"Didn't turn up" performances - the history

[Olé]

It's a commonly held view that the quality of our football has been getting worse "for a few years" and we seem fairly regularly simply "not turn up".

We can all think of games that fall in this category - the absolute stinkers - but I thought it would be interesting to see the actual frequency of them.

This is partly subjective, partly statistics - so you can take your pick. Below is our last 5 seasons, with rows for shots on target and goals conceded.

I chose those as in it's basic form not turning up for me is being a non-existent attacking threat, or conceding too easily, or a combination of the two.

But I've also overlaid my own memories from truly dire fixtures (the scores in black) which to me were the absolute embodiment of us not turning up. 

You can argue the toss on those, I imagine I've probably been a little bit more generous than others would have been, calling out only the truly worst.

 

Nothing here particularly surprises me - however it bears out that the football has got much worse, and Holden looks in more trouble than I'd realised:

• The 3-4 occasions per season in earlier years with our team simply not turning up is probably about right for an ultimately mid-table club
• Last season was much worse for these non-existent displays (at least 7 in my memory - others might say more towards end of LJ's reign)
• You can also see consistent decline in shots on target relative to our prior seasons too - that feeling there is nothing to get excited about
• Shots on target is now consistently at its worst ever now, and "hit rate" of not turning up in Holden's recent run eclipse anything in the past
• I've selected 22 stinkers in 5 years and over 200 games. 12 of them are more or less in the past 12 months. 5 of them in the last 11 games

[Bassomylord]

In our last 19 games we have had 4 or more shots on target 3 times. Dreadful.

[Red-Robbo]

2 minutes ago, Olé said:

It's a commonly held view that the quality of our football has been getting worse "for a few years" and we seem fairly regularly simply "not turn up".

We can all think of games that fall in this category - the absolute stinkers - but I thought it would be interesting to see the actual frequency of them.

This is partly subjective, partly statistics - so you can take your pick. Below is our last 5 seasons, with rows for shots on target and goals conceded.

I chose those as in it's basic form not turning up for me is being a non-existent attacking threat, or conceding too easily, or a combination of the two.

But I've also overlaid my own memories from truly dire fixtures (the scores in black) which to me were the absolute embodiment of us not turning up. 

You can argue the toss on those, I imagine I've probably been a little bit more generous than others would have been, calling out only the truly worst.

 

Nothing here particularly surprises me - however it bears out that the football has got much worse, and Holden looks in more trouble than I'd realised:

• The 3-4 occasions per season in earlier years with our team simply not turning up is probably about right for an ultimately mid-table club
• Last season was much worse for these non-existent displays (at least 7 in my memory - others might say more towards end of LJ's reign)
• You can also see consistent decline in shots on target relative to our prior seasons too - that feeling there is nothing to get excited about
• Shots on target is now consistently at its worst ever now, and "hit rate" of not turning up in Holden's recent run eclipse anything in the past
• I've selected 22 stinkers in 5 years and over 200 games. 12 of them are more or less in the past 12 months. 5 of them in the last 11 games

 

I've got a terrible memory for individual games.  

But I've read your posts enough to trust that you have indeed selected 22 of the worst stinkers in that time.

It's a shame you don't go back further, because one I do remember - my personal nadir - would be SOD's penultimate game. A 0-1 home loss to an equally inept Sheffield United side that is historic for me as it is literally the only live football match I've fallen asleep during.

I think I dozed for about five minutes before waking with a start and asking the guy next to me "did I miss anything?".  "No" was the inevitable reply. 

[Alessandro]

A bit subjective, as you say, but we’re potentially looking at passing last seasons number of ‘black games’ in the next 4 up looking at the fixtures and there is still another 14 games to play after that. 
 

Memory plays funny tricks on us, and this is a good visual side by side comparison. The trend certainly looks backwards.

[Numero Uno]

4 minutes ago, Bassomylord said:

In our last 19 games we have had 4 or more shots on target 3 times. Dreadful.

Assuming you’ve got that correct it’s worse than dreadful and you can’t defend it. I say this all the time but football for me is more than just a result, there has to be some excitement and entertainment imo. Being the plucky underdog is all well and good but for months on end? Nah, that’s not football I want to watch. But as I also say this runs a lot deeper than the current Manager and to see him cop the lot just seems plain wrong in my eyes.

[cidered abroad]

I remember away at Grimsby when Osman was manager. Miserable performance and when Wayne Allison hit our first shot on target after 83 minutes, a screamer from 25 yards that bounced at least six times before it reached the keeper, we all went delirious.

Much to the disgust of Osman! A classic case of "not joining in to the match".

[Davefevs]

Geek!!!

I suspect you’ve been a tad generous in your definition of “stinker” too.

Last season (19/20) was the culmination of something I saw from West Brom (a) the season before (18/19), which showed a complete change of emphasis to the way we played.  It involved Marlon Pack becoming a screen to Webster and Kalas and having little involvement in later phases of play.  It massively stifled us with the ball, as well as make it easy for opponents to nullify us.

Results eventually caught up with us, and then when we sold Pack last season Johnson couldn’t find a way to get us back on track despite trying different systems and lots of personnel changes.  It proved to me he wasn’t quite the “tactical genius” he’d like us to think he was.

He (and not forgetting MA) has left us with an unbalanced squad.  You know I’m not big on formations, but although Holden started successfully with his 352, that I really liked, it is a bastard to recruit towards,  plus is a million miles away from any back-four based solution that you may temporarily change to in game, or for the odd “horses for courses” match-up.

In moving away from 352, Holden has shown the weakness in the squad, forcing players to play out of position.  I’m glad, short-term Lansbury signing aside, that he didn’t bring anyone in.  That includes a LB too, because short of finding a loan, bringing in a perm signing would be reckless.

In summary, there is no effin’ plan....and it shows.

[Red-Robbo]

2 minutes ago, Numero Uno said:

Assuming you’ve got that correct it’s worse than dreadful and you can’t defend it. I say this all the time but football for me is more than just a result, there has to be some excitement and entertainment imo. Being the plucky underdog is all well and good but for months on end? Nah, that’s not football I want to watch. But as I also say this runs a lot deeper than the current Manager and to see him cop the lot just seems plain wrong in my eyes.

 

This is it, isn't it.

Although I always want us to win, I've even enjoyed some losses where we were going for it but beaten by the better side.  Hell, even some 0-0s can be entertaining.

Not being able to keep the ball up outside our half; constant errors; no discernible tactics - this just does not make football enjoyable to watch. 

[Davefevs]

4 minutes ago, Red-Robbo said:

 

I've got a terrible memory for individual games.  

But I've read your posts enough to trust that you have indeed selected 22 of the worst stinkers in that time.

It's a shame you don't go back further, because one I do remember - my personal nadir - would be SOD's penultimate game. A 0-1 home loss to an equally inept Sheffield United side that is historic for me as it is literally the only live football match I've fallen asleep during.

I think I dozed for about five minutes before waking with a start and asking the guy next to me "did I miss anything?".  "No" was the inevitable reply. 

Since I returned to AG with Joe in 13/14, it is the worst game I’ve watched.  Both teams were shit, not just City.  The only good thing was seeing Maguire for the first time, and he crashed a 40-yarder off the bar.  It was typical that the winner was an own-goal - Flint obliging.

I do not remember going to a game as bad as that pre-Joe.  Some of the games in the past two years have got close.

[headhunter]

One big omission for me is the final game of 2016/17 at home to Birmingham.

Undefeated [4 wins and a draw] in the previous 5, could have ended the season on a high in front of a capacity crowd and, more importantly, got Birmingham City relegated.We just didn't show up against a Blues side with Cotts and Redknapp in charge

[Red-Robbo]

2 minutes ago, headhunter said:

One big omission for me is the final game of 2016/17 at home to Birmingham.

Undefeated [4 wins and a draw] in the previous 5, could have ended the season on a high in front of a capacity crowd and, more importantly, got Birmingham City relegated.We just didn't show up against a Blues side with Cotts and Redknapp in charge

 

You've jogged my memory. That was a classic "already on the beach" performance from players who had (mentally) got their Bermuda shorts and flip-flops on.

[pongo88]

Believe or not, things have occasionally been worse as, in the past, City used to play Rovers when they were actually a rival. Back in the 60s, whilst still at school, I went to Eastville to see City play in a local derby and we were 3-0 down after approx 12 minutes, eventually losing 4-0. Most of my school friends were Rovers supporters so Monday was a day to forget. 

[dREDful]

Starting to believe this may actually be Lansdown's worst appointment to date, and that is some feat tbf. 

 

[dREDful]

14 minutes ago, headhunter said:

One big omission for me is the final game of 2016/17 at home to Birmingham.

Undefeated [4 wins and a draw] in the previous 5, could have ended the season on a high in front of a capacity crowd and, more importantly, got Birmingham City relegated.We just didn't show up against a Blues side with Cotts and Redknapp in charge

Looking back on the things said since I think there was a selection of players playing in that game who would have had zero interest of doing any harm to Cotts, and why would they when he gave them their best career season. 

Still recall him getting a better reception than LJ on their laps around the pitch after the game. 

[Harry]

23 minutes ago, Red-Robbo said:

 

I've got a terrible memory for individual games.  

But I've read your posts enough to trust that you have indeed selected 22 of the worst stinkers in that time.

It's a shame you don't go back further, because one I do remember - my personal nadir - would be SOD's penultimate game. A 0-1 home loss to an equally inept Sheffield United side that is historic for me as it is literally the only live football match I've fallen asleep during.

I think I dozed for about five minutes before waking with a start and asking the guy next to me "did I miss anything?".  "No" was the inevitable reply. 

8 shots, 2 on target, 57% possession for City. Sheff Utd hadn’t had a clean sheet all season (it was November) and they came to spoil the game - which they successfully did. 
It was a dull game for sure, but more so because we were playing against a brick wall, rather than City ‘not turning up’. 
 

[Carey 6]

Apologies for the poor ish quality but this was shown on TV during the Brentford match coverage. 4 more games than any other side. 

We’re bloody boring to watch. 

 

[mrevans]

30 minutes ago, Red-Robbo said:

 

I've got a terrible memory for individual games.  

But I've read your posts enough to trust that you have indeed selected 22 of the worst stinkers in that time.

It's a shame you don't go back further, because one I do remember - my personal nadir - would be SOD's penultimate game. A 0-1 home loss to an equally inept Sheffield United side that is historic for me as it is literally the only live football match I've fallen asleep during.

I think I dozed for about five minutes before waking with a start and asking the guy next to me "did I miss anything?".  "No" was the inevitable reply. 

 

[mrevans]

Just now, mrevans said:

I rememberthat game! My young (at the time) son asked me after 85 minutes. "When is the game going to start, daddy?" Truly dreadful!

 

[Redstart]

The home game v Burton which finished 0-0, they had about minus 68 goal difference at the time - that was a dog of a game to watch. 

[Rossi the Robin]

Shrewsbury in the FA Cup with a nice tie v Liverpool for the winners, didn’t show up or unlucky? 

[Davefevs]

Just now, dREDful said:

Starting to believe this may actually be Lansdown's worst appointment to date, and that is some feat tbf. 

 

His worst appointment was:

The gall of the “rejoined” word.

Brought in during McIness’s reign as a Consultant (through his own Tactical Change Ltd business).  Introduced Player Database and Software.  That went well didn’t it?  Needed SOD and Burt, then Cotts and Burt to sort out the mess.

Then SL brings him back in Dec 2015 to play the grim reaper and get rid of Cotts.  Cotts must’ve knew the writing was on the wall when he entered the club.

But how effin’ naive do you (SL) have to be to take a consultancy recommendation that recommends that the consultant joins the company as COO, brings in his mate / relation and Tactical Change Ltd Sports Business Consultant (Luke Werhun) on Day 1.

I’ve worked with enough consultancy companies to know their agenda is to get their own “consultants” into the company....and charge out.  SL must know this, surely?

He then sacks the Head of Recruitment (Keith Burt) as soon as he possibly can (March 2016), allowing the consultant, sorry employee, now firmly getting his feet comfy to promote himself to CEO (and directorship too), and promote his mate to Head of Operations.  Burt will’ve seen right through him, so had to go.  The Burt role, Head of Recruitment also had control of player budgets too, so very effective in being able to evaluate performance objectively.  Take that under a different structure and easy to hide objectivity....all part of the plan.  £300k pay in 2017, £520k in 2020.

You couldn’t make it up @Harry,could you?

[headhunter]

10 minutes ago, Redstart said:

The home game v Burton which finished 0-0, they had about minus 68 goal difference at the time - that was a dog of a game to watch. 

March 2017 - Tomlin missed a Pen, skying it over the top at the Atyeo end, deliberately muttered some. It came around the time Lansdown said, I put most money in so it's my choice as to what I do!!

[Banjo Island]

Playoff final v brighton pitifull effort from city

[exAtyeoMax]

Millwall last season at home?

There was an absolute stinker one bonfire night where you could hear the crowd in the Atyeo chatting to each other and not watching the game (or watching the fireworks). At some games we just used to watch the planes coming in to land at Lulsgate…

[Red-Robbo]

20 minutes ago, Harry said:

8 shots, 2 on target, 57% possession for City. Sheff Utd hadn’t had a clean sheet all season (it was November) and they came to spoil the game - which they successfully did. 
It was a dull game for sure, but more so because we were playing against a brick wall, rather than City ‘not turning up’. 
 

 

I think what "didn't turn up" was attacking intent.

It's right to say that the Blades came looking for a 0-0.

However you can only Park the Bus for 90 minutes if you're very good at it.  United weren't, which is why they were getting battered that season left-right-and-centre. 

A side sitting back and inviting pressure should've been meat and drink. A happy hunting ground.

But we were more concerned with keeping possession than we were with launching any coherent attacks.

The result was a snoozefest which both managers take equal blame for.

One reason I was able to fall asleep was their was no one sitting in the three seats next to me. The guys who were normally there had stopped attending a few games before. As had much of the block I sit in.

[chinapig]

31 minutes ago, Carey 6 said:

Apologies for the poor ish quality but this was shown on TV during the Brentford match coverage. 4 more games than any other side. 

We’re bloody boring to watch. 

 

I blame the analysts for not giving Holden these numbers as he clearly doesn't know about them. They also failed to tell him that Cardiff have some big blokes who can head a ball.

What is he supposed to do when key information is being withheld from him?

[ohhhshauntaylor]

My biggest challenge and bug bear (especially this season after the 5 game honeymoon) has been our clear lack of identity. 
 

DH said 3-5-2 was out planned formation- and we “traded” (MA buzz word) to that plan and philosophy. 

The issue came when DH lost his nerve (it wasn’t initially anything to do with injury’s as he switched to 4-3-3 and 4-4-2 when we still had fit “wing backs”. 
 

We have no clear game plan, we have no clear vision or idea on what we will do to effect the opposition. 
 

yesterday was a prime example, playing against 3 “tall and slow” CB’s it cried out for playing balls down the channels/stretching the back 3, and being intricate around the edge of the box. 
we simply lumped balls up to Fam, sat deep, and invited pressure on us. 
Now you can say that’s the players fault- but that starting 11 also started the 2nd half. 
we saw 11 mins of stoppage time, so 2/3 decent length breaks where the team could of been summoned, re affirmed with directions and even tactically tweaked. But nothing, until we’re 2-0 down- at which point we see our most effective midfielder subbed, and we Chuck on KP and Pato and assume that’ll help. 
 

Holden is out of his depth, he doesn’t have a clear plan or idea, and quite frankly he is being shown up. 
 

The really sad thing in all this, is a huge majority of us could see this happening/predicted it. 
 

All our recent success has come with a man in charge who has clear plans, GJ, Cotts, even LJ to a degree mid way though his tenure. 

[Harry]

20 minutes ago, Davefevs said:

You couldn’t make it up @Harry,could you?

No. You couldn’t. And you didn’t.

[Maesknoll Red]

I just don’t understand the rationale behind allowing this to happen.  The stadium upgrade, flirting with the playoff places, good crowd numbers, all feel good factors.  The entertainment on offer, the quality of the football is absolutely dire, enough to drive fans away in normal times, let alone in this current situation where they are getting used to not going to football, without the match day experience I think the poor displays have hit home more than they would when socialising and beer is involved.

Not sure where this is going to end up, but I don’t like the way it’s going.  I didn’t renew my season ticket under SOD and haven’t bought one since, I can see nothing that would tempt me back should we be allowed.

[sh1t_ref_again]

I suppose shots on target do not show the whole picture, you could have 80% possession and battering a team who have 11 men behind the ball who defend for their lives, so no shots on target.

This is not current reality, we are totally out played and bossed by even the most out of form teams, we create nothing, not even a counter attack

Just doing some quick analysis of those figures of shot on target

This season so far

89 in 21 games = 3.17 per game, which is similar to last year of an average of 3.3 per game, which most thought was pretty poor

Although this year is skewed as we had a really good start with 33 shots in 7 games (4.7 game), but if you then take the 21 games since it reduces to 2.6 per game or even worse of 1.8 per game for the last 5