Taking of Grimsby Pelham 123. November 24/11.

[guest3230]

Cornell is decent these days.

He definitely isn't a problem.

[Glastonbury Cobbler]

Cornell is decent these days.

He definitely isn't a problem.

Yes his distribution has improved and he's always been a decent shot stopper but IMO he does not command his area, decision making and coming for crosses is still poor, he's often stuck to his line and you still feel on edge that he has a major game/point (s) costing ricket in him.

That said I do agree that other areas of the pitch will be of priority in jan and need sorting first.

But if we are looking to kick on then once tge wide areas, wig back and battling midfield areas are sorted, I'm sure a number 1 keeper will be on KC'S shopping list maybe on loan as I would expect Ward to return.

We will see a lot depends what money is avalible and if KC can shift who he wants out, but in an ideal world I think we will have a new number 1 come 1st Feb

[bungle]

We've conceded seven goals and scored six goals in the last three games. Despite forward play which often lacks fluency, it's not hard to see that the defensive side of things is what needs to be prioritised.

I would say both conceded goals yesterday arose primarily from wing-back/full back issues. The cross that came in for the first arose from an overlap which should have been tracked tightly by our right-wing back. (Not McWilliams' fault because he's hardly a specialist in that position.) Similarly, the second came from a free kick which was needlessly given away from Facey in the right full-back area.

Like most on here, I'm also not convinced by Taylor and I think he could have done more to close down the initial runner for the first.

So far Curle has got results by rotating things and switching between 5-3-2 and 4-4-2. He's basically defied conventional wisdom about the detrimental effect of 'tinkering'.

However, I think he now needs to establish a settled and consistent back four/five where everyone knows their roles inside out. I suspect this may not happen until January.

[Deepcut Cobbler]

TBH I didn't see much wrong with the Pierre/Turnbull partnership that a couple of better full backs would have improved. KC trying to put the fit again Taylor into a three to take away the full back problem appears to have upset that?

[guest3230]

We've conceded seven goals and scored six goals in the last three games. Despite forward play which often lacks fluency, it's not hard to see that the defensive side of things is what needs to be prioritised.

I would say both conceded goals yesterday arose primarily from wing-back/full back issues. The cross that came in for the first arose from an overlap which should have been tracked tightly by our right-wing back. (Not McWilliams' fault because he's hardly a specialist in that position.) Similarly, the second came from a free kick which was needlessly given away from Facey in the right full-back area.

Like most on here, I'm also not convinced by Taylor and I think he could have done more to close down the initial runner for the first.

So far Curle has got results by rotating things and switching between 5-3-2 and 4-4-2. He's basically defied conventional wisdom about the detrimental effect of 'tinkering'.

However, I think he now needs to establish a settled and consistent back four/five where everyone knows their roles inside out. I suspect this may not happen until January.

Agree with this. Sort the wing back areas out. Get a midfield enforcer. Get a proper winger or 2.

[DrillingCobbler]

Well, we really didn't deserve any return from yesterdays 'performance', much the same to be fair as last Saturday at Exeter. But we've come away from those two games with 2 points. Bonus.

Whats gone wrong? In my opinion, I believe KC was right to go with the formation he did yesterday. That is of course without the benefit of hindsight. And lets, face it, we didn't improve when he did revert to 4-4-2.

1. Turnbull v Taylor. Taylor was superb in the 2nd half last week, and shored up the back line robustly. Turnbull, after a poor 45 minutes (at Exeter, but he was not as bad as Buch in that game) was withdrawn and we didn't concede, or look like conceding in the 2nd half. It would have been grossly unfair to bomb him out of the starting line up though, he'd played very well prior to that. As for Taylor, he'd come back in and did enough to keep his place. The only way to achieve that was to change the formation.
2. The midfield 'issues'. The midfield didn't screen the defence at Exeter, to rectify that KC obviously felt that playing wing backs pushing up the pitch and the return of Foley would rectify it. For 30 minutes it did and we controlled the game.

Our biggest problem at the moment is the woeful form of JJ and McWilliams. Lets face it...neither would be playing if we had other options at the moment. Its a very difficult problem to fix (in the short term), all KC can do is work with them between games and hope that they take his ideas on board and more importantly, they start to play as we know they can. Frustrating.

People are citing our recent defensive record as being poor. Personally, I didn't think there was much wrong with our defence at Lincoln, despite the goals against column reading 3 conceded. They were all brilliant goals, and in between them we always looked solid. At Exeter (first half) and yesterday (the last 60 minutes) we looked like shipping a goal in at any time. In both of these games, Im convinced the biggest problem was the midfield though.

If I was Curle Id go back to basics on Tuesday. 4-4-2. Turnbull partnering Pierre. Id bring back the concrete dolphin at right back, and play yesterdays mom (imo) Buch at left back. Id screen that defence with Foley and JJ, with Hoskins and Bridge either side. Powell and VV up top. That on the assumption that Crookes isn't fit. McWilliams has been the weakest link further up the pitch if you look at the last 3 games as a whole.

On twitter, a fan (Lewis clamping) said Taylor may be the right player, wrong time. When talking about KC's puzzle. He may well be right. Either way, KC needs to decide between Taylor and Turnbull assuming he plays 4-4-2. And I suspect Im in the vast majority when I say I hope he goes with Turnbull.

[Manwork04]

Agree with this. Sort the wing back areas out. Get a midfield enforcer. Get a proper winger or 2.

Spot on.

[Coolcat]

Interesting, anyone who bought a programme yesterday, KC's opening paragraphs (referring to the Exeter game) appears to describe Grimsby Town to a tee!
I know often said, but felt for most of the first half, Grimsby really were one of the poorest teams faced in a long while. Was looking forward to a possible cricket score! Got their act together 2nd half, while the Cobblers went into reverse, and they could easily (though unfairly in the grand scheme) have nicked a win in the end!

As has been alluded to, JJOT is becoming a liability unfortunately...Van Veen travelling the other way to Sublime Centraal!

[Irchy cob]

All this talk of unloading unwanted players in January is unrealistic unless some kind of deal can be struck with those coming to the end of their contracts.  The bigger concern is what we’d be like if either of crooks or Van Veen goes as I would imagine we’d be very unlikely to replace them with similar quality for the pittance we would inevitably get for them.

[ClarenceInDefence]

All this talk of unloading unwanted players in January is unrealistic unless some kind of deal can be struck with those coming to the end of their contracts.  The bigger concern is what we’d be like if either of crooks or Van Veen goes as I would imagine we’d be very unlikely to replace them with similar quality for the pittance we would inevitably get for them.

True. I'm not convinced either will leave though. Only L1 clubs may be interested and I imagine there can't be that many that will be willing/able to pay whatever they are on here.

[ClarenceInDefence]

Agree with this. Sort the wing back areas out. Get a midfield enforcer. Get a proper winger or 2.

We commented early in the first 45 yesterday that their red-haired winger looked a cut above, and having just looked him up see that he is on loan from PNE, having previously been at Fulham. It was pretty clear from the off that he wasn't your 'average' L2 winger. The gaps at RB and his performance in exploiting them dragged them back into the game and his play more or less elevated their entire team.

Perhaps KC can bring in a championship-standard winger on loan in January?

[dolph]

We commented early in the first 45 yesterday that their red-haired winger looked a cut above, and having just looked him up see that he is on loan from PNE, having previously been at Fulham. It was pretty clear from the off that he wasn't your 'average' L2 winger. The gaps at RB and his performance in exploiting them dragged them back into the game and his play more or less elevated their entire team.

Perhaps KC can bring in a championship-standard winger on loan in January?

He also tore us a new one when playing for Rotherham at their place during Boothroyd`s time here

[ajp]

What’s gone wrong? The honeymoon/settling in period is over, the hard work now starts and this is where KC will/will not earn hiis money.

[Ron Obvious]

can someone please explain how Hoskins stayed on the pitch today?

Because the manager chose to keep him there. Maybe he is trying to upset you

[guest2090]

What’s gone wrong? The honeymoon/settling in period is over, the hard work now starts and this is where KC will/will not earn hiis money.

all true, but it's two average performances and we didn't loose either.  I'd say at the moment he is a lucky manager and long may it continue.  I am sure he knows now exactly who he wants to shift on and probably who he wants to bring in.  His response yesterday in the post match interview when asked about McWilliams spoke volumes.

[ajp]

Most players have now been given a chance and he will know which ones he wants / doesn’t want to keep and fit into his plan, all comes down to whether he can get rid of those players and whether we have a budget to play with. If KVV is on big money is KC likely to let him go and bring in say 2 players totalling the same wage , prob could if it was L2 standard players or even championship loan players.

[everbrite]

all true, but it's two average performances and we didn't loose either.  I'd say at the moment he is a lucky manager and long may it continue.  I am sure he knows now exactly who he wants to shift on and probably who he wants to bring in.  His response yesterday in the post match interview when asked about McWilliams spoke volumes.

Another good little summary of which (IMO) is pretty accurate. Spot on about not losing, knows what he wants and above all the post match interview yesterday. Only minor drawback is your lucky comment as I believe you make yr own luck! Even that you qualify that luck is essential; trouble is that it’s a god given thing which CW had in abundance!

[bungle]

As has been alluded to, JJOT is becoming a liability unfortunately...

It's an odd state of affairs for a club legend who has only just turned 30. Is it my imagination or does JJOT normally improve around Christmas time? I remember he went on a great scoring run under JED at around this time of year.

Perhaps he's just finding it hard to adjust to being back in league 2. Either way we need him to rediscover some of his old form quickly.

[everbrite]

It's an odd state of affairs for a club legend who has only just turned 30. Is it my imagination or does JJOT normally improve around Christmas time? I remember he went on a great scoring run under JED at around this time of year.

Perhaps he's just finding it hard to adjust to being back in league 2. Either way we need him to rediscover some of his old form quickly.

Let’s hope he read this!

[ClarenceInDefence]

Having seen the goals again, the second one is so disappointing on several levels. I thought Buchs did well yesterday in a more attacking role, but he's a liability at set-pieces and this has cost the team numerous goals so far this season and yesterday was another. For their 2nd he's stationary when the ball comes towards him, doesn't read the flight of the ball or leap and it's all too easy for their players to win the header and knock it down into the danger area. Perhaps not entirely his fault though as maybe the organisation for the set-piece was poor in the first place.