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Post by Rod1883 on Feb 13, 2020 20:55:15 GMT
Ogogo picked up his 9th booking on Tuesday night. One more before the 38th game then he will be suspended for 2 matches. I would imagine there are a few not far behind on bookings too. Something else to manage for BG
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Post by Rod1883 on Feb 13, 2020 12:55:29 GMT
MkDons Coventry Stevenage Doncaster Coventry Rotherham Fleetwood Bolton Coventry Wycombe Tranmere Blackpool. MkDons Coventry Stevenage Doncaster Coventry Rotherham Fleetwood Bolton Coventry Wycombe Tranmere Blackpool Sunderland Shrewsbury Southend Three of the next four games are against teams also on poor runs. Blackpool last 10 - W1 D2 L7 (last 6 W1 D0 L5) Shrewsbury last 10 - W1 D4 L5 (last 6 W0 D3 L3) Southend last 10 - W2 D4 L4 (last 6 W2 D1 L3) Our record last 10 - W0 D4 L6 (last 6 W0 D3 L3) Granted, these runs are not as bad as ours, but we have to win at least the two home games (Blackpool and Shrews) and ideally the Southend game too if BG is to show his methods are starting to work. If he can't show that against other struggling League 1 teams then I'm not sure when he will...
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Post by Rod1883 on Feb 12, 2020 15:36:56 GMT
Get him in as advisor for the rest of the week!
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Post by Rod1883 on Feb 11, 2020 21:42:55 GMT
What could be a vital point in 14 games time, but there is so much wrong. It's going to be a very tough run in
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Post by Rod1883 on Feb 11, 2020 21:36:00 GMT
Why no more substitutions ? Sorry I just don’t get the game plan here. BG protecting the new players, and those on the bench returning from injury, from the awful pitch? That's the only thing I can think of
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Post by Rod1883 on Feb 11, 2020 21:21:44 GMT
There must be some free agents out there (or players from low enough in the pyramid to not count for transfer window purposes?) that could improve the team? Tom Carroll and Jordon Mutch. Just looked them up Carroll looks good. One of these, or both or even Joe Ledley if he is still a free agent would help our currently non exisitent and ineffective midfield
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Post by Rod1883 on Feb 11, 2020 21:05:29 GMT
There must be some free agents out there (or players from low enough in the pyramid to not count for transfer window purposes?) that could improve the team?
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Post by Rod1883 on Feb 11, 2020 21:00:48 GMT
Bolton and Southend losing, Thank f**k
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Post by Rod1883 on Feb 11, 2020 20:38:56 GMT
I was hoping we would have a lead at half time as BG hasn't seemed capable of making a difference at half time, yet - - - ...well he has, but not a positive one
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Post by Rod1883 on Feb 11, 2020 20:03:44 GMT
Come on Gas - we have to score first, their heads will drop then
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Post by Rod1883 on Feb 11, 2020 14:14:13 GMT
That Lambert goal against our neighbours obviously. But more importantly - what are you drinking and where can I get some?
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Post by Rod1883 on Feb 11, 2020 12:27:18 GMT
Is that waterlogged or just muddy? I think it is tons of sand to stop it being a sopping quagmire! We all criticise the Mem, but our pitch is possibly the best in our division
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Post by Rod1883 on Feb 11, 2020 9:03:58 GMT
Scoring first will be vital. Looking at their forum, they have had chances in recent games, but as soon as they go behind heads drop - perhaps understandably given their run.
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Post by Rod1883 on Feb 10, 2020 9:54:02 GMT
Great to see it confirmed. Some much needed help, advice and support for BG, and I would hope that the players would be inspired by someone like Coppell.
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Post by Rod1883 on Feb 10, 2020 9:25:17 GMT
As I started this, I'll try to answer some of the points made by others. Whilst using past performance as a predictor of the future is simplistic at best, there are some mitigating factors to make it perhaps more reliable here than in, for example, a sales environment. There is the fact that the transfer window is now closed so no team can bring in new talent (apart from perhaps a free agent - but if there is someone out there that can turn a poor team into a great one overnight, why are they a free agent?). Yes a new manager may be brought in and that could change things of course. 9 games is, I feel, a reasonable sample size compared to the whole season to allow performance to be gauged against a range of the other teams in the league. Of course it isn't perfect, but it did show, that is nothing drastic changes, we will be safe, but only by one or two league positions.
The bigger risk is that our malaise, if it continues, will carry over into the new season. Therefore it is vital that the new way of playing starts to work soon with the new players playing a big role. I suspect that a playmaking central midfielder was wanted in the January window, but imagine we just couldn't find one.
I think that BG has to show at least the green shoots of a recovery in performances and results if he is to keep his job, and if he can do that I expect he will be given time and hopefully more backing to bring in some more pieces if the jigsaw to make it work over the summer. If he can find those players, and it does work, then it could be some really good football we are watching next season.
I may be giving our owners more credit than is due in the next point, but I am wondering if they thought that BG could still make a promotion push whilst changing our style to that more suited to the higher division? Looking at the Championship table, three of the bottom four are those that went up last season. Perhaps the board thought we have a chance of getting there, but to stay up we would need to change drastically and saw GC's departure as a chance to start to make that change?
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Post by Rod1883 on Feb 9, 2020 9:23:23 GMT
Losing becomes a habit and the players will inevitably associate losing with Ben Garner. The longer we accept it, the more normalized it becomes. Very dangerous in any team, but in a team stacked with youngsters it is much worse. Its not about the damage we are doing this season, it's more about the damage we are potentially already doing to the next one. Agreed losing becomes a habit, and this often does carry over to a new season. The best we can hope for is an upturn in form as the players get more used to the BG style and the new players start to deliver too, and a safe mid table finish. Over the Summer recruitment of more players that can play the way BG wants is vital otherwise around Christmas we will be looking for another GC type boss to get us out of the mire
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Post by Rod1883 on Feb 9, 2020 8:49:08 GMT
Since BG took over we have played 9 league games - Won 0, Drawn 3, Lost 6 = 3 points.
Over 9 games our relegation rivals' form has been: Wimbledon W2, D2, L5 = 8 points Tranmere W 0, D 2, L 7 = 2 points Southend W 2, D 4, L 3 = 10 points (unbeaten at home in that sequence) Bolton W 1, D 3, L 5 = 6 points
If the above form is replicated over the rest of the season with us, Wombles, Tranmere and Southend having 15 to play, and Bolton 17 games:
We will get 5 more points Wimbledon - 13 or 14 more Tranmere - 3 or 4 more Southend - 16 or 17 more Bolton - 11 or 12 more
Therefore end points Us 43 points Wimbledon 42 points Tranmere 26 points Southend 33 points Bolton 23 points
So, yes we are probably safe unless one of Southend or Tranmere have a near miraculous upturn in form. We can be sure of staying up, imho, if we win at Tranmere on Tuesday, and at least draw at Southend in March
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Post by Rod1883 on Feb 8, 2020 16:47:11 GMT
We've picked up 0.36 points per game under BG. That would see us finish on 42 points if we carry on, do you think that's enough to stay up? Tranmere are losing again along with Southend so it’s certainly possible. If we beat both Tranmere and Southend (and it's a big if) then we will be safe I would imagine
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Post by Rod1883 on Feb 8, 2020 16:08:32 GMT
As others have pointed out Craig can't organise the defence in a back 4 - he has to be one of a central 3. If Davies isn't fit, then Rollin has to play on Tuesday Why persist with Craig? He’s had just one decent 1/4 season in what will be 2.5 seasons. We slated Nichols for the same type of performances at the other end of the pitch and yet we look to this guy as a leader of our future defence. I just don’t get it. I don't agree, Craig has been a big part of our defence - coaching and guiding the youngsters he has played with, but in a back 5.
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Post by Rod1883 on Feb 8, 2020 16:06:47 GMT
It's our defence that's letting us down, the rest are playing well ..but our defence was our strength! He has to revert to a back 3/5 for Tuesday - or even for the second half today. He also has to admit he is struggling to the board, and bring in some help - defensive coach, and/or a mentor DoF type
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