A Gentlemans Excuse Me (6 Viewers)

[Nick]

How long will people go on about "knee jerk"? This isn't a bad 1 or 2 games.

 

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[Sick Boy]

I would argue more is needed, otherwise that’s 15 from 15 which is relegation fodder.

I don’t disagree but it’d be a huge improvement on recent results.

 

[Earlsdon_Skyblue1]

I crash cars for a living.

You haven't left any of them round here recently have you? This place seems full of them at the moment.

 

[Nuskyblue]

View attachment 38947

Since Feb, we have been awful.

I've been trying my best to back the players and Robins but that run is indefensible.

Even the handful of wins, besides Leeds and maybe Blackburn, are against some real shite sides.

38 points from 31 games is poor going tbh.

 

[skybluegod]

Here’s the next 5 games:
QPR (A)
Luton (H)
Middlesbrough (A)
Derby (H)
Sunderland (A)

that takes us to the international break

We then play
Sheff Utd (H)
Burnley (A)
Cardiff (H)

realistically which game does the turnaround under Robins start?

the last 2 seasons we had similar starts - but we weren’t as bad performance wise as we have been this season.

What surprised me with Robins was pre game he was saying the performances have been better this season than previous years but with the same poor results which I couldn't disagree more with.

We actually played well at the start of last year just with poor results. This year it's both poor results and performances.

I do get the feeling that if the form is going to turn it's going to be Tuesday night tho.

 

[The watchmaker]

If you went back to the start of the play off season and said the next 3 seasons we’ll have a poor season ( lower\mid table } reach a FA cup semi final and get to a play off final, and some fans would be calling for robins to go, what would you honestly think ?

I'm really not convinced the context here is wide enough. If you'd told me when he was appointed that we would be considering sacking the manager who re-established us as a decent championship outfit because he had an iffy first 10 games to the 24/25 season I'd have thought we were stupid.

The problem I really can't get my head round is - if we pick up over the next few weeks, are in no real danger of relegation and then plateaux mid table for the next few years is that good enough? Would the players be doing better under another manager? Are we a big club that deserves better? Or are we in danger of doing a 'Curbishley has taken us as far as he can. It's time for Dowie' type error?

 

[thekidfromstrettoncamp]

I do get the feeling that if the form is going to turn it's going to be Tuesday night tho.

I think WILL have to turn.
Look at the fixtures Tuesday
Millwall v Plymouth,Cardiff v Portsmouth,Sheffield Wed,v Swansea
Defeat and a Cardiff draw and we would but bottom.
Win and top six will be talk of by some
Lose and the interesting few days we have had could turn toxic Saturday.

 

[Brylowes]

View attachment 38947

Since Feb, we have been awful.

I've been trying my best to back the players and Robins but that run is indefensible.

Between the 5th March and the 6th April we won 4 out of 5 league games scoring 13 & conceding 5 we also had the epic 3 v 2 win away at Wolves you’re literally proving yourself wrong here.

 

[Ring Of Steel]

Between the 5th March and the 6th April we won 4 out of 5 league games scoring 13 & conceding 5 we also had the epic 3 v 2 win away at Wolves you’re literally proving yourself wrong here.

What we also see is a lot of emphasis on people apparently saying Robins is “blameless”, arguing that everything now is his fault and saying that not putting all the blame on him is making excuses. But yet when it comes to all the things he has achieved, as we see in the OP, that apparently wasn’t actually down to him.

so all the good things- not down to Robins
all the bad things- all down to Robins
.. and here’s a few dodgy stats to ‘prove’ it

 

[Grendel]

What we also see is a lot of emphasis on people apparently saying Robins is “blameless”, arguing that everything now is his fault and saying that not putting all the blame on him is making excuses. But yet when it comes to all the things he has achieved, as we see in the OP, that wasn’t actually down to him.

so all the good things- not down to Robins
all the bad things- all down to Robins
.. and here’s a few dodgy stats to ‘prove’ it

How are the stats “dodgy”

 

[Grendel]

Between the 5th March and the 6th April we won 4 out of 5 league games scoring 13 & conceding 5 we also had the epic 3 v 2 win away at Wolves you’re literally proving yourself wrong here.

The season was very erratic

15 points from the first 15 games

4 points from the last 8

46 points from the middle 23

 

[Ring Of Steel]

The season was very erratic

15 points from the first 15 games

4 points from the last 8

46 points from the middle 23

So what you’re saying is that he turned around a bad start to the season.

The end had an FA Cup run which detailed pretty much everything, which was actually accepted on here at the time.

 

[Sick Boy]

So what you’re saying is that he turned around a bad start to the season.

The end had an FA Cup run which detailed pretty much everything, which was actually accepted on here at the time.

We were never going to win the FA Cup, the focus should always have been on getting promoted.

 

[Brylowes]

The season was very erratic

15 points from the first 15 games

4 points from the last 8

46 points from the middle 23

Agreed, but that hasn’t got anything to do with my post or the post I was responding to.

pusbccfc stated “since Feb we have been awful“
I’m just pointing out that this clearly wasn’t the case.

 

[Ring Of Steel]

We were never going to win the FA Cup, the focus should always have been on getting promoted.

I don’t disagree, but that’s what happened. They’re human at the end of the day, and not the most experienced, the glamour & glitz and all that, we were on the beach after the Man Utd game. And that’s happened to so many clubs including us down the years.

I’m an old man so I can dredge the memory banks I may be wrong, but 89/90 we were flying high in 4th for a fair while, then we had the League Cup Semi v Forest and after that we slumped to 10th or something, and lost 6-1 on the last day in one of the most embarrassing matches we ever had. We switched off and were indeed on the beach once that run ended.

it shouldn’t happen, these are highly paid professionals, but it does.

 

[Grendel]

So what you’re saying is that he turned around a bad start to the season.

The end had an FA Cup run which detailed pretty much everything, which was actually accepted on here at the time.

Our big upturn in form was coinciding with O Hare in the team regularly.

During that time simms scored goals. The reality is he’s only scored in about 10 league games in total nearly all during that period.

Our cup “run” in the last 8 games consisted of one game - the semi fimal

 

[Sick Boy]

I don’t disagree, but that’s what happened. They’re human at the end of the day, and not the most experienced, the glamour & glitz and all that, we were on the beach after the Man Utd game. And that’s happened to so many clubs including us down the years.

I don't think they were on the beach, I think what happened destroyed them mentally.

 

[Ring Of Steel]

I don't think they were on the beach, I think what happened destroyed them mentally.

yeah very fair point actually.

 

[Ring Of Steel]

Our big upturn in form was coinciding with O Hare in the team regularly.

During that time simms scored goals. The reality is he’s only scored in about 10 league games in total nearly all during that period.

Our cup “run” in the last 8 games consisted of one game - the semi fimal

And Simms isn’t scoring now (nor is anybody else), which takes us back to the xg table, which points to there being more at play than just Robins losing the plot totally.

 

[Grendel]

And Simms isn’t scoring now (nor is anybody else), which takes us back to the xg table, which points to there being more at play than just Robins losing the plot totally.

Many suggest robins himself wanted simms.

Simms is tripe.

 

[pusbccfc]

Between the 5th March and the 6th April we won 4 out of 5 league games scoring 13 & conceding 5 we also had the epic 3 v 2 win away at Wolves you’re literally proving yourself wrong here.

Well in comparison to the 2 months prior, we did drop off in Feb. We picked up in March beating Rotherham (who basically gave us the win), Watford (we were okay that day) and Huddersfield (later relegated).




When you did deeper into those league results since Feb, it's grim reading. Take the Leeds result out of it, Millwall, Stoke, Rotherham, Watford and Huddersfield all finished in the bottom half.

Oxford this season are newly promoted from League 1.

Blackburn is a good result considering their league position.

Granted, we focused on the cup and I'm glad of it. Wolves and United were two unforgettable days and I wouldn't change them.

 

[Ring Of Steel]

Many suggest robins himself wanted simms.

Simms is tripe.

Maybe Robins paid the money himself he was so desperate to have him, who knows- but the fact is that he isn’t delivering and nor are the other strikers. I don’t see how that’s smoking gun evidence that Robins needs to be summarily dismissed with his record and history with us, particularly when operating in difficult circumstances. The xg table is pretty hard evidence that the chances are being made.

 

[pusbccfc]

I don't think they were on the beach, I think what happened destroyed them mentally.

And physically to be fair. They looked knackered for weeks. A real lack of squad depth at the time.

 

[SkyBlue_Bear83]

View attachment 38947

Since Feb, we have been awful.

I've been trying my best to back the players and Robins but that run is indefensible.

Even the handful of wins, besides Leeds and maybe Blackburn, are against some real shite sides.

The results were ok in Feb but the performances had dipped, and sure enough the results followed.

Bristol City, Stoke, Plymouth and Millwall were all unconvincing displays and the cracks really started to show for the PNE and West Brom fixtures.

The form had started to dip before the Man Utd match with three losses in four so its extremely unlikely we would not have made the play offs even if we didn't play the semi final.

So other than the odd blip, you are right that performances have been generally poor since February

 

[Nick]

And physically to be fair. They looked knackered for weeks. A real lack of squad depth at the time.

So we keep hearing about them being tired, so why didn't the actions of the manager match that?

Moaning O'Hare was tired but then putting him on against Maidstone when there's no need, for example.

 

[SlowerThanPlatt]

Harry Walting, Jesus Christ Doug

View attachment 38953

That’s where Todd Kane is now Ebbsfleet

 

[Sky Blue Goblin]

That’s where Todd Kane is now Ebbsfleet

Where we will be if we hire Harry Watling

 

[Ring Of Steel]

The results were ok in Feb but the performances had dipped, and sure enough the results followed.

Bristol City, Stoke, Plymouth and Millwall were all unconvincing displays and the cracks really started to show for the PNE and West Brom fixtures.

The form had started to dip before the Man Utd match with three losses in four so its extremely unlikely we would not have made the play offs even if we didn't play the semi final.

So other than the odd blip, you are right that performances have been generally poor since February

And how did we play v Man Utd?

Surely you can see that all the focus went there. Shouldn’t have done, but it did.

 

[Wyken Sky Blue]

Many suggest robins himself wanted simms.

Simms is tripe.

He has been tripe this season but clearly there is a player there

No excuses at all, he should be playing better. May need a different manager if Robins can't get the best out of him...

 

[Jamesimus]

Just looked and apparently we are 3rd in the xG table, which surprised me tbh. Middlesbrough top.

 

[SlowerThanPlatt]

Just looked and apparently we are 3rd in the xG table, which surprised me tbh. Middlesbrough top.

I think that’s xG - xA, so we’re missing good chances and conceding from low probability ones. The worst of both worlds, fine margins!

 

[Ring Of Steel]

Just looked and apparently we are 3rd in the xG table, which surprised me tbh. Middlesbrough top.

Yep, there’s your clue as to one huge issue we have, which is being conveniently glossed over. We are creating chances but not taking them.

I think we’re 9th in the xga table for conceding too. 5th in the overall xgd table.

Really fine margins, for which Robins is ultimately accountable, but justification for demanding he be sacked immediately? Not for me.

 

[Jamesimus]

I think that’s xG + xA, so we’re missing good chances and conceding from low probability ones. The worst of both worlds, fine margins!

Was this one…


I don’t know how good or accurate it is!
Maybe the Jan window will get utilised this year and help us out? Still a few players short of creating a good balance I think.

 

[Jamesimus]

Yep, there’s your clue as to one huge issue we have, which is being conveniently glossed over. We are creating chances but not taking them.

I think we’re 9th in the xga table for conceding too. 5th in the overall xgd table.

Really fine margins, for which Robins is ultimately accountable, but justification for demanding he be sacked immediately? Not for me.

I personally don’t want him sacked.

This season other than a few glimpses; Watford first half and possibly bits of Blackburn, the performances haven’t been great. In the past I have been able to see us play well, lose and realise we can turn it around. Haven’t seen as much of that so far yet, but I have missed a few more games than usual this year. Didn’t see Preston, Swansea, and a couple of others!

 

[Sky Blue Wozza]

I don’t disagree, but that’s what happened. They’re human at the end of the day, and not the most experienced, the glamour & glitz and all that, we were on the beach after the Man Utd game. And that’s happened to so many clubs including us down the years.

I’m an old man so I can dredge the memory banks I may be wrong, but 89/90 we were flying high in 4th for a fair while, then we had the League Cup Semi v Forest and after that we slumped to 10th or something, and lost 6-1 on the last day in one of the most embarrassing matches we ever had. We switched off and were indeed on the beach once that run ended.

it shouldn’t happen, these are highly paid professionals, but it does.

My Dad (a Liverpool fan) took me to that game. Missed our goal because we were late getting in - My Dad then missed three Liverpool goals getting a coffee.