Looking back at the last couple of managerial appointments, we knew Slade was a hoof ball merchant so no surprises there. It turned out Michael Jolley, despite his impressive FIFA qualifications might as well have been Slade's prodigy. I want to see us looking in a completely different direction for the next managerial appointment.

I said weeks before he left that Jolley was in effect sacking himself with his negativity. In what turned out to be his final game v Newport at BP, at 1-0 up, we had a corner at the Osmond end. They sensibly (unlike MJ and RS), had one forward up on the halfway line meaning we need a spare man you'd have thought, so two town players marking him? Oh no, we had FOUR players marking that one Newport forward. Slade set us up in a similar way. Neither of them put a man on the half way line when defending corners! They'll quote stats about not conceding, maybe in the first phase but you're given them posession once it's cleared! What about the second phase when they come again?

Negative people lead to negative outcomes. We are desperate for a positive manager, playing positive football. It doesn't have to be gung ho, the next management choice is massive. I don't want long ball Nolan, I want to see us building from the back, go direct if needed, we don't have Barcelona standard players, nor do I expect to see Barcelona football. Our fans are realistic, but we need hope and we need to see progress. I want to see us playing it THROUGH midfield, not bypassing it. Wingers, overlapping full backs, attacking football. Then they fans will turn up again.

We need to rediscover our identity, look at Crewe when they demolished us at BP. They've had their ups and downs through the years but they have always had an identity. We must look to employ a manager that wants to play the game properly. It seems Anthony Limbrick shares this view of how the game should be played, I wouldn't rule him out.

I want us to have a clear way of playing throughout the different age groups so progression upwards is seemless, an ethos, a medium and long term plan. Look at players released or going to be released from Premier / Championship clubs, build an experienced spine of leaders. Play the game the right way, bring back the fans and maybe we can stop the constant firefighting! And for Christs sake, look at contract renewals, stop letting our best players contracts expire! Jake Hessenthaler has 7 months of his deal left!!! It's madness!!

Quoted from fishboyUTM

Looking back at the last couple of managerial appointments, we knew Slade was a hoof ball merchant so no surprises there. It turned out Michael Jolley, despite his impressive FIFA qualifications might as well have been Slade's prodigy. I want to see us looking in a completely different direction for the next managerial appointment.

I said weeks before he left that Jolley was in effect sacking himself with his negativity. In what turned out to be his final game v Newport at BP, at 1-0 up, we had a corner at the Osmond end. They sensibly (unlike MJ and RS), had one forward up on the halfway line meaning we need a spare man you'd have thought, so two town players marking him? Oh no, we had FOUR players marking that one Newport forward. Slade set us up in a similar way. Neither of them put a man on the half way line when defending corners! They'll quote stats about not conceding, maybe in the first phase but you're given them posession once it's cleared! What about the second phase when they come again?

Negative people lead to negative outcomes. We are desperate for a positive manager, playing positive football. It doesn't have to be gung ho, the next management choice is massive. I don't want long ball Nolan, I want to see us building from the back, go direct if needed, we don't have Barcelona standard players, nor do I expect to see Barcelona football. Our fans are realistic, but we need hope and we need to see progress. I want to see us playing it THROUGH midfield, not bypassing it. Wingers, overlapping full backs, attacking football. Then they fans will turn up again.

We need to rediscover our identity, look at Crewe when they demolished us at BP. They've had their ups and downs through the years but they have always had an identity. We must look to employ a manager that wants to play the game properly. It seems Anthony Limbrick shares this view of how the game should be played, I wouldn't rule him out.

I want us to have a clear way of playing throughout the different age groups so progression upwards is seemless, an ethos, a medium and long term plan. Look at players released or going to be released from Premier / Championship clubs, build an experienced spine of leaders. Play the game the right way, bring back the fans and maybe we can stop the constant firefighting! And for Christs sake, look at contract renewals, stop letting our best players contracts expire! Jake Hessenthaler has 7 months of his deal left!!! It's madness!!

I agree to a large extent but with an important proviso - we get new owners.

Otherwise everything will be cheap and half-member.

A few people have mentioned about Hessenthaler and his contract. Don’t forget it is possible that we have already spoken to him about it and he has told us he doesn’t want to stay.

Don’t know anything at all, but people are making the assumption that nothing has been discussed. And right now, without a permanent manager in place, why would he sign a new contract? Most people in his position would wait to see who came in and whether he got on with him or not.

I see McKeown was chuntering  in the GT about playing the Buckley way. I am all in favour of our side playing the Buckley way but let’s not forget it was the Woods way too. In short succession we had Buckley Mk3 and Woods and although sometimes the play was quite flowing the end result was not there.

We can get as stuck on the passing game mentality the same as on the Route One Hurst/Slade/Jolley approach. The name of the game is to get goals and how much possession you have matters less than what you do with it. I would want to see a passing game that was about moving the ball forward not sideways and backwards. That means that somebody somewhere up the field has got to get free of a marker so they can be passed to, or somebody in midfield has to beat at least one player to draw out defenders. If that doesn’t happen then it is just sideways and backwards until somebody (McKeown most likely) hoofs it.

Quoted from Posh Harry

A few people have mentioned about Hessenthaler and his contract. Don’t forget it is possible that we have already spoken to him about it and he has told us he doesn’t want to stay.

You're correct in what you say, but the boards track record At our level is absolutely appauling. IMO, the time to renew contracts of key players, proven players when you know them and know their strengths and weaknesses is twelve months before expiry. You're protecting your asset. Remember when players like Padraig Amond, Carl Magnay, Danny Andrew leave, they must be replaced. Then despite scouting and hopefully looking into his character, you're talking an unknown quantity to a large degree. We don't renew contracts, generally until they have expired in general. It's stupid.

Quoted from fishboyUTM

You're correct in what you say, but the boards track record At our level is absolutely appauling. IMO, the time to renew contracts of key players, proven players when you know them and know their strengths and weaknesses is twelve months before expiry. You're protecting your asset. Remember when players like Padraig Amond, Carl Magnay, Danny Andrew leave, they must be replaced. Then despite scouting and hopefully looking into his character, you're talking an unknown quantity to a large degree. We don't renew contracts, generally until they have expired in general. It's stupid.

I agree. It did seem to have been shifting under Jolley but who knows going forward.

UTFM

either David Hunter or Adam Chance

How we play isn't really as important as end product. I've been to games where we played some good football and created chances but lacked that ability to put chances away. A lot of Buckley games I recall were not particularly free scoring games and better teams able to break us down would win because we lacked ability to score goals except for penalties.

I think people look back at the past with rose tinted spectacles and believe it has all the answers. The real questions that need to be asked are more to do with why aren't we scoring? Why are we shipping so many goals?

We need a far more positive and attacking approach at home,  no wonder fans are deciding not to go.

It is good to play through midfield but you need the players to do it.  We have had a weak or weaker midfield for at least 12 years now.

Crewe were a good footballing side this season.  They had pace and could pass.  We would do well to emulate any of their impressive aspects.

Until Fenty goes the club will slowly die as we can see now.
I think the fans have finally turned when 400 plus season ticket holders cannot be bothered to go.
I would of got rid of Jolley after the Yeovil game the season before that was just hoofed up all game and they beat us easily and they where relegated that season.

Quoted from TownSNAFU5

We need a far more positive and attacking approach at home,  no wonder fans are deciding not to go.

It is good to play through midfield but you need the players to do it.  We have had a weak or weaker midfield for at least 12 years now.

Crewe were a good footballing side this season.  They had pace and could pass.  We would do well to emulate any of their impressive aspects.

They got the ball wide all the time, their wingers had chalk on their boots. We were so narrow it played into their hands and Jolley just twiddled his thumbs and let it happen.

Well said.  Overlapping fullbacks, now there's a thing.  You're right about a lot of it but , yes we do need an end product. Therefore, variety is surely the key.  A long through ball or clever one two can open up a defence.  A lot of times in the last few years, it's either been the luimp forward or cutesy triangles with no end result. I think Buckley's teams had more than that.  When i lived down south I went to Brentford to see town.  For some reason I was in the Brentford end.  A black and white scarf in a sea of red and white.  Tony Rees played a blinder.  The Brentford fans were singing our praises. We beat them 3-0 and it could have been more. The Bees fans clapped us off the park.  Believe me that made me all warm and fuzzy inside. (yeah, I know, a sad life)  I think we need a Groves or Disley to galvanise the team when things aren't going well. Something we seem to be missing. Swindon next .  Top of the table.  We can beat Exeter, we can do it again.

Quoted from fishboyUTM

You're correct in what you say, but the boards track record At our level is absolutely appauling. IMO, the time to renew contracts of key players, proven players when you know them and know their strengths and weaknesses is twelve months before expiry. You're protecting your asset. Remember when players like Padraig Amond, Carl Magnay, Danny Andrew leave, they must be replaced. Then despite scouting and hopefully looking into his character, you're talking an unknown quantity to a large degree. We don't renew contracts, generally until they have expired in general. It's stupid.

Padraig Amond was offered a new contract half way through the one season contract he had and rejected it?

I always thought it was a Hurst thing to leave the contract renewals until late on. But all of the players we would be gutted to lose are the players that are probably capable of playing at a higher level or getting more money elsewhere. Not really in their interest to sign a contract when there's no other interested parties about to use as a bargaining chip.

Quoted from marinerdazza

either David Hunter or Adam Chance

Yeah, it’s non footy but quick music quiz question,

Song lyric “Adam Chance and Zorro, take them with a pinch of salt”

Name the band and the song (Clue, it helps to be over 50 and like punk)  :)

Quoted from lee65

Yeah, it’s non footy but quick music quiz question,

Song lyric “Adam Chance and Zorro, take them with a pinch of salt”

Name the band and the song (Clue, it helps to be over 50 and like punk)  :)

I know its The Damned but cant remember the song title at all.

Quoted from fishboyUTM

Looking back at the last couple of managerial appointments, we knew Slade was a hoof ball merchant so no surprises there. It turned out Michael Jolley, despite his impressive FIFA qualifications might as well have been Slade's prodigy. I want to see us looking in a completely different direction for the next managerial appointment.

I said weeks before he left that Jolley was in effect sacking himself with his negativity. In what turned out to be his final game v Newport at BP, at 1-0 up, we had a corner at the Osmond end. They sensibly (unlike MJ and RS), had one forward up on the halfway line meaning we need a spare man you'd have thought, so two town players marking him? Oh no, we had FOUR players marking that one Newport forward. Slade set us up in a similar way. Neither of them put a man on the half way line when defending corners! They'll quote stats about not conceding, maybe in the first phase but you're given them posession once it's cleared! What about the second phase when they come again?

Negative people lead to negative outcomes. We are desperate for a positive manager, playing positive football. It doesn't have to be gung ho, the next management choice is massive. I don't want long ball Nolan, I want to see us building from the back, go direct if needed, we don't have Barcelona standard players, nor do I expect to see Barcelona football. Our fans are realistic, but we need hope and we need to see progress. I want to see us playing it THROUGH midfield, not bypassing it. Wingers, overlapping full backs, attacking football. Then they fans will turn up again.

We need to rediscover our identity, look at Crewe when they demolished us at BP. They've had their ups and downs through the years but they have always had an identity. We must look to employ a manager that wants to play the game properly. It seems Anthony Limbrick shares this view of how the game should be played, I wouldn't rule him out.

I want us to have a clear way of playing throughout the different age groups so progression upwards is seemless, an ethos, a medium and long term plan. Look at players released or going to be released from Premier / Championship clubs, build an experienced spine of leaders. Play the game the right way, bring back the fans and maybe we can stop the constant firefighting! And for Christs sake, look at contract renewals, stop letting our best players contracts expire! Jake Hessenthaler has 7 months of his deal left!!! It's madness!!

We can't and won't achieve the kind of football Crewe play as their ethos is to put their faith in the manager and their youngsters and be patient. Significant portions of the Town fanbase, board and JSF have proven time and time again that they don't have the levels of patience that Crewe have. This current Crewe squad is performing well as a result of seasons and seasons of ground work and making mistakes. I've got a very good friend who is a Crewe fan and he thought it was utterly ridiculous that we sacked Jolley when we did and for the reasons that we did.

TBF, I don't believe we sacked Jolley... maybe he walked before we did.. no one will ever know for sure..

Quoted from Son of Cod

We can't and won't achieve the kind of football Crewe play as their ethos is to put their faith in the manager and their youngsters and be patient. Significant portions of the Town fanbase, board and JSF have proven time and time again that they don't have the levels of patience that Crewe have. This current Crewe squad is performing well as a result of seasons and seasons of ground work and making mistakes. I've got a very good friend who is a Crewe fan and he thought it was utterly ridiculous that we sacked Jolley when we did and for the reasons that we did.

But before the patience, you've got to have the right man appointed.

It's no good just being patient with whoever is the Manager and thinking that stability/longevity is a surefire way of success.
Jolley could have stayed here for another 3 years and we'd still not be playing anything like the quality of football other teams at our level play.

Crewe have a philosophy and an identity and appoint Managers to carry that out. If we want to have this ideal philosophy then its the Board's job to appoint the right Manager who's going to build it and carry it out. I'll be as patient as anyone if I think the Manager is showing signs of putting together success and building a way of playing. But it was clear in the last few months that Jolley wasn't even trying to build a team based on any philosophy as it changed every week depending on who we were playing.

Quoted from Son of Cod

I've got a very good friend who is a Crewe fan and he thought it was utterly ridiculous that we sacked Jolley when we did and for the reasons that we did.

You ought to tell him that we didn't sack Jolley then.  ;)

Quoted from Madeleymariner

I know its The Damned but cant remember the song title at all.

Macclesfield?  ;)

Quoted from MarshMariner

TBF, I don't believe we sacked Jolley... maybe he walked before we did.. no one will ever know for sure..

I think he was just looking for a chance / excuse to walk , he knew he was just not up to the job.

Quoted from Madeleymariner

I know its The Damned but cant remember the song title at all.

Well done Madeley  :), it’s “History of the world”

Part of the club ethos I'd like to see: we always attack the opposition at home.

(The manager can show how clever he is in the away games.)  ::)

A counter attacking style for away games has served us well at times in past. With nippy inside forwards left and right should be implementable.

4-2-3-1, yeah I kinda forgot about that, 2 deep lying midfielders gives you chance for a number 10 -of which we have many.

But with trying to engrain 4-3-3 would developing that be viewed now as tinkering, or; 'chasing two rabbits and not getting a meal'?

I've always kinda viewed these new-age formations from 4-3-3 to Christmas tree as pretty similar but of course they not. Differences might seem subtle but really could have drastic effect.

Who remembers ruud gullit and his SeXy football?  ;D
We could bum it in the net for all I care - couldn't give a excrement how we play.
Oh, as long as we win

Quoted from Rik e B

4-2-3-1, yeah I kinda forgot about that, 2 deep lying midfielders gives you chance for a number 10 -of which we have many.

But with trying to engrain 4-3-3 would developing that be viewed now as tinkering, or; 'chasing two rabbits and not getting a meal'?

I've always kinda viewed these new-age formations from 4-3-3 to Christmas tree as pretty similar but of course they not. Differences might seem subtle but really could have drastic effect.

The Hungarians in the 50s played 3-2-3-2. Fancy systems are nothing new are they?

England played a 1-1-8 in 1872

If course there were vastly different formations back in the day, like the top heavy teams around war time but since my inception, at least since as far back as memory goes, it was always 4-4-2 with an occasional flirt with an 'exotic' 3-5-2 ala Hoddle's England.

Systems and formations pfff, when I played Sunday league we all just ran around the pitch in a group wherever the ball was   :)