tin

9 hours ago, W-S-M Seagull said:

With Conway now back in the fold I think we should go back to having 2 up top. Conway and Cornick/Wells would be a right handful for teams. 

But would a central midfield of James and Knight be strong enough? 

With Bell and Sykes starting off from a deeper position than they would in a 433 that not only provides more defensive cover but on the attack it gives them a lot of space to run in to. 

Worth giving it a go? 

I think, yes, in a few weeks’ time we could play 4-4-2:

Max; Tanner, Vyner, Naismith, Roberts; Sykes, James, Knight, Pring; Wells, Conway. 

There’s a nice balance and a real threat about that XI.

26 minutes ago, Chivs said:

A new manager.  No idea why people like "Nige" so much.

New owners are a much bigger priority than the manager IMO. 

21 hours ago, Davefevs said:

@headhunter started a thread, based on the question….or are we happy to tread water in the Champ.

Yes, staying in the Championship is not what I aspire to…but that assumes we have some semblance of investment from whoever is in charge.  I want promotion, or at least a tilt at it, because it’s not easy to achieve.

If we are now expected to be sustainable / profit making, the answer is very different.

“We” being the Lansdowns? The answer is blatantly no. If they were serious about promotion, they would have spent the last two decades getting their ducks in row to ultimately create a winning environment — and that goes beyond bricks and mortar. 

It means having the humility to hire people in senior positions who are, or have the potential to be, better than you; who can challenge your opinions freely and openly, and drive success. It means having a culture where people can be the best they can be in every department everyday, from the ticket office and the marketing team to the branding and kit deals that impact on how we are perceived. 

Things like that would help to make us PL-ready off the pitch, and the sad reality is we could not be further from that if we tried. I’d even go as far to say we’re getting increasingly amateur off the pitch and the irony is, IMO, that things are moving in the right direction on the pitch, even if that is slow progress because of the unnecessary austerity imposed on the manager. 

1 minute ago, pongo88 said:

I was about to make these comments about the left back / left side problems as I’ve always thought that Pring would make a good left sided midfield player. If he moved to left midfield with Roberts at left back it would strengthen the defence when the opposition attacks and give an added bit of energy in midfield when City attack. 

As for Naismith, he obviously has skill but, IMO, he lacks the pace, physicality and mentality, to produce a consistent performance. He looks good when not under pressure but when the crunch comes I’m sure he gives a lot of supporters the collywobblefications 

I’ve always thought Pring’s best position is LW, but I think we currently lack a No.9 or someone (Sykes?) gambling to get on the end of his deep crosses which are often to the far post. I think we’d be better defensively from that side if we made that change and that in turn would help Naismith is he has to play CB. 

I would bench Bell to accommodate Roberts, which might be harsh, but I think he offers little defensively and still has spells where he’s anonymous for large periods. That a different debate, though. 

40 minutes ago, redapple said:

If I wasn’t such a lazy bar steward I could have written that myself. 
And I thought Sam Bell put a very half hearted effort into tracking back and preventing a cross on Stoke’s first goal. 
But I was a lot like Bell and Naismith in my playing days . So can’t criticise too much . But I hope NP does ! 

I suspect we would be stronger down that left side with Roberts at LB and Pring further forward. 

As for Naismith, I think he’s better in midfield but until Atkinson’s fit, Roberts is the only CB alternative. Other than that, it’s the academy boys. If only we had some cash to address that lack of strength in depth!

I like Naismith; his vision and ability to pick a pass is essential. But he’s a costly mistake waiting to happen at CB and it’s pretty clear Vyner was mopping up behind him as well.

25 minutes ago, 1960maaan said:

Well that is quite a ridiculous statement. 
Do you seriously think they went to architects and asked for a " prawn sandwich atmosphere " please ? They upgraded the Dolman ( too expensive to replace ), made a much bigger version of the Williams and built a new "bank" on the East End. It was done like that because they were stitched up with Long Ashton, we weren't supposed to be here remember.
If they fill in the corners it may help, but many new stadiums  struggle. I remember many didn't want a bowl, they wanted 4 stands, we have that and sadly the acoustics aren't perfect. We are where we are due mainly to circumstance, not some cunning Lansdown plot to make the Gate some sort of Library selling aquatic crustaceans.

It’s an opinion, one I’ve held for a while; I might’ve exaggerated it a bit but it’s not a ridiculous statement at all.

Put it this way, I don’t think acoustics were even on the list when they went to the architects and I know they’re not bothered at all about situating ‘singers’ near away fans to generate vocal support. They clearly wanted a different demographic of fan with the redevelopment IMO and I don’t think that would’ve been any different if we were at Ashton Vale. 

Sat in the Dolman again today, I heard sod all for most of the game, tried to change it, and found it disappointing again. 

16 minutes ago, redkev said:

It’s a double edged sword really , we should be singing and dancing in the isles so to speak after going 2 up but after the last few years of piss poor home form the fans have no confidence that we can hang onto a lead no matter how well we play , even Plymouth when we were 3-1 up with only 15 mins left to play and being pretty much in control you could sense the edginess even then . 
tbf we have played worse than today and won 

Totally fair points, Kev.

1 minute ago, pongo88 said:

Don’t blame the fans for the player’s’ performance 

I didn’t, Wise Old Elf! 

7 minutes ago, Mr Popodopolous said:

Was oddly passive. That is on the fans somewhat really.

It always is nowadays IMO. The old Gate was far better for atmosphere. 

Listening to Paul Barber, the Brighton CEO, in the week, he mentioned making the most of the atmosphere in the ground as a key consideration. The people running our club could not give less of a shit about that IMO. It’s all about treating us as customers. 

43 minutes ago, CrackingCheeseGromit said:

Has to be said, that was the worst back pass seen at  The Gate since Ray Atteveld on his debut I think. I haven't seen a striker with so much time to pick his spot for years.

You’ve forgot Sean Dyche vs Preston in ‘97 then? 

46 minutes ago, OddBallJim said:

As a ST holder, who struggles to make it to away games, the biggest frustration is that under NP we have still not been able to make AG a fortress. 
 

To those who get the pleasure of watching us win on the road I salute you. But FFS I am pissed off that we can’t make more of our games at AG.

 

I don’t think the Gate will ever be a fortress. The board wanted a watered down, prawn sandwich atmosphere and that’s what they’ve got IMO.

The atmosphere affects the players. Today it should’ve been bouncing after going 2-0 up and instead it was pretty passive as usual. 

31 minutes ago, Bodiesaffer said:

Agreed, however I don’t want to risk Conway having another set back.  

If he’s fit enough to be on the bench, he should be fit enough to play longer than the few minutes he did. If he’s not 90% fit, he shouldn’t be on the bench IMO. 

I thought both Tanner and Sykes looked to be carrying knocks, which isn’t ideal when we have two more games in quick succession. Whoever made the subs chose to roll the dice and it backfired; it happens.

I’d have like to have seen Conway earlier and alongside Wells, but we didn’t lose because of the strikers or the subs IMO. We gave away some shite goals and were lacking in quality and game management. 

57 minutes ago, tin said:

We deserved to lose that, but it’s so painfully clear we are bloody desperate for some real quality to make a tangible difference in games like these. 

When’s even a small portion of the nest egg going to be made available, Steve? You talk about PL but that will never happen if you don’t win games like that, and a bit of quality is the difference. 

Meant to say, “we didn’t deserve to lose that…”

We deserved to lose that, but it’s so painfully clear we are bloody desperate for some real quality to make a tangible difference in games like these. 

When’s even a small portion of the nest egg going to be made available, Steve? You talk about PL but that will never happen if you don’t win games like that, and a bit of quality is the difference. 

1 minute ago, And Its Smith said:

Bit of finesse to go with it would be lovely 

Some of the Scott money could’ve bought one or two players with a bit of finesse, mind. 

2 minutes ago, Offside said:

I’d say 1988-89 season. I remember the criss-cross design of the programme. Later that season we signed Super Bob Taylor  

I’ve got no memory of that game, though. Presumably it was the Robbie Savage playing for them? And the Trevor Morgan who once played for us?

No, it’s wasn’t the Robbie Savage; he never played for Bolton and didn’t make his debut until the mid-90s. 

On 26/09/2023 at 11:35, W-S-M Seagull said:

I don't know if you've seen this, but if you haven't it is well worth a watch! 

Watching that highlights to me how far away off the pitch we are of being a premier league club. We need someone just like Paul Barber, instead we choose to get rid of the CEO role. 

Thanks for sharing that, what an insightful watch. 

For me, how they approach things - from ticketing to atmosphere, succession planning to the boardroom and much more - is poles apart from how we do things. And it only reinforces my view that we will achieve nothing under the Lansdowns unless we are very lucky or they copy Brighton’s approach (not that I’m advocating copying anyone). 

31 minutes ago, Barrs Court Red said:

Waiting for Stoke having a quiet drink outside the Ship and Castle, I seem to remember fireworks being thrown as they passed.  I also remember it because the police rocked up with dogs, and these weren’t the German Shepherd types I was used to, but big Dobermans* - never seen so many blokes take a step back so quickly.

 

*could have been something else, it was a long time ago now. 

Just looked it up, I think that was in March 2000 - 23 years ago! I remember those big bastard dogs as well while also having a quiet drink out the front of the Ship that night!

23 hours ago, redkev said:

Bet he was looking forward to getting back to his parent club ( wherever that may be ) 

1. it has to be the coldest ground ( along with Oldham ) that I have been to 

2.Stoke compared to a lot of other places I have visited ( work related ) is a shitehole ( as is Hull & Boro )

I can vouch for it being cold up there as I recall freezing my nuts off when Tinnion scored from the halfway line many years ago. What a goal that was, mind.

I’ve never had any time for Stoke. The LDV Final, bottles flying outside the Ship and Castle, scrapping before we lost up there under GJ. Horrible club in a hovel. 

17 minutes ago, OddBallJim said:

I have to agree. He hasn't looked up to it so far this season. I'm wondering if this is one season too far at this level for him. 

He’s worked hard with little reward, but I’ve never been convinced playing as the lone striker gets the best out of him. Put him alongside Conway again and he would be back on the goal trail. I doubt that’ll happen though as it’d involve reverting to three at the back in all probability. 

15 minutes ago, E.G.Red said:

I think Phil Alexander in his interview said that we had already committed  money from the Scott deal before he actually left. 

 Which was complete bullshit. 

34 minutes ago, Sleepy1968 said:

He needs to start showing some composure on the ball. Got into a couple of good positions in the box, but seemed to rush/mishit the final pass/shot

I'd have expected him to have calmed down a bit by now.

Are beta blockers legal for footballers to use? Can he practice some zen meditation?

He’s just turned 17, Sleepy, and has plenty of scope for development to come both physically and technically. If SL had spent an iota of the Scott windfall, Yeboah probably wouldn’t have the chances he’s getting now but we are where we are and his raw effort can’t be questioned. 

Another honest, hardworking shift from us, but the gulf in class is as wide as anything I’ve seen at this level. That’s what we get if we shop in the lower leagues, though - plenty of graft but we fall massively short in quality against the best teams. 

1 minute ago, Alessandro said:

Tough game, would be happy with a draw.

I think one of the things that has concerned me defensively is the ease at which teams have been able to play through the middle of us at times this season - players sitting on the shoulder of the CB’s, not enough cover in CM and one pass splitting Vyner and Naismith open. Saw it vs. Plymouth, Hull, WBA, Swansea even.

Felt like we’ve been getting away with it though: Max with good saves, massive last ditch challenges or the player missing the target.

Vardy and Leicester will be all over that today if we let them.

That’s how I see it, too.

We’re going up against a team with way more quality, compared to Plymouth, Swansea, Hull and West Brom, and we will have to be at our defensive best today to get anything.

A proper test against a team of real PL quality, IMO, although I think today is a bit of a free hit as the pressure’s off us. It will be a good test to see what we’re made of.