DCFC Kicks

2-0 Thompson

Every time I start to feel slightly positive towards Warne, a performance like this comes along and ruins it. Absolutely nothing all game. I don't even know how to describe it. I can't even remember much details of the game. It's just a blur of nothingness.

It could be good if Peterborough do well, but not too well, so they still have something to play for when they play Bolton.

1-0 ☹️

I never said it wasn't effective, but it won't work if we get promoted when most other teams have the same technology. If it starts failing there's nothing to fall back on.

3-1 loss NML

2-0 CBT

What if Wildsmith didn't make a worldie save against Bolton, or if their corner that hit the bar was a few inches lower? If we played better we wouldn't need to rely on one Waghorn chance going in or not.

Warne seems committed to the 3-5-2. I don't think its very good anyway but I don't understand why he's using it with our current injuries. We have all these strikers out and he now insists on playing a formation with 2. He played Waghorn and NML up front - NML has been amazing all season but he's been the weakest when asked to play striker, and if you play 2 up top with no wide attackers the strikers need pace, which is why Waghorn struggled. I also don't know what he's doing with Blackett-Taylor. He scored 8 and assisted 6 playing in LW in a 4-3-3 for Charlton and I think he's only played there once for us.

My original point was in response to someone who mentioned the foundations seeming to disappear at any given moment. I don't disagree with you that we've been very good in numerous games, but to me they just seem to be one-off games. Our good performance wasn't through a longstanding progression of play style being implemented throughout the season. Everything seems incredibly short term, which is why we lose games like yesterday - because there's no foundational play style to fall back on once the one-off game plan fails. Yes we were unlucky yesterday and could've drawn or won on another day, but the performance wasn't good either.

How does signing young athletic players relate to playing with a distinct style, or continuity in any way? If he said he wanted to sign them to play a certain system then yes.

I’m not saying we’ve been bad. His approach is clearly working to a large extent. My point was there’s not distinct style or continuity to how we play which creates unpredictability to our performances. I think the teams we’ve battered have mostly been teams who try and play a distinct way or passing way every game, who don’t try and counter us e.g. Bristol Rovers. Warnes style is reactionary to the opposition. i really don’t think it’s right to put the reason we lost yesterday all down to luck. Even Warne acknowledged we didn’t play well. i also think you’re undervaluing the quality of our players. I don’t think any Northampton player would get in our squad except maybe Hoskins. our difficulty signing players doesn’t affect how the manager sets the team up or his playing philosophy.

Its because there are no foundations. Warne just takes every game as it comes and tries to ground out a result by any means. It is working most of the time, but I'm never truly that shocked whenever we lose a game to anyone. It feels like Warne picks one-off tactics for each opponent and hopes they work, but occasionally they don't or the opponent works them out in-game and we lose. There's no longevity or continuity to anything he's implementing.

I think Blackpool is a good opponent for Warne. We struggle when we're expected to impose ourselves. When the opposition sets up to react to what we're doing, like yesterday, Warne doesn't really know what to do.

1-2 Hourihane

I don't think that's a fair comparison. You're equating teams who finished 1st, 2nd and 3rd last season to teams who are currently 8th, 10th and 14th. I agree that the promoted L2 teams are better but its a minor thing in comparison isn't it? I'm not trying to "turn" anything. My argument is basically, who would you rather have in the league - Ipswich, Plymouth and Sheff Wed, or Blackpool, Wigan and Reading (with their points deductions). Isn't it an obvious answer.

Its more competitive overall. Meaning its not easier on average for all 24 teams. If you look at the top 6 in isolation I don't think it is more competitive because there's two less competitors in there compared to last season. When I say its 'easier' I mean its easier specifically in terms of Derby getting promoted.

I don't know how conclude anything other than the league being easier this season. Its the same teams competing at the top except you swap out Ipswich, Sheff Wed and Plymouth for Portsmouth. There's two less teams to compete against. The state of the three relegated Championship teams is a rare advantage. This doesn't mean Derby haven't improved since last season. They definitely have. The overall competitiveness of the league doesn't correlate to the quality of the teams in the league.

2-2 Bark

3-0 Bark

Have a look through the topic if you don't believe me. I was dogpiled for merely highlighting the obvious caveat that Bolton had two games in hand.

No, Port Vale are the worst team we've played all season. Good win today, Warne at his best. I still stand by my criticisms.

Well done. You took my quote out of context. When I made that post we were 3rd and I was referencing the fact Bolton could overtake us if they won their games in hand, which they did.