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41  The Hotel End / Cobblers Corner / Re: Best X1 players versus Best team on: March 17, 2023, 08:41:49 am
I think Jon has been extremely loyal to a lot of the players that got us this high in the league, he admitted as much. Its admirable in one capacity but also could potentially be his downfall if this is something he always proceeds with.

I am very much a square pegs in square holes kind of fan. I dont like to see players shoehorned in simply to ensure they are included. As has been mentioned, when Magloire is fit it feels like we do whatever we can to ensure he, Sherring and Guthrie all play, regardless of how it effects the balance of play. The same goes for Pinnock and McGowan.

I feel like JB know needs to show that same faith in those that have come in and performed so well. Also one thing we need to do more of is develop potential saleable assets. As much as I want to see players stay with us for a long time if we want to be able to move forward we need to be able to generate funds with big fees for players. Hondemarck and Lintott hold potential to develop beyond us and generate money for the club. Not only that, they deserve to be starting based on their recent performances.

Also if you look at the stats on say McGowan v Lintott they are very similar. The biggest difference being that McGowan is more of a potential target from Goal Kicks (although Lintott is good in the air) and Lintott is far more likely to burst forward wit the ball like Brendan Moloney used to do.

I definitely think going with the best team is the way forward. Let the others make an impact off the bench but lets reward those that come in and make an impact. I do think there is the odd exception, but I hope we get to see some of these keep their place in the starting XI.
Couldn't agree more with this post.
42  The Hotel End / Cobblers Corner / Re: The 'Clare Balding' POTS Harrogate (a) February 28th 2023 on: March 01, 2023, 13:27:23 pm
Balding was close again, but I'll go for Hondermarck
43  The Hotel End / Cobblers Corner / Re: Harrogate away 28.02.23 on: March 01, 2023, 10:48:33 am
Not sure it was worth the half day off work, but at least I've ticked the ground off. Food was good and was probably the highlight  Grin

Talk of getting rid of the manager is nonsense, and I certainly don't think there is a mass clamouring for it. This is the first 'bad' spell under him and really it's more to do with performances than the actual results, and he has plenty of credit in the bank still. We need to try and support a manager through a bad patch. However, I don't think he's helping himself.

We still have enough good players out there to be performing a lot better than we are. And in the face of some criticism, I fear Brady has done the worst thing possible - he's become stubborn.

Fans were calling for Lintott to come back. He came back, played well, and immediately got dropped again last night upon the first opportunity to do so. I just don't think it sends the right message to the fringe players, there's absolutely zero incentive for them to come in and do well if they know they'll be back on the bench as soon as the 'starter' is back. Fair enough if your first XI is firing on all cylinders, but it isn't.

I almost feel like the manager is continuing with this style of football to try and eventually vindicate his choices, rather than acknowledge that it's clearly not working and we need to try something new. It's been 10 performances in a row of basically the same thing. Even with the injuries we have I don't buy that there isn't any other possible way he can set the available players up to play football, and he needs to show a bit of flexibility to get us out of this poor run.
44  The Hotel End / Cobblers Corner / Re: Into The Romans Den - Colchester United (a) - Saturday 25th February 2023 on: February 26, 2023, 07:57:56 am
The win is important to just calm things down again. But to be honest the first half was much the same as recent, a hell of a lot of passing around at the back that was achieving very little.

We managed to score thanks to Col U failing to clear a pretty routine corner twice, but I'm really happy for Appere whose performance deserved a goal.

I was staggered we didn't change formation when Magloire went off and we shoehorned in McGowan at RCB, but it ended up working so I guess you can't complain about it too much. Whether it works again is a different matter, and I'm still worried by our tendency to put a 'trusted' player on the pitch ahead of someone who actually plays the position that needs to be filled.

Thanks to Colchester coming at us to try and get something, we managed to have some really good chances on the counter attack and realistically we should have scored three. So in that sense, better. As others have alluded to, I do worry about the style of play and set up at Sixfields when teams come to nullify us though. We look OK on the counter but still don't know how to break teams down when we have a prolonged period on the ball.

In any case, if we follow this up with a win at Harrogate hopefully that's a corner turned.
45  The Hotel End / Cobblers Corner / Re: Grimsby Sat. 18th Feb. on: February 19, 2023, 18:25:00 pm
Would it be that with so many midfield players missing Pinnock was the only alternative considered by the Management. That he did not perform with distinction is some what irrelevant as by consent it was not his preferred position. Would have helped if Fox had been available on the day. With McW a doubt and not risked until circumstances forced JB's hand. In hindsight would have played Leonard as a number 10 or was he?
Change the formation then if we don't have enough CMs. Don't just shunt someone into a position they can't play.

F F S !!!! Read the room mate  …
There is only one person that thinks Pinnock can play centre mid and he’s the one picking the side!

Not sure why that touched a nerve. I didn't say we were the only two to say it, just that it's been something of a bugbear for me for ages and I've noticed Bungle saying the same thing for quite a while too. All you others are very late to the game on this one  Wink Grin
46  The Hotel End / Cobblers Corner / Re: Grimsby Sat. 18th Feb. on: February 19, 2023, 15:41:29 pm
Performance wise, yesterday was actually a step forward on recent games in my opinion. It was much better to see Koiki and Lintott getting forward and supporting the attacks, but unfortunately it didn't really materialise into any more clear cut chances. But hopefully a small indication that JB and CC realise we need to take the shackles off a little more.

Defensively we were poor though. Koiki's attempted challenges on the winger were terrible and I'm not sure how you can give away two free headers when you have three CBs playing, but we managed it.

I do feel like Bungle and myself must sound like broken records on this particular subject this season, but Pinnock should NOT be played in the middle. The fact we're into late February and still trying to persist with it is mind boggling and is making me question where the management team's judgement is right now. It didn't work back in August at Crewe, and it hasn't worked every time since.

I've defended Appere recently, and have explained why I think his selection is justified. That said, he's not even challenging for headers at the moment, and that simply isn't on. Either he's being told not to bother by JB and CC, or his timing on his jumps is woeful. Even Eppiah came on and won a header!

Neither am I saying DWP will be the answer, but it's getting to the point where it's a bit silly not to give him a go now isn't it?

We look an absolute shadow of the side of the first half of the season, which had a clear identity. It wasn't total football, neither was it hoofball, but we got the ball forward quickly, with intent and intelligence, and had runners to support the strikers. I don't know what the identity of this team is at the moment.
47  The Hotel End / Cobblers Corner / Re: The Real Dons on: February 15, 2023, 07:17:52 am
An improved performance on Rochdale for sure. We started quite brightly and had a few shots on target in the first 20 minutes, so from that perspective it was better. But the last 25 minutes of the first half and up until the subs were made we looked toothless and devoid of ideas again in much the same fashion as the previous weeks.

I think the subs made an impact, you can definitely see a lot of potential in Hondermarck and DWP. I suspect the former will need to build up minutes slowly after an injury, but I see no reason not to start DWP now, he's rapid, has a good touch and is exciting to watch when he's on the ball. Yengi was very poor compared to his bright cameo at Rochdale, but perhaps needs another game to settle in. I don't think he should be written off on the basis of one game.

Regarding the comments from Brady post-match, I get why he's disappointed that there were a few boos. The players didn't deserve it, and for me you should only really boo if the players have been woefully incompetent or have obviously not put effort in, neither of which was the case. But he shouldn't really have made much of it, I have to confess from the North Stand I didn't hear any boos and it can only have been a few individuals as I didn't hear anything from the West either.

But I don't agree with his assessment that the style of football is 'better than it ever has been'. It's certainly a marked improvement on recent years (which to be fair to him is probably what he meant). When we DO play football we're actually really good at it, but we don't do it nearly enough or far enough up the pitch in my opinion.

I totally understand you can't be on the front foot for 90 minutes, but since the turn of the year it seems to be 70 minutes of 'patient' but ultimately fruitless passing around in our own half or on the half-way line without much luck in breaking anyone down before then going long anyway. Then we have circa 15/20 minutes where we appear urgent, make quick incisive passes and are actually really entertaining. Most fans are going to turn up next week regardless, but 20 minutes of entertainment out of 90 is not going to cut it for some fans who are questioning if this is the best use of their money in such tough times at the moment.

Agree that every team will have a blip, but I think this has been more of a steady decline in results and performances which for a little while now we've not shown much signs of reversing. That's not to say it won't happen - the click could happen on Saturday and then we go on a run which we all know we're capable of. But I can also understand why a bit of unrest is creeping in.
48  The Hotel End / Cobblers Corner / Re: Up The Dale Saturday 11th Feb on: February 12, 2023, 09:46:44 am
Good point GPC. It’s amazing that we did start on the front foot and yet most of us ignored the first 8/10min spell. Some of us are so trapped in a negative mindset!
There's a huge difference between negativity and realism.

The recent performances speak for themselves, there's a worrying dip in both performance levels and results and we need to rectify it quickly.

There's still plenty of time, and we will put another run together at some point I'm sure. But last season we waited a bit too long to make the necessary changes to reverse the slump of form we were having, and despite the strong end to the season we missed out by a narrow margin. I don't want history to repeat itself.
49  The Hotel End / Cobblers Corner / Re: The 'Clare Balding' POTS Rochdale (a) February 11th 2023 on: February 12, 2023, 06:47:46 am
Fox, just for the goal really.

Such a poor performance all round though that I was tempted with a brief reunion with Ms Balding.
50  The Hotel End / Cobblers Corner / Re: Up The Dale Saturday 11th Feb on: February 12, 2023, 06:43:39 am
Nothing hugely to add to what has already been said. The worry for me at the moment is the patterns in performance - we start games so slowly and only get going when we absolutely have to. We've scored in the first half ONCE in the last 10 games, and that was the keeper howler at Salford City for Hoskins.

We NEED to take the shackles off. We are not going to get promoted with the current performances and style of play.

Earlier this season we took the game to teams from the off, and when we actually have a go we're a joy to watch. Recently it's been circa 70/80 minutes of boring and meaningless passing around at the back. I say meaningless, because it doesn't actually stretch teams out of their formation and create us any space to exploit, and we eventually just hoof it long anyway and then don't even win the header.

Lintott needs to come back in permanently for me. We've played better when he's been on the pitch this year, and as others have alluded to we don't need to shoehorn three centre-backs in just because we can, even when playing four at the back.

I've not really criticised Brady yet and overall he's done a fantastic job. But I wish at the moment he would stop overthinking it and revert to the management of the start of the season when we played players in their position and just went for it - it paid off handsomely in terms of results and entertaining football.
51  The Hotel End / Cobblers Corner / Re: Walsall at home on Saturday 04.02.23 on: February 05, 2023, 08:54:06 am
That's a couple of recent games now (Stockport and yesterday) where we've looked utterly devoid of any plan or ideas after the second half substitutions have been made.

Pinnock should be played on the left and the left alone and it's staggering we're still persisting with anything else. Wright-Phillips is obviously a winger and I'd love to know the thought process behind playing him centrally, where he didn't get a sniff as he didn't get any balls into his feet. Hoskins unsurprisingly looked like a fish out of water playing at RWB - again, would love to know why we did that when we could have bought Dyche on and shifted Magloire across. And finally we have Yengi, our target man, who kept popping up on the wing!

Jon and Colin have done a tremendous job but they are creeping into a bit of a worrying tendency recently to play players out of position ahead of players where that is their primary position. We have incredible strength in depth for once but seem to be wasting it a little bit in my opinion.
52  The Hotel End / Cobblers Corner / Re: Supporters Trust withdraws bid for ACV Land at Sixfields on: February 02, 2023, 20:02:10 pm
I’m assuming that if they want to stay on, the options outside of the AGM are very limited. The current board hold all of the cards if they insist on staying, external to an AGM options are limited.

There absolutely no chance of forming a no confidence vote. Well over 50% of the membership either don’t care or are simply not contactable. At the moment, the board appears (I can only assume) either ambivalent, or oblivious to the impact of their actions.

I agree with you about not wanting to discard the good work that has gone before. But this board beyond the land and stand issues, hasn’t shown an appetite for any other Trust business. It is more akin to a specific working party, than it is a supporters trust
I see. Valid points, and you won't find me disputing that the constitution could do with being modernised where possible.

But there IS a democratic route available outside the AGM in terms of being able to call the EGMs/no confidence - the support base being apathetic doesn't change that.

That said, I believe there are 15 board spaces available according to model rules. If there's only 6 at the moment then that means the two longest serving will have to resign (I don't know who they are) and stand for re-election. Therefore the way things stand, the nine people who want to stand from Not My Trust could all be elected to the board unopposed even if the two who stood down from the current board are also elected unopposed.

If the membership want it, a change of direction will not be far away.
53  The Hotel End / Cobblers Corner / Re: Supporters Trust withdraws bid for ACV Land at Sixfields on: January 31, 2023, 20:34:44 pm
You stated that the democratic process allowed for change. Other than others being put up for a position. I’m not sure how else that can happen. It’s not going to happen outside of an AGM is it.
Are you saying that there isn't a democratic process for change outside the AGM. Or are you arguing that it's just convoluted?
54  The Hotel End / Cobblers Corner / Re: Supporters Trust withdraws bid for ACV Land at Sixfields on: January 31, 2023, 19:54:14 pm
It’s completely relevant. I don’t agree that waiting for an AGM is appropriate. Unless of course the board intends to do the decent thing and walk away.
Where in my original post did I state that the AGM was the more appropriate way to deal with the matter?  Huh?

I posted, factually, that there are two different ways it can be done.

You seem to be arguing against an opinion I haven't even expressed yet  Grin
55  The Hotel End / Cobblers Corner / Re: January 2023 Transfer Window on: January 31, 2023, 17:26:19 pm
Anyway, Yengi.

We needed a target man, we've signed a target man. Hope he stays fit and can contribute.
56  The Hotel End / Cobblers Corner / Re: Supporters Trust withdraws bid for ACV Land at Sixfields on: January 31, 2023, 17:09:35 pm
Fez, it is very hard to be constructive, when the only line that fits is “I/we told you so”. There has been so many attempts to head something like this off at the pass over the last few years, that it is nigh on impossible to put this down to a mere misguided accident. I hold no malice towards the main body of the Trust. But it has been clear to all that they have been the obvious recipients of crass and inappropriate advice. You’ve got to know what you are taking on. And there was a wealth of knowledge discarded in order to reach this end.

Nobody in their right mind wants to see the Trust disbanded. But it should not need a standard AGM and in fighting to correct this. Any of the current board who stand for re-election need to examine very closely their motivation for doing so. Not because they are not genuine supporters. Or because they meant any malice. Although I do question some of boards members, and hangers on motivation. But they should stand down for a new board to be assembled, one that the club can’t point a finger out for anything. Have a fresh vote on some key policies. Start inviting representatives from the club to meetings. Forging a new start.
Not really sure much of this was relevant to what I was posting to be honest mate. I was merely addressing the people who think that the Trust should be disbanded in its entirety and pointing out that there's a route towards achieving a new Trust and new vision within the existing parameters, rather than just discarding the whole thing because one version of it has proved unsatisfactory to a number of fans.
57  The Hotel End / Cobblers Corner / Re: Supporters Trust withdraws bid for ACV Land at Sixfields on: January 31, 2023, 07:22:49 am
This is a disgrace I've said it before the trust isn't fit for purpose shame we as a fan base can't decide to disband them
You can decide to get rid of the people that run it though. Democratically.

I'm surprised some people seem to just want to cast the Trust off entirely and disband it, as if the previous groundbreaking work the Trust has done is now irrelevant.

It's only finished if people have a stubborn attitude towards it. Eventually it will have new board members/leadership ect and people have to be willing to allow that board a clean slate.

AGM is on February 23, and people can stand for the board and hold elections then. Or someone can call an EGM specifically on this issue.
58  The Hotel End / Cobblers Corner / Re: High Energy Barrow (a) on: January 29, 2023, 09:44:47 am
The first 45 minutes were just incredibly dull with virtually nothing happening, and not for the first time I questioned my sanity in using up an entire day of my life just for 90 minutes of football - the only consolation being it was a new ground for me to tick off the list.

Second half however I thought we played some really nice stuff at times. We absolutely bossed it in midfield, and I'm in the strange position of really rating Marc Leonard and what he brings to us, but thinking that the midfield three of Fox-Sowerby-McWilliams is actually our best unit in there. Still, it's nice to have options and Hondermarck will only add to that once he's fit enough to feature.

How Mysterious Curle can question the work rate of Appere is beyond me, every game he puts a mammoth shift in. His scoring record and aerial strength is there for questioning no doubt, but I don't think that's what he's being selected for by Brady - it's his pressing of the opposition defence and his hold up play with the ball to his feet where he can bring our midfield into the game and allow us to have more possession.

I'd put Appere in the same category as Sowerby in that the end product stats (attacking wise) might suggest they don't contribute much, but there's probably a whole load of other stats that we don't see that justify their inclusion, though the main thing is that we play much better as an XI when they are both in there.
59  The Hotel End / Cobblers Corner / Re: The 'Clare Balding' POTS Barrow (a) 28th January 2023 on: January 29, 2023, 09:17:52 am
Ben Fox for me. We won the midfield battle and he was a large part of that, as well as getting the breakthrough goal.
60  The Hotel End / Cobblers Corner / Re: The 'Clare Balding' POTS Stockport County (a) 14th January 2023 on: January 15, 2023, 09:44:44 am
I'll go with Sam Hoskins. The only one who actually looked like scoring.
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