DC comments

[animallittle3]

Well I accept YN's point about the lack of a fox in the box type striker but at the same time there are a number of other factors at play that is also playing out this season .

We are in to the second campaign where defensively we haven't the ability to defend well enough , the Duff season especially the second half of that had us defensively sound when Thomas came in and joined Mads and Kitching .

The ability to defend well puts less pressure on the rest of the team , you could more or less leave the Duff back three to it safe in the knowledge they'd keep things tight .

We also had a number of goals coming from all areas of the pitch , Cadden , Jordan Williams , the back three , Herbie Kane , Phillips was more prolific than possibly now .

A successful football team is built from the back , you don't concede , you don't lose or you only need one goal to win a game .

Once you are defensively sound the rest of the team looks after itself , even without Cadden , Williams or Kane but with that Duff back three and with the current strikers in my opinion we'd have more league points than we have right now .

I can almost guarantee it .

[Jules88]

Agree with Animal, i have reservations about all of the defence, all capable, but all mot as consistent as the defence under Duff.
My original tongue in cheek post wasn?t really to ignite the ?Who we need and Why? again, but just to question if it was sensible to making statements of ?ruthlessness? when we clearly haven?t the brass to sign better.
Im not enamoured with our settee, our bed and the comfort of the seats in the car?.. but there wont be a clear out until we can afford better??Not similar, better.
I think he isn?t helping himself here when he comes out with stuff like that?? or he believes in Santa

[pass_and_move]

Agree with Animal, i have reservations about all of the defence, all capable, but all mot as consistent as the defence under Duff.
My original tongue in cheek post wasn?t really to ignite the ?Who we need and Why? again, but just to question if it was sensible to making statements of ?ruthlessness? when we clearly haven?t the brass to sign better.
Im not enamoured with our settee, our bed and the comfort of the seats in the car?.. but there wont be a clear out until we can afford better??Not similar, better.
I think he isn?t helping himself here when he comes out with stuff like that?? or he believes in Santa

Agreed. I also think that team, or player issues should be kept in house. I think this is the third or fourth time that our head coach has publicly criticised his players and after a while, his words will become meaningless to the playing staff. It's one thing trying to get a reaction, but another to keep banging the same drum and expecting more is only gonna end up one way, rather like having a nagging wife. There's other ways of motivating players imo.

This club has mainly achieved success by having a great morale within the camp. Everyone fighting for each other and having a great rapport and craic in the camp. Even average sides like Ritchies 2006 side gained success by the squad morale and all for one, one for all type attitude that we had. Same with Flitcroft in the championship survival season. Daveys FA cup run, Vals play off campaign. Fight and heart. Does this current side have those qualities? Not for me, and it starts with the manager doesn't it.

I get that he's unhappy with the squad he has at his disposal. Twas ever thus for any head coach in our recent history. However, get on with it. I'm sure he was aware of the situation at this club before he applied for the job and certainly during the interview process. As tha sez Jules, tha'd only get new things if tha could afford them. Working class people have to crack on with what we've got, even though we may want better.

For the record, I like Clarke and his honesty. Tha seldom gets a more honest manager/head coach than Clarke. I also like the style of football. We have learned to mix our style of play from last season but the defensive issues are holding us back massively. It was the same for Collins last season, probably worse in fact, especially with the hand that he was dealt.

For me, we're not too far off having a play off team but we're not quite there yet are we. Something is missing. I can't quite put my finger on what it is but based on what i have seen, we're too inconsistent performance wise maintain the standard of play that is required to get top 6 come May. We're not displaying, for me, a determined enough attitude to see games out and get results out of games. These attributes make the difference between being an also ran or a success. As John Sitton once said to his Orient team "fack the technical shyte, it's down to this" thumping his fist on his heart

[Young_Nudger]

Personally I think every department within the team is strong - especially with the addition of Dunn and Humphrys that ?potentially? increases the creativity side of attack - that?s every department except for one.

And that?s the inability of the team to score - and that?s basically down to one of two things.
Either Watters and Cosgrove have, like last season, not made the grade this season.
If so, then they need shipping out ASAP and two proper strikers brought in.

OR - it?s the inability of DC and the coaching staff to get the best out of Watters and Cosgrove.

OR - it could be a combination of those two things.

Whichever one it is - it?s the striker problem that is glaringly undermining the confidence of the other members of the team.

[pass_and_move]

Personally I think every department within the team is strong - especially with the addition of Dunn and Humphrys that ?potentially? increases the creativity side of attack - that?s every department except for one.

And that?s the inability of the team to score - and that?s basically down to one of two things.
Either Watters and Cosgrove have, like last season, not made the grade this season.
If so, then they need shipping out ASAP and two proper strikers brought in.

OR - it?s the inability of DC and the coaching staff to get the best out of Watters and Cosgrove.

OR - it could be a combination of those two things.

Whichever one it is - it?s the striker problem that is glaringly undermining the confidence of the other members of the team.

In my opinion Watters has shown some class this season in the finishing aspect. He's looked better and better this season only to be frustratingly injured and back out of the side. He has the attributes of an out and out striker. He could do with some fortune in terms of steering clear of injury. The lad has certainly been unfortunate but in my opinion, he could score 20 a season at this level if he was physically able to maintain a run in the side. It's fair to say that the gods aren't with him and I feel for him.

[Shadrack the Red]

In my opinion Watters has shown some class this season in the finishing aspect. He's looked better and better this season only to be frustratingly injured and back out of the side. He has the attributes of an out and out striker. He could do with some fortune in terms of steering clear of injury. The lad has certainly been unfortunate but in my opinion, he could score 20 a season at this level if he was physically able to maintain a run in the side. It's fair to say that the gods aren't with him and I feel for him.

I agree with your comments Pass and I am bemused by fans criticising Watters for his goal return when he is out injured , how is he expected to score when he is not playing ? Incidentally , did you know we have not replaced Cole or MaCatee from last season yet ? although it is difficult to replace anyone outside a transfer window and also replace a player who wasn"t ours , but hey ho!

[Young_Nudger]

I agree with your comments Pass and I am bemused by fans criticising Watters for his goal return when he is out injured , how is he expected to score when he is not playing ? Incidentally , did you know we have not replaced Cole or MaCatee from last season yet ? although it is difficult to replace anyone outside a transfer window and also replace a player who wasn"t ours , but hey ho!

My criticism of Watters is not based on the number of goals he scores.
It is based on his movement in and around the opposition penalty box.
His anticipation is poor.

My criticism of Cosgrove is in his ability to get on the end of crosses and his ability to bring the ball under control and bring others into play.
A tall bedroom wardrobe would be more prolific - at least when you kick a ball against a bedroom wardrobe you know which way it?s gunna bounce off it.

[Jules88]

I like DC, the football is better, and improving. His interviews are at least honest appraisals of how he feels. You CAN do that, without openly criticising players (as he did with Mcarthy performance ) on Saturday, and making comments like ‘being ruthless in January” ……. Serves no purpose.
The ruthlessness may come from the board…… it’s been done before…..

[Shadrack the Red]

I like DC, the football is better, and improving. His interviews are at least honest appraisals of how he feels. You CAN do that, without openly criticising players (as he did with Mcarthy performance ) on Saturday, and making comments like ‘being ruthless in January” ……. Serves no purpose.
The ruthlessness may come from the board…… it’s been done before…..

Lets hope not Jules, I am fed up to the back teeth of this rinse and repeat strategy of sacking the coach and starting again , it simply is not working and all the board are doing is appeasing the fans when we have a sticky patch, after every game we lose we get the same response from the key board o crying for the managers head ( thankfully not so much on this site ), eventually they crack just to satisfy the fans but the problem is most of the fans shouting loudest are the ones that do not go in the first place !! , it doesn"t work . Last season was a classic example when the board completely cocked up by sacking a coach with one game to go and no replacement, that went well , not !!! , now for me personally I am totally sold on the Tinkerman but I am sold on the idea that it is time our board showed some metal and actually back the HC and stand firm behind him, give him time to see the job through, give him the tools to do the job instead of weakening his hand every season and trust him, after all it was them who set him on in the first place so they must have thought he was the right man in the first place !! The old way is failing , stand by the Hc and back him !!!

[Jules88]

Lets hope not Jules, I am fed up to the back teeth of this rinse and repeat strategy of sacking the coach and starting again , it simply is not working and all the board are doing is appeasing the fans when we have a sticky patch, after every game we lose we get the same response from the key board o crying for the managers head ( thankfully not so much on this site ), eventually they crack just to satisfy the fans but the problem is most of the fans shouting loudest are the ones that do not go in the first place !! , it doesn"t work . Last season was a classic example when the board completely cocked up by sacking a coach with one game to go and no replacement, that went well , not !!! , now for me personally I am totally sold on the Tinkerman but I am sold on the idea that it is time our board showed some metal and actually back the HC and stand firm behind him, give him time to see the job through, give him the tools to do the job instead of weakening his hand every season and trust him, after all it was them who set him on in the first place so they must have thought he was the right man in the first place !! The old way is failing , stand by the Hc and back him !!!

I don?t blame DC at all?..He made some mistakes, I Know, and some of his press could do with being ?refined?
I do blame the person/people buying the tools. However, coming up to Christmas it would be easy for him to become the the fall guy to appease supporters calling for his head.
Here is where we are at the moment

Seven teams above us, there are 5 with games in hand. More importantly,
2 below us can overhaul us with games in hand, so we could be 10th if they all win up.
If they all played their matches in hand and won we could be 9 points behind a play off place??
I know it?s points in the bag, and I know we are still 8th with sight of the play off spot, but when you look at it, is potential 10th enough? ??

The board, looking at this MUST make ?back him? statements in January?? or based on how things are going ( and the possibility of the current squad suddenly battering all comers being slim with the same defence and strike force) we could be well out of it by the end of January.

Brum, Wrexham, Huddersfield WILL strengthen. Make no bones.
If we don?t in January, then the board have thrown the towel in.