25 years of being a season ticket holder.

 

The only explanation can be that Bowyer is demanding this ‘tactic’ and therefore the players are simply carrying out his instructions.

Palmer really, really irritates me with his inept and negative performances but he has played a good few games at a higher level so I’d he really this bab or is this the Bowyer affect?

 

89 games at league one and championship level suggests the lad has something about him although i've yet to see it. Wether that is down to him not actually been very good or playing under Bowyer i don't know. Would be telling if he went to another club and started to play well.

 

You are not alone ! (XFile theme music plays in the back ground ...... )

 

Yeah, like @Fordy117 'fancy Dan' mate - Josh Wrong, at Orient