Londonboy

3 hours ago, Hemel latic said:

Dickenson looked sh@gged on Saturday, very poor work rate in the second half. Can see why ST would want to play him given his goal threat and all round play, guess it depends on his powers of recovery. Maybe the wiser decision to bench him given a 46 game leagues season plus cup games.

 

Alex Reid has to start, surely?

 

Hope Lundstram starts, looked really progressive and forward thinking in his cameo on Saturday but again, no need to rush him back if they think it's too soon for 90 minutes.

Agree with all this

1 hour ago, Worcester Owl said:

Yes, and even if it were true, just because players might be part time it doesn't mean they are no good or not fit. Plenty of semi-pros earn a good living from combining a job outside football with playing part time. Gives them more security and I suspect they play all the better for that.

 

This league is very tough to get out of. We are in it for a reason and while we're moving in the right direction, it's going to take time and patience, short of spending crazy money (and even that won't guarantee promotion).

Frustrating thing is we have spent crazy money relative to most in this division, and we're still given the runaround by a bunch of part timers....

29 minutes ago, LightDN123 said:

If ST doesn’t get the job, the new man is fucked anyways as our fans are entitled and unrealistic. 
 

We have 10 points from 12! It’s not pretty away from home and I wish it was, but ST has had Tuesday / Saturday since he came in! That’s just rest and recovery. 
 

Id like to see us use the fa cup game as a reset period and go into the Rochdale game with a bit more of an identity. After that we can start to question the style a bit. 
 

But to expect Unsworths negative play to just be eradicated in 2 weeks is mental. Meanwhile, we are picking up points which is what we need!

 

We was in the relegation places when Unsy left. We are 2 points off playoffs now, give ST some credit and bloody chill out and lose the sense of entitlement to win every game ffs. 

Not all our fans are entitled and unrealistic, in fact not that many of us are in my view.

Like it or not we are are the only ex Premier League team to play in the National League, so surely we are allowed some level of expectation based on this, our pre season investments and board ambition?

I also dont think anyone is saying Thomo is not doing a great job because he is!

I just think that he has dropped on with a run a reletively easy games that even Rhino would have probably done OK in. Our next 4 games also look pretty friendly, with games against more bottom 8 teams in the main.

This is coupled with our "star" midfield signing getting fit and Ward and Gardiner coming back, so let's just keep things going as we are for a while and see how he does in November when the tougher games begin.

This should give him enough time to get the team playing with his clear identity and then make a call from then.

No rush to change anything at the moment until we are 100% sure.

1 hour ago, True Tic said:

I agree with most of this although i disagree Kidderminster played us off the park, we were up against it for parts of the game, but we had plenty of chances to win it which we did. I only saw Wealdstone highlights but everyone is saying we were lucky. Our ball retention still worries me, a  legacy from DU tactics which needs changing asap. ST started positively enough and York was a breath of fresh air after watching us under Unsworth, probably looked better than we actually were after enduring that tripe. I don’t think we can realistically measure whether ST will be suitable or not yet but win the next two and I think he will get it, inferior opposition or not, we’ve struggled against most opponents anyway over the last year. 

Sorry if unclear Tru Tic, but I didn't imply Kidderminster played us off the park. A draw would have been a fair result there I think. 

It was Wealdstone who passed is off the park.... 

I do hope we take our time on the next mangers appointment though. There really is no rush at the moment, and if and when the board think Thomo deserves it I have no issue with that. Just think he needs to demonstrate we can go tow to toe against decent oppo. 

12 hours ago, TheBigDog said:

There is no denying that Steve Thompson has done well results wise in his first four games.

 

However, there does seem to be a difference in approach and ultimately performance between the home and the away games.

 

Yes I know that this difference is inevitable in football as home advantage does inspire teams - but ST appears to have continued the setup we had away from home under the previous manager.

 

Maybe it is a hangover from the past but I would hope that we lose this defensive-minded approach and adopt a more attacking mindset when playing away from home.

We now have, on paper at least, two very winnable home games to come. Should we win both that would make it very difficult for the board NOT to offer the job to Steve Thompson.

 

However, I would like to see how he does in a few more games, before making any long term commitment to ST as our manager.

 

Winning games against teams currently in 17th, 19th, 20th, 21st and 24th place (with 4 of those games at home) plus a draw at the team in 15th place is maybe not the best measure of his ability to be a permanent manager.

Let’s not rush the decision.

 

 

Sorry Big Dog! I didnt see your post until after I had posted in the Wealdstone thread and have repeated some of your excellent points!! Great minds and all that !!

Bit of a delayed response on this but there are a few points I'd like to make about Saturday and Thomo.

Firstly we were outplayed by Wealdstone big time and anyone who thinks we were not is deluded. We were really lucky to scrape a point....as we were lucky to scrape a win at Kidderminster midweek. Wealdstone played decent football, always looking to get the ball forward and to feet, passed us off the park, and got the ball wide to quick trickey wingers which caused us all sorts of problems. It was far too easy for them to pass both around and through us, and they just looked a better drilled team than we did. Our tactics were clearly not to press our opponents, which I assume came from the manager, and which I just dont get. We just seem to sit in and invite pressure. If we had lost 2 or 3-1 we couldn't have complained.

We were just far too narrow and created very little in the whole 90 mins. The gap between our midfield and front men grew bigger as the game went on, and we lost possession time and time again trying to play passes which just were not on. I know it's been said many times but Shelton and Sheron just cant play together if we want to play a front foot progressive game.

Again as some have said already, the set up in the last 2 games, particularly at Wealdstone, have been no different than at for example Boreham Wood or Chesterfield. It was classic Rhino tactics sitting deeper and deeper, with no real ideas on how to turn things around. We should be giving our oppo far more to think about.

The positives were we squeezed out a point, are now unbeaten in 4 and Lundstram looked OK when he came on, at least looking for forward passes rather than sideways and backwards.

We need to remember Thomo has been in charge of games against relegation fodder in 24th, 20th, 19th and 15th so far. Our next 4 games are against 21st, 17th, 7th(Dogdale) and 22nd so let's not get carried away. He really couldnt have chosen a better run of games to cut his teath!

We should be sitting safely in the play off places after the Fylde game in my view, so let's judge him on the games in November and after this, before considering giving him the job full time. He says he knows what to do to put it things right so lets see what he can do, because it's not quite right at the moment.

I sat next to Frank for the 2H at Wealdstone and he made a few comments about our negative approach, and didn't seem particularly impressed with it, so I'd expect him to sanction a couple of loans/signings to bolster the midfield and wide areas in particular in the next week or so.

Dont get me wrong, I'm delighted with the results since Thomo has taken charge, and it seems to be much better at home, but I see far more away games than home games these days, and to me our away performances under Thomo have been no better under Rhino.

We have Alty, Dogdale, Woking and Barnet all away before the end of November, with hopefully a fit Ward, Lundstram and Gardiner available in midfield, which will give us a better idea of how he see's us setting up, and if we are serious promotion contenders.

14 hours ago, League one forever said:

Dickinson next to Sheron. 

 

With tollit on the left. 

Dickenson was awful yesterday....looked absolutely knackered from the start 

13 hours ago, Lee Sinnott said:

He's not wrong though. A couple of good performances against Vauxhall Conference relegation fodder don't disprove his view. He's like a speedboat with no driver...

Or even the Vanarama National League!!

Agree though that York, Oxford City and Kidderminster are currently very poor bottom 6 sides, and after Wealdstone on Sat we have 2 more games against relegation candidates Maidenhead and Dagenham at home.

Thomo couldn't have wished for an easier run of 6 games...4 being at home, to kick his tenure off. 

November and Decembers away games against the play off contenders will be a better indication of whether he's up to the job, and I'm happy to hold fire in appointing until then if necessary.

I only saw the game badly streamed last night, and although it was a welcome 3pts and another win, we were not much better than in the Unsworth days, until the substitutions in my view.

Play like that on Saturday at

Wealdstone and we will likely get nothing from the game.

Midfield is now a big worry and Lundstrom may get thrown in by default as we can't play Shelton with Sheron as was shown last night.

It's another game we should win if we show up and get on the front foot.

Then we have 2 what should be straight forward home games which should put us firmly in a play off spot , before derby away days at Dogdale and Flyde.

It's November and December when our away pedigree will be tested at Woking Barnet Solihull and Hartlepool. 

If we can be in the top 7 come the end of December, I'd back us to kick on and give winning the play offs a good go.

We need to be better than last night though.

Norwood and Reid to start Saturday up top for me, Sheron plus anyone bar Shelton in the middle

Hope with SaS we just don't sit deep and settle for 1-0.

I'd defo bring Reid on for Nuttall and use his pace as these tire....which they will

2 minutes ago, kowenicki said:

Great. Gardner broken. Again! 
 

Rest of the team are still on the bus. 

Hindsight is a great thing....but I did think we might start him and Nuttall on the bench....

This for me is the next big thing we need to sort out if we are to continue our resurgence!

3 pts and 4 goals is our return from our 5 games so far under Rhino ball tactics which is shite.

On Tuesday we go to mighty Kidderminster who's home results this season have been

0-0

0-0

0-0

0-1

1-1

Won't have a better opportunity of getting an away win this season than against this lot...results suggest we can attack without too much fear

COYB

7 hours ago, doctor evil said:

HT. Don't want to be accused of being negative but I don't think we've played all that well. These are absolutely hopeless and this is the easiest game we'll get this season. Been sloppy in possession a few times and as a whole I don't think we've done enough with the ball. Would like to see Gardner pushed further forward. We don't need both him and Sheron sat on the halfway line.

FFS they were unbeaten in 7 and we won 4-0

Yes is the correct answer

Personally I think I'd have to start Norwood if he's 100% fit with a rejuvinated Nuttall, against with due respect a bunch of semi pro's.

I'd also start Kurt ahead of Dickenson on the left of midfield for this game, with him becoming a 3rd forward when we are attacking and get on the front foot from the start.

However Oxford City will be no pushovers, and Saturday will probably be one of the biggest games many of their squad have played in. 

Since losing their first 3 games they are unbeaten in 7, and have drawn their last 4 away games at Halifax, Maidenhead, Solihull and Eastleigh. 

They seem a bit like Dorking last season, scoring plenty but conceeding plenty, so Norwoods experience should mean that if we can create plenty of chances for him he should put a few away.

Reid is unlucky to be on the bench but his time will come, and if Kurt begins to fade after an hour he's a great option to bring on.

Great to get a win last night and put a smile back on the fans faces.

I didn't see the game, but by most accounts on here Nuttall had his best game for ages, Kurt had a good solid 90 mins and Reid came on and scored, so who makes way for Norwood on Saturday?

Also do we have 3 strikers on the bench??

18 hours ago, LightDN123 said:

I think we need to shake things up tomorrow a bit, but will also need to rely on the more senior players. So my team would be: 

 

Norman

 

Freeman

Hobson

Hogan 

Kitching

 

Tollitt

Gardner

Sheron

Green

 

Reid

Nuttall

Raglan, Dickinson, Fondop, Shelton, Willoughby

Think I'd change Willoughby for Tollitt on the left, Dickenson for Gardner and Ward (if fit?)for Sheron in centre midfield.

Then have Tollitt, Big Mike, Gardiner and Sheron to come off the bench to shore things up if required.

Let's just bin this Shelton and Sheron crablike shit football, dominate the midfield, and give York something to think about.

Ward and Dickenson should be well able to hold a midfield together and would be a decent left/right foot combo in the middle I think. 

Ward may only last 60 mins so can be replaced with either Sheron or Gardiner to suit the match situation.

Willoughby can play left in a more advanced roll dropping back when we are out of possession.

Sorted!

8 hours ago, sjk2008 said:

Stephen Clemence has shot to the top of the bookies favourites. 
 

Surely we won’t go down the assistant route again…?

Yeh a bit strange....wonder where this has come from?

Decent credentials as a coach but never managed.....

Good time to tap up Maher....Southend only have 12 players available for Tuesday. He must be getting a bit fed up....

46 minutes ago, oafcmetty said:

66/1 with the bookies

Bet 365 are offering 142/1 on us finishing in the top 3 and getting promoted!

Nah. No more than 6500 and a 1-1 I recon at a wet and windy Boundary Park. York will bring 500 or so.

Think more will turn up Saturday providing York don't stuff us.

4 hours ago, O.A.F.C. said:

Alex Ferguson wasn't exactly known for his good media skills and for being a likeable guy was he 

No he was just miserable red c**t!

It will be interesting to see how we go without Norwood Tuesday.

Don't get me wrong I'd rather have him with us than not, but having a different focal point and set up might be an improvement 

3 minutes ago, Longlostfan said:

Can the season be saved or are we now just looking for progress?

70 points might make the playoffs. But given the absence of two 100pt plus teams maybe 75 would be a sensible target.

Another 68 points over the remaining games is 1.8 per game- equivalent to three wins in 5

 

10 games from now to hit the 1.8 for the season to date would require 9 wins in the next ten. Isn't going to happen.

Don't know how long recruitment will take- or even if there is a 'if you do OK you can keep the gig option' but let's say 5 games.

Do we have a target return - or is some pride. passion,performance and players in proper positions enough?

We are only 7 points off Dogdale and 8 off Bromley in 4th so yes with 37 games to go we can absolutely salvage the season.

Tuesday and Saturdays home games are massive and if we can now muster 4 or even 6 points from them them, then it's game back on and confidence and belief grows.

Just hope some of the players have a good look at themselves now as well, and  begin to show everyone they are better than they have showed to date. 

1 minute ago, nzlatic said:

The ellipsis teaser!

I'm sure a mutually agreeable severance package for Unsworth and co could be quickly negotiated. 

Like some have already said, he doesn't seem a bad bloke and had best intentions I"m sure, but when you realise you can't do the job and your peers have lost all faith in your ability, it's usually best all round to agree a compromise and move on.