Russell IN

[cheesy77]

slade in for me to. he will turn it around and we will finish mid table, which would be a big improvement on last year. i feel sorry for him because the players are letting him down big time at the moment, and i hope he gave them a real fergie hairdryer after the game.
as good as i think murray is on occasion, we need to find a way to get him out, he doesn't want to be here and i think its having a negative effect on the team. he's a mug though, because he doesn't appreciate how lucky he is to be a pro footballer. people will disagree but i still think craig davies could do a job, so get him back in sharpish. i'd take him over a half-arsed murray anyday.

 

[NMH]

Nope, won't have it - and how amazing that Complete Tadger is having a devil-advocating moment!

When our team can play amazing football one game, but then drop back to being (reportedly) inept, then it's something to do with training.
Playing well should be what we do with ease, without really trying that hard - it should become second nature. When you hope that a brilliant showing is going to kick on and become a run - it's back to what we DO do best; lose with barely a shot on goal, and allow simple goals from relegation rivals.

That record goes on - then some action needs to be taken and asap.
WHO trained the team to play like they did on Tuesday, first half especially?
WHO cannot get them to maintain a discipline of form, that enables them to keep playing like that?

If RS is unable to motivate or instruct them to keep the quality up - then we need someone who is.

 

[Jesus Gul]

Russell IN for me.

me too with knobs on

 

[Ernest]

Nope, won't have it - and how amazing that Complete Tadger is having a devil-advocating moment!

When our team can play amazing football one game, but then drop back to being (reportedly) inept, then it's something to do with training.
Playing well should be what we do with ease, without really trying that hard - it should become second nature. When you hope that a brilliant showing is going to kick on and become a run - it's back to what we DO do best; lose with barely a shot on goal, and allow simple goals from relegation rivals.

That record goes on - then some action needs to be taken and asap.
WHO trained the team to play like they did on Tuesday, first half especially?
WHO cannot get them to maintain a discipline of form, that enables them to keep playing like that?

If RS is unable to motivate or instruct them to keep the quality up - then we need someone who is.

NMH hits nail on the head

 

[Marc]

Just to redress the balance......

Nothing that went wrong today was Russell's fault. Has everyone forgotten it's only 13 matches since King Russ saved us from certain relegation? Had you offered anyone walking out of the away end at MK Dons in April the chance to be 19th in the third division come October they'd all have taken it because, quite simply, without Slade we'd be a lot nearer 19th in the FOURTH division right now. Surely that alone has earnt him a bit of time before the idiotic hounding of a manager that we seem to love so much starts?

For what it's worth, I look at our team and I see a lot more good players on the pitch than we've had for a number of years. What we LACK is leaders/experienced pros in the key positions, hence we concede silly goals. We desperately need a top drawer central midfielder to run the game for us and we need a striker who knows where the goal is regularly. Reliance on a 37 year old is not good - as brilliant as he is, he can't do it for 46 games. Murray needs to go, Hart needs to retire and Dickinson has talent but isn't a prolific scorer - I'd trade the lot of them for someone we could depend on in front of goal. Today I thought we played far superior football to anything Tranmere could offer - in fact, we're a much better side than them full stop. The problem is our weak midfield means we get bullied a bit in the most important area and that allows even shite like Tranmere to dominate us at times. We haven't got anyone who stands up to be counted in there - as good a player as Dicker is he's no ball winner.

But we ARE progressing from the last couple of years. It just doesn't happen overnight. We are attracting better players and we are becoming a more professional club. We are, without doubt, going in the right direction, but it's a long process. Changing the manager puts us back to square one in that. So what we have to do is back someone through some tough times and hope he can complete the job in the long-run. Going on what I've seen this season, I think Russell can

SPOT ON for ONCE Badger.....first time for everything

 

[Ernest]

How can we be progressing when despite considerable investment in players we are in a worse position than last year ?
How can we be progressing when our disciplinary record is a total disgrace ?
How can we be progressing when some players openly admit they don't want to play for us ?
I think some people want to take their Slade tinted specs off and look at the facts.

 

[Rookie]

I agree that RS should stay but the big problem that he needs to sort is the centre of defence. Personally don't think Virgo or Elphick are good enough for a team that should be looking at the play-offs. Also think we need a left footed midfielder/winger as the team has no balance and leaves McNulty (or whoever) isolated at left back. If we could get a left footed Bennett it would be amazing!

 

[mona]

Agree with most of that. We are lacking a leader, the yeovil result proved that.

As much as I like Dicker and Crofts as players, neither of them can controll a game from the middle. I don't think they have been bullied (not from what I've seen anyway) like last seasons midfield was, but they haven't got it in them to bully the other team like Carpenter and Oatway used to.

As much as I like Virgo, Elphick, Tunnicliffe and Wright as players, none of them is a leader and it is costing us by leaking silly goals at shit times. Cut out the needless mistakes at the back and we'd probably have another 8 points now.

Words of wisdom.
My take on yesterday is that we really miss a Paul Rogers-type player.

 

[Ecosse Exile]

RS got his tactics wrong today , the players were mediocre and if we had been playing against a decent side we would have been on the wrong side of a hammering. OGH & Muzza up front were ineffective and Big Dick was stripped off waiting to come on when we got the penalty , then went back to sitting on the bench after we had scored. Muzza then got a 2nd yellow and the chance of an equaliser drifted away. Too much hoofball and misdirected passes let Tranny back into the game midway in the 1st half and how the lino didn't flag for a blatant offside for their 1st goal I will never know. Tranny's 2nd goal was a decent shot from about 25 yards out after he had turned Cox a couple of times. It feels like I threw £90 down the toilet to watch this tosh display from a side that played just like it did last season when MA was in charge.

Totally agree about Slades tactics today, i said it on the Slade out thread, we were much better than Tranmere but we could have played another 90 minutes and i dont think we would have scored from open play. Three of Tranmeres players caught my eye however and i think are just what we need to push on up the table. Ian Goddison, strong and commanding at the back possibly even captain material. Gareth Edds although he was offside for their goal he seemed to be everywhere and actually reminded me of Richard Carpenter in midfield. The 3rd one sadly was one of ours, Babayoko or however its spelt, seeing as he was up against possibly our best player, Elliott Bennett, i thought he did very well, how we could do with a left back like that to cover Jimmy Mac, who the f*** let him go? please tell me it wasnt Slade.

 

[Uncle Buck]

The midfield looks better, but still lacks a Hammondesq player who will get goals, the current central pairing have a habit of sitting too deep. Thornhill is very right footed, cuts into the middle too much and leaves the left back exposed. Yesterday was the sort of pitch that cried out for 2 wingers hogging the touch line, but again we played far too narrow.

Giving Virgo the captaincy was a mistake, he is the not the best player in any of the numerous positions that he can cover, yet he is a certain starter.

Strikers are an issue, Murray has a touch of class, but first half yesterday he was waiting for a cab to Rochdale, second half he played with some purpose, but then managed to get himself sent off for being an idiot. Forster is fine, but the other 3 flatter to deceive.

 

[mona]

The midfield looks better, but still lacks a Hammondesq player who will get goals, the current central pairing have a habit of sitting too deep. Thornhill is very right footed, cuts into the middle too much and leaves the left back exposed. Yesterday was the sort of pitch that cried out for 2 wingers hogging the touch line, but again we played far too narrow.

Giving Virgo the captaincy was a mistake, he is the not the best player in any of the numerous positions that he can cover, yet he is a certain starter.

Strikers are an issue, Murray has a touch of class, but first half yesterday he was waiting for a cab to Rochdale, second half he played with some purpose, but then managed to get himself sent off for being an idiot. Forster is fine, but the other 3 flatter to deceive.

More words of wisdom.

The team also lack strong characters on the pitch. Carpenter, Rogers, Oatway, Cullip, Butters, Morgan and Crosby were all mentally strong. Not easily replaced.

As for Dean Hammond, some of NSC's finest made complete canutes of themselves by not realising what a good player he was.

 

[algie]

We certainly do have a good squad now and they have 13 games under there belt together now.No more excuses or poor results.The players should be peaking at full fitness now and the buck ends with Russel.

What i'm pissed off about is who we have beaten which concerns me.

Gillingham - terrible away from home

Carlisle - bankers for the drop

Wycombe - rubbish side and should go down

That's it.Not good at all.

 

[Don Quixote]

Anything below about 12th will be a failure in my eyes. Do the sums. We are gonna be below that at this rate. Slade out.

 

[BensGrandad]

My take on yesterday is that we really miss a Paul Rogers-type player.

Have been saying that all season we need an experienced ex Premiership midfielder a Graham Cavanagh or similar but I think he is over the top now.