TomTom92

Fair enough it’s a game of opinions. I’d rather have Barnsley’s squad over ours. Think we’re slightly better than Posh which puts us 4th in my book. 
 
Don’t think there’s too much between the top 5 though which means the better coached teams will go up.

Apart from Exeter our form in 2024 has been so so. Stevenage result was good in context. But most of our other wins have been by the skin of our teethe.
Home form is average at best. We have 27,000 most weeks, Pride Park should be a fortress. Instead away matches look our better source of results.
Feel almost embarrassed to tell family members that we’re second but not enjoying the football. Being second shouldn’t feel like this.

Apart from Exeter our form in 2024 has been so so. Stevenage result was good in context. But most of our other wins have been by the skin of our teethe.
Home form is average at best. We have 27,000 most weeks, Pride Park should be a fortress. Instead away matches look our better source of results.
Feel almost embarrassed to tell family members that we’re second but not enjoying the football. Being second shouldn’t feel like this.

He’d be correct as well. Think our squad is probably 4th/5th best. Which means you could argue Warne is overachieving. But as the last 3 windows have been on his watch I think any praise for our position gets wiped out when you address the reason why our squad isn’t good enough.

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. 
 
 

It's quite simple 
 
Barkhuizen      Gayle           NML
                          Bird
             Smith              Adams
Elder       Cashin        Nelson    Nyambe 
                         Wildsmith
 
Sibley, Wilson, Bradley, Hourihane and Waghorn to sub on 

Another inept performance, I would say one good performance this calendar year away at Exeter, our home form continues to be poor.
Our inability to build pressure and create chances from open play is a real concern, we just invite pressure onto ourselves by continually giving the ball away from poor passing and attempted dribbles.
Line up worried from the start as we set up so defensively, never looked liked creating much.
Cashin had a good game defensively but isnt a left back, I don't know what Wildsmith was thinking but Charlton only get the chance after Bradley puts two aimless balls into midfield.
A lot of people giving credit to Smith, fair enough he was alright but I don't think he adds enough to the midfield, he isnt a great tackler or passer, hes just kind of ok.
For anyone interested in xG, thats out 8th game in a row we've recorded an xG of under 1.

He didn’t get much a sniff IMO. Probably a victim of Warneball requiring someone more physical and PW seemingly unable to adapt his methods.
Made a couple of good flicks and looked interested though, so there’s cause for optimism.

I actually like Warne by the way. The interviews have grown on me. I think he’s a good guy. 
 
But for me I’d rather think the manager was a bit of a nob but who could set a team up to play high quality football consistently. 

He’d be correct as well. Think our squad is probably 4th/5th best. Which means you could argue Warne is overachieving. But as the last 3 windows have been on his watch I think any praise for our position gets wiped out when you address the reason why our squad isn’t good enough.

This.
I've been clinging on to "We can't be that bad, we're second, yeah" but now it's more "I can't believe we're getting away with this for so long".  Latest case in point being Bolton losing at Wigan.
I can only recall one home game all season where I've sat feeling comfortable, confident, and for the most part, entertained.
My biggest plus from last night was that something came up, and I completely missed this game.  (Lucky me!)  I only have these pages to go on, but it ain't good reading!
I'm just glad I renewed on Monday, otherwise my little joke about changing my mind might well have come to fruition!
Not particularly looking forward to Saturday, but I'll trundle over, more in blind hope than expectation.  That's not how it should be.

Pompey and Barnsley in auto's, with Derby and Bolton making football history by both losing in the same game at Wembley.
Wake me up quick.

It’s pretty crazy to think that we are second in the league table, heading for around 90 points which would be our best points tally in my lifetime at least, yet it’s just not enjoyable - I’d go as far as saying most weeks it’s a miserable watch.
Imagine if we were in Reading’s position?
I don’t see where we go under Warne. If he can’t make 2nd in the league and 90+ points enjoyable, how will he possibly win the fans over in the Championship? 
I reiterate, I think Warne gets us up. But if we stick with him, next season is going to be such a nightmare to watch as we won’t have the results to cover up the painful football. 

Defending Warne by saying we are second in the league is madness - this league is so poor and won’t be this poor next season - if you add the points he has thrown away by his negative and shockingly limited tactics we would be top and 10 points clear.
Not the performance I wanted on the day I receive an email asking me to part with £537 to renew my season ticket…

How frustrating is it when Wildsmith catches the ball and just holds it for 30 seconds and then hoofs it long. Bowl it out quickly, get the play moving. It's so slow and ponderous.
Charlton in the first half were absolutely dreadful, and yet we created nothing. It can't go on like this. 
We haven't played well in months, we've just been going through the motions and scraping past poor sides. I'm fed up. Call me entitled, we deserve and should ask for better.

How did Warne actual plan on scoring in this game? Apart from a set-piece or bit of luck.
It started off quite well but Charlton responded by doubling out wide in defence and that was it. Absolutely nothing from the manager after that. That's all it took to stop our entire attacking play. 

Results starting to catch up with the performances now, another limp display devoid of any plan it would seem. 

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.

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.

Same as me other than I went for Sibley at left back 😊

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.

Yes, need to manage expectations regarding Gayle, remembering that he was a last ditch signing. Would probably be OK as a stop gap while others return to fitness. But all things considered, what should we realistically be expecting of Waghorn, who's form seemed to have dipped since his hat trick at P'boro?

you’re right about the defence mate but Earl looks a quality signing as does Pines so we have effectively replaced 2/3 of the centre backs allowing Jordan Williams to go back to his natural position at RWB
 
Adam Phillips started the season really slowly. Butt is now getting back to where he was last season and scoring / assisting. 
 
Luca Connell, who is our best player and in my opinion the very best player in the league missed the first couple of months due to an illness and is slowly but surely getting back to his best. 
 
Lots for us to be confident about and it could very well become a 5 horse race if Peterborough get over their blip. As I say, it will be an exciting end to the season, especially as a lot of the top 5 have each other to play. Good luck! 

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.

Sonny Bradley is starting to play consistently well, but could this be a double-edged sword for us? 
In order to keep his place in the team, it more or less forces Warne to stick with three at the back.
I feel our best football this season has been played with a back four. I just can't see Bradley in that set-up.