No Neg or Pos posts on yesterdays match

[thnhouse]

And that's just it!
We don't have a revolving door like Leeds, Watford and the rest, thank God.
At least we give people a chance ...........even though SD may be close to last chance saloon by now.
But until then, I hope he cracks it!

I agree, we're 9th! After getting a drubbing the first thing you want to see is a clean sheet and a point away from home is always a decent result.

Judge Davis at Christmas.

[chinaalex]

I agree, we're 9th! After getting a drubbing the first thing you want to see is a clean sheet and a point away from home is always a decent result.

Judge Davis at Christmas.

But was it a 'decent' point ?. 2nd half was shocking and how their guy didn't bag a couple is beyond me. Three years of rubbish so why should we give him another month ?. Is it all going to change in that time and be another christmas miracle ?. Assume 9th in the league is ok with you then ?

[Timmy58]

But was it a 'decent' point ?. 2nd half was shocking and how their guy didn't bag a couple is beyond me. Three years of rubbish so why should we give him another month ?. Is it all going to change in that time and be another christmas miracle ?. Assume 9th in the league is ok with you then ?

After a 4-1 thrashing at home, yes a clean sheet and a point is a good one. By all accounts we were the better side for the first hour or so and yes, in the end after a handful of spurned chances we were grateful for a point. Whether or not you agree with the board/club sticking with SD, you have to give recognition that replacing him isn't going to alter the budget and the team isn't going to be suddenly strengthened in January. Supporters always want success, and I am no different in that. But I also do not relish the constant barrage of calls for a managerial change as would surely happen. Personally, I would rather stick with the devil we know and throw our wholehearted support behind the team. A young squad with a smattering of experience is always going to have good weeks and bad weeks. There are some very promising young players in this squad and they will only blossom in an environment where patience is shown.

[thnhouse]

But was it a 'decent' point ?. 2nd half was shocking and how their guy didn't bag a couple is beyond me. Three years of rubbish so why should we give him another month ?. Is it all going to change in that time and be another christmas miracle ?. Assume 9th in the league is ok with you then ?

Depends what you mean by OK with me?

I think some of our supporters only see that there is success and failure and nothing in between.

After last season I would have sacked Davis, transfer policy was terrible, insisting on endless loans was stifling growth of players and the tactics looked inept.

However this season the youngsters do look like developing, the transfer policy looks to be more successful (although I'd be interested to see what would have happened if the lad from Newcastle had stayed fit) and we've got our tactics fairly right for most matches. So would I change it now, probably not?

Is 9th acceptable, not long term no, but for a team rebuilding after a disastrous season it's a sign of progress.

[Furberstreet]

Cannot understand how the Club is regarded as a joke. Our reputation may not be as strong as when Dario was in charge, but there are plenty of clubs who surely have worse standings.

I endured the game at Barnet. How we did not lose at the end (Poor Akinde miss - normally he scores for fun) I still do not know. That said, I was grateful for the point and the clean sheet. SD clings on and amazingly we are still ninth, though a few more games without a win are surely going to see us drop into the bottom half of the table. Everything just feels flat at present. Notts County are reportedly about to be sold to Americans attracted by it being the oldest club. I keep waiting for someone to buy the Alex, sort out the Board and inject some badly needed funding. My wife has barred me from buying the club if we win the lottery jackpot

[paddockrefugee]

Our board would never allow 'outsiders' to take control. It's either our way or the highway - a closed shop.

[MikeSB]

I don't think anyone would think we are a joke as that is something that is generally funny BUT most followers of CAFC will surely see how our reputation for our football has gone down hill over the last few years. Thing is both Dario and Bowler and the rest of the Board can see that and what is dished up now that is surely unacceptable with the latest embarrassment of a 4-1 defeat at home in the cup last week. I mean what to these people say to each other when they meet or don't they meet up and the club is being run by aliens from Mars? But then its possible for us to get into the play offs with the league being as poor as it is but doesn't the quality of the football count now? Only Dario used to win games 4-1 and say he was displeased how we played and so what does HE say after these games and who to, only isn't he a Director and Director of Football with some responsibility or is he just happy to get free access to Reaseheath and a nice little retainer in the process and so he's keeping his head down?

[bigroof]

We as a club are considered a total joke in football. No football fan can believe that our Directors have stayed with the same management for what is constant failure. The question I get asked most is "Do your Board of Directors know the first thing about football?" The only answer I can give is "It does not appear so." Our Board seem to think it is clever and businesslike to stay aloof and silent. Or are their heads buried in the sand?

I really do hope I am wrong but currently we look as if we are heading for another relegation battle. Incredible when you think of how poor league2 is.

"Do your Board of Directors know the first thing about football?" Are you serious here, lukcour/ruocul? More than one person has actually asked you that?!

In so far as anyone who doesn't support Crewe actually cares, 'joke' is probably the last word they'd associate with our club. The team may not be performing as well as we think they should, but 9th in the division below, when relegated as easily the bottom club, represents stabilisation, for now.

The other day, you, lukcour/ruocul, were praising the tactics and endeavour of the team in the defeat by Plymouth. The next match they began with the same set up, and were roundly thrashed. That's football, as the cliche goes. Without Lowe, Dagnall & Bakayogo in the starting line-up, Hollands must've felt like a grandad.

The team has played to a pattern, with the older lads up front, no target forward, consistent personnel in the back four, and competition for places in the wide midfield/winger roles; they seem better when Hollands is deeper in central midfield, allowing (usually) Jones to break further forward. Jones has a couple of goals; it's what they're expecting of him, and he needs to continue that. There is potential evolution in the squad, with young forwards itching for time on the pitch; Lowery, Ainley and Kirk have all had experience now. Wintle is waiting. Ng has shown his versatility. Having all the injuries at the same time has clearly destabilised the team.

It's so easy to criticise Davis & Collins. I have my own doubts about Davis's ability to bring through our own young players successfully into the team; I don't like the way he criticises them - not usually by name - in the press, but we don't know, do we, how he approaches their development in training. Any other manager brought in -after paying £80k/£90k to dismiss Davis remember- would still have this task: to make professionals out of the best of our Academy products, whilst achieving satisfactory results.

[ruocul]

It is for me annoying and difficult for me when supporters of other clubs say that our team is becoming a joke. Do you really thinks I enjoy that criticism? In their opinions it is our directors to blame for our decline. They question why there has not been a management change.

And most of all they say that they feel badly that CAFC is in such an awful position. They actually do not want to see our team in this situation. And neither do I, but without change there is not going to be any improvement. Just further decline.

[bigroof]

It is for me annoying and difficult for me when supporters of other clubs say that our team is becoming a joke. Do you really thinks I enjoy that criticism? In their opinions it is our directors to blame for our decline. They question why there has not been a management change.

And most of all they say that they feel badly that CAFC is in such an awful position. They actually do not want to see our team in this situation. And neither do I, but without change there is not going to be any improvement. Just further decline.

So you're asking us to believe that 'supporters of other clubs' (how many? which clubs?) have been calling our club 'a joke', because the team are 9th in the 4th tier, and out of all the cups (like a good many others no doubt); what's more they're all informed enough of the club's situation to identify the directors as the cause, and - bless them - they all 'feel badly' about this situation. Where do you have these conversations lukcour/ruocul? When I have chats about football with fans of other clubs, if they're interested at all, I might get a gentle 'ribbing' about a recent heavy defeat, but, more likely, I'd need to tell them how Crewe are doing.