Quote Originally Posted by Elite_Pie View Post
I'm struggling to explain why we were so bad today, but I wouldn't really blame Luke Williams. His subs didn't work, we didn't seem to have a plan B, but the real problem was that the players didn't come close to executing plan A. Our style is that we play it around at the back, then a few quick passes beat the press and we create a chance. We played very few quick passes, it was all very laboured and half-hearted. A lot of simple passes were too short, too long, or straight out of play. More worrying than that was the lack of passion and desire, it's unusual for us to be outfought.

A big improvement is needed at Harrogate, because we seem to be at a bit of a crossroads. We need to get to the January transfer window still in touch, and trust the radar to fill the gaps. If we don't, at least we've started well in our relegation battle!
I think yesterday was a collective brain fart by the players and manager, and perhaps the crowd too, picking up on TSANHO's point about the atmosphere sounding a bit like the 'toxic' Meadow Lane of years gone by. Nobody emerged with any real credit, and it's clear we're going through the first definably 'tough' spell since Williams became Head Coach, but there's absolutely no reason to panic. We've got plenty of points in the bank, in fact we're still very much in a promotion race none of us had a right to "expect", so it's a case of clearing our heads, re-setting for the Harrogate game and just working through the current difficulties. Unlike the situation 10 or 15 years ago, we know we've got plenty of very talented players in our squad, so it's a case now of gradually addressing the weak areas. Injuries are definitely playing a part too, with good players like Palmer, Scott and Bajrami all unavailable.