Speedo a chip of the old (Blackwell block)

[SteelCity Blade]

Geez. After Saturday's debacle has anyone got any objection to my claim that Speed being a chip of the old Blackwell block???

(a few things to consider when answering ......... negative tactics, no attempt to win the game, no plan B, no changes until the game was over and a throughly inept performance with little football, passing, pace, guile, quality and creativity).

I object I'm afraid pal. IMO it has nothing to do with Speed being anything like Blackwell because he isn't. He couldn't be more different even if he wore an Arsene Wenger mask. Their styles and approach to a game of football are visibly different. You can see it in the shape we play in and the way we move the ball around (when we have it).

For me its more a case of the same average players being available to the manager that were there before. Sadly for Speedo, his much more attractive method of playing does not suit the staff we have as they do not have it in them. I maintain that the players are trying their best and apart from the first half on Saturday I have never doubted they give 100%.

The point is that they're not good enough collectively and the whole side lacks balance. In the last three games ive made a point of looking at our shape and the way we look in and out of possession. We look rigid and disfunctional because of the type of player we have. We weren't much better in that respect toward the end of last season but we had a couple of players in form and Blackwell's direct style was just workable with what we had.

I was happy when Speed was appointed because I felt he would inject his own ideas and make us play in a more considered style. I think he's slowly trying to acheive that and I have no problem with him but he's been left a dud of a squad by the club and previous manager who (for whatever reason) have/had to dumb the squad down with horribly average players who do nothing but bust a gut physically. We're ordinary as a collective - thats the problem.

 

[shorehamview]

Perhaps he's a chip off the chip off the old block that was Warnock? There were times under Warnock when we were losing and the first substitution came with not enough time left to make a difference. When we are two nil down at half time what's the point in saving Slew until the 83rd minute? I've heard that he's good, but not that he's a miracle worker. Give him at least half an hour.

 

[Ollessendro]

I object I'm afraid pal. IMO it has nothing to do with Speed being anything like Blackwell because he isn't. He couldn't be more different even if he wore an Arsene Wenger mask. Their styles and approach to a game of football are visibly different. You can see it in the shape we play in and the way we move the ball around (when we have it).

For me its more a case of the same average players being available to the manager that were there before. Sadly for Speedo, his much more attractive method of playing does not suit the staff we have as they do not have it in them. I maintain that the players are trying their best and apart from the first half on Saturday I have never doubted they give 100%.

The point is that they're not good enough collectively and the whole side lacks balance. In the last three games ive made a point of looking at our shape and the way we look in and out of possession. We look rigid and disfunctional because of the type of player we have. We weren't much better in that respect toward the end of last season but we had a couple of players in form and Blackwell's direct style was just workable with what we had.

I was happy when Speed was appointed because I felt he would inject his own ideas and make us play in a more considered style. I think he's slowly trying to acheive that and I have no problem with him but he's been left a dud of a squad by the club and previous manager who (for whatever reason) have/had to dumb the squad down with horribly average players who do nothing but bust a gut physically. We're ordinary as a collective - thats the problem.

Are you just choosing to ignore the things I pointed out SC?

You skirt out the issues without offering anything of substance. I have no objections to you objecting, but at least lay out the grounds as to why.

It's really easy to blame Speed's piss poor results on the poor resources. Yes, I agree the team is poor, so let's focus on what Speed has actually done. Here is my take on things:

- he plays too negative
- he plays the 4-5-1 formation
- he sticks with players who are playing poorly
- he stick with players who clearly have little ability, but work hard
- we set up not to win games away from home, but just to say solid
- Speed doesn't make changes until too late

I accept that some factors are out of his control, but all of the above are down to him. And funnily enough all of the above are traits (negatives ones I may add) that Kevin Blackwell has/had.

If you want to disagree or challenge these points SC then please do. I'm intrigued that you, a sensible and intelligent poster, have chosen to put blind faith in Speed and are ignoring the evidence that shows that Speed is not offering much more than Blackwell ever did.

 

[Mousey]

Are you just choosing to ignore the things I pointed out SC?

You skirt out the issues without offering anything of substance. I have no objections to you objecting, but at least lay out the grounds as to why.

It's really easy to blame Speed's piss poor results on the poor resources. Yes, I agree the team is poor, so let's focus on what Speed has actually done. Here is my take on things:

- he plays too negative - Is this not because of the lack of quality on the field? Poor defending leads to midfielders having to help out, thus becoming negative.
- he plays the 4-5-1 formation - So do Chelsea and they're hardly negative, again this is down to the players.
- he sticks with players who are playing poorly - Because they are fully fit, rather than risking a player carrying a knock and losing him for 3 months.
- he stick with players who clearly have little ability, but work hard - Mark Yeates a prime example of the other end of this statement?
- we set up not to win games away from home, but just to say solid - I fail to see how you can really back this up other than that it is your own opinion.
- Speed doesn't make changes until too late - Who said a change is guaranteed to work? A player coming on could always miss a chance that the departing player could have scored.

I accept that some factors are out of his control, but all of the above are down to him. And funnily enough all of the above are traits (negatives ones I may add) that Kevin Blackwell has/had.

If you want to disagree or challenge these points SC then please do. I'm intrigued that you, a sensible and intelligent poster, have chosen to put blind faith in Speed and are ignoring the evidence that shows that Speed is not offering much more than Blackwell ever did.
- Freedom of choice maybe? I also doubt it is the blind faith you have chosen to label him with, but more an ability to look at the big picture without throwing toys out of the pram.

I've put my replies in your post so you know I'm not skirting around them.

 

[Ollessendro]

I've put my replies in your post so you know I'm not skirting around them.

Ey up Mousey. Not had a ding dong with you for a while. Nice of you to come back with constructive debate rather than pull me up for spelling mistakes. I address your points in turn:

- I'm not sure that we can use poor players as a kop out for playing negative. Speed has set the formation and tactics in a negative way. The whole 4-5-1 (with wingers tracking back), 3 defensive midfielders and lack complete isolation of our lone man suggest that.
- The 4-5-1 is not the problem, but the way we play it is. We could easily play 4-4-2. Ok we don't have natural wingers, but we have Yeates, Lowton, Ward and Quinn who can do a job out wide. Plus we have 4 strikers to choose from and hence playing 2 up front is a possibility.
- Not sure what you are getting at here. Speed stuck with Evans for too long, he keeps playing Cresswell out wide (who has been dire and is a striker), Monty played for too long and Ertl is just shocking. At all times there have been other options and Speed refuses to use them. Bringiong on Slew with 7 minutes to go (after Cresswell and Boggy were terrible) just sums it up.
- Away from home we have scored a whopping 4 goals and not managed to score more than once in any of the games. That suggests we have been unlucky, are shite or have been playing defensively.
- Of course it is not guaranteed to work. But if it is clearly not working (e.g. on Saturday) then why not mix things up?
- As for your last point, then if that is a reference to me then it is just simply wrong. I am consistently negative and pessimistc and this does not change ever. Hence suggesting that I 'throw my toys out of the pram' is innacurate.

 

[SteelCity Blade]

Are you just choosing to ignore the things I pointed out SC?

You skirt out the issues without offering anything of substance. I have no objections to you objecting, but at least lay out the grounds as to why.

Far from it. I find your arguments compelling and have taken all the points in.....I just disagree with them. I dont think ive skirted the issues at all. I've outlined plainly and simply that the group of players we have aren't good enough and that we look unbalanced all over the pitch. I dont believe that the problems we have are in any way down to the manager. I think he's the most blameless individual in all this and thats my honest opinion. I've looked at this from your point of view and as I cant agree with what you're saying I thought we could debate it instead. Touche!

In regard to your take on Speed, here's my take on your comments:-

Here is my take on things:

- he plays too negative I think you've misinterpreted that. He is forced to play with either three defensive midfield players or two with Stephen Quinn. The middle of the park will dictate how positive we are as a unit and how we press the opposition. We are totally incapable of carrying the ball through midfield and as a result attacks will continually break down. Nothing to do with the manager's tactics.

- he plays the 4-5-1 formation I dont like our shape either but he probably doesnt feel we're strong enough in the middle of the park to go with four across the middle. He's also probably right.

- he sticks with players who are playing poorly Can you suggest suitable alternatives? At the moment everyone is shouting for Jordan Slew, a player who might be very good or average for all we know and with no first team experience. The supporters are pinning their hopes on anything we might have in reserve for the simple reason that we dont have anything in reserve. The side picks itself because we have no depth! You said that yourself at the start of the season.

- he stick with players who clearly have little ability, but work hard See above.

- we set up not to win games away from home, but just to say solid Correct me if I'm wrong but off the top of my head we have won more points away than at home. Am I right? We set up away from home exactly the same as we do at home. The reason for that is because our team and shape picks itself as I said earlier. No options, no alternatives, not the manager's fault.

- Speed doesn't make changes until too late He brought Jamie Ward on 5 minutes or so into the second half. Is that not an early change? Personally I would have done it at half time but perhaps he felt Boggy would respond quickly after a rocket. He didnt so he quickly looked rectified it. Thats a bit of an empty argument to me anyway Olle. We were two nil down inside 30 odd minutes on Saturday. A substitution before half time would be too late under those circumstances but human beings dont have the benefit of hindsight.

Its not blind faith in Speed Olle. As I clearly believe he is working with nothing, its very difficult for me to have faith or lack thereof in him because I have nothing whatsoever to base it on either way. In other words its impossible to judge his merit as a manager based on our personnel.

---------- Post added at 09:54 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:43 PM ----------

Freedom of choice maybe? I also doubt it is the blind faith you have chosen to label him with, but more an ability to look at the big picture without throwing toys out of the pram.

Thanks Mousey. I dont mind Olle's comment as I know its harmless banter.....he knows I wont take offence and I didnt. Thats his opinion which is fair enough but I know its not a case of blind faith.

But I did appreciate what you said Mousey. I always like to think I'm capable of looking at the bigger picture.....even if I have the face on about how shite we are

Definately not blind faith though. To be brutally honest, I havent a clue what to make of the whole fecking thing at the moment. I feel numb about it. All I know is that the problems are broad and visible. Knowing exactly how to solve them is the difficult thing but that is why we pay players and managers a small fortune supposedly!

 

[Ollessendro]

On the back of our worse performance of the season, GS comes out and talks about the raw deal we get with penalties (http://www.thestar.co.uk/blades/Spot-of-bother-for-the.6600845.jp). Hmmmm, now any thoughts on to which of our previous managers blamed everyone but himself for our poor performances and results?