OoooMarkWright

Absolutely ridiculous saying it’s the worst performance/result in our history. Nobody cares about this competition, we had a weakened team out against a class U21 side. I’ll have forgotten about this result by tomorrow. It’s a nothing game in a shocker of a competition. It won’t even register. Far from an embarrassment. Move on.

Ivan Calero
Just going back to Paul Williams. He was brilliant in midfield and defence. A shame he left how he did as he went on to become a bit of a hate figure from the PopSide. The reality is he was one of the best academy products we’ve ever had!

I imagine he’s just guessing. Picking the next League 1 promotion expert. I hope so anyway. I don’t know too much about Warne, but I hope he’s a better manager than Ferguson. 

I imagine he’s just guessing. Picking the next League 1 promotion expert. I hope so anyway. I don’t know too much about Warne, but I hope he’s a better manager than Ferguson. 

Ivan Calero
Just going back to Paul Williams. He was brilliant in midfield and defence. A shame he left how he did as he went on to become a bit of a hate figure from the PopSide. The reality is he was one of the best academy products we’ve ever had!

Ivan Calero
Just going back to Paul Williams. He was brilliant in midfield and defence. A shame he left how he did as he went on to become a bit of a hate figure from the PopSide. The reality is he was one of the best academy products we’ve ever had!

Good insight into what he looks for in a player and how he signs them. He speaks well. A qualified teacher too. Hopefully fares better than Clement. 

Tony Dorigo

Tony Dorigo

The news is very odd. I was in favour of Rosenior  and the style of football he was trying to play. I do think having that identity is a good thing long term and would likely have more long term success than a more agricultural approach. The away form was terrible and obviously needed addressing, as did the midfield balance. But all things considered he was doing a decent job. 
 
Warne has done a brilliant job at Rotherham. He’s a legend there and has been the best lower league manager in recent years. My worry is, he’s not done it anywhere apart from Rotherham. Can he do that at a bigger club? Can he win players over? Can he work with bigger egos? Can he manage a team with high expectations? Derby is a different animal and he doesn’t have the experience of this. It’s never dull, but in this case, I wish it was. I’ll reserve judgement until things are confirmed, but the news is odd.

The news is very odd. I was in favour of Rosenior  and the style of football he was trying to play. I do think having that identity is a good thing long term and would likely have more long term success than a more agricultural approach. The away form was terrible and obviously needed addressing, as did the midfield balance. But all things considered he was doing a decent job. 
 
Warne has done a brilliant job at Rotherham. He’s a legend there and has been the best lower league manager in recent years. My worry is, he’s not done it anywhere apart from Rotherham. Can he do that at a bigger club? Can he win players over? Can he work with bigger egos? Can he manage a team with high expectations? Derby is a different animal and he doesn’t have the experience of this. It’s never dull, but in this case, I wish it was. I’ll reserve judgement until things are confirmed, but the news is odd.

Wildsmith 5.5 No chance with the goals. Kicking was dreadful though. Overcooked about a dozen kicks into touch.
Knight 5 Their left winger had him in toast. Sloppy passing. Looked like a midfielder playing right back for the first time this season.
Roberts 6.5 Looked alright, battled well. Came central a lot. 
Cashin 6 Not his best. Slightly harsh to blame him for the 2nd as he was on his arse from a header moments before and he’s blocked many like that previously. 
Davies 5 Looked like an old man who didn’t know how to kick a ball properly. Harsh, but very rusty.
Dobbin 5 Good positions 1v1 but final touch/pass not enough. A little lightweight.
McGoldrick 5.5 Didn’t effect the game like I thought he would do.
Sibley 5.5 Sloppy at times but involved in some dangerous attacks. Can’t have too many complaints about being subbed.
Hourihane 5 Same old. Odd nice touch but intensity/closing down was too much for him. Legs look knackered. 
Mendez-Laing 6 Verybpoor first half but most likely to get something in the second. Great ball in 2nd half which we should’ve scored from. Goal disallowed. Our best threat. Could have played a better ball to TB for the 2v1.
Bird ? 4.5 Very poor at times. The odd nice ball but like Hourihane, outmuscled and intensity too much for him. Thought he’d boss this league but he’s not been at it thus far.
Collins 5 Battled hard but feeding off scraps. Goal disallowed which was tight. Touch very heavy at times. 
Barkhuizen 5.5 Should have scored. Looked lively the first 10 but then the sloppiness of the team got hold of him too. Messed up the 2v1 attack. 
Osula 5 Didn’t do much but it was game over by then.

I agree with the majority of what you say. Last night though, Lincoln didn’t sit back. They pressed well onto our full backs, Bird/Hourihane and NML. We couldn’t cope with it. 

I’m happy to persist with the passing/patient approach, but it requires a runner from midfield. A Bryson if you will. Or maybe a Knight!! I think it’s a dangerous game if fans want us to go direct. We were pretty direct at times yesterday and it was awful. It also relies on movement from the midfield 2. Movement needs to be better from Bird/Hourihane. They are too static. Again, I’m surprised with Bird on this. He is comfortable receiving the ball under pressure and can break the lines/press well. But he’s not doing it for whatever reason. We then become predictable relying on NML. He was off it at times and we’re done for.
Last night was very poor. Things need to improve, but I’d focus on personnel and balance before changing a complete philosophy. People harp on about ‘Plan B’. If Plan A is good enough we won’t need one. That should be the focus. 

I agree with the majority of what you say. Last night though, Lincoln didn’t sit back. They pressed well onto our full backs, Bird/Hourihane and NML. We couldn’t cope with it. 

I’m happy to persist with the passing/patient approach, but it requires a runner from midfield. A Bryson if you will. Or maybe a Knight!! I think it’s a dangerous game if fans want us to go direct. We were pretty direct at times yesterday and it was awful. It also relies on movement from the midfield 2. Movement needs to be better from Bird/Hourihane. They are too static. Again, I’m surprised with Bird on this. He is comfortable receiving the ball under pressure and can break the lines/press well. But he’s not doing it for whatever reason. We then become predictable relying on NML. He was off it at times and we’re done for.
Last night was very poor. Things need to improve, but I’d focus on personnel and balance before changing a complete philosophy. People harp on about ‘Plan B’. If Plan A is good enough we won’t need one. That should be the focus. 

Great point re: Shinnie. We definitely lack some tenacity in midfield. A shame he had to leave, I know he didn’t want to. He’d have been ideal in this league. 

Great point re: Shinnie. We definitely lack some tenacity in midfield. A shame he had to leave, I know he didn’t want to. He’d have been ideal in this league. 

I agree with the majority of what you say. Last night though, Lincoln didn’t sit back. They pressed well onto our full backs, Bird/Hourihane and NML. We couldn’t cope with it. 

I’m happy to persist with the passing/patient approach, but it requires a runner from midfield. A Bryson if you will. Or maybe a Knight!! I think it’s a dangerous game if fans want us to go direct. We were pretty direct at times yesterday and it was awful. It also relies on movement from the midfield 2. Movement needs to be better from Bird/Hourihane. They are too static. Again, I’m surprised with Bird on this. He is comfortable receiving the ball under pressure and can break the lines/press well. But he’s not doing it for whatever reason. We then become predictable relying on NML. He was off it at times and we’re done for.
Last night was very poor. Things need to improve, but I’d focus on personnel and balance before changing a complete philosophy. People harp on about ‘Plan B’. If Plan A is good enough we won’t need one. That should be the focus. 

Great point re: Shinnie. We definitely lack some tenacity in midfield. A shame he had to leave, I know he didn’t want to. He’d have been ideal in this league. 

Great point re: Shinnie. We definitely lack some tenacity in midfield. A shame he had to leave, I know he didn’t want to. He’d have been ideal in this league. 

Changing the manager isn’t the answer.  Let’s not forget, the hiring and firing of managers on a whim, paying compensation, no clear strategy, changes in playing style and personnel are part of the reason we’re in L1.  What we need is a period of stability and a long term plan.
Rosenior is learning and we need to accept that.  That means we’re going to have lots of ups and downs.
That doesn’t mean I don’t think he should change things a bit.  I agree with those who say Bird and Hourihane can’t play together.  They’re too similar and sometimes it looks as if they’re a bit confused.  Neither is really a tackler, nor do that have lots of energy getting up and down the pitch.  I don’t think we’ve replaced Shinnie.  Someone to inject a bit of life into the team and gee everyone a bit, make a full blooded tackle - that’s what other teams have in this division.  We either move Knight into midfield, and he’d certainly give a bit of energy, or bring Rooney in.  Rooney would also offer more protection for the defence.  I think we need a bit of that as we get exposed when the full backs have pushed forward.
I don’t think it matters which one of Bird or Hourihane is dropped, both are out of sorts.  Or, drop both, play Knight and Rooney in there and give us some energy.

I agree with the majority of what you say. Last night though, Lincoln didn’t sit back. They pressed well onto our full backs, Bird/Hourihane and NML. We couldn’t cope with it. 

I’m happy to persist with the passing/patient approach, but it requires a runner from midfield. A Bryson if you will. Or maybe a Knight!! I think it’s a dangerous game if fans want us to go direct. We were pretty direct at times yesterday and it was awful. It also relies on movement from the midfield 2. Movement needs to be better from Bird/Hourihane. They are too static. Again, I’m surprised with Bird on this. He is comfortable receiving the ball under pressure and can break the lines/press well. But he’s not doing it for whatever reason. We then become predictable relying on NML. He was off it at times and we’re done for.
Last night was very poor. Things need to improve, but I’d focus on personnel and balance before changing a complete philosophy. People harp on about ‘Plan B’. If Plan A is good enough we won’t need one. That should be the focus. 

A few weeks ago we had two major problems:
- Fitness problems due to a squad being bought together last minute and starting pre-season late. 
- Awful midfield blend, Bird and Hourihane does not work, especially away from home, opposition teams are exploiting this weakness. 
Fast forward to today, the first problem shouldn't be such an issue anymore and the second issue is becoming even more apparent as teams know it's our weak point. 
We can also add in a third issue that's developing. We aren't adaptable in our approach to games, yes we have a footballing philosophy and that's good, but we seem to rigidly stuck in it. It does not seem to be working against a number of the teams we come up against. They seem happy to sit back let us have the ball and then punish us, wait for us to make a mistake, which we inevitably do given the pressure we put upon our defence/keeper. 
Time to look at the midfield and get the blend right, which means bringing in Knight at the moment and Smith when fit, it also could mean dropping one of Bird or Hourihane, whilst certainly look at changing the shape of the midfield, then work from there. 

Agree. I wouldn’t say our style of play is wrong. Some of the personnel are wrong. We need more energy in midfield, Hourihane and Bird aren’t right together. If he can find a way to fix this I think we’ll be much better. Tonight wasn’t about systems or styles of play - the players were poor, the intensity was poor, the passes were sloppy. Basics.

Agree. I wouldn’t say our style of play is wrong. Some of the personnel are wrong. We need more energy in midfield, Hourihane and Bird aren’t right together. If he can find a way to fix this I think we’ll be much better. Tonight wasn’t about systems or styles of play - the players were poor, the intensity was poor, the passes were sloppy. Basics.

Agree. I wouldn’t say our style of play is wrong. Some of the personnel are wrong. We need more energy in midfield, Hourihane and Bird aren’t right together. If he can find a way to fix this I think we’ll be much better. Tonight wasn’t about systems or styles of play - the players were poor, the intensity was poor, the passes were sloppy. Basics.