Players Don't Care (5 Viewers)

[Brighton Sky Blue]

I said before but what we have done with the transfer windfall is a case study of how not to build a squad. Zero leadership anywhere in the squad, lots of prospects having to learn on the job and no established pros, so no consistency from anyone.

Asante looks a total waste of funds.

 

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[fernandopartridge]

There were 15 minutes to go when we went two down, but we just meekly accepted the result after that. Absolutely no leadership from anybody there. It's about 3 years since we came back in similar circumstances at Bournemouth, just couldn't see that happening at all tonight.

 

[Marty]

Sheaf is weak as piss and no captain, he barely talks to the rest of the team and almost never the ref. Immediately I would have another captain (Bidwell/Eccles/Kitching) and bring in an experienced pro in CM and CB. Kitching would be back in for Saturday, he's a calamity waiting to happen but he's willing to get stuck in and isn't soft as shite, This team would vastly improve with a bit of real leadership.

 

[Bad Boy]

Did anyone else see and hear Bidwell as he prepared to take a throw in shout at Sheaf (I think) 'move'

 

[Skybluekyle]

Whilst I've been a bit on the negative side tonight, it's difficult to be positive after a defeat, of course, but I think that was a game of taking your chances.

For all our talk of ponderous, laboured passing, of which I am in agreement, but we take the chances we made, which shows it wasn't all bad, and not be so statue-esque at the back in a crucial moment, we're talking about a cracking away win.

WBA rode their luck tonight, and they got away with one. But, even in the midst of my own negativity, there is a bit to take away from the game. Roll on Saturday.

 

[marrrkjay_ccfc]

Its been our biggest weakness since we returned to the championship, not being able to sign good, consistent wide players. Giles and Dabo looked bang average in 2020/21. Maatsen was good going forward but poor defensively and Kane/Dabo were poor in 2021/22. Bidwell/Wilson-Esbrand and Dabo/Norton-Cuffy were average in 2022/23 and last season van Ewijk only looked good in a back 4 and Bidwell/Dasilva again were average.

Whenever we get the ball out wide, you just know that whoever is on the ball is not going to beat their man, instead they'll slow it down and pass it backwards. Both of the West Brom wingers actually took us on. The Burnley winger ran with the ball across the pitch for their opening goal the other week.

How much better we would be if we actually had wide players who have lightning pace and are not afraid to take a player on. Its currently too easy to defend against us because no one can beat a man. Sakamoto has a bit of trickery but doesn't have the pace to be a consistent menace.

As solid as Bidwell has been, he's such a limited player and Dasilva doesn't cut it. van Ewijk is alone for the second season running. We seriously need to identify 1 RB and 2 LBs over the next two transfer windows or we will continue being an average squad.

And all of the above doesn't begin to address the problems we have in defence and central midfield.

 

[Chris1987]

WBA not even out of first gear.

They only have one gear .

 

[Earlsdon_Skyblue1]

Sheaf looks out of sorts , EMC very disappointing tonight , hope Wright is fit asap.

Sheaf is exactly as he always has been. Unfortunately some of you fools got played and it's only now we are losing more games you are wising up to it.

We aren't getting anywhere with him in the team, let alone as captain.

 

[Otis]

There were 15 minutes to go when we went two down, but we just meekly accepted the result after that. Absolutely no leadership from anybody there. It's about 3 years since we came back in similar circumstances at Bournemouth, just couldn't see that happening at all tonight.

Yeah. That was very concerning. Our heads dropped at 2 nil and at no point after that did we look like getting back into the game.

Such a poor second goal to give away.

 

[Otis]

Sheaf is exactly as he always has been. Unfortunately some of you fools got played and it's only now we are losing more games you are wising up to it.

We aren't getting anywhere with him in the team, let alone as captain.

Have to disagree there. This is not the same Sheaf as when he was on top of his game.

At times he used to look our best player, but lately, he's just a mere shadow of his former self.

I have really rated him. Not rating him very highly at all at the moment though.

I thought he wasn't match fit before. I can only think he is carrying an injury. It's the only thing that makes sense really.

You don't just become a bad player overnight.

Unfortunately, Sheaf's form has tied in with a few poor games from Eccles too.

 

[Sick Boy]

Sheaf is exactly as he always has been. Unfortunately some of you fools got played and it's only now we are losing more games you are wising up to it.

We aren't getting anywhere with him in the team, let alone as captain.

The last player you went on about this much was Jacob Murphy. Hahaha.

 

[EalingSB]

There were 15 minutes to go when we went two down, but we just meekly accepted the result after that. Absolutely no leadership from anybody there. It's about 3 years since we came back in similar circumstances at Bournemouth, just couldn't see that happening at all tonight.

Not excusing last night’s display but we came from 2-0 down in the last 30 mins v Luton fairly recently. Agree about the leadership.

 

[Sick Boy]

Not excusing last night’s display but we came from 2-0 down in the last 30 mins v Luton fairly recently. Agree about the leadership.

We really should have signed Browne and used the Rudoni transfer money to do all we could to keep CoH.

 

[stevefloyd]

That's such a lazy criticism. I was there tonight and could see they were busting their bollocks tonight.

A fair few not good enough on the night but they were trying.

They were all trying but Mason Clarke pissed me off when he knew he was coming off and couldn't be arsed to attempt to keep the ball in play just pure laziness, he didn't do that much to exert himself anyway!

 

[Sky Blue Harry H]

They were all trying but Mason Clarke pissed me off when he knew he was coming off and couldn't be arsed to attempt to keep the ball in play just pure laziness, he didn't do that much to exert himself anyway!

To be fair, he was never going to reach that 'pass' from Rudoni (which messed up a decent move)

 

[stevefloyd]

To be fair, he was never going to reach that 'pass' from Rudoni (which messed up a decent move)

Not if he's standing still for sure!

 

[covcity4life]

Think many people blinded by the trust rather than the performance

We look so much more assured on the ball now. And we battle more to win possession.

We're clearly improving imo

 

[Torquay Sky Blue]

I think we all know Sheaf is decent and because he's woefully off form he gets a lot of criticism. By the same token , a few of our under performers escape and fall under the radar. Eccles was awful last night. A natural trier but bang average. You could say that for Rudoni, EMC and Asante ... perhaps just poor players and not up to the level.

 

[TomRad85]

We really should have signed Browne and used the Rudoni transfer money to do all we could to keep CoH.

Nah, the BTA transfer money.

 

[TomRad85]

Think many people blinded by the trust rather than the performance

We look so much more assured on the ball now. And we battle more to win possession.

We're clearly improving imo

I agree mate, we actually look better. I'm sure results will follow and we'll improve further. January window wouldn't hurt either.

 

[wingy]

…the moment when EMC stopped chasing a ball that it looked like he could’ve kept in.

Advice from the dept of effort, noticeable across the Prem and possibly lower!
Don't waste intensity, then you can say fit like never before¡

 

[shmmeee]

Actually, with Vik at least, we did.

Obviously there was zero chance of getting a player of the same quality, we're not in the market for £20-30m strikers, but in Wright, we absolutely got as good a replacement as we could have.

Hamer and Fadz are the real misses. Desperately need a play who can beat a man, pick a pass, offer an option, and yes even score a goal from CM. Fadz we’ve all been over. Just desperately lacking in organisation and leadership at the back.

 

[wingy]

There were 15 minutes to go when we went two down, but we just meekly accepted the result after that. Absolutely no leadership from anybody there. It's about 3 years since we came back in similar circumstances at Bournemouth, just couldn't see that happening at all tonight.

Wasted effort equals lack of efficiency in the fitness measurements .

 

[BlueSkiesForever]

I don’t think it’s that the players don’t care, I’ve heard this argument so many times, it just can’t be the case that we’re the only club with a whole squad of players that don’t want their careers to progress, it’s more that the players aren’t good enough.

We need a big spend in the January window, we’ve still got Bidwell and Dasilva at LB, who just don’t make enough impact at this level for me, we’ve got no RB cover, two CMs that don’t like moving forward when we’re attacking, and no quality attacking midfielder. I’ve said it for literally ages now but we’re not going to improve until we improve the midfield and our flanking attackers.

 

[Earlsdon-Loyal-Blue]

Sheaf looks out of sorts , EMC very disappointing tonight , hope Wright is fit asap.

Really hard to be positive. No leadership on the pitch. No players with their heads up taking hold of the game.

I really don’t rate EMC and last night was a classic performance from him.

 

[Londonccfcfan]

I don't agree mark that the players don't care , we've not played at all badly tonight

100% this.

We were the better team, its just the way its going atm.

We will play alot worse and spank teams.

Ive been to many worse away performances!!

 

[alexccfc99]

There were 15 minutes to go when we went two down, but we just meekly accepted the result after that. Absolutely no leadership from anybody there. It's about 3 years since we came back in similar circumstances at Bournemouth, just couldn't see that happening at all tonight.

Yep, this squad just fucking folds like a deck of cards

I walked out at 2-0, certain sides you will stay with because you always think in the back of your mind they can always get back into it… not this lot

 

[Earlsdon_Skyblue1]

The last player you went on about this much was Jacob Murphy. Hahaha.

This is also not the first time you've mentioned this instead of providing a counter argument!

 

[SBAndy]

Hamer and Fadz are the real misses. Desperately need a play who can beat a man, pick a pass, offer an option, and yes even score a goal from CM. Fadz we’ve all been over. Just desperately lacking in organisation and leadership at the back.

The glimmer of hope I’m hanging on to is that I think, with one experienced CB, we could transform our back line. All about finding that one though.

 

[napolimp]

I don’t think it’s that the players don’t care, I’ve heard this argument so many times, it just can’t be the case that we’re the only club with a whole squad of players that don’t want their careers to progress, it’s more that the players aren’t good enough.

We need a big spend in the January window, we’ve still got Bidwell and Dasilva at LB, who just don’t make enough impact at this level for me, we’ve got no RB cover, two CMs that don’t like moving forward when we’re attacking, and no quality attacking midfielder. I’ve said it for literally ages now but we’re not going to improve until we improve the midfield and our flanking attackers.

Jake Bidwell doesn't "make enough impact at this level"? You mean the same Bidwell who was starting LWB in our Championship play-off final season?

 

[Skyblueweeman]

Why is MVE looking so knackered? We're not even half way through the season.

At the end of a season with a good cup run, I get it but early December??

 

[SBAndy]

Why is MVE looking so knackered? We're not even half way through the season.

At the end of a season with a good cup run, I get it but early December??

I do recall that he’s picked up a couple of knocks in games this season - maybe he’s another playing through injury.

 

[torchomatic]

Wrong leadership on the pitch.

**No** leadership on the pitch.

 

[torchomatic]

Why is MVE looking so knackered? We're not even half way through the season.

At the end of a season with a good cup run, I get it but early December??

Because he plays every game, we do not have someone who can come in and give him a rest or replace him if he's playing poorly, which he is.

 

[Major Tom]

In all seriousness who makes four team changing signings in January. In reality those players won't be available and if they are we will be out priced or paying well over the odds.