josh_latics

4 minutes ago, Lukers1 said:

It was more the fact that he asked for a two night stay at the luxury hotel and had the use of the gym and pool, spa for team bonding . The captain complained that they didnt want to spend the second night and kicked up a fuss. The extent was that the hotel made them packed lunches for the  way home and the captain said this was crap food and the squad would eat shit at the service station: Mickey apparently exploded as they also had Thursday off and realised he was looking after a bunch of kids.

 

 

The 2024 version of Shez at the Belle Vue dogs. 

Of those out of contract (McGahey, Green, Gardner, Fondop, Hope, some out on loan and some kids) the only one who I would possibly keep is Green, subject to his fitness. Equally, there are probably 100 of him knocking around, and it would be no great loss. He might be a character, but nobody wins promotion with Fondop in their team, especially when he's suspended for 15% of the season. 

Of those in contract (Hudson, Norman, Kitching, Hogan, Hobson, Raglan, Sutton, Shelton, Lundstram, Ward, Sheron, Hammond, Conlon, Willoughby, Nuttall, Reid, Norwood, Garner (fucking hell there's some dross in there)) there has to be a concerted effort to move on a bunch of those. 

One of the keepers, Ward, Shelton, Willoughby, Nuttall and Reid have to go. 

Arguably one of the centre backs - as Yardy has said all season, 3 right CBs is ridiculous squad planning - and Kitching, who's forgotten how to play football could be shifted. Sheron divides opinion, I'd get rid but is probably handy to have as a squad player to fill in. 

Get rid. There is no evidence that he has the ability, nous or desire to recruit properly, win matches and get us promoted. 9/33 points since Frank got back. Pathetic. 

Norwood's done alright, but for his pedigree and salary I expected more. For example - he had a chance yesterday where you'd expect someone like him to finish it by lobbing the keeper. But his just shot tamely at him. 

I accept as a team we don't produce lots of great chances for him a game. But isn't the point of having someone like him on a such a salary that he does things nobody else can? 

As an aside - their number 19 centre-half yesterday was astonishingly bad. 

So dismal from start to finish. 

It's like he's picking his team and the formation from a tombola every week. Shifting from 5 at the back to 3; players like Hope and Sutton in from nowhere; players out of position. 4-3-3 without genuine width and pace is utterly fucking pointless. 

In-game, putting Norwood wide left for 15 minutes. Why? He's never played there in his career. He's certainly not going to succeed at 34 in this shit bag team. 

Frankly Norwood was fortunate not to be subbed off. He obviously doesn't want to be here. We plainly can't play to his strengths by getting him the ball in the box. May as well move him on and get a big stump like Dieseruvwe and boot it at his head for 90 minutes. 

The fullbacks have no quality going forward, the keeper and centre halves can't pass a ball, and the three centre midfielders are cowards who won't put a foot in, presumably because they are all crocks. 

Mellon won't go, but he should be on very thin ice for next season. His signings have been garbage - 2/6 playing today. He got unlucky with Stones' injury, but he would have gone back anyway. Looking like being a second successive rubbish, expensive managerial mistake for the Rothwells/Darren Royle. 

29 minutes ago, LightDN123 said:

But let’s not start saying it’s got worse than Unsworth and start to retrospectively improve his spell here. Unsworth was an absolute incompetent manager and an unlikable character. In 9 games he won 1 game of football after assembling his squad. He’s dog shit and Mellon should not be compared to him. 

But if you were to compare them, Mellon has won 1 of his last 9...

1 hour ago, JoeP said:

 

Nah, not having that about Fondop. He was the only one (with Hammond to some extent) that tried to make things happen. His partner Garner was completely anonymous, barring "winning" a few free-kicks..

I don't dispute he tries hard (although much of his running is chasing his second touch/running to where he should be), but he's an unbelievably limited footballer who cannot be a starting centre forward for a team with ambitions. He should be limited to being a pest with 15 mins to go. 

What an awful day out. Nobody came out with any credit, but particular failures:

Lundstrum - abject. No confidence. Can't pass, tackle, dribble or shoot. Hopeless. 

Sheron - every second touch is a tackle. A joke of a footballer. I am confident this is the highest his career will go, and if we are serious about promotion, he shouldn't be near the pitch again. 

Fondop - brainless. Rarely in the position he should be. Outmuscled by Pearce for every long ball, so what is the point in him being there. Zero football intelligence when the ball is at his feet. 

Mellon - awful. Failed Frank. Failed 12,000 fans. The midfield is limited, but he is not putting in place anything to improve them. Lundstrum at RWB was a dismal choice. Subbing Hammond was a bad choice. Dallas was a terrible sub. 

1 hour ago, deyres42 said:

I have my suspicions it is Wiseowl under a different guise...

It definitely is. 

Norwood should have told the referee to fuck off, get his yellow card, and serve his 2 match ban whilst he's crocked. 

Hmm. Thought Frank didn't fancy Colclough because of his criminal past? Madine is currently subject to a suspended sentence...

7 minutes ago, wiseowl said:

All donations are welcome, of course, but let's not get carried away with a donation of about £1600 from people with a combined net worth of circa £175m. It's the equivalent to someone with a net worth of £250,000 (i.e. equity on his house and savings etc) chipping in £2.26.

Wow. 

Showing the difference in having a manager who knows what they are doing. Bringing Hogan on for Freeman was the perfect change. Kanu didn't have a kick after that, and then lots of brilliant counter-attacking football afterwards. 

Norwood utter class. 

A perfect away performance. 

Pathetic decision. He's made no attempt to get the ball, let alone a genuine one. 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/67285803

Stephen Clemence to Gillingham

Fondop now has 3 red cards in 18 games. It's unacceptable, and he will surely be bottom of the pecking order now, if not shipped out. 

Yesterday was my first game of the season. The football is so difficult to watch, especially in midfield. Shelton and Sheron are so poor on the ball, and Gardner was only fractionally better, although at least he looks forward. 

The real low point of yesterday was the period of 15 minutes after their first, where we completely sat off them, no pressing, no effort at winning the ball back, which (rightly or wrongly) turned the crowd, and sucked any prospect of getting back into the game away. 

I also thought the shape was very odd after half time. Green and Dickenson were sensible subs, but giving Green a free role up front with Reid put us in a strange shape, when four across the midfield would have given us a better structure. 

Nuttall 8/10 at professional level. 

Norwood 14/20, hasn't taken one since May 2021. 

4 minutes ago, PlayItLivo said:

 

He's 33 next month. It's a good signing assuming he's injury free but not sure I'm buying that it's a massive coup. I'd expect a player at his stage of his career to be around League Two/NL level. We're still one of the bigger draws for players in the aforementioned leagues, especially with the extra revenue from the increased attendances over the last season, so not surprised we're a favourite to sign him.

Someone who played 49 games for a League One team last season, including the play-off final is definitely a coup, should he join.

Sent!

Tolllit 18

Shelton 6

Kitching 3

54 minutes ago, HarryBosch said:

 

If Hobson isn't any good we'll be very short in defence. Especially if Hogan continues to be injured as often as last season. 

Started 34/46 last season, playing 90 minutes in all, and missed 12 with a broken foot. You've Jonathan Forte'd Liam Hogan. 

https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/alex-downes/profil/spieler/577069

Former Latic and legend Maheta Molango being mooted as the successor to Gordon Taylor as chief exec of the PFA. 

Steve Robinson arrested over the weekend, Tommy Wright convicted of bribery today.

Surridge bagged for England u21s last night.