Just back….

[Putney Blade]

Crap.

Offensively poor AGAIN. We are no threat to teams. We lack pace, strength and guile.

McNulty is no lone striker. He is too slow to run the channels, lacks quick feet to turn defenders and lacks height to be a threat. Not his fault he played alone, appears to be box player, somebody who can seize on opportunities created for him. But he can't run the line alone.

The club does not currently possess a striker of any quality. That is how bad it is.

Higdon came on for McNulty, huffed and puffed, showed no quality. What are poor signing!

If you want to play a lone striker, they've got to have pace, strength and pull the central defenders all over the park. Neither McNulty or Higdon can do this.

Our midfield is too slow and small. We are good at playing in triangles and across the pitch, but there is no penetration. We don't have the quality to break down two banks of four. The only danger is when JCR get's on the ball wide, either running at defenders or cutting inside. And that's it folk. He is our one danger. Baxter, Reid, Doyle, Scougall look to play side ways, lacking pace and power, they can't get themselves into threatening positions and create opportunities for themselves and others.

How many goals have our midfielders scored this season? Not many I suspect, like the rest of them

We also must have one of the smallest teams in the league; MK has some big lads, there is power throughout their team. They have a fare amount of skill too.

Apart from JCR, Murphy is the only other player with a degree of pace and ability, but like MK today, teams see him as the danger and mark him closely, often with two players. He was absent in the first half, got better in the second as we upped the tempo. Pity we decided to up the heat when chasing the game!

Let's be honest. Today was no surprise. Not been good enough offensively all season. Our home record is appalling. No reason to believe this will change. Difficult to see us winning the play-offs, can't score goals. Auto promotion is impossible.

Lacked striking power coming into this season. NC failed to appreciate this. He still does. The blame is with him. He buys, he sells, he loans, he set's formation, he set's the tactics.

Somebody needs to have a quiet word with him, otherwise we will be in exactly the same position next-season!

UTB

 

[Lord Bos of Eckington.]

Crap.

Offensively poor AGAIN. We are no threat to teams. We lack pace, strength and guile.

McNulty is no lone striker. He is too slow to run the channels, lacks quick feet to turn defenders and lacks height to be a threat. Not his fault he played alone, appears to be box player, somebody who can seize on opportunities created for him. But he can't run the line alone.

The club does not currently possess a striker of any quality. That is how bad it is.

Higdon came on for McNulty, huffed and puffed, showed no quality. What are poor signing!

If you want to play a lone striker, they've got to have pace, strength and pull the central defenders all over the park. Neither McNulty or Higdon can do this.

Our midfield is too slow and small. We are good at playing in triangles and across the pitch, but there is no penetration. We don't have the quality to break down two banks of four. The only danger is when JCR get's on the ball wide, either running at defenders or cutting inside. And that's it folk. He is our one danger. Baxter, Reid, Doyle, Scougall look to play side ways, lacking pace and power, they can't get themselves into threatening positions and create opportunities for themselves and others.

How many goals have our midfielders scored this season? Not many I suspect, like the rest of them

We also must have one of the smallest teams in the league; MK has some big lads, there is power throughout their team. They have a fare amount of skill too.

Apart from JCR, Murphy is the only other player with a degree of pace and ability, but like MK today, teams see him as the danger and mark him closely, often with two players. He was absent in the first half, got better in the second as we upped the tempo. Pity we decided to up the heat when chasing the game!

Let's be honest. Today was no surprise. Not been good enough offensively all season. Our home record is appalling. No reason to believe this will change. Difficult to see us winning the play-offs, can't score goals. Auto promotion is impossible.

Lacked striking power coming into this season. NC failed to appreciate this. He still does. The blame is with him. He buys, he sells, he loans, he set's formation, he set's the tactics.

Somebody needs to have a quiet word with him, otherwise we will be in exactly the same position next-season!

UTB

Mr Clough should take on board what someone once said . Its not tactics that win matches its players .

Our players are just not good enough , and as you say he buys , he sells , he loans , he sets formation , he sets tactics.

Forget this nice to have cup run .Mr Clough has to sort the league 1 business end out , its his responsibility . We cannot blame Mr McCabe / Mr Prince 100% on this one.

UTB

 

[Blade58]

Crap.

Offensively poor AGAIN. We are no threat to teams. We lack pace, strength and guile.

McNulty is no lone striker. He is too slow to run the channels, lacks quick feet to turn defenders and lacks height to be a threat. Not his fault he played alone, appears to be box player, somebody who can seize on opportunities created for him. But he can't run the line alone.

The club does not currently possess a striker of any quality. That is how bad it is.

Higdon came on for McNulty, huffed and puffed, showed no quality. What are poor signing!

If you want to play a lone striker, they've got to have pace, strength and pull the central defenders all over the park. Neither McNulty or Higdon can do this.

Our midfield is too slow and small. We are good at playing in triangles and across the pitch, but there is no penetration. We don't have the quality to break down two banks of four. The only danger is when JCR get's on the ball wide, either running at defenders or cutting inside. And that's it folk. He is our one danger. Baxter, Reid, Doyle, Scougall look to play side ways, lacking pace and power, they can't get themselves into threatening positions and create opportunities for themselves and others.

How many goals have our midfielders scored this season? Not many I suspect, like the rest of them

We also must have one of the smallest teams in the league; MK has some big lads, there is power throughout their team. They have a fare amount of skill too.

Apart from JCR, Murphy is the only other player with a degree of pace and ability, but like MK today, teams see him as the danger and mark him closely, often with two players. He was absent in the first half, got better in the second as we upped the tempo. Pity we decided to up the heat when chasing the game!

Let's be honest. Today was no surprise. Not been good enough offensively all season. Our home record is appalling. No reason to believe this will change. Difficult to see us winning the play-offs, can't score goals. Auto promotion is impossible.

Lacked striking power coming into this season. NC failed to appreciate this. He still does. The blame is with him. He buys, he sells, he loans, he set's formation, he set's the tactics.

Somebody needs to have a quiet word with him, otherwise we will be in exactly the same position next-season!

UTB

Some good points, some of which I raised similar in another thread.

He's brought in a whole team and subs bench. For the most part a squad of average joes. Quantity over quality and only now does he talk about quality signings when it's too fkin late

He still hasn't addressed the striker problem. How long has it been now?

As you say, we turn out on the pitch and it looks like we are playing against a team from land of giants

McNulty continues to take the wrap from Clough for many others weaknesses

Our midfield of Basham, Reed, Doyle, Wallace, Scougs and lately even Baxter contribute diddly squat in terms of weighing in with a few goals

If JCR, Murphy and McNulty don't score, we're f'ked

We must be the lowest scoring team in the league, but it's ok Nige, keep blaming McNulty.

 

[longinthe toothblade]

Agreed.

It wasn't our finest hour and for me, until we sort out the lack of goals it will be a shovel full of the same. I don't think I can remember Utd having such a weak choice of options up front. We have talked and talked about resolving the problem/s for a season and a half now but still, nothing. McN isn't the answer at the moment. Not his fault at all, but he isn't the answer - 12/18 months of more experience at this level and further development, let's hope so.

Midfield, it was more of the same. Pretty patterns [yet very slow] but no end result.

Swindon will be interesting - can't wait!!!

 

[metalblade]

You can't blame negative Nigel entirely, I suspect he is not being backed with sufficient funds to bring in the quality that is needed, does anyone really believe we have a bid of £1.5m for Brayford ? while we fook about trying to appease the fans clubs who show real intent like Bristol C sign Tavernier who was a star full back for Rotherham last season or if they sell their top striker replace him with Agard another star in the Rotherham promotion season, not really rocket science is it to work out where we are when we raid Ilkeston Fc or sign players for free or who no one else wants due to their injury records.

 

[robbiez666]

Personally, I think our players are good enough to go up. The fault lies with the manager.

He's trying to play a system without having the players to do so. He's bought so many players in, but not the ones his system needs.

It needs a tall, powerful and strong striker who has some pace. He bought Higdon and McNulty.
It needs a powerful defensive midfielder with an engine on him. we have Doyle
It needs a box to box midfielder who makes surging runs forward but who can get back. He bought Basham and Wallace
It needs full backs who can bomb forward and get back. He bought Alcock

He's scared to play 4-4-2 because the 2 in midfield aren't good enough. We're a tiny team. He bought small players.

He's playing Baxter but the system doesn't suit him so his put in a role he's not good at. ditto to Scougs, and to a lesser degree Murphy who was after all a striker.

he praises the Academy yet buys non league players and then bumps them ahead of those players.

I'm frankly not sure Clough knows what he's doing.

 

[davidpinder]

Crap.

Offensively poor AGAIN. We are no threat to teams. We lack pace, strength and guile.

McNulty is no lone striker. He is too slow to run the channels, lacks quick feet to turn defenders and lacks height to be a threat. Not his fault he played alone, appears to be box player, somebody who can seize on opportunities created for him. But he can't run the line alone.

The club does not currently possess a striker of any quality. That is how bad it is.

Higdon came on for McNulty, huffed and puffed, showed no quality. What are poor signing!

If you want to play a lone striker, they've got to have pace, strength and pull the central defenders all over the park. Neither McNulty or Higdon can do this.

Our midfield is too slow and small. We are good at playing in triangles and across the pitch, but there is no penetration. We don't have the quality to break down two banks of four. The only danger is when JCR get's on the ball wide, either running at defenders or cutting inside. And that's it folk. He is our one danger. Baxter, Reid, Doyle, Scougall look to play side ways, lacking pace and power, they can't get themselves into threatening positions and create opportunities for themselves and others.

How many goals have our midfielders scored this season? Not many I suspect, like the rest of them

We also must have one of the smallest teams in the league; MK has some big lads, there is power throughout their team. They have a fare amount of skill too.

Apart from JCR, Murphy is the only other player with a degree of pace and ability, but like MK today, teams see him as the danger and mark him closely, often with two players. He was absent in the first half, got better in the second as we upped the tempo. Pity we decided to up the heat when chasing the game!

Let's be honest. Today was no surprise. Not been good enough offensively all season. Our home record is appalling. No reason to believe this will change. Difficult to see us winning the play-offs, can't score goals. Auto promotion is impossible.

Lacked striking power coming into this season. NC failed to appreciate this. He still does. The blame is with him. He buys, he sells, he loans, he set's formation, he set's the tactics.

Somebody needs to have a quiet word with him, otherwise we will be in exactly the same position next-season!

UTB

But NC said there was nothing in the game and we were unlucky to lose, could have gone either way etc etc are you sure you were at stadium MK? Wimbledon were at home didn't get mixed up did you? Oh hang on the away side won there, maybe Clough watched a different game, now I am confused.

 

[robbiez666]

and our set pieces have been poor all season

 

[grafikhaus]

While we fook about trying to appease the fans clubs who show real intent like Bristol C sign Tavernier who was a star full back for Rotherham last season or if they sell their top striker replace him with Agard another star in the Rotherham promotion season, not really rocket science is it to work out where we are when we raid Ilkeston Fc or sign players for free or who no one else wants due to their injury records.

In a nutshell. Good managers know when a player is moving on and plan for replacements of at least equal or better quality. As you say, Bristol City do, MKD do, even fucking Rotherham. Look at Southampton. A model for any aspiring team. Remember when they 'cruelly' got rid of Nigel Adkins? He'd gone as far as he could so was chopped. Pochettino buggered off to Spurs but was replaced by (the probably better) Koeman. And who has lost more players than Soton? Not only do they 'lose' them, they invariably come out stronger. Get rid of carthorse Lambert and replace him with Pelle. Quality all over the pitch.

 

[The Bohemian]

In a nutshell. Good managers know when a player is moving on and plan for replacements of at least equal or better quality. As you say, Bristol City do, MKD do, even fucking Rotherham. Look at Southampton. A model for any aspiring team. Remember when they 'cruelly' got rid of Nigel Adkins? He'd gone as far as he could so was chopped. Pochettino buggered off to Spurs but was replaced by (the probably better) Koeman. And who has lost more players than Soton? Not only do they 'lose' them, they invariably come out stronger. Get rid of carthorse Lambert and replace him with Pelle. Quality all over the pitch.

Agree with all your points about Southampton and thoroughly enjoyed watching The Blades play them off the park a few weeks ago.

 

[Jehovah]

As it stands, just cant see us showing any consistency at all. The odd league win just seems to paper over the cracks. I have gone from nervous that we are too far behind the automatic spots to nervous we wont even make the bastarding play offs.

 

[Coily]

Our midfield is too slow and small. We are good at playing in triangles and across the pitch, but there is no penetration. We don't have the quality to break down two banks of four. The only danger is when JCR get's on the ball wide, either running at defenders or cutting inside. And that's it folk. He is our one danger. Baxter, Reid, Doyle, Scougall look to play side ways, lacking pace and power, they can't get themselves into threatening positions and create opportunities for themselves and others.

More than the lack of attacking options, this is our biggest problem. All of the above are comfortable on the ball, but the game moves from side to side with little or no penetration. We had only JCR advancing forward once and from there he should have scored. None of the rest take enough risks to get into position or support the front man. Scougall is a shadow of last season when he was doing just that. We are far too easy to defend against, defenders never get turned by us.

That said, in a game of few chances - and MK had very little other than the goal - we had enough to get something from the game, if not win. McEveley maybe should have done better with the ball across the face, Higdon definately should have done better with his late header and why Adams crossed right at the end when he had time and space to shoot is beyond me. It's not enough I'd agree, but more than MK managed.

If we are to make the playoffs, which I believe we will, we have to improve our attacking from midfield. We also need O'Grady or an equivalent striker to support McNulty. I'd like to think Higdon will come good, but it may be best to move him on and replace, too many fans have made their mind up about him and he'll not get a fair crack now.

 

[grafikhaus]

Agree with all your points about Southampton and thoroughly enjoyed watching The Blades play them off the park a few weeks ago.

Yeah. Good call. When that match is long forgotten and Soton are a force in the top flight while we're languishing in the lower divisions, I'll realise you were right, and United had got it right all along.

 

[William Large]

We are clearly at least 3 quality players short. A striker who other defenders / teams fear when they play (when was the last time we had one of those??). At least one central midfielder and someone commanding at centre half.
I thought Brayford was awesome when he played for us but is he really going to change the season? As good as he was, if he didn't have a beard would he really be given such status by us? I seriously doubt it. If we have really tabled a £1.7 million bid for him then there is something drastically wrong. Unless we are bidding similar money for strikers and midfielders.
The board say the money is there and yet we accuse Clough of being a 'yes man' because he spends so little. Do we honestly expect him to come out and slag off his employers for providing no money or tell us that he is forced to get loan players or players from lower league clubs because the board won't spend?
That said, we bought Che Adams from non league who has had rave reviews and appears to play with pace, power and direction, but never play him? If that's really all we have then let's give him a chance.

 

[Woodwardfan]

Good thread. We all read things differently but the lack of the promised " strong strike-force of four" is the weakness which shouts out and we have done so little about it.

We went into the summer with no recognised strikers, if Diego was still classed as a "development player" which he was and still is. We were shocked when Clough gave Porter another contract and disappointed even if he was going to be fourth in line.

McNulty looked a reasonable signing and was stated as a "development player" who had to fight for his place in this "strong strike-force of four".

Higdon arrived late in the piece and was made captain immediately. The rest is history as they say, a big big mistake at this point in time.

The talisman striker never arrived and the manager gave up on Porter months ago., so we have stumbled along with a " development player" who rarely gets a start in the league and gets criticised when he does, plus Higdon who never gets a start.

Last season I reckon the favoured system of 4-5-1 evolved through circumstances and it is now Clough's chosen way of playing. The system is ideal for counter-attacking and has given us amazing success in the cups. In the league it could still work but it has to be played more aggressively and never is until the latest stages of games. It seems our squad has been developed with this system in mind and we have loads of midfield players, most of whom could be interchangeable without much difference.

Many will have views on the merits of certain defenders and midfielders, but it matters not, we just cannot challenge for automatic promotion without four good strikers to see us through the maraton that is a season in the league. One has to be the talisman; the Wilbraham, the Afiobe, the Doyle, the Williams or the like. Our "development player" is the best of a poor bunch. We have even made do with the unlikely Baxter game after game after game.

Clough insists on employing his brother and lays himself open to scrutiny of the quality of our signings. It does not look very god frankly, poor in fact; not one game-changer, there lies the single biggest weakness.

Please don't read this thread as anti-Clough, rather a recognition of where improvements have to be made to achieve the club's objectives. If he is going to lift us two levels in due course he needs to sign better players.

 

[Pollingtonblade]

As well as that we have no central midfielders that trouble the score charts.

 

[Woodwardfan]

As well as that we have no central midfielders that trouble the score charts.

Our central midfielders ( Reed, Baxter, Wallace, Scougall, Doyle, Even Basham) would look a lot better if they had options in forward areas to pass to and collect from. One lightweight and slow striker is nowhere to go frankly, there's only sideways left and when we do get to the box there's nobody there.

 

[Bladesway]

I suspect he is not being backed with sufficient funds to bring in the quality that is needed, does anyone really believe we have a bid of £1.5m for Brayford ? while we fook about trying to appease the fans clubs who show real intent like Bristol C sign Tavernier who was a star full back for Rotherham last season or if they sell their top striker replace him with Agard another star in the Rotherham promotion season, not really rocket science is it to work out where we are when we raid Ilkeston Fc or sign players for free or who no one else wants due to their injury records.

Hey just look around the rest of the division and you see clubs being linked with and signing all manner of players. We put an offensively small bid in for a scottish player, someone bigger gets alerted to this and we lost the player in part because we don't do business properly.

SUFC 2015 is the same as 2014, 2013 and beyond, its hell bent on not spending money. Sorry but we are at a point where if we don't just put hard cash on the table we won't get the players we need to even get in the play offs, let alone get promoted. Clough takes some responsibility as do the players, but the biggest share of the blame is with McCabe, the fake Shake and bake along with his American spin doctor.

You would think if we had any intent on doing business it would be done by now in some small part. O'Grady, no way, Brayford, no way, anyone else? I bet we end up with loan droppings off the table, its a fucking disgrace and some fans still want to give the board the benefit of any doubt? Let me ask you one question.

When was the last time we had a good transfer window? Managers have changed but one man still stays the same at the top of the tree. Why is that then?

 

[sheffielder]

Pro Clough or Anti, the question is why we will put a shift in on Wednesday night in a cup game but not in the league needs to be answered. Anyone who thinks that a league cup semi final will make up for not getting out of this division needs their head testing.

People said yesterday that it was MK Dons in 4th and it's ok. WHat about Coventry in their lofty position or Chesterfield, Barnsley and Port Vale. When does a knee jerk become something else?

I remember when Blackwell was here. It's ok because we are in 7th and 10 points of the off play offs and it just went the other way...not the good way. Heard the same shit back then.

 

[Jim Chimmerney]

It's no fluke that we've had so many good cup results against higher placed clubs which proves, to a point, that we have players who are good enough. But, as RS raised with the man himself a week or so ago, we are not currently playing against these clubs week in week out and it seems that his style / tactics are just not suited to League 1.

NC is a 1-0 manager as discussed many many times before and whilst yes, we may have been unlucky in the last month or so where we have been mugged and could easily have picked up more points than we have, the fact remains that we have fallen right off the pace playing this way and now have a fight on our hands to finish in the play-offs.

I can't see anything changing tactics wise whoever he brings in and that's the fundamental problem.

 

[JohnDenver]

I can't see anything changing tactics wise whoever he brings in and that's the fundamental problem.

The same tactics took us on an amazing run last season. We've just lost our edge.

Bradford, Maguire and Coady have gone out, and we've signed some good players and some promising players, but none who can do the jobs these three did to the same standard.

I think it's that simple.

 

[crucialkneeligaman]

Agree with all your points about Southampton and thoroughly enjoyed watching The Blades play them off the park a few weeks ago.

So did I, Soton 3rd in Premier League, having recently beaten Man U & Newcastle away yesterday. Taking nothing away from our display that night, one off.

 

[Jim Chimmerney]

The same tactics took us on an amazing run last season. We've just lost our edge.

Bradford, Maguire and Coady have gone out, and we've signed some good players and some promising players, but none who can do the jobs these three did to the same standard.

I think it's that simple.

1 win in 8, 7 goals scored is not 'losing our edge'.

We had luck on our side during that run last season and admittedly, that same luck has gone against us in a few games recently but that's the danger of playing for 1-0's, it's all or nothing.

 

[Lord Bos of Eckington.]

Hey just look around the rest of the division and you see clubs being linked with and signing all manner of players. We put an offensively small bid in for a scottish player, someone bigger gets alerted to this and we lost the player in part because we don't do business properly.

SUFC 2015 is the same as 2014, 2013 and beyond, its hell bent on not spending money. Sorry but we are at a point where if we don't just put hard cash on the table we won't get the players we need to even get in the play offs, let alone get promoted. Clough takes some responsibility as do the players, but the biggest share of the blame is with McCabe, the fake Shake and bake along with his American spin doctor.

You would think if we had any intent on doing business it would be done by now in some small part. O'Grady, no way, Brayford, no way, anyone else? I bet we end up with loan droppings off the table, its a fucking disgrace and some fans still want to give the board the benefit of any doubt? Let me ask you one question.

When was the last time we had a good transfer window? Managers have changed but one man still stays the same at the top of the tree. Why is that then?

Managers have changed because they are employed to do a job. Man at the top stays because he owns the club.

Mr Clough knows the remit and job description. Unfortunately non of us have the experience or expertise to manage the football side of the club ( excluding Brian the Blade ) , or the money to buy the club and oust Mr McCabe and family .

We are , were we are , and the only thing that never lies , or has any spin on it , is a football clubs position in the league table.

UTB

 

[Grecian2000]

Only use this site from work so it's a rare occasion for me to be working/viewing on a Sunday. Is it always like this?

Fuck me, thirteen months ago we were languishing in the relegation zone of this division, now we're falling apart because we don't look like we're going to finish top two 18 months on. Was that ever going to happen?

Even seen a thread wanting Neil Warnock to come back and "rescue" us from Clough. Sweet Jesus and the orphans.
When everyone's favourite tractor driver took the reigns in 1999 we were in a similar precarious position. He steadied the ship and we survived and then he led us to promotion SIX (note the capitals), yes six, years later. Before this promotion he took us to 2 semi finals (I know the cups are shit and all that but . . . . ) and a play-off final.
By the end of this "write off" season we WILL have replicated the semis (Yadda yadda useless cups yadda) and possibly BOTH the play off final and promotion.

What did we learn from giving Warnock the time to do the job? Sweet fuck all judging by some of the stuff on here today.
Some of the football we played in that now "golden period" was mind numbingly tedious and there was plenty of derision and vitriol aimed at the manager/club/players BUT we followed it through and the patience was eventually rewarded.
Perhaps we are not where we want to be (although I have/will never join in the continuous "shit division" mantra) but surely we are just beginning the journey not at the end of it.

Would we be this close to meltdown if we had won a handful of games in the back half of last season and survived by half a dozen points or scraped through to survival on the last day? Sadly the run of last season was built on sand (two top loanees and a soon to depart CB) and has given us a false sense of entitlement toward this season.

Write off? Fuck off!

 

[Jim Chimmerney]

Only use this site from work so it's a rare occasion for me to be working/viewing on a Sunday. Is it always like this?

Fuck me, thirteen months ago we were languishing in the relegation zone of this division, now we're falling apart because we don't look like we're going to finish top two 18 months on. Was that ever going to happen?

Even seen a thread wanting Neil Warnock to come back and "rescue" us from Clough. Sweet Jesus and the orphans.
When everyone's favourite tractor driver took the reigns in 1999 we were in a similar precarious position. He steadied the ship and we survived and then he led us to promotion SIX (note the capitals), yes six, years later. Before this promotion he took us to 2 semi finals (I know the cups are shit and all that but . . . . ) and a play-off final.
By the end of this "write off" season we WILL have replicated the semis (Yadda yadda useless cups yadda) and possibly BOTH the play off final and promotion.

What did we learn from giving Warnock the time to do the job? Sweet fuck all judging by some of the stuff on here today.
Some of the football we played in that now "golden period" was mind numbingly tedious and there was plenty of derision and vitriol aimed at the manager/club/players BUT we followed it through and the patience was eventually rewarded.
Perhaps we are not where we want to be (although I have/will never join in the continuous "shit division" mantra) but surely we are just beginning the journey not at the end of it.

Would we be this close to meltdown if we had won a handful of games in the back half of last season and survived by half a dozen points or scraped through to survival on the last day? Sadly the run of last season was built on sand (two top loanees and a soon to depart CB) and has given us a false sense of entitlement toward this season.

Write off? Fuck off!

Regardless of what happened last season, we are seemingly going backwards this season, that's the problem.

 

[JohnDenver]

1 win in 8, 7 goals scored is not 'losing our edge'.

Completely disagree. The margins are so small that if a team which used to score first regularly (then open teams up on break), struggles to do so, then things can soon spiral downwards.

We're not fundamentally a different team at all, but we're just weakened enough to suffer a disproportionate loss of form.

 

[Deleted member 875]

We was totally and utterly shit yesterday. We looked weaker than MK Dons in every department, and they didn't play well either. We looked slow and ponderous, showed no attacking threat or intent, until the last 5-10 minutes but by that point the game it was a case of too little, too late. The only player who really looked like creating something for us was Jamal Campbell-Ryce.

At the minute we need a couple of new players in there, and need some height, power and pace in the side, as we are quite clearly missing all 3 of those attributes, and that is pretty much why we are a soft touch in the league especially away from home.

 

[Grecian2000]

Regardless of what happened last season, we are seemingly going backwards this season, that's the problem.

We're going backwards from where we ended the season, we're going forward from where Clough took over and we were looking like the "worst side in our history" to quote a number of threads from last October/November (an assessment I had 100% agreement with).
We went way backward from 02/03 to 03/04 with the loss of Brown and demise of McCall but that seems to have been forgotten. I would have happily seen Colin despatched at that time but he wasn't and it turned out to be correct in the longer term.

 

[Jim Chimmerney]

We're going backwards from where we ended the season, we're going forward from where Clough took over and we were looking like the "worst side in our history" to quote a number of threads from last October/November (an assessment I had 100% agreement with).
We went way backward from 02/03 to 03/04 with the loss of Brown and demise of McCall but that seems to have been forgotten. I would have happily seen Colin despatched at that time but he wasn't and it turned out to be correct in the longer term.

What I meant was we're going backwards within this season i.e. from where we were 2 months ago.

You can understand a slow start as half the team had changed and we lost key players but having improved gradually, what has happened in the last 2 months ?

Without checking, the current league form isn't too dissimilar to what got Wilson the sack. I'm not suggesting the sack by the way !