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Post by whitey on Mar 13, 2024 0:49:47 GMT
Listening to Cal's post match interviews you get the impression he is playing football on a computer not on a football pitch. Na, he's playing with footballers when we need 5/10 lumps. Same as the season we won the league above, the height won us that title alongside Clare. We've no real height in any position, we lose ariel battles and the last two games we've lost most second balls aswell. It's his squad/team and we play awful football to watch never mind the results. He's had two seasons to build a team and a style of football, why are we bypassing a talented midfield (on paper) by just hoofing it with no big men up front? |
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Post by borussiachester on Mar 13, 2024 0:52:10 GMT
The curse is lifted... Overall very little in the game; we had two chances being the goal and Lloyd missing a sitter in the first half. For Chester, Weeks clipped the crossbar from outside the box and Burton hit it again from a cross/shot. One of those matches which could have ended 0-0 or 1-0 to either team without any complaints. I thought Chester looked solid defensively and compact in the middle, though there was an obvious lack of pace in wide areas. There didn't seem to be any number sevens, no tricky wingers or pace down the sides. Most teams in this league have got that as an option; yes it's the sixth tier and most quick wingers have inconsistent delivery but it's normally an option. You might have noticed we made a sub at half time, defender for defender. Your ex-academy lad Thomson was playing RWB, he came off for a centre back. Another centre back (Quansah, the better of the two brothers....) shifted over a little. I can only assume Bentley noticed you had nothing down your left so he might as well congest the middle even more. I think you're a winger (or two) off a very good team because there's quality everywhere else. I can see the midfield trio come in for some stick, but I felt sorry for them because they never had any options. They'd pick the ball up again and again, but the only free man was the one stood five yards away. I don't think they want to play cautiously, they've got the technical ability to spread expansive passes all across the pitch, but ultimately if there's no one stood there then there's nothing they can do. They end up getting pelters for playing negative five yard passes but it was the only thing on. The only width came from the full backs but because we had a back five, they were always outnumbered. They couldn't create any two v ones because there was no supporting wide player to create one with. I think you'll get in the play-offs but that will likely mean more close cagey games and you just need that something different from wide areas and it would be a completely different team. Best of luck for the season. Probably the most accurate analysis I’ve seen of our team from anyone this season - though (and I hope I don’t come across as patronising when I say this) it’s not a great sign from our point of view that an opposition supporter can watch us for 90 minutes and immediately pick apart most of our flaws. |
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Post by Jack on Mar 13, 2024 5:50:21 GMT
Surprised some are saying we played too much football. I thought we just lumped the ball out of play/onto their centre halves’ heads all night.
No football to be seen.
Also, I’m bored of seeing ‘we’ve had X amount of crosses’ as some justification that we’re playing well. The type of crosses we hit are speculative and into crowded penalty areas with a static centre forward. Any side can cross the ball 30 times, but they’re not meaningful chances by any stretch:
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Post by proudblue on Mar 13, 2024 6:18:01 GMT
Cals computer talk about how many corners & shots we have means nothing if you don't score goals, bad recruiting and the lack of higher quality of players coming to the club is down to the management team,they lack the knowledge and contacts of a higher level of football ,its clearly not going to happen with this management team I’m not sure it’s a case of lacking contacts and knowledge of higher leagues. Colin had an excellent professional career as a player and Calum seems to be fairly well regarded within the game for his work as a youth manager. Certainly didn’t seem to be a problem last season getting quality players in on loan from higher up, most notably Harry Tyrer from Everton. More true I think about trying to build a side a particular way that just isn’t working at the moment, as last night’s showing emphasised. |
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Post by proudblue on Mar 13, 2024 6:37:14 GMT
I was impressed with Southport, not because they were particularly good but they were so determined to see out the win, they fought and battled for every ball and wanted it so much more than us. That’s why I’m really flat tonight and worried for our chances in the run in. Mid table sides like Spennymoor and Southport have caught up with us and we are being dragged down the league and reeled in. Too many games this season we’ve gone behind and not responded and also countless times we’ve gone ahead and been pegged back. We’re hardly mentality monsters, are we... Had an uneasy feeling about last night’s game, partly because of our patchy form but also because Jim Bentley is their manager and he would have them battling away in a manner not always seen from Southport in games here when Liam Watson managed them. And so it proved. Seems a bit reminiscent of when John Coleman had a spell as their manager and he was what they needed, while it also helped get his managerial career back on track. I did feel early on this season that, although we weren’t going to be as successful away this time around, our home record would be significantly stronger. That seemed to be the case until December, but I make it that we’ve failed to win seven games at home in the last three months. I wouldn’t be surprised at all if we went to Tamworth and won at the weekend, but then failed to follow it up against South Shields a week later. Frustrating to say the least and last night summed up where the weaknesses lie. |
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Post by bb93 on Mar 13, 2024 7:18:48 GMT
I know people are annoyed about Cal talking about stats but he’s absolutely right. Football is a sport where there are very few goals, compare it to basketball where a team scores 50-60 times a game. This low scoring means there is a large amount of variance in football matches, the best team doesn’t always win. All you can do as a manager is make sure you’re creating the chances and over the long you’ll give yourself the best chance to come out on top.
I’m not sure there’s any benefit in counting the number of crosses, but he is right that statistically we do create a lot normally, yesterday excluded
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Post by Al on Mar 13, 2024 8:17:02 GMT
Size of the players had nothing to do with it sorry. We have capability to move the ball around quicker and be direct without having to lump it forwards. We're too slow simple as that, doesn't matter if you are 6ft 6 or 5ft 6 We do, but that first half where we were trying to move the ball around like the nimble football players that they are didn't work either. Can probably understand the problem Cal has now? Tried to move it around at snails pace which is exactly what the problem was. Too slow in our play, too slow in our decisions, no support in wide areas, Peers having to drop deep to get involved. Took us 4 to 5 passes to switch the play, by which time the space in wide areas had gone. Southport by comparison were able to switch play in one pass, which stretched us especially second half. Tollitt should not be playing upfront as a striker and should be sat behind the front 2 in a free floating role to 'find the space' or wide of a 3 upfront as the winger he is. Cal talks about crosses and corners and us being the 2nd best creator of chances to score in the league, should be looking at shots on target really. Those crosses we do pull off are speculative into a packed box, or don't get past the first man, or we don't have enough bodies in or around the box for it. That's our problem, for this system to work we need to play at a much higher tempo, we need to be able to switch the ball quickly, and we need to play our best most influential players in positions where they can influence games |
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Post by chesterken on Mar 13, 2024 8:18:17 GMT
The curse is lifted... Overall very little in the game; we had two chances being the goal and Lloyd missing a sitter in the first half. For Chester, Weeks clipped the crossbar from outside the box and Burton hit it again from a cross/shot. One of those matches which could have ended 0-0 or 1-0 to either team without any complaints. I thought Chester looked solid defensively and compact in the middle, though there was an obvious lack of pace in wide areas. There didn't seem to be any number sevens, no tricky wingers or pace down the sides. Most teams in this league have got that as an option; yes it's the sixth tier and most quick wingers have inconsistent delivery but it's normally an option. You might have noticed we made a sub at half time, defender for defender. Your ex-academy lad Thomson was playing RWB, he came off for a centre back. Another centre back (Quansah, the better of the two brothers....) shifted over a little. I can only assume Bentley noticed you had nothing down your left so he might as well congest the middle even more. I think you're a winger (or two) off a very good team because there's quality everywhere else. I can see the midfield trio come in for some stick, but I felt sorry for them because they never had any options. They'd pick the ball up again and again, but the only free man was the one stood five yards away. I don't think they want to play cautiously, they've got the technical ability to spread expansive passes all across the pitch, but ultimately if there's no one stood there then there's nothing they can do. They end up getting pelters for playing negative five yard passes but it was the only thing on. The only width came from the full backs but because we had a back five, they were always outnumbered. They couldn't create any two v ones because there was no supporting wide player to create one with. I think you'll get in the play-offs but that will likely mean more close cagey games and you just need that something different from wide areas and it would be a completely different team. Best of luck for the season. Cheers mate. |
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Post by billyw on Mar 13, 2024 8:28:00 GMT
I don’t think we are physically strong enough to get promoted from this league. I don’t think we have enough tactical nous to get promoted. |
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Post by vandycandy on Mar 13, 2024 8:46:03 GMT
Can put all the crosses in you like, can win as many free kicks & corners as you like, if you don't do anything with them which we don't then it's a pretty meaningless point that Cal is making really. The majority of corners we did get last night & Saturday were because we can't get past their man. Then we just arse about with it taking it short & losing the ball. Absolutely ridiculous.
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Post by kyle on Mar 13, 2024 9:04:19 GMT
Sick of watching the world's most boring football team, and even more sick of McIntyre telling me I should be delighted with it.
Isn't this supposed to be entertainment?
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Post by superhans on Mar 13, 2024 9:06:21 GMT
The curse is lifted... Overall very little in the game; we had two chances being the goal and Lloyd missing a sitter in the first half. For Chester, Weeks clipped the crossbar from outside the box and Burton hit it again from a cross/shot. One of those matches which could have ended 0-0 or 1-0 to either team without any complaints. I thought Chester looked solid defensively and compact in the middle, though there was an obvious lack of pace in wide areas. There didn't seem to be any number sevens, no tricky wingers or pace down the sides. Most teams in this league have got that as an option; yes it's the sixth tier and most quick wingers have inconsistent delivery but it's normally an option. You might have noticed we made a sub at half time, defender for defender. Your ex-academy lad Thomson was playing RWB, he came off for a centre back. Another centre back (Quansah, the better of the two brothers....) shifted over a little. I can only assume Bentley noticed you had nothing down your left so he might as well congest the middle even more. I think you're a winger (or two) off a very good team because there's quality everywhere else. I can see the midfield trio come in for some stick, but I felt sorry for them because they never had any options. They'd pick the ball up again and again, but the only free man was the one stood five yards away. I don't think they want to play cautiously, they've got the technical ability to spread expansive passes all across the pitch, but ultimately if there's no one stood there then there's nothing they can do. They end up getting pelters for playing negative five yard passes but it was the only thing on. The only width came from the full backs but because we had a back five, they were always outnumbered. They couldn't create any two v ones because there was no supporting wide player to create one with. I think you'll get in the play-offs but that will likely mean more close cagey games and you just need that something different from wide areas and it would be a completely different team. Best of luck for the season. Spot on assesment of the game and what we've all been saying most of this season. Worrying if you can spot it after one game and our coaching team can't after nearly two seasons |
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lang
Junior Member
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Post by lang on Mar 13, 2024 9:34:51 GMT
Lets face it we aint going up.
Just had a quick look at the teams that look like coming up or down into OUR league, Needham Market ( Ipswich), Radcliffe and probably Macclesfield add to that York, Kiddy, Oxford City its going to be a very competitive league next season.
PS if we don't go up, Cals record is no better than previous managers !! Does the love him continue ?
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Post by Si on Mar 13, 2024 10:06:53 GMT
We really need to be getting in the play offs. Anything less than that with this squad is a failure in my opinion. I know we're never going to expect amazing entertainment every week, and its a word I don't really like using in relation to football, but the entertainment value has been sorely lacking from home games for a while now - most games are low scoring scraps, always cagey affairs. Unless fans see that approach working in terms of point on the board then attendances will drop, and even more worryingly it may deter people from contributing to Boost the Budget if they feel their contribution is being used to create a very dull product on the pitch. If those two things happen, then we'll find it even harder to get out of this league. The Cal factor got the crowds back, but it could also lose it too unless we start to at least look like we're having a proper go at home and playing in a way that may get people looking forward to going again, rather than just going out of blind loyalty.
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Post by arthuro on Mar 13, 2024 10:13:20 GMT
Can put all the crosses in you like, can win as many free kicks & corners as you like, if you don't do anything with them which we don't then it's a pretty meaningless point that Cal is making really. The majority of corners we did get last night & Saturday were because we can't get past their man. Then we just arse about with it taking it short & losing the ball. Absolutely ridiculous. The crosses are usually dreadful though. Coates is a brilliant defender but crossing is his weakness but he’s our main outlet in terms of attacking play. As for the corners they’ve been dreadful for the majority of the season. 23 corners in the past two games but the delivery is so poor. |
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cmbwa
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Post by cmbwa on Mar 13, 2024 10:34:04 GMT
Sick of watching the world's most boring football team, and even more sick of McIntyre telling me I should be delighted with it. Isn't this supposed to be entertainment? Where’s he said you should be delighted with it? |
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Post by dc2cfc on Mar 13, 2024 10:39:45 GMT
Frustrating and disappointing last few home games,
In a way I think us potentially grabbing a draw would have been worse last night as the defeat resets us and ends this unbeaten run of too many draws.
If we are to go on a run into the end of the season/play offs it starts now.
7 games to go, everyone has to step up now, manager, players, supporters to create that momentum.
Last season we were in 3rd position guaranteed for a few weeks so naturally we relaxed, Kidderminster were fighting for every point and that’s we have to prove now.
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Post by thetheremin on Mar 13, 2024 10:57:54 GMT
Aside from last night just too many drawn games, falling into a similar pattern to last season of failing to close out matches.
Last season arguably it cost us the title, this season it could cost us a play-off spot
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Post by 1paulcarden on Mar 13, 2024 11:04:09 GMT
The players just looked drained of any confidence tonight. Harder they tried the worse it got. The defence and keeper are fine. The rest is unbalanced. For me the midfield hasn't looked right all season. The diamond has been used to fit Glendon into a key 10 role. The way we set up he is the key player. But it leaves you narrow and with little width. The rest of the midfield have suffered in comparison to last season. The strikers are mainly ineffective and have been all season. Part of that is the time we take to get the ball up to them. By the time we do, there's no space and it ends up a fight ball. Our strikers aren't at their best doing that. The other part of it is that the strikers aren't great either. Tollitt isn't really a striker. I'd prefer him playing in the Glendon role, or as a roving winger, depending on the formation. Not convinced about Peers. Can't see how he scored so many for Curzon. Maybe he got lucky. Norton isn't good enough. Thomas isn't a striker. Caton can be effective, but it's the occasional burst rather than over 90 minutes. None of them look to have any confidence. Hardly surprisingly. Southport put the ball in every opportunity they had. That makes it easier for their strikers to find space in our box as they know when it's coming in. Ours have to wait and there is no space in a penalty area packed with big defenders, that also puts extra pressure on the players putting the ball in. All in all its been a disappointing few weeks at home. But we've had 30+ home games in the last 2 seasons and it's been a consistent problem. Unless we change tactics and recruitment we'll need a better balance to overcome our deficiencies. The other elephant in the room is the lack of entertainment. It seems worse tonight as we've lost, but the game was more open than most have been and we still struggled to create anything from open play. I think privately Cal will realise how much he's learned this season, probably more than any other season so far in his career. He'll emerge stronger and wiser from this one. Nail on head. I got pelters for saying this months ago but we set up like he’s our Le Tissier. Like he’s the one who’ll pull us out of the mire/create a goal out of nothing. He has zero responsibility defensively and has effectively a free role. The fact we’re creating fuck all and have scored bugger all all season might have something to do with him? |
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Post by jimianto on Mar 13, 2024 11:23:24 GMT
That night was poor all ways round. The crowd, atmosphere, team selection/tactics and the performance. There seems to be an air of trepidation right now at home games.
When we went to Chorley a few months back, everyone played like the win meant the world to them -the same midfielders who under performed so badly last night were like dervishes wanting to win every first, second and third ball and then drive forward and release the strikers. That seems to have evaporated at times since and particularly over the last couple of games. Another thing, Southport's Big Arthur made more noise in just one of his many bellows last night, as any of our players made in the whole game - they were so quiet and seemed lost at times. I think Kev Roberts has been a big miss in organising and communication on the pitch.
I am struggling to get my head around why Iwan Murray isn't in the team right now ahead of one of Week/Whitehouse/Glendon - his performances justify starting. Also Woodthorpe has been solid in every game he's played and yet gets dropped. I know Cal likes Liam Edwards, but I don't think he makes our best 11. I felt sorry for Burton last night - his position is clearly left sided centre back, not left wing back. This left wing back position has become a nightmare, as we seem to rotate weekly. Taylor has shown he can't be bothered trying here (or anywhere), but I would wager that Olly Heywood (last seen in right midfield at Hereford) wouldn't let us down if he got the opportunity.
Obviously Cal sees things in training etc. which we don't and possibly Iwan, Olly and Woody are carrying injuries, but I think he needs to change it up a bit - midfield, left side and also for me Charlie as a CF, rather than left wing.
It wouldn't surprise me if we went to Tamworth and got a win, but surely Cal will need to be less dogmatic if we are to regain some momentum.
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Post by welshrover on Mar 13, 2024 11:33:04 GMT
Neil Warnock is doing nowt for a few weeks, sure he wouldn't mind doing a bit of mentoring for free.
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Post by Si on Mar 13, 2024 11:35:53 GMT
The players just looked drained of any confidence tonight. Harder they tried the worse it got. The defence and keeper are fine. The rest is unbalanced. For me the midfield hasn't looked right all season. The diamond has been used to fit Glendon into a key 10 role. The way we set up he is the key player. But it leaves you narrow and with little width. The rest of the midfield have suffered in comparison to last season. The strikers are mainly ineffective and have been all season. Part of that is the time we take to get the ball up to them. By the time we do, there's no space and it ends up a fight ball. Our strikers aren't at their best doing that. The other part of it is that the strikers aren't great either. Tollitt isn't really a striker. I'd prefer him playing in the Glendon role, or as a roving winger, depending on the formation. Not convinced about Peers. Can't see how he scored so many for Curzon. Maybe he got lucky. Norton isn't good enough. Thomas isn't a striker. Caton can be effective, but it's the occasional burst rather than over 90 minutes. None of them look to have any confidence. Hardly surprisingly. Southport put the ball in every opportunity they had. That makes it easier for their strikers to find space in our box as they know when it's coming in. Ours have to wait and there is no space in a penalty area packed with big defenders, that also puts extra pressure on the players putting the ball in. All in all its been a disappointing few weeks at home. But we've had 30+ home games in the last 2 seasons and it's been a consistent problem. Unless we change tactics and recruitment we'll need a better balance to overcome our deficiencies. The other elephant in the room is the lack of entertainment. It seems worse tonight as we've lost, but the game was more open than most have been and we still struggled to create anything from open play. I think privately Cal will realise how much he's learned this season, probably more than any other season so far in his career. He'll emerge stronger and wiser from this one. Nail on head. I got pelters for saying this months ago but we set up like he’s our Le Tissier. Like he’s the one who’ll pull us out of the mire/create a goal out of nothing. He has zero responsibility defensively and has effectively a free role. The fact we’re creating fuck all and have scored bugger all all season might have something to do with him?The fact we're creating fuck all and have scored bugger all all season might have something to do with our top scoring midfielder?!! I realise I'm probably looking past the point you are trying to make which is maybe his role in the team making the rest unbalanced, but Glendon can take a lot of credit for his play and contributions this season, he's doing what his asked of him and has added goals to his game. Not his fault our full backs can't cross for shit, nor is it his fault that our forwards don't seem to be clever enough to make a run or win some knock downs. |
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Post by Moltisanti on Mar 13, 2024 11:40:01 GMT
The players just looked drained of any confidence tonight. Harder they tried the worse it got. The defence and keeper are fine. The rest is unbalanced. For me the midfield hasn't looked right all season. The diamond has been used to fit Glendon into a key 10 role. The way we set up he is the key player. But it leaves you narrow and with little width. The rest of the midfield have suffered in comparison to last season. The strikers are mainly ineffective and have been all season. Part of that is the time we take to get the ball up to them. By the time we do, there's no space and it ends up a fight ball. Our strikers aren't at their best doing that. The other part of it is that the strikers aren't great either. Tollitt isn't really a striker. I'd prefer him playing in the Glendon role, or as a roving winger, depending on the formation. Not convinced about Peers. Can't see how he scored so many for Curzon. Maybe he got lucky. Norton isn't good enough. Thomas isn't a striker. Caton can be effective, but it's the occasional burst rather than over 90 minutes. None of them look to have any confidence. Hardly surprisingly. Southport put the ball in every opportunity they had. That makes it easier for their strikers to find space in our box as they know when it's coming in. Ours have to wait and there is no space in a penalty area packed with big defenders, that also puts extra pressure on the players putting the ball in. All in all its been a disappointing few weeks at home. But we've had 30+ home games in the last 2 seasons and it's been a consistent problem. Unless we change tactics and recruitment we'll need a better balance to overcome our deficiencies. The other elephant in the room is the lack of entertainment. It seems worse tonight as we've lost, but the game was more open than most have been and we still struggled to create anything from open play. I think privately Cal will realise how much he's learned this season, probably more than any other season so far in his career. He'll emerge stronger and wiser from this one. Nail on head. I got pelters for saying this months ago but we set up like he’s our Le Tissier. Like he’s the one who’ll pull us out of the mire/create a goal out of nothing. He has zero responsibility defensively and has effectively a free role. The fact we’re creating fuck all and have scored bugger all all season might have something to do with him? 😂😂😂 You can’t help it can you. Imagine saying “Scored bugger all all season” Then blaming the man who’s scored 11 goals. your obsession with GG is frightening 😂 |
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Post by 1paulcarden on Mar 13, 2024 11:49:51 GMT
Nail on head. I got pelters for saying this months ago but we set up like he’s our Le Tissier. Like he’s the one who’ll pull us out of the mire/create a goal out of nothing. He has zero responsibility defensively and has effectively a free role. The fact we’re creating fuck all and have scored bugger all all season might have something to do with him?The fact we're creating fuck all and have scored bugger all all season might have something to do with our top scoring midfielder?!! I realise I'm probably looking past the point you are trying to make which is maybe his role in the team making the rest unbalanced, but Glendon can take a lot of credit for his play and contributions this season, he's doing what his asked of him and has added goals to his game. Not his fault our full backs can't cross for shit, nor is it his fault that our forwards don't seem to be clever enough to make a run or win some knock downs. Yeah you’re right in that my point is how much he unbalances the side. Weeks & Whitehouse can play the game without the ball to a reasonable level, not holding midfielders but can do that job. Glendon cannot do it at all. Therefore you’re relying on his ability with the ball to be outstanding because Harry points out, that is exactly how we set up. Everything offensively should go through him and he’ll pull all the strings. Reality is he’s scored two more than Whitehouse and has played pretty much all season as a number 10/second striker. Cal has to take a fair bit of blame. So timid when it comes to playing Caton & Peers together and post Chorley away his tinkering has ruined both players’ confidence. Playing a centre forward wide never works, yet he did it Saturday, did it with Windsor who came in and looked useful. Stuck him out wide for a couple of games and confidence drained. He really needs to stop worrying about the opposition and go for it over the next 7 games as the fans are losing patience not just on results basis, but I think I’ve seen one enjoyable game since about November. |
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Post by 1paulcarden on Mar 13, 2024 11:50:38 GMT
Nail on head. I got pelters for saying this months ago but we set up like he’s our Le Tissier. Like he’s the one who’ll pull us out of the mire/create a goal out of nothing. He has zero responsibility defensively and has effectively a free role. The fact we’re creating fuck all and have scored bugger all all season might have something to do with him? 😂😂😂 You can’t help it can you. Imagine saying “Scored bugger all all season” Then blaming the man who’s scored 11 goals. your obsession with GG is frightening 😂 We’ve? Read the posts before you soil yourself about someone assessing why we can’t score goals. |
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Post by moldcestrian on Mar 13, 2024 12:18:51 GMT
Lets face it we aint going up. Just had a quick look at the teams that look like coming up or down into OUR league, Needham Market ( Ipswich), Radcliffe and probably Macclesfield add to that York, Kiddy, Oxford City its going to be a very competitive league next season. PS if we don't go up, Cals record is no better than previous managers !! Does the love him continue ? However pissed off we all are, he goes nowhere. We’re all frustrated after a loss but draw at Tamworth and beat South Shields and we’re back in control. |
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Post by tarvinblue on Mar 13, 2024 13:24:54 GMT
For 18 months we have not looked like a side that is able to create chances and take games to teams at home. Countless times we have heard Cal tell us that he is reflecting, taking responsibility and looking to learn, but the fact is that slow, stodgy football has led to a lack of goals and a lack of wins at home for the whole time Cal has been in charge. These aren't one offs, it's not a patch - it's been what we have seen for 18 months. You never turn up at the Deva expecting to see us put 3-4 past a team. We see the same slow, side to side, backwards football with balls lumped into the box that often have no quality attached to them. It doesn't matter whether the opposition is Scunthorpe or Bishops Stortford, you feel like you see the same game every week. The only difference is whether the other team is willing to take the game to us and if they do then we seem to have more space to be creative with. Most teams, however, turn up, keep it tight and try and knick a goal on the break.
The squad Callum has is one of the best in the league. Most of that starting 11 last night walk into any NLN team yet he cannot get them playing with any meaningful creativity when games are tight.
More concerning is that he seems more concerned about calling fans out and trying to justify his approach, rather than reflecting on the facts - which are that our home form is not good enough and he has not done anything to address this in the 18 months he has been in charge.
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Post by waggoner on Mar 13, 2024 13:46:13 GMT
I don’t think we are physically strong enough to get promoted from this league. I don’t think we have enough tactical nous to get promoted. My worry is that if we were jammy enough to get promoted I doubt we will stay up because we would need to strengthen in every department of the pitch and we cannot afford to pay higher wages. Most players want more than 1 year deals and we cannot afford it |
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Post by yoshimitsu on Mar 13, 2024 14:21:32 GMT
I don’t think we have enough tactical nous to get promoted. My worry is that if we were jammy enough to get promoted I doubt we will stay up because we would need to strengthen in every department of the pitch and we cannot afford to pay higher wages. Most players want more than 1 year deals and we cannot afford it Doesn’t matter if we don’t stay up. What would matter is that we would have gone up. We’d give it a good go and if it ain’t good enough then so be it. Learn from it and be (hopefully) better prepared next time we went up. Would you rather another season in this league or next season in the division above with a high chance of relegation? No brainer to me (and most others I’d think). |
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Post by borussiachester on Mar 13, 2024 14:22:33 GMT
At the risk of massively overthinking things, let me do some rudimentary maths to try and put our form into a bit more context…
We’re currently averaging 1.56 points-per-game for the season. In the last ten completed seasons, stretching back to when we won this division, that PPG return would’ve been good enough for finishes of 9th, 8th, 8th, 7th, 10th, 7th, 7th, 9th, 6th and 4th. Possibly good enough to make the playoffs, especially with the standard having seemingly dropped over the last couple of years, but I think we can all agree it’s too close for comfort. The minimum PPG that would’ve guaranteed a top-seven finish in each of those ten seasons is 1.74, which translates to 80 points from a 46-game slate - six wins and a draw from our remaining seven games.
Up until the King’s Lynn away game, we were averaging 1.66 PPG - this would’ve led to finishes of 6th, 7th, 6th, 7th, 9th, 5th, 6th, 8th, 5th and 4th, and would see us currently hold a six-point cushion over the sides outside the playoffs. However, in the last ten games, we’ve averaged just 1.3 PPG - if replicated over an entire season, this would lead to 11th, 12th, 13th, 12th, 13th, 14th, 13th, 13th, 13th and 14th-placed finishes, and would currently have us in 15th. In other words, bottom-half form. If we continue in this same vein for the rest of the season, we’ll finish on 1.52 PPG - good enough for 9th, 9th, 8th, 7th, 11th, 7th, 9th, 9th, 7th and 4th in previous seasons, and would have us in 8th at the moment. If we revert to roughly the sort of form we were in prior to this rocky run, we’d end up on 1.59 PPG (7th, 8th, 8th, 7th, 10th, 7th, 7th, 9th, 5th and 4th). To get back to the 1.66 PPG mark, we’d need fifteen points from the seven games - very difficult, albeit not impossible.
In short, if history is anything to go by then it’ll likely go down to the wire unless we end the season extremely strongly…
Current form across the whole season: playoff chances hanging very much in the balance
Form before this recent run: just about playoff form
Form during this run: bottom-half form
If recent form continues for rest of the season: slim chance of making playoffs but far from likely
If we get back to the sort of form we were in before this run: nothing guaranteed but should hopefully just about make playoffs
If we end the season so well that it makes up for recent results: again, not set in stone, but playoffs highly likely
Me: too much time on my hands and eagerly waiting for the first ‘Cheers Geoff’ comment
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