whats happened ?

[DGFG]

First, we're not relegated yet.

Second, the academy set up only appears to come in for criticism when the first team is struggling, to a certain extent the game is cyclical (though I hate using that argument because it's lazy) - it is inevitable that there will be seasons where we struggle.

I did n't expect this to be one of them so I'm as disappointed as the next fan - apart from the well documented pre season incident, I think we've struggled primarily because we have not recruited a creative midfield player to replace Luke Murphy (not easy to do and there was no ready made academy replacement though there might be a couple of candidates coming up through the ranks). Also, we've clearly conceded too many goals and the manager's reluctance to strengthen the centre of defence is a bone of contention, particularly when set against his willingness to recruit a seemingly endless supply of peripheral wingers on loan.

We have invested heavily (for us!) in the first team

Summer before la

[Mojofilter]

The problem is quite simply that the midfield isn't good enough.
Doesn't create anything, doesn't protect the defence and not comfortable on the ball.

Grant has been good since he came back into the team but he can't do it on his own. Evans isn't up to the task and Osman is way too limited in his ability - he's OK playing next to a Luke Murphy but that's about it.

Don't understand why this hasn't been the focus for SD and I don't understand why he's constantly loaning wingers.

[Proggs]

Grant was sorely missed and it showed just how poor a player Osman is, and Evans for that matter. Neither are up to the job we require. So yes, loan a mid OR play Inman there and use MOORE. Why loan a winger when you have Byron on the pay role? Madness to me.

Fullback? Guthrie was very poor on Tuesday, why not play Mellor? What's he done so wrong? He is better than Guthrie.

Centre back? Ellis is a real warrior but doesn't seem in favour, no Harry so maybe loan an old head...to head?

I'd send Evans, Ikpeazu and Park back.

PS itwasin you are a bellend

[AlexLeicester]

Grant was sorely missed and it showed just how poor a player Osman is, and Evans for that matter. Neither are up to the job we require. So yes, loan a mid OR play Inman there and use MOORE. Why loan a winger when you have Byron on the pay role? Madness to me.

Fullback? Guthrie was very poor on Tuesday, why not play Mellor? What's he done so wrong? He is better than Guthrie.

Centre back? Ellis is a real warrior but doesn't seem in favour, no Harry so maybe loan an old head...to head?

I'd send Evans, Ikpeazu and Park back.

PS itwasin you are a bellend

Not much to disagree with there. Certainly the last two comments are, I think, spot on. :-D

However, reading between SD's lines we still have a motivational problem. Byron is mercurial, looks fast, exciting and skilful one minute and then a passenger the next; Mellor has had a, for him, duff, wasteful season; Guthrie has impressed, apart from v. Notts; Ellis wears his heart on his sl

[bonehead]

ok whats gone wrong

formation - basic 2 in midfield with 2 wide helping out isnt working - go back to 3 proper midfielders

so - grant - evans - turton
and chucks playing in front

loan players bar Chucks are poor - park - isnt anything like Mesca who he was replacing -

first change should happen on the hour - would of brought Ollier on first - and Waters - not left it till game is basically lost at 2 down

corners are too floaty - we dont have free kick specialist after Chucks goes - so teams can give away fouls near there box knowing we cant score

wheres the coaching to bring on the new KENNY LUNTS - SEAN SMITHS

think how low the gates will be next season if we go down - for the sake of spending a few bob by the board we will loose out big time

why put new men on the board if we dont hear from them / dont meet them / dont know what they want for the club or what they can bring

you may as well put me on there with my 30 shares

dont get me started on pitch and the like

[MikeSB]

We've had the same conversation for years that its the midfield quality that dictates the defence and attack and SD should have scoured the country incl the Scottish leagues to get some real quality in there that we can afford to pay the wages and maybe the policy seems fine to have a cap on all wages, its obvious that some players are worth more than others. Look at the times when we have done really well and its when we have had some quality in there. If the midfield is not doing its job, the pressure is on the attack and just as important is their defensive role and other teams seem to be able to bypass us in that area and our back four are then not good enough to keep the goals down.

Its too late now and we do deserve to go down but we may just escape as others around us are just as bad and so just hope SD and the board release enough funds next time to get some quality instead of lending millions to Directors that they may never see again.

We cannot expect young lads from the a

[MikeSB]

Nobody can work out B.Moore as he has the quality to unlock a lot of defences and yet as said he drifts out of the game for long periods and nobody seems to know why? Is he scared of getting injured like Steve Jones was in his last year?

Anyone know if we can still get a fee for him if he goes in the Summer?

[bigroof]

We all know Byron's erratic, but why wasn't he even on the bench on Tuesday? Whether he's with us next season or not is irrelevant; he's here and available now. The same applies to Mellor. He didn't do a great deal wrong to lose his place. Guthrie has earned a new contract, yes, and has improvement in him, but Mellor attacks well on the right, and Tootle, (however much people might like to see him on the right,) actually plays left back well, in combination with either Inman or Moore.

When Grant picked up that second yellow on Saturday, I sort of knew we'd struggle on the Tuesday. He's capable of dynamic bursts into space, and links with the wide men more effectively than either Evans or Osman.
When Murphy left, Steve and Neil both felt that Grant could offer something at least of what he'd offered, and of late he's done so. Other than that, if you lose a player worth a million pounds, then you're not going to get a like-for-like replacement, without paying the wages that a million po

[AstonAlex]

No fee for Byron in the summer - he is too old!

As to what's happened, as many have said there is a lack of a passer of the ball in the middle of the park. Osman was fine alongside Murphy; he tackled, got the ball and gave it to Luke and didn't try to do anything beyond his capabilities. This season he has not had anyone alongside him with Luke's talent and, as a result, has tried to do more himself . . . with laughable results unfortunately.

Grant had his well advertised attitude problems before Christmas, since when he has looked a decent player and we missed him a lot on Tuesday. He and Evans work OK together, but without him there is no mobility in the middle of the park and no midfielder making forward runs as Grant does.

I think that SD can be criticised for his loan signings. Chuks has been outstanding, of course, and Evans was an improvement on what we had when he first joined. Mesca and Park were pretty laughable (esp Park) and I don't think he would have taken Uche ha

[bonehead]

surely who ever stays - were just asking for the basics from players

pass the ball - determination - pace

a centre forward who can score with his head

a corner taker / free kick swerver

weve had great players here that didnt cost much and did us proud - nelson - reilly - scott - futcher - naylor - billing - macauley - smith - varney - little - jones - they must still be out there