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Post by trev on Dec 23, 2017 20:12:45 GMT
With regards to things not being right between Bignot and the players, although I have precisely no idea of what's going on at Chester, I know he fell out with the players in a big way when with us. To the point that half our team (including one of his own signings) told the board they didn't want to stay if he was still in charge. He also alienated lots of players by coming in and telling the press we didn't have a "technically good" squad all within the first few weeks. One of the players he sent out on loan is now far and away our best player so shows what an eye for talent he has.Truthfully from his lack of tactical nous and bizarre selections, his belligerence when dealing with people and the daft things he says when doing interviews, I don't think Bignot is very bright. In fact, I'd go as far as saying I think he's quite thick.
Whilst I profess to have a very limited knowledge of anything Grimsby, I do recall a young player called Omar Bogle who did reasonably well there. Please remind me which club OB was signed from and who was the manager at the time.
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Post by billyw on Dec 23, 2017 20:26:41 GMT
With regards to things not being right between Bignot and the players, although I have precisely no idea of what's going on at Chester, I know he fell out with the players in a big way when with us. To the point that half our team (including one of his own signings) told the board they didn't want to stay if he was still in charge. He also alienated lots of players by coming in and telling the press we didn't have a "technically good" squad all within the first few weeks. One of the players he sent out on loan is now far and away our best player so shows what an eye for talent he has.Truthfully from his lack of tactical nous and bizarre selections, his belligerence when dealing with people and the daft things he says when doing interviews, I don't think Bignot is very bright. In fact, I'd go as far as saying I think he's quite thick.
Whilst I profess to have a very limited knowledge of anything Grimsby, I do recall a young player called Omar Bogle who did reasonably well there. Please remind me which club OB was signed from and who was the manager at the time.
He can't make a career out of discovering Bogie. It's like saying McCarthy is a good manager because we were able to sell Sam Hughes.
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Post by bethnalblue on Dec 23, 2017 20:36:43 GMT
The Halifax Chairman taking the piss in his programme notes as well. Apparently Mark Maguire is our Chairman and Chester is in North Wales!! Your ground is Well done Sherlock But the City isnt is it
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Post by grimsbyfan on Dec 23, 2017 20:44:28 GMT
With regards to things not being right between Bignot and the players, although I have precisely no idea of what's going on at Chester, I know he fell out with the players in a big way when with us. To the point that half our team (including one of his own signings) told the board they didn't want to stay if he was still in charge. He also alienated lots of players by coming in and telling the press we didn't have a "technically good" squad all within the first few weeks. One of the players he sent out on loan is now far and away our best player so shows what an eye for talent he has.Truthfully from his lack of tactical nous and bizarre selections, his belligerence when dealing with people and the daft things he says when doing interviews, I don't think Bignot is very bright. In fact, I'd go as far as saying I think he's quite thick.
Whilst I profess to have a very limited knowledge of anything Grimsby, I do recall a young player called Omar Bogle who did reasonably well there. Please remind me which club OB was signed from and who was the manager at the time.
He got one decent player? In seven years of being a manager. If you like examples so much, he signed 8 players for us in January (still less than a year ago). Of those 8, 5 are playing in the National League now, one is at struggling Port Vale (and he was absolute garbage), one isn't playing for anybody and only one still plays for us. In your circumstances you could argue it's not conducive to signing decent players but we were in a solid position and had money to spend after selling Bogle and that is what he managed with it. Awful.
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Post by Lobster on Dec 23, 2017 21:00:18 GMT
If there is a rift between the players and the manager I'd be inclined to side with the manager myself. This lot are an absolute shower, and they've proved it over a full 12 months now.
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Post by southernblue on Dec 23, 2017 21:02:23 GMT
We were warned about Bignot throwing his weight around and alienating senior players, but oh no, his slick presentation blew the board away, what with his knowledge of the players gleaned from his mate Tom Shaw.
I worry that he may have lost the dressing room even quicker than I thought. Anyone who works knows that a dictatorial boss just causes resentment, and it backfires. Why should football be any different?
His selections are bizarre, substitutions random, piling a load of crap at the back, no shape, shifting non formations like the sand. And bringing in one shite striker after another, bar Archer, when anyone can see we need to sort out the midfield which lacks pace, desire or creativity.
When I think of someone like Barrow who could command respect just from his experience and presence, I really pity the opportunity we missed to dig us out of this hole.
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Post by Lobster on Dec 23, 2017 21:10:08 GMT
I don't get why we're so shit. Sure, we have limitations, but we shouldn't be as bad as this. This is why I said you build a team from the back weeks ago on that thread. We're shit because we've had thee last 3 managers try building us on a foundation (defence) of sand. We also have a board who haven't got a clue what they're doing nor seemingly the will to change anything for the better. Can we start again in the NW Counties league, but do things properly this time? To be fair, although McCombe somehow wormed his was back in today, he has completely changed the back line. Astles has been the only one of the original back four starting of late. Whether it's any better though is probably for someone who goes to more games than me to decide. Things just don't seem right at the moment, that's the second time in three weeks we've conceded four in one half. It's just not normal. I'm hesitant to really blame Bignot too much because I think his hand is forced a lot of the time. It seems like a cycle of poor fitness and low expectation has been allowed to fester for 2-3 years, and just when there's a faint glimmer of hope that we might be turning the corner, we get stomped into the ground harder than ever.
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Post by trev on Dec 23, 2017 21:16:59 GMT
Whilst I profess to have a very limited knowledge of anything Grimsby, I do recall a young player called Omar Bogle who did reasonably well there. Please remind me which club OB was signed from and who was the manager at the time.
He got one decent player? In seven years of being a manager. If you like examples so much, he signed 8 players for us in January (still less than a year ago). Of those 8, 5 are playing in the National League now, one is at struggling Port Vale (and he was absolute garbage), one isn't playing for anybody and only one still plays for us. In your circumstances you could argue it's not conducive to signing decent players but we were in a solid position and had money to spend after selling Bogle and that is what he managed with it. Awful. Nevertheless, Bogle was a great signing for grmsby, and you should have at least acknowledged that. We are in a terrible position primarily down to Jon McCarthy being inexplicably allowed to continue after last season and squander the summer budget on what turned out to be journeymen dross. The jury is certainly out on Bignot right now, on his tactics, selection and many of his own signings to date in spite of the difficult financial position, as today was utterly abysmal and possibly the worst half of football I have seen Chester play in over 30 years. But calling out some of our so called professionals for their unacceptable performance is not an issue, most of whom should be shipped out.
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Post by jb on Dec 23, 2017 21:18:31 GMT
John McCombe genuinely challenges Blaine Hudson as one of the worst defenders I've ever seen at this level. At least Hudson had an excuse because he'd had a nostril full the night before. He [McCombe) is the worst. The only time I saw the silly fat wanker run was to changing room to dodge the abuse he so richly deserves at half time. Just wish the players showed as much bravery as Holy Mary who sells the programmes when she got in and amongst the lads who were at the front of the stand who were quite rightly peed off.
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Post by bing on Dec 23, 2017 21:19:04 GMT
Seems worse coming the week of the Children's hospital visit. If ever the players should have been bristling with pride for the privilege of wearing the shirt, this was it.
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Post by grimsbyfan on Dec 23, 2017 21:24:59 GMT
He got one decent player? In seven years of being a manager. If you like examples so much, he signed 8 players for us in January (still less than a year ago). Of those 8, 5 are playing in the National League now, one is at struggling Port Vale (and he was absolute garbage), one isn't playing for anybody and only one still plays for us. In your circumstances you could argue it's not conducive to signing decent players but we were in a solid position and had money to spend after selling Bogle and that is what he managed with it. Awful. Nevertheless, Bogle was a great signing for grmsby, and you should have at least acknowledged that. We are in a terrible position primarily down to Jon McCarthy being inexplicably allowed to continue after last season and squander the summer budget on what turned out to be journeymen dross. The jury is certainly out on Bignot right now, on his tactics, selection and many of his own signings to date in spite of the difficult financial position, as today was utterly abysmal and possibly the worst half of football I have seen Chester play in over 30 years. But calling out some of our so called professionals for their unacceptable performance is not an issue, most of whom should be shipped out.
He didn't sign him for us and he was by no means the finished article when he did. Regularly getting dropped in his first season.
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Post by Al on Dec 23, 2017 21:33:19 GMT
This is why I said you build a team from the back weeks ago on that thread. We're shit because we've had thee last 3 managers try building us on a foundation (defence) of sand. We also have a board who haven't got a clue what they're doing nor seemingly the will to change anything for the better. Can we start again in the NW Counties league, but do things properly this time? To be fair, although McCombe somehow wormed his was back in today, he has completely changed the back line. Astles has been the only one of the original back four starting of late. Whether it's any better though is probably for someone who goes to more games than me to decide. Things just don't seem right at the moment, that's the second time in three weeks we've conceded four in one half. It's just not normal. I'm hesitant to really blame Bignot too much because I think his hand is forced a lot of the time. It seems like a cycle of poor fitness and low expectation has been allowed to fester for 2-3 years, and just when there's a faint glimmer of hope that we might be turning the corner, we get stomped into the ground harder than ever. Astles needs two mobile centre backs alongside him. Putting the immobile McCombe at centre back and Astles on the left side against pace kills us. This is why we need to get rid of bodies and bring in two centre backs ASAP. We also need a grafter in the middle of the park. If Turnbull and James aren't interested then they too can find clubs willing to take them on. We need to be solid, and hard to break down. Bignot has done a lot of chopping and changing with keepers, full backs and forwards but not enough in the areas that are killing us. Guiseley boxing day. Make or break time for me
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Post by trev on Dec 23, 2017 21:42:14 GMT
Nevertheless, Bogle was a great signing for grmsby, and you should have at least acknowledged that. We are in a terrible position primarily down to Jon McCarthy being inexplicably allowed to continue after last season and squander the summer budget on what turned out to be journeymen dross. The jury is certainly out on Bignot right now, on his tactics, selection and many of his own signings to date in spite of the difficult financial position, as today was utterly abysmal and possibly the worst half of football I have seen Chester play in over 30 years. But calling out some of our so called professionals for their unacceptable performance is not an issue, most of whom should be shipped out.
He didn't sign him for us and he was by no means the finished article when he did. Regularly getting dropped in his first season. I didn't say Bignot signed Bogle for Grimsby, but clearly he was instrumental in developing him as a player. Also coming from Solihull who were in Conf North at the time, it is understandable he wouldn't have been the finished article like most promising players joining from lower division clubs. For the record he did score 32 goals in 68 appearances for GT which don’t seem too shabby. Just wish we had such a poorly performing player !!
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Post by Lobster on Dec 23, 2017 21:49:44 GMT
To be fair, although McCombe somehow wormed his was back in today, he has completely changed the back line. Astles has been the only one of the original back four starting of late. Whether it's any better though is probably for someone who goes to more games than me to decide. Things just don't seem right at the moment, that's the second time in three weeks we've conceded four in one half. It's just not normal. I'm hesitant to really blame Bignot too much because I think his hand is forced a lot of the time. It seems like a cycle of poor fitness and low expectation has been allowed to fester for 2-3 years, and just when there's a faint glimmer of hope that we might be turning the corner, we get stomped into the ground harder than ever. Astles needs two mobile centre backs alongside him. Putting the immobile McCombe at centre back and Astles on the left side against pace kills us. This is why we need to get rid of bodies and bring in two centre backs ASAP. We also need a grafter in the middle of the park. If Turnbull and James aren't interested then they too can find clubs willing to take them on. We need to be solid, and hard to break down. Bignot has done a lot of chopping and changing with keepers, full backs and forwards but not enough in the areas that are killing us. Guiseley boxing day. Make or break time for me I don't disagree with anything you say, but how do you propose he "gets rid of bodies"? McCombe, James, Turnbull etc are all contracted here. He can only get rid of them if he finds them another club, and who's going to take them on their current showings? Look at Liam Davies, a player we're stuck with for the rest of the season. Even Leek Town, playing three levels below us, barely played him and didn't want him for more than a month. This is the sort of "body" we need to get rid of. Where to? I don't agree with everything Bignot is doing, but the squad he inherited is poor throughout and seems to have a fitness and mentality problem. I really don't think there's a lot he can do other than try and cobble together bits and pieces through a "trial and error" process and try and develop them into some sort of unit. So far, he's having little success, sadly.
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Post by bluesince72 on Dec 23, 2017 21:57:35 GMT
Journeyman dross sums it up perfectly.
Have not been on DC for a while but total disillusionment with the way the club has declined means I have to get some things off my chest. IMO Our clubs decline began the day the 1st chairman was ousted following money vanishing from the blues bar budget.It was the day that drive & ambition was replaced by caution and timidity at the top. We won promotion to the NL stayed PT,finished in a relegation spot and still the penny didn't drop,and the club stayed pt. Every season since bar one has been a relegation struggle as a result, crowds have fallen, and who can blame the stay aways? Part time players lower down played with passion, but at this level that is mostly missing, they are journeymen players earning a wage. Bignot deserves a little credit for telling the board that pt wont cut it in this league, but making journeymen train ft wont change attitudes or inject ambition & passion. Not every player fits this description but the majority do. We could have achieved what Macc do with a ft sqauad & a decent manager & brought the crowds back, but I fear its all too late. It is too easy to blame poor managers, and they were poor, but the ethos of a club is set by its leadership. Who ever asked the fans if they wanted a pt club devoid of any serious ambition or real hope of being competitive? The penny seems to have dropped, but all the momentum and good will of the phoenix reformation & early success has been wasted. Relegation will risk the demise of the club, football fans in this city want at least the hope of a FL club, not regional league no marks. Rant over!
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Post by trev on Dec 23, 2017 22:12:18 GMT
To be fair, although McCombe somehow wormed his was back in today, he has completely changed the back line. Astles has been the only one of the original back four starting of late. Whether it's any better though is probably for someone who goes to more games than me to decide. Things just don't seem right at the moment, that's the second time in three weeks we've conceded four in one half. It's just not normal. I'm hesitant to really blame Bignot too much because I think his hand is forced a lot of the time. It seems like a cycle of poor fitness and low expectation has been allowed to fester for 2-3 years, and just when there's a faint glimmer of hope that we might be turning the corner, we get stomped into the ground harder than ever. Astles needs two mobile centre backs alongside him. Putting the immobile McCombe at centre back and Astles on the left side against pace kills us. This is why we need to get rid of bodies and bring in two centre backs ASAP. We also need a grafter in the middle of the park. If Turnbull and James aren't interested then they too can find clubs willing to take them on. We need to be solid, and hard to break down. Bignot has done a lot of chopping and changing with keepers, full backs and forwards but not enough in the areas that are killing us. Guiseley boxing day. Make or break time for me Also thought Tom Shaw looked sluggish today and looked like he was carrying an injury , and Dawson had a frustratingly poor game. Mahon came on and showed what could be possible , giving us at least some forward momentum in the second half. Otherwise we need a complete midfield revamp. We certainley need a a real grafter (not James or turnbull) but also much more , width, pace and energy . How many times do we ever get forward out of our own half for sustained periods or even manage to get behind the oppositions full backs . I also don't think R H Johnson or Gough are natural wing backs, which leaves our currently one paced midfiled short of width and options going forwards.
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Post by MOC on Dec 23, 2017 22:28:38 GMT
Something that doesn’t really crop up is how effective Bignot’s assistant Thorpe is. Not a dig as don’t know much about him, but can’t help wondering if things might have panned out any differently if Bignot had been able to bring in Gary Whild (as rumoured at the time) who is well experienced at working in this league.
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Post by imadeva on Dec 23, 2017 22:29:12 GMT
Once again total lack of pace as well as the clueless Bignot to blame for a disastrous result
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Post by Lobster on Dec 23, 2017 22:52:55 GMT
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Post by spencerwhelanleftpeg on Dec 23, 2017 23:01:00 GMT
The first ones just a size mismatch at the far post from what is to be fair a good ball in to him. The rest well what can you say misplaced pass halfway inside our own half half and a square ball at that. It’s the way it looks so easy for anyone to run at us with the ball who had any pace ala Kidderminster.
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Post by spencerwhelanleftpeg on Dec 23, 2017 23:02:57 GMT
In terms of staying up can we really win 9 Draw 3 lose 10 of the remaining games . Not unless Santa is bringing us gifts in January??
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Post by Harry Lime on Dec 23, 2017 23:11:37 GMT
That's the fourth or fifth really poor performance in the last ten games. That's worrying.
MB seems to have decided on a 5 3 2 formation, that doesn't work.
The wing backs don't get up and down the pitch giving us width. They just stand level with the centre halves. The midfield three looks a shambles. They can't move the ball through the opposition, or stop them when get it. There are no passes on for them as they are all standing by the back five. The only ball is a punt up to the isolated strikers. The strikers are both young and inexperienced. They don't hold the ball up, or run behind the opposition early enough to get on the end of the long ball. They wait to see where it's going, then run.
We changed to a 442 just before they scored again. They attacked down the left. James was standing by the touchline on the other side of the pitch! Obviously under instruction. We'd be far better keeping three in the middle to try to close it up, rather than expand the game further.
I don't understand the team selection or the changes or the substitutions. I'm not sure the formation suits the players, or where MB plays them.
I appreciate we've had loads of injuries, that have forced some changes. However, I suspect MB would have changed things anyway. The first team hasn't been improved so far in his time with the club. It needs to quickly.
I thought the players tried their nuts off today, but were outclassed and outplayed allover the pitch. The way we set up didn't help the players though. They players don't look as if they know what to do. With or without the ball.
At Kiddie the players got the blame. Against Woking and Dagenham we looked poor. At Orient the second half was so bad you couldn't believe what we were doing. It looked tactical error. Today the manager and players all got the blame. I suspect a knee jerk reaction from MB for Guiseley. For better or worse, your guess is as good as mine.
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Post by spencerwhelanleftpeg on Dec 23, 2017 23:38:46 GMT
Good following today considering how poor we have been all this year really. Especially on the eve of Xmas eve. Has anybody player or management staff apologised for that today? They were six or so points better off than us prior to the game so to be “blown away and outclassed” is sure to leave one worried about our plight does it not??
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Post by trev on Dec 23, 2017 23:53:14 GMT
That's the fourth or fifth really poor performance in the last ten games. That's worrying. MB seems to have decided on a 5 3 2 formation, that doesn't work. The wing backs don't get up and down the pitch giving us width. They just stand level with the centre halves. The midfield three looks a shambles. They can't move the ball through the opposition, or stop them when get it. There are no passes on for them as they are all standing by the back five. The only ball is a punt up to the isolated strikers. The strikers are both young and inexperienced. They don't hold the ball up, or run behind the opposition early enough to get on the end of the long ball. They wait to see where it's going, then run. We changed to a 442 just before they scored again. They attacked down the left. James was standing by the touchline on the other side of the pitch! Obviously under instruction. We'd be far better keeping three in the middle to try to close it up, rather than expand the game further. I don't understand the team selection or the changes or the substitutions. I'm not sure the formation suits the players, or where MB plays them. I appreciate we've had loads of injuries, that have forced some changes. However, I suspect MB would have changed things anyway. The first team hasn't been improved so far in his time with the club. It needs to quickly. I thought the players tried their nuts off today, but were outclassed and outplayed allover the pitch. The way we set up didn't help the players though. They players don't look as if they know what to do. With or without the ball. At Kiddie the players got the blame. Against Woking and Dagenham we looked poor. At Orient the second half was so bad you couldn't believe what we were doing. It looked tactical error. Today the manager and players all got the blame. I suspect a knee jerk reaction from MB for Guiseley. For better or worse, your guess is as good as mine.
I cannot agree agree with the highlighted comment. During the first half we were lacking commitment, unable to execute the simple basics and were lethargic at best. Some of the seasoned professional player’s efforts were pitiful. Let’s be honest they allowed themselves to be “outclassed” by a very average mid-table outfit, and there can be few, if any excuses, for failing in the minimum requirements to at least compete and be competent - regardless of the manager tactics however inadequate.
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Post by thetheremin on Dec 24, 2017 1:04:59 GMT
Christmas always seems to be a crap time for us.
That said I don’t think even Alex Ferguson could get some of these players motivated.
Something is and has been destabilising the dressing room for a few seasons now. Something just is not right. Bet there are a couple of surprising departures in January. There’s one player I’d ditch in a heartbeat but don’t think it’d make me very popular saying it.
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Post by Anders on Dec 24, 2017 1:20:08 GMT
This football club is such hard work, genuinely just sat through that thoroughly fed up today, just seen far too much shit from them. Absolute gutter performance, one of the very worst I’ve seen. To see us so comprehensively outplayed by such a bad team as Halifax is gut wrenching.
Haven’t posted on here for a bit as I just feel really quite drained, I’ll always go, wherever, but just can’t be arsed arguing the toss with people afterwards at the moment to be quite honest. Today really riled me though.
I’ve never seen such a static bunch in my life, our midfield in particular just stands still all game, don’t even attempt to lose their markers, just stand there fully marked by more than one and then blame whoever tried to pass them the ball when they lose it. MOVE!!! One of the best players I’ve seen at this level is Danny Whittaker at Macc, when they have the ball he wanders around finding space, he’s like the lad who parks his car at the back of the supermarket car park miles away from every other lazy fucker and has the easiest job getting in and out of the place. Nobody moves to find space with us, we get crowded out like those who look for the space right near the bloody front door!
Dawson should be dropped immediately after today, I’ve often defended him as I think he has ability but until he learns some common sense I can’t have him anymore. Makes staggeringly bad decisions on the pitch, constantly trying the impossible. McCombe is coming in for criticism, not least from myself on twitter, but to be honest I think he’s just past it and perhaps in a bit of denial about it. Not convinced he’s some sort of wage thief which maybe some are making him out to be. I was closely looking at the player’s body language once the game was gone and after the final whistle and found his the most intriguing. Gough was torn apart by the outstanding MacDonald, Astles was shoved wider than usual and I’ve no idea where James was supposed to be playing. The lad from Crewe, Udoh, is an absolute waste of time.
Nobody dared facing the baying mob at full time, Shaw came the closest (unsurprisingly) and Akintunde clapped from a fair enough distance, as one or two others. Some just marched straight off though, most noticeably Dawson, who didn’t offer a glance. Bignot hung around on the half way line, far enough away from a chorus of jeers to his right.
This was worse than Kiddy, constant jeers, boo’s and sarcastic chants throughout the ninety minutes. Easily forgot that were actually any Halifax fans in the stadium. As non-existent home support as you’ll probably come across. Think they actually felt a bit embarrassed to be honest. At one point one of our fans jumped the hoardings, strode towards our dugout and sat down on the bench with our staff. I thought he was going to lamp Bignot as he walked up, hope nothing comes of it as it turned out to be quite light hearted stuff in the end.
Just got to keep hoping really, nothing else we can do. Was hardly a typical performance to be fair, just one right out of the top of the shit bin, not the norm but one we’re certainly capable of producing. Would probably actually be typical of this lot to turn it on next week, or maybe not!!!
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Post by Hannibal on Dec 24, 2017 5:29:40 GMT
The points per game for safety is now 1.4. Thats 4 wins 2 draws and 4 losses every 10 games. I think we've only won 6 games in the whole of 2017. Impossible ask.
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Post by tarvinblue on Dec 24, 2017 7:25:54 GMT
The points per game for safety is now 1.4. Thats 4 wins 2 draws and 4 losses every 10 games. I think we've only won 6 games in the whole of 2017. Impossible ask. The only time we have had anything like that kind of form was September-November 2016. Bignot stood in the pub a few weeks back guaranteeing that we would be in this division next year - by hook or by crook. He obviously knows more than us. In fairness there were a lot of deluded souls in that pub guaranteeing stuff that's never going to happen.
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Post by Rio Doherty on Dec 24, 2017 8:19:43 GMT
I still simply can’t get over this. That was beyond abysmal and was probably the worst game I have watched since I started supporting us in 2010.
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Post by bonecrusher on Dec 24, 2017 8:30:12 GMT
Christmas always seems to be a crap time for us. That said I don’t think even Alex Ferguson could get some of these players motivated. Something is and has been destabilising the dressing room for a few seasons now. Something just is not right. Bet there are a couple of surprising departures in January. There’s one player I’d ditch in a heartbeat but don’t think it’d make me very popular saying it. Just say it. That's what a forum is for.
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