Here is where we are going wrong

[Take That]

There are a number of very good reason why this team is not achieving what it should.

 

The 1st is how PD uses his squad. Just look at the following stats (The first column is total appearances, the second league and the 3rd cups. These are upto and including the Yeovil game and a total of 27 matches) and it is quite clear that he does not use any one but the golden 12 or as I dubbed them over the last few weeks the "12 apostles" and a total of 27 matches Basically 11 players have played at least 20 of 27 games. PD keeps telling us that the players don't do as they are instructed. So what does he do? He keeps playing them. When JYM was supsended he said he wouldn't walk straingt back in to the team and would have to earn his place back. What did he do? He put JYM straight back in. These players all know that when fit they play. He can say what he wants publicly but the truth is that the players know come what may they will play. Look at the names in the top 12. All brought in by the manager not 1 of our players in that list, yet how many games did Tarky, Mellor and Winchester play last season? Why are they deemed not good enough now if the manager isn't happy with his super 12?

7 Lee CROFT Striker 26 22 4

3 Jonathan GROUNDS Defender 25 21 4

16 Cliff BYRNE Defender 25 22 3

11 Cristian MONTANO Striker 24 21 3

5 Jean YVES MVOTO Defender 22 19 3

8 Dean FURMAN Midfielder 22 19 3

10 Robbie SIMPSON Striker 21 18 3

4 James WESOLOWSKI Midfielder 20 17 3

9 Matt DERBYSHIRE Striker 20 18 2

20 Jose BAXTER Striker 20 18 2

23 Reece WABARA Defender 20 18 2

14 Matt SMITH Striker 19 17 2

6 James TARKOWSKI Defender 12 9 3

22 Youssouf M'CHANGAMA Midfielder 11 9 2

2 Connor BROWN Defender 10 8 2

1 Alex CISAK Goalkeeper 9 7 2

28 Chris SUTHERLAND Midfielder 8 7 1

24 Connor HUGHES Midfielder 5 3 2

26 Carl WINCHESTER Defender 3 2 1

19 Daniel TAYLOR Striker 2 2 0

21 Kirk MILLAR Striker 1 0 1

25 Liam JACOB Goalkeeper 1 1 0

29 David MELLOR Midfielder 1 0 1

 

 

 

The second is that we are too defensive, yet PD says in public that we attack too much. His post match comments today are point in fact. In his interview he says "We left ourselves open through our over eagerness to get into the box. One or two ought to have sat back. "When you leave yourself open at the back against good players, they tend to pick you off which is what happened with the goal."

 

Well if having 3 shots on target in 90 minutes is going gung ho god help us when we go truly defensive as we ultimately will when panic sets in and relegation becomes a distinct possibility. The fact is that today we did have control of the game in terms of possession but we failed to hurt them. We came back well to get a deserved equaliser but when we failed to take advantage of that dominance we paid the price. The longer the 2nd half went on the deeper we dropped back. Doncaster made 3 very decisive substitutions. (We brought on Cristian Montano, for M'Changama.) The Doncaster goal was coming for at least 15-20 minutes. The truth is that unless we are losing, the full backs are are not encouraged to support their wingers. How many times have our wingers been double marked? Most of the time he won't let them go and they are "encouraged" to stay back. M'Voto & Byrne only go up for set pieces unless we are losing in the last 5 minuites or so when M'Voto is sent up (how many times has that worked?) Wesolowski sat nicely in that holding role nearly all afternoon. Doncaster had only 4 shots on goal in 90 minutes (3 on target) so how did we get caught Paul? The fact is we didn't get causght we sat back and invited them on and with their insistence on playing football rather than hoofball got their reward for dogged determination and being clinical where it matters.

 

In the last 5 months in 12 HOME league matches we have scored just 12 times failed to find the back of the net in 4.

 

The third is our coaching. When appointed, PD brought in GT as assistant manager and coach, Paul Gerrard as goalkeeping coach and Paul Butler as head of sports science (fitmess) whilst Lee Duxbury stayed with the reserves.

 

When the reserves played last week LD was ill so who took the team? The manager - No. His assistant? No. Our other ex pro goalkeeping coach? No. The answer is a fitness coach who I am unaware of ever playing the game at professional level. Who gives out the instructions to the players from the touchline when PD isn't? The coach? No it's the fitness guru with his clipboard. Where has the guy come from to be such a big part of the touchline team? Why is Paul Gerrard no longer on the bench? There have been changes that haven't been explained, but they do explain a lot about the problems we now have.

 

Most people I speak to say they like Dickov. He does come over well in his interviews and in the press and clearly has the ability to attract good quality players, but what he has supporting him is plainly inadequate and/or wrong and needs changing otherwise he won't be manager much longer. He needs an older head with him someone like a Peter Reid or Brian Horton (not saying it should be 1 of those 2 but I wouldn't object to either) The current set up is too negative and (1) the blinkers are on with the professional staff and (2) the unexperienced and unquallified one is not upto the job

Edited December 26, 2012 by Take That

[HarryBosch]

There are a number of very good reason why this team is not achieving what it should.

 

The 1st is how PD uses his squad. Just look at the following stats (The first column is total appearances, the second league and the 3rd cups. These are upto and including the Yeovil game and a total of 27 matches) and it is quite clear that he does not use any one but the golden 12 or as I dubbed them over the last few weeks the "12 apostles" and a total of 27 matches Basically 11 players have played at least 20 of 27 games. PD keeps telling us that the players don't do as they are instructed. So what does he do? He keeps playing them. When JYM was supsended he said he wouldn't walk straingt back in to the team and would have to earn his place back. What did he do? He put JYM straight back in. These players all know that when fit they play. He can say what he wants publicly but the truth is that the players know come what may they will play. Look at the names in the top 12. All brought in by the manager not 1 of our players in that list, yet how many games did Tarky, Mellor and Winchester play last season? Why are they deemed not good enough now if the manager isn't happy with his super 12?

7 Lee CROFT Striker 26 22 4

3 Jonathan GROUNDS Defender 25 21 4

16 Cliff BYRNE Defender 25 22 3

11 Cristian MONTANO Striker 24 21 3

5 Jean YVES MVOTO Defender 22 19 3

8 Dean FURMAN Midfielder 22 19 3

10 Robbie SIMPSON Striker 21 18 3

4 James WESOLOWSKI Midfielder 20 17 3

9 Matt DERBYSHIRE Striker 20 18 2

20 Jose BAXTER Striker 20 18 2

23 Reece WABARA Defender 20 18 2

14 Matt SMITH Striker 19 17 2

6 James TARKOWSKI Defender 12 9 3

22 Youssouf M'CHANGAMA Midfielder 11 9 2

2 Connor BROWN Defender 10 8 2

1 Alex CISAK Goalkeeper 9 7 2

28 Chris SUTHERLAND Midfielder 8 7 1

24 Connor HUGHES Midfielder 5 3 2

26 Carl WINCHESTER Defender 3 2 1

19 Daniel TAYLOR Striker 2 2 0

21 Kirk MILLAR Striker 1 0 1

25 Liam JACOB Goalkeeper 1 1 0

29 David MELLOR Midfielder 1 0

 

Damning this.

 

What most managers would give for such a settled first choice side.

 

Yet,...............

 

[Laticacid]

Couldnt agree more about using the squad, same players, same formation every :censored:in week, win lose or draw.

 

Mellor looked a genuine prospect last year, now for some unknown reason he doesn't get a look in, total joke.

Mvoto has cost us many points, needs benching , montano has been a liability at times, croft is fat, needs a rest every now and then, furman and wes have been shadows of the players from last season, and smith scored goals in the BLUE SQUARE NORTH , it ain't league 1, and ffs if he has to play , get some quality balls in the :censored:in box !!

Play brown, tarky , mellor, and give taylor Hughes n Winchester some game time , sick of seeing capable players play like :censored:e most weeks , in a rigid formation and not a real leader in site.

Dickovs squad, dickovs tactics , not good enough

[NJ33]

He needs an older head with him someone like a Peter Reid or Brian Horton (not saying it should be 1 of those 2 but I wouldn't object to either) The current set up is too negative and (1) the blinkers are on with the professional staff and (2) the unexperienced and unquallified one is not upto the job

 

 

i agree with everything till this point im sorry but on the other tougchline was dean saunders with less league experience than dickov and he did fine and last week was di canio, same applied the experience thing dosent wash with me any more

Edited December 26, 2012 by NJ33

[JoeP]

Couldnt agree more about using the squad, same players, same formation every :censored:in week, win lose or draw.

 

Mellor looked a genuine prospect last year, now for some unknown reason he doesn't get a look in, total joke.

Mvoto has cost us many points, needs benching , montano has been a liability at times, croft is fat, needs a rest every now and then, furman and wes have been shadows of the players from last season, and smith scored goals in the BLUE SQUARE NORTH , it ain't league 1, and ffs if he has to play , get some quality balls in the :censored:in box !!

 

I still think it's worth hanging on to Smith - he's still young, bound to be on very little wage-wise in comparison to others in our team and while scoring goals in the Blue Square North "ain't league one", he's shown an eye for goal in the lower leagues and with a bit of work could still transfer it to our level.

 

Have always said we should be playing the likes of Winchester, Mellor and Hughes when the "auto-starters" consistantly play badly.

[nava]

He needs an older head with him someone like a Peter Reid or Brian Horton (not saying it should be 1 of those 2 but I wouldn't object to either) The current set up is too negative and (1) the blinkers are on with the professional staff and (2) the unexperienced and unquallified one is not upto the job

 

 

i agree with everything till this point im sorry but on the other tougchline was dean saunders with less league experience than dickov and he did fine and last week was di canio, same applied the experience thing dosent wash with me any more

 

But surley they have yet to prove they need help as they are performing to their expectations whereas Dickov has failed to meet our expectations for the last 2 years and especially this season. Don't get me wrong I think we have to sack him but the whole coaching setup was wrong from the start, needed older heads not friends.

Edited December 26, 2012 by nava

[Laticacid]

Yep agree worth having in the squad, low wage, good attitude, but we must use his only real threat, in the air, and not flick ons that no one gets onto, but balls in the box for him to attack.

 

Not rocket science dickov .

[sykelatic1]

Paul gerrard sits with the subs on the bench every home game....he hasn't disapeared anywhere.

[Take That]

Paul gerrard sits with the subs on the bench every home game....he hasn't disapeared anywhere.

 

You are correct. He sits on the bench at the top of the tunnel with the subs. Until clipboard man (fitness coach to you and me) got his unannounced promotion, he sat on the bench at the bottom of the tunnel with the coaching staff. Why the change? Strange!

[sykelatic1]

Maybe to gain a slightly different perspective of the game ?

[rudemedic]

 

 

You are correct. He sits on the bench at the top of the tunnel with the subs. Until clipboard man (fitness coach to you and me) got his unannounced promotion, he sat on the bench at the bottom of the tunnel with the coaching staff. Why the change? Strange!

Sit next to the sub goalie, perhaps. It was obvious that when Simpson had to go in goal Gerrard was very pro-active in helping him change positions. Think he is the only one of our coaching staff for the first team who most of our fans want to stay.

[Take That]

Maybe to gain a slightly different perspective of the game ?

 

That is not what has happened. LD who used to sit on the bench now takes a seat up in the directors box to "get a different perspective" PG sits with the subs as opposed to being involved on the touchline with the manager and coach whilst PB struts around with his clipboard more involved than GT. Can you explain why PB has so much involvement when he was employed as a fitness coach. He has no experience in professional football except for the 1st two seasons here as a fitness coach under PD and now half a season as 1st team coach.

[ChrisA]

He's doing his coaching badges isn't he? We are his project.

 

Interesting CV.....

Edited December 27, 2012 by ChrisA

[mcvitieman]

 

 

That is not what has happened. LD who used to sit on the bench now takes a seat up in the directors box to "get a different perspective" PG sits with the subs as opposed to being involved on the touchline with the manager and coach whilst PB struts around with his clipboard more involved than GT. Can you explain why PB has so much involvement when he was employed as a fitness coach. He has no experience in professional football except for the 1st two seasons here as a fitness coach under PD and now half a season as 1st team coach.

we as just fans who pay the players wages etc should not ask why the players and managment are not doing the job they are paid to do or ask why they under achieve but I suppose when they have our money it's ok

[JonesyOAFC]

we as just fans who pay the players wages etc should not ask why the players and managment are not doing the job they are paid to do or ask why they under achieve but I suppose when they have our money it's ok

Who exactly are you arguing with? Nobody is stopping you voicing that opinion whatsoever.

[sykelatic1]

How many people/voices do we need on a bench? If everyone sat on ours we would have 6 people including the physio! We would have to get a longet bench - think of the budget!!;)

[doctor evil]

So who is this Dude then?

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Butler_(footballer_born_1972)

[rudemedic]

So who is this Dude then?

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Butler_(footballer_born_1972)

He's the chief scout- someone who is probably doing quite a good job