Just Back

Quoted from TheRonRaffertyFanClub

I think you are being unfair. It is true that some of us have an overwhelming desire to see the club back where we are used to seeing it but largely that desire is on behalf of the younger fans who have never experienced the highs of promotions and in some cases have never seen league football at BP.

The criticism today is not about big club v little club, it is about the squad that we have compared to the squads at other clubs, big and small. I don't think anyone would disagree that the current squad is the best we have had since relegation. I don't think many would disagree that there are very few players currently in other conference teams who would improve it. So it is a fair question to ask - why is the manager (and some supporters) happy to get a point while playing cluelessly against a team we should beat 9 times out of 10 with the players we have?

My concern would not be just about yesterday, it would be a worry about the future. We have seen some good performances for parts of games this year but I almost feel that the pressing game and quick passing we see in those games is in spite of the manager, not because of him. Yesterday was to me a more nailed on Hurst performance, grinding out a clean sheet result, the sort of workmanlike stuff he likes to see. The only thing missing was a sneaked goal to win it. But this is football on the edge. One slip at the back and would we get a result? Playing this way invites trouble.

There's another factor as well. He talks in the GT about managing Pittman's hamstring for instance. He's a good player but everyman and his dog knows the lad has injury problems. If he didn't, he wouldn't be here, he'd be in the FL somewhere. Yet he's been made first choice rather than back up which is bound to cause problems. Hurst signs Tomlinson on loan and plays him in place of two good strikers he signed on contract in the summer. Why? If that isn't a statement of how he wants the side to play, I don't know what is.

But as I say, it is the future that worries. Those two strikers who did so well together earlier on are now both bench warmers. They come off the bench or they slot in to replace an injury and are expected to show the same confidence and finishing ability they showed in August. The manager publicly tells us it is up to them to prove they deserve a place in the team. How? By scoring goals or by running about as much as Tomlinson? Answers to that one on a postage stamp. He wrecks their confidence, gives them next to no match time and then has the perfect excuse to play someone else again. Next step a contract or long term loan for Tomlinson would be my guess.

Now to me this is rank bad management. Those two strikers are going to be needed, if not now then certainly after Christmas. We are going to need goals from them to maintain our push for 5th spot or whatever. What sort of response will they make? They will either be trying too hard to make the most of their one opportunity or they will have given up the ghost. Certainly they will not be in any frame of mind or fitness to make much of a promotion winning contribution.

I don't know about anyone else but I had a rosy vision of the season in August. Twin strikers signed who were going to have opposing managers needing a chemical toilet in the dugout.

Instead we are back to the same old, same old. Treating opponents with exaggerated respect, the virtues of hard running without the ball chosen over natural confidence and instinct. Of course Bogle has rough edges. Of course he needs to grow into a higher division. Of course he will make mistakes and wrong decisions. Of course he will infuriate fans and manager with unnecessary tricks. But he will score goals if he's allowed to use his instincts and gain confidence again. Amond has the best movement into space in the box we have seen for a long time. He will pick up the bits and pieces given time to settle. A run of games is what they need, not frustration on the bench. They are having the goals knocked out of them.

If you add to that a couple of quick wingers who will find they get more space when defenders are scared witless by looking to find where the strikers have gone and you have an outfit that need not respect any other side in this league.

If that means the defence has to work a bit harder and the midfield has to press for 90 minutes then that's what needs coaching and coaching, not going back to the track back and cover mentality for the whole team. Hurst can't expect to play like this and then suddenly change tack in mid-game when the other lot score and he can't expect the possession game to work either if he still choses runners over footballers up front and relies on super strikes from a winger.

Pie in sky though. Just my Sunday dream and I could be wrong. I was once, but I did promise the officer I wouldn't take the blow up doll out in public again.

Quoted from forza ivano

Oh dear it's all doom and gloom isn't it? Don't know if you noticed but Braintree were a place behind us and they showed why they were up there. You have to give them a lot of credit being part timers. Their right back and akinole were excellent.they were very well organised and very compact. This prob explains the length of the grass on the flanks.also looks like they've brought the pitch in a couple of metres.they are quite happy for the game to be compacted into a narro strip from goal to goal.they gave us no time or space.it was two evenly matched teams and if Braintree continue playing like that they will frustrate and beat quite a few other sides.
Dilly and tait were our stand out players for me.
Good support again and a good amount of ale had been consumed hence the unnecessary confrontations with the gillingham stewards

Quoted from TheRonRaffertyFanClub

I think you are being unfair. It is true that some of us have an overwhelming desire to see the club back where we are used to seeing it but largely that desire is on behalf of the younger fans who have never experienced the highs of promotions and in some cases have never seen league football at BP.

The criticism today is not about big club v little club, it is about the squad that we have compared to the squads at other clubs, big and small. I don't think anyone would disagree that the current squad is the best we have had since relegation. I don't think many would disagree that there are very few players currently in other conference teams who would improve it. So it is a fair question to ask - why is the manager (and some supporters) happy to get a point while playing cluelessly against a team we should beat 9 times out of 10 with the players we have?

My concern would not be just about yesterday, it would be a worry about the future. We have seen some good performances for parts of games this year but I almost feel that the pressing game and quick passing we see in those games is in spite of the manager, not because of him. Yesterday was to me a more nailed on Hurst performance, grinding out a clean sheet result, the sort of workmanlike stuff he likes to see. The only thing missing was a sneaked goal to win it. But this is football on the edge. One slip at the back and would we get a result? Playing this way invites trouble.

There's another factor as well. He talks in the GT about managing Pittman's hamstring for instance. He's a good player but everyman and his dog knows the lad has injury problems. If he didn't, he wouldn't be here, he'd be in the FL somewhere. Yet he's been made first choice rather than back up which is bound to cause problems. Hurst signs Tomlinson on loan and plays him in place of two good strikers he signed on contract in the summer. Why? If that isn't a statement of how he wants the side to play, I don't know what is.

But as I say, it is the future that worries. Those two strikers who did so well together earlier on are now both bench warmers. They come off the bench or they slot in to replace an injury and are expected to show the same confidence and finishing ability they showed in August. The manager publicly tells us it is up to them to prove they deserve a place in the team. How? By scoring goals or by running about as much as Tomlinson? Answers to that one on a postage stamp. He wrecks their confidence, gives them next to no match time and then has the perfect excuse to play someone else again. Next step a contract or long term loan for Tomlinson would be my guess.

Now to me this is rank bad management. Those two strikers are going to be needed, if not now then certainly after Christmas. We are going to need goals from them to maintain our push for 5th spot or whatever. What sort of response will they make? They will either be trying too hard to make the most of their one opportunity or they will have given up the ghost. Certainly they will not be in any frame of mind or fitness to make much of a promotion winning contribution.

I don't know about anyone else but I had a rosy vision of the season in August. Twin strikers signed who were going to have opposing managers needing a chemical toilet in the dugout.

Instead we are back to the same old, same old. Treating opponents with exaggerated respect, the virtues of hard running without the ball chosen over natural confidence and instinct. Of course Bogle has rough edges. Of course he needs to grow into a higher division. Of course he will make mistakes and wrong decisions. Of course he will infuriate fans and manager with unnecessary tricks. But he will score goals if he's allowed to use his instincts and gain confidence again. Amond has the best movement into space in the box we have seen for a long time. He will pick up the bits and pieces given time to settle. A run of games is what they need, not frustration on the bench. They are having the goals knocked out of them.

If you add to that a couple of quick wingers who will find they get more space when defenders are scared witless by looking to find where the strikers have gone and you have an outfit that need not respect any other side in this league.

If that means the defence has to work a bit harder and the midfield has to press for 90 minutes then that's what needs coaching and coaching, not going back to the track back and cover mentality for the whole team. Hurst can't expect to play like this and then suddenly change tack in mid-game when the other lot score and he can't expect the possession game to work either if he still choses runners over footballers up front and relies on super strikes from a winger.

Pie in sky though. Just my Sunday dream and I could be wrong. I was once, but I did promise the officer I wouldn't take the blow up doll out in public again.

Quoted from rancido

It's very easy for a mediocre team to stop a good team from performing - you just need a good game plan and stick to it !

Quoted from Helgy

How's Tomlinson doing? according to reports a bit of a headless chicken at the moment.