League one forever

If it’s not tactics then by definition they are definitely ignoring him. Otherwise there is no way to explain their complete and utter non football. Agreed. Direct football is fine if you can see our runners when we get possession and we hit long diagonals or we play our best target man (Fondop) but our direct play is all high through the middle to players who aren’t target men, it has no pattern- it’s literally just smack it. So if Mellon isn’t a passing style manager and his direct style is descending into chaos- what are we? You keep mentioning a plan- but for me that’s the whole point, we don’t have an identity. For a manager of his calibre I was expecting to see a Micky Mellon side by now- instead we’re seeing non football.

Why ask me a question then?

I am saying that what he tells the media and what I watch are two very different things. I’m theorising why that could be, and I didn’t say they were ignoring him, I said I think Mellon is caving to pressure in the media when he says he wants them to play- and we hardly ever see it. He’s giving very mixed messages. . . I’ve constantly defended Mellon because up until the last couple of months he got enough results, and that is the ultimate currency. However I’ve been consistently told by other posters that while he is getting results the football isn’t sustainable. That view has now come to fruition. We have played well in patches, with one 90 minute performance- (chesterfield). Teams reflect their manager, and I would argue we have good players that on their day can play in patches. But it’s down to the manager why there is zero consistency to that. What partnerships has he developed? Why do players have good games and are then dropped? Why do we play play players out of position needlessly? It’s combination of a lot things as to why we play some games and don’t the others. But it’s also the result of blatant tactics sometimes. When every ball is played back to Hudson, and every out ball is played high to two small front men. Do not say in the media- I ask them all the time to play.

If Mellon or Unsy were known for a passing style, I’d be inclined to believe them, but in each case they made their name playing attritional all that matters is the result football- that’s fine if it’s successful. But again in each case- when the heat has turned up on them, they’ve denied their known style, and how the team is playing and claimed they want us to play. So- they are caving to pressure and trying to appease by saying the opposite in the media to what they tell the players. Or They are asking them to play and the players are completely ignoring him. I’m going with the former.

Stop bullying me.

If you want everyone to agree with you- just say so. I countered your question with my own, because I don’t agree with you. That’s the nature of debate. If you believe several individual title winning/promotion winning/played higher players are all now shit, and can only play against chesterfield and the like then that’s fine. But their careers clearly demonstrate otherwise. Maybe they played in teams that suited their game, maybe they didn’t get rotated after playing well, maybe they played in their proper position consistently. Maybe they built consistent little partnership’s with their teammates. You complete dismiss players without looking at the many nuances that contribute to their form. Players reflect their manager and at the minute every player looks lost, and half arsed. That isn’t form or they’re suddenly shit. Yeaterday is perfect example. The midfield was awful for the first 30 minutes, why? Because the tactics completed bypassed them- they got no foothold in the game, and gave the impetus to Flyde. That has nothing to do with them being shit- that’s tactics. The strikers looked completely ineffective- why? Because the only service was high balls to two midgets. That’s not them being shit or not being able to jump. It’s tactics. We go 3 down and fighting for a bit pride they stop lumping it- played a bit and got a goal back. That’s proves they can play. They then go down to ten men and still look the better side. There is a reason why they all come with a reputation and don’t do it, and it’s not because they were good, and they’re now shit.

Why Did Raglan win the league two title? Why did Kitch and Hogan win the national league title? Why did Lundy win player of the season? Why did Conlon win the league two title? Why did Garner win promotion to league one? Why has Norwood been prolific all his career? Why has Dallas got a move to league one? Why has, Sheron, Magehy, Gardner, Fondop, all played higher? Maybe they were all really lucky elsewhere and just decided to all club together to be as shit as each other with us.

Good post. People need to ask themselves why is it- that 90% of the squad have played higher and yet collectively all look so poor. They did not sign for Oldham and suddenly, magically become shit.

There was a home game a while back (I’m sure someone will remember) they had played a practice match midweek in a different shape, we lost the league game and afterwards Mellon said - ‘I tried to do something different today and it didn’t work, from now on we’ll stick to what we’re good at it, I know what we are now. The blindingly obvious implication was- we’re not good enough to play so it will be percentages football. What does that say to the players- who at times have shown they can play some lovely football. . I can understand players switching off if the message is always the same. But then when the team started getting flak for the percentages football- Mellon changed his tune and said he asks them to play, and is totally perplexed as to why they hoof it. . So if it’s mixed messages in the media, what are the players thinking? Personally I think he initially had buy in from the players because of his past record. But I’m not sure the players believe in him anymore, or they’re definitely having their doubts about him- the performances tell you that.

As did Wellens. .

Agreed. I’d like some accountability or acknowledgment for the mistakes made- especially around recruitment. How does it actually work in practice? Why is the process allowing us to sign multiple players of the same position leaving gaping holes in the side. Are they comfortable with the size of the squad, after saying at the last fan forum they wanted a smaller squad with better quality. . . Are players recruited for a style of play, or just because they’ve played higher?

He’s only 6 months in, but to be honest he looks increasingly lost- and so do the players.

He’s become increasingly irritable in his interviews and is starting to sound quite condescending- ‘Nobody in the this room is as experienced as me’ We know that Micky, that’s why we are pissed off that someone of your experience keeps churning similar performances. I also think that he’s fucked off with the fans, the same fans who he said after chesterfield created a great atmosphere and he was pleased for. It’s not difficult. Put a shift in, try and play- the fans create a great atmosphere. (Chesterfield) Start laboured, don’t work hard enough, show no ability or composure for the umpteenth time - fans get pissed off.

Mellons post match is awful. Just looks resigned to it all.

That cuts both ways- Ok- we haven’t gone up in year one. But to not even be in the playoffs with his record?? As it stands- he’s underperforming quite significantly, by the standards his record suggests, what he himself said he expects and I’m sure what the club expects. I wouldn’t sack him now, but he goes if we start poorly next season. Which would be very fair given the backing he’s had and the failure to live up to his record.

He wasn’t brought in to be gradual 3 year promotion man. He was brought in as a serial winner. He said himself the target this season is playoffs and he’s failing. . If we finished 5th this season and didn’t go up- I would say he’s done ok/met target and definitely deserves another crack next season. However, to have taken over with us in 13th and now be 9th (with 6 new signings) is failure in my view. And the trouble is he gets no credit in the bank next season for moving us up 4 places. He was brought in to get us into the playoffs, and It’s results based business. . . He’s under massive pressure next season in my view.

Agreed mate. What’s ironic is that Mellon has said he wants leaders and characters. . and what he’s got is a load of old pro’s who can’t be arsed.

I disagree. A lot of this is choice. Sav is Fit- plays Magehy. Plays biscuits legs as a left winger. Plays Ollie as a right winger. Plays two midgets up front- none of which are know for their aerial prowess and they lose every duel against their 6foot plus defenders- not their fault but it rendered them both completely ineffective. Constant rotation of players even if they’ve played well. The tactics he says he doesn’t want or endorse (hoof) the players constantly revert to. . . Too many times- the whole team are awful. If the whole team are panicking in possession, passing to the opposition, lacking fight, not working hard enough- then it suggests something deeper. Not every player at the club is absolutely dire, and yet that’s what we are seeing.

It is his job to pick the manager. .

Oh and I never want to Garner and Norwood as a partnership again.

It needs work yes, but there’s to many times under Mellon where they’re all awful, not poor, absolutely awful. When the entire team is repeatedly shit, and many of them have played higher it goes beyond the players. Mellon is taking us backwards.

That’s me done till next season. I can not watch another game where we start like it’s a knockabout in the park. That first half hour was fucking disgusting. How do you beat Oldham? Just press them. That’s it. We folded like a deck of cards, no leaders, no fight, not working anywhere near hard enough. Awful in possession- hack it anywhere or pass to them. No pattern of play, no intensity to our attacking play. Plays two midgets up front and lobs high balls up-to them. I’m fucking sick of it. They went 3 up and sat off and we started playing. . . ANYONE CAN PLAY AT 3-O NIL DOWN LADS WHEN THE OPPOSITION AREN’T TRYING ANYMORE. I know the squad needs work, but them players are miles better than that- but they keep churning out the same shite, and sooner or later you have to look at the Manager. Teams are always a reflection of the manager. . Things we continually do. Start poorly. Hoof it- when Mellon explicitly says this isn’t what he’s asking them to do. Panic in Possession. Have no tempo. Don’t work hard enough. Have no pattern to our attacking play. Serious questions about the manager now. . I know the board won’t sack him before the end of the season- but if it’s like this again in the first 5 games next season he needs to go.

Yeah, Mellon has said it a few times recently as well- funnily enough when our results started dropping off. . . I’ve admired their honesty at times, but this is just bollocks and a little desperate.

So grateful the Rothwells are here, but when you look at that- who would be a football owner. . Imagine having to pay so many players who are nowhere near the side or been frozen out. It must be galling.

Im with you. Played centre half, left back, right wing back- good pro and always puts a shift in. We aren’t getting promoted, and he’s good enough for this division. So no issue with one more year.