Shuffle

Staines play in same league as Guernsey & their captain is a mate. New chairman came in and stopped the budget and players left in droves.  They lost a couple of games 9-0 and he stayed as like every club he said there were some great people behind the scenes.  In essence it seems that a chairman has come in  & ruined a good club.  My mate finally left for Walton & Hersham but said the players will go back once chairman is gone.  Wonder whether there will be a club to go back to.

Thought he was very good yesterday as was the whole back 3.  What I did learn yesterday is that there is life without Kalas as thought we would struggle massively.  In fairness, that’s the tightest we’ve been for a long time & only 2 shots on target for WBA all game 

Any news on Kalas as was touch & go Saturday at Blackburn but omission from Czech squad suggests something longer term?

8 minutes ago, JoeAman08 said:

I agree with all of that. My worry is Pearson had the last few months of last season to assess the squad. With that in mind he signed King Simpson James Atkinson and Tanner. Now Tanner been injured so that has been unlucky. What have the 3 older players brought to the side?

James certainly tries to be an organiser but he doesn’t have the mobility needed for this level. So how much do you trade off for leadership? 
 

King I liked more than James but his body just isn’t up to it anymore. Ok so you say a punt to help here and there but think that has failed because he has been missing for far too many games. 
 

Simpson another punt who just did not work at all. Talk about dressing room influence but couldn’t last the season. That is not a good look for Nigel. 
 

Then we have Atkinson. Now unfortunately Baker’s injury I think thrust Atkinson into a situation he wasn’t quite ready for. I still think can be a good player. However, for a big lad, he isn’t really a big lad. He doesn’t play big which contributes to your point of not being able to win a header. Adding to that, he is quite slow on the turn. So that is a worrying combination and yet it is the example of the type of player Pearson will sign with some money behind him. So having no money to fix the entire squad is 1 thing but how has he spent the money he has had? Not very well and judging by his comments about Atkinson over the season, I think Nigel himself has been a bit surprised. 
 

I don’t want to come off as having a blind hatred for NP because I don’t. I think he came into a horrible situation. That said, think we needed(still need) someone fresher. I look at him in interviews and during the game. He is pretty calm. Now a calm head can usually be a positive but I get the feeling his heart just really isn’t in for the fight anymore.
 

Something isn’t working anyway. For all the situation, we don’t have back to back wins this season. We still concede the same type of goals. We still concede late often enough. Some of this will be the squad but the squad has enough about it to win 2 in a row or to have 3 wins and a draw in a 5 game stretch. Think the squad has been let down as much as NP has been let down by the squad

Got to say, I agree with this. The signings have been dreadful & the reluctance to sign a RB in January was negligent. The two best signings were already at the club in Weimann & Baker with the latter a huge gamble based on previous availability record.

I get he has slashed the budget but the inability to make us difficult to beat by tightening us up Is hard to believe. We are so easy to score against & whilst we are better going forward to his credit, the insistence on flogging Martin every week is bordering on plain stubbornness.

I was so excited by the appointment & whilst we can certainly be critical of Ashton and the Lansdowns for allowing the shit show that he inherited, in my opinion we should be doing better than we are. Maybe I’m blinkered as to how good some of our squad are but we could  be 5 points clear of drop zone on actual games played with 8 to go. Thank god for points deductions. 

I’ve stayed patient but don’t understand the free pass NP still gets. If we get another 6 points from last 8 I would be amazed & even more so given mounting injuries. 
 

Since Leicester, NP hasn’t achieved anything anywhere & if we could afford the change then I’d make it as don’t think he will here. 

2 hours ago, GrahamC said:

People keep saying this, but it is utter bollocks.

Han is 20, so if we offer him a new deal then we would be entitled to compensation for him even if he turned it down, because he’s under 24.

If he moved abroad does compensation still apply? Know it’s yes if he went to a team in England but thought it was free if abroad.  

4 hours ago, DaveInSA said:

Pearson just shoulder some part of the blame, ITO selection, tactics and formation.

But, the players aren’t mentally strong enough as a collective. We’ve seen it for 5 years now, since we famously bottled it in 2017/18. 

We have no leaders on the pitch.

We gift goals to the opposition.

We can’t defend a lead.

We literally fall to pieces at critical points in the game.

In my opinion supported by the above facts, we have several championship quality players but not a championship quality team.

And football is a team game.

and we have naff all money to fix it.

We still have no backbone, and teams know we capitulate.

We need at least 6 players in the off season. LB, RB, 2*CB, DCM, Attacker. All first team ready. All proven champ quality. Approx value 50m. Which ain’t gonna happen.

3 years is the project timeline. We’re 1 year in.  I expect consolidation in 2022/3. 

Top 8 in 2023/4.

Agree with most of this but the most depressing part of Saturday was that our spine featured experienced and capable championship players but they looked lost with what they were asked to do.  If you look at Sat we had Bentley, Klose/kalas, Williams/James, Martin/Weimann.    Add in our most talented players such as Scott/Semenyo plus JD that only leaves one you would say isn’t championship ready in Bell.   Am I kidding myself in that these players mentioned should be more than good enough to compete?  Are there really no leaders out of spine of team ? 
 

I’m not sure where the problem is and maybe I’m rose tinted about how good some of our players are but surely we should be doing better. Roll on 3 years as I’ve hated the last 2. 

Just now, Davefevs said:

Fair points made, but I honestly don’t feel Simpson’s salary for 5 months left stopped a loan signing in January.

Alex Scott is our best RWB anyway!

 

Alex Scott would probably be our best keeper too as he’s that good!

2 minutes ago, Davefevs said:

Or content to save money for the summer, hoping / knowing we won’t go down?

Not sure he can be content with the total imbalance we find ourselves with.  No idea of finances to do a deal but if we limp over the line to safety due to point deduction then surely it will impact season ticket sales, sponsorship opportunities, so  is it a risk worth taking?  Maybe content to save his own blushes in asking for extra funding due to wasted salary on Simpson.

1 hour ago, NcnsBcfc said:

Sorry i wasn't able to be on the pod today @headhunter. Was doing the English Taekwondo Championship in Worcester with the youngest one.

I said to @GrahamCbefore the game that this felt like a step too far for Bell. But in fairness, James was extremely culpable for the first goal; as was Semenyeo's marking for the second.

I thought Scott had a good second half (he obviously scored of course), as did JD for me over the course of the game.

The annoying thing was taking Scott out of the centre to correct the RWB situation. Lost that creativity, when he gets on the ball. James didn't look fit, and when asked to play the reverse sweeper role, you could just tell (unlike Williams against Boro) that it wasn't his game.

I also thought Atkinson played well on his return to action. Kalas had a bit if a nightmare against Chong's movement, and pace.

Does feel at the moment that the momentum of the home run has now been lost; and we are coasting towards the end of the season again.

Pearson's interview for me was a bit lethargic, aka "what can i say, that you haven't heard before from me?"

There's no point reading the riot act to the players. I'm sure they pretty much know the upheaval that's going to take place in the summer.

I completely agree with all the points made over our finances on other threads; but the RB scenario for me is a bit unforgivable, and was crying out for a loan in that area.

I know NP's views on bringing people in on the short term. But christ, we are playing a 19 year old forward there at the moment; or a LWB who is unfortunately very left footed. Whoever we got in, surely they would have improved our squad in that area.

Spot on & agree with all that. Thing for me is that post match NP says he wants to sign a RB in summer.  We are 33 days on from window closing so why the hell didn’t he address this in January as it was pretty obvious to everyone.  I’m not saying we could afford Christie who went on loan to Swansea but imagine how much better we would be if we had.  Surely there had to be a cheap loan of a RB who don’t cost the big bucks a striker would command. Bizarre all round.

3 hours ago, weepywall said:

Me too, I was in the Rovers end that night, not a pleasant experience to say the least, as you say, didn't have anything to celebrate and I managed to stay under the radar.

I was in the rovers end that night too & when Holloway scores pen you will see about 4 people on the fence not celebrate.  Didn’t know the others but we were all City. Worst part of night was leaving to be greeted by hundreds of city running everywhere shouting do him he’s gs as came from rovers end.  Wasn’t my best ever night has to be said but fortunately I knew a couple of lads who confirmed I was City.

Do you know what I’d have more respect if he actually admitted he got it wrong although he did say it was his team but blamed players for not covering Bell or doing their jobs.  We are where we are Nigel as you say all the time but you put us down a couple of places today.  If your going with a 4 go with 4 defenders.  If your going with a front sweeper then go with 3-5-2.   No mobility in midfield and James miles off it and missed energy of HNM whilst Williams offered little.  Then to compound it because of poor team selection he puts our 16 goal top scorer back to wing back. 
 

Now I can see progress but bar point deductions we would be right in the shit which is unacceptable.

They’ve all had a weeks rest so no need for burn out. Play your strongest 11 until we are mathematically safe plus we need to bounce back with a win after 2 successive defeats against a team who always win at the Gate.

The biggest issue I have with this podcast is the extremity in reactions. Play well and get a result then the world is good. Lose or play badly then the knives come out. Not sure how you can acknowledge progress one week and whilst it was shocking yesterday, this forum needs consistency (just like the team).  It’s a better listen if Neil or Fevs are on as both more balanced.

Sensational performance and for me is the first name of the team sheet.  Ran the game tonight and excels in whatever we ask him to do.  Let’s enjoy him while we can.

Am I missing something in that NP said himself that we’ve underachieved in terms of wins and points which we can all agree on. Aren’t NP & JL in essence saying the same things.  What have I missed other than the fact JL didn’t extol some of the positives that NP reiterated (namely young players).   

3 minutes ago, Davefevs said:

You have my support Shuffs!

Even with Vyner at RB in a Vyner / Kalas / Klose / Pring back 4 feels more solid.

How you play the “forward 6” is open to debate.

Kalas and Klose have played in back 4s the majority of their careers.

If Nige really feels that a back 4 (in probably a 433) is the way he really wants to go, I’d suggest doing that now.

Youd hope Williams can start on Saturday, and hopefully Massengo too with 6 days between games.

Front 6 of:

Scott / Williams / Massengo

Weimann / Semenyo / Wells

Not necessarily as a 433 but those 6.

That team certainly has a more solid feel to it and agree change needed 

The problem with 3-5-2 is that you usually have 3 defenders marking 1 and then not picking up runners and passing responsibility onto others.  Our WBs offer us very little and our 2 CM are often over run as Weimann is usually the most advanced of our players so in essence it’s 3-4-3. I’m still pissed off about yesterday as the game was there for taking but with injuries as they are do we have the players to adapt to 4-3-3 ?  Start of season we were always in games and appreciate injuries aren’t helping us. We cannot keep on playing 3-5-2 as in 10 of last 11 games we’ve conceded 2 or more.  Appreciate we are scoring lots more as the counter to this point and in fairness we look really threatening going forward but do we have personnel to change & indeed should we?   
 

10 minutes ago, leader said:

All I can add that it was a shambles inside the ground police and stewards not knowing what to do next 

Stewards were horrendous and after allowing people to sit where they want first half bizarrely tried to implement a sit in your seat policy for the 2nd half.  Why give yourself the grief & where’s the common sense ?

Not watched anything back other than live at the game but do pics 1 & 2 lead directly to the goal as all I can remember of the goal was a scuffed shot by Christie and Obafemi  running of the back of Vyner who had switched off for a tap in.  Get HNM going walkabout but lots happening after this if this is first goal.

2nd goal agree that The Swans player travelled a long way and Williams should have closed down the player but again the cross went a long way pass Klosse and Kalas and again hazy thought Christie reacted quicker than Pring (who was poor today)

3rd one thought Scott gave ball away & Vyner was too tame in attempt to win ball. Not sure what Kalas part was but again all from memory. Unlike PNE equaliser where he allowed his man to drop off for volley.

Overall, we have to do better collectively and so frustrating as a winnable game

18 minutes ago, Davefevs said:

If that’s a qualification to have an opinion at Championship level, then…no I don’t think he has for a centre-back. (And thanks too)

@Shufflewill tell you I wasn’t a dirty CB by any stretch (at all?), but I knew how to defend, I knew when to be physical, I knew the danger scenarios, and sometimes I’d wrap my arm around (not in a way to give away a penalty) my striker early in the phase just to keep him close to me or stop him darting across or in behind me.  Better 6 inches away from that 6 foot.  I played against players who everytime I checked my shoulder for where the ball was, that was when they moved.  So I’d rather keep them close to me, with a subtle protective arm limiting where they could move next.

I think Zak defends those situations in a very naive way for someone with so many games at this level.  Shame.

 

I can’t remember you being close to your centre forward !! All joking aside, you are right in what you are saying in that there is a time to be physical & close.

Vyner has no heart or desire & can anyone name one occasion where he’s either flattened  a forward in any game to let them know he’s about. He loses concentration every game & whilst I thought he did well on Wednesday he wants to get through games by nicking balls which is all well and good but not all the time. Times up Zak as you’re not learning from mistakes 

22 minutes ago, And Its Smith said:

Pearson says you cannot give players desire. I’d argue you can, it’s called motivating players 

 You’re a professional footballer & have you’re own pride in your performance to motivate yourself to win a game …… the manager can give you confidence but cannot give you heart and desire as that’s on you. I’m not Pearson biggest fan but he’s right on this !!

4 minutes ago, Curr Avon said:

O'Leary

Kalas  Klose  Pring

Weimann Williams Massengo Dasilva

Scott

Semenyo  Martin

Serious question but why would you play our 14 goal top scorer at RWB?

O’Dowda has all the attributes to be a top player in terms of he’s athletic, quick, decent in the air & there’s definitely a player in him.  However, how many chances can one player get and grown tired like lots of his “potential” transpiring to sub standard performances.  He’s no where near as bad as some make out but it’s time for him to be taken out of team and moved on in the summer.  Since QPR where he was very good in first 45 mins, every game since has gone around him and that happens too many times for our invisible man.

You just know he will go on and be a success elsewhere but happy after years of defending him for us to take that risk.

Personally wouldn’t move Kalas as removes his pace centrally that we need. No idea if Cundy is good enough & strange that he goes from playing sub to out of squad. Agree with changing to a back four though but personally would play Vyner RB & wouldn’t disagree with other proposed changes. 

Personally if Kalas is our problem then we are finished.  Has bailed us out on countless occasions and has at times been a one man defence trying to plug all the gaps across both a back 4 or 3.   Sure he makes the odd mistake But personally feel we would be screwed without him.  Is there better out there it has to be a  yes but he’s our best defender by a mile & better in a back 4.