Most liked posts in thread: Sparkie Out

In previous seasons, it was a combination of factors that led to the manager’s demise, the likes of McCall & Adams. Usually money. Being left with shite like Theo Robinson & Oscar Threlkeld instead of their preferred targets

That isn’t the case this season. You cannot for one minute say that money is an issue and that the manager has not been backed. 17k season tickets sold. A fortune has been spent on this squad. All with high pedigrees


Smallwood from the Championship
Walker from the SPL
Chapman, Halliday from League One
Harratt, Platt, Crichlow, East, Young from League Two

Highly rated kids such as Lewis, Banks, Wright from the PL on loan

This squad on paper matches anyone from this league

Our downfall this season is the manager. If he mixed things up, id give him the benefit of the doubt. But I wont because he has persisted with the same lineup for the last 4 months, with little to no change, with the exception of our wingers (who aren't the problem, getting the ball to them is)

The fault lies with Hughes an Hughes solely. Even Adams would of got this team up

 

he’s got to do something because the season is on a knife edge now Thursday night could turn very toxic of it stays the same

 

Total number of points after a number of games.

Since 1987/88, the current total is only beaten or matched by 98/99, 08/09, 16/17 and 17/18. Note, that in none of those other seasons did we have much more points than we have now

Now, admittedly, a couple of those, turned out to be a disaster from this point onwards!!!

But at this stage, none of those managers was questioned / criticised as much as Hughes with.

Or put another way, we as fans, are easily the most negative about this promising campaign, compared to others that have started off similarly.

 

Of course we shouldn't sack or even contemplate sacking Hughes, but he has failed if we don't at least finish 7th. After that, the lottery commences.

 

It's not just him though, the obnoxious Rayner comes with the package ....

 

Barrow are going to reap the rewards of snapping up an up and coming manager who has been successful in recent times at a similar level.

We're going to pay for appointing an out of work, out of touch manager with no experience at all of the level, who the game had rightly put out to pasture.

But at least he's famous.

 

From Recent memory
In the T&S season, Ourselves an Bolton were mid table by December. Had our form continued, we would of finished in the play offs. Bolton had a similar run but carried it on, they got promoted that season

Bristol Rovers were seen by many fans as one of the worst teams to come to VP last year. They turned their form around an ended up in the autos.

In League One, We played Sheffield United in September/October an the game finished 3-3. Up until that point, Sheffield hadn’t done much in the league. They finished in the autos that season


There was a season where Plymouth were near/in the relegation places in November, They got into the play offs that year


In 2013, We went on a poor run post League Cup Final, We lost to Exeter 4-1 in March an looked set to be midtable. We picked up a late run an got into the play offs an the rest is history

The point im trying to make is, stop over reacting

 

I'm worried about tactics, specifically a complete lack of any width. We've brought in a centre forward known for aerial dominance yet seem to lack the desire to get to the byline and play to his strengths. We also seem to have forgotten that having options on the wings causes opposition back fours to stretch and create gaps which to play through.

Also concerned by the lack of movement in front of the ball when we have possession.

If we continue to play in the same way we have for the past two games without success, then I shall look at the management team as stubborn and unwilling to change although clearly things aren't working. I suspect we are heading down this path.

Better sign some wingers sharpish

 

Frustrated is a good word for it.

Frustrated and disappointed, equally.

Short term emotions, for me, that nobody remembers in the long run.

I'm definitely not unhappy with what I've seen, beyond the fact we obviously didn't start very well.

The injuries are the main concern in my eyes, all to key players so far who can all score goals - but I think we've still got enough in our squad to cope, and I wouldn't be surprised to see 1 or 2 come in.

 

It may well be that Angol's days as a wide player are over if he continues to play protecting his hamstring, as he seems to be doing. Perhaps we should just think of him as a candidate for the lone forward position, alongside Oliver, Cook and perhaps Harratt. For the wider positions we only seem to have Young and Chapman, or possibly Harratt again. And we have no replacement for Walker at all. I'd lump Smallwood, Sutton, East, Gilliead and possibly Songo'o as contenders for the two DM positions. Somehow we seem to have ended up with an unbalanced squad yet again. Much to do before the close of the window.

 

This is ott

 

No manager would risk changing before half time, it gives him a chance to use the break to tell the players how he wants them to rechange formation. I thought he was right waiting and made the changes the majority would have done. Fact it didn't work was more down to the job Challinor did on us than anything else.

 

I was and am firmly anti-both of those. Wouldn't enjoy it in the slightest if we went up with evans in charge. mainly because hes a fat tax evading abusive prick. if you want a fat tax evading abusive prick in charge because he gets results, i think that shows you up more than anything.

 

And yet many of those who were pro-Evans were anti-Wellens, and guess who will overtake Stevenage by winning their game in hand?

That's right... Richie's Leyton Orient!

But as every adult football fan knows (unlike you), the table after 12-13 games doesn't make a jot of difference, so back in your box.

We saw what happened when Stevenage played a good side (us), they got walloped 3-0.

Have Stevenage paid Leyton Orient? No.
Have they played Northampton? No.
Have they played Salford? Yes, once, and they lost.
Have they played Mansfield? No.
Have they played Bradford? Yes, once, and they got hammered.

Tell me again about this awesome Steve Evans' managed Stevenage side!

 

Totally agree with that.

I too couldn't take to Evans even If he was manager and got us promoted. It would be hypocrisy at its worst from me if I lauded him at a promotion celebration.

I still think Stevenage will soon start to falter and drop out of the top 3, possibly secure a playoff place at the end of the season.

Wouldn't it be great to beat him in the play off final.

See, we can agree sometime YungNath!

 

Hughes knows what is expected from his team and so far we're looking good for a top 7 place obviously we would prefer a top 3 finish but promotion is our aim both Hughes and Sparks have made that very clear.
New season new manager/players fans will always get excited with regards the coming season, not sure Hughes will be getting too worried with regards thexseason so far.

 

Why with every manager we get are they too stubborn to change it up or freshen it for the next game!? Our squad should be walking this league!

 

Winning?