Grendel
Well-Known Member
Ha ha ha! You said starts. How many starts did he have at Sheffield - was it 13?
Plan B - Have we got one this year? (5 Viewers)
- Thread starter Esoterica
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Ha ha ha! You said starts. How many starts did he have at Sheffield - was it 13?
Esoterica
Well-Known Member
Robins has done a lot of positive things in the way that he got the full squad together early, signed players on 2 year contracts and developed individual players like Jones. But I think it's a bit of a leap to say that Robins has out thought and been a step ahead of opposing managers - we do exactly the same thing every game:
* Back 4 starts deep, midfield sit deep.
* Half time comes around after playing awful football and hoping Jodi does something special.
* Robins pushes the back 4 higher so the team is closer together and gives Kelly a bit more licence to get forward.
* We create a bit more and quite often nick a goal.
I think Robins had a huge slice of luck with McNulty getting injured in the Port Vale game, absolutely massive. We'd scored 1 goal in 4 games of which 3 of those teams are still in the bottom 5 teams of the division. At that point Nazon had 1 start, at left midfield. Suddenly Nazon showed himself capable of spectacular goals and we were no longer reliant only on Jones to create something special. Jones started getting a bit more space again after being largely ineffective after his opening couple of games and we started to score a little more frequently too and go on a decent run.
Nazon goes off to Haiti, Barnet give a sigh of relief and double up on Jones again and our one dimensional creativity is easily stifled again.
Most teams are happy with a point against us home or away and Robins is happy for a point away from home - we've played the same way all season regardless of which players we've had available or who we've played against. Robins is not out thinking anyone on a game by game basis, we've just got a better squad than most other teams in the league. If anything we're one trick ponies except we've stumbled on a 2nd person that can perform the trick.
ccfcway
Well-Known Member
last 4 homes games we have won and not conceded a goal. wonder when that last happened ?
Esoterica
Well-Known Member
Probably the last time we were playing in this fucking useless godawful 4th division. You like to celebrate strengths, I like to improve upon weaknesses. And while I know you like to keep your positivity suppository permanently inserted, I'm not being negative for the sake of it - we're doing very well in some aspects and not so well in others. That 'not so well in others' could be the difference between autos and play offs so why not have a discussion about it? It's not like I'm calling out individual players - i've laid my reasoning out, which part of my last post do you disagree with?
P.S I'm delighted with our home form but we have to expect a dip at some point and then picking up more than a point away from home at places like Barnet will be crucial to getting out of this division at the first attempt without the lottery of the play offs.
dongonzalos
Well-Known Member
Robins was adamant that McNulty was his main striker. The Duck was forced to play out of position.
He got lucky when mcnulty got injured.
Robins has a set formula abd he sticks to it.
To be fair if we want to finish in the play off spots it will work.
However if he wants to get us up automatically. He needs to convince SISU to invest in a striker
He got lucky when mcnulty got injured.
Robins has a set formula abd he sticks to it.
To be fair if we want to finish in the play off spots it will work.
However if he wants to get us up automatically. He needs to convince SISU to invest in a striker
Grendel
Well-Known Member
Oh dear
Otis
Well-Known Member
Errr.....so two trick ponies then.
stevefloyd
Well-Known Member
We need Hay-nes to feed them now
Otis
Well-Known Member
We could use the hay to feed the Duck. Either that or everyone could just go round McDonald's.
Esoterica
Well-Known Member
2 ponies, one trick. You must have seen the video?
Otis
Well-Known Member
I did, but then I thought beastilality was illegal, so quickly shut it down and moved on to dwarf porn.
Astute
Well-Known Member
This place makes me laugh sometimes.
Some of us pointed out before the season started that the defence looked decent, the midfield looked strong and had leaders, but we looked weak up front and would struggle to score. We were told we were wrong.
A quarter of the way through the season we can see that the defence is decent, the midfield is strong but we are struggling to score goals as we are weak up front. We have strikers that keep missing chances or passing instead of shooting.
And still some say that the problem isn't with our strikers. They try to blame our midfield for not setting up chances.
In the games I have managed to go to I have seen more fluffed shots and passes where a shot would have been better than I have seen goals. McNulty is a striker who sets up goals much better than he scores goals. But who has he got to set up?
Saying all that I am happy so far. We know we can beat the teams at the top of the table. But we are struggling as usual against the teams near the bottom. We are best playing on the counter attack. But can look clueless when the other team sits back. We need the striker in the middle to cause problems like McNulty does. But we need him to start scoring goals. And until that happens our tight defence will keep us near the top. We are still only 1 point off an automatic promotion place when we are not scoring enough goals. Just 1 goal on Saturday would have had us in 3rd and only 3 points off 1st. And we had enough chances to score.
Some of us pointed out before the season started that the defence looked decent, the midfield looked strong and had leaders, but we looked weak up front and would struggle to score. We were told we were wrong.
A quarter of the way through the season we can see that the defence is decent, the midfield is strong but we are struggling to score goals as we are weak up front. We have strikers that keep missing chances or passing instead of shooting.
And still some say that the problem isn't with our strikers. They try to blame our midfield for not setting up chances.
In the games I have managed to go to I have seen more fluffed shots and passes where a shot would have been better than I have seen goals. McNulty is a striker who sets up goals much better than he scores goals. But who has he got to set up?
Saying all that I am happy so far. We know we can beat the teams at the top of the table. But we are struggling as usual against the teams near the bottom. We are best playing on the counter attack. But can look clueless when the other team sits back. We need the striker in the middle to cause problems like McNulty does. But we need him to start scoring goals. And until that happens our tight defence will keep us near the top. We are still only 1 point off an automatic promotion place when we are not scoring enough goals. Just 1 goal on Saturday would have had us in 3rd and only 3 points off 1st. And we had enough chances to score.
Esoterica
Well-Known Member
The last bit is where I do disagree with you. The kind of striker you want just doesn't exist at this level - that list of players you suggested earlier that you would swap Duck for (Collins, Reid, Akinfenwa etc) their teams are set up to play to those players strengths. Our team is set up to make sure we don't concede. I don't remember (I may have had a beer or two since) one cross from the touch line, in open play, into Biamou our 6ft 1 striker. McNulty was clearly instructed to defend deep from the front rather than play off the shoulder of their last man, which is where he would have been dangerous running off Biamou. I think it's really unfair to write off our current strikers when they're asked to run themselves into the ground and then expect them to consistently score the odd half chance which eventually comes there way when we finally open up in the 2nd half.
Esoterica
Well-Known Member
And I do really think it was an opportunity missed against Barnet to test ourselves. We'd just picked up 9 from 9 when Robins had said he was happy with 5 points, confidence is high and were coming up against a Barnet team on an awful run, missing half their decent players and shipping goals all over the place. We could have used that game to see what happens when we attack from the start away from home. I'm not talking a gung ho all out assault, just playing McNulty higher and letting Kelly go box to box from the start. I'm pretty sure our defence, who were largely untroubled all game would have coped, our entire midfield hadn't played for a week so they shouldn't be too fatigued and if we ended up losing then that one point dropped is not a disaster. Instead we've set up the same as we do every week and picked up a point - which is ok on paper and in the context of the previous week but for me not ok in the context of being unable to break down shit but organised teams away from home and in giving our strikers some confidence in front of goal.
ccfcway
Well-Known Member
we are doing well. We are set up not to conceed and be solid at the back. Its virtually a new squad and they have gelled very early and are in contention.
The football on the whole isn't great to watch, but id rather us be up there competing than playing well and not getting the results.
i'll take this for the remainder of the season, as we know we will be there or there abouts in the shake up
The football on the whole isn't great to watch, but id rather us be up there competing than playing well and not getting the results.
i'll take this for the remainder of the season, as we know we will be there or there abouts in the shake up
Esoterica
Well-Known Member
We've played over a quarter of the season, which players from any of the league teams we've played against so far this season would you take and put into our starting XI?
We've shown we're good enough to beat the best teams this league has to offer and with this squad we should absolutely be 'there' at the end of the season. 'There abouts' at the end of the season is not good enough though - we can earn our fortune, we don't need to rely on the lottery.
Londonccfcfan
Well-Known Member
Get a life. We are doing fine. Go take your persistant negatIvity elswhere.
Talk about over fucking analysIs.
Bernie Rhodes Nose
Well-Known Member
Don't think McDonalds passing was all that but they could try a much improved Burge(r).
Esoterica
Well-Known Member
What is more negative, accepting 5th place as fine or believing we have the players to be the best team in this league home and away? Bet you'll be the first one crying when we lose in the play off semi finals and our stuck in this division for another season.
ccfcway
Well-Known Member
fernandopartridge
Well-Known Member
Do pipe down you completely clueless twat
Adge
Well-Known Member
Erm Reice Charles Cook!
dongonzalos
Well-Known Member
We have scored on average 9 goals less than the teams above us.
We are one of the highest shots on goal teams in the division.
Out of our 14 goals 9 of them have come from 2 players. One of whom is currently due to leave in January.
The other strikers have scored one solitary goal between them.
If you want top three. Trust me we need another striker.
However if you want to scrape the play offs, if we are lucky. Then stay as we are and pray that Jones doesn't get injured or double marking doesn't become the norm.
Also pray that the Duck can maintain what he has done, doesn't get injured and Wolves decide he wouldn't be handy to have on their bench.
We are one of the highest shots on goal teams in the division.
Out of our 14 goals 9 of them have come from 2 players. One of whom is currently due to leave in January.
The other strikers have scored one solitary goal between them.
If you want top three. Trust me we need another striker.
However if you want to scrape the play offs, if we are lucky. Then stay as we are and pray that Jones doesn't get injured or double marking doesn't become the norm.
Also pray that the Duck can maintain what he has done, doesn't get injured and Wolves decide he wouldn't be handy to have on their bench.
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No Otis, ducks eat insects,grain and pellets.
The Hay is to build the nest. B-)
NortonSkyBlue
Well-Known Member
We have created chances, we are strong in defence, we are handily placed for a good season. All positive in my book!
Now if we converted a higher percentage of the chances we made then promotion would be nailed on.
I do worry that missing chances will harm us, Jones has scored once since the opening day, the Duck is hit and miss and the rest are not goalscorers who are converting the chances made.
I understand some fans feeling that Ponticelli is not the answer as yet but that is unknown at this stage.
What we do know is the other strikers are not finishers so I would lbet the house on Ponticelli.
Now if we converted a higher percentage of the chances we made then promotion would be nailed on.
I do worry that missing chances will harm us, Jones has scored once since the opening day, the Duck is hit and miss and the rest are not goalscorers who are converting the chances made.
I understand some fans feeling that Ponticelli is not the answer as yet but that is unknown at this stage.
What we do know is the other strikers are not finishers so I would lbet the house on Ponticelli.
Mucca Mad Boys
Well-Known Member
We seem to struggle to break teams down who play with 3 centre halves. Whether this means we change shape to a 4-4-2 or 4-3-3, or even matching their 5-3-2, I don’t know.
It’s also our away form letting us down atm.
Everything else I am satisfied with.
It’s also our away form letting us down atm.
Everything else I am satisfied with.
Otis
Well-Known Member
Not our Chirpy!!
We actually raised a duck. He had an acquired taste to say the least. Grains? Pellets? Pah! Think more dog food, baked beans and garden worms.
ccfcway
Well-Known Member
also ignore the possibility that McNulty will come good and that Biamou will keep on improving.
Ignore than the Duck might not maintain what he has done, but actually improve with the more games he will play.
Ignore that JP has yet to get his chance and chip in with a few, as will Beavon.
If Nazon goes in Jan, I have no doubt MR will look to replace him. If he stays, then no reason to suggest we cant be up there challanging
Londonccfcfan
Well-Known Member
How many teams Actually have plan B?
This perception that teams have well defined plan B is nonsense.
Liverpool fans for example have been crying out for a so called plan B for as long as I can remember....with all the resources in the world and having arguably some of the best managers in the world Don't have plan B.
You do whatever gets you success within your budget personnel available.
This perception that teams have well defined plan B is nonsense.
Liverpool fans for example have been crying out for a so called plan B for as long as I can remember....with all the resources in the world and having arguably some of the best managers in the world Don't have plan B.
You do whatever gets you success within your budget personnel available.
stupot07
Well-Known Member
And that leads back to what we do lack is another attack minded midfielder or wide man to help supply chances and score the odd goal and take some pressure off Jones....Baker would have been ideal, but there must be someone else in that mould that we could sign or loan in January.
Personally I think McNulty will come good and Biamou will get off the mark soon.
And whilst I agree we need to start scoring, our goal difference is only 1 goal less than the league leaders.
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Londonccfcfan
Well-Known Member
Assuming a 100 percent conversion rate we should have had at least another 6 goals from 6 penalties this season but for incompetent referees. Especially when you see amount of dodgy ones given every week on league two highlights package.
Hopefully the luck will even out and we should get our fair share by the end of the season.
Hopefully the luck will even out and we should get our fair share by the end of the season.
Ranjit Bhurpa
Well-Known Member
Don't disagree with you. However maybe a successful season with promotion might remove some or all of the negative pressures and failure these players have been a part of in recent seasons.
Maybe some of them can perform in L1 next time round with a different Manager, mindset and confidence following a promotion. Then again Robins might have different ideas and has a regroup in the way say Shrewsbury have done.
Too many maybe's for me at the moment as we don't really know.
steve82
Well-Known Member
To me we've a huge reliance on JJ finding the answer or more recently Nazon's goals. Good thing about Nazon is he isn't afraid to try a shot from distance, creating something from nothing and has proved he can get a goal and some screamers too, JJ has got us points himself too like the goal to get the win over Port Vale and 5 assists.
Between the two that's 8 league goals and 6 assists out of 14 league goals. That's nearly 60% of our league goals they are responsible for.
Nazon 4 goals + 1 assist
Jones 4 goals + 5 assists
McNulty 1 goal
Grimmer 1 goal
Doyle 1 goal
Kelly Evans 1 goal
Vincenti 1 goal + 2 assists
Own goal 1 goal.
To me we need a better threat down the left or opposite flank to Jones to score different types of goals. Going forwards I think that can be Ryan Haynes when he's fit or Peter Vincenti depending on the opposition and conditions on the day. DiKe is doing well but not quite what we're after.
Haynes can run the channels and beat his man and whip a decent cross in for Biamou to attack in the air. We've no one doing that currently to get more from Biamou's attributes. Vincenti can deliver a decent cross too for Biamou to get on the end off. Haynes has the ability to score cutting in on his right foot as he's shown a few times in the league and cup competitions.
Between the two that's 8 league goals and 6 assists out of 14 league goals. That's nearly 60% of our league goals they are responsible for.
Nazon 4 goals + 1 assist
Jones 4 goals + 5 assists
McNulty 1 goal
Grimmer 1 goal
Doyle 1 goal
Kelly Evans 1 goal
Vincenti 1 goal + 2 assists
Own goal 1 goal.
To me we need a better threat down the left or opposite flank to Jones to score different types of goals. Going forwards I think that can be Ryan Haynes when he's fit or Peter Vincenti depending on the opposition and conditions on the day. DiKe is doing well but not quite what we're after.
Haynes can run the channels and beat his man and whip a decent cross in for Biamou to attack in the air. We've no one doing that currently to get more from Biamou's attributes. Vincenti can deliver a decent cross too for Biamou to get on the end off. Haynes has the ability to score cutting in on his right foot as he's shown a few times in the league and cup competitions.
Gazolba
Well-Known Member
In our last game, we had 16 shots, 8 on target and failed to score. I'm sure our 'strikers' had nothing to do with it.