Thoughts from the Peterborough game

[PeteBlade]

Woolford was really poor, wasted lots of chances and wouldn't shoot cos it was on his left peg

First half he was more than decent.

 

[Grappler]

Which in itself suggests the "overgrown, bloated squad" line is bollocks.

Yes, it's bloated in some areas but not in others.

No excuse for not spending the Murphy Millions (& the latest tranche of planned princely investment) to improve where we need to improve.

Problem is Alfie, we need a lot more players, not just one or two. Yesterdays second half showed that. Peterborough's back four were shakey but we never really tested them.

 

[PeteBlade]

Problem is Alfie, we need a lot more players, not just one or two. Yesterdays second half showed that. Peterborough's back four were shakey but we never really tested them.

And their keeper was suspect. The amount of times he got himself in trouble trying to play the ball out short to his back four and we didn't test him at all in the second half.

 

[brownie4583]

We need to shoot more instead of trying to walk it in.2 of their goals came from shots from distance.

 

[Grappler]

And their keeper was suspect. The amount of times he got himself in trouble trying to play the ball out short to his back four and we didn't test him at all in the second half.

Yes mate, totally agree, a more clinical side would have been all over him, yet it was the crowd having to shout at our players to run at him, he was very suspect, as you say.

 

[judge]

One of the most pivotal points in the clubs history was after the battle of bramall lane
Warnock brought through a clutch of youngsters and although we knew short term we werent going to be seeing any real dividends the fans seemed to get behind the team and we slowly but surely went on from there to build a promotion winning team

Season after season since our prem relegation i think we have needed to do something as catharthitic but we just seeem to keep repeating the same mistakes of bringing in players on good contracts who dont earn it

 

[Blade56]

Higdon is atrocious. He's a pub player.

And god knows what he weighs after not getting regular games before or after the festive season

 

[Cyprus Blade]

don't sell your better fucking players.

Somewhere he is saying "Told you so !!!!"

 

[PeteBlade]

Yes, the past is the past. But the least you can do is learn from the past which - in our case - should be don't sell your better fucking players.

Definitely this remains the one constant and main reason we're still here.
Yet we have some fans who will tie themselves up in knots trying to use obscure stats to tell you how they weren't our best players at the time we sold them.

 

[Alfreton14Blade]

Problem is Alfie, we need a lot more players, not just one or two. Yesterdays second half showed that. Peterborough's back four were shakey but we never really tested them.

The lack of options off the bench was stark, I thought. Whereas Peterboro made the one change at half time, which negated the big threat that had previously existed down our right/their left during the first half.

And their change - Lawrie Wilson - was someone they'd proactively brought in on loan right at the start of the transfer window.

Tbh, Grappler, I don't think we need vast changes (though the squad admittedly needs trimming), more a change of approach in recruitment so we're targeting younger, hungrier players, as well as us proactively going out & getting the few key players to plug the known gaps without wimpish excuses like "our budgetary constraints impair us from effectively manoeuvring in the transfer market". Jamie Murphy was sold for £1.5m; & we've got a rich sugar daddy (two of them in fact, although one of them has sulkily taken his ball home & refuses to come out to play any more).

 

[judge]

I didnt even know the transfer window was open

 

[Grappler]

The lack of options off the bench was stark, I thought. Whereas Peterboro made the one change at half time, which negated the big threat that had previously existed down our right/their left during the first half.

And their change - Lawrie Wilson - was someone they'd proactively brought in on loan right at the start of the transfer window.

Tbh, Grappler, I don't think we need vast changes (though the squad admittedly needs trimming), more a change of approach in recruitment so we're targeting younger, hungrier players, as well as us proactively going out & getting the few key players to plug the known gaps without wimpish excuses like "our budgetary constraints impair us from effectively manoeuvring in the transfer market". Jamie Murphy was sold for £1.5m; & we've got a rich sugar daddy (two of them in fact, although one of them has sulkily taken his ball home & refuses to come out to play any more).

I agree we need young, hungry, athletic, powerful, fast players (any combination would be good, all the attributes would be great).

To be honest, for the very little money it would cost, I would take a punt on this bloke, 26, so no spring chicken, but could be another Jamie Vardy. His team set him a target of 25 goals for the season, and he scored his 50th in early December, going to go for 100. Knows where the back of the net is. If we can sign Adams and Wallace, I would take the risk and bring him in (unless we are suddenly going to buy another PROVEN striker, to play alongside Billy)

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/34997314

 

[Alfreton14Blade]

I agree we need young, hungry, athletic, powerful, fast players (any combination would be good, all the attributes would be great).

To be honest, for the very little money it would cost, I would take a punt on this bloke, 26, so no spring chicken, but could be another Jamie Vardy. His team set him a target of 25 goals for the season, and he scored his 50th in early December, going to go for 100. Knows where the back of the net is. If we can sign Adams and Wallace, I would take the risk and bring him in (unless we are suddenly going to buy another PROVEN striker, to play alongside Billy)

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/34997314

Amazing to think that Peterboro brought their superb, tiny no.10 in from Dulwich Hamlet. There are definitely gems to be found in non-league. And much rather their unpretentious Vardy-like hunger & desire than the usual bored, stale, nearing 30, on-the-way-down signings we've got used to welcoming.

 

[Grappler]

Amazing to think that Peterboro brought their superb, tiny no.10 in from Dulwich Hamlet. There are definitely gems to be found in non-league. And much rather their unpretentious Vardy-like hunger & desire than the usual bored, stale, nearing 30, on-the-way-down signings we've got used to welcoming.

Did i read that the first two scorers for them were both ex-non league? Third goal scorer a loanee from West Ham?

 

[Alfreton14Blade]

Did i read that the first two scorers for them were both ex-non league? Third goal scorer a loanee from West Ham?

Think so, mate. Tbf, they've built a hell of a reputation for scouring the non-leagues successfully as well as picking up younger players on the fringes of more prominent sides. Dwight Gayle & Britt Assombalonga come to mind.

 

[grafikhaus]

Definitely this remains the one constant and main reason we're still here.
Yet we have some fans who will tie themselves up in knots trying to use obscure stats to tell you how they weren't our best players at the time we sold them.

It's all about 'balls' (within reason) in the boardroom. Cardiff came close to promotion on a couple of occasions, held their nerve and got in the PL. The fact that they didn't stay there shows that they were incapable of any forward planning. Middlesbrough are the same this year. Despite coming close, they didn't dismantle the team (as we did post 2009 Burnley PO Final - the real reason we find ourselves facing a sixth year in Div. 3) and kept the key figures in the squad. They'll be back in the PL by May with all the riches that brings. Our lot? Flog owt that isn't nailed down (or that 'bigger' clubs like Brighton, Hull, Wolves come to cherry pick) and we find ourselves shopping at Poundland instead of John Lewis.

How any of the people in charge of us ever got rich shows luck rather than judgement.

 

[judge]

It's all about 'balls' (within reason) in the boardroom. Cardiff came close to promotion on a couple of occasions, held their nerve and got in the PL. The fact that they didn't stay there shows that they were incapable of any forward planning. Middlesbrough are the same this year. Despite coming close, they didn't dismantle the team (as we did post 2009 Burnley PO Final - the real reason we find ourselves facing a sixth year in Div. 3) and kept the key figures in the squad. They'll be back in the PL by May with all the riches that brings. Our lot? Flog owt that isn't nailed down (or that 'bigger' clubs like Brighton, Hull, Wolves come to cherry pick) and we find ourselves shopping at Poundland instead of John Lewis.

How any of the people in charge of us ever got rich shows luck rather than judgement.

Exactly mate
The deal that mccabe seems to have struck with the prince is pay £1 for the club and cover the 5m a year losses and next thing you know BANG@#$# PREMIERLEAGUE FOOTBALL

 

[Bladesince59]

Adams really slow and apologetic. Not impressed.

 

[Bladesince59]

Woolford Sammon Collins Baxter McEverley : how did we collect such shit?

 

[grafikhaus]

I'll refine what I said about Cardiff being 'incapable of any forward planning'. In the last few years, teams like Burnley, Derby and Blackpool have shown a 'just glad to be here', 'reap the rewards and see what happens' approach. However there are plenty of teams in the PL - Stoke, Watford, Palace, Southampton, Norwich, Bournemouth etc. (including a few who were in Div. 3 quite recently) who are firmly esconced at the top table. To keep quoting FFP rules and 'we can't keep up with the Man. City's is a cop-out. The world order at the top is changing. Clubs like Villa, Sunderland, Newcastle, West Brom etc. have grown complacent and there are plenty of teams snapping at their heels.

It seems inconceivable that we could join that group but why not? We, as a club, are lions led by donkeys.

 

[Woodwardfan]

Woolford Sammon Collins Baxter McEverley : how did we collect such shit?

Your list is quite short Punton and very kind to a few much worse players than you quote here.

 

[robbiez666]

Positives:

Long is looking like a more stable No.1 at this level
Woolford is playing better
We're creating chances and playing well in spells

Negatives:

J-Mac is a liability and should not start if he's going to be hooked off to stop him being sent off. Play Wallace or Harris.
Why was Higdon not on the bench? Sammon has been poor so we need an alternative (and ideally to send Sammon back)
Hammond is running the red card gauntlet on a weekly basis. Too slow.
Defence and Centre midfield in general when it comes to defensive duties.

Highly worrying:

Posh were missing several key players.

 

[Bladesince59]

Your list is quite short Punton and very kind to a few much worse players than you quote here.

Your list is quite short Punton and very kind to a few much worse players than you quote here.

You are right Woody of course.

I would keep Done, Brayford. Sharp and NcNulty. The rest can go whistle Dixie.

 

[wizadry]

This is what you get by bringing in players from a higher level who's careers are on a downwards path, If you look at the Peterborough side quite a few of their team were plucked from non league, two of their scorers came from Gateshead and Dulwich hamlet

One of the signings had to almost drive past Sheffield to get to the lofty heights of P'Boro. Makes you wonder what the fuck we mess about with regards player recruitment. They will be paying him a really small percentage compared to most of our players so the risk they take really isn't worth talking about as there isn't any risk.

 

[Bladesince59]

Positives:

Long is looking like a more stable No.1 at this level
Woolford is playing better
We're creating chances and playing well in spells

Negatives:

J-Mac is a liability and should not start if he's going to be hooked off to stop him being sent off. Play Wallace or Harris.
Why was Higdon not on the bench? Sammon has been poor so we need an alternative (and ideally to send Sammon back)
Hammond is running the red card gauntlet on a weekly basis. Too slow.
Defence and Centre midfield in general when it comes to defensive duties.

Highly worrying:

Posh were missing several key players.

Long is crap

 

[wizadry]

Long is crap

I much prefer it when you say it as it is, mate

On a more serious note, i wouldn't say he's crap, i'd say he's a decent League one keeper.

 

[Godbeblade]

I thought much the same as the opening post;
Mceverley getting better but a liability at times
Defence getting better but still not good enough- still leaking goals
Sammon in poor form (but if mceverley can improve then there's hope for anyone)
I think Adkins should have swapped Sammon for Adams but I'm glad he 'rolled the dice' and took mcEv off and put a forward player on

 

[Woodwardfan]

One of the signings had to almost drive past Sheffield to get to the lofty heights of P'Boro. Makes you wonder what the fuck we mess about with regards player recruitment. They will be paying him a really small percentage compared to most of our players so the risk they take really isn't worth talking about as there isn't any risk.

There has not been a single signing since our new and experienced Head Scout was appointed. Let's judge him and the manager over the next few months.

Before the Scout was appointed our manger had a 50/50 record on transfers: Sharp, Edgar good. Woolford getting better. Hammond what he is. Sammon v.poor.

 

[Rodley]

I suspect Sammon was a done deal before Adkins joined.

 

[wizadry]

I suspect Sammon was a done deal before Adkins joined.

So hopefully he will get rid when he can then, surely