Thorn has to go (2 Viewers)

I don't think Thorn has to go but I hope that 25 minute spell in the second half means the end of the diamond and the consistent backwards 3 yard passes between defenders. We need to attack in numbers and are good football needs to be in the opposition half going forward where it can hurt the other team.

kduffy said:

It is always quoted as 4 best players but Turner never played (and Wood is OK anyway) for Thorn, Westwood conceded more goals per game than Murphy and correct me if I am wrong but Gunnarson was highly criticised last season. So actually King is the difference as he was a class apart - and why did he sign for us? - Boothroyd. He may have stayed if he was still manager - he was never going to stay once Thorn was appointed.

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We only played well under Boothroyd when Turner was the best CB in the division. We'd have been in trouble without him sooner, and his form for Cardiff implies that he is a great loss.

To an extent, we only realise how good Aron was now he's gone. He did a lot of closing down, and was capapble of moving off the ball. He scored 4 goals last season-do any of our present midfielders look like scoring 4? He was pretty experienced for a youngster, and is playing superbly for Cardiff with better players around him.

I'd chuck Doyle and Carsley into the mix: we got most of our points under Boothroyd with them in the side, and they have not been replaced in terms of experience.

Wood played under Boothroyd and was terrible. He has looked 3 times the player-when at CB-under Thorn this season.

We even had a 2nd LB in the squad in O'Halloran; OK he was weak, but at least having an other left-sided defender option is a luxury that Thorn doesn't have. There is a solitary LB in the ENTIRE SQUAD.

King was very poor under Boothroyd; it was Thorn who got the best out of him, and the King-Lukas partnership was flourishing. Anyone remember him running to Thorn to celebrate after scoring? If Boothroyd had stayed, we wouldn't have even made an offer for King, as we'd have been in L1!

I think I can state that Westwood was and is a better goalkeeper than Murphy without having to say anything more. You can claim what ever statistics you like, Westwood is clearly massively superior. I'll even say that Scunthorpe conceded more goals than anyone last season, and Murphy was their keeper-that makes him worse, no?

AFCCOVENTRY said:

We have the poorest manager in this league and the table reflects that.

The only hope is to play the youth team now. Last week he was saying some off the senior figures in the team were not listening to him. Is that because he has lost the dressing room?

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We have the poorest squad of players that is why the table reflects it. Simples.

First off we cant afford someone other than Thorne because SISU wont pay the bigger wages

I accept that he had an input into us staying up. But still think his biggest contribution to that was to simply say go play. He was the complete opposite to Boothroyd and for 10 games the players responded to it, the shackles were off and in a short burst it worked, it surprised the opposition who expected hoofball. However the performances whilst being easier on the eye were never very secure. In nearly all the matches we picked up points we were on the edge and it could have gone either way. However we stayed up and i applaud him for that. Even without the financial problems and players going this season was always going to be the proof of the pudding as far as Thorne is concerned. I think he has along with Harrison been found a little wanting

I am concerned about a number of issues
- the lack of passion in the performances, yes they work hard and pass it nicely in our own half without hurting the opposition but do i see real passion ?
- The lack of motivation in our more senior players
- the lack of leadership in the team
- the lack of a clear plan. Having said said there is nothing wrong with the system AT changed it after 15mins. Dont get me wrong i applaud he reacted to the game but he changed the system 2 or 3 times in the first half alone that implies lack of clarity because Saints didnt change their formation
- Does AT have the nous & resolve for a dog fight?
- AT's measure of a good performance is often about the possession %age, but we have no edge to that possession

All need AT's input.

We have changed far too often over the years. AT will learn much from this experience perhaps be a better manager for it. Sadly I think he will preside over our relegation. Not all his fault certainly but he will have contributed

If he gets money to spend at Christmas, we can judge him then. Fingers crossed if SISU go, he'll be given the tools to show that he can get us playing again.

Well said a balance I guess between the views of me and NLHWC.

Re: the diamond.

We only played to diamond for first 15 minutes today. Thorn made the change quite early intonation 451-433 with Sheff out right and Cody out left. Although southampton were dominating We never conceded in the diamond.

In the second half it looked like they started with 4231 then 442 when platt came on.

So it did look as though thorn was trying to change and try things.

stupot07 said:

Re: the diamond.

We only played to diamond for first 15 minutes today. Thorn made the change quite early intonation 451-433 with Sheff out right and Cody out left. Although southampton were dominating We never conceded in the diamond.

In the second half it looked like they started with 4231 then 442 when platt came on.

So it did look as though thorn was trying to change and try things.

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I thought it was 4-4-2 from the moment the second half started and it was when I thought we looked the best, we still put some good attacking moves together but no passing it around the back four for about 10 passes which allows the opposition to set themselves up defensively, we got the ball forward much faster, played with a purpose and tempo to our play and caused Southampton some problems.

CCFC said:

I thought it was 4-4-2 from the moment the second half started and it was when I thought we looked the best, we still put some good attacking moves together but no passing it around the back four for about 10 passes which allows the opposition to set themselves up defensively, we got the ball forward much faster, played with a purpose and tempo to our play and caused Southampton some problems.

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We did, and we created space and overload situations out wide. I'm moving into the 442 camp now, as it gives other teams a bit of a surprise. It may unleash our potential a lot more as it moves the entire shape 10 yards up the pitch.

AFCCOVENTRY said:

We have the poorest manager in this league and the table reflects that.

The only hope is to play the youth team now. Last week he was saying some off the senior figures in the team were not listening to him. Is that because he has lost the dressing room?

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No the players we have reflect our position in the league, they are not good enough, Andy Thorn has been given nothing to work with, calling for his head is crazy. Sacking managers has worked well for us in the past.... certainly not

CCFC said:

I thought it was 4-4-2 from the moment the second half started and it was when I thought we looked the best, we still put some good attacking moves together but no passing it around the back four for about 10 passes which allows the opposition to set themselves up defensively, we got the ball forward much faster, played with a purpose and tempo to our play and caused Southampton some problems.

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We definitely started 4231 at the start of the second half, Thomas dropped in with clingan, McDonald dropped in behind juke, with Sheff and bell either side of him. We moved to 442 when platt came on.