League one forever

I think we’re agreed? The players who have nearly all played higher or won promotion have been bang average over the course of season, and have underachieved. However, they haven’t been helped by poor tactics, and also a complete imbalance with players regularly playing out of position or playing multiple positions- because we don’t have a balanced squad. Be nice next season if right back isn’t a centre half. If left back cover isn’t a centre half. If defensive midfielder isn’t a centre half. If centre mid don’t play RWB. If our only winger doesn’t LWB. If forwards don’t play midfield. If our star striker doesn’t play out wide.

There is absolutely zero chance he’s walking away from a contract with two years to run. I could however see him and the club falling out about the direction of the club (as he did at Tranmere) and leaving by mutual consent.

I hope you’re wrong, but I suspect you’re not.

The big worry with that is- I don’t see many high earners. . possibly Gardner and Maghey? Don’t see massive savings. (They still need to go though)

I’ve never seen Green play well for 90 minutes, let’s alone unplayable. Mikey I agree- he’s had a quite few good days. I released everybody - bar Mikey. But if he has to go to bring in better then so be it.

I’ve no idea who it was or wasn’t used for. But the facts speak themselves on the squad make up and the fact Mellon is clearly pissed off. Whatever they decide I just want Mellon and board singing off the same hymn sheet. We can’t any more muddled decision making.

DR told us how it works- I think it was on the pod. It’s a vast database that allows you to quickly identify a position without needing to rely on scouting in the first instance. The club use it to generate a pool of possibilities and then the manager decides from that pool. (I’m presuming they then scout before the final decision) Mellon has said umpteen times- I know what a good player looks like. He keeps repeating it. He specifically said on Saturday- I know what a good player looks like, and I know where they are. The inference is he doesn’t want to choose from a pool. He wants his picks only. If we look at the last 18 months, it’s unbelievable how we’ve ended up here. Stats bomb can’t identify a right back. It only generates centre halves and strikers. Or It’s only been used for some players and not others- (could explain the tension between ST and Unsy) and that’s why we’re left with multiple players in some positions and the bare bones or none in others. The biggest learning lesson in the summer is this- Mellon and the board have to agree on the recruitment. Either back him to get who he wants, or get a head coach that will work within what the club wants to do. Because at the minute it looks like everyone is pulling in different directions.

He wasn’t talking Latics, he talking about the ratio of me and him agreeing or not over this season.

Makes sense if you’re on a good contract and other clubs won’t match it. Doesn’t make sense if you can play football elsewhere for the same money (loan club and Latics paying your wage) but would rather just train. That’s a very poor reflection on a player.

Players have no problem forcing moves when it suits them, they can’t whinge if manager doesn’t fancy them and it’s move on or just train. It’s the nature of football, and works both ways.

That’s not wholly true to be fair. (Not from my end anyway) He makes lots of points I agree with, and even if I don’t agree I enjoy the debate because he’s usually fair and balanced. In my view he’s to forgiving and understanding for the position we find ourselves in, he may think I’m to demanding and don’t accept the bigger picture enough. That’s life. It’s ok to disagree, be a bit boring if we agreed all the time.

Needs it’s own thread that one.

Exactly.

That’s fine- you are willing to be patient with the board and Mellon for the reasons you mention. I disagree with that, for the reasons I’ve said previously. I don’t want to be right, over the club doing well. If Mellon can sort it and the board get their act together - then happy days. We all want success. On the fans- I honestly believe we are no different to any other club. We sold over 4000 season tickets in the fifth tier. We have an expensive squad and a manager with a big reputation. We have won one game in 9 and seen our hopes not just dashed but completely shit on. Everybody is pissed off. I don’t condone the vitriol, and it’s not my bag but fans reflect society and everyone is different. I said this the other week, everybody- the manager, fans, board need a break from it all.

The defence would be helped if we played on the front foot more, we play 6/7 players defensively and invite teams on.

Quite. . and you did the exact same to me. Are you telling me that you don’t think you’re right as well. . of course you do. Which is fine. It’s the nature of debate- two opposing views who both think their view is the correct one. We agree on a lot of things, some things we don’t. That’s life.

Agreed.

Yeah, he doesn’t bring anyone up specifically to be fair. Although I’m not really questioning the interview - I enjoyed it, at least it showed he cared. I’m more looking at the impact on next season, and him looking in the mirror- because what he wants - he can’t have.

Didn’t he say Wingers have gone out of the game?

No, not at all. This squad is more than good enough to finish at least 7th. We’ve won 2 in 13. If we had won 3 or 4 in 13 we’d still be in with a shout. In my view- the squad has underachieved but Mellon is putting it all on the players (despite saying he’s not above criticism) he needs to look in the mirror over the summer and ask why they’re not interested in anymore- because quite simply we can’t sack 20 players.

Yeah, pretty much- which isn’t good for next season and getting the best out of those still here.

Come on Guy. The bottom line is, the players it would seem have no interest in playing for him at the minute. The players will ultimately be the ones who get us promoted, Mellon nor the fans can start a war with them. Otherwise we really are in big trouble. Mellon says- if you can’t change the player change the player. Then says - it’s really difficult because of the contracts. Which illustrates the point perfectly. He might as well say- I’ve tried, but they’re all shit, but I can’t move them on so god knows what will happen.

I agree with you from a professional pride point of view, it should be the case. But it’s just not the reality. There will be contracted players in that squad next season who we can’t shift and have been told they’re not good enough this season. If you were brought in to play after that- would you be at your best? The best case scenario is those players are at a minimum and aren’t involved in the match day squad. The worst case scenario is we still need some of them, because the budget won’t allow their replacement. Whatever happens in the summer, he needs to sit down with some players still here and make sure they’re on side. Otherwise they’ll just Jack it in again when things get tough, or he tell them some home truths.

A lot of this squad will be here next season, they will put it in for Mellon next season after he’s said they’re not good enough?

While I like his honesty- there does feel like a bit of retrospective arse covering Joe. These players that are so bad, had us 5th. They had top 3 form for a while. They had the best away form in the league for weeks on end. We didn’t hear any of this in Jan or early Feb. Did he perform a miracle from Oct to Feb?? I’m not having that a lot of them are now suddenly shit. He says he’s not above criticism, but doesn’t like direct questioning of his methods. . he has to reflect and ask why they’ve down tools on him. Because that’s exactly what’s happened, they don’t look interested. Remember - You do not have to be good to finish 7th. The worry is, he wheels and deals but the scars of this season and his approach with the players are still there. At no point can you sack a squad. The players will always win. If they stick with him, I think it could take two years to sort- and I don’t think the fanbase will have the stomach for it.