Oh really? You're losing 1-0 and have a striker sitting on the bench. You bring on Hayes with 2 mins of normal time and some extra time. Not enough time is it.
Evina for Stephens in the 81st minute? Why make subs so late.
If your on about Powell, then sometimes I question if he knows what hes doing. Maybe I should have worded it properly but this thread is about Powell is it not?
Did Cort for Solly actually cost us the game? I'm more concerned with dropped Hayes and Wagstaff when your team is buoyant and top of the league - but it was Powell who built this team, we're still top of the league having lost one game all season.
So our form's dropped a little, that will happen. Stephens isn't playing as well as he did earlier in the season, for one, but we won't play cloggers like Stevenage every week, we won't concede deflected goals every week (although it might feel like it) and we've proved more than capable of beating teams. It's not as if we're even on a bad run! Calm, people.
I do think Powell makes his subs too late. When comething needs to change, 60-65 seems a good time to make a change. Always making the changes after 70+ minutes doesn't give the subs enough time to make a proper impact. I remember being so frustrated at Exeter last year when we played dreadfully and had Reid and Racon on the bench while Abbott and McCormack failed masterfully on the pitch. The change came too late to make anywhere near enough difference. Hopefully this will change as his career goes on
I'll tell you. I don't understand how you know more about professional football ..............than a man who played 1st team pro football for 25 years, played international football, coached under a manager with whom together they won the Third Division title recently, as well as with another very successful manager in top international and European football - and can count as a mentor none other than Alan Curbishley.
And you say, I quote: "I dunno, I like the man but not sure If he knows what he's doing".
I think CP is rightly looking for a plan B before we get winter pitches and can no longer rely on our passing game. The Solly decision is a strange one but an obvious alternate strategy is getting crosses into the box, hence Green, and with Hayes and BWP not great in the air, Kermorgan is worth persevering with. I'm sure he can hold it up as well as Hayes if given that instruction. CP needs to demand he does so rather than flick-ons which should be an occasional option.
Two changes to the team last week and a strange decision to break-up a previously competant Back Four, and the team's pattern of play has broken down. Need to get back to playing into feet and penetrating down the flanks. We've been easy to stifle and contain in the last 2 games. Hopeful flick-ons from long balls ain't gonna cause opponents too many problems. Why look for a Plan B when Plan A was working well, particularly away from home? Injuries and Suspensions would have forced changes eventually. Worrying Times HG.
CP has got most things right since the end of the season. We've seen a lot of players shifted on who either weren't good enough, didn't fit his philosophy of how to play or didn't have the right character (and in some cases two or more). In has come a new side with players with the right skills and character that will play the way he wants the game to be played.
We are top with one defeat from 14 games have scored in all but one game and have points in hand. The team and squad have gelled really well.
Maybe dropping Solly was a mistake (I wasn't there yesterday) but he's young and played a lot of football. Was he tired? Unwell? Or did CP just decide to rotate a fresh face into defence?
As far as I'm concerned CP is still well in credit this season. This is a team game and we'll need to make good use of some of those players who are on the bench/stands most weeks.
Sorry if mentioned above as I only read the first 6 or so posts.
I can understand why people are saying things shouldn't be changed but have we not been saying that we don't seem to have a plan B? We need to look at our options, and the only way to do that is by giving others a run out. We have a squad of about 20 players, and 9 of those are not going to be happy if they're continually left out or benched at best. Other players deserve their chance. Okay, so Green hasn't exactly done himself any favours with the last 2 games. But if we had played Waggy in those games and got the same results, people would have been screaming at Powell to play Green (as they have done from the 2nd game of the season). Okay Kermorgant doesn't seem to have the same understanding with BWP as hayes does but to get that, they need to play together. I personally have no preference between Kermorgant or Hayes, as I think they are both (for this division at least) quality front-men that would get an automatic first-team place at most clubs in this league. We are fortunate to have them both and need to use them both. Green is going to come good for us, probably trying too hard at the moment.
When we get into the busy period of the season around xmas, we need all players completely ready to slot into the team seamlessly and to do that they need game time. We won't get the tactics right all the time.
All managers make mistakes and get it wrong. However, the big question is will he learn from them? I have complete faith in the man that he will get us up and out of this division.
I've had the hump for most of the day , glad i was at work , rather than taking it out on the wife and kids , i think i definately got carried away , we were always going to get beat as some point , and as Tango has mentioned Chris P is looking for a plan B , and maybe a Plan C , as we can't play the same team in every game , one of the problems we have , i know Stephens and Hollands got bypassed for a lot of the game by hoofs over the top , but at the moment with Pritchard some way away from full fitness , and Alsonso not yet up to speed , we do not have players that can slot in there at the moment , sorry to start the old conspiracies , but i saw Chris Hughton at the Tranmere home game , and thought , whats he doing here? hope he's not after Solly in January , maybe thats why Solly was left out of the 1st team , guess we'll never know whats going on behind the scenes , but it may explain why he didn't play v Stevenage , if his heads been turned?
Having mentioned plan B, I'm surprised CP hasn't tried plan C again. When he joined he set us up 4-3-3 but didn't have the quality. I think the back five with DS, DH, JJ, narrow, two quality full backs pushing on and Waggy, BWP, Hayes/Kermo inter-changing would be dangerous and could revert to 4-4-2 without need for subs. Would keep oppo guessing.
I can understand why people are saying things shouldn't be changed but have we not been saying that we don't seem to have a plan B?
All managers make mistakes and get it wrong. However, the big question is will he learn from them? I have complete faith in the man that he will get us up and out of this division.
Totally agree with the latter part. Not sure about the first part. You only need a plan B when plan A stops working. And everything seemed to be ticking along quite nicely up to Shef U away, from what I could see!
'Never change a winning team' might be a cliche. But the point about cliches is that they only ever became cliches by dint of their ineffable truth and wisdom.
With the benefit of hindsight, nobody would ever make a mistake. For weeks on here I was reading from various posters that Hayes had gone off the boil and needed a rest, same with Waggy, ineffective, can't cross, needs to be dropped for Green etc, etc. This is Solly's first full season, he's going to need a rest from time to time to keep him fresh. Other players such as Green, Kermorgant and Cort are going to need game time to keep them up to speed. Had it worked out Powell would have been a tactical genious, just as he was at MK Dons and Sheff Utd for his astute substitutions. It didn't work out this time unfortunately, so Powell suddenly becomes clueless in the eyes of some. I used to believe in the old adage of if it aint broke don't fix it, but football has now become a complex tactical game in which you need to keep the opposition second guessing and you need to be proactive in making changes. We learnt that at the beginning of the season before last when Parky refused to make changes to a team that had won their first six, but were clearly running out of steam and needed freshening up. He didn't make changes and we started losing. I still have every faith in Powell, he has stated that Solly is his number 1 right back and has been full of praise for Wagstaff and Hayes when many were critical, he knows what he's doing but it's not going to work out 100% of the time.
Reality check...... quarter of the way through the season and only lost one game. Better than I expected and still full of optimism, my glass is still half full.!
Firstly I don't understand why so many people consider a simple discussion about reasons for a defeat as either
1. Doom & gloom / negativity / pessimism etc 2. Anti Chris Powell
I wasn't happy with Saturday's performances. I've listened to the commentary of every game so far this season and hear of a nice passing style of play and I visualise the players in the team by what I'm told of their contribution.
Imagine my surprise and disbelief to find a team who give away possession so easily. Ben Hamer hardly ever rolled the ball out to a defender on Saturday, instead he just whacked it as far up the pitch as possible. Most of the time when an outfield player got the ball he just banged it up to Kermorgant.
It doesn't need a tactical genius to work out that a team like Stevenage would be made more uncomfortable by a team that roll the ball out to their defenders, draw the opposition forward thus creating more space in the midfield which in turn gives our team more time to play our passing game. We could have controlled that match but instead we played right into their hands.
And the defensive changes were unnecessary as Large says.
Why dont all you negative people sit down and shut up. Save your moaning sad lives until the important end of the season. Every silver lining doesnt need your piss poor black cloud
Why dont all you negative people sit down and shut up. Save your moaning sad lives until the important end of the season. Every silver lining doesnt need your piss poor black cloud
so Powell suddenly becomes clueless in the eyes of some.
I sincerely hope nobody thinks that. He made a couple of mistakes in handing in his team sheet. That's all. No more, no less.
Nobody is saying he's Bill Shankley. And nobody's saying he is ''clueless''.
He's a very good manager -- the best we've had since AC.
But he doesn't get it right every time. Is there anything controversial about that? I can't see why there should be, because I'm sure CP would be the first to agree...
I didn't like the look of yesterday's line up prior to the game, but understood why Powell would chose to stick with Kermit and Green. To drop them so soon after they forced their way into the team would have been a big blow to their confidence and would have heaped pressure on any player in that they have to start scoring or making goals immediately or they'll be dropped. Powell has always said that every player in the squad has to be ready to step up when required and that their chance will eventually come. When Stephens became unavailable, Powell has obviously looked within the squad for the player who has not only shown a great proffessional attitute but who has kept themselves up to speed fitness wise. By the way he played, it sounds like Hughes was the obvious choice for Powell. Kermit and Green will only improve with gametime and it may well transpire that we will be a better team with them as opposed to Hayes/Wagstaff, only time will tell. But we have to trust Powell's judgement, he will make errors from time to time, but if he get's it right 75% of the time, it should be good enough for promotion. I like the fact that he is making use of his squad and trying to keep important players like BWP fit and as fresh as possible. Sensible, logical tinkering is fine with me!
Comments
Oh really? You're losing 1-0 and have a striker sitting on the bench. You bring on Hayes with 2 mins of normal time and some extra time. Not enough time is it.
Evina for Stephens in the 81st minute? Why make subs so late.
What don't you understand Oggy?
I'll tell you. I don't understand how you know more about professional football ..............than a man who played 1st team pro football for 25 years, played international football, coached under a manager with whom together they won the Third Division title recently, as well as with another very successful manager in top international and European football - and can count as a mentor none other than Alan Curbishley.
And you say, I quote: "I dunno, I like the man but not sure If he knows what he's doing".
As if you know all the answers, right?
@Oggy Red
Blimey did your face turn red when you wrote that? You don't half get out your pram quick don't you.
This is Chris Powell's first team as a manager, who did he manage before? Leicester for 1 game.
With all that said, you can have all the experience you want, doesn't always make you a good manager look at Roy Keane.
Did I once mention I knew more about professional football then Chris Powell? I don't remember saying that.
I am just unsure about some of the decisions he makes thats all.
CP has got most things right since the end of the season. We've seen a lot of players shifted on who either weren't good enough, didn't fit his philosophy of how to play or didn't have the right character (and in some cases two or more). In has come a new side with players with the right skills and character that will play the way he wants the game to be played.
We are top with one defeat from 14 games have scored in all but one game and have points in hand. The team and squad have gelled really well.
Maybe dropping Solly was a mistake (I wasn't there yesterday) but he's young and played a lot of football. Was he tired? Unwell? Or did CP just decide to rotate a fresh face into defence?
As far as I'm concerned CP is still well in credit this season. This is a team game and we'll need to make good use of some of those players who are on the bench/stands most weeks.
I can understand why people are saying things shouldn't be changed but have we not been saying that we don't seem to have a plan B? We need to look at our options, and the only way to do that is by giving others a run out.
We have a squad of about 20 players, and 9 of those are not going to be happy if they're continually left out or benched at best. Other players deserve their chance. Okay, so Green hasn't exactly done himself any favours with the last 2 games. But if we had played Waggy in those games and got the same results, people would have been screaming at Powell to play Green (as they have done from the 2nd game of the season). Okay Kermorgant doesn't seem to have the same understanding with BWP as hayes does but to get that, they need to play together. I personally have no preference between Kermorgant or Hayes, as I think they are both (for this division at least) quality front-men that would get an automatic first-team place at most clubs in this league. We are fortunate to have them both and need to use them both. Green is going to come good for us, probably trying too hard at the moment.
When we get into the busy period of the season around xmas, we need all players completely ready to slot into the team seamlessly and to do that they need game time. We won't get the tactics right all the time.
All managers make mistakes and get it wrong. However, the big question is will he learn from them?
I have complete faith in the man that he will get us up and out of this division.
'Never change a winning team' might be a cliche. But the point about cliches is that they only ever became cliches by dint of their ineffable truth and wisdom.
I'm amazed no one wants him sacked i mean one defeat its shocking .
Had it worked out Powell would have been a tactical genious, just as he was at MK Dons and Sheff Utd for his astute substitutions. It didn't work out this time unfortunately, so Powell suddenly becomes clueless in the eyes of some. I used to believe in the old adage of if it aint broke don't fix it, but football has now become a complex tactical game in which you need to keep the opposition second guessing and you need to be proactive in making changes. We learnt that at the beginning of the season before last when Parky refused to make changes to a team that had won their first six, but were clearly running out of steam and needed freshening up. He didn't make changes and we started losing.
I still have every faith in Powell, he has stated that Solly is his number 1 right back and has been full of praise for Wagstaff and Hayes when many were critical, he knows what he's doing but it's not going to work out 100% of the time.
1. Doom & gloom / negativity / pessimism etc
2. Anti Chris Powell
I wasn't happy with Saturday's performances. I've listened to the commentary of every game so far this season and hear of a nice passing style of play and I visualise the players in the team by what I'm told of their contribution.
Imagine my surprise and disbelief to find a team who give away possession so easily. Ben Hamer hardly ever rolled the ball out to a defender on Saturday, instead he just whacked it as far up the pitch as possible. Most of the time when an outfield player got the ball he just banged it up to Kermorgant.
It doesn't need a tactical genius to work out that a team like Stevenage would be made more uncomfortable by a team that roll the ball out to their defenders, draw the opposition forward thus creating more space in the midfield which in turn gives our team more time to play our passing game. We could have controlled that match but instead we played right into their hands.
And the defensive changes were unnecessary as Large says.
Save your moaning sad lives until the important end of the season.
Every silver lining doesnt need your piss poor black cloud
Nobody is saying he's Bill Shankley. And nobody's saying he is ''clueless''.
He's a very good manager -- the best we've had since AC.
But he doesn't get it right every time. Is there anything controversial about that? I can't see why there should be, because I'm sure CP would be the first to agree...