Same old same old

Well laddies n gents, we have that age old problem that GTFC have suffered with for several seasons now, we cannot hit a cows backside with a banjo in front of goal...
Looking at what I've seen so far..
Green - Grafts but just isn't a forward to get you goals.
Gibson - Work in progress, shown something in there but not enough.
Jackson Jr - Too raw
Sissay - See above
Edwards - Exciting prospect but not an out n out goal machine
Hanson - we all know the problem there.
We haven't got goals in midfield, apart from maybe the odd set pieces from Williams..
Occasionally the defenders will chip in with one here and there, but IMHO, we are in for, at best, a bottom half of the table scrap thus season....roll on 2021/22 for me, seriously thinking about bombing this season and hoping for MUCH better next season.

Quoted from Northbank Mariner

Well laddies n gents, we have that age old problem that GTFC have suffered with for several seasons now, we cannot hit a cows backside with a banjo in front of goal...
Looking at what I've seen so far..
Green - Grafts but just isn't a forward to get you goals.
Gibson - Work in progress, shown something in there but not enough.
Jackson Jr - Too raw
Sissay - See above
Edwards - Exciting prospect but not an out n out goal machine
Hanson - we all know the problem there.
We haven't got goals in midfield, apart from maybe the odd set pieces from Williams..
Occasionally the defenders will chip in with one here and there, but IMHO, we are in for, at best, a bottom half of the table scrap thus season....roll on 2021/22 for me, seriously thinking about bombing this season and hoping for MUCH better next season.

The fact you haven’t mentioned Scannell and Bennett underlines their impact.

Fair assessment we looked scared when we cross the half way line
I know Green has took a lot of Stick on here but he works hard and has no service I think one or two of our so called senior pros eg Bennett & Scannell need to do a lot better
It’s gonna be along and difficult winter ahead for us all UTM

It goes to show that these ex prem / champ managers are only as good as the checkbook behind them . we have begged  and borrowed   and scratted about  in poundland.  and ended up with SFA. and Ollie thinks he can turn them in to a good team . Yer right .

We are toothless, I could have played in goal for Hull tonight.

Quoted from MuddyWaters

The fact you haven’t mentioned Scannell and Bennett underlines their impact.

or Morton and Spokes

Green - for a striker when does he ever get in the box? Too many number 10s in this squad and he's playing like one himself when he should be told different.

To be fair they are youngsters and are not costing us a queens ransom unlike some who has hardly kicked a ball in anger this season UTM

And to rub salt in the wound Scunny are winning away at Port Vale tonight in the league  

Quoted from denni266

It goes to show that these ex prem / champ managers are only as good as the checkbook behind them . we have begged  and borrowed   and scratted about  in poundland.  and ended up with SFA. and Ollie thinks he can turn them in to a good team . Yer right .

No wonder we’re up sh*t creek if we’ve ended up with the Scottish Football Association

Quoted from KingstonMariner

No wonder we’re up sh*t creek if we’ve ended up with the Scottish Football Association

Quoted from promotion plaice

And to rub salt in the wound Scunny are winning away at Port Vale tonight in the league  

FT...Port Vale 0-1 Scunny

Can see that annoying troll resurfacing soon FFS  

Quoted from always grimsby

Fair assessment we looked scared when we cross the half way line
I know Green has took a lot of Stick on here but he works hard and has no service I think one or two of our so called senior pros eg Bennett & Scannell need to do a lot better
It’s gonna be along and difficult winter ahead for us all UTM

When Green gets the ball he does frig all with it.

Im not defending Green at all but he is so isolated that whenever he does get it theres noone for him to give it too or even have a shot as he’s got 3 round him

Quoted from arryarryarry

When Green gets the ball he does frig all with it.

Because the players around him don’t move. I’m not a Matt Green fan but the lack of movement from the rest is the reason. There’s no wonder we lose possession so easily.

As mentioned on another thread it's no coincidence that best players are the ones ollie didn't sign pollock hendrie waterfall , hanson & hewitt when fit of course , our forwards struggle but god the service to em is a joke we lack creativity in midfield apart from williams who he seems to just play sporadically , hate to say it but if things get much worse we be in bottom 2 come end of year

It's easy to knock the forwards but while we faff around at the back (not play form the back) the forwards can't get shots in.  Then with the quality of final balls, what could any striker do?  Even Messi , couldn't hit the bag of the onion bag if the pass to hm sails over his head.

Green works hard, I don’t think anyone is particularly a big fan but unless we had a striker who comes deep and creates his own chances (every team wants one of these) we won’t score enough goals.

What comes from midfield is often non existent, and if it does, it’s woeful. I get that were likely missing Edwards but we’ve hardly lost Messi or Ronaldo.

I’m not sure why we’ve ended up with the players we’ve now got, is it Holloway not truly having an eye, is it penny pinching, is it both? Is it difficult to entice players to a club with poor training facilities in comparison to others? Is it the Covid contracts? Who knows but we’re far enough in to the season now to realise some aren’t and likely won’t ever be any good.

It's a double edged sword and a perfect recipe for disaster.  

Green doesn't hold the ball up or offer any movement.  The midfield don't go beyond him or look to find him in space.

I really, really dislike going in on players for the sake of it but I'm not even seeing this hard work from Green that others see.  He ambles around at a snail pace and I've yet to see him break into a sprint.   Gibson, for his critics, at least chases down in a manner that isn't half-arsed.  

It can't be easy up front in this team and Green doesn't look like his game is to the lone striker.  Giving him the benefit of the doubt and say that if it isn't his game and he can't do it, why play him there?

Few times yesterday when Scannell drifted into a central position, he actually held the ball up well and brought others into play.  Sadly, it was about all he did.  The midfield is a major issue as we've got no-one bursting forward to support the attack. Rose is a natural sitter (and I like him doing that role).  Morton and Spokes both look like they want to be that player too.  Seen a couple of comments about Spokes last night but I thought he did ok and sprayed a few nice passes about.  If you've got two guys centrally who are holding, your wingers have got to be your driving force from deep.  Out wide we had Max Wright with the reigns on him and Danny Preston looking, again, absolutely exhausted.  Then we had Scannell and Bennett just floundering about a bit, wasn't sure if they were behind Green or out wide.  

If it's numbers in midfield then Williams has to play in there as he's the only one who can carry the ball forward from deep.  If it's not numbers and we're sticking with a couple of holding lads centrally, then the wingers have got to be pinning their full backs back.

Said it many times, we're not suited as a squad to anything but 4-4-2.  We don't have the legs for the wing back role, we don't have the driving force from midfield, we don't have anyone who can be a lone frontman.

I'd like to see Rose and Clifton in the middle.  Bit of experience and energy.  Wright and Edwards out wide to run full backs ragged and press.  Gibson and then AN Other up top with him.  Neither are a striker but maybe Williams or Scannell as someone who can bring a little bit of creativity into the attack, arguably switching with Edwards when needed.  Still a bit mis-shapen but we look worse with each game of this 3-4-3 variation.

Agree we need to play 4-4-2 for an extended run at least.  We can then (hopefully) get the best from from the players, however limited many are.  Keep it simple.

We know that this season is about survival.  Scunny and Southend are winning.  We need to avoid a relegation scrap by making the optimum used of players.  Starting now with 4-4-2.    

These players have very few skills but what is more noticeable they lack any confidence to run with the ball.They need to play without fear not to be looking to get rid as soon as they get it to the nearest player ,it's like having a team of Andy Monkhouses

Quoted from friskneymariner

These players have very few skills but what is more noticeable they lack any confidence to run with the ball.They need to play without fear not to be looking to get rid as soon as they get it to the nearest player ,it's like having a team of Andy Monkhouses

Tilley and Edwards have shown that they're capable of running with the ball quite a fair bit this season, it's unfortunate they've both been out at the same time this month. Everyone's going well overboard about a couple of defeats in the Papa John's Tinpot (to clubs with much bigger budgets) and at Dagenham. The last three league games...we did alright by dominating possession against a side that has been setting itself up to do just that themselves for several seasons now in FGR, defended well against a Stevenage side that is looking much better than it was last season and beat Barrow at their own game. Obviously, things are far from perfect but there are definitely positives to be taken despite the fact that a lack of a consistent number 9 is going to keep being an issue. People calling for Holloway to be sacked need to be having a word with themselves. 10 games in isn't a massive amount of games, especially for a side that seems to be geared around keeping the ball. Enough of you have whinged and whined about lumping it up top to Hanson for the last year or so and now he's not in the team you're complaining about the ball being on the deck and the fact that Hanson is injured. Couldn't make it up!

Quoted from Son of Cod

Tilley and Edwards have shown that they're capable of running with the ball quite a fair bit this season. Everyone's going well overboard about a couple of defeats in the Papa John's Tinpot (to clubs with much bigger budgets) and at Dagenham. The last three league games...we did alright by dominating possession against a side that has been setting itself up to do just that themselves for several seasons now in FGR, defended well against a Stevenage side that is looking much better than it was last season and beat Barrow at their own game. Obviously, things are far from perfect but there are definitely positives to be taken despite the fact that a lack of a consistent number 9 is going to keep being an issue. People calling for Holloway to be sacked need to be having a word with themselves. 10 games in isn't a massive amount of games, especially for a side that seems to be geared around keeping the ball. Enough of you have whinged and whined about lumping it up top to Hanson for the last year or so and now he's not in the team you're complaining about the ball being on the deck and the fact that Hanson is injured. Couldn't make it up!

There's two things about this Squad that clown has put together 1) its too big and 2) its the worst in the club's history.

Quoted from Boris Johnson

There's two things about this Squad that clown has put together 1) its too big and 2) its the worst in the club's history.

Might be you that's Captain Hindsight!

Quoted from Son of Cod

Tilley and Edwards have shown that they're capable of running with the ball quite a fair bit this season, it's unfortunate they've both been out at the same time this month. Everyone's going well overboard about a couple of defeats in the Papa John's Tinpot (to clubs with much bigger budgets) and at Dagenham. The last three league games...we did alright by dominating possession against a side that has been setting itself up to do just that themselves for several seasons now in FGR, defended well against a Stevenage side that is looking much better than it was last season and beat Barrow at their own game. Obviously, things are far from perfect but there are definitely positives to be taken despite the fact that a lack of a consistent number 9 is going to keep being an issue. People calling for Holloway to be sacked need to be having a word with themselves. 10 games in isn't a massive amount of games, especially for a side that seems to be geared around keeping the ball. Enough of you have whinged and whined about lumping it up top to Hanson for the last year or so and now he's not in the team you're complaining about the ball being on the deck and the fact that Hanson is injured. Couldn't make it up!

"Stevenage better than last season" they are second from bottom for frigs sake and we played crap there.