|
Post by Al on Mar 14, 2024 19:23:20 GMT
Vast majority of people on here have been constructive.
I think it's clear to see what the issues are and quite frankly majority sits with the management to sort. We have proven quality players for the level we are at capable of scoring goals, some might argue even for the level above too. But the system and the style of play is not working at present. If this gives Cal, the overall management team and squad a kick up the arse and we go on a run then great, can draw a line under it and move forwards.
If we continue to limp towards the end of the season though then all eyes are going to be on Cal and the team as to how long they persist playing a style and system that isn't working
|
|
|
Post by 1paulcarden on Mar 14, 2024 21:43:00 GMT
TBF, it would be the same at any club. A defeat will always provoke stronger opinions than a win as there's generally more to dissect and it's human nature to vent frustration rather than celebrate a win. Considering it's been a couple of pretty dismal home games, this thread is fairly well measured I'd say. Out of interest, what's your thoughts on Tuesday night? As above, I don't disagree with some of the more constructive criticism in here. We score during the very good first 20 minutes we had and we go on to win well. Same as Saturday. Confidence is low. That isn't helped by some of the crazed bed pissing by some of those on here that have obvious axes to grind with some of our players and manager. We're in a bad spell. Doesn't make the players or manager bad, we were 2nd in the League not long back. Some of the hysteria is just mental. Bed pissing? Don’t think there’s been any of that. Vast majority of fans back the manager to turn it around. Have there been a number of games (especially recently) where a tranquilliser dart would have done the job that watching us has? Both can be true. Onto Tamworth and UTFS but some people on here need to expect criticism when there’s been a month of pretty lacklustre performances.
|
|
|
Post by noddy on Mar 14, 2024 22:44:29 GMT
TBF, it would be the same at any club. A defeat will always provoke stronger opinions than a win as there's generally more to dissect and it's human nature to vent frustration rather than celebrate a win. Considering it's been a couple of pretty dismal home games, this thread is fairly well measured I'd say. Out of interest, what's your thoughts on Tuesday night? As above, I don't disagree with some of the more constructive criticism in here. We score during the very good first 20 minutes we had and we go on to win well. Same as Saturday. Confidence is low. That isn't helped by some of the crazed bed pissing by some of those on here that have obvious axes to grind with some of our players and manager. We're in a bad spell. Doesn't make the players or manager bad, we were 2nd in the League not long back. Some of the hysteria is just mental. Possibly, or we score in the first 20 minutes (if only) and then revert to a we have what we hold mentality. Now whether that's a lack of confidence, or tactical I've no idea. I can only comment on what I've seen in home games for the majority of the last two seasons in we are a a boring watch, I'm not anti Callum or any of the players either. It's the stubbornness and lack of natural width, pace or what Southport had on Tuesday, someone with physicality who has a presence up top that to the majority of fans is blatantly obvious what we are lacking. Though as others have commented the shortening of the pitch this season was a guide to how we were going to play this season I guess.
|
|
|
Post by chesterken on Mar 14, 2024 22:53:37 GMT
Does anyone else think that we have a massive obsession in keeping clean sheets and in trying to achieve this it’s affecting our ability to score goals and making us very predictable and easy to nullify, Cal used to refer to setting traps so we could catch teams on the break and we used this to good effect during the the long unbeaten away record last season.
|
|
|
Post by utb on Mar 15, 2024 2:21:39 GMT
Brackley play off game trouble definitely come back to haunt us, player budget knackered plus atmosphere at times this season has been flat compared to last season. Starting to feel apathy setting in again, match day experience dull and such a shame when it felt we were at last getting locals interested in the club. Three big home games to come need to get the word out there, Scunthorpe to a certain extent showed what can be done.. Player budget knackered? We've signed Ben Tollitt on loan for a huge wage expense. We signed Charlie Caton and Elliott Whitehouse permanently in the summer, not to mention Joel Taylor. We signed Tom Peers (which is looking like a massive bust) and didn't sell a single one of our star contracted players (those who left were loanees like Tyrer or out of contract like Kurt). The manager has been backed substantially and to not make the playoffs with the squad is his disposal would be quite frankly, a sackable offence. Now I think we'll come through this bad spell and make the playoffs before getting dumped out first round to someone like Curzon or even Brackley again because that's what we do. At which point the board, the manager and his staff need to have a sit down and some serious soul-searching regarding what needs to be done to take the next step and whether they are capable of doing it. Because it's not going to get any easier. York will back down here next season and I'm not convinced Scunthorpe will make it out the playoffs either. That's before we start thinking about 'Moneybags Macc'. There was clearly a feel-good factor about the future at the end of last campaign despite the Brackley scenes as supporters could clearly sense progress. But that won't be there next season and ST sales will surely be down. We're in real danger of stagnation.
|
|
|
Post by Harry Lime on Mar 15, 2024 9:27:22 GMT
Does anyone else think that we have a massive obsession in keeping clean sheets and in trying to achieve this it’s affecting our ability to score goals and making us very predictable and easy to nullify, Cal used to refer to setting traps so we could catch teams on the break and we used this to good effect during the the long unbeaten away record last season. There's always a balance between being defensively organised and keeping your shape, against overloading attacking areas. It's fair to say Cal prefers an organised shape. That means the strikers need to be good and have the ability to create chances. Stick 2 quality strikers upfront in an organised side and you'll win games, if you play the style that suits those strikers. Unfortunately we don't have that option at the moment. So Cal is working around that. Personally I would prefer a functional midfield with 2 decent NL strikers. Rather than a skillful ball playing midfield and 2 ordinary strikers. To a large extent you have to work with the good players you've got. Our higher wage earners will likely be the midfield trio and maybe Taylor. Plus Tollitt now on loan. It will be interesting (or worrying) to see which players decide to move on in the summer, and which we let go. As you've guessed by now I'd prefer a different bias in the squad. Personally I think we need a different combination in the front 2 and the hole player. But that doesn't mean I'm right or wrong. Neither are most supporters. Neither is Cal, Watson, Bern and Jonno or any other manager in the NLN.
|
|
|
Post by Lobster on Mar 16, 2024 13:48:20 GMT
Couldn't make it on Tuesday and haven't had a chance to comment since, but this thread makes for sad reading. Before the game, some people scoffed at the idea that the pressure is on if we don't win tonight, but I think this reaction shows that although we like and support Calum, there is a bit of an undercurrent of discontent there and it might not take much for the mood to turn sour.
I've said before, I don't think we're a very good team to watch even when we win. You don't mind that as long as we do win, but I think the steady style of football we play, as well as the sometimes confrontational defensiveness Calum displays (he actually comes across better when we lose than when we win) might mean he doesn't get the patience he deserves if and when things go rocky.
A good result today will change things, but the problem is now you've got fans almost expecting us to win away at the league leaders today because that's the sort of thing we've done this season, when really we shouldn't have that pressure on us. Calum has addressed the sometimes erratic form that was B&J's undoing by making us steady and hard to beat, but he's never really learned what to do in games like Tuesday's where we are expected to win. I think we'll make the playoffs but you can't grind your way to promotion.
|
|
|
Post by moldcestrian on Mar 16, 2024 22:31:48 GMT
The main problem for me is we have too many players who play the same role and it's led to the squad and especially the midfield becoming imbalanced Glendon and Weeks are the same player. Whitehouse is also an attacking midfielder, shoehorned into the holding role . Same with Peers and Caton, small mobile forwards who occupy the same space. It's crying out for a more physical presence in midfield and upfront. To make the possession based game work, you need the strength to control the midfield and a physical presence around the 18 yard box to hold the ball up and bring others into play. ( Dackers and Sargent type players would improve the squad because it allows you to have a plan B) We saw it in the playoff game, where we lost the midfield battle and the ball didn't stick well enough upfront. And this season, at home, in recent games,has been a re run of that I get Calum's possession based game, but you need a different type of player to play it effectively. Also, it needs to be played with more intensity and with pace. 7 or 8 passes to get it to the edge of the 18 yard box only allows the opposition to put 10 men behind the ball. And once that happens we find it harder and harder to break it down. When do you last see a third man run or balls hit directly first time into the flanks or into the channels? Or score from a corner? Calum experimented in certain games last season with a 4-3-3 with Hall, Willoughby and Caton dropping to a 4-5-1 when defending. It just needs this type of variation. We have become too predictable and one dimensional You need castrating
|
|