Players

[Fiery Blade]

Whilst many are jumping on the back of Nigel Clough I believe the biggest problem is the players - Undoubtedly some have a level of skill but their football brains are definitely Third Division.
Murphy, Flynn and Baxter have proven that they can compete with the best during last years cup run but their level of thought and anticipation is the reason they are not plying their trade at a higher level. JCR infuriates as he is certainly one of the trickiest and skillfull players but he cannot think outside the box and his crosses are a total mixture of sublime to ridiculous.
McCarthy has shown over his loan period why he can't get a regular game at Palace and none of them can work out moves from throw ins and corners.
As for the strikers Porter is not even worthy a place on the bench, Higdon & McNulty are average at best and O'Grady after spouting about 'putting his body on the line' lasted twenty minutes
Wallace can't put two appearances together on the bounce because he is constantly injured and Alcock has flattered to deceive after a promising start
In all we have seen teams of lesser skilled players come and consistently take points away from the Lane because their players apply themselves far better than our players.
I honestly think Mr Clough is deluding himself in his aftermatch interviews - we have taken two points from the last twelve at the Lane and scored just two goals in those four matches - that's not down to bad luck !
It appears we need another clearout of the dross Mr Clough seems to have collected as most of them can't or more importantly do not show the desire to step up to the plate !

 

[bartman]

Bearing in mind the abuse Hidgon took on Friday (and he was very poor) I'm surprised there has been liitle comment of some of McNulty's play yesterday some of which was Higdonesque.

As for JCR, 1st half actually did well first half, direct,only trying to take someone on once, varying his crosses and so on. I thought his 2nd half was back to the 'old' JCR,wasteful,poor crossing and a reluctance to shoot.

 

[Worksop_Blade]

Bearing in mind the abuse Hidgon took on Friday (and he was very poor) I'm surprised there has been liitle comment of some of McNulty's play yesterday some of which was Higdonesque.

As for JCR, 1st half actually did well first half, direct,only trying to take someone on once, varying his crosses and so on. I thought his 2nd half was back to the 'old' JCR,wasteful,poor crossing and a reluctance to shoot.

Hang on, Marc McNulty is not a target man striker, he is not blessed with height or strength or particularly good aerial ability in fact he is the exact opposite of Porter, Higdon and O'Grady.

Clough took the lone target man in a 4-5-1 O'Grady off and replaced him with McNulty, he did not change the system, he continued in the same 4-5-1 formation now with a 5ft technical forward playing the target man role. It was so early in the game he could have shuffled the pack and placed Murphy up top with Mcnulty in a more traditional 4-4-2 system with Flynn and JCR wide, Scougall linking the play and Doyle sitting in front of the back four.

But because he is either an idiot or too stubborn he didn't and to blame McNulty is just down right bollocks.

 

[bartman]

Hang on, Marc McNulty is not a target man striker, he is not blessed with height or strength or particularly good aerial ability in fact he is the exact opposite of Porter, Higdon and O'Grady.

Clough took the lone target man in a 4-5-1 O'Grady off and replaced him with McNulty, he did not change the system, he continued in the same 4-5-1 formation now with a 5ft technical forward playing the target man role. It was so early in the game he could have shuffled the pack and placed Murphy up top with Mcnulty in a more traditional 4-4-2 system with Flynn and JCR wide, Scougall linking the play and Doyle sitting in front of the back four.

But because he is either an idiot or too stubborn he didn't and to blame McNulty is just down right bollocks.

McNulty's first touch on many occasions last night was very poor...the phrase '2nd touch a tackle' springs to mind. The fact he is a not a target man is irrelevant to this particular skill. He was often static rather than trying top create space. This is a basic for any professional footballer not just a target man.

I can understand MMs reluctance to head the ball bearing in mind his recent injury and his enthusiasm to win the ball back was good. The lad has potential but his movement and touch were on par with Hidgon which is the point I was making.

Point out to me where I said MM was to blame for anything. I was commenting on the hypocrisy of some fans who are prepared to have a go at one player but fail to do so when a fans' 'favourite' does exactly the same. McCarthy had a good game last night but because some fans don't like him,they can't acknowledge this (this has happened previously with Doyle and Flynn)

As for your solution of Scougill 'linking the play' he has to stop running around like a headless chicken and show some composure first.