In the games we've played we've been close. It's a question of just how close we could and would be if we had someone up there to put them away on a week in/week out basis! The signs are that we need to score more goals. If we can crack that, then I think we'll be okay.
I thought just as much as anyone, that we could be in trouble yesterday against a strong Middlesbrough side. However, like in every other game of the season so far, we have been in the game and we got our second point on the board. The following reasons I see to be positive at present. I have listed them in order of importance:
- We have not been heavily beaten yet despite playing against some really good sides, with only some errors costing us. We can erradicate these.
- The young players are getting better and more experienced as each game passes by, Conor Thomas getting into the squad yesterday could be excellent for him and us. If they are good enough they are old enough.
- We have a 2 week break to get the key players as near to full fitness as we can, hopefully a few of them ready to return in the next game against Derby.
- We probably do need to sell to buy and if that happens, so be it. Even the biggest clubs lose their best players, all we can hope for is that the funds are re-invested into the playing squad.
The takeover has NOT gone through, however it may not be the end of long drawn out takeover talks, but it is evident that SISU want to get the club into the best shape that it can in order to make it more marketable and recoup the max that they can in a sale. Lets leave them to it, concentrate on supporting Andy and the lads and the club staying in the division. Admin and liquidation are not going to happen under SISU, if it was going to, it would have already happened. It has been well documented the money they are losing every month. Some business plan is there, sadly though it is not one that involves us getting back into the Premier League at this point.
Anyway I am going to be positive as it has been too tough dealing with all the negativity. I can't remember what it feels like to sign an outfield player but hopefully that is not too far away.
PUSB!
- We have not been heavily beaten yet despite playing against some really good sides, with only some errors costing us. We can erradicate these. - True, but there have been many a side who has gone down playing reasonably good football and kept getting beaten by the odd goal
- The young players are getting better and more experienced as each game passes by, Conor Thomas getting into the squad yesterday could be excellent for him and us. If they are good enough they are old enough. - Play the kids too much and there is a chance of burn-out. Kids will make mistakes. Part of their natural development. Are the kids able to stand up and be counted and have the experience to play in front of a hostile crowd such as Millwall on a cold wet Tuesday night when a goal behind? Playing kids is fine, but experience is also very, very much needed.
- We have a 2 week break to get the key players as near to full fitness as we can, hopefully a few of them ready to return in the next game against Derby. - Deegan? Been nothing but injured since he's been here. Clive Platt?Most would believe he is not the answer. Turner? Looks like he's gone. Clarke? Any better than Christie? McPake? any better than what we already have playing? Eastwood? Possibly yes, could be a boost to the squad. And besides, do you think these players are going to come back and us not suffer any further injuries to any other player?
The squad is too thin and it will kill us come the end of the season.
Nice to have optimism but I feel that your optimism is rather blinkered and there is a harsh truth out there that needs to be addressed. We are about 5 players short of being able to survive the season. These kids are not going to keep us up. Do you honestly, hand on heart believe that any of these kids playing at the moment would have got a look-in if we had more players and bigger squad? Maybe one of them tops.
Hate to break it to you but we WON'T be getting 5 new players in, and young players will be featuring right through, so it's sink or swim. And so far they are certainly not sinking. These guys well deserve their places in the team.
Granted the players coming back are not necessarily a whole lot better than what is there, but competition for places can only be a good thing. Makes the players on the pitch work harder to keep their place in the team, and gives Andy some options off the bench.
Why do you think that the newly promoted teams tend to do very well when they get promoted. Top class players? Parachute payments? Lots of money invested? Perhaps money invested but most importantly it is momentum and belief in the team and each other. They have tasted success and only want more. If Andy can get that belief in our team, and we start putting a few more chances away, relegation is not going to be the end result this season. Injuries have been really hampering us however and I see this being a huge problem. Because as you said we are already some way short in numbers, combine that with injuries and we do have problems but we know that SISU's budget is not good enough and it is making it a struggle. There is no doubt about that.
I cannot see Juke getting 15 goals this season, we just simply do not have the creativity. Both of his goals have been scrappy but good goal poaching goals but apart from this i dont think we have really threatened anyones goal this season which is a huge concern. The positives is that we are not leaking them in left, right and centre but we cannot rely on the odd goal and the league does not lie. Totally agree with Dar (and most of the forum on this subject), we need a striker urgently but we simply cannot pay the bills.
Cheers The Snoz. Nice to see that my thread has for the best part, remained a sensible exchange of views between passionate Sky Blues fans. Far too much negativity going around. We are not in a good league position but we are not getting hammered every week. Not having much luck either, and the last 5 mins of every game epitomises "squeeky bum time".
I think that due to the fact that the Andy Thorn brand is being played week in week out and the goals are not coming, the pressure is building. We don't know how many goals the team are really capable of scoring until we get a win or two on the board and we can see players playing with a little more confidence. Baker just looks like a bad footballer. Thorn saw something more than that from him before. The like of Juke or Eastwood, possibly McSheffrey really need to start giving the team a lift by getting on the scoresheet and if we can continue to limit the amount of goals conceeded, we might do ok. Silly errors must be cut out and we must be a little calmer on the ball. They are getting impatient as they are probably starting to doubt if we can score at all. I think along with a striker, we are craving someone who will take the ball from Gael or Clingan, turn around and look FORWARD. No use in Juke running all day if the majority of the time his runs are wasted. Same goes for ROD. PUSB
I know I'm just repeating what so many others have said, but if the board can't see that a small investment in two key areas, an experienced and creative midfielder and a goal scorer, are not essential they are incompetent. It could turn things around overnight. Bring some hope in.
Doubt very much Freddy is going to do it now, after three years. Time to move on.
We've got to take these kids on board. Birmingham fans are getting excited about Redmond aged 17. We should be doing the same over Christie, Bigi and Conor Thomas. Christie, to me, has been a revelation.
Andy Thorn is capable of being our best manager in years. Got to say I'm surprised at how he likes to play, given his Crazy Gang background, but I prefer the ball on the ground. Nice one Andy. But his position is like Harry Houdini, he's padlocked in a box, gagged, feet tied, arms tied, and he has to try and get out of it. We know who the culprits are. Up til 11pm on Weds will be interesting.
A good few frank exchanges there. I think the most obvious thing you are all missing is that in this league there are teams better than us and teams worse than us. We are certainly far from the worst. If any one doesn't believe me then go carefully and study each squad as I did before the season began and you will realise that overall we are not so badly placed both on paper and in reality on the pitch at any one time. Really!
As this thread began with....we all did not expect anything at the Boro' yet we did. There will be a lot more games this season that will be a lot easier than that one for sure. Relegation fodder? Not a chance.
hows this for "being positive"
Selling Turner could ensure we have enough money for another month or two
hows this for "being positive"
Selling Turner could ensure we have enough money for another month or two
Brand Thorn is doing OK - it makes a change for the fans not to be on the managers back.
Juke should start scoring more ~ ROD - I have my doubts, Freddie - well I've always been a fan - but we need it now. Midfiled ? We need someone to be picking up off Juke - he needs an understanding with someone, and Freddie has always shown a sniffers eye for the goal. I still think he's our best bet for a 20 goal man - with the right partner.
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