Just back

intercourse off town

Not good today. Well beaten by a much better side.

Insightful! dreadful, we arent good enough, we have no pace, no creativity, just nah. Mid table completely, today was as bad as it gets. Jones needs taking out completely, what has happened to him. But who to replace him with because our other strikers are crap. January wont change anything. Slade must go, but the bigger picture is with JF and it wont change till he goes. Im fed up of it all

Good first 10mins the rest was crap. Has someone stolen Sam Jones identity? Wow he's bad. He has so much ability. Oh well.

Quoted from headingly_mariner

Not good today. Well beaten by a much better side.

You can't argue with the end result,  First half pretty much equal without any side standing out, second half big difference, Accrington wanted it and we strolled along. No back bone and no urgency, basically Accrington had the freedom of the park whilst we were too busy feeding the ducks.

Was a total shambles from start to finish.. slade has no idea, get gone and take fenty with you

I imagine jones is suffering from an aching neck like the rest of us.

Quoted from Marinerz93

You can't argue with the end result,  First half pretty much equal without any side standing out, second half big difference, Accrington wanted it and we strolled along. No back bone and no urgency, basically Accrington had the freedom of the park whilst we were too busy feeding the ducks.

They moved the ball really well in the final third and their movement was very good. Kayden Jackson has made some massive progress.

Terrible. Cold and watching poor football. No aggression, guile or creativity.

Worryingly I saw plenty of effort. Sam Jones, what on earth is wrong with him? Offside twice in the first half from kicks from our goalkeeper, turned into trouble all the time. Zac Mills seemed to be limping throughout the game, yet he stayed on, even at 3-0 down. We have no pace in the side, offer nothing up front. JJ Hooper had a good chance, but somehow fell over - he's awful, DJ doesn't know when to release the ball, seems to play for himself. Matt is our best centre forward and he's a touch like a donkey, says it all.

We are a very poor side, we're going backwards again, I've had enough of this excrement. Please go JF, it's time for someone else to have a go.

Quoted from lukeo

Good first 10mins the rest was crap. Has someone stolen Sam Jones identity? Wow he's bad. He has so much ability. Oh well.

He's a lazy, sulky bottler. As soon as things start going wrong he gets stroppy, stops closing the opposition down and begins ignoring his teammates while trying to dribble past every player on the pitch. The exact opposite of what you need in the team when things aren't going well.

Abject crap from most, Jones abject with total lack of effort. Players don't look like they want to be here, the lucky ones have got away. Anyone want a season ticket - well three actually!

one word for this performance today - Garbage!

The lack of goals from us this season has somewhat been forgiven as we haven't been conceding many.

So what's your excuse today Russ ?

We tried hard but were beaten by a better side who made better chances. Poor final options we did not make any clear-cut chances and did not test their keeper at all.

I can't even get mad we just have not got enough ideas to open up a team.

Don't care what Slade says about corners three times today balls were cleared but we had nobody up front to take advantage so the balls pumped up were easily moped up and put us back under pressure.

Three goals aside, how was Kilip in goal? Do we need a loan keeper?

Didnt have much to do tbf, but i sense there wasnt a lot of trust between the back 4 and him

Interesting how we were fairly pleased about equalling Notts C and then not getting hammered by Luton. They both lost today and registered only 1 shot each on target, offday for Luton maybe but just goes to show if you play well and create chances you can beat anyone. Ah well just up the road for me on NYD for Crewe, suppose I will have to suffer, hope its not as embarassing as last year.

Quoted from 935

Three goals aside, how was Kilip in goal? Do we need a loan keeper?

Made some decent saves, clattered into Mills while failing to claim a cross in the first half. Couldn't have done anything about any of the goals (maybe could have got to the third if i'm being incredibly harsh, but it was mainly terrible defending and an excellent finish). A mixed bag

I think you can be critical of the third as it was at his near post but it is a team game so he can’t be blamed for conceding three goals. We definitely need a loan anyway as a professional club should always have a second on the bench regardless.

I'm not annoyed, I'm embarrassed by the lack of creativity in the team. If we loan a half decent mid fielder we've still nothing up front. I still can't believe the way RS sets up for a corner, at one point Dembelle was marking one of their centre backs. Why not slide SD up to the half way line.
Finally it's that old cliche , NO plan B. Time to either change RS or get your coat.

I'm not sure there was a plan a today!

See Jamie Osborne won a penalty for Solihull today.

Quoted from Abdul19

I'm not sure there was a plan a today!

i think the plan was to rip us off  and take our xmas money away from us....and it worked

Klipp did ok today none of the goals were down to him he made a good save first half he as a strong goal kick it was lack of creativity that cost us today.

did we actually have a shot on target ??

Just had a great week away and rushed back to get to today's game. Connecting train from Donny was late and i had just enough time to rush home, drop off my bags, then shoot off to the game without time for even a cup of tea. Made it just in time for kick off and then soon realised that my journey home would be the most exciting part of the day. What a crock of sh1te. Wooden, slow players who are instructed by a clip board manager and don't change tack no matter what the game brings. As soon as they scored the pen, we said, that's a defeat then because if there are any more goals, it will be Accy scoring them.

We weren't just outplayed, at 3-0, they were knocking the ball around so easily, it was embarrassing. This is a team remember that average less than 2000 fans and yet seem to have players of a far better standard than we do, playing some good football, and two strikers who have scored way more than our pathetic excuses for forwards. I think i could mark Matt out of the game, even at my age. For such a big bloke, he's weak and he also has a terrible touch.

As my brother said, "what do you expect from Russell 'Valium' Slade and Paul 'Mogadon' Wilkinson"? John Coleman has forgotten more about goalscoring than Russell Slade will ever know.

Pathetic and no progress whatsoever since we returned to the league. I just love watching Scunny and now Lincoln leave us in their wake.

On Promotion Plaice prediction league may I suggest a new category, shots on target, saying that most would get it correct by predicting either 1 or 2, no way would we get anywhere near 5 or 6 in a whole game.

Quoted from gtfcmd

did we actually have a shot on target ??

2 in injury time, neither of which troubled their keeper too much.

Quoted from 935

Three goals aside, how was Kilip in goal? Do we need a loan keeper?

We need a manager who knows how to get the best out of his players, Killip did ok, maybe could have done better with their 3rd goal otherwise poor play all round, no guts, no leaders, no idea, so much for making the most out of the 3 out of 4 games at BP and so much for taking us to the next level. More hot air from Sladeball and Fenty, boring, boring, boring.

Dreadful performance all round. What bothers me is I cannot see how things will change. We will plod along in mid table nicking the odd result here and there. The fact we have only scored 0 or 1 in half our games clearly is well below what is needed.

Our ball retention was awful. The thing is I think we have 'better' players than Stanley. The difference was that their players had cohesion and synergy, they believed in their manager..

It was excrement.
What worrys me the most is that was probably our best starting eleven!!!!

I don't know about anyone else but it just reminded me of the set up and tactics PE Teaches give you when your about ten year old.
We had no spark no will to win no nothing.
What has happened to Jones??
A bit of advice for Dembelli. Go now if you can because Slade will ruin your career.

FFS Fenty put that 250k back in the club so you can pay Slade and Wilko off now.

The problem is the management for me.  Nobody is warming to Slade and gates are only going to fall.  Next season will be worse....for me it makes more sense to get rid and get someone else in who has passion.  Are the players showing passion?  

I say it every week-we do o.k. in first half and then lose the plot straight after half time. So what happens at half time. They get a warm,a nice drink,maybe a wee wee,possibly a change of strip and then last but not least aSlade tactical team talk-I don't think it's the wee wee so get it fking sorted Slade. Absolutely embarrassing

If things don't improve on and off the pitch the season ticket sales for next season will be 1500 at best . This is when Jf will react ..... 4000 for a mid Xmas game is urine poor .

Osborne-your 24 hour call sir. No need to call back here,get on yer bike and peddle to Crewe PS Its downhill all the way

Quoted from golfer

I say it every week-we do o.k. in first half and then lose the plot straight after half time. So what happens at half time. They get a warm,a nice drink,maybe a wee wee,possibly a change of strip and then last but not least aSlade tactical team talk-I don't think it's the wee wee so get it fking sorted Slade. Absolutely embarrassing

We forgot to do the OK first half this time and just went straight to being even more sh1t second half.

A frustrating day today. It’s something when JJ wins more headers than Jones in the match! Think Jones has not really been interested in the last few games, doesn’t track back when needs to, poor choices and poor positioning. Think he needs a rest. Still cannot understand the defending at corners as was demonstrated when SD got the ball had no one to release it to so booted it down the field to give them a throw in. Also ref lost my vote after getting suckered into giving them a penalty and then not giving one when Town players were hauled to the floor.

Think we need some of our loanees back but also a striker that can hold the ball and doesn’t overthink before having a shot. Also today showed how slow our defence is so need some younger defenders. Oh and some different tactics. So not much to change!

Well that was dreadful. Started the first ten minutes fairly brightly but beyond that we were just dire.

We have some no pace and no creativity. Limited game plan that isn't particularly cohesive (no runners from midfield a la Bolland when we played Sladeball previously and no chance of reaching flick ons as we have no pace.). And when our only creative spark is kept quiet like Dembele was today by their full back then we're hopeless. We could have played until next Saturday and I doubt we'd have produced a chance of note.

Killip: Could have done better with the third goal, shouldn't be beaten at the near post. Get the impression that the defence don't trust him much and that's not good for decision making etc.

Mills: Limping for a lot of the game. Not too much wrong defensively but should have done a lot better early on when a half decent touch would have put him clean through after our only good move of the game. Instead he nearly put it out of play despite receiving it 20 yards from goal.

Clarke: Not too bad but could have dealt with Kee better I thought.

Collins: A fading force in my opinion, I think time is catching up with him. Terrible defending for the third goal and not overly dominant all game. Needs to sort out his boots as well as he's slipped at least four times in the past two games that I've seen and sooner or later that will cost us.

Davies: Fairly solid but it limits us going forward on the left having a full back and winger who don't want to go on their left foot if they can avoid it. But when the alternative is Dixon and Woolford then I suppose you have to make do.

Dembele: Not a great game IMO. Poor decision making at times and didn't get any change from their full back who dealt with him quite comfortably. Still our biggest threat but that's because we've got nothing else.

Summerfield: Puts in the effort and ticks things over but is often given horrible passes from the defence to work with. Lack of movement ahead of him also makes it difficult.

Rose: Same as Summerfield but gave it away cheaply trying to do turns in daft areas. Never looks fully comfortable on the ball.

DJ: Did more in five minutes than Woolford did in 90 on Tuesday and is still our best option there but again, needs to improve decision making.

Matt: Battles and puts in the effort and is our most effective striker. However, Gary Jones he ain't and it's really telling that he's the only one that seems to cause any problems.

Jones: What has happened to him? Doesn't seem to care. Movement is shocking because he's stationary and he takes an age on the ball trying to be clever and invariably loses it. Once he's seen his arse he doesn't pass and frankly is a waste of a position. No doubt he has the ability and raw materials to be a good player at this level but until he puts in the effort, starts to make some smart runs and learns to play it simply more often than not he won't be anywhere near as effective as he should be and that's a real shame.

Subs:

Hooper:  Pretty rubbish. Looks to shoot every time and is another who is completely stationary off the ball.

Berrett: Meh.

Cardwell: Made about the only decent run all game late on which forced a save from the keeper. He's deceptively quick as well. Not lightning but certainly quicker than all our other strikers. Put himself about and it surprises me that he's not seen as worthy of  a place on the bench normally. I'd start him next game as it's not like our other strikers haven't had the chances to impress and none have.

Plan A is rubbish. Long ball can work if it's done properly but we're not doing it properly. Beyond that our main problems are lack of movement and lack of thinking/making the right decisions. Accy weren't particularly good but that was embarrassingly easy for them second half. The penalty looked soft and the second came from a throw that was wrongly awarded to them but it would be an injustice to them to say that it changed the game. They deserved to win because we were awful. The fact that their fanbase is half the size of ours is embarrassing. Either we're doing everything completely on the cheap or Slade is wasting wages on players who aren't good enough. I reckon it's probably a combination of the two to be honest. The fans will vote with their feet and I wouldn't be surprised if we see a sub 3000 crowd soon unless there is a reaction at Crewe. Really not impressed and I'm quite glad I'm back in London tomorrow so won't be able to go to a game again until Crawley.

Agree with Ginnywings basically.
Poor. Doubly disappointing to lose to a smaller club who have made a better team with better players than us on what is almost certainly a smaller budget.

Our only hope for progress this season is to get rid of a few and bring in 2 or 3 in January.
Poor showing.

Funny old game never goes the way you'd think does it. I was confident we could get a result today. Particularly when I saw the starting line-up.

1st half was very slow-paced. Ball spent a lot of time out of play and the ballboys don't retrieve it unless it lands at their stools (do we have kids that are too young to do this).

We had a couple of moves where a better decision in the final third would've created a good chance. DJ took too long to try and get his shot off early on after cutting inside the box from the left (similar to Dembele in that they both need to learn when to pull the trigger - it'll come). Another time Dembele didn't see the pass out to DJ on the left that would've left him 1v1 with a good run at goal with just 1 defender who may have got across. Another time Mills had a great chance to gallop towards goal but his touch was dreadful. And a couple of long-rangers from Summerfield and Jones which didn't go far wide.

Accrington had initially looked like they wanted to play out from the back from goal kicks - CB's split, full backs higher and on touchlines, Scott Brown in a deep no.4 position. But as the half wore on it looked more like that was just a ploy to draw us out and open the pitch up higher up. We kind of pressed high to stop them playing it short but if they really wanted to play it out they could've done, or they would've shown some rotation of movement to get someone on the ball. Anyway, they had a nippy right winger and Jackson both with good movement, and at times they knocked it about well. They could've probably had a couple 1st half with more composed finishing.

2nd half we just got worse as it went on. Never got Dembele or DJ into the game and everything was just too predictable. Accrington probably sensed we were there for the taking and started attacking with a bit more purpose, their no.7 (who I was quite impressed with) and Jackson caused us problems, not just with their pace but the intelligent movement. They knew when to play it simple but they had movement off the ball to be able to play quick one-touch/two-touch football.

Their pen looked like one of those where the player sees the defender's tackle coming and just waits for it before going down. Looked like he was almost on the way down before the tackle reached him, but no major complaints.

2nd goal was a great header but Mills must have been asleep to not be aware of what was around him.

3rd goal Kayden Jackson showed fantastic pace and a good finish at the end. Didn't see that from him when he was here.

Don't get the feeling our side can react to something going against them. When we go a goal down or we lose a lead like we did on Tuesday, it just feels like heads go and there's no on-pitch leader to put a rocket up everyone's backside. You see Summerfield trying to jee everyone up but nothing from the rest.

What I find striking is how we have two of the most promising young wingers in the division, both with skill, trickery and pace, yet we barely get them in the game. These 2 lads are our most/only creative threats but we barely get them involved in games to the point where they've got the ball at their feet facing the opposition goal in the final third.

Mills had a shocker today, seemed unable to control simple balls and body shape not right for 2nd goal meaning he didn't see goalscorer steaming in to beat him to the header.

That was arguably our strongest XI most would agree, so where do we go from here?

Our goalkeeper had a very good kick on him but once the game was out of reach he had a couple of dodgy moments and dropped a couple of crosses. He made a couple of half decent saves though.

Doesn't get much worst than this, absolutely shocking performance... started ok first 10 mins when DJ had a good run, but took too long to get his shot off, then gradually got worse as the half went on when they had a couple of golden opportunities towards the end of the half. Second half they could see we were there for the taking, Jones was just strolling around, and our forward play was very predictable and pedestrian. No surprise when they scored, and after that it was one-way traffic. Nobody came out with any credit today and Sladey needs to jettison Osborne in via a helicopter, because after all the hard work, with the tough away games we've had, it has all amounted to nothing. No creative midfielder apart from Dembele, no strikers, and not a decent left-back amongst 30 players, it's absolutely disgraceful....things need a drastic turnaround within the next month, before we have nothing to play for...UTM

Continue like this and we will witness a train crash at Crewe again. Bignot was derided for strange selections and formations but changes have to be made to both sooner or later. Matt and Jones are not clicking and appear disillusioned. Experienced senior players are not leading.
There are many painfully accurate assessments in this thread some of which which lay some blame at the players feet but the overwhelming culpability is on the coaching staff, especially how inflexibly they respond to going a goal down.
Sorry to be so repetitive, but if Cardwell had more minutes under his belt up to now, he could have been a starter today.  Jones is clearly unhappy but he has to start. If he is mardy with the ref the tactics, or switches off, yank him off after 20 min. Whatever it takes to get to 50 points!
Even though it was like being in a library today I could hear very few calls between players. Has there been a fall out?

Today was poor and to be honest I felt even more short changed with the lack of response from the players when we went 1 - 0 down only Summers, Matt and Davis appeared to be trying after that.

To be fair a lot of people are talking about Slade ball and Hoof ball but at times today you could see we tried to get it down and play but far too often out pass was wrong or the execution was poor. We also got into some decent positions in and around the box but looked completely clueless when it came to the important thing, an attempt on goal, too many touches far too often.

At half time I was a bit worried as we had not looked like scoring in reality and they had missed a couple of sitters. Both sides spent the game "winning" cheap free kicks and that came to a head with the penalty which by the reaction of the Town payers was soft but a foul. For the 2nd I have not got a scooby what Mills was doing and just wonder if Killip was a bit taller would he have saved it, didn't see the 3rd as I was indisposed.

So concerned about the response from the players when we went behind but also from the bench in that we currently have anyone who can come on and change a game out on loan and Slade did not appear to do much different when we went behind.

In the car on the way home we got talking about the squad and it's size the fallout from PH & MB and the fact that the wage bill may be holding us back but actually today Killip, Davis, Clarke, Collins, Rose, Demblle, DJ and Mat where all signed or re-signed by Slade which is a concern that they can't produce better and he can't give them a game plan to beat teams.

This squad needs a re-boot whether it's from returning loanees and/or one or two new faces at least one of whom needs to be a clever striker who can finish.          

was more like a funeral in the upper findus today,, during the game all you could hear was folk chatting about how there xmas was... mind there was a few nice ships going up and down river  to break the boardom  up a bit

  Jones is clearly unhappy but he has to start. If he is mardy with the ref the tactics, or switches off, yank him off after 20 min.

Don't think that is in Slade's job description.

I think as many people have said, from a fans perspective it is almost past the angry phase and in to the disillusioned and resigned to mediocrity stage, the “meh” phase

Give or take one or two discussion points (and the enforced change of keeper) I said in the Upper Findus before kick off that the selection was decent, bearing in mind the personnel currently in the building.
We huffed and puffed, but until Hooper brought a save from the keeper late on I don’t think we’d had one shot on target.
After their first goal our whole team lost what little shape, idea, and fight they started with, and to me that is the unforgivable thing

Well, I did say 'whatever it takes' !

Didn’t go today so can’t get stuck into what went wrong but having seen this group of players over the last couple of seasons all I can say is this . There’s 3 who have played at a higher level who are coming to the end of the line . Theres 1 player who has the potential to go on . Then there’s the rest who have bobbed around the lower leagues and non league who just aren’t good enough and never will be . These ones are totally inconsistent as a result of their actual footballing ability and mental strength. As a result if all 11 have a good day they are capable of getting a result . On a bad day ie today it’s like having 4 v 11 . Result 3-0 Home defeat .
It’s ok blaming the manager, who should shoulder a lot of the blame as it’s up to him to motivate, but when there’s so much unrest in camp ie a player dictating he would rather stay on loan elsewhere rather than knuckle down and play for the club he’s contracted to , it makes the managers job almost untenable in terms of respect. No surprise today’s performance from the players was a shambles .

Quoted from louth_in_the_south

Didn’t go today so can’t get stuck into what went wrong but having seen this group of players over the last couple of seasons all I can say is this . There’s 3 who have played at a higher level who are coming to the end of the line . Theres 1 player who has the potential to go on . Then there’s the rest who have bobbed around the lower leagues and non league who just aren’t good enough and never will be . These ones are totally inconsistent as a result of their actual footballing ability and mental strength. As a result if all 11 have a good day they are capable of getting a result . On a bad day ie today it’s like having 4 v 11 . Result 3-0 Home defeat .
It’s ok blaming the manager, who should shoulder a lot of the blame as it’s up to him to motivate, but when there’s so much unrest in camp ie a player dictating he would rather stay on loan elsewhere rather than knuckle down and play for the club he’s contracted to , it makes the managers job almost untenable in terms of respect. No surprise today’s performance from the players was a shambles .

However talented Osborne may be, he has only played half a season of League football and should not be allowed to either dictate terms or have a disruptive effect on the squad. If he doesn't want to be here, tear up his contract.

Quoted from MuddyWaters

However talented Osborne may be, he has only played half a season of League football and should not be allowed to either dictate terms or have a disruptive effect on the squad. If he doesn't want to be here, tear up his contract.

Totally agree .

Sorry I know this sort of stuff isn't everyone's cup of tea, but just sharing a little bit of analysis into Luke Summerfield's passing today:

http://bit.ly/2zQuZod

Hopefully some might find it at least slightly interesting.

Really good read thank you for that, Luke played well yesterday and he seems to just do the easy thing 9 times out of 10.

Before the game I was very happy with the team selection, the fact we had 2 skillful wingers excited me. First half they did fairly well but I just don't feel like we get the ball out to them enough.

The difference between the 2 teams for me today was (especially second half Stanley did it more) when Stanley got the ball the player with it drove forward into space then either ran at us or then picked a pass after gaining at least 10 yards. Our lot seemed to either get the ball and try pass it straight away or move a couple of steps then passed when they could have moved more forward into space with it.

That lineup was the same one we’ve had for a while apart from the obvious change in goal. And yesterday watching them was like watching a group of strangers who had just met and been put on the same side!!

Quoted from Tommy

Sorry I know this sort of stuff isn't everyone's cup of tea, but just sharing a little bit of analysis into Luke Summerfield's passing today:

http://bit.ly/2zQuZod

Hopefully some might find it at least slightly interesting.

Interesting. What I would say is this also potentially shows what people are saying about Slades dull possesion based game plan is true, as you can see in the first half the passes are all very short and safe, whereas only in the second half when were chasing the game do the passes go directly forward and out to the wings. At home to accrington we should be taking the game to them

Good analysis of Luke and he kept posession for us. However few of his passes threaten the opposition. We need forwards running into space so someone like Luke can play them in. We never get in behind the defence so none of his passes were into the danger area.

But that isnt summerfields fault is it? We never seem to have anyone making runs behind the back 4

Quoted from Hagrid

But that isnt summerfields fault is it? We never seem to have anyone making runs behind the back 4

Didn't need the last four words of that last sentence.

Quoted from Hagrid

But that isnt summerfields fault is it? We never seem to have anyone making runs behind the back 4

I agree. Our movement off the ball is poor especially in attacking areas. Given we have Wilko I am surprised he has not made the attacking players better.

Quoted from oldun

Good analysis of Luke and he kept posession for us. However few of his passes threaten the opposition. We need forwards running into space so someone like Luke can play them in. We never get in behind the defence so none of his passes were into the danger area.

Jones' lack of movement yesterday was blatant. Talk about going through the motions.

Quoted from Tommy

Sorry I know this sort of stuff isn't everyone's cup of tea, but just sharing a little bit of analysis into Luke Summerfield's passing today:

http://bit.ly/2zQuZod

Hopefully some might find it at least slightly interesting.

Excellent analysis Tommy - many thanks. Refreshing to read an objective analysis rather than just the 'they're not good enough / Slade out' type comments (which of course people are entitled to make, but analyses such as yours provide insights into what specifically might need to change).

(Also, I admire your coaching philosophy on your website - well articulated, and commendable priorities!)

Accrington attacked as a pack - 4/5 going forward, great movement, pin point passing, clinical finishing - everything we weren't.
They have some very good 'footballers' - and I don't mean 6ft 3in lumps who are athletes first and footballers second.
Player who are encouraged to get the ball down and pass it
This is what you get with hoof ball I'm afraid - no tactical acumen, no joined up thinking when the 'big fella' knocks it down, and players who don't know what to do when they get a sniff of a chance

Slade's football HAS to be successful because there is no aesthetic enjoyment - a few wins here and there just paper over the cracks and eventually it fails

It's the PL equivalent of Pulis at WBA - once their slide started the ugliness of the football just comes to the fore and fans vote with their mouths and feet

It's odd because 6pts off play offs and mid table security is not the worst place to be - but the whole package (off and on field) feels as bad as I can remember.

I've never felt less of a connection with a GTFC team /set up as this in 35 years of supporting them - it feels so characterless and devoid of any enjoyment

May 2016 and Wembley seems like light years away

Quoted from Hagrid

But that isnt summerfields fault is it? We never seem to have anyone making runs behind the back 4

Generally, yes, but Cardwell did yesterday when he came on (I know he didn't score) and you've written him off already.

Cardwell had a thankless task
2-0 down, hasn't played for ages, and some expect him to change the game!

I'd give him a few games - nothing to lose with the sh*te we currently have

Quoted from Tommy

Sorry I know this sort of stuff isn't everyone's cup of tea, but just sharing a little bit of analysis into Luke Summerfield's passing today:

http://bit.ly/2zQuZod

Hopefully some might find it at least slightly interesting.

Really like to see this kind of thing, if only the person Luke passes to could do better but as you say the completion rate is very strong, He must be the fittest at the club by a mile as he often pops up to tidy things up at the back and play us out of trouble.

A lot of people are talking about bids coming in for Dembelle in Jan but based upon form we need to be careful someone does not tempt Summers away.

But are his passes creating anything? I could stand and make 5-10 yard passes to a teammate and get excellent completion statistics, but the team might not be threatening, a fine example is Liverpool's Henderson, again keeps possession and will have good stats but does he create.

Quoted from Gaffer58

But are his passes creating anything? I could stand and make 5-10 yard passes to a teammate and get excellent completion statistics, but the team might not be threatening, a fine example is Liverpool's Henderson, again keeps possession and will have good stats but does he create.

This is a fair point and often at the top level you'll see centre halves with very high passing completion when opposition drop off and the CB's can roll the ball back and forth to each other for minutes on end. (See Otamendi at Man City currently with mad high numbers of passes).

That's what the maps are for though in that you can generally see he's either passing forwards or to get it out wide.

I'd add that I think he does have a bit of vision and an ability to play a killer pass (See assist for Dembele goal at Port Vale), but for that to happen he needs movement ahead of the ball. Not just a player making a run to receive it, but also other players moving to drag markers with them and create space for others too.

Quoted from devs

Accrington attacked as a pack - 4/5 going forward, great movement, pin point passing, clinical finishing - everything we weren't.
They have some very good 'footballers' - and I don't mean 6ft 3in lumps who are athletes first and footballers second.
Player who are encouraged to get the ball down and pass it
This is what you get with hoof ball I'm afraid - no tactical acumen, no joined up thinking when the 'big fella' knocks it down, and players who don't know what to do when they get a sniff of a chance

Slade's football HAS to be successful because there is no aesthetic enjoyment - a few wins here and there just paper over the cracks and eventually it fails

It's the PL equivalent of Pulis at WBA - once their slide started the ugliness of the football just comes to the fore and fans vote with their mouths and feet

It's odd because 6pts off play offs and mid table security is not the worst place to be - but the whole package (off and on field) feels as bad as I can remember.

I've never felt less of a connection with a GTFC team /set up as this in 35 years of supporting them - it feels so characterless and devoid of any enjoyment

May 2016 and Wembley seems like light years away

I agree with a lot in your post, but the Wembley mention in your last season got me thinking.

The football that season wasn't great; we were in non league and until the second leg against Braintree looked like staying like that. Wembley was one of our best ever days, but very much a one off.

We are now back with the "elite" so to speak, and in a much stronger position to progress, if we put our backs into it - the owner I mean in giving the manager funding to strengthen the team. We would have been severely restricted in the amount of players as a Conference club, but now we are in the league we should surely be able to attract better players if the wages are right.

I am not sure exactly how I feel at the moment. League football means everything to me - the shame of falling into non league still haunts me - so in that sense I am happier than some, but now is the time for the owner to start investing in the playing side before more and more people feel like you.

That fans forum came at the right time for fenty and hoofhead..

Let's remember guys he is trying to build us something.

intercourse off.

Quoted from Tommy

This is a fair point and often at the top level you'll see centre halves with very high passing completion when opposition drop off and the CB's can roll the ball back and forth to each other for minutes on end. (See Otamendi at Man City currently with mad high numbers of passes).

That's what the maps are for though in that you can generally see he's either passing forwards or to get it out wide.

I'd add that I think he does have a bit of vision and an ability to play a killer pass (See assist for Dembele goal at Port Vale), but for that to happen he needs movement ahead of the ball. Not just a player making a run to receive it, but also other players moving to drag markers with them and create space for others too.

Your analysis shows good completion figures granted and demonstrates his improvement this season. I've said it before and I'll say it again about him though, and it won't be very popular, he flatters to deceive. He is very neat and tidy but look where he's passing from. He's passing from really deep, nothing from in the final third and virtually nothing into the final third or box. I don't think he's brave enough with the ball. You're probably right about lack of movement ahead but central midfielders also have to drive at the defence to create uncertainty and actually get beyond the forward line once in a while and this is his achilles heel and why we need someone different to him to get us out of this league. He would be perfect as the deep lying midfielder in a three acting like a quarterback with more advanced partners but Slade is a 4-4-2 or 4-4-1-1 manager who likes his defenders to clear their lines rather than play, which is another factor which reduces Summerfield's effectiveness. Twenty odd passes in 90 minutes underlines that fact. Summers is perfectly effective at this mid-table level but we will need more if we're looking to compete at the top end of the table. Pleased he's won over a lot of people but I still don't think he's the answer. You've had to go as far back as the Port Vale game for a defence splitting ball, he should be making at least one or two of them a game if he's our playmaker..

Quoted from Bigdog

Your analysis shows good completion figures granted and demonstrates his improvement this season. I've said it before and I'll say it again about him though, and it won't be very popular, he flatters to deceive. He is very neat and tidy but look where he's passing from. He's passing from really deep, nothing from in the final third and virtually nothing into the final third or box. I don't think he's brave enough with the ball. You're probably right about lack of movement ahead but central midfielders also have to drive at the defence to create uncertainty and actually get beyond the forward line once in a while and this is his achilles heel and why we need someone different to him to get us out of this league. He would be perfect as the deep lying midfielder in a three acting like a quarterback with more advanced partners but Slade is a 4-4-2 or 4-4-1-1 manager who likes his defenders to clear their lines rather than play, which is another factor which reduces Summerfield's effectiveness. Twenty odd passes in 90 minutes underlines that fact. Summers is perfectly effective at this mid-table level but we will need more if we're looking to compete at the top end of the table. Pleased he's won over a lot of people but I still don't think he's the answer. You've had to go as far back as the Port Vale game for a defence splitting ball, he should be making at least one or two of them a game if he's our playmaker..

Most of the effective teams at this level use three central midfielders and use their wide players in a front three. This creates more space and allows you to have midfield runners (which we need!) - when you play 4-4-2, one of your central 2 tends to sit in front of your centre backs and when Collins starts falling on his bottom (as he did yesterday) then your centre mids lose their effectiveness.

Quoted from lew chaterleys lover

I agree with a lot in your post, but the Wembley mention in your last season got me thinking.

The football that season wasn't great; we were in non league and until the second leg against Braintree looked like staying like that. Wembley was one of our best ever days, but very much a one off.

We are now back with the "elite" so to speak, and in a much stronger position to progress, if we put our backs into it - the owner I mean in giving the manager funding to strengthen the team. We would have been severely restricted in the amount of players as a Conference club, but now we are in the league we should surely be able to attract better players if the wages are right.

I am not sure exactly how I feel at the moment. League football means everything to me - the shame of falling into non league still haunts me - so in that sense I am happier than some, but now is the time for the owner to start investing in the playing side before more and more people feel like you.

I see what you are say LCL and don't disagree but I have highlighted 2 very different things which apologies may have just been a play on words but thought where worth noting,

Re "giving" the manager funds well it's clear that JF does not really "give" anything and the other 2 Muppets Marley & Day have nothing to give. Re "investing" if JF invested more money he would want a return, do we really want to be further indebted to this man? Sorry again I know I'm playing on your words to a degree.

I don't like all personal stuff aimed at Fenty but as the weeks go by this season it is evident he knows very little about football and even less about running a club. When I mention club I don't just mean a P&L and balance sheet I mean something people feel part of. However unless someone with 2 million plus a big stack on top appears to take us forward nothing will drastically change for a couple of seasons and maybe that's how you ultimately move up out of this league look at Luton this is their 4th season back.

Maybe we just need to accept it takes time to move forward and for us even longer as we are going to have to process trough some dead wood who have possibly through no fault of their own not added any value on the pitch, it won't be easy to stomach but it's better than Coalville away in the FA trophy or Braintree on a foggy Tuesday night..

      

Quoted from MuddyWaters

Most of the effective teams at this level use three central midfielders and use their wide players in a front three. This creates more space and allows you to have midfield runners (which we need!) - when you play 4-4-2, one of your central 2 tends to sit in front of your centre backs and when Collins starts falling on his bottom (as he did yesterday) then your centre mids lose their effectiveness.

Totally agree OC, not many teams play with a central midfield two anymore except ones with a coach stuck in the last century..

And.. Collins could do with a rest at the minute. Looks like he's running through treacle the past few weeks..

Quoted from Bigdog

Your analysis shows good completion figures granted and demonstrates his improvement this season. I've said it before and I'll say it again about him though, and it won't be very popular, he flatters to deceive. He is very neat and tidy but look where he's passing from. He's passing from really deep, nothing from in the final third and virtually nothing into the final third or box. I don't think he's brave enough with the ball. You're probably right about lack of movement ahead but central midfielders also have to drive at the defence to create uncertainty and actually get beyond the forward line once in a while and this is his achilles heel and why we need someone different to him to get us out of this league. He would be perfect as the deep lying midfielder in a three acting like a quarterback with more advanced partners but Slade is a 4-4-2 or 4-4-1-1 manager who likes his defenders to clear their lines rather than play, which is another factor which reduces Summerfield's effectiveness. Twenty odd passes in 90 minutes underlines that fact. Summers is perfectly effective at this mid-table level but we will need more if we're looking to compete at the top end of the table. Pleased he's won over a lot of people but I still don't think he's the answer. You've had to go as far back as the Port Vale game for a defence splitting ball, he should be making at least one or two of them a game if he's our playmaker..

You can only pass to those who are available.
If they happen to be sideways or backwards then that’s due to the negative, boring, defensive set up formation.  
Why play a defence splitting pass that just rolls to their keeper ?

Quoted from Civvy at last

You can only pass to those who are available.
If they happen to be sideways or backwards then that’s due to the negative, boring, defensive set up formation.  
Why play a defence splitting pass that just rolls to their keeper ?

There were players not making themselves available yesterday. I really thought that Wilko could coach this into players but, of our five forwards, the only one I've seen look to make space is Cardwell in pre-season. Matt is a target, Vernon looks knackered and the other two are either bone idle or not interested.

If you want to know what an effective midfielder looks like, watch McConville from yesterday. Brought down for a penalty and scored a great goal, among other good things he did. Also, the performance of their right winger was way above what anyone has done on the wing for us in a while. He skinned Davies more than once and put in some great crosses. There is an argument that Accy are in a great area for picking up players but it has to be said that they must surely be working on a much smaller budget than most, given their attendances. They have been around the top end of League 2 for a while now and if they can do it, why can't we?

I also have to temper my argument by saying that Slade hasn't been here that long and maybe needs longer to turn the squad around before we get too critical of him. I'm not a fan of his style of play, but if he can get us winning more regularly and improve the playing staff, then i can accept that. Trouble is, players like Hooper, Kelly and Dixon etc, can't even get a regular start, so one has to seriously question his player recruitment at this stage.

Quoted from Civvy at last

You can only pass to those who are available.
If they happen to be sideways or backwards then that’s due to the negative, boring, defensive set up formation.  
Why play a defence splitting pass that just rolls to their keeper ?

Can't disagree with any of that Civvy.

But if we can play Summers with Rose and Jamie O as a three, DJ and Dembele more advanced in a three with a fired up Sam Jones and maybe K Osbourne at the back so we don't have to be too deep, it could help Summers improve even further by providing more killer passes. But then again, I haven't got RS's performance data or flip charts to hand to know any better..

Quoted from Bigdog

Can't disagree with any of that Civvy.

But if we can play Summers with Rose and Jamie O as a three, DJ and Dembele more advanced in a three with a fired up Sam Jones and maybe K Osbourne at the back so we don't have to be too deep, it could help Summers improve even further by providing more killer passes. But then again, I haven't got RS's performance data or flip charts to hand to know any better..

Hence why, in the absence of Osborne, I put Berrett in the 'Team for Crewe' thread - not everyone's cup of tea but would play the sitting role to free up the other two.

Quoted from Bigdog

Your analysis shows good completion figures granted and demonstrates his improvement this season. I've said it before and I'll say it again about him though, and it won't be very popular, he flatters to deceive. He is very neat and tidy but look where he's passing from. He's passing from really deep, nothing from in the final third and virtually nothing into the final third or box. I don't think he's brave enough with the ball. You're probably right about lack of movement ahead but central midfielders also have to drive at the defence to create uncertainty and actually get beyond the forward line once in a while and this is his achilles heel and why we need someone different to him to get us out of this league. He would be perfect as the deep lying midfielder in a three acting like a quarterback with more advanced partners but Slade is a 4-4-2 or 4-4-1-1 manager who likes his defenders to clear their lines rather than play, which is another factor which reduces Summerfield's effectiveness. Twenty odd passes in 90 minutes underlines that fact. Summers is perfectly effective at this mid-table level but we will need more if we're looking to compete at the top end of the table. Pleased he's won over a lot of people but I still don't think he's the answer. You've had to go as far back as the Port Vale game for a defence splitting ball, he should be making at least one or two of them a game if he's our playmaker..

Fair and well-designed arguments as usual Bigdog.

It's a good point about the low number of passes over 90mins and I mentioned that in what i wrote. But as you say the way the team plays and what he back 4 do with the ball doesn't help him get as much of the ball as he'd probably like to.

I'd have been interested to see how many passes all the players made/completed because I'd imagine some would be in single figures and LS would have been amongst the highest. I'd put that down to the fact that he does try more than most to create angles and ask for the ball.

You could be right but I think it's a tough one to know if he'd be more effective with playing defence splitting passes unless we see him play behind forwards that show a bit more inventive movement off the ball.

Ultimately though he's not one who has great success when driving forward to commit defenders. So I think he is more suited to one of the deeper lying midfielders in a 4231 (the formation we started the season with before we had the usual clamour from everyone for us to go back to 442).

Seasons greetings. Sorry we have had a lethargic last four games.
Thinking about some of the comments above, I just wonder whether we would be better suited to 4-2-3-1 formation. There are many sides now following this approach and I think it might suit the players we have.

Back four usually ok or good
Summerfield and rose
Dembele jones Osborne
Matt

With dj on the bench to cover one of the wide positions.

Works for Huddersfield who have limited resources.

Best wishes for 2018

Quoted from Tommy

Fair and well-designed arguments as usual Bigdog.

It's a good point about the low number of passes over 90mins and I mentioned that in what i wrote. But as you say the way the team plays and what he back 4 do with the ball doesn't help him get as much of the ball as he'd probably like to.

I'd have been interested to see how many passes all the players made/completed because I'd imagine some would be in single figures and LS would have been amongst the highest. I'd put that down to the fact that he does try more than most to create angles and ask for the ball.

You could be right but I think it's a tough one to know if he'd be more effective with playing defence splitting passes unless we see him play behind forwards that show a bit more inventive movement off the ball.

Ultimately though he's not one who has great success when driving forward to commit defenders. So I think he is more suited to one of the deeper lying midfielders in a 4231 (the formation we started the season with before we had the usual clamour from everyone for us to go back to 442).

I’m no student of the game but I have been thinking for a while that looking at the players I have seen in most other teams in this leagueour lads are not that bad and it’s the shape and game plan that gets in the way.

Overall we are a striker or two bothwith footballing brains short of being half decent.

I like 4-2-3-1 but Matt as the lone forward? Not good enough. Plus, Osborne isn't currently here and Jones is all over the place.