Most liked posts in thread: Wouldn’t be surprised if new manager in summer

Next season has to be about a promotion push, but we need a stronger squad to do it. Another manager change should be an absolute last resort. Our focus should be on building a promotion capable squad in the summer, and then if by Christmas we're not in the mix, look at a change then. Right now, all efforts and thoughts should be on backing T&S. If we wobble every time a manager has a run of 5 or 6 poor results, we'll change our manager 3 or 4 times a season.

 

What are you talking about?

We were very definitely going down.

If we'd played the rest of the season with Donaldson, Mottley Henry, and Austin Samuels as our attacking 'threat', we'd be in non league for sure.

 

We were.

 

Formation is an issue because we can’t play 4-2-3-1 the way it’s required.

1) Full backs

AOC isn’t a RB. Certainly not in this formation. You need your RB to be up and down creating width.

Wood. He can’t play this formation. Plus he seems on I want out playing style all season.

In a 4-2-3-1 you need your full backs to be up and down and it’s not mainly about the crossing into the box but being about to dribble, make the right passing. Be that extra body in midfield and attack.

2) Sutton and Watt.

Watt recently has been sloppy in play recently. Played far too many games. Sutton reckless in tackles.

The two holding have to be creative in their passing not just play simple balls. All one if not both have to get into the box when numbers in there are required.

3) Cooke replacement.

Don’t have one. Most vital player in the formation is the 10. If you don’t have one then you shouldn’t be playing it.

The formation we play 4-2-3-1 is defensive. We can’t play it as attacking or attractive football. We don’t have the players too.

Formation is a problem because it’s not working for us recently as teams have figured us out and we don’t have the quality just to carry on with it or turn it into an attack one.

All Hornby’s fault though.

 

Absolutely agree with this, this has to be our philosophy.

I don't see anything wrong with how we recruited in January, we looked at the right positions and signed the right calibre of player, we'll need better obviously, but better isn't necessarily available in the winter transfer window.

What we've done is enough to ensure our Football League status, and being annoyed that it isn't promotion calibre just doesn't seem right to me.

 

It should always have been a case of re-assessing things in the summer.

 

What a thread these two got us out of a massive hole and fully deserved their contract as the big majority of posters on here wanted.
The January window was always the start of the rebuild to be continued and enhanced in the summer oh how quickly people forget .

 

We were never going down.

It’s not about getting us out of a hole. It’s about can they really take us to where we want to be?

I don’t see why we just didn’t give them a control until the end of the season. Never understand why the massive rush in offering them a long term contract.

Madness!

 

We did a lot of good work in the window apart from once again missing the obvious midfield weakness...

 

One position that we've neglected for years, is a commanding, dominant Central Midfielder. Needs to be top of our summer shopping list. And I wouldn't mind an older player, if we can find one who's coming for the right reasons.

 

can’t really blame the referees. our attacking output is minimal an thats down to losing the midfield battle too often

 

The formation isn’t an issue, it really isn’t. But it does need an effective number 10 - we’ve missed Cooke, but in his absence, we must give Rowe a run of games there. It’s where he played for Oldham, and we look more dangerous with Cook and Rowe on the pitch together.

 

Despite the run the we were never convincing in an attacking sense but pretty solid (until recently) defensively. The lack of options in the middle of the park is taking the toll and the inexperience of the management (like for like subs) is also paying a part.

In reference to Rowe and Cook, I'm beginning to wonder whether they leave one on the bench because we don't have suitable replacements if we have to change it after 60 minutes. It's pretty obvious they don't think Donaldson can last or be useful for more than 10 minutes at a time.

 

Disagree with that Vernham does look decent but hides in games crankshaw who is only 20 is looking for the ball all the time at Scunthorpe where in the second half he played more like a conventional winger put in two or three excellent crosses. I think he will turn out be a very good signing as his experience grows

 

Your car in need of wash and valeting?

 

Its easy to post emotionally whether you win or lose. It colours your view of the game.

However if we're honest, the last 4 or 5 performances have been very similar to the previous 6 or 7. When we won games, we weren't 'convincing' but we won games based on what we did in either box. We were defending very well, we looked mean and organised and we were keeping clean sheets regularly. And we were fairly clinical. We've gone back to defending our box very poorly and not taking the chances we do create. We've had as many chances tonight as any game under T&S, despite not playing particularly well.

I don't know whether T&S are ready for a longer term gig, beyond this season. But we need to take stock and make measured decisions. The squad needs a fair turnaround. RoD, AoC, Wood, Donaldson, Pritchard, Clarke, probably Evans too, all need to move on. We need 7 or 8 new players in the summer. Only POC, Stauntom, Canavan, Watt, Vernam, Rowe look like they have real roles to play. Sutton as a squaddie, Crankshaw needs more time but he doesn't look all that. One of Cook or Novak for next season probably. But we're a long way short of being promotion ready and its not going to happen overnight.

 

Hopefully T&S are learning, we were great , solid and clinical and the run wasn't a fluke but we've suddenly run out of steam, teams know where to stifle us, and we don't have the squad to make changes when needed.

with the right additions i dont think our squad is a long way short of promotion, but we are short by half a dozen players.

the deadwood needs to go, O’Donnell. Wood, Donaldson, Pritchard, Clarke. Let our recruitment head work some magic. Get a few mobile brick shot houses in the middle of the park.

 

They must use the time left this season to show they can turn this around. As I’ve said previously, we must finish the season on the up. I also mentioned that flogging players game after game would be detrimental in the long run. I’d be happy to see 2 steps back and 3 steps forward if they were trying different things. Stick to this formation and performances don’t improve then I think we’ll be looking for a new manager come October.

 

Very interesting. I'm not saying its the biggest issue we have, or that its responsible for our recent results, but now you mention it, I have noticed in recent games that we seem to be getting quite a few soft ones against us.