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Post by weareblues on Oct 23, 2024 15:38:15 GMT
10 years we’ll probably be either mid table NL or back in this division. Non league is our level these days think it’s time we accepted it. Pains me to say it even as cannot stand this league at all but we’ve fallen behind over the years completely different ball game the NL since we was last in that league I wonder if someone can advise of the budgets of clubs like Alty Halifax and Tamworth the later doing well since promotion . Surely they don’t have a massive budget or am I missing something? Our best finish in NL since reformation was 12th every other season was a relegation battle or relegated. So I wouldn’t be suprised if we were near enough the same if we did manage to go up again. With the rising costs and our club model it be very difficult to push and challenge we’re not exactly big spenders in the league we’re in. Fairly sure Alty have had investment into the club and Tamworth must make a decent bit of money from their 4G pitches aswell as being in a good area for picking up decent local players. Halifax I’m not too sure on fairly sure they’ve part privately owned now aswell. Honestly don’t think there’s too much difference between top half NL And league 2 |
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Post by weareblues on Oct 23, 2024 15:42:08 GMT
Budget can be an easy excuse for any manager to fall back on and can sometimes be a smack in the face to a dedicated fanbase of a 100% fan-owned club. Steve Burr was often bad for that, yet ironically is our most successful manager in Newco history. For once people can’t blame the budget this season our summer recruitment has been the strongest since we’ve been back in this division. It’s down to the manager to coach the players and get the best out them. |
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Post by Lobster on Oct 23, 2024 15:42:40 GMT
I wonder if someone can advise of the budgets of clubs like Alty Halifax and Tamworth the later doing well since promotion . Surely they don’t have a massive budget or am I missing something? Our best finish in NL since reformation was 12th every other season was a relegation battle or relegated. So I wouldn’t be suprised if we were near enough the same if we did manage to go up again. With the rising costs and our club model it be very difficult to push and challenge we’re not exactly big spenders in the league we’re in. Fairly sure Alty have had investment into the club and Tamworth must make a decent bit of money from their 4G pitches aswell as being in a good area for picking up decent local players. Halifax I’m not too sure on fairly sure they’ve part privately owned now aswell. Honestly don’t think there’s too much difference between top half NL And league 2 Honestly don't see the point in even discussing this at the moment.
Here and now, the problem is that mid-table in the NLN and no goal in the last three home games is nowhere near good enough.
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Post by weareblues on Oct 23, 2024 15:51:21 GMT
Our best finish in NL since reformation was 12th every other season was a relegation battle or relegated. So I wouldn’t be suprised if we were near enough the same if we did manage to go up again. With the rising costs and our club model it be very difficult to push and challenge we’re not exactly big spenders in the league we’re in. Fairly sure Alty have had investment into the club and Tamworth must make a decent bit of money from their 4G pitches aswell as being in a good area for picking up decent local players. Halifax I’m not too sure on fairly sure they’ve part privately owned now aswell. Honestly don’t think there’s too much difference between top half NL And league 2 Honestly don't see the point in even discussing this at the moment.
Here and now, the problem is that mid-table in the NLN and no goal in the last three home games is nowhere near good enough.
Do find it strange how bad our home forms gone since Cal’s first season. Could changing the pitch dimensions last season making it smaller taken effect? It’s a strange one but something needs to change. |
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Post by iandychesterfc on Oct 23, 2024 16:23:50 GMT
I've swerved this forum for obvious reasons. Of course a defeat thread has more replies, always the way.
I think to be fair to the posters absent on this thread, they will have to accept their pal has been given a good crack now. Everyone, and I do mean everyone wanted this experiment to succeed. Genuinely, nothing will change until the end of the season so it's not worth stressing about.
It's a hard argument to say the football is dire when attendances are so high. Cal went to Jon McCarthy school and that's fine, when results are.
Before tempers get frayed and keyboards get smashed we literally had Wright 3 times based on these very principles. Dire is acceptable when you're winning. Look at the season we finished 3rd. We love a bit of Wright-Ball when it's working.
Steve Burr had a dream. He tried to change these principles and after getting us to our highest ever reformed place and slim margins from 3rd Round of the FA cup he was hounded out because we wanted our football much more conservative. We are the most conservative of all football clubs, let's not forget, quite understandably due to our history.
So, fans will continue to turn up and maybe we finish 7th, cool if higher. That's where we are at.
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Post by Rimmer on Oct 23, 2024 16:38:50 GMT
I didn't go to the game last night, the lame excuse of my mate who I stand with now can't make the evening games due to moving out of the area and I couldn't be arsed walking both ways from Blacon (he would drop me off on the way home) Obviously followed the game on here, and on twitter. The thing is, I know exactly what the game was like, the performance because I would have witnessed it in person a dozen times last season at home! Now I have followed the club under both it's guises for over 40 years and the above excuse for non attendance last night should be a concern to the board because if I couldn't be bothered last night how are they going to attract the floating supporter to come down and spend their hard earned on the "entertainment" being served up at home over the last couple of seasons at least. Good point 👍 |
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Post by boughtonbliue on Oct 23, 2024 17:25:45 GMT
I've swerved this forum for obvious reasons. Of course a defeat thread has more replies, always the way. I think to be fair to the posters absent on this thread, they will have to accept their pal has been given a good crack now. Everyone, and I do mean everyone wanted this experiment to succeed. Genuinely, nothing will change until the end of the season so it's not worth stressing about. It's a hard argument to say the football is dire when attendances are so high. Cal went to Jon McCarthy school and that's fine, when results are. Before tempers get frayed and keyboards get smashed we literally had Wright 3 times based on these very principles. Dire is acceptable when you're winning. Look at the season we finished 3rd. We love a bit of Wright-Ball when it's working. Steve Burr had a dream. He tried to change these principles and after getting us to our highest ever reformed place and slim margins from 3rd Round of the FA cup he was hounded out because we wanted our football much more conservative. We are the most conservative of all football clubs, let's not forget, quite understandably due to our history. So, fans will continue to turn up and maybe we finish 7th, cool if higher. That's where we are at. Agree, I thought Burr lost heart due to lack of budget and the part time model. Loved his style of play though. |
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Post by weareblues on Oct 23, 2024 18:35:37 GMT
8 page rage thread incoming Wasn't wrong what a classic |
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Post by noddy on Oct 23, 2024 18:51:25 GMT
8 page rage thread incoming Wasn't wrong what a classic Double figures guaranteed 👍 |
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Post by bluey7 on Oct 23, 2024 19:24:38 GMT
Burr was very positive when he was here , yes the lack of board support when needed was shocking , if the board at the time supported him we would still be in the conference ,I think he is still involved with football in the Midland premier league ( what a waste of a top manager)
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Post by Vaughan Hall on Oct 23, 2024 19:57:46 GMT
Strange how lopsided our fixtures have turned out so far. We've played two thirds of our games at home (8 out of 12), and haven't played an away league fixture for over a month. Normally I'd say it makes it all the more worrying that we're in a disappointing position having played so many games at home, but I've no idea whether being at home is any advantage for us. I know what you’re saying but it’s mad isn’t it? The drum, the flares, the sense of anticipation, the Gary Talbot essentially full, how does that not enthuse a footballer? We sing their names, we chant, we accompany every corner with an excited ‘du du du du du blues’ How do they not love playing at the Deva? I’m really not being sarcastic, I can’t understand it!! 😂 |
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Post by bryndjones on Oct 23, 2024 20:14:57 GMT
Even though he signed him, I think McConville had more to do with us finishing 12th in 14-15 than Burr did.
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Post by weareblues on Oct 23, 2024 20:22:25 GMT
Even though he signed him, I think McConville had more to do with us finishing 12th in 14-15 than Burr did. Was Burr who recruited him, Seem to remember McConville being a scapegoat that season. If we had McBurnie earlier on we’d maybe even made play offs |
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Post by Moltisanti on Oct 23, 2024 20:35:18 GMT
Even though he signed him, I think McConville had more to do with us finishing 12th in 14-15 than Burr did. Was Burr who recruited him, Seem to remember McConville being a scapegoat that season. If we had McBurnie earlier on we’d maybe even made play offs Yeah plenty of abuse for McConville. Another scapegoat. Not like our fans, that. |
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Post by Frank Owen’s Paintbrush on Oct 23, 2024 20:40:50 GMT
Was a case of choosing between him and Rooney for that “luxury player” role in the team. The fans seemed to choose Rooney but McConville was a massively underrated player.
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Post by Al on Oct 23, 2024 20:46:29 GMT
McConville had by far the better career of the 2 as well.
Thought he was great during his spell with us
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Post by RonD on Oct 23, 2024 20:50:19 GMT
Was a case of choosing between him and Rooney for that “luxury player” role in the team. The fans seemed to choose Rooney but McConville was a massively underrated player. Even though another thread has gone way off original topic . . . 300 plus games, nine years and 50+ goals for Accrington after us show what a good player he was! |
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Post by borussiachester on Oct 23, 2024 22:16:09 GMT
Steering things back on topic - I’d say my main concern right now isn’t results, or even the lack of goals, but the bizarre and frankly indefensible tactics and team selections that Cal’s made a habit of employing in recent games (and which have ultimately helped bring about the former two complaints). Last night it was the decision to go without a proper defensive midfielder and play Weeks and Glendon in unfamiliar and unsuitable holding roles, last weekend it was playing Peers as a lone striker, at Scarborough it was Caton at LWB, against Farsley it was Glendon in an even more withdrawn holding role, and so on and so forth. Feels as though he’s trying to be too clever, and as though he thinks it’s some kind of masterstroke to put out an unconventional lineup that most people in the ground realise won’t work.
Speaking of Glendon, I’ve been one of his staunchest defenders on here in the past, but even I have to hold my hands up and admit that he’s been poor all season, and needs a spell out of the team for his own good as much as anything else. The same could also be said about Weeks, who began the season positively after a disappointing campaign last time out, but has now totally dropped off again - his performances are perhaps an even greater concern, given that he’s still under contract for another two years. Issue is, there’s no real sense of jeopardy for either of them, as the message that the manager seems to be sending right now is that they’ll continue to start most games no matter what.
Some have cited the constraints of a small squad for this, but I’d argue that there’s actually far more squad depth than is claimed - it’s just that, inexplicably, Cal isn’t currently using all the weapons in his arsenal. Hancox and Turner can’t get a game, despite looking promising in their limited appearances, with the former able to cover a number of positions including left-(wing)back, central midfield, or even on the wing; Daly and Heywood could presumably be recalled if we desired; Roberts can play in holding midfield or the centre of defence, but for some unknown reason, we’ve gone back to exclusively playing him in a position in which he was deemed no longer fit enough to play two years ago.
It’s not ‘panic stations’ yet - four games without a win isn’t the sort of run to make you totally lose your rag, and I think the calls for Cal’s head are very premature - but I understand, and indeed share, the frustrations that we don’t seem to be any closer to solving the problems that have dogged us for months now. Obviously, let’s hope it doesn’t come to it, but losing on Saturday wouldn’t exactly abate the ‘Mac out, Mahon in’ shouts…
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Post by spencerwhelanleftpeg on Oct 23, 2024 22:28:34 GMT
Our best finish in NL since reformation was 12th every other season was a relegation battle or relegated. So I wouldn’t be suprised if we were near enough the same if we did manage to go up again. With the rising costs and our club model it be very difficult to push and challenge we’re not exactly big spenders in the league we’re in. Fairly sure Alty have had investment into the club and Tamworth must make a decent bit of money from their 4G pitches aswell as being in a good area for picking up decent local players. Halifax I’m not too sure on fairly sure they’ve part privately owned now aswell. Honestly don’t think there’s too much difference between top half NL And league 2 Honestly don't see the point in even discussing this at the moment.
Here and now, the problem is that mid-table in the NLN and no goal in the last three home games is nowhere near good enough.
Lobster I understand your point given current situation just trying to be a little light hearted as the present situation has been done to death and nothing has changed really and those that can make a difference seem reluctant or very stubborn were that is concerned . To me there seems no reason why we shouldn’t be able to slowly become sustainable in the conference . As you point out at present we seem to be slowly drifting towards the second half of last season in October as CM said we’ve had a poor month . It needs to change quickly or decisions will need to be made unfortunately. As it stands the calendar year form suggests change is needed . I’m not trying to start off a CM out campaign . Having spoken with him myself several times you just want things to work out for him at the club but sadly the current situation is worrying |
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Post by Anders on Oct 23, 2024 22:36:59 GMT
I think we all expected to go 3-5-2/5-3-2 at the start of the season but then inexplicably went 4-3-3 which did seem to get us some joy at first with some better performances and we’ve put three goals past the opposition in three home games so far. Mind you we seem to have fallen off again and fallen in to the same patterns of previous years. Maybe we should go back to what the original plan was.
On the Weeks and Glendon debate, one is accused of being managers pet but the other is surely fans pet, because he had a good season two years ago. The other night they were guilty of trying to be too intricate against a high energy side who closed us down. We missed Bainbridge, Hancox seems more measured and probably would have been better at controlling things in the middle. Right now Weeks would be the one I’d relegate to the bench, he’s played a bit further forward this season but has been too indecisive on the edge of the box. I know he was poor the other night, but Glendon at the very least was quite ruthless scoring plenty of goals further forward last season and would have better forwards to work with this time around, and I’d have Bainbridge and Hancox behind him.
I’m not saying that works, ultimately I don’t know but it’s probably what I’d try.
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Post by Frank Owen’s Paintbrush on Oct 23, 2024 22:51:17 GMT
Steering things back on topic - I’d say my main concern right now isn’t results, or even the lack of goals, but the bizarre and frankly indefensible tactics and team selections that Cal’s made a habit of employing in recent games (and which have ultimately helped bring about the former two complaints). Last night it was the decision to go without a proper defensive midfielder and play Weeks and Glendon in unfamiliar and unsuitable holding roles, last weekend it was playing Peers as a lone striker, at Scarborough it was Caton at LWB, against Farsley it was Glendon in an even more withdrawn holding role, and so on and so forth. Feels as though he’s trying to be too clever, and as though he thinks it’s some kind of masterstroke to put out an unconventional lineup that most people in the ground realise won’t work. Speaking of Glendon, I’ve been one of his staunchest defenders on here in the past, but even I have to hold my hands up and admit that he’s been poor all season, and needs a spell out of the team for his own good as much as anything else. The same could also be said about Weeks, who began the season positively after a disappointing campaign last time out, but has now totally dropped off again - his performances are perhaps an even greater concern, given that he’s still under contract for another two years. Issue is, there’s no real sense of jeopardy for either of them, as the message that the manager seems to be sending right now is that they’ll continue to start most games no matter what. Some have cited the constraints of a small squad for this, but I’d argue that there’s actually far more squad depth than is claimed - it’s just that, inexplicably, Cal isn’t currently using all the weapons in his arsenal. Hancox and Turner can’t get a game, despite looking promising in their limited appearances, with the former able to cover a number of positions including left-(wing)back, central midfield, or even on the wing; Daly and Heywood could presumably be recalled if we desired; Roberts can play in holding midfield or the centre of defence, but for some unknown reason, we’ve gone back to exclusively playing him in a position in which he was deemed no longer fit enough to play two years ago. It’s not ‘panic stations’ yet - four games without a win isn’t the sort of run to make you totally lose your rag, and I think the calls for Cal’s head are very premature - but I understand, and indeed share, the frustrations that we don’t seem to be any closer to solving the problems that have dogged us for months now. Obviously, let’s hope it doesn’t come to it, but losing on Saturday wouldn’t exactly abate the ‘Mac out, Mahon in’ shouts… Fair assessment of the self-imposed shortcomings. |
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Post by bing on Oct 24, 2024 10:22:47 GMT
Honestly don't see the point in even discussing this at the moment.
Here and now, the problem is that mid-table in the NLN and no goal in the last three home games is nowhere near good enough.
Do find it strange how bad our home forms gone since Cal’s first season. Could changing the pitch dimensions last season making it smaller taken effect? It’s a strange one but something needs to change. Good point this. I don't like the shortened pitch. The goal seems too far away from the fans now. It used to feel as though you were right on top of the action. |
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Post by Harry Lime on Oct 24, 2024 10:46:33 GMT
Do find it strange how bad our home forms gone since Cal’s first season. Could changing the pitch dimensions last season making it smaller taken effect? It’s a strange one but something needs to change. Good point this. I don't like the shortened pitch. The goal seems too far away from the fans now. It used to feel as though you were right on top of the action. Too far away from our midfield and striker at times too! 😂 |
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Post by kyle on Oct 24, 2024 11:02:58 GMT
Watching the Spurs highlights made me think of our midfield issues. At half time it was 1-1, Spurs took off an attacking midfielder (Maddison) to bring on a defensive midfielder (Sarr). This gave them more pace and power, allowed them to dominate midfielder and it was 4-1 in 15 minutes.
This is what we need, athleticism in the middle. You can pick all the ball playing midfielders and forwards you want, but if you are being out-fought, you get the results and performances we've been getting.
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Post by nytram on Oct 24, 2024 12:45:37 GMT
Been looking at our team selections when Willoughby scored 20+ in 22-23. It was a team with no wingers. Caton and Willoughby played up front. No Glendon. But two full backs created havoc. One was Heywood with his crosses from the left, bring him back and put Woodthorpe with Bainbridge. The other was Coates with his runs on the right with great crosses. Can someone at the club tell Hunter to do that instead of copying Weeks in passing back. Then no Weeks or Glendon.
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Post by Blockhead on Oct 24, 2024 12:58:57 GMT
Been looking at our team selections when Willoughby scored 20+ in 22-23. It was a team with no wingers. Caton and Willoughby played up front. No Glendon. But two full backs created havoc. One was Heywood with his crosses from the left, bring him back and put Woodthorpe with Bainbridge. The other was Coates with his runs on the right with great crosses. Can someone at the club tell Hunter to do that instead of copying Weeks in passing back. Then no Weeks or Glendon. The one thing Coates didn't have was great crosses. Most ended up in the stand. |
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Post by Frank Owen’s Paintbrush on Oct 24, 2024 13:13:57 GMT
Aye Coates was shocking at that.
I sound like a broken record - Willoughby had zero service from other players that season. Did it all.
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Post by 1paulcarden on Oct 24, 2024 13:47:05 GMT
Aye Coates was shocking at that. I sound like a broken record - Willoughby had zero service from other players that season. Did it all. And I’ll say it again. Weeks had 19 assists and 8 goals from that season. We’ve butchered that player and now the only midfielder who deserves to start is Bainbridge. |
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Post by Lobster on Oct 24, 2024 14:45:11 GMT
Honestly don't see the point in even discussing this at the moment.
Here and now, the problem is that mid-table in the NLN and no goal in the last three home games is nowhere near good enough.
Do find it strange how bad our home forms gone since Cal’s first season. Could changing the pitch dimensions last season making it smaller taken effect? It’s a strange one but something needs to change. Our home record was actually better last season than it was the season before. It was the incredible away record that saw us finish 3rd in Calum's first season. At home we were bang average. The problem is the invincibility away from home has long gone, as it was bound to eventually, but we haven't made up for that by winning enough at home. In fact our home record this calendar year is very poor. |
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Post by nytram on Oct 24, 2024 15:07:05 GMT
Been looking at our team selections when Willoughby scored 20+ in 22-23. It was a team with no wingers. Caton and Willoughby played up front. No Glendon. But two full backs created havoc. One was Heywood with his crosses from the left, bring him back and put Woodthorpe with Bainbridge. The other was Coates with his runs on the right with great crosses. Can someone at the club tell Hunter to do that instead of copying Weeks in passing back. Then no Weeks or Glendon. The one thing Coates didn't have was great crosses. Most ended up in the stand. Ok. But he went past players put in an OK cross then Willoughby picked up the debris from the opposition. |
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