The positive in all this is (3 Viewers)
- Thread starter Otis
- Start date
Is it just me or if our all our players gave a crap and played well every game (rather than 1 or 2 if that) we really could go on an amazing run and still challenge. I mean has any team we played against actually been that good? I'm not trying to be a snob, just based on the 4 home games i've been to where the only reason we didnt win was because we were awful? It would be interesting to hear what people saw from the other teams while we've been away? It just seems for the 5-10 minutes (45 if its bury) where we play to our potential we look several leagues above anyone else but it is the other 80 minutes where we just shoot ourselves in the foot? There does always seem to be 1 team that is rock bottom by xmas but who still gets playoffs or promotion...maybe this is our season 
Otis
Well-Known Member
Yep,Stu. Needs a revival.
I and a few others others said in pre-season that the word from opposition fans and experts was that this league would be tougher than the Championship. I got shot down in flames for coming out with that and treated like I was some kind of nutter.
Some even thought we would go the entire season at home unbeaten .That's twice now and we haven't even won yet.
Hate to say it, but that 17 points already looks insurmountable. 17 points? That is scary. Maybe we can just settle for 17th place.
After all, we finished there often enough in the Championship. It's become like a favourite old sock.
I and a few others others said in pre-season that the word from opposition fans and experts was that this league would be tougher than the Championship. I got shot down in flames for coming out with that and treated like I was some kind of nutter.
Some even thought we would go the entire season at home unbeaten .That's twice now and we haven't even won yet.
Hate to say it, but that 17 points already looks insurmountable. 17 points? That is scary. Maybe we can just settle for 17th place.
After all, we finished there often enough in the Championship. It's become like a favourite old sock.
SkyBlue_Bear83
Well-Known Member
Still only 11 points off the play offs!
stupot07
Well-Known Member
athletic, hardworking, physical, mobile, strong, and do the basics well....thats what all the teams we've played so far had in common, not necessarily the most technically gifted but have had those attributes.
We haven't signed the right types of player for the league we're playing in.
We haven't signed the right types of player for the league we're playing in.
Otis
Well-Known Member
Exactly. Nail on head.
Every team we have played have worked hard, been disciplined and strong. Everyone been hard to break down and everyone has played at high energy and with spirit and desire.
Fair point, the solid teams we have played against were exactly that a solid team however you can also see why saints, sheff wed, leeds, forest all came back up relatively quickly. If you have all the above attributes and add a little quality then you can walk this league, the problem is we only seem to have the quality (sounds wrong but i know what i mean
)no mental strength definitely, when things get tough no one wants the responsibility of having the ball, we go back to Murphy and the defence and midfield ensure they cant receive a short ball so we hoof it up to a "50/50" which gets cleaned up by the opposing defence and we succeed in avoiding any responaibility.
hopefully robins can enforce more responsibility on individuals , but this means we could actually get worse until we find out who can and who cant accept it. and it will take time.
promotion? play-offs? lets get a win first eh.
hopefully robins can enforce more responsibility on individuals , but this means we could actually get worse until we find out who can and who cant accept it. and it will take time.
promotion? play-offs? lets get a win first eh.
Marty
Well-Known Member
I hate to say it again but, I told you so.
SkyBlue_Bear83
Well-Known Member
I don't buy into this the players are crap opinion, they are in a low place at the moment and need someone to lift them. I think we have a team and squad that will give all sides in this division a hard game. I think it is a self belief and confidence thing at the moment, the confidence is so brittle a little thing like a few misplaced passes and we are screwed. They need to get in a mental position so things like this will be water off a ducks back and when things are against us keep our heads up and confidence high
It's not that the players are crap but atm they are playing crap and probably because confidence is low but it also means they dont have great mental toughness otherwise it wouldn't affect them as much as it does. It does seem if we can get a scrappy, ugly win then things will pick up but it needs to be soon otherwise this season is pretty much over in terms of challenging for promotion
Marty
Well-Known Member
The wrong players were signed. We should have built a core of experienced league one players & then spent a bit more on some pacey wingers. As always the know it all's were out in force giving it the Baker will score 20 & Cody will have 50 by Christmas bollocks.
The comment wasn't aimed at you, more of an extension of what you put.
Oxon_SB
New Member
owch, confirming everything conneced to the club is cursed
Yeah Oxford fans are saying his head was turned by Cov... in the wrong direction clearly (so if it's true shows REALLY bad judgement). PUSB for once please!?!
stupot07
Well-Known Member
yeah me too, i said we have more in common with PNE who finished 17th than with those that have managed a top 6 finish at their first attempt and got slated for it.
I also said that i would have tried to get Doyle back, and got slated for it because he is a 'non-footballer':jerkit:
LJC_CCFC
Well-Known Member
The only team I have been impressed with this season is Crewe, they played us off the park. The football the other teams have played has been average at best, yet due to hard work, organization and game plans they have taken points of us. We have failed to do this so far, but with Robins at the helm he should be able to get the best out the players and see us get up the league. The performance today despite the defeat was an improvement on the other games and on another day we could of had 3 or 4. No team is going to run away with this league.
Bugsy
Well-Known Member
SkyBlue_Bear83
Well-Known Member
I would have had Doyle back in this league, would have been an ideal captain
Otis
Well-Known Member
To be honest i had no idea we were 17 points behind Tranmere until I checked the tables just before posting on this thread. Been so busy concentrating on the City's woes at the bottom that I've only been looking at that end of the table.
Was a real shock to see us 17 points behind 1st place after just 8 games. That is just incredible and also beyond belief.
Even those of us who said we could struggle would have never, ever predicted that.
Was a real shock to see us 17 points behind 1st place after just 8 games. That is just incredible and also beyond belief.
Even those of us who said we could struggle would have never, ever predicted that.
LJC_CCFC
Well-Known Member
Doyle was a fighter and gave his all but had no ability and was crap against us for Sheffield united.
stupot07
Well-Known Member
Definitely, in his two season in league one - promotion with Leeds and a 3rd place finish/play-off final. Thats the kind of experience we need.
stupot07
Well-Known Member
no he wasn't - he broke up play and gave Quinn and the other midfielders get on the ball.
LJC_CCFC
Well-Known Member
Wow it is like people forget how average he was for us, we have a carbon copy of him in Steve Jennings
stupot07
Well-Known Member
no i havent fogotten, but we're in a different league now if you hadn't noticed - horses for courses and Jennings is a poor mans version of Doyle.
SkyBlue_Bear83
Well-Known Member
It isn't his ability though, if you paid close attention to him in the Sheffield Utd game he was acting almost as an on field coach for Sheffield Utd. Sort of how Carsley was for us playing under Boothroyd.
Doyle rarely left his part of the pitch during the game but for 90 minutes was geeing up his team mates and constantly pointing an instructing to his team mates as to what they should be doing
I guess Kilbane was supposed to do something like this but so far has failed
LJC_CCFC
Well-Known Member
Yes, you are in fact mad and have forgotten how bad he was. Thomas, Henderson, Jennings all play in Doyle's position and are better than him. His best form for us was under Boothroyd when we knocked it long and bypassed the midfield. A 'leader' is not our main problem pace is, which was highlighted today by Carlisle's best player Danny Cadamateri. Hopefully Moussa will solve this problem and bring out the best in the other players
The worst thing about today was the players' inability to do the basics. Seriously worrying. All Carlisle did was pressure us high up the pitch safe in the knowledge that our players were unable to control the ball and pass it around in tight spaces.
I spend all week watching football from the Premier League, Serie A, Bundesliga, La Liga and Ligue Un, which just ends up making the lack of quality on display at the Ricoh on a Saturday really frustrating!
I spend all week watching football from the Premier League, Serie A, Bundesliga, La Liga and Ligue Un, which just ends up making the lack of quality on display at the Ricoh on a Saturday really frustrating!
Hopefully it is just low confidence that is causing the mistakes and if Robbins can instill some belief with a few wins then most of the mistakes will stop. However if we continue to lose every game then i imagine the mistakes will become even more common place
stupot07
Well-Known Member
Pace and leadership is our problem - tell me who the leaders are on the pitch because it certainly isn't Kilbane, and actually Doyle had a few good seasons with us - he provided a great foil for Wise when we had our highest Championship finish, and was instrumental in midfield when we had the decent run under Dowie.
Cadamateri not only provided pace he provided leadership and know-how. Jennings is not better than Doyle, and although i like Thomas neither he or Henderson are more effective than Doyle in the central midfield holding role.