I do wonder about the quality of our coaching staff at times. No excuse for poorly executed and defended set plays. These can and should be practised. May attempted a Solly March style conversion with his effort from outside the box. What a waste, and they managed to score from theirs 🙄
It's good to promoted from within, especially with all the academy players in the squad, but maybe it would have been better if the new coach appointed this summer had been a "grizzled" old head, rather than another young up and coming coach from the academy. In Hayes and Senda we have 2 assistants with a similar background.
I trust the squad was watching the Aus/England Women's semi today .. perfect lessons in both tenacious defending (England) and, more importantly, attacking, shooting and scoring (both teams)
I've had a bit of time to calm down after last night, losing like that in the 97th minute is particularly painful, and actually it was a pretty enjoyable end to end league 1 game, which either side could have won. I'm not as pessimistic as some about the season, but it is painstakingly obvious we need a number of new bodies through the door who will improve the first 11 immediately. Positives: - Dobson looks a different beast this season, arguably 3 MOTM in a row - I thought Edun was excellent, looks like a proper LB who can both attack and defend. - Kanu getting a goal in a league game will do wonders for his confidence, and he made a fantastic tackle which should have got him an assist. - Despite what some think i still like the look of May, if he stays fit with Leaburn next to him i reckon he will hit 15 goals+ - Although frustrating, CBT is our X factor player and makes things happen. I'd say he's been consistently pretty good over 3 games, and even if defenders double up on him it should create space for others.
Negatives: - Conceded two and it's not dramatic to say it could have been 5 or 6. Why isn't Hector in the starting line up? If we concede that many guilt edge chances per game our season will be over (again) by December. - Jack Payne had one of those games where you almost felt sorry for him, just not at the required level. - Perhaps this is harsh, but I think Anderson looked a little out of depth at times. Not to say he's done badly the last 3 games at all, and i'm very excited about his future here - but the fact he's started 3/3 league games suggest we are forcing young players into important games way too soon, not sure this is good for his development or the team.
If, if, if we get a few good players in such as Nombe, another CB/RB etc - then with Fraser, Leaburn, Campbell coming back i'm still confident we will have a decent season challenging for top 6. Over to you owners, the next few weeks are crucial...
I hope that @LouisMend seeks out “billionaire spokesman” Charlie for comment, I thought he was supposed to be the mouthpiece of this shitshow
Why? What could he possibly say that would impress you and wouldn't it be unusual for Club management/owners to be giving post match interviews. I don't want to hear from him. I want to see the squad improved.
Okay, last night's game was a last gasp kick in the goolies. But that's football.
Amongst all the knee jerking and gnashing of teeth, we all know that we've a long injury list, players who've not done a proper pre-season and of course it's obvious the squad is not yet fully assembled.
Interestingly, in our last promotion season 2018-19, after 4 games we were limply sitting in 14th place with 4 points, with just one win. Then we signed Cullen and Bielik.
Ye of little faith - patience! We've all been here before.
Negatives: - Conceded two and it's not dramatic to say it could have been 5 or 6. Why isn't Hector in the starting line up? If we concede that many guilt edge chances per game our season will be over (again) by December. - Jack Payne had one of those games where you almost felt sorry for him, just not at the required level. - Perhaps this is harsh, but I think Anderson looked a little out of depth at times. Not to say he's done badly the last 3 games at all, and i'm very excited about his future here - but the fact he's started 3/3 league games suggest we are forcing young players into important games way too soon, not sure this is good for his development or the team.
I think that it's time to bring Hector back into the fold - if Jones has been struggling to finish games (which, conceptually, feels wild - was this happening to him last season?), then I'd make that switch. I suspect he'll be in to bring fresh legs. Holden could also move switch out Ness too, but that feels less likely than Hector for Jones.
For Anderson, it was his assist to Kanu, so that still carries weight for me. I don't think you're being harsh - he's learning every game, but I think hitting the pace for every game is hard for the lad. I don't think he's done that much wrong, aside from being as raw as he is for his age. He's still a better option than other "senior" players in the squad (Kirk/Payne/McLoveGrandles), but maybe the switch to start Taylor on Saturday was hinted in the substitution.
Perhaps the owners aren't panicking as much as the fans are! What I saw last night was a definite improvement on some of the turgid stuff I've seen served up in recent years, but it's obviously going to take time and we have a youngish inexperienced team that needs our support and not stick.
For those writing off the season already, the year Blackpool went up under Critchley they had an appalling start, so ours isn't terminal and the season isn't defined in August. How you can effect it with transfer businees largely is though so we need to get a shift on unless we're going to be forced into the free agent market again in September.
If that happens, I'll be giving this place a miss. It's bad enough reading ridiculously OTT reactions to defeats on here, the demand for immediate success obvious but unrealistic.
Last night was my first time in ages, I was hoping not to be to be disappointed in the standard on display from our guys....... cos that's what it's been like each time I've gone during the last little while........ of course the ending was very disappointing but aside from that for the first time in a long time we are bringing in players who DH can put on the team sheet come match day without embarrassment........ so I was heartened rather disappointed. They all put in a shift and yes there are gaps....... CB, right mid and up top would be my next 3 in...... but I think when the incomers get match sharp and the youngsters get more game wise we've got the beginnings of a bunch who can move up the table. I have some sympathy with the incoming management team (including DH), it can't be easy exiting unwanted players who have decent (for them) contracts and having to balance the budget and bring in the right players. But that's what they're paid for and they will be judged by how well they do it. So far I like who they've brought in, it would be great if the owners allowed a bit of financial wiggle room so we could get some real momentum asap. I read the other day that getting to the Championship was worth £20m., if that's true then maybe a cash injection (so we don't fall foul of FFP rules) is worth a punt compared to the financials of staying in L1 next season. Overall I'd say I'm a glass half full for the summer so far and I'm hoping it'll be full come September...... and maybe even to the light and bitter stage....... for those who remember how to get more than a pint in the good old days :0)
Yes there probably are some over reactions, but quite bluntly, we have had a long run of being shit and are desperate to have a run of not being shit.
Once we’ve had that and become not so negatively fragile, then I think we’ll return to being a bit more collectively balanced to 97th minute home defeats.
AMB - Good shot stopper but slows us down a lot with his goal kicks when we could hit the opposition on the break. Probably the better of the two
Asiimwe - I'm yet to be convinced but definitely worth persisting with. Should he be first choice? No
Joyce - Fairly solid. Good enough for a promotion team I'm not too sure
Ness - Decent player, but still learning his trade
Edun - Finally a left footed left back. How was CBT playing left wing back with this guy on the bench?
Dobson - Very tidy display. Clearly our best player
Payne - League 2 standard. Just isn't good enough
Anderson - Not first team ready. A passenger last night
Camara - Excellent pressing and bags of energy. Something different for our midfield
CBT - Standard CBT. All bark and no bite. Its worth remembering Adkins brought him in as back up and now we see him as one of our best players!
May - You can feel the expectancy level raise when he gets on the ball. His goal will come but I'm not optimistic about the 20 + goals we were hoping for
Win your home games and nick what you can away was Curbs philosophy and I stick by that. This is a bad result there's no denying but there's plenty of time to turn things around. I've got to admit I'm bemused that Holden hasn't implemented a clear style of play over pre season and we're already chopping and changing with three formation changes last night.
May is easily buttoned up when up top on his own so we need to see Kanu (our top scorer!) Start next to him on Saturday. I'm not a fan with three at the back so I'd be opting for a 442 with CBT and Kirk on the wings. Dobbo and Camara in the middle.
Edun left back with Joyce at right back Hector and Ness in the middle. AMB between the sticks.
Owners willing to gamble on not signing a striker first 3 games of the season and now we are trying to play catch-up. Worrying.
problem is May has been signed, Leaburn will soon be fit (we ope and pray) and we have the 'promising' Kanu .. the club is not made of the proverbial money and though we'd love to see the cash splashed every week on new players, it aint gonna occur .. IF a striker had been signed to fill what will hopefully be a short gap, he would probably have soon been bench warming and being well paid for it .. time to get real and realise that we nowadays have to cut the coat etc etc etc
Re the non sending off, how are there covering defenders when they were behind May? Also not sure the ref had the wall back more than 6 or 7 yards on the resulting free kick.
To castigate the club after 3 matches with a couple of weeks window still to go is a little unfair, the introduction of Edun, Camará and May are improvements and the introduction of Asiimwe, Anderson and Kanu are positives, we just need to get rid of a few and hopefully bring in better as has been suggested by Scott. It is too early to make season long assessments.
Comments
Wont stop the players from using Social Media
But thinks steering well clear after a loss etc. is a good idea, given the comments that they may read
We will, won’t we?
Positives:
- Dobson looks a different beast this season, arguably 3 MOTM in a row
- I thought Edun was excellent, looks like a proper LB who can both attack and defend.
- Kanu getting a goal in a league game will do wonders for his confidence, and he made a fantastic tackle which should have got him an assist.
- Despite what some think i still like the look of May, if he stays fit with Leaburn next to him i reckon he will hit 15 goals+
- Although frustrating, CBT is our X factor player and makes things happen. I'd say he's been consistently pretty good over 3 games, and even if defenders double up on him it should create space for others.
Negatives:
- Conceded two and it's not dramatic to say it could have been 5 or 6. Why isn't Hector in the starting line up? If we concede that many guilt edge chances per game our season will be over (again) by December.
- Jack Payne had one of those games where you almost felt sorry for him, just not at the required level.
- Perhaps this is harsh, but I think Anderson looked a little out of depth at times. Not to say he's done badly the last 3 games at all, and i'm very excited about his future here - but the fact he's started 3/3 league games suggest we are forcing young players into important games way too soon, not sure this is good for his development or the team.
If, if, if we get a few good players in such as Nombe, another CB/RB etc - then with Fraser, Leaburn, Campbell coming back i'm still confident we will have a decent season challenging for top 6. Over to you owners, the next few weeks are crucial...
But that's football.
Amongst all the knee jerking and gnashing of teeth, we all know that we've a long injury list, players who've not done a proper pre-season and of course it's obvious the squad is not yet fully assembled.
Interestingly, in our last promotion season 2018-19, after 4 games we were limply sitting in 14th place with 4 points, with just one win.
Then we signed Cullen and Bielik.
Ye of little faith - patience! We've all been here before.
For Anderson, it was his assist to Kanu, so that still carries weight for me. I don't think you're being harsh - he's learning every game, but I think hitting the pace for every game is hard for the lad. I don't think he's done that much wrong, aside from being as raw as he is for his age. He's still a better option than other "senior" players in the squad (Kirk/Payne/McLoveGrandles), but maybe the switch to start Taylor on Saturday was hinted in the substitution.
Won 1
Lost 3
Seriously. We're short on quality and short on numbers.
But don't worry the transfer window isn't shut yet
And repeat
And repeat
And repeat
For those writing off the season already, the year Blackpool went up under Critchley they had an appalling start, so ours isn't terminal and the season isn't defined in August. How you can effect it with transfer businees largely is though so we need to get a shift on unless we're going to be forced into the free agent market again in September.
If that happens, I'll be giving this place a miss. It's bad enough reading ridiculously OTT reactions to defeats on here, the demand for immediate success obvious but unrealistic.
They all put in a shift and yes there are gaps....... CB, right mid and up top would be my next 3 in...... but I think when the incomers get match sharp and the youngsters get more game wise we've got the beginnings of a bunch who can move up the table.
I have some sympathy with the incoming management team (including DH), it can't be easy exiting unwanted players who have decent (for them) contracts and having to balance the budget and bring in the right players. But that's what they're paid for and they will be judged by how well they do it. So far I like who they've brought in, it would be great if the owners allowed a bit of financial wiggle room so we could get some real momentum asap. I read the other day that getting to the Championship was worth £20m., if that's true then maybe a cash injection (so we don't fall foul of FFP rules) is worth a punt compared to the financials of staying in L1 next season.
Overall I'd say I'm a glass half full for the summer so far and I'm hoping it'll be full come September...... and maybe even to the light and bitter stage....... for those who remember how to get more than a pint in the good old days :0)
Asiimwe - I'm yet to be convinced but definitely worth persisting with. Should he be first choice? No
Joyce - Fairly solid. Good enough for a promotion team I'm not too sure
Ness - Decent player, but still learning his trade
Edun - Finally a left footed left back. How was CBT playing left wing back with this guy on the bench?
Dobson - Very tidy display. Clearly our best player
Payne - League 2 standard. Just isn't good enough
Anderson - Not first team ready. A passenger last night
Camara - Excellent pressing and bags of energy. Something different for our midfield
CBT - Standard CBT. All bark and no bite. Its worth remembering Adkins brought him in as back up and now we see him as one of our best players!
May - You can feel the expectancy level raise when he gets on the ball. His goal will come but I'm not optimistic about the 20 + goals we were hoping for
Win your home games and nick what you can away was Curbs philosophy and I stick by that. This is a bad result there's no denying but there's plenty of time to turn things around. I've got to admit I'm bemused that Holden hasn't implemented a clear style of play over pre season and we're already chopping and changing with three formation changes last night.
May is easily buttoned up when up top on his own so we need to see Kanu (our top scorer!) Start next to him on Saturday. I'm not a fan with three at the back so I'd be opting for a 442 with CBT and Kirk on the wings. Dobbo and Camara in the middle.
Edun left back with Joyce at right back Hector and Ness in the middle. AMB between the sticks.