hollandspies

We have a squad of 20, 11 will start and 9 will miss out. We can’t change that. All I see are discussions about the merits of who will start and who won’t, it’s as simple as that!

People are discussing the merits of Nuttall starting matches in competition with Reid, Fondop and Willoughby based on what they have seen during the pre-season games so far. Isn’t that what this forum is for, a genuinely honest debate? So, a debate about the front four is simmering away nicely, what on earth has that has got to do in any direct way with Dan Gardner? At long last, during close season, Dan has had the expert input from the Daddy of all physios, Mick Rathbone, who has clearly decided that he needs time to give him the opportunity to come back fully fit, rather than be that clearly unfit bit part player we all saw struggling (and criticised) through last season. Signings have bought Dan that time, and whilst he’s under contract, he deserves the opportunity to prove himself again when hopefully he’s fully fit.

Haven’t they taken Luamba off our hands or at least given him a trial?

My take on things so far having watched the first four friendlies…. Up top, any 2 of Fondop, Reid and Willoughby to start. Whoever misses out is on the bench, with 3 other outfield players covering the other positions. Nuttall to eventually provide cover for injuries and / or loss of form but for now, he doesn’t make the match day squad. We are more than adequately covered elsewhere, just a nagging doubt over whether we need a specialist right back who will also be effective going forward. We currently have a competitive squad of 20/21 - so quality over quantity is the right way way to go.

Very simply put, but to be fair, during this competitive pre-season so far , it’s actually perfectly true! With tonight’s superb attacking momentum we’ve shown going forward, along with our clinical finishing and the injection of confidence it gave the whole team, does Nuttall deserve some game time at Curzon Ashton on Saturday?

Completely agree. Rhino’s close season business looks good but there’s a mistake hanging over him from last season. Start afresh please and learn the lesson from tonight. Mikey, Reid, King Kurt, Green and H between them offer more of a goal threat it seems than whenever Nuttall is involved. whether it’s a transfer fee issue or something else, I’d love to know the logic behind Rhinos preference to start him before others.

He was equally ineffective last season.

I made my own.

We might find out more tonight?

Burgess also missing. Gardner couldn’t be spotted either but my eyesight isn’t what it used to be!

So here’s my interpretation of who’s in, and who’s out…. 1. Norman 2. Hudson 3. Sutton 4. Shelton 5. Hobson 6. Hogan 7. Kitching 8. Sheron 9. Couto 10. Gardner 11. Lundstram 12. Tollitt 13. Green 14. Ward 15. Hope 16. Fondop 17. Reid 18. Willoughby 19. Nuttall 20. McGahey ( Recovering from injury) Out: Rotweiler Rooney Burgess Windass Luamba “Still 2 or 3 to be added plus loans.”

How many gears does a football team have? For me, Rhino has us playing for the most part, in second gear. We seem happy to concede pressure and absorb. Then win possession, lose it cheaply, rinse and repeat. Occasionally, we press, (or Sheron does) and / or we win a set piece and we then move up a gear and score. Level, or with our noses in front we drop back into second gear again. Even with a two goal lead recently, we found a way to drop down into first and somehow, we conceded two. I’m convinced there’s a fourth and fifth gear in this squad but Unsworth is at a complete loss as to how to find them. That’s how I feel when I watch these insipid performances week after week. Having said that, despite the performances, results trump all, for now!!

I remain concerned that we have so many peripheral players still picking up a wage that’s preventing us from strengthening in the key areas that we have already identified. To me, It’s fairly clear that Stobbs, Burgess, Angol, Porter, Gardner, McGahey and Maynard are all now ‘surplus to requirements’ and are unlikely to feature again anytime soon in a 16 man match day squad. Is this issue holding us back from signing the 2 or 3 key additions we really need to completely alleviate the worry of relegation whilst guaranteeing the optimism of a real challenge next season?

I wonder if he would be prepared to take a (crowdfunded) lie detector test?

I’m speechless after witnessing that today. For much of the second half we had four attackers, strung across the front line from left to right, Tollitt, Nuttall, Fondop (Reid), and Abraham who between them and individually failed to: 0. Link up together in any way, shape or form. 1. Create a goal scoring chance. 2. Have the ball at their feet to make a probing forward run. 3. Link up effectively with an overlapping full-back. 4. Drop a little bit deeper to help out a totally ineffective midfield. 5. Look interested as there was no determination to press their defence throughout the whole of the game. So, as a result of all that above, we had completely surrendered midfield. It just became a matter of time before they scored again. It was a complete masterclass of sheer incompetence by our so called manager. I sat close to Frank, Darren and Joe and their total lack of concern which was evident from their body language at the final whistle would suggest that we can’t expect anything to change, anytime soon. It was if they had expected it. I know I’ve said a lot, but I’m still absolutely speechless. Other than down to Wealdstone without Clarkey, where do go from here?

Ran out of paper?

L L L D D D D W L L L L D L L P 15 W 1 D 5 L 9 win 6.66%

That’s 10, must be the goalie you missed.

York City sacking their manager?

An opportunity perhaps, for Frank to reward the ST holders, the cash paying Athleticos’, the pay on the day fence-sitters, our lapsed supporters, or those with just an inquisitive nature tempted with an admission price that guarantees the place will be well attended and bouncing for a fixture where the prize money is decent, and accumulates further if we progress!? Having said that, I do wonder whether the away team actually have some say in this, despite it being so early in the competition?

The words hat, names and pick spring to mind!

I thought V Wigan we competed well and pre season progress was going as well as could be expected. However, today, sadly, a massive step back because we showed absolutely nothing in terms of a real attacking intent, not helped by a dysfunctional midfield and a back 5 that ended as a 4 with Stobbs playing right full back! Tuesday, we go to Radcliffe Borough which has already cost me a fiver, and if I was Shez, I’d send a team out to score 3 minimum, and make them all walk home If the don’t.

As the players left the pitch following their warm up, our senior steward gave some instruction / advice to Tommy. Just before K.O, Tommy spoke with Shez as they walked down the steps to the pitch, and I’m pretty sure he was sharing the stewards comments with him. Tommy always hangs out at the top of the steps, but regularly commutes between pitch side and the tunnel, up and down, up and down, and so on, all game. Today was different, as he had clearly been told to observe from elsewhere. He spent most of the game seated with the supporters on the Chaddy side of the main stand lower. Anyone know what was that all about?

Why? Is Anthony Gerrard coming back just for this one?