Taming The Shrews

[EssTeeFree]

JED has to come out and speak to the media after losing games and making mistakes. What do referees do? Go home with not a care in the world, because there is no comeback on the decisions they make. Mistakes do happen, but to not see a foul was in the box when everyone in the stadium could see it was, is unbelievable.

2 points on this part of the thread.

1 - yes JED has to speak to the media after the game but I can't ever remember him admitting to any kind of mistake after a loss. He might complain about a ref, bemoan a lack of luck or even say his players weren't at it but he'll never say "I got it wrong and we deserved to lose"

2 - What do you think the ref would say about that decision today? Probably "I've looked back at it and I got it wrong. However, in real time I couldn't be 100% sure the foul took place in the area, if I'm not 100% sure I can't give it". What difference would it make, he'll still go home and put his feet up as you said. We won't feel any better for it

[everbrite]

+1 for sure. I could not make sense of the manager's formation and clearly neither did most of our squad. We hardly got a decent cross in the whole game. Dreadfully frustrating.

Well I disagree as 5-3-2 system is a very fluid and flexible system; JE's problem today was that overall it was poor individual performance by 50% of the team. To me it was pretty clear that the players knew how to play the system but.....err their final touch deserted them! Taylor, Richard, Bowditch as we all know by now were terrible with Buchs and Powell not much better. We resorted to hoofing the ball at every opportunity and we all know what happens when we do that.

[EssTeeFree]

Well I disagree as 5-3-2 system is a very fluid and flexible system; JE's problem today was that overall it was poor individual performance by 50% of the team. To me it was pretty clear that the players knew how to play the system but.....err their final touch deserted them! Taylor, Richard, Bowditch as we all know by now were terrible with Buchs and Powell not much better. We resorted to hoofing the ball at every opportunity and we all know what happens when we do that.

The thing with the 5-3-2 is that there are a few specialist roles that you can't just chuck players in and hope they work. For example centre backs used to playing in a pair would need to push wider than they would be used to to cover the wing backs. I also don't think that either of our wing backs are actually wing backs but that's my personal opinion and JED clearly knows more than me.

The final thing I'd say is that very few teams play that formation these days and are successful. Not saying it can't be done but there must be a reason why it is shy'd away from. Look at the top teams that play 3 at the back, they also mostly play 1 up front with 2 off, this stops the full backs breaking out and seeing so much ball, pushing the wing backs back.

[Manwork04]

If I was JED I'd play 4-4-2 against QPR and see how that goes, it can't be any worse than today.

                 New GK

Philips.  Pierre. Taylor. Buchanan.

Powell.  Crooks.  Kasim.   Waters.

            Revell.   Long.   

[Glastonbury Cobbler]

If you are playing wingbacks we need to get in and behind that just did not happen. Buchs is a fantastic defender but he is not a wingback.

[everbrite]

The thing with the 5-3-2 is that there are a few specialist roles that you can't just chuck players in and hope they work. For example centre backs used to playing in a pair would need to push wider than they would be used to to cover the wing backs. I also don't think that either of our wing backs are actually wing backs but that's my personal opinion and JED clearly knows more than me.

The final thing I'd say is that very few teams play that formation these days and are successful. Not saying it can't be done but there must be a reason why it is shy'd away from. Look at the top teams that play 3 at the back, they also mostly play 1 up front with 2 off, this stops the full backs breaking out and seeing so much ball, pushing the wing backs back.

Even if he changed to 442 the result would probably been the same or even worse. The 3 midfielders are critical to the system(or any system for that matter) and if they all as a unit fail to impress then its disastrous. Tell me, if both wing backs played ok(and Powell had the opportunity at times to do so) with Taylor and Bowditch both having "reasonable" games would we have lost? All full backs now a days are expected to get forward and provide support. Ours today didn't so tell me how a different system would have coped with that shambolic performance.

[Manwork04]

Even if he changed to 442 the result would probably been the same or even worse. The 3 midfielders are critical to the system(or any system for that matter) and if they all as a unit fail to impress then its disastrous. Tell me, if both wing backs played ok(and Powell had the opportunity at times to do so) with Taylor and Bowditch both having "reasonable" games would we have lost? All full backs now a days are expected to get forward and provide support. Ours today didn't so tell me how a different system would have coped with that shambolic performance.

d
Evers, Taylor is finished, his legs have gone, he's been a great player but now it's time to say goodbye.

[everbrite]

If I was JED I'd play 4-4-2 against QPR and see how that goes, it can't be any worse than today.

                 New GK

Philips.  Pierre. Taylor.  Smith

Waters.   Crooks.  Poole. Kasim
            Revell.   Long.   

After to day I wouldn't play Buchanan and Powell. Not sure about Revell either!

[everbrite]

Evers, Taylor is finished, his legs have gone, he's been a great player but now it's time to say goodbye.

Quite right ; even though after he had gone our free kicks and corners seemed to go downhill!

[EssTeeFree]

Even if he changed to 442 the result would probably been the same or even worse. The 3 midfielders are critical to the system(or any system for that matter) and if they all as a unit fail to impress then its disastrous. Tell me, if both wing backs played ok(and Powell had the opportunity at times to do so) with Taylor and Bowditch both having "reasonable" games would we have lost? All full backs now a days are expected to get forward and provide support. Ours today didn't so tell me how a different system would have coped with that shambolic performance.

You may well be right but you can't just write off a system change as making no difference. If the team was set up in a way that brought the best out of our players they may well have performed better. Yes full backs are expected to get forward but that is usually working in a pair, from someone who has played that position that's a world of difference.

Often when a manager is changed at a club results pick up, that can be for many reasons but a system change is often one of them. JED built this squad, there should be no excuse for not having specialist players for such a specialist role, in my opinion

[EssTeeFree]

After to day I wouldn't play Buchanan and Powell. Not sure about Revell either!

Wait, have you played a centre back at right wing there, or are you changing away from the 442 posted back to 532?

[boblarkin]

I wasn't there but reading the comments it seems clueless.

Clutching at straws............

We usually start poorly, going back for the first 5 games of recent seasons (starting with last year) we got 5, 7, 8, 3, and 8 points.

[everbrite]

Wait, have you played a centre back at right wing there, or are you changing away from the 442 posted back to 532?

I admit Poole is no right winger, but he is intelligent quick and better than Powell.

ps You are right if 442 played on the day play Waters on the right with Poole a sort of defensive midfielder he is strong tackler too.  Not sure on leaving Barnett out either who played ok today.

[Shoemaker]

Any delusionals still left who think we'll be play off material??

In a rare twist of events I will be positive
Firstly I wasn't at today's game nor will I be at the next two due to circumstances but here's my two penneth.

I think we will have a decent season,the question is will it be with JED or without.
Unfortunately I think it will be without.
The major issue here regardless of managerial ability is the takeover
It came at the wrong time and I think JED will pay for it.
The reason is he has basically built two squads of signings
One pre takeover
One after the takeover
He is now almost forced to accommodate these players in a team.
I truly believe we are playing a system to accommodate players rather than our best 11.
For example to start with if the takeover came earlier I doubt rico,barnett,waters or Powell even bowditch(technically signed after the takeover but had been in the pipeline before) would have been signed.
That's not to say they may not be decent players but the other signings were of a better standard after the takeover.
JED is now trying to please everyone and that's the wrong thing to do imo
I think it will be his downfall and he will pay for it if he doesn't get a grip.
Not getting a goalie in is farcical and he can take the blame for it.
Also we lack quality up front and as I've said before relying on last seasons relegation battling forward line makes no sense.
It is highlighted by the takeover but again it came at the wrong time.
We have a decent defence and midfield but the strikers don't match the quality of the rest of the squad.
This is because too many adequate strikers were on board beforehand and so we could not get in two or even one quality permanent striker instead getting a loan plsyer(who might yet be decent)
I believe that if we get a decent goalie and play our best 11 we won't go far wrong
                      Goalie
Moloney pierre.       Taylor. Buchanan
Powell.  O toole (kasim if otoole out) crooks waters
              New striker/revell/rico.   Long.

That 4/4/2 looks decent to me
A goalie and quality striker and a simple formation and we will be a decent team.

Pick your subs
We have a large squad

The trouble is JED won't do it for fear of upsetting new signings who he promised games
Barnett
Foley
Poole
You've got Matt taylor as well
JED needs to man up,explain the situation
Tell everyone he is playing his best eleven and it's up to them to keep the shirt and those who've joined to take their chance if/when it comes.
If he does that and allows the team to gel we will be ok
Problem is
Will he....?

[guest2487]

No, he won't.

[Tabasco Kid]

To me it was pretty clear that the players knew how to play the system but.....err their final touch deserted them!

Clearly they dont then.

[everbrite]

In a rare twist of events I will be positive

Some fair points there. Waters to me should be on the right , I would get Poole in place of Kasim. If any player looks past it its Richards with Revell looking a close second.

[EssTeeFree]

I do get the point you are making, especially with regards to the takeover happening half way through his recruitment but do you really believe JED wouldn't play his best 11 because he's worried about upsetting some players? Can't see it, if they don't earn a place in the side and they don't like it I'm sure they can move on in January, why would JED potentially harm his own career? Fail here and he'll be marked as someone who can't be trusted with a bigger budget, not a tag any manager would want

[Terryfenwickatemyhamster]

At times like this, I'm always glad I didn't bother with it 

[Shoemaker]

I do get the point you are making, especially with regards to the takeover happening half way through his recruitment but do you really believe JED wouldn't play his best 11 because he's worried about upsetting some players? Can't see it, if they don't earn a place in the side and they don't like it I'm sure they can move on in January, why would JED potentially harm his own career? Fail here and he'll be marked as someone who can't be trusted with a bigger budget, not a tag any manager would want

To be honest I do believe it.
I guess when foley/Barnett/waters were signed they chose us because JED sold them the dream they would be starting for us.
They could each have gone elsewhere but chose us.
It can't be easy now telling a decent player such as Barnett sorry pal but things have changed you'll be on the bench.
But,
That's exactly what he must do and better managers than him would.
He needs to pick his best 11 and stand his ground
It's not as if he's lied to the players as such it's just that everything's changed.
Problem is I can see it leading to disunity in the squad and I feel things will go downhill until the point that we get a new manager who can say
I didn't sign any of you so I owe none of you anything
Here is my strongest 11
Get on with it and if you are not in the team take a chance if it comes your way.
If/when this happens we will see a decent team
I just worry that the season may be a write of promotion wise before this happens
Unless JED stamps his authority on the squad.
Hard for him though given what's gone in signings wise.