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PeteG

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Everything posted by PeteG

  1. I've just noticed Will Grigg has only 1 more than Norwood playing for a free scoring team at the top of the table, so is 6 a fair return so far? However, for the sake of being impartial Manny whatever his surname is who didn't look the greatest for us on loan from Salford has got 12 for Hartlepool!!
  2. Have they spent a lot? Genuine question, I really don't know. My next door neighbour is friends with the chairman and has been to a few games with him and for a Man United fan he's fairly knowledgeable about the game and he tells me they play some decent stuff.
  3. I've just said telling people they are shit was a slight exaggeration on my part, we don't even know if he's even critical of any of his teammates. As for learning what his teammates are going to do, no point in him going into the stand behind the goal as another aimless punt inevitably ends up there. He needs to keep doing what hes doing and we or Mellon more to the point has to find the right formation/players who can supply him. I'm almost certain Mellon will do and this thread will be something we are all laughing about in a few months. As for recreating his game completely, that was another exaggeration on my part but i stand by the point i was making, with the exception of the goalkeeper, if you played Norwood is every other position in our team he would be an improvement on the player currently playing that position. He's absolutely miles ahead of them all, it stands out like a sore thumb.
  4. Exactly, it's certainly a strange one that none of the 3 managers has give him a run yet although Mellon has only had 2 games and both were away from home. Whatever he's doing in training isn't impressing anyone right now so he needs to pick it up. Let's hope he does get a run and i'm sure a goal or two would do him the world of good.
  5. Not listened myself but I only remember one player with the nickname the judge and it wasn't a Latics player. Alan Knight at Portsmouth was known as The Judge if i remember correctly, a keeper who always seemed to excel against us.
  6. Yes, a slight exaggeration on my part. We don't even know that he's digging anyone out or if his attitude is like some are saying. People are reading body language and putting 2 and 2 together and coming up with 5. I actually think he's probably very popular in the dressing room and it's just his way. We are in danger of making up an issue that doesn't actually exist. There's been loads of players over the years who looked a bit disinterested or as if they thought their teammates weren't good enough. We only need to look closer to home, Roger Palmer barely celebrated a goal, just put his arm aloft, was the first out of the ground most weeks, didn't mix with players and nobody even knew where he lived. Willie Donachie used to pick him up on a street corner because he didn't drive but he would never tell Willie where he actually lived. Scholesy was another like that at United and you'd get the impression he thought some of his teammates weren't good enough. Didn't stop him performing though.
  7. That's exactly how it works. You don't get your best players to adapt thus diminishing their strengths. Many people have the misconception that in sport you should work on your weaknesses in order to become better. I once had an in depth conversation with a sports psychologist who had worked with the top tennis players in the world, the top golfers in the world as well as many footballers at the very top level and he was strongly of the belief that you should work on your strengths to the extent that they completely outweigh any weaknesses. The thought process behind this was that you can only improve a weakness by a very small percentage but a strength you can improve by a much greater margin. In our case we need to improve Norwoods return by playing to his strengths. I'm almost certain, Norwood would currently do a better job than Sutton at RB and even the vast majority of the midfield if you played him there but that would be plain stupid wouldn't it?
  8. He doesn't need to adapt his game to our level, he's proved he does it at this level. I'm happy if he thinking you're all shit and i'm even happier if he's telling them that. They need to hear it and then prove him wrong.
  9. We should be doing, he's got at least 2 good years left in him at this level. I'm happy to build a side around him for the next 2 years if it means he gets us back in the football league. From League 1 down to the National League it's difficult to build a team around anyone regardless of age because if they are above that level it's likely they will get bought. That's not the case with Norwood, he's dropped down to get the club back up. Simple, build the team around him!
  10. First home game under Mellon, players will have a rocket up them from Tuesday night, comfortable 4-0 home win with a Norwood hatrick. I sound like @Lee Sinnottnow!
  11. No I agree, I've said I thought he would be on about 10 plus by now. However, I did think as a team we'd have been much better than we have. How many decent chances has he missed? I can only really think of the one at Chesterfield but i'm sure he's probably missed another couple. When he gets a chance I think goal, we just need to find a way of getting him more chances. I've never really watched him and thought he's not interested. Look at the 3rd goal from Tuesday, Norwood comes short to get a ball into feet from Shelton, who does a 360 degree turn, mis controls it and then falls over resulting in their lad firing a great shot into the top corner. Norwood looks proper pissed off despite it being the 90th minute already 2 down with 10 men. The game was over but he was still pissed off, that's not a player who is disinterested or can't be arsed.
  12. Just re-read what i've wrote and given we all thought what a stellar attack we had, i've got question marks over 5 of the 6 forwards!?!? Hope i'm completely wrong but it's not quite as good as we thought but we do all think it's the midfield that is restricting the forwards plus the fact that Unsworth was so negative. With that in mind, they are all worth a new chance under Mellon but he needs to come up with a partner and formation for Norwood asap. Given he knows all about Norwood I'm confident he will do but it would be nice to see the same partnership up front for at least half a dozen games to give them some time to gel. My initial thoughts are to give Willoughby a run of games with Norwood, with Fondop and Reid options from the bench unless Nuttall suddenly has a change of attitude and puts in a performance like he did against Aldershot which is 1 in about 12 months now.
  13. If he wasn't performing, I'd agree with the fact his attitude isn't great. The thing is, I believe he is putting in performances and the effort given the obvious lack of service. I'm happy with what he is doing although I do believe we can get more out of him if we improve the supply line but that's not his fault. I keep saying it and I sound like a broken record but if we give him the chances he will score a bagful of goals at this level. He's got 5 i think already and i'd have expected him to be on about 10 by now but I did think we'd have been better than we have been thus far. I'm confident if he stays fit he will hit 20 goals this season. You can all bookmark this and come back to me in May if he hasn't. I repeat what I said earlier, he'd be near 20 now if was playing for Chesterfield.
  14. Spot on this! Nobody else in our squad would have scored that goal at Rochdale, in fact they wouldn't have even got to the ball let alone finish it. It wasn't even really a half chance given the flick on was to nobody really but Norwood turned it into a goal. It got us 3pts. It's what you pay decent money for. The only other player I can remember us having in the past 10 years or so who was a selfish goalscorer was Mcaleny. He was selfish, shot pretty much every time he got the ball and a moody ***er too. He scored 21 goals, i'll take it all day long.
  15. As for his attitude, it's refreshing to see. For far too long we've had players who were prepared to accept being shit. We need another 4 or 5 players with Norwoods attitude. You think the teams that win promotion and trophies don't have players kicking off with each other on as regular basis because they are winners? Think Roy Keane, Viera etc. Was it Andy Cole and Teddy Sheringham who wouldn't even speak to each other off the pitch? I'm not arsed about them all being pals, i'm arsed about them them winning. I remember Andy Goram coming to blows with Glen Keeley on the coach after what i think was 3-0 defeat away at the beginning of the 87-88 season. Goram was a winner and couldn't accept how shit Keeley was. Nothing wrong with it imo.
  16. He's a striker who scores goals, that's all he's interested in. Look up many interviews with the likes of Ian Wright, Alan Shearer and Gary Lineker, they will tell you that they were only interested in scoring goals. Gary Lineker said recently that if they had a good win and he hadn't scored he would pretend he was happy but he wasn't really. Goalscorers by their very nature are selfish and I suspect Norwood is no different. I want a striker in our team like that, who kicks off if doesn't get the ball or any chances in the game. I'll be worried if we start providing chances and he isn't scoring but i suspect that won't happen. I reckon if he was in Chesterfields side this season he'd already be nearing 20 goals and that's no exaggeration.
  17. My thoughts on the squad. Hudson Norman Both keepers are average for the division. Not really bothered which of them plays on a regular basis as I don't think there is much between them. They will both do for now as we have more pressing issues but one or both would need replacing if we got promoted. Kitching Decent going forward, ok defensively. Got a good engine on him and could step up into League 2. Hogan Don't really rate him tbh. Plenty of CB's in the division better and as good as him. Couldn't step up into League 2 if required, probably the reason Stockport got shut. Hobson Been really impressed with him although he's raw. Will only get better, he's a big lad, quick and comfortable on the ball. Will definitely play at a much higher level and we may struggle to keep hold of him long term. Raglan Not really seen enough of him but i'm not buying it we've got a League 1 CB. He only featured for Cheltenham in League 1 about 15 times last season and that includes sub appearances. No League 1 side would be looking at him now. Surprised he's only 30. I'd like to see him have an extended run alongside Hobson tbh and i'd like to think he will be an improvement on Hogan. McGahey Can he overcome his injuries? If he can, he's a better option than Hogan at the back and showed he's versatile in playing as a defensive midfielder recently. Decent squad player to have at this level. Sutton Been thrown in at the deep end and primarily played out of position. Think he has a future although can't see him playing much higher than league 2. Happy to keep him around for the foreseeable and see how he progresses. Freeman Can't even comment on him. Been on paternity for about 6 weeks? Unless there was a problem (I really hope all his family are well) then seems odd. He's not had the baby as Roy Keane once said. Couto I thought this lad had a great deal of potential when he first broke into the side. Looked quick, good going forward with a decent delivery on him. I thought he was a better prospect than Vaughan tbh but seems to have gone backwards. Have we broke him throwing him in on a regular basis in very difficult circumstances. Like to see him back and see if he can have a fresh start under Mellon. Shelton Garbage, get rid asap. One of the worst to wear the shirt and that's saying something. Lundstram Not seen enough yet but again I think we got over excited with his signing. He's a lot to prove yet and won't suddenly transform that midfield on his own. Didn't really make it in League 2 with Crewe but doesn't mean he won't long term. Happy to see if he can progress. Ward Again, not seen enough but seems we've signed a player in the same mould as Sheron. All teams need that type of player but we certainly don't need more than 1 in the starting 11. Happy to have him in the squad and see what he can do. Sheron I actually like Sheron. Does a lot of the dirty work, got a great engine and does actually pop up with the odd goal. Limited from a technical point of view but he does a job, just needs a couple of footballers around him. Tollitt I liked what i saw of him last season. Technically good on the ball but does go missing in games but that's pretty common for that type of player. Think he is an asset to the squad whether it's starting games where we need to unlock a defensive away side or coming off the bench when we need a goal. Went into his shell under Unsworth and another who needs a fresh start. Played under Mellon so he will already have a decent idea about him. Gardner Finished, if we get a dozen games out of him between now and May it will be a bonus and then it's time to say thanks and show him the door. Dickenson Has looked ok when he's played. Obviously got a great left peg but had his injury problems so not sure how many games we can rely on him for. Squad player for now. Willoughby. Needs a run of games and a goal. Confidence is massive with strikers and his has probably been hit for 6. No real opinion on him at the moment as we haven't seen what he can do. Hope he gets a run of games soon and proves a decent signing. Fondop Not really good enough. Comes up with the odd worldy but he's very limited. Decent option to throw on from the bench so i'd keep him around for now. Nuttall Frustrating to say the least. He's a big lad and no doubt there is some ability there but he's not done it and doesn't look interested. Probably best for both parties he moves on. Green Similar bracket to Tollitt for me. He's got pace and an eye for goal but inconsistent, again not unusual for wide men especially at the level. Happy to keep him for the time being but need better long term. Hope Don't particularly rate him that highly but does provide an option for us wide left and is as good as anyone we currently have in that position so on that basis i'd keep him. Does depend on formation though as for me can play wide left in a 433 but not in a 442 or 4141 as he's clueless defensively. Reid Not sure about him, does seem to score when he gets a chance but doesn't do enough for me although it is hard to judge our strikers with the service they have had over the past 12 months. Happy to keep and see if he can forge a partnership with Norwood. Norwood Been done to death on the other thread. By far and away our best player. Build the team around him!
  18. Think we all need to stop worrying about Norwood, he's not the problem. The problem for Mellon is getting a midfield/formation out of the players we currently have or bring in the players that will help to elevate Norwoods performances on a weekly basis. If we had more goals coming from other areas on a regular basis the opposition would have more to worry about than just Norwood. I'd still wager he will get 20 goals minimum this season.
  19. I really don't think it's a case of him "just taking the money." I genuinely think he cares, he looks like a winner to me and is frustrated. Even the best players in the world can't do it on their own week in week out, look at Ronaldo in his 2nd spell at United, he looked frustrated, throwing his arms up in the air. I've seen plenty from Norwood to suggest he's prepared to put in the hard yards. A Tranmere fan even tweeted after his goal on Saturday that if it was any consolation he didn't really celebrate much for them and seemed moody. It's probably just his personality. I'm happy to judge him on his performances alone and as i've said numerous times, he's our best player by a mile. He actually stands out as being way above everyone else in the team with his movement and speed of thought. Actually reminds me of Ritchie to some extent when he first signed for us, was a class above the rest of the team.
  20. Think we need to move on from Gardner tbh. I didn't particularly rate him first time around albeit that was in League 1 and in his prime he could run a game at this level. However, he's not in his prime, he's never really recovered from the injury in the final home game of the season when we were relegated from league 1 and that is what nearly 5 years ago? How many games has he played in the last 5 years? Great, if we can get a dozen decent games out of him between now and the end of the season but we can't rely on him or pin our hopes on him and i'm certain Mellon won't be doing. I'd see any involvement from Gardner this season as a bonus and i'd be showing him the door in May.
  21. Barnsley Chairman told the fans at a forum that we made an offer they couldn't match. I'm sure they could have matched it but it was more a case of not choosing to match it whether that was in terms of money per month or length of contract nobody knows. I'm sure at his age, he probably looked at a contract over 3 years as security and I think when you take into account the length of contract we were offering more. I do think the wage has been exaggerated somewhat, I'm led to believe it's in the region of £4k - £5k per week with a hefty bonus if we get promoted. Worth every penny if he does get the goals to get us up.
  22. Norwood talked about Mellon on a podcast and he said his style varied all the time, it was about winning primarily. I very much get the impression having listened to both Norwood and Mellon as well as Tranmere fans, it was very much a case of getting the ball to Norwood in and around the penalty box however that meant. He did the rest. I've every confidence Mellon will get the best out of him even though I still think he's been our best player by miles over the course of the season so far despite the limited service he's had. He has come short when needed to, linked the play, ran in behind and been a threat whenever he's had the ball in or around the penalty box. Remember, opposition will most definitely see him as our main threat and feel if they can keep him quiet they have a chance of winning the game. This in theory should give the other players more space and time, it's about time some of them stepped up. We may have issues within the team/squad, Norwood certainly isn't one of them!
  23. I'm not saying he isn't good enough, he just has to prove it. Tbf to the lad he hasn't been given a chance and the odd game he has had he's been stuck out on the wing. I'd like to see more of him myself but I can't help worrying that 3 managers (albeit 1 has only been here for 2 weeks) have seen him in training and he hasn't even been making the bench. It's weird that Unsworth was chasing him for so long apparently but then didn't even give him a chance. If it is based on what he's showing in training, there has been plenty of players over the years who did nothing in training but performed on a Saturday at 3pm. I think the lad deserves a chance up front alongside Norwood and to be told not to worry you're in the side for the next 5 games regardless. It would ease the pressure on him and we might just find we've got a player on our hands.
  24. How you can say Kurt would improve the sides at the top of the division is beyond me. You could of course be right in the long term but we've barely seen anything of him to even have an opinion on him. I did say when we signed him and everyone was getting excited that he'd only done it at the level below and he had to prove he could do it at this level. The jury is still out, through no fault of his own at this stage but it does worry me that 3 managers have seen him in training and none of them felt he is worthy of a start so far.
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