Anag Ram

The corner flag has moved to Charlton.

I watched the friendlies, excited to see the new CB pairing that was hyped to be the difference this season.
I was alarmed to see just how slow they were to react to danger. A simple drag back across the box seemed to fox them completely. Their lack of pace (esp Bradley) should have been obvious to any scout.
Watching the league games didn’t change my opinion, though Nelson has settled a bit.
Ward shows glimpses but Elder is bang average. Wilson is a bit like the other wide players we have in that he gets you off your seat with a swivel then back on your seat with a misplaced pass.
 I know we can’t afford much but we were told we were getting special players who had the right character.
Last season’s team was stronger and unless we get two or three real game changers I think this season we’ll be mid table.
Better than no team for sure and I don’t lose sight of that but disappointing against the expectation built by the management team.
 

I watched the friendlies, excited to see the new CB pairing that was hyped to be the difference this season.
I was alarmed to see just how slow they were to react to danger. A simple drag back across the box seemed to fox them completely. Their lack of pace (esp Bradley) should have been obvious to any scout.
Watching the league games didn’t change my opinion, though Nelson has settled a bit.
Ward shows glimpses but Elder is bang average. Wilson is a bit like the other wide players we have in that he gets you off your seat with a swivel then back on your seat with a misplaced pass.
 I know we can’t afford much but we were told we were getting special players who had the right character.
Last season’s team was stronger and unless we get two or three real game changers I think this season we’ll be mid table.
Better than no team for sure and I don’t lose sight of that but disappointing against the expectation built by the management team.
 

The corner flag has moved to Charlton.

I watched the friendlies, excited to see the new CB pairing that was hyped to be the difference this season.
I was alarmed to see just how slow they were to react to danger. A simple drag back across the box seemed to fox them completely. Their lack of pace (esp Bradley) should have been obvious to any scout.
Watching the league games didn’t change my opinion, though Nelson has settled a bit.
Ward shows glimpses but Elder is bang average. Wilson is a bit like the other wide players we have in that he gets you off your seat with a swivel then back on your seat with a misplaced pass.
 I know we can’t afford much but we were told we were getting special players who had the right character.
Last season’s team was stronger and unless we get two or three real game changers I think this season we’ll be mid table.
Better than no team for sure and I don’t lose sight of that but disappointing against the expectation built by the management team.
 

I watched the friendlies, excited to see the new CB pairing that was hyped to be the difference this season.
I was alarmed to see just how slow they were to react to danger. A simple drag back across the box seemed to fox them completely. Their lack of pace (esp Bradley) should have been obvious to any scout.
Watching the league games didn’t change my opinion, though Nelson has settled a bit.
Ward shows glimpses but Elder is bang average. Wilson is a bit like the other wide players we have in that he gets you off your seat with a swivel then back on your seat with a misplaced pass.
 I know we can’t afford much but we were told we were getting special players who had the right character.
Last season’s team was stronger and unless we get two or three real game changers I think this season we’ll be mid table.
Better than no team for sure and I don’t lose sight of that but disappointing against the expectation built by the management team.
 

I'm not a big fan of the comment for a few reasons: 
1) He has signed eight experienced players: Vickers hasn't beaten out the Wildsmith, Elder hasn't beaten out Forsyth, Nelson and Bradley have both shown deficiencies with the latter losing his place to a youngster who was already here at the club in Rooney, Washington and Waghorn finally got their chance but were placed behind Collins originally. Ward and Wilson have got injured early on. 
He has all summer been adamant on how important the recruitment strategy is and how he's got to be their best mate before they get a chance to play for the club. He's now essentially saying the players he (and Thomas) have picked for the club aren't good enough. 
2) Not a top 3 team, ok... but it's a top 3 budget we're playing with and a significant commercial advantage that dwarfs 95% of the teams in the league. Bolton are the only side even close to being within the ball park. He is essentially outing himself, Thomas... whoever that they're not being efficient with the money they've had to spend. 
Ultimately, you have to get the most out of what you are given. We've spent our money on a bunch of experience senior pros, with little resale value, essentially banking on promotion this season. Now we look way short of that standard, it's easy to highlight the short-comings. The plan can't be to recycle through free agency every summer, well it can, but ultimately it's such a poor way to build and develop a football team. I think for Warne, in particular, his philosophy and recruitment couldn't be further apart. 
I said he strikes me as someone who knows exactly what he wants, but not really sure how to get there - perhaps a few too many compromises with the recruitment staff (I'm not sure). Three at the back, with the way he plays it, needs athletes and we don't have any. Every team we have come up against has had no problem separating our centre halves and creating huge gaps around and within the box - it's fundamental that those three either have good athleticism or are disciplined and organised to the point where those gaps aren't there anymore. Same in midfield. We just don't have the personnel and we haven't even tried to bring it in. 
I'd say with the players we have we really need a back four to reduce gaps between the players and the requirement for athleticism: Rooney, Nelson, Bradley, Cashin, Elder, Forsyth can all play in this fashion. The midfield just don't really have the legs, so really you need to reduce the space between them. I feel something like a 4-5-1, 4-3-3, 4-2-3-1 formation is our best chance of getting something out of these players in this team. 
Based on what we have, on what I've seen so far this season the next game I would go with: Wildsmith; Rooney, Nelson, Cashin, Forsyth; Thompson, Hourihane; NML, Sibley, Washington; Waghorn. 
A flat back four, nothing stupid and nothing cheap - no easy outballs down the wing for the opposition. Thompson and Hourihane. Not too comfortable about that, but Thompson offers energy and drive. Hourihane can provide an end product. The front four have a little bit of pace, a little bit of purpose. a little bit of drive. Waghorn is technically our best striker at holding the ball up and bringing others into play - he has to start at the pivot. The important thing is just to reduce that space between our defenders - everyone will be a little more comfortable. I'd also like to see us play a lot closer together - we have technically good players in midfield at this level - why do we insist on stretching them so far apart, making their life difficult and (again) creating these huge gaps for teams to hurt us on the counter. 
It's been my biggest frustration with Warne's system - it's a little chaotic, it's a little bit spread out which leads to small errors becoming a critical ones. 

The corner flag has moved to Charlton.

A good few years back me and the ex were walking down Saint Peters Street, A group of older men around 6/8 of them stopped us and asked where was a good place for a drink, I asked what kind of boozer are you looking for, A soft Scottish accent to my left said... somewhere quiet, I looked up and to my surprise it was Dave MacKay...Wow here I am talking to the great man, I pointed them to O'Neil's Bar on St Peters Churchyard and with a thanks off they went 👍  

Do we think our recruitment team goes to the same campsite each year, too?
 I think our problem is too many northern softies. Need more southern steel.
 

To play devil’s advocate we have scored in all four games and I was reliably informed by many on here that we would win every game 1-0 based on our Arsenal-like defence 😊 

To play devil’s advocate we have scored in all four games and I was reliably informed by many on here that we would win every game 1-0 based on our Arsenal-like defence 😊 

Imagine the England football team could only pick from league one and you’d be close. Standards have dropped. 

Max Bird is the last remaining player in our squad who can actually play football. He is calm under pressure and can pick a pass.
It’s not his fault he’s surrounded by less talented players.
He is one of those who will be a better player elsewhere. He was at his best learning from Rooney. He won’t get better in a hoofball side.
I’ll be gutted when he leaves but I guess it’s all part of our transition from a chrysalis to a slug.
 

Anyone else used to do two teams with the same initial letter on the football pools?
 
Would be a nightmare on this coupon.

At least we have one world champion today! 
 

I feel sorry for those who were so behind the Lionesses today.
We all know what it’s like to build your hopes up for a big game. I think the team did themselves proud and I hope when the disappointment subsides a little they will appreciate that thought.

Glad you upgraded. Not all outlets go as high as rat in their quality control 😊

Glad you upgraded. Not all outlets go as high as rat in their quality control 😊

Do we think our recruitment team goes to the same campsite each year, too?
 I think our problem is too many northern softies. Need more southern steel.
 

Glad you upgraded. Not all outlets go as high as rat in their quality control 😊

Had a long but good day yesterday, haven’t seen the highlights yet but my summary of the game based on what I saw and my own conclusions is as follows. 
Started the game really well, pace and intent from the kick off. I thought the first Waghorn incident was a pen and wonder if the ref panicked with it being so early in the game.
It looked to be a back 4 from where I was sat in the East stand @rammieib  with them lined up in a 4 and NML playing high on the right, which is why I posted yesterday to try and clarify the shape for other forum members….however there were times when NML dropped in as a rwb and it became a back 5 in defence, seemingly a sort of fluid 4/5 in defence. Then of course the clear change to 3/5 at the back late on.
The defence still looked nervy at times but the 4 worked well for the most part, Rooney was calm and assured considering his limited minutes before yesterday. Nelson and Cashin looked more comfortable as a 2. Fozzy was his typical composed presence, reading the game well and helping that calmness. Elder and Bradley seemed keen to impress when they came on which made for some nervy moments, one example that sticks out was when Elder went to head a lofted pass forward which he was never getting and ended up jumping through two of their players. BUT the defence and Wildsmith did all dig in and they got the clean sheet, even if it wasn’t pretty at times.
Waghorn and Washington showed what they can offer as a forward pairing with running and movement aplenty. Waghorn’s control of Wash’s shot to then turn and finish shows his quality. That’s 2 goals already for him, showing that he will indeed score at this level. Both tired as the game went on with Collins and Sibley putting an effort in when they came on but not quite having the same impact. I think that’s probably a combination of lack of mins for Sibley, and the fact we’d retreated more as the game went on. 

Thompson was everywhere, which I was really pleased with, I’ve said in pre season I thought he’d offer something to this side and think he took his chance with both hands. Apart from the silly booking it was a good all energy performance. Nipping in to win second balls and carry it forward, running and harrying their players, driving forward, and not shirking the physical battle as he was in a constant grind with their 6.  
NML, Smith and Hourihane put in plenty of effort and contributed to lots of nearly moments. NML was dangerous on the right, he first couple of runs nearly led to chances, if we can nail the final ball with him in those positions he’ll be back to scoring and assisting like he was last season. Smith and Hourihane both looked so slow, the intent and effort there to get across the ground but the legs not quite carrying them. A more mobile presence in there with Hourihane changes the side quite quickly I think, with Smith then an option to come on and help see out games/rotate. We need that signing. I think that contributes to our lack of control in games, the midfield is too immobile and gets bypassed at times, easier to see it in person than on ramstv, not slating their effort, just think it’s clear we need more legs in there, not dynamic enough.
In summary, it was a slightly better performance at times on the way to a much needed result, still some of the same worries remain. I think the change to 5 at the back late on was partly due to circumstances (not many options on the bench and wanting to grind out the win) but I’d have much preferred Warne to give the likes of Bardell and Robinson the chance. Robinson could have added some energy to a tired midfield and Bardell a more natural option at rb/rwb than Nelson who definitely got caught tucking in too Central a couple of times. 
However, a day in Derby in the sunshine, a rat burger outside the ground, quality time with my dad, sister and uncle, 3 points and a clean sheet, pretty happy day altogether. 

 
EDIT - forgot to add, the officials were poor. The linesman on this near side looked to take his cue from the ref every time, the NML booking (not seen a replay so could be mistaken) didn’t look like a foul, their bloke span away from NML and hit the deck but the linesman said nothing to the ref despite his clear view. They gave a foul for NML after a great run in which their lb had tried to violently undress the lad the whole way, however the “foul” in truth looked more like NML took out the lb, maybe it was for what had gone before? They just seemed soft and inconsistent throughout, for both sides. 

He’s grabbed shirts quite a few times now. Such an obvious yellow and a difficult habit to break. 
Should work on his timing so he doesn’t find himself behind players.
Glad he played well though. We needed more in midfield.

How’s that for an Arab spring?
 

How’s that for an Arab spring?