Shame on you, Board & Davis...

[familyred]

...for not securing a new deal with Ellis. It wouldn't have solved all the problems, but we wouldn't have seen any worse than the inept defending so far.

[kidsarealright]

Something that was raised at the recent Q&A. Supporter made the point that most fans feel he was our best defender, but according to SD he was arguably our worst when looking at the stats, and was a 'lucky defender'

That may be so, but it's that luck that kept us up last year and is missing so far this. If Davis thinks Ellis was a liability, I'd love to know his honest opinion on our current partnership.

[alexmick]

Something that was raised at the recent Q&A. Supporter made the point that most fans feel he was our best defender, but according to SD he was arguably our worst when looking at the stats, and was a 'lucky defender'

That may be so, but it's that luck that kept us up last year and is missing so far this. If Davis thinks Ellis was a liability, I'd love to know his honest opinion on our current partnership.

I made the point on the predictions thread about the importance of honesty. Davis is not being honest with himself, the players and more importantly, the fans.

[itwasin]

SD has to do this Job with One hand tied behind his back, The Board however have to invest in the Academy and the Cayman Islands, The Team is just a BY PRODUCT for there own self interests, so it becomes bottom of the league, and that's where they lay there hat.

[MikeSB]

It was always thus though. Get rid of the higher earners to allow the kids to come through. My memory is also not as it was and so who was that GK we had that was brilliant and was just offered a one year deal by Dario? He went to Walsall I think. The fans were in uproar then as he kept 18 clean sheets or something the previous season. In many ways it has to be more difficult for kids to come through as pretty decent defenders rather than strikers and why presumably we brought Ellis in.

Not sure where we go from here tbh as the writing was on the wall last season and we started with a weaker squad. So how can we be surprised?

But to lose like that against Rochdale, a team we always had no problem beating in the old days is really depressing!

[thnhouse]

I agree with Davis that Eliis wasn't good enough, every time I watched the highlights back it always seemed to be him not picking up his man or challenging for the ball that seemed to cost us goals, in the air he only seemed good from goal kicks for a cross in the box he seemed terrible. In the early season, every goal looked like it was his fault.

But whats absolutely unforgivable is not replacing him, both of our current centre backs were second choice last season in a defence that conceded 80 goals.

If Ellis wasn't good enough then fine. But what made Davis believe that 2 players that weren't good enough 3 months ago could suddenly do the job?

[MikeSB]

Its a problem isn't it. You want to give the youngsters a chance of games and playing other academy lads at other clubs is not the same as L1 and L2 where even journeyman Pro's will be stronger and maybe even better until they get a lot of games and get stronger themselves and in some cases like now, the results suffer.

How can you attract seasoned Pro's on our money and have a good balance alongside the kids coming through? I would suggest two thirds to one third would be good but with most of the money going into the academy with unknown results is something we have to live with as long as that is the model the board wants.

Normally the manager would come under pressure but then as said, he can only operate under these constraints and likely the board have confirmed that.

[steelydon]

Fair points from all the above. I've missed the two home games so I can only go on what I saw at Fleetwood and from what I hear on Player. Yes Davis's hands are somewhat tied but we must make best use of what we have. Our best player IMO is Inman. We must play to his strengths. At Fleetwood he spent all game tracking back, so couldn't support Oliver. We need Inman up front.
He can make and score goals. The only one?

[somersetcrewe]

...for not securing a new deal with Ellis. It wouldn't have solved all the problems ...

So you're right, it WOULDN'T have solved all the problems, hence why he was allowed to leave. Ellis was no Messiah, he would not right all our wrongs. The answer lies elsewhere - longer term in George hopefully, but short term? - "Houston, we have a problem!"

As for blaming Davis, it really all depends on how you look at it.
The devil is as always in the detail, (no-one left up at corners - always get me that one - late substitutions, nonsensical substitutions, questionable tactics, etc).

But is he really that bad? - look at the bigger picture.
Promotion in season 1.
JPT in season 2.
Avoided 2nd season syndrome in season 3.
So it's only the 3 defeats in 3 this season where his record really starts to stall.

I guess it all comes down to expectation.
Aside from wanting to see us winning games and play attractive football, what should we act

[AlexLeicester]

I admire our optimism Somerset, unfortunately, as you were not able to be with us last night, it is to some extent misplaced.
SD has a difficult job - managing a L1 team on zero budget is tough - but he has proved he can do it in the past.
He will be in a worse mood than the rest of us, I am sure, and wondering what he could have done to make things better.
Oliver and Inman had poor a game v. Barnsley. Molyneux came in and he was poor; Ray was simply awful; Tootle is not on good form; Duggie is struggling; the lad from Man City can't gel. These are all the manager's problems.

I do, however, concur: Ellis is history, move on.

What does concern me is that we have started the season with no Sword of Damocles over our head, and a squad that is supposedly in the right frame of mind. I just get the feeling that there is indiscipline in the ranks, again. It's SD's job to put fear into the mix as well as being a good and respected guy.