There can be no messing from this game onwards. No place to hide for any player.
Get back to a stable set up and rebuild from it. We have to start with 442, we have to put square pegs in square holes. Can this be done with our squad ? Yes it can. Other clubs play 17 or 18 year olds because they have to, we have to. For one Charlie Barks CB would be fine alongside Manny for a few games while the others realise the team doesn’t revolve round them.
But the priority is getting the basics right. Trap a ball / Control the ball / Pass the ball with pace. Then players give options by movement off the ball.
This is a massive game for us and no exaggeration to suggest it’s a must win. Oldham, like us, have been a poor side for some time now; they were dreadful when we played them earlier this year.
Hard to suggest a line up with so many injury and fitness concerns but a half fit KVV trumps any other fully fit striker. I’d like to see Hallam featured in some capacity too.
I think we should have reached that point where KVV should start and see how long he can last. It may be 90 minutes.
If that can happen, surely it is a question of whether we ought to be playing McAtee or Olomola alongside him.
I do not see Loft as being as poor as some make out – he may improve beyond measure working inside a settled and meaningful structure. We have seen too many lone centre forwards fail ‘playing one up top’.
Hallam has to fit somewhere into the thinking and planning even if he does not necessarily oust McAtee or Olomola.
Spence is a decent enough defensive CM and at the moment, just pips Beestin who I reckon may well eventually be the better player.
It matters not which way I view it – I just cannot get past that giant hole in the middle waiting for an intelligent midfield general.
A true leader there – doesn’t even need to be a brilliant player – will transform this current shambles.
If we lose at Oldham, whatever the individual errors themselves turn out to be – the odds are that they would not have happened with a proper organiser bawling his lungs out, reading the game and playing drill sergeant.
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Ferrite – the services take some right bunches of no-hopers and drill them til they learn to: follow orders, act instantly, demonstrate some guts, learn to innovate and, if necessary, go to war.
I am far from convinced that we have a load of poor players – but we do have a number who are: slow-thinking; settling for second best; unable to raise their game. They need a kick in the pants.
Having taught in both the state sector and the private – I can tell you that, for me, the single largest reason why state schools get poorer results is that the independent sector is considerably less tolerant of failure.
Of course, there are other factors but that is the crux of the matter.
Having taught in both the state sector and the private – I can tell you that, for me, the single largest reason why state schools get poorer results is that the independent sector is considerably less tolerant of failure.
Having been educated in both systems, I think this is much more down to the high quality of teaching & other resources in the private sector. A class of 15 is a very different beast from a class of 30. The private sector probably demands higher standards and sets higher expectations but it also has a far greater chance of achieving them. Failure is relative.
Just shouting at people as a motivational tactic is antediluvian.
Leadership is certainly not about ‘just shouting at people’. We are talking about that, yes, but I have previously mentioned reading a game and the need for intelligence. A bit of leading by example is no bad thing.
As the sergeant-major said, “Excuse me, young chap, but would you be so kind as to try just a little harder to come to attention alongside all the others?”
(Incidentally, the best collection of teachers I worked alongside was in a comprehensive school principally serving a trio of pit villages.)
We are talking about that, yes, but I have previously mentioned reading a game and the need for intelligence. A bit of leading by example is no bad thing.
I completely agree with you but that didn’t seem to be the point you were making earlier in the thread with phrases like “drill sargeant” and “bawling his lungs out”.
I can tell you that, for me, the single largest reason why state schools get poorer results is that the independent sector is considerably less tolerant of failure.
We’ll have to have a chat about that sometime, but probably in the New Year as it will take me until then to stop fuming over this stupid, ignorant comment!
Anyhow moving on. I always shouted when I was playing. I still do in a Sunday evening game of 5-a-side.
The secret is to be positive. As well as reading the game and bellowing out instructions (you have to bellow to be heard) you can gee-up a player by shouting something like “Come on Tony, you’re better than that” or praise them with the likes off “Great defending guys, absolutely brilliant. Same again!”
I remember watching Paul Hayes playing at Carlisle for Wycombe. He was constantly talking to the other players, particularly the young lads, encouraging them and giving praise when it was earned. This is what we are missing at present.
With no crowds in stadiums it should be easier to spot who is doing this when watching on ifollow. Have a listen on Saturday.
In a perfect world, we could have a Bishop, a Bara or – best of all – a Crozzer. All of these guys possessed an easygoing, natural authority. Spot on about Paul Hayes.
In our current position, how can we possibly attract that sort of guy to the club? That is the question.
We could spend a lot of dosh on someone who is over the hill and hope that they stay fit, I suppose.
I am pinning a lot of hope on Brown and Howard to do this at the back but the midfield cupboard is bare.
Cox was full of praise for Beestin and his attitude on Tuesday. Hopefully he can emerge as a character to add a bit of drive to the team. A big ask given his inexperience, but it’s up to Cox and Lillis to at least give some more energy to the team.
It is possible for young midfielders to take charge, Yates and Crooks, but we clearly don’t have anybody with that quality. Hopefully some will start to improve – let’s hope it happens soon or we are doomed!!!
Beestin is our most experienced central midfielder (in terms of English Football League anyway)…he’s made over 50 professional appearances, the majority being for Donny in League 1! He deserves a chance after his recent performances.
I checked the other day about Beestin and he’s more experienced than I realised, like you say BigToe, he’s played a fair few games at lg 1 level and to be honest I think he’s better than Spence and much better than Vincent ever was.
I still think him and Taylor are our best two CM’s at present. If we go 4/4/2 with two strikers, we could play Beestin alongside Spence and Beestin can be the one who get’s forward a bit and allow Spence to sit in.
I don’t want anymore stupid diamond formations, they don’t work. In times like these we need to simplify as much as we can.
Olomola and Kev upfront if both are fit enough and bring them both off 2nd half…stick Loft and Hallam when both are knackered.
At least with Kvv and Olomola you like to think we’d at least carry a goal threat.
Am pleased with this line up, the only thing that go against is many unfot players but the only way they can get fit is by playing. We may not see the best of this lot today but the technique and skill level has improved greatly.
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