Trouncing The Trawlermen

[just.reading]

Very embarrassing for Kelvin Thomas to have to show his Chinese guests that game as an example of what their investment has gone towards. But KT is as stubborn as an old mule and he won't ditch Edinburgh for a good while yet, even if results continue to go down the pan.

The same stubborn KT who sacked Page after less than 8 months? Nobody in their right minds sacks somebody three games into the season.

[guest2487]

The same stubborn KT who sacked Page after less than 8 months? Nobody in their right minds sacks somebody three games into the season.

I agree with this.

No chance of it yet. Needs to get something v Charlton otherwise if we still haven't got a point then lose v Boro and things could get a bit nasty.

[Cobbler78]

My thoughts on players individually.

 Cornell - 6 Did what he had to do with no fuss, no chance with the goal.
Pierre - 7 Looked a threat from set pieces and ran out from the back with the ball well. Should have scored end of 1st half
Taylor - 6 Good in the air, but awful when in possession or when attackers ran at him.
Poole - 6 Quiet game, did what he had to do well, decent when in possession
Phillips - 7 Played well, more of a wing back than Buchs, unlucky to be subbed
Buchs - 5 Not his fault he is not a wing back, never a threat going forward
Crooks - 5 Looked lazy, lethargic and ponderous on the ball, no urgency. Obviously a good player in there, just needs a couple of Pro Plus pre match
Kasim - 6 Looked good in possession. However, like Crooks caught out of position allowing their attackers to run directly at our centre backs.
Waters - 7 Lively and energetic, always looking to attack.
Long - 7 Willing runner, made a few chances out of nothing for himself, found himself chasing the ball into the corners a few times, would like to see him stay central
Revell - 5 Won a few flick ones and ran around a lot, never looked like a threat.

Moloney - 7 always ready to attack, comfortable on the ball, we will be a better team with him fully fit.
McWilliams - 3 everything that could go wrong, did go wrong, hopefully this doesn't knock his confidence as he could be a great player for us.

[Dr Feelgood]

I agree with this.

No chance of it yet. Needs to get something v Charlton otherwise if we still haven't got a point then lose v Boro and things could get a bit nasty.

2 more games and 2 losses then he has to go..

[guest2487]

My thoughts on players individually.

 Cornell - 6 Did what he had to do with no fuss, no chance with the goal.
Pierre - 7 Looked a threat from set prices and ran out from the back with the ball well. Should have scored end of 1st half
Taylor - 6 Good in the air, but awful when in possession or when attacker ran at him.
Poole - 6 Quiet game, did what he had to do well, decent when in possession
Phillips - 7 Played well, more of a wing back than Buchs, unlucky to be subbed
Buchs - 5 Not his fault he is not a wing back, never a threat going forward
Crooks - 5 Looked lazy, lethargic and ponderous on the ball, no urgency. Obviously a good player in there, just needs a couple of Pro Plus pre match
Kasim - 6 Looked good in possession. However, like Crooks caught out of position allowing their attacked to run directly at out centre backs.
Waters - 7 Lively and energetic, always looking to attack.
Long - 7 Willing runner, made a few chances out of nothing for himself, found himself chasing the ball into the corners a few times, would like to see him stay central
Revell - 5 Won a few flick ones and ran around a lot, never looked like a threat.

Moloney - 7 always ready to attack, comfortable on the ball, we will be a better team with him fully fit.
McWilliams - 3 everything that could go wrong, did go wrong, hopefully this doesn't knock his confidence as he could be a great player for us.

Personally I thought Crooks, Phillips and Waters were our best players today.

[Aitobs]

The same stubborn KT who sacked Page after less than 8 months? Nobody in their right minds sacks somebody three games into the season.

The same stubborn KT who took 4 months more than was necessary to sack Rob Page after it was made quite clear after the Peterborough debacle that he was incompetent.

P.S: I am not advocating the sacking of Edinburgh, I personally still back him. I'm just saying that there is no chance that Kelvin Thomas will be sacking him any time soon.

[Cobbler78]

My thoughts on the game as a whole.

I have no problem with 3-5-2, but the wing backs need to be an attacking threat. The left had side is an issue, Buchs is an excellent full back, but he's not a wing back or an attacking threat. The subs JED made changed nothing. I would have taken Poole off for McWilliams and gone 4-3-1-2. If JED was sticking with 3-5-2 I would also have been tempted to take Buchs off for Matt Taylor.
Also too many times Crooks and Kasim went missing when not in possession allowing Fleetwood acres of space to run at our centre backs.
Overall, not impressed with the performance, the positioning of players, the subs or the tactics. Moloney and JJOT coming into the first team will improve things, but the pressure is on.

[cobbler150]

My thoughts on players individually.

 Cornell - 6 Did what he had to do with no fuss, no chance with the goal.
Pierre - 7 Looked a threat from set prices and ran out from the back with the ball well. Should have scored end of 1st half
Taylor - 6 Good in the air, but awful when in possession or when attacker ran at him.
Poole - 6 Quiet game, did what he had to do well, decent when in possession
Phillips - 7 Played well, more of a wing back than Buchs, unlucky to be subbed
Buchs - 5 Not his fault he is not a wing back, never a threat going forward
Crooks - 5 Looked lazy, lethargic and ponderous on the ball, no urgency. Obviously a good player in there, just needs a couple of Pro Plus pre match
Kasim - 6 Looked good in possession. However, like Crooks caught out of position allowing their attacked to run directly at out centre backs.
Waters - 7 Lively and energetic, always looking to attack.
Long - 7 Willing runner, made a few chances out of nothing for himself, found himself chasing the ball into the corners a few times, would like to see him stay central
Revell - 5 Won a few flick ones and ran around a lot, never looked like a threat.

Moloney - 7 always ready to attack, comfortable on the ball, we will be a better team with him fully fit.
McWilliams - 3 everything that could go wrong, did go wrong, hopefully this doesn't knock his confidence as he could be a great player for us.

? Thats nuts. Crooks looked decent today, no questions.

[Cordwainer2]

Am I the only one who thought we played quite well and are beginning to get it together but were unlucky to lose?

[Insider]

2 more games and 2 losses then he has to go..

100% with you, Doc. Nearly 9 hours without a goal, 12 games without a win, 23 points from 22 league games. He could hardly complain.

[northycobbler]

Just got back from the game and can say that that was another frustrating performance. Firstly, it was good to see that Edinburgh didn't bring back Taylor into the side which would have but us at a disadvantage from the off (judging by his performances toward the back end of last season and the Shrewsbury away debacle.

I have to admit to being very worried after 9 minutes. We were playing it long at every opportunity, and we're gifting away possession, culminating in Fleetwood carving out a decent chance. We didn't seem to be pressing anywhere on the pitch and I was fearing an absolute trouncing. After that, I felt we grew into the game a bit and at half time, although the football we played wasn't brilliant, I couldn't really think of much Fleetwood had created either and was left thinking that if we could just score 1 goal, that would be enough to win the game, build some confidence and get the players and fans trusting the system. Half time is where the optimism ended!

Second half I'm not sure we actually created anything of note at all and I'm genuinely left scratching my head wondering where the hell we're going to get a goal from. I thought Revell lead the line well but all he could do was flick on long balls punted forward to him. Long looked good at times although it was frustrating to see him try and cut the ball back when through on goal instead of running direct and shooting for himself. He looked like the only person who would score though and would probably do this by running at the defenders and creating something for himself.

The main issue I have with the new formation/system, and I said this after the Shrewsbury game is that the midfield provides. I width whatso ever. Phillips was a good option at fullback and was fairly attacking and Bucks even got forward on the odd occasion too. He is still clearly uncomfortable at wing back though and not the best option. I really was surprised to see North not even on the bench as I was lookin forward to seeing what he has to offer.

The centre back as a unit look fairly strong. They don't let much through them but too often the distribution was terrible. I'm sure playing with wingbacks, the system should be about building from the back and playing passing football with the wingbacks overloading the midfield and making it hard to defend. Playing hoof ball from defence to attack and bypassing the midfield simply negates the plus points of the formation.

Another frustrating defeat and I can't see where our next goal is going to come from, let alone our next point. Charlton up next but then a game against the P*sh who have started the season strongly. If ever there was a game for things to come together and click, it's that one. Win it and there won't be much pressure on JED, lose it and I think there'll be more than just a few grumbles from the crowd. We finished last season poorly and have started this season in the same vein despite having a better squad at our disposal.

What's the answer? If it was me as manager, a chance of formation/system but that's down to JED. We'll see what happens next Saturday but I'm not optimistic. Oh well...what is it that Rob Page used to say? That's right, we go again!

[Cobbler78]

? Thats nuts. Crooks looked decent today, no questions.

It's a game of opinions. The murmurs when he was announced as MOTM suggest I'm not alone.

[Irchy cob]

I think the mad minute just before half time knocked the stuffing out of us - second half we didn't create a clear cut chance and fleetwood were solid but unspectacular. Everyone keeps banging on about how comfortable our defence and keeper are except the single goals but there's no wonder when at times we are playing with a flat back five - obviously this is also a major contributing factor in us not scoring in 3 games. Also why did it take JED so long when we went a goal down to take one of the centre backs off and put another forward on?

[the grumpy old man]

Am I the only one who thought we played quite well and are beginning to get it together but were unlucky to lose?

No you weren't as I thought we were the better team and deserved to win it. Fleetwood did nothing second half, and were gifted the goal by a lad who had just come on and hadn't played for a while. Why JE had to make the substitutions I do not know as we were well on top at that point, and bringing Richards on in the 90th minute was a joke.

Also can't understand the criticism of Crooks as I thought he was our best player today.

We need a striker in my opinion although I am guessing we won't get one, and although Cornell did nothing wrong today, where is that goalkeeper ?  

[OldStratfordCobbler]

2 more games and 2 losses then he has to go..

Just like Chris Wilder's first 5 games at Sheffield United then!!!! How did they get on last season?

[corno_ntfc]

Am I the only one who thought we played quite well and are beginning to get it together but were unlucky to lose?

Quite well in parts I'd say.

It looked a 1-0 game all over, just a shame McWilliams had an awful first touch of the ball, else I'm certain it'd have been a 1-0 win in our favour.

Not creating enough chances though, which is heavily down to the system.

[BedsCobb]

I bet the Chinese are wondering what the bloody hell they've put their cash into!!

They haven't made much of dent in the reported £6,000,000 so they have until the 31st to get a decent striker and a midfielder in that can help link up play.

[guest2487]

They haven't made much of dent in the reported £6,000,000 so they have until the 31st to get a decent striker and a midfielder in that can help link up play.

Disagree with this in terms of personnel. Long is a decent striker. We've got enough good midfielders. Comes down to formation and the manager.

[ajp]

We need a winger! Or two...

[guest2487]

We don't play with wingers though!