My hopes for next season

[Revolution]

Centre halves - sign some. The absolute number 1 priority, and none of you need me to tell you why.

No more signing of players who have terrible injury histories and/or are coming back off a serious injury. We have quite enough of them thank you (for the avoidance of doubt, this means no Steve Davies). Let's stop having to cross our fingers.

An end to scrappy midgetry. Get some midfielders with some physical presence, who preferably have some track record re goalscoring. If Doyle goes, get someone with bite and longer legs to replace him. Thank you and goodbye Jason Holt. Never Reed and Scougall - just Reed or Scougall, at most. No more central midfielders who are smaller than my 12 year old.

Keep Jamie Murphy. He is under contract and we can afford to keep him. Don't sell our best player again.

I'd prefer 2 good goalies rather than 4 average to poor/untested ones, and I bet it would cost less. Look into it. Howard might have a better season with better protection in front of him, but we can live without the other 3.

Cast the net wider for the players we need.

Make peace with JCR. He could be useful.

Stop using criticism of McNulty as a fig leaf for other's failures and shortcomings. We did not fail to go through because of him. We failed because of some of the most shambolic defending I have ever seen.

As for the manager - if he does all or most of these things, keep Clough. That will be evidence he's learned from his mistakes, and that will give us a chance next season. I'd be more in favour of canning him but (a) he's not going to get us relegated and (b) I shudder to think who McCabe and crew will appoint next.

 

[Pollingtonblade]

Do you also think given that the players generally look unfit we need to review our fitness set up?

Good points by the way Rev.

 

[Revolution]

Do you also think given that the players generally look unfit we need to review our fitness set up?

Good points by the way Rev.

Yes, an excellent point.

 

[Blade56]

You were doing so well until the last paragraph! I'd put my Avitar in charge of the team, fitness and scouting before NN and his cronies

Sack anybody called Clough

 

[Going up]

Centre halves - sign some. The absolute number 1 priority, and none of you need me to tell you why.

No more signing of players who have terrible injury histories and/or are coming back off a serious injury. We have quite enough of them thank you (for the avoidance of doubt, this means no Steve Davies). Let's stop having to cross our fingers.

An end to scrappy midgetry. Get some midfielders with some physical presence, who preferably have some track record re goalscoring. If Doyle goes, get someone with bite and longer legs to replace him. Thank you and goodbye Jason Holt. Never Reed and Scougall - just Reed or Scougall, at most. No more central midfielders who are smaller than my 12 year old.

Keep Jamie Murphy. He is under contract and we can afford to keep him. Don't sell our best player again.

I'd prefer 2 good goalies rather than 4 average to poor/untested ones, and I bet it would cost less. Look into it. Howard might have a better season with better protection in front of him, but we can live without the other 3.

Cast the net wider for the players we need.

Make peace with JCR. He could be useful.

Stop using criticism of McNulty as a fig leaf for other's failures and shortcomings. We did not fail to go through because of him. We failed because of some of the most shambolic defending I have ever seen.

As for the manager - if he does all or most of these things, keep Clough. That will be evidence he's learned from his mistakes, and that will give us a chance next season. I'd be more in favour of canning him but (a) he's not going to get us relegated and (b) I shudder to think who McCabe and crew will appoint next.

Some good points there.

Have to say, with Done, Che and McNulty, it is worth the risk with Davies. 1) He wants to give his all for the gaffer. 2) He slotted in very well and can play with anyone, or alone.

JCR, needs to improve the final ball a lot. I think with Done, Murphy, Flynn and Che, he may be way down the list.

We made the playoffs, we were on the way down when Nigel took over, just a few of your additions and we can look seriously at automatic promotion next season.

 

[Revolution]

You were doing so well until the last paragraph! I'd put my Avitar in charge of the team, fitness and scouting before NN and his cronies

Sack anybody called Clough

Every time I think along these lines I think about Micky Adams and David Weir.

Don't believe we can't pick someone even worse. We can.

Plus if he signs a load of injured dreck and doesn't get some serviceable centre halves in I'd fire him if we weren't contending by October.

 

[GRUMPY BLADE]

Centre halves - sign some. The absolute number 1 priority, and none of you need me to tell you why.

No more signing of players who have terrible injury histories and/or are coming back off a serious injury. We have quite enough of them thank you (for the avoidance of doubt, this means no Steve Davies). Let's stop having to cross our fingers.

An end to scrappy midgetry. Get some midfielders with some physical presence, who preferably have some track record re goalscoring. If Doyle goes, get someone with bite and longer legs to replace him. Thank you and goodbye Jason Holt. Never Reed and Scougall - just Reed or Scougall, at most. No more central midfielders who are smaller than my 12 year old.

Keep Jamie Murphy. He is under contract and we can afford to keep him. Don't sell our best player again.

I'd prefer 2 good goalies rather than 4 average to poor/untested ones, and I bet it would cost less. Look into it. Howard might have a better season with better protection in front of him, but we can live without the other 3.

Cast the net wider for the players we need.

Make peace with JCR. He could be useful.

Stop using criticism of McNulty as a fig leaf for other's failures and shortcomings. We did not fail to go through because of him. We failed because of some of the most shambolic defending I have ever seen.

As for the manager - if he does all or most of these things, keep Clough. That will be evidence he's learned from his mistakes, and that will give us a chance next season. I'd be more in favour of canning him but (a) he's not going to get us relegated and (b) I shudder to think who McCabe and crew will appoint next.

(b) is the scary bit, be careful of what you wish?

 

[Revolution]

Some good points there.

Have to say, with Done, Che and McNulty, it is worth the risk with Davies. 1) He wants to give his all for the gaffer. 2) He slotted in very well and can play with anyone, or alone.

It isn't IMHO. We have Wallace and Higdon who have been out for months. Coutts is clearly the shadow of what he once was. Kennedy can't play more than 90 minutes per fortnight. And now Brayford is out until Christmas I hear. Plus Done has not exactly been 100% fit himself.

That's too much wages tied up in players who aren't going to play. Davies is cut from the same cloth. There will be I am sure others available who are actually capable of a 46 game season or close to it and score more than once every 5 or 6 games.

 

[secretchief]

Centre halves - sign some. The absolute number 1 priority, and none of you need me to tell you why.

No more signing of players who have terrible injury histories and/or are coming back off a serious injury. We have quite enough of them thank you (for the avoidance of doubt, this means no Steve Davies). Let's stop having to cross our fingers.

An end to scrappy midgetry. Get some midfielders with some physical presence, who preferably have some track record re goalscoring. If Doyle goes, get someone with bite and longer legs to replace him. Thank you and goodbye Jason Holt. Never Reed and Scougall - just Reed or Scougall, at most. No more central midfielders who are smaller than my 12 year old.

Keep Jamie Murphy. He is under contract and we can afford to keep him. Don't sell our best player again.

I'd prefer 2 good goalies rather than 4 average to poor/untested ones, and I bet it would cost less. Look into it. Howard might have a better season with better protection in front of him, but we can live without the other 3.

Cast the net wider for the players we need.

Make peace with JCR. He could be useful.

Stop using criticism of McNulty as a fig leaf for other's failures and shortcomings. We did not fail to go through because of him. We failed because of some of the most shambolic defending I have ever seen.

As for the manager - if he does all or most of these things, keep Clough. That will be evidence he's learned from his mistakes, and that will give us a chance next season. I'd be more in favour of canning him but (a) he's not going to get us relegated and (b) I shudder to think who McCabe and crew will appoint next.

You can rectify all those things at a stroke by sacking Clough, and get rid of the awful, pointless containment football too.

He isn't going to 'learn lessons'.

 

[Revolution]

You can rectify all those things at a stroke by sacking Clough, and get rid of the awful, pointless containment football too.

He isn't going to 'learn lessons'.

You can, but they aren't going to sack him.

And if he doesn't learn something from this season...well I despair, I really do.

 

[sheffielder]

You can rectify all those things at a stroke by sacking Clough, and get rid of the awful, pointless containment football too.

He isn't going to 'learn lessons'.

I think this is the thing. Does anyone really think he will learn from this season. Judging by last night's interview, he may even get worse. He couldn't sink any lower after having another pop at McNulty. Coutts gets another free ride 90 minutes

 

[super_pig]

that pop at mcnulty has sealed his fate in my eyes.. totally uncalled for
in fact that is my main beef with the guy.. he is always falling out with players and seems to have favourites. .unfortunately the more talented individuals seem to be the ones he falls out with

 

[Blade58]

You can't teach an old dog new tricks is the saying and Clough is as stubborn as they come

Clough is 50 odd years old, is set in his ways and methods and will not deviate from what he believes in. If that was a successful philosophy then fair play. But in terms of promotion seasons during his league tenure then wtf exactly?

I see no change to his philosophy and tactics on the pitch

I see no change to his recruitment methods. Meticulous? Meticulous my arris!

And if being so incompetent as to not have the cb positions sorted this season, why the fk should we be asking him now to sort it for next season? Inexcusable!

 

[BladeFisher]

You can, but they aren't going to sack him.

And if he doesn't learn something from this season...well I despair, I really do.

Judging from the radio broadcast last night don't expect much change in attitude. He was very defensive, having a go at McNulty again who IMO was no worse than McEverley, Freeman et al.

The defense last night was just absolutely fucking awful as bad as the old second/third division lot that got us relegated in the 1970's eventually into the 4th tier. Swindon's third goal was it when Byrne got to the byline the defenders in the middle weren't picking up anyone. Who the hell is/was coaching them Morgan? It was just awful and an embarrassment.

No Clough is too stubborn to change and I think we will end up about 12th/14th next season if he remains sadly. Very disappointed in him.

The entertainment value has been absolutely crap for many games particularly at home. Expect attendences to start dropping off watching that dross I'm afraid.

 

[Bookers Mullet]

The key for me is getting a settled spine in the team
We need a centre half pairing that clough has faith in and will play together more often than not, likewise a centre midfielder (likely Basham) who can be the pivot for others.
Also fitness, think is a key in this division, get a top notch fitness coach in and any player (Baxter I'm looking at you) who doesn't buy into it should be shown the door