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Post by londonshrew75 on Jan 6, 2019 10:13:29 GMT 1
Well we should be ! Even though Ricketts is in his infancy at the club this "we've got a plan" statement is a tad worrying to me. Is this "The plan" every time we play someone higher in the league than us ? Next week (even though Charlton have a stack of injurys) The reason I am bringing this up is I'm not convinced he's playing this way because Of The squad he has inherited? With the thread bare attacking options and now Lewis out this will test him. If Docherty goes back I can only see trouble ahead unless he has something up his sleeve. He might well spend large chunks of games inonamous but he is behind alot of our assists and goals. Add to this our styfalling tactics I'd say he's done pretty well. A left back and a forward are a must now. Without a forward who hits the ground running we will be relegated. Twenty games is to many to blag your way through
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Post by chestershrew on Jan 6, 2019 10:56:29 GMT 1
I would not describe myself as concerned. However it would only take a couple of factors to change to change that.
I am certainly frustrated as I genuinely believe we are better than our league position suggests. I feel the period that DC was in charge delivered optimism and showed what could happen, however whilst I believe SR style will take time to be embedded, and we need to be patient, I am yet to be convinced I will be enamoured with it from what I have seen. But time will tell.
I think our defence is slow but effective enough based on goals conceded, and my favourite thing SR has done is to play Haynes and coach him to be a better player.
In Grant, Norburn and Dougherty we have a strong and relatively balanced midfield who is far better than our league position shows. They are also good enough to alliw allow us to play three attacking players.
Okenabirhie is a goal scorer (we are asking for another but he is doing pretty well for the games he has played) AAH does work hard. Add a fit Whalley and there are goals.
Plus there is a window to bring in some players to improve that side.
However if we were to lose Dougherty or grant. And I also believe losing Waterfall (yes really) we would be in trouble. I also think if Whalley does not get fit soon we will run short of creating chances in the 2nd half of the season.
If we then buy players in the window who we then play but do not have an impact then we could start to struggle and I would get concerned.
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Post by Mortgagehound on Jan 6, 2019 11:09:47 GMT 1
I agree that there is cause for concern. The concern is that we are totally inconsistent as a team regardless of the Manager.
I have witnessed games this season against Portsmouth and Doncaster where we were the better side and should have won. Played Barnsley off the park and looked comfortable away at Sunderland. We looked ok yesterday against a championship team full of premier league players!
Why then are we bottom half of the table?
Because we put out performances against Oxford, Burton Wycombe and Stanley which were utter pants and awful on the eye.
Mr Ricketts is as guilty therefore as his predecessors.
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Post by pughywasfree on Jan 6, 2019 11:19:06 GMT 1
I'm not concerned, more than enough quality in this squad to keep us up.
We need another forward and possibly a winger. Wholesale changes wouldn't be wise because we would pay over the odds for players.
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Post by shrewder on Jan 6, 2019 11:20:19 GMT 1
How concerned just you are depends how far last season raised your expectations for this season. The way things ended last season then this season was always likely to be a potential car crash. It hasn't quite turned out like that, so I am not too concerned.
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Post by zenfootball2 on Jan 6, 2019 11:23:24 GMT 1
he has been in charge for 5 or 6 games and i think it is to early to evaluate him.however under coyne even though we played poor teams and were out thought by wycombe, we did seem to have more variety in attack and more players were willing to have a shoot.under rickets we have gone more direct and by doing that we are not playing to ferjiri's strengths. the january window will be interesting.with lewis injured and who knowes what is going on with Angol we need another forward, kepper and left back,
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Post by northwestman on Jan 6, 2019 11:49:14 GMT 1
he has been in charge for 5 or 6 games and i think it is to early to evaluate him.however under coyne even though we played poor teams and were out thought by wycombe, we did seem to have more variety in attack and more players were willing to have a shoot.under rickets we have gone more direct and by doing that we are not playing to ferjiri's strengths. the january window will be interesting.with lewis injured and who knowes what is going on with Angol we need another forward, kepper and left back, I suggest we also need another CM (Edwards?) and possibly another CH if Kennedy gets released, as Jules has already left the building.
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Post by stfcfan87 on Jan 6, 2019 11:51:45 GMT 1
I'm surprised to read that people still seem to think this is a good or even balanced squad. To me it's a mess of a squad
Too many centre midfielders not enough wingers, strikers, defenders
Our side lacks pace, particularly at centre back
I don't have confidence in 3 of the strikers, fey aside
At present we seem only to be able to play the diamond as there isn't enough choice in other positions.
Big changes needed
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Post by staffordshrew on Jan 6, 2019 12:16:46 GMT 1
My concerns are for LJL's injury, always tries to do what various managers ask of him, a good professional, Whalley coming bsck ok, Angol's career if he doesn't start working and a better January transfer window than last season.
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Post by stuttgartershrew on Jan 6, 2019 12:22:26 GMT 1
Yeah, I can't say I have a great deal of confidence in the opinion that we have a decent squad but haven't the manager to get the best out of them. Not as confident as others that we have the right players in place to make a success at this level. I mean how much did we shell out for Angol, how much we playing him each week? Maybe time will tell but at the minute that looks a waste. Holloway hasn't exactly set the world on fire either and that miss yesterday wasn't exactly a surprise...can't say I have the confidence to say "he'd normally bury that"... I think the defense is OK at best. I think we do have some quality in midfield but not throughout and I think we are desperate for something new up top.
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Post by northwestman on Jan 6, 2019 12:37:59 GMT 1
I was told that we only went after Angol because we weren't prepared to pay the £200k Ayr wanted for Shankland.
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Post by wakemanender on Jan 6, 2019 12:40:28 GMT 1
This is still Askeys squad of players and Ricketts has up to now had to do his best with what he has got. He will bring in players of his own choosing in the next few days which he can add to the best of what Askey brought in. I don't think that there will be any cause for concern and we will achieve a mid table finish. Being involved in the play offs last season has done us no favours at all for this season. It was a short close season for the club during which we were left without a manager and a number of good players had to be replaced. It was all very rushed with the appointment of the new manager who in turn rushed and was under pressure to bring in new players and a coach. What we now need is to get behind Ricketts and the team with an expectation of a mid table finish and then a normal close season to prepare properly for next. We have a good management team now in place which is the main thing and with a few players moving out this month and a few coming in its onwards and upwards.
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Post by vixenshrew on Jan 6, 2019 12:47:31 GMT 1
I'm not overly concerned, but I do hope we can be in a position where we avoid the relegation play offs. It is the inconsistency that worries me one game very promising the next game absolute rubbish. We have quality in the side and some players are playing good football and as a team notably Grant, Waterfall, Sads, Haynes, Norburn and Docherty. Gillead is starting to improve. Fei has very good moments and finds the net. Wouldn't want to lose Whalley and I'd like to see Bryn Morris given a chance. I'm not convinced with performances by AAH Laurent and Beckles. think Angol is a waste of space and LJL not league 1. Arnold good saving pens, but I think we could do with improving the goalkeeping. Under Rickets the positives are defence has improved, Haynes has been given a chance and Gillead starting to show promise, but we need to start scoring and winning games, otherwise we are going to be in a right pickle. Another thing I've noticed is that some of the players have started bickering on the pitch and this needs nipping in the bud.
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Post by Pilch on Jan 6, 2019 13:27:34 GMT 1
Well we should be ! Even though Ricketts is in his infancy at the club this "we've got a plan" statement is a tad worrying to me. Is this "The plan" every time we play someone higher in the league than us ? Next week (even though Charlton have a stack of injurys) The reason I am bringing this up is I'm not convinced he's playing this way because Of The squad he has inherited? With the thread bare attacking options and now Lewis out this will test him. If Docherty goes back I can only see trouble ahead unless he has something up his sleeve. He might well spend large chunks of games inonamous but he is behind alot of our assists and goals. Add to this our styfalling tactics I'd say he's done pretty well. A left back and a forward are a must now. Without a forward who hits the ground running we will be relegated. Twenty games is to many to blag your way through that old chestnut a forward who turns up and scores for fun that and a keeper who keeps cleans sheets a box to box midfielder and a playmaker with some flair simple
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Post by zenfootball2 on Jan 6, 2019 13:45:16 GMT 1
I was told that we only went after Angol because we weren't prepared to pay the £200k Ayr wanted for Shankland. hindsight is a wonderful thing( but he was a player i really wanted town to spend the money on ) according to soccer base Shankland has scored 28 goals so far this season.that £200k looks cheap now www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/46429273
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Post by staffordshrew on Jan 6, 2019 13:58:34 GMT 1
Well we should be ! Even though Ricketts is in his infancy at the club this "we've got a plan" statement is a tad worrying to me. Is this "The plan" every time we play someone higher in the league than us ? Next week (even though Charlton have a stack of injurys) The reason I am bringing this up is I'm not convinced he's playing this way because Of The squad he has inherited? With the thread bare attacking options and now Lewis out this will test him. If Docherty goes back I can only see trouble ahead unless he has something up his sleeve. He might well spend large chunks of games inonamous but he is behind alot of our assists and goals. Add to this our styfalling tactics I'd say he's done pretty well. A left back and a forward are a must now. Without a forward who hits the ground running we will be relegated. Twenty games is to many to blag your way through that old chestnut a forward who turns up and scores for fun that and a keeper who keeps cleans sheets a box to box midfielder and a playmaker with some flair simple Hello, is it me you are looking for? In my dreams, unfortunately.
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Post by horse01 on Jan 6, 2019 14:22:06 GMT 1
I have a few concerns with different aspects of the set-up at the moment. I think the squad is quite threadbare quality wise. Neither keeper instill a massive amount of confidence. They have both pulled off some good saves this season, but that is the minimum we should expect from a professional goalkeeper. Early on, Coleman looked quite assured, coming off his line and claiming high balls, then his confidence just evaporated? I must admit, I questioned the signing of Arnold ever since it was announced, given his previous league experience (or lack of!). He had spent 6 years with four football league clubs, and never made an appearance for three of those clubs!! I think Sadler and Waterfall have now formed a decent understanding, after Askey almost played them off against each other when LW first signed! The obvious concern is pace. Beckles is another option there- as long as he doesn’t perform like he has at left back this season! I like Haynes, and think he offers a lot more pace and energy there, and of late his defending has improved greatly. Right back is either or for me. Either Bolton or Emmanuel - I think they are pretty much on a par with each other. However, I thought Ryan Sears was excellent v Bristol Rovers, and couldn’t understand why he was seemingly just brought in and then dropped again? Grant is Ogogo with a Rolls Royce badge!! Absolute quality, which you could see even in his first match for us (despite lack of fitness). Enough said! Docherty is a super player. Great quality on the ball, and one hell of an engine!! At this point, he is my player of the season. Norburn has got good quality, however, just because he is our record signing, shouldn’t give him immunity from being dropped. Laurent for me has flattered to deceive. I’m sure that there is a decent player hiding in there somewhere? But we have only seen it in very small bursts here and there? I don’t believe he has produced enough to warrant starting every game - but that may not necessarily be his fault? Then there is Whalley- we obviously know his quality, just needs to get fit. Gilliead is a player I like. He is pacey and direct. Yes he could help out a bit more defensively on occasions, but primarily I want him running at the opposition. Then we move to what I believe is our real problem area- the forwards. Fej should’ve been in the team weeks before he was! We were crying out for it, so it was no surprise when he was put in he scored goals!! Still a lot to learn, but definitely a talent. Angol is the player that I’m probably most perplexed by! If we could have the player back that he was when he first got in the team, he was a beast. He was scoring goals, holding the ball up, linking the play, dominating defenders, working his balls off - and then it all went tits up??? Confused.com!! Perhaps moving him on is the only option? As he is currently fourth in the pecking order- even Laurent being played centrally instead?! Holloway I just don’t believe is up to the task. His previous record doesn’t lie. He is not a youngster, he is 25 and has scored 19 career goals?? Compare that to Norburn, who has scored 20 as a midfielder!! Yes he works hard, but surely that is a prerequisite as a professional? And as for the person who said he was better than Carlton Morris? ? I still haven’t stopped laughing at that!! LJL is LJL!! Just not League 1 quality, but all the managers seem to rely on him? A lovely chap, who I hope his injury isn’t too bad, but given his past injury record, I fear for him. As for the rest of the squad, there is Gregory, Kennedy, Hendrie, Shelios, Sears, Jones, Morris, Loft, Hughes, Eisa, Taylor, Barnett, Rowlands, McAtee and Mwandwe. So basically made up of youngsters or players likely to leave. Not exactly what you would call strength in depth (relative to our league standing) Then there is this diamond formation?? 4-1-2-1-2?? We are ridiculously narrow. No wonder the full backs are often caught out. They are asked to cover the whole of their side, and when the midfield does move over to assist, a simple switch by the opposition exposes how open we are on the other flank! I believe we were quite fortunate when DC took charge and played this system. There was the obvious lift of the negativity that went with Askey, they were given more freedom to play and to be honest, it was good timing given the weak opposition we were up against. Considering we (Askey) spent £600,000 in the summer, I think the squad is in quite a sorry state really. When all fit and the attitude is right, we have a decent starting XI, but beyond that, I think we look quite poor/inexperienced! Ricketts should be allowed to clear the decks and bring his own players in, then he can be judged as Askey was. It is pointless comparing them now, as Askey spent the most of any manager in the clubs history, and Ricketts hasn’t spent a pound!! Where he has got control though, is team selection and formation, and at this moment in time, I think it is fair to question both to a certain degree. Whichever way you look at this squad, I don’t think it is going to be a cheap fix?!
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Post by staffordshrew on Jan 6, 2019 14:34:27 GMT 1
On the whole I agree, but, considering the huge summer rebuild, I don't think 600k is an overspend when it brought in most of the players you approve of.
Angol seems to me to be one that our recently appointed motivation guy must be more involved with.
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Post by horse01 on Jan 6, 2019 14:47:22 GMT 1
On the whole I agree, but, considering the huge summer rebuild, I don't think 600k is an overspend when it brought in most of the players you approve of. Angol seems to me to be one that our recently appointed motivation guy must be more involved with. You could look at it that way. But personally, I think as it stands, Angol, Holloway, Laurent, Loft, Kennedy, Colkett and to a certain extent Emmanuel and Gilliead have all been a waste of money in fees and/or wages!!
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Post by salop27 on Jan 6, 2019 14:50:56 GMT 1
Couple of observations. Docherty is going nowhere till the end of the season. You can see why he's been loaned out, to inconsistent. Laurent has plenty of things going for him, finishing is not one of them so his attacking position has to be in question. Lastly Okenabirhie seems to be a natural finisher so the team has to play to his strengths. I am concerned, we're in a relegation fight but things could be worse.
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Post by davycrockett on Jan 6, 2019 14:57:58 GMT 1
I was told that we only went after Angol because we weren't prepared to pay the £200k Ayr wanted for Shankland. That wouldn’t be Askey decision but RW and BC where history will show th blame lies......as with the quality bought in last Jan trying to do it on the cheap.....
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Post by davycrockett on Jan 6, 2019 14:59:31 GMT 1
This is still Askeys squad of players and Ricketts has up to now had to do his best with what he has got. He will bring in players of his own choosing in the next few days which he can add to the best of what Askey brought in. I don't think that there will be any cause for concern and we will achieve a mid table finish. Being involved in the play offs last season has done us no favours at all for this season. It was a short close season for the club during which we were left without a manager and a number of good players had to be replaced. It was all very rushed with the appointment of the new manager who in turn rushed and was under pressure to bring in new players and a coach. What we now need is to get behind Ricketts and the team with an expectation of a mid table finish and then a normal close season to prepare properly for next. We have a good management team now in place which is the main thing and with a few players moving out this month and a few coming in its onwards and upwards. Askey had little to do with it
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Post by greeny on Jan 6, 2019 15:36:19 GMT 1
I was told that we only went after Angol because we weren't prepared to pay the £200k Ayr wanted for Shankland. That wouldn’t be Askey decision but RW and BC where history will show th blame lies......as with the quality bought in last Jan trying to do it on the cheap..... Was it Roland and Caldwell’s decision? Personally I’d of thought Caldwell would have been interested and Askey didn’t fancy him as he needed strikers who would play alone up top like he played early on. Shankland isn’t that type of striker- he’s similar to Fey. I’d have loved him to come in (and still would).
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Post by tvor on Jan 6, 2019 15:41:17 GMT 1
I was told that we only went after Angol because we weren't prepared to pay the £200k Ayr wanted for Shankland. The Ayr United Chairman has consistently said he wouldn't sell him for that amount.
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Post by northwestman on Jan 6, 2019 15:44:39 GMT 1
I was told that we only went after Angol because we weren't prepared to pay the £200k Ayr wanted for Shankland. The Ayr United Chairman has consistently said he wouldn't sell him for that amount. He certainly won't now!
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Post by tvor on Jan 6, 2019 15:48:12 GMT 1
and he wouldn't back then either.
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Post by northwestman on Jan 6, 2019 15:49:04 GMT 1
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Post by Deleted on Jan 6, 2019 16:00:04 GMT 1
I'm only concerned about the away form personally.
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Post by shrewdshrewssupporter on Jan 6, 2019 16:48:53 GMT 1
That wouldn’t be Askey decision but RW and BC where history will show th blame lies......as with the quality bought in last Jan trying to do it on the cheap..... Was it Roland and Caldwell’s decision? Personally I’d of thought Caldwell would have been interested and Askey didn’t fancy him as he needed strikers who would play alone up top like he played early on. Shankland isn’t that type of striker- he’s similar to Fey. I’d have loved him to come in (and still would). If he's similar to Fey then talk of signing him to fix our goal problems are utterly ludicrous since we already have Fey and we aren't a team that can afford to bench a 200k striker, especially if we have someone similar who we've already spent on and is scoring goals, score any more and he'll be sold to a championship club next season. If we want a striker that compliments Fey we have to accept that unless he costs a lot of money, we will have to put up with less goals, unless we take a punt, like we have on Holloway, that they can step up and some can step up as demonstrated by Eaves scoring 8 in league 2 for Yeovil and being released before Gillingham signed him and he's now been near top scorer in league 1 for 2 years. Shankland is a football manager signing and some need to remember that before they berate the club.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 6, 2019 17:06:27 GMT 1
Well he was hardly going to state he would show up late for training, be distracted by his new born baby and struggle to make the bench for a fifth of the season was he..... Im hoping we will see a different Angol soon when Ricketts decides what system he really fancies and brings in some extra quality up front and in midfield/wide.
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