TomTom92

Last night was dreadful. How can a professional manager set us up like that? I think the biggest problem we have is attack. I look at our attacking options and I genuinely struggle a plan or signs of optimism. Hate to compare to Mac1 but we had Ward, Russell, Dawkins and Bamford who all were dangerous in their own right. Now we have the below; Gayle - Looked to have a few nice touches in his locker, but is 5ft9 and has very little physical presence. Not suited to Warneball but I acknowledge it’s needs must. Waghorn - Just come back from injury. Erm will probably score you the odd goal and probably cares about the club. Would I get excited seeing his name on the team sheet? No. NML - Player of the season. Has been class. But is starting to look tired and hasn’t been helped in the last 3 matches by being forced to play up top. If he has a bad match, we do. Barkhuizen - Solid 6/10 player. Gets on the scoresheet which can’t be underestimated. But does he ever leave the pitch with his opposing full back a quivering mess from playing against him? No. Will he single handedly win us a match? No CBT - Signed to great fanfare. Hasn’t really shown any class in his few short chances. Doesn’t look a Warne ball player to me. Doesn’t seem fussed about doing the dirty work. Too early to judge. Wilson - Love the guy, think he’s been a breathe of fresh air. But ironically is the anti Barkhuizen in the fact he doesn’t get on the scoresheet. Probably a solid option to start if we have 3/4 other good forward options on the pitch. When we set up like last night, he’s never going to grab the match by the balls and win us the match. Ward - Can’t play right back. Has a good cross on him. Doesn’t seem the most intelligent player. Not had enough of a chance to properly be judged. But a very underwhelming pool of resources. Add in that our brand of football isn’t one were attackers thrive, how do we expect to put in the nerve calming performances to get us over the line? Think losing Collo will prove to be the final nail in Warne ball this season. If he’s back for the play offs, then our chances of promotion do increase.

Can’t play 5 at the back with Nyambe as the right wing back. We literally had Gayle, NML and Bird who offered a goal threat in the starting line up. For Warne getting it right against Stevenage he’s got it very wrong the last 2.

I’d go Wildsmith Nyambe, Nelson, Cash, Elder Adams, Bird, Thompson NML, Gayle, Barkhuizen Cant see Warne going for the above though. Harsh on Bradley who’s looking decent in recent weeks but I don’t see what a back 5 offers. Our wingbacks aren’t potent enough to justify having the extra central defender.

Think you’re the team to keep any eye on. Seem to be timing your charge perfectly and don’t seem to be playing with nerves. Think your leaky defence is the only thing that could cost you. Personally I’m manifesting Phillips getting a 3 month injury to knacker your chances.

1-1 FRGS Gayle

Feel talking about Warne is a bit of a pointless exercise yet I’ve been drawn in to day my bit. Failure to go up and he needs to go. I’m sure if we had him as manager for the next 10 seasons come what may, he’d get us up eventually. But next season will be a bag of snakes in league 1, so it could be two more seasons before we go up. Think a revamp is required if we don’t go up. Clearly we aren’t going to settle for win at any cost football, we want to be entertained as well. If Warne gets us up then fair play to him. Think the underdog tag would suit us fine for the first couple of years back in the championship.

Yep tend to agree for the rest of the season. Against Stevenage it was a case of needs must. But Barnsley showed that we can’t look to poo house our way up. We’re gonna have to play some football.

Draws best result for us. Wouldn’t have Bolton getting a win on Tuesday down as a banker though, so we need to capitalise if they don’t.

Worth noting that Evatt IMO is the best manager in this league and has a better squad than ours IMO. Yet currently Bolton are below us. We’re clearly doing something right. I can’t see the performances getting better or the results getting smoother. The pressure is on, we’ve got 1 fit striker and our exciting Jan signing has been abducted by aliens. Charlton will be tough, they’ll play percentage football. Gonna be a slog but that’s the nature of the beast now.

It is what it is. If we do go up we’re gonna do it playing this industrious version of football. If we lose then obviously the style of play opens Warne up for criticism. Had Barnsley down to beat us today and that’s exactly what they did. Bit concerning as their run in is easier than everybody else’s but maybe they’ll stutter once they feel the pressure. A win on Tuesday will be nice whether it’s by hook or by crook.

Agree he’s certainly looking to keep it tight. Obviously if we win he’s a mastermind. If we get totally outplayed then he’s a negative Nancy.

Played it last week though so not a complete surprise IMO.

Warne’s only real big decision was Gayle or no Gayle. Clearly he thinks he’ll have more of an impact in the last 25 minutes. Hourihane and Sibley both get on the scoresheet so maybe the line up isn’t as negative as it appears first glance.

Change of ref according to Leigh Curtis.

Could be very ignorant on my part, but wasn’t Warne’s career in league 1/2? Add in it was over 10 years ago before Pep brainwashed everyone in to total football. Maybe he’s teaching what he knows?

I’m sure most of you have seen the radio Derby interview yesterday when Warne starts babbling on about meerkats. What I do find interesting is how it polarises the fans. Some fans love it or find it funny and others call him weird and seem generally irritated by him. My personal opinion is that I’d rather have a manager who’s weird but has personality than the same old same old boring clap trap 90% of managers spout these days. Do people not like it because they genuinely don’t get on with people like Warne? Or is it more to do with the fact they hate him as manager so anything he does is wrong or bad? I guess my main question is would you go for a pint with Warne?

Just watched the interview. Can't work out whether the ref comment was a coincidence or whether he's slipped it in just to keep everyone on their toes. If he's done it on purpose then kudos to him because he didn't linger on the comment at all, just carried on with his ramblings.

Barnsley 3-0

Yes Portsmouth need to be dragged back in to the fight sooner rather than later. Also think Barnsley are sneaking up on the rails which puts added emphasis on Saturday.

Take the Cambridge match out of the run in and it’s a match you’d expect Bolton to win every day of the week. Could be a completely different picture for better or worse this time next week.

Is he a mute?

To be fair I agree that Charlton will be tough. Got a good point against Bolton, Jones isn't a mug at this level and they do have a decent squad on paper. Plus if we manage to get a result on Saturday will we take our foot off the gas the following week against Charlton?

What I would say, is it fair to keep him for another 2 years if his chances are going to be the same as the last 4 years? Surely at some point we let him go for the sake of his career. Unless of course he's happy being a bit part player here until he retires.

Think there's some sense to your post. However, the argument against salary caps would be that then top players would swan off abroad. Something which the Premier League wouldn't be too happy with. It needs FIFA to come up with a blanket salary cap and some nerdy formula to apply it to the different countries/standard of league, revenue made etc. I wouldn't hold your breathe though.

Think Sibs has had enough chances and unfortunately hasn't taken them. Maybe if he left he'd kick on and become the player we thought he could be, but sadly i think whilst ever he's with us we'll continue to see him waste away with the odd good goal thrown in. I think one of his main issues is when he's having a quiet game, he doesn't do enough of the dirty stuff to warrant him staying on the pitch. In hindsight a loan move away during Cocu/Rooney season would've maybe done him well. Think we've just kept hold of him and messed him around for too long for him to be an asset to us moving forward.