Most liked posts in thread: Is a new team mentality needed next season? And some random stats.

While more often than not my posts are made in a similar fashion to Campbell's, it's always great to acknowledge facts and figures backing up what we are seeing on the pitch. Cheers to @Jordan for the hard work putting this stuff in a single post. We have our bloody work cut out sorting this mess for next season eh?...

 

Interesting write up, thanks.

I feel the biggest contributor to our malaise in league 2 is the lack of attacking intent shown by numerous managers. Midfield has killed us because we haven’t had that driver taking us forward. Add to that 6/7 defensive players every game and it’s no surprise we don’t score enough and concede pressure/ground. We have very little threat going forward which means teams can push on and add that extra body to their attack. When we had Reid or Daley etc, there’s no way teams would risk committing too many forward, for fear of being exposed at the back.

 

Do people sit at their computers and write these essays? I use my phone to type out a couple of lines whilst the adverts on re runs of GBBO or A Place In The Sun are on.

 

During Parky's era, we had a team of leaders. Sure, we'd lose games an going on losing streaks from time to time, but we'd always bounce back.

Under the several previous managers weve had, that hasn't been the case. Last season prime example. Had really good form going into the last month of the season. Had a chance to sneak into the autos, what happened? Lost to Crewe. Conceded late against Gillingham at home. Bottled it in the play offs

This season, went on a good run, twice. Lost one game an heads drop, everything falls to shit. Went on a good run again, lost to Forrest Green. Couldve been put down to a one off but we then lose the next 3 on the bounce. We need a certain type of character in this squad. Ones that dont bottle it when the pressure is on. Experienced heads across the team. Players that are willing to step up when the going gets tough

 

A minimum of 5 defenders and a holding midfielder for 99% of this seasons matches doesn't lend itself to attacking the opposition from the off.
It stinks of keeping it tight till half time then the manager making a few territorial tweeks at half time to take the team higher up the pitch.
The whole lack of ambition in first halves this season is the reason why the atmospheres have been dead by the 20 minute mark.

 

Thats been going on for a while to be honest, even during McCall's last two spells in charge. We're half asleep for the first half an then magically wake up for the second

 

I wouldn't be so sure about that. It didn't help them with the lower crowds against Mansfield, Forest Green and Notts County, or with the completely empty stadium during the Covid season.

 

His results this season, point per game, if they carried on at that average would be 63 points (at the moment he's attained 34 points from 25 games.) As someone has quoted on here before it nigh on impossible to get a team promoted while coming in part way through the season so Alexander needs a full season to be able to scrutinize his efforts. Also nigh on impossible to be successful when there is no clear mandate from above other than to just survive. When we've actually changed that things might improve.

 

thanks for the insight, which supports a lot of what fans have been seeing or saying.
Have you considered dropping this to Jamie Raynor? He actually asks questions unlike certain other journalists so would be interesting to see GA’s take

 

Glad to know I'm not the only one with with a Prue Leith / Sandy Toksvig 3some fantasy.

 

I can neither confirm nor deny these rumours!

 

I watch the warm ups and it’s the same routine over and over again. Maybe mix it up a bit to get them thinking and being sharper and more switched on. I’m not sure about the first half stats under Adams, but he would often be out on the pitch during the warm up. Maybe this is something that GA could adopt until the mindset changes. After all, what does a manager do during a warm up?

 

GA mentioned something about the players looking for the "perfect" goal as opposed to just having a go, I suppose thats the 71% shots inside the box, Not sure why he hasn't done anything about it.

 

I wouldn't worry about styles of play. Just because a team has 70% pass completion rate at this level means barely anything. We passed it around the back 4 under Hughes, so i imagine our pass completion rate was sky high.

Also we're poor at starting games and were under Hughes, so i think there's more inside the mentality of the players to be worked on.

To change ways of playing and mentalities takes time and a change in personnel too.

 

The same players have been poor at the start of games under 3 managers if you include K Mac (Mk Dons away mainly)

I'm not the expert here, but the common denominator is the players. These are the same players who lose a game and we go on a losing run. In my opinion we need some more leaders on the pitch.

 

It is certainly true that a selection of players for a few years do not have the win at all costs mentality. You have to look at the ethos of the club. They arrive with a fan fair on social media, given a script of what to say to get the fans onside and that is it. We have been hollowed out since Parky, and nobody seems to understand what we were before. The ethos of hard work and team cohesion appears to be a thing of the past. I presume we pay over the odds for ordinary players. Why wouldn’t they want to come here with good pay, no real expectations and a big crowd.

There are lots of ppl that just want the glittery side of life without the graft. We actually encourage it here. The scripts that written for the players is just part of the process. I want players to come here because of our heritage as a football club, I want them to recognise that expectation of promotion is actually a given not just an add on extra. We as fans want to connect to the players, it should be a symbiotic relationship. It is not instant it comes about by players who graft and fight their way to victory. Bantams are ferocious birds, although small. They only have to look at previous players who are held in high esteem by fans, McCall, Darby, Jones, etc., We can forgive mistakes if they have the above qualities, and if we are all working as a team fans and players we can defeat most teams.

 

Much better ppg than Parky achieved in his first "part" season for sure.

 

A little bit of sick just came up.