The rest of the season.....

[shorehamview]

Now that it's almost certain that the playoffs are out of reach what do we do with the few games that are left?

I think there's a case to be made for bringing some more of the Academy players through. Get rid of some of the loanees perhaps, and let the kids have a go. How much difference will it make in terms of prize money if we finish, say, 10th as opposed to 8th?

I'd certainly bring Paddy back for the games he is eligible, and why not let Lowton start?

 

[TonyAgana]

Completely agree in principle. Just wonder if it would do kids good to be booed off every 45 minutes.

 

[SwissBlade]

Like TA, I agree in principle.

I've said it since Trevor Birch's Q&A session, we really need to hear where the club is planning to go in the next few seasons.

Every club in the division can hark on about ambition to go up automatic, via the play offs or just stay up, but we need a proper target and we need to know how we plan to do it. With a team of academy players? with a team of players on long term contracts? ageing experienced players? with football? with hoofball? with pace? with physical muscle? etc etc

I know were skint but I want us to set out a proper philosophy of what football we want to play.

Right now were rudderless and have no clue where we're going.

I think if the club were more honest and open about what we want to do, then our fans would become more patient.

The first step to get more patient fans is to change the manager.

 

[Bergen Blade]

Completely agree in principle. Just wonder if it would do kids good to be booed off every 45 minutes.

Having watched them lose 4-0 to WBA two weeks ago I don't think many of them are even close to being ready. From those I saw, I think Slew and O'Kane looked interesting, but a loan in the lower leagues at the start of next season may be better than throwing them into the first team now.

 

[Bergen Blade]

..............................................

 

[SwissBlade]

What about Wedgebury? Is he fit?

 

[TonyAgana]

Regarding SwissBlade's rudderless ship comment, I think the only people connected to the club who haven't been told what our short-term goals are are the fans. Or maybe we have but we just haven't listened properly. Blackwell is not going to get sacked. He has done a very, very difficult job and been the fall-guy for McCabe. I'd imagine Blackwell is pretty bloody high up on McCabe's Christmas card list. I just wonder how we'd have all reacted if it was said at the top of the season "this season's aim is Championship safety."

 

[GRUMPY BLADE]

Agree that blackie has delivered what Mcc wanted.

One [or it it two] thing that has bothered me is that we have ex pig and ex scum players on the management side to help get us out of this mess.

Why the fuck would they want to?

 

[SwissBlade]

Regarding SwissBlade's rudderless ship comment, I think the only people connected to the club who haven't been told what our short-term goals are are the fans. Or maybe we have but we just haven't listened properly. Blackwell is not going to get sacked. He has done a very, very difficult job and been the fall-guy for McCabe. I'd imagine Blackwell is pretty bloody high up on McCabe's Christmas card list. I just wonder how we'd have all reacted if it was said at the top of the season "this season's aim is Championship safety."

Spot on TA. Blackwell has been McCabe's fall guy, but this has to stop.

The club has built of hopes, but not delivered on the pitch, so even though Blackie has done what he was required to do by McCabe off the field. He's done poorly on it and is turning fans against the club because of his football decisions and his character.

Sad but true.

 

[TonyAgana]

The two go hand in hand though, don't they? You can't be expected to sell the family silver, slash the wage bill and top last season's finish, can you?

I agree his character isn't particularly likeable but I guess that's one of the reasons why he was chosen to do the job. Flip side of the coin is he's a bit of a twat BECAUSE he's been given a shit job to do and taken a hell of a lot of flak (all the while refusing to blame the chairman - I know he never blames himself for poor results, but he never blames the chairman either. He also never takes compliments after positive results but always passes them onto his team. Just an aside.).

 

[SE1Blade]

Now that it's almost certain that the playoffs are out of reach what do we do with the few games that are left?

I think there's a case to be made for bringing some more of the Academy players through. Get rid of some of the loanees perhaps, and let the kids have a go. How much difference will it make in terms of prize money if we finish, say, 10th as opposed to 8th?

I'd certainly bring Paddy back for the games he is eligible, and why not let Lowton start?

I think we should focus 100% on the pig match. There is still a double over them to play for (and hopefully send them nearer the drop).

If that means resting Yeates, Williamson, Camara, Henderson and whoever else for the next 3 games to ensure they are fit for the pigs thenm so be it. Give Lowton, Wedgebury, McFazdean, Pennycooke-Morgan and whoever else we've got a go til then (but not all at the same time, maybe one or 2 per match).

For the pig match however, its big guns in, and try to at least give us fans something to remember this season by.

 

[BornOnShorehamStreet]

I think we should focus 100% on the pig match. There is still a double over them to play for (and hopefully send them nearer the drop).

If that means resting Yeates, Williamson, Camara, Henderson and whoever else for the next 3 games to ensure they are fit for the pigs thenm so be it. Give Lowton, Wedgebury, McFazdean, Pennycooke-Morgan and whoever else we've got a go til then (but not all at the same time, maybe one or 2 per match).

For the pig match however, its big guns in, and try to at least give us fans something to remember this season by.

Do you think our current squad gives a flying f*** about the derby?

 

[TonyAgana]

Agree that blackie has delivered what Mcc wanted.

One [or it it two] thing that has bothered me is that we have ex pig and ex scum players on the management side to help get us out of this mess.

Why the fuck would they want to?

I just can't understand this mentality regarding old affiliations with our "enemies". Where does it stop? Carl Bradshaw? Derek Geary? Derek Dooley?

 

[TonyAgana]

Do you think our current squad gives a flying f*** about the derby?

I would hope the management do.

 

[SwissBlade]

The two go hand in hand though, don't they? You can't be expected to sell the family silver, slash the wage bill and top last season's finish, can you?

I agree his character isn't particularly likeable but I guess that's one of the reasons why he was chosen to do the job. Flip side of the coin is he's a bit of a twat BECAUSE he's been given a shit job to do and taken a hell of a lot of flak (all the while refusing to blame the chairman - I know he never blames himself for poor results, but he never blames the chairman either. He also never takes compliments after positive results but always passes them onto his team. Just an aside.).

Yes, to an extent this is why I stuck by Blackie for so long, but the other part is that the way he plays no longer gets us results that it did with the "better players" we had last season. I think a different manager would get more out of the players we have

Also for the good of the club, we need someone that's prepared to stand up to the board and I don't believe Blackwell is able to do this.

Its all well and good just getting on with his job, but he's recently started to alienate fans with his attitude

 

[BornOnShorehamStreet]

I would hope the management do.

They might but they won't be on the pitch though will they?

 

[happyhippy]

Completely agree in principle. Just wonder if it would do kids good to be booed off every 45 minutes.

That's pretty much how I feel as well. That said, my apathy was such that even though I have a season ticket, I couldn't be bothered to go, and settled down and read a book instead.

I do think that it would still be better for a couple of them who look like they could make the grade to have a couple of quick run outs. It's not going to do us any harm now.

 

[beightonblade]

good call.......................

and while were at it how about Brian the Blade taking over as manager ?

hang on he has been for months !

 

[happyhippy]

Agree that blackie has delivered what Mcc wanted.

One [or it it two] thing that has bothered me is that we have ex pig and ex scum players on the management side to help get us out of this mess.

Why the fuck would they want to?

Because it's their job to?

 

[Robbie]

I think there's a case to be made for bringing some more of the Academy players through. Get rid of some of the loanees perhaps, and let the kids have a go.

I said the exact same yesterday, let's see if they're ready to make a bit of a step up. Even just giving them 45 minutes at a time.

Completely agree in principle. Just wonder if it would do kids good to be booed off every 45 minutes.

I think fans are more welcoming to our prospects than they are of people who we expect better from.