slystallone

Have i missed something?? In the words of Pete Townsend...."Who Are You, Who- Who, Who -Who???

Nail & Head that man!!! Tayls wasn't at his best last night; not by a long shot - but he's viewed (rightly so) by the Oppo in 99% of our games as our biggest threat; so they double up; and in some cases triple up on him. I can't believe that when this happens we don't manage to successfully use the space created. A quick switch across to the other flank is usually the ball on; but it takes 3 passes to get there as it usually goes from CM to CB to RB to Smalley instead of 1 quick ball out. It is nice though to have a threat from both flanks now though; as Smalley has hit form & shows flashes of class when he runs with the ball. I tend to think his "football brain" lets him down though - when he doesn't have time to think about it & has to react instictively he is far better than when he has chance to think & decide what to do; usually making the wrong decision. Hopefully, with the right coaching this will come in the lad; he has the potential.

Here here, was going to post something similar. Eardley bashing at its most blinkered; first good gme of the season - jesus; some people!! Close between 3 for me; Jonesy / Maher & Kabba, but in the end for his quality 1st half i plumped for Jonesy. Tayls marked out of it, Smalley showed flashes, Hughesy was clinical when it mattered.

I'll reserve judgement on the signing of Kabba until i see him play in the blue (or Pink) of Latics. But; from past viewings of games on TV & episodes of the championship he IS bloody quick. Scored a few for Shef Utd in his time there too. As someone said earlier in this thread (sorry can't remember who) if he's fit & motiviated he'll stand a very good chance of doing the bizz in this division - but that's the point; is he fit?? In terms of the other issues raised in this thread - Shez is a bit dammed if he does; dammed if he doesn't. Granted; i like many others have been frustrated at a lot of his decisions this season (and past seasons too!) in terms of tactics / selection & substituations - BUT; i still have faith he can get us to where we want to be - the championship. The loanees, whilst i'm annoyed they are keeping out the likes of Eardley & Lewis, Shez was critised 2 seaons ago for not adding to our fading squad with extra bodies - he's done that this season & he still gets ripped. We'll see what happens in the next 13 games i guess - if any of Jonesy / Fabio / Kabba etc start to really make an impact & we go on a good run, then Shez will be vindicated for the 7 loans in & all the personelle changes he's made. We'll see..................

Like others, i don't want to p1ss on your chips for trying this BUT: Been done to death & is such a hard thing to do - you can't force a song onto people & tell them its their new club anthem. These things have to happen organically; off their own back for them to catch on - nice try and all, but most of our songs will start with... Do do do (insert player name).....for the forseable!!!!!!

I don't see anything bad in looking to extend Scott's stay with us; it just adds to the options we have at our disposal. 3 Left backs Scott / DJ & Lomax 3 Right backs - Eards / Hines & Lomax Options for 3 Left Mids - Taylor / Smalley & DJ Options for 4 Right Mids - Taylor / Eardley / Smalley & Lidds Scott to continue at Left Back until DJ regains match fitness; then its an out & out battle beteen them to see who gets the spot. Hines also gives us cover at CB for when Reubs gets suspensed. It's what you need to sustain a promotion push - options in all areas of the pitch; defencively we're looking more than ok at present i'd say!

i'm the same really - had a few dealings with them this season haven't we, but like you say - we've been through it & its not pleasent is it - hope it all works out for them in the end

I just don't understand why 'fans' are so blase about the Eardley abuse - it's not on. Constant abuse / maoning / booing of a Latics player is bang out of order at the best of times, but when its directed at one of our better players - i just can't fathom it. I've said previously that i really rate Eardley & i believe he is more than capable of playing at ahigher level than this - he once again on sat demonstrated that there's not even an debate as to who should be our first choice right back - it's Eardley all day long. I voted for him as MoM for the Leicester game; Windass will win it for his antics in net, but Eardley should get it for an outstanding display of modern full-back play; he was awesome in defence & class going forward; what more can you ask for in a young player?? Same again sat Neal - though you may hear the usual groans & boos that follow you from our 'fans' as we are back at the spiritual home of the moan that is BP.

Great news - prob Shez's best signing?? A model pro it would appear - no bother & has a level of consistency that many would envy at higher levels. No frills in many respects, but about as solid as we've seen in a number of years. Well done Reubs - here's to a few more years of top performances!!

I've a degree in Sports Science from Leeds Met Carnegie & did my dissertation with a sports psychology slant - "the fear of failure in a penalty shootout situation" Maybe I should give Shez a call?? * On a serious point; I think we could do a lot worse than looking into this as a talented sports psychologist would have a big impact in my opinion – a number of our players do seem to have a few “mental” issues in terms of confidence etc. * Disclaimer - that was 8 years ago & I’ve nearly forgotten all I learnt but hey ho!!!!

i sung myself horse!!!! i think it helps when you go down to 10-men & are playing 14! seige mentality & all that. Was great to be there though, a mad game & one to tell the grandkids you were there!!!!

What??? Smalley had a great game - - as did everyone. Watching from the stands i said MoM was either Eardley or Gregan. Re-watching the game on my sky+ i was amazed at how much work Allott & Maher put in; backpass from Maher apart; they were the driving force behind our high tempo workrate; which ruffled the Leicester side big time. In the end i've gone with my first thoughts at the game - Eardley - had a stunning game at the back & bombed on all night; 2 great deliveries into the box 2nd half too. Well don Neal (& all the lads!!) Everyone stood up & was counted on sat. It was quality to be there & watch it all unfold. A happy 'Tic still now!!!!

That makes me #5 then - plans are in the early stages but me & my mate are trying to get over to Spain to watch Oviedo & our man in the flesh!! I really think we missed the boat with Diego - marketing income alone would have surely covered his temp contact; sombreo's / names on shirts / his own line of club underpants - the possibilities are endless. I think Shez's record with managing 'mental' players may have put him off signing Diego, if he couldn't hadle Craig Davies then he would have a 'mare with Diego. Remember reading an article on Mark Hughes (our lad, not the red / light blue scummer!) and he was asked something along the lines of 'who was / is the biggest character you've played with?' & Hughesy answered Diego, saying he nutted the walls in the changing room before games, used to bite & chew his boots & was generally 'lively'...........what a character & what a missed oppotunity. Does anyone have any info if he got anywhere with his attempts to come back over to the UK to give it another shot - i'm guessing we ('Tics) didn't give him a second go as we'd have surely heard something????

Sorry Guys & Gals - have i missed something here?? we have links with this side now? since when? what's the agreement - we getting some young Zolton Gera's in on loan????

That is exactly the reason we have signed him now rather than ina couple of weeks, as: 1) we couldn't have signed after a weeks grace as he has already been with us previously & its not allowed in the rules of the FA loan system. 2) he is now here till the end of the season; including the play-off's, if we'd have waited & the above point wasnn't already in effect, then he couldn't have played in them (the playoffs) 3) he pulled up trees with us in his first spell (for a L1 point of view) & did well with Northampton last season too, so i guess we've got in early before some other L1 vultures started to circle As i've said in another thread on this subject, i think its a very sensible & well thought out piece of business from the club - as when DJ is fit; in a matter of weeks, we'll again start to see the very best of Chris Taylor and that will be like a new signing in its self - let alone the fact that DJ is a very good player at this level to boot. stop the maoning will you Dean, its getting tiresome.

Here here - some people are muppets on here; honestly - posting FFS etc about this signing. we know all about him, at this level it's a great signing - the left hand side worked better with him in the side from an attacking point of view, as he seemed to bring out the best in Taylor. DJ's defending (often critised on here) was getting better the more games he played too, so hopefully he can kick on where he left off last time. I mean really, who were people expecting? Queresema / Kaka.......FFS, this is a sensible, good bit of transfer dealing and still people moan.......

Agree FLH1993 - i though COG did really well in his couple of cameo's when he came back from Bury, & in all honestly didn't do alot wrong before his first loan spell. He's a big, burly, bustling hold up striker who is something completely different to all our other options up top. He needs to get into more threatning areas in the final 3rd to add goals to his list of attributes - but he has scored for other teams (& in pre-season) so i think that will come. In a way i see what Shez is doing with him - sending him out to try & develop elsewhere as he isn't going to do that here with no 1st team action & no ressies games - BUT, all this talk of we need more strikers isn't true as we have one hell of a different option right here on our wages already, but Shez seems loath to utilise him. I see COG having a future at L1 level, hopefully with us. His 10 min + cameos; specifically the one vs Brighton, show what he can do / could do reguarlly for us if used. Having said all that, i think you can add COG to list of Maher / Lee / Stephens who must regret their moves to us this season - along with Lewis & Mental who aren't getting a sniff either.

Whits is a good staedy L1 player, who has at times this season added something a bit different to our side with his linking runs up to & beyond the front 2. BUT, as has been said he doesn't seem to do it away from home - when a 'yard dog' midfielder would be a better bet IMO, allowing our pacey winger to push on, link up & cause mayhem in the final 3rd. Kevin Maher must really, really regret signing for us as he just hasn't been given a chance in this role IMO. Home midfield at present should be (for me anyway!) Smalley............Allott................Taylor Whits Away midfield should be Allott.....Maher Smalley.................................Taylor In the 'home' midfield the Whits role can be allocated to Kieron Lee if whits form dips / injured / suspended; as from the games i've seen him play in, he looks like a midfielder who is more suited to a central role; and a 'pushed on' one at that too. The shout about Eardley into midfield isn't a bad one - just that their are midfielders who aren't catching (& maybe should be) that surely have to be ahead of him - i'm meaning Maher, Lee & even Stephens. Plus Eards this season in his 1 outing in midfield looked a little fish out of water at 'Dale too. We have the personelle, we just don't have the right formations / tactics at the moment...........i'm waiting for it to click though, as i have all season.......i can see me waiting a while longer too!!!!!!!!!!!!!! still you never know eh? roll on saturday - KTF

I'm going to wager that he (Lee)hasn't recovered enough from his flu & therefore was too big of a risk fitness wise to throw him into a game as big as Stockport (local derby & convincing win needed) Thought he did well vs Crewe, and played alright vs Orient, i think he'd have kpt his place had he not got ill. he'll have to wait in line now again, just like Maher is having to do too. as for Stephens, he was always one for the future, it wa said when he signed - didn't for onw minute think he'd be featuring this season unless we had the smae horrible luck with injuries.

Think it's old hat know this Scott S stuff. He went on loan to Macc & didn't pull up trees. Then Yeovil had him on trial & didn't take him. Now Scunny too. made up we got the £200k for him tbh, as i don't think he'd have caught ours looking at him now

Me too on that front.......we shall see i guess Scott G is held in high regard at the Royals, i think playing wise we can expect a bit of the Ryan Bertrand about him, an attacing FB but who can defend, and will only get better with a run of games - as we saw with Bertrand who just got better & better the longer he was with us. Scott G at LB & Eards at RB for me then on sat, with Kelvin out of the firing line for a while to work hard in traing & try and regain some confidence; maybe even send him out for a month to a Dale or the linke again; as it worked for him this time last year?????

TBH, i think Ruuuubes has been playing well over the last few weeks, just down on his levels from last season (that never really dipped below outstanding). That considered, He was still top notch at Hudds, was a rock vs Hartlepool & then has a stinker on sat. It happens. He's a class CB for our level & have every confidence that he'll put this latest 'performance' behind him & kick on a pace back to his usual level. Lomax on the other hand could do with being taken out of the firing line really, IMO he's been poor for weeks now, even if Shez did come out & praise him after one performance where i thought he was pish. Cadamateri (spl!) ran him ragged at Hudds & other average a best L1 wingers have tormented him of recent weeks - he has sh1te out of challenges & has drifted out of postion so many times leaving men free. Don't get me wrong; i'm not 'doing a Richard Butcher' here; i like Kelv & think he's useful to have in the squad giving COVER at either FB position, but he needs to taken out of our starting XI as he has lost the plot & is definately a weak link that we can't afford to have at the moment. The probel of course is who replaces him? Lee out of position at LB? Stam in an awkward postion for him? Go 3 at the back with Tayls as a wing back type role? Or do we do what has been needed for a while and try & buy a full time, contracted LB? I'd go for the latter Mr Shez!!!!

Didn't attend so this is all from watching the highlights on the internet; but my take is this: Awful defending for the 1st - gregan & flemming at fault i feel. 2nd was all about Lomax, shocking letting his man go like that; special mention for Ruubes for not going with the striker too. 3rd was Gregan not winning the header at the back stick, then no-one of the back 4 reacting. 4th; Lomax again letting a cross come in, Ruuubes tripping over letting the striker free to score 5th; well step forward messers Allott & Lomax, poor all round. so glad i wasn't one of the hardy 700 or so fans that had to watch that shower - i sincerley hope it is a one off, just one of those things that happen from time to time, as if that's a sign off things to come then the next few months are going to be interesting watching.

A good mate in the squad & a big respect for Shez are 2 major factors in his decision to join us - though i think the location & 1st team footballer were the real swayers. Interesting read - as have been the couple i've read previosly - he's certainly saying all the right things isn't he? if he plays like he did on monday night every game from now till may i'll be made up as it was a really encouranging debut!

Although i thought Gregan & Ruuuuuuuuuubes were class again, Smalley had a good 45mins as did Windass; i've gone a little diferent in my voting - i've plumped for Craig Davies!! We weren't safe at all when he came on - they were looking like they'd grab another & we'd have another home draw. CD came on & did everything right for me. He gave us fresh impetus up top; his runs were well timed & spot on (as were Windass's through balls to him it has to be said), he tracked back & hasselled defenders & midfielders, he won a number of corners for us (relieving pressure) & his attitude was spot on again - its like a new signing the way he has come back from his loan. although others played the full 90mins; i've gone for Craig this time for an excellent cameo right when it was needed the most. still not disappointed with Windass or Gregan winning the poll though!!!!