So Do All Teams Need Time to Gel? (7 Viewers)

[smouch1975]

Spain didn't need time to gel. But nine of the starting eleven were from the same team.

Totally agree with everybody that has mentioned failure at the basics as reasons for a loss. Gelling won't come in 3 games. Passing a ball to your team mate comes at age 6

 

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[dongonzalos]

Spain didn't need time to gel. But nine of the starting eleven were from the same team.

Totally agree with everybody that has mentioned failure at the basics as reasons for a loss. Gelling won't come in 3 games. Passing a ball to your team mate comes at age 6

what loss..........

 

[smouch1975]

what loss..........

I'm not saying Cov lost, I'm saying poor execution of the basics will lead to a loss

 

[SkyBlue_Bear83]

You do need time to get to playing your best, regardless of this we should have enough to see off Bury on Saturday

It shouldn't take long though, 5 or 6 games. Remember a lot of our signings were made early season so have had most of pre season to play together

 

[shmmeee]

Some really silly comments in this thread. Different teams take differing amounts of time to gel. It's fairly obvious that there were a significant number of players in our last game who were not reading each other as well as you'd expect.

The other factor is that Thorn plays a slightly different system to most, what you think of that system is irrelevant, and players will take longer to learn the nuances of it than a straight 442 or 451.

The fact of the matter is the boo boys are looking to jump as soon as possible on Thorn, but going too soon does your argument no favours. We're a new team in a new division 10-15 games is a reasonable time to judge properly and if we're still looking then as we are now then questions need to be asked.

 

[Grendel]

Aren't doncaster new to this division?

 

[kg82]

It's like f*$king groundhog day on this site, it really is.

 

[ClarrieB]

It's like f*$king groundhog day on this site, it really is.

No, The Ricoh on a saturday is where you'll find groundhog day - no need to f*$king swear either

 

[ClarrieB]

A real manager once said "Football is a simple game made complicated by people who should know better."

 

[Nonleagueherewecome]

Well, haven't seen anybody yet saying "Lucky that Yeovil/Sheffield Utd haven't had time to gel or they'd have hammered us".

Plenty saying that we'd have done better against them if we'd had time to gel though.

Well that highlights nicely what I posted yesterday: in theory, as teams gell, the ones with the better quality (that's us apparantly) will gain more through gelling than the weaker sides. The early season period is one when the lack of familarity amongst players-at every club-acts as something of a leveller.

This is why for years you had Coventry City in the top 6 in August and September, but nowhere by seasons end: the lack of quality caught up with us as other teams settled down. It's why Hull & Blackpool didn't maintain their push for a place in Europe a few years back, whilst Man U and Spurs have recovered from poor starts that saw them in the bottom 3 in August.

Is it that bleeding hard to grasp?!?

 

[ClarrieB]

Well that highlights nicely what I posted yesterday: in theory, as teams gell, the ones with the better quality (that's us apparantly) will gain more through gelling than the weaker sides. The early season period is one when the lack of familarity amongst players-at every club-acts as something of a leveller.

This is why for years you had Coventry City in the top 6 in August and September, but nowhere by seasons end: the lack of quality caught up with us as other teams settled down. It's why Hull & Blackpool didn't maintain their push for a place in Europe a few years back, whilst Man U and Spurs have recovered from poor starts that saw them in the bottom 3 in August.

Is it that bleeding hard to grasp?!?

I can accept the 'need to gel' as an argument for being a little rusty but it shouldn't be used as a justification for failure when it's plainly a result of something else -I think that is what bother's some - it's when it is used as a way to prepare for acceptance of failure in the interim - Excuse makes always have a good one ready and I just think we will be getting a season full of them.

 

[kg82]

I can accept the 'need to gel' as an argument for being a little rusty but it shouldn't be used as a justification for failure when it's plainly a result of something else -I think that is what bother's some - it's when it is used as a way to prepare for acceptance of failure in the interim - Excuse makes always have a good one ready and I just think we will be getting a season full of them.

Nobody's using it as an excuse for failure. We haven't even failed yet, we're still unbeaten. If we're not doing well after 10-12 games then it may be time for someone else. But WHAT is wrong with seeing how it turns out while the team is getting used to each other? All the negativity, all the booing, all the morons giving players absolute crap after one poor touch or pass... It's boring, I hate it and it does nobody any good whatsoever. So I'll give it a bit of time, I'll let them GEL and I'll hope for the best.

 

[CCFC_Charlie]

Why is everyone acted like we've started badly? We haven't. We're finding our feet in a new league with a lot of new player and we haven't lost and have got a draw against the team favourites to win the league. Everyone is acting like because we haven't blitzed the first two games we're going to struggle. Where were Reading in November last season? How did Sheffield Wednesday and Huddersfield start last season? To use a horribly old footballing cliche - it's a marathon, not a sprint

 

[Grendel]

Why is everyone acted like we've started badly? We haven't. We're finding our feet in a new league with a lot of new player and we haven't lost and have got a draw against the team favourites to win the league. Everyone is acting like because we haven't blitzed the first two games we're going to struggle. Where were Reading in November last season? How did Sheffield Wednesday and Huddersfield start last season? To use a horribly old footballing cliche - it's a marathon, not a sprint

True but of course there are concerns after last season. Things that will have to be addresses are;

Away wins need to be achieved
We need to win games when we get ahead
We need to be fluid and play well for long periods not just 20 minutes per match

At the moment it is a new division but the same tactical errors and the same outcome.

 

[dongonzalos]

Aren't doncaster new to this division?

Yes and they couldn't beat York in 120 minutes of football, whilst we dealt with our opponents.

 

[CCFC_Charlie]

True but of course there are concerns after last season. Things that will have to be addresses are;

Away wins need to be achieved
We need to win games when we get ahead
We need to be fluid and play well for long periods not just 20 minutes per match

At the moment it is a new division but the same tactical errors and the same outcome.

I agree with you on those points but I still believe it is far to early to judge the team. From what I saw on both Saturday and Tuesday night we are very capable of being right up their but it's the stupid mistakes and the spells of poor play that our letting us down at the moment. If AT can get the team playing like they did for that 20 minute spell at the start of the second half on Tuesday I'll be very happy, whether he is actually capable of doing so is debatable.

 

[Grendel]

Yes and they couldn't beat York in 120 minutes of football, whilst we dealt with our opponents.

Weak lame response - I expect better from you.

 

[kg82]

Weak lame response - I expect better from you.

So a fact is now weak.

 

[dongonzalos]

Weak lame response - I expect better from you.

Ha ha, I am having an off couple of days at the moment.

 

[Grendel]

So a fact is now weak.

No the facts relate to League games - for all I know Doncaster fielded a weakened side against York - I cannot be bothered to look.

The only relevant starts are regarding the League which is why the attempt at diversion.

 

[kg82]

No the facts relate to League games - for all I know Doncaster fielded a weakened side against York - I cannot be bothered to look.

The only relevant starts are regarding the League which is why the attempt at diversion.

Well, I've given my answer to this subject. But we are still unbeaten after 3 competetive games, 2 of them being away. I'm hoping we'll build on that, starting with this weekend.

 

[Grendel]

Well, I've given my answer to this subject. But we are still unbeaten after 3 competetive games, 2 of them being away. I'm hoping we'll build on that, starting with this weekend.

Let's hope so. No point in not losing games. 1 point is better than 0 but not by very much. Could be unbeaten all season and relegated.

 

[dongonzalos]

I feel really good about the club as a whole at the moment.

I think we are a little rusty and will go from strength to strength as the season goes on.

I also think as you have previously mentioned we do now have one of the stronger squads. I think this advantage will come into play after Xmas.
I think other teams by then will be weakened where as we will be able to nearly replace like for like. Apart from a striker.

 

[Sick Boy]

Why is it this season in particular that we need time to 'gel'?

I have never heard it used as an excuse before?

Do some teams and players gel better than others?

 

[Grendel]

Do some teams and players gel better than others?

Those that don't have Thorn as manager.

 

[Mucca Mad Boys]

Why is it this season in particular that we need time to 'gel'?

I have never heard it used as an excuse before?

Do some teams and players gel better than others?

Because last season we signed 3 players, 2 GKs, and 1 striker, who didn't start the season... :facepalm:

So only Murphy had to 'gel', but GKs don't necessarily need to gel.

But this season we have signed 9 players, with apparently at least 1 more to come (McGoldrick/Trotta and Robinson?)

 

[Sick Boy]

Because last season we signed 3 players, 2 GKs and 1 striker, who didn't start the season... :facepalm:

How about other seasons? Just in recent years Adams & Dowie brought in around ten players at least, yet there was no talk of gelling then?

Gary Mac also basically had to sign an entire new squad, yet the infamous gelling was never cited as an issue then?

 

[SkyBlue_Bear83]

We need to be fluid and play well for long periods not just 20 minutes per match

A lot of games are very tight in football and it is hard to keep up a very high level of performance for a sustained periods of time. Nothing wrong with only having a 20 minute spell of playing very well as long as in the other 70 mins you are compact, keep concentration, do the basics right, tight at the back, don't make any errors and play efficiently
The problem is we are not this in the other 70 mins, we have lapses in concentration and make far too many errors and let the opposition take control of the game

Nothing wrong with playing average and matching the opponents performance for 70 mins and then going through the gears and upping our game for a 20 min spell where we dominate
However we play poor for 70 mins though and then well for 20 mins which is our downfall as we inevitably will concede a couple of goals when we are playing poorly

 

[Mucca Mad Boys]

How about other seasons? Just in recent years Adams & Dowie brought in around ten players at least, yet there was no talk of gelling then?

I remember seeing a headline of Adams saying we need 'gel' especially Bischoff and Ward at CB...

 

[Sick Boy]

I remember seeing a headline of Adams saying we need 'gel' especially Bischoff and Ward at CB...

Elliot did have a lot of hair to be fair.

 

[kg82]

Why is it this season in particular that we need time to 'gel'?

I have never heard it used as an excuse before?

Do some teams and players gel better than others?

Are you joking? You've never heard the term "the team needs a bit of time to gel" before?! Think you need to tap the mute button on your telly.

 

[Sick Boy]

Are you joking? You've never heard the term "the team needs a bit of time to gel" before?! Think you need to tap the mute button on your telly.

Of course I have, but never but never so much as this squad and this season.

 

[Nick]

If it was Dowie or Coleman it wouldn't be classed as an excuse. If it was Boothroyd people would laugh at it

 

[kg82]

Of course I have, but never but never so much as this squad and this season.

Do you not maybe think it's actually just been discussed to death on here, not actually mentioned by the manager or team any more than usual? Because that's what I think.

 

[Mucca Mad Boys]

Well that highlights nicely what I posted yesterday: in theory, as teams gell, the ones with the better quality (that's us apparantly) will gain more through gelling than the weaker sides. The early season period is one when the lack of familarity amongst players-at every club-acts as something of a leveller.

This is why for years you had Coventry City in the top 6 in August and September, but nowhere by seasons end: the lack of quality caught up with us as other teams settled down. It's why Hull & Blackpool didn't maintain their push for a place in Europe a few years back, whilst Man U and Spurs have recovered from poor starts that saw them in the bottom 3 in August.

Is it that bleeding hard to grasp?!?

Agreed, hopefully our 'superior' quality over most teams in the league will show in the next few games and beyond!

Wigan would've came runners-up in the prem that year they had Jewell in charge with Henchoz and De Zeeuw at the back!

True but of course there are concerns after last season. Things that will have to be addresses are;

Away wins need to be achieved
We need to win games when we get ahead
We need to be fluid and play well for long periods not just 20 minutes per match

At the moment it is a new division but the same tactical errors and the same outcome.

I'd agree with what you've said BUT at least we never lost away and have something to work on for the Crewe game... At least we won against D&R!

It's disappointing we've lost the lead 2/2 this season, but at least we're taking the lead so we have that to build on.

Also, that fluidity SHOULD (in theory, I'm not saying it will) come together as the season progress, in the next few games (before you say "30 games in?").