The season so far....

based on what ????
You really think that the club are happy to piss around for another season and lose thousands of fans along the way ?????
We don’t do it this swap or don’t at least make the play offs then don’t be shocked if 3/4 k fans go missing next season

 

Very mixed feelings so far, so a C would be about right. Seems strange saying that considering we're sixth and only five points off third with a game in hand.

Our home form is nowhere near good enough. We should be taking teams to the cleaners at VP but we don't have that ruthless streak in us and when teams come here and play out of their skin, we don't seem to raise our own performance which often makes it look like we're playing in second gear. We've been good away, however, with some impressive results at Tranmere and Salford.

Defensively we've been pretty sound too. Joint second best defensive record in the league and haven't conceded from open play in the last 4 league games. But attacking wise, we're a bit fragmented and don't have enough players who contribute with goals. And that includes the midfielders and defenders, who I think have one goal between them this season. Set pieces are truly horrific as well. Cooks goals have carried us a little bit if we're being honest.

I'm a fan of the style Hughes is trying to implement and fully back it to be a success, but we need a few tweaks to improve. Walker will make us better and so will East if he's given a chance. The itensity in home games needs to be upped significantly both in and out of possession to get the most out of the VP crowd, which has been subdued for the most part.

 

He should be pissed of with himself for starters for allowing that shit to happen ........... what was said to them at half time ????? They should have been after them from 45 minutes onwards but nothing and to sit back and leave it for 25 minutes was even more strange ............ I honestly hope it works in the long run but basing on what I’ve seen already I sadly don’t think it will ............. if we where dominating teams and actually creating chances I would be happy but neither is happening we are basically hoping that we get one chance and hoping that Lewis can keep teams out at the other hand ...............I doubt many teams go up relying on that kind of set up ...............just let’s go out and have a real go before the gap starts becoming a lot wider ............ win our next 3 games and the place become more up beat

 

I don’t disagree. If he can’t get them to perform how he wants then there is something sadly wrong. The only weapon he has is to drop them. For me it is our midfield that is the weak point. This should not be, Smallwood should have that midfield ticking. Is he tired? Injured? Whatever it needs sorting, much more link up play with the attacking players who need to be finding space to receive and attacking the second ball with force.

 

Personally would rate the season a B so far.

Its a tough one because I think Smallwood could do the holding midfield role alone. Drop him from set pieces too.

Id put East and Chapman in the centre in front of him. Banks and Wright on the wings. Cook up front.

The thing is I dont think Id be a good manager so my formation could be a completely crap idea.

4 -1 - 4 - 1

 

I’d score the team B-. We’re in a good position (B), but not performing to a consistent level (-). As for the manager, we have a A+ manager who is currently performing at C level. Swap our players with top end league one players and the system might work, unfortunately we have lower end league one / league two players who don’t have the speed of thought to play the quick interchange passes that this system calls for. We either tweak the system or tweak the personnel, one or the other but don’t stick.

 

regarding the attackers you watch them I’m sure on a fair few occasions they have found space but rather than passing it into them we go for the safer option of going back to the defence ........... maybe the just cannot be arsed moving because they genuinely don’t find the space

 

I think you are right, they go for the safe option. That has now become a habit and when they do pass it forward they are putting it through the opposition because our players are not expecting the ball. They are having to come back to pick the ball up only to be faced with a wall of opposition. Plus neither of our midfielders drive at the opposition, in fact the only time I have seen that recently was when Chappie picked it up in defence and drove through the middle of the park and passed it to Cook.

 

Smallwood has had a couple of very poor games but he still starts for me. I think the problem is Smallwood and Gillead together isnt working as they are both too deep. Last decent performance was Salford where I thought East and Smallwood bossed the midfield. East looked really busy when he came on yesterday which is absolutely what we need. I have no problem with the formation or the playing style-it's the execution as we need to do it so much quicker than we have been.

 

B- is a fair assessment. My worry would be, we're moving in the direction of C+ rather than a B+. I think we have an inflated squad that still lacks a bit of quality in a couple of key areas.

We should be doing a touch better with what we have and I can't feel that stubbornness and a lack of willingness to adapt just a touch is holding us back.

All that said, for the first time in a long while you can look at this squad and think that with a few outs and 2-3 good signings (at CB and CM especially) we'd be top 3 material.

 

Mystery how East was dropped again after his impressive performance at Salford. Its not much of an incentive to do well when you are brought in to cover an injured player, knowing you will be binned off when the injured player returns, especially a player so ineffective as Gilliead

 

Don’t talk nonsense, if we don’t go up this season we are in big trouble.
Most players on at least 2 year contracts, Hughes won’t be getting paid pennies and the loss of 4-5k of season ticket sales will be catastrophic not to mention the loss of away sales from the likes of Huddersfield, Wednesday, Derby, Ipswich, Bolton, Barnsley, Pompey.
Possibly even West Brom, Middleboro, Hull

Failure to go up this year simply cannot and shouldn’t be accepted

 

It's a D so far and we seem to be heading for an F.

Hughes is being cut way too much slack by people blinded by his name. Lets compare us/him to 3 of the current top 4. 1st placed Orient finished level on points with us last season and appointed Wellens a couple of weeks after Hughes joined us. 2nd placed Stevenage finished 21st and appointed Evans in the summer, 4th placed Barrow finished 22nd and appointed Wild in the summer.

They'd all have snapped the hands off of anyone who offered them signings such as Smallwood, Walker, Chapman or Oliver - or even equivalent resources.

You can't compare us to them and keep a straight face claiming Hughes is doing a good job, or even merits a pass grade. You don't need years to build and make an impact in League 2.

 

Hughes is well aware that promotion is his goal this season he's commented on it enough, no excuses we need to be out of this league.

 

We are C minus at the moment. A pretty good squad assembled even if we lose the odd one like we have Harratt.

What's unacceptable to me is the inflexibility shown by Hughes. He is one stubborn goat. If one plan isn't working (especially at home) try something else. Why does it have to be the same formation and starting 11. If we continue like the last few home games loanees will be recalled. That will damage us further.

I look back at Bolton a few years ago. Nowhere at Christmas and it all fell into place in January. Made 3rd I recall. That's our only hope and that's woeful.

My thoughts only we are all entitled to an opinion.

 

I said it a few weeks ago but the style of play MH is implementing is a big change to how a lot of lower league teams play and probably means some of our players are still adjusting to it. Think about when MH went to Stoke, it was a totally different style of play and with a bit of time (and said overhaul) he had them playing some good football and well into the top half of the premier league.

We’ve obviously got some flaws in the team and I assume MH is aware of it (injuries haven’t helped) but it’s a process that will take time and we’re at start of the journey. He’s got to have the time to see if through. We’re well in with a shout at making automatic/playoffs so it’s really not all that bad even with a few bad results/performances recently.

 

Yeah we we need to be more intense attacking with the ball ⚽️

 

Based on the contracts offered to incomings.
Based on signing Smallwood and not having a suitable partner next on on.
Based on the amount of players we brought in the summer that need time to settle
Based on all the crest stuff
Based on the non talk about going up.

Just think this season is a free hit.

 

Yep, just because Sparks has realised he made himself look a bit stupid by banging on about how promotion was the only acceptable outcome last season doesn't mean that isn't our goal this time round.

To me promotion this season is a minimum expectation, I'll give Hughes a C if we go up through the playoffs, a B if it's automatic and A if we're champions.

If Hughes is anything like the manager many of our fans assume him to be he'll realise he needs to adapt, in fact he already should have. Any half decent leader needs to know they have to adopt different styles and strategies to succeed.