A positive spin

JJpool

JJpool

Well-known member
Of the games so far, we were a little unfortunate not to get anything at Plymouth, although a silly error and crap in the final 3rs cost us. There were enough chances to score. Deserved a point at least.

Swindon we played fairly well in spells and managed to keep them out and win.

Gillingham, another terrible start but dominated and couldn't break them down another error for their 2nd. Never really threatened so didn't really deserve anything.

Lincoln we were in the game strongly first half and then drifted second half and gave it away, shockingly.

Ipswich took their goals very well but we weren't carved open without first gifting them the chances, silly mistakes again.

Now I know it says a positive spin in the title so here it is.

We haven't been battered by anyone, most goals were from our basic errors, which I would hope can be improved upon rather quickly, especially with more central defenders coming in.

It's a brand new squad pretty much and they will need time, we haven't even played the centre halves we think we need yet.

There has been positive signs with the possession play, pressing, I know its hard to watch when we pass it and then waste it in the end but its not the style at fault, just need refining and mastering. We could barely pass sometimes last season for some spells in games and it was way more aimless at times. You quite often see teams who try to change to play this kind of way at first have the ball more, but lack cutting edge once teams figure it out and it takes time to really master it, but once you do its very effective.

We have played some of the better sides and there is a quite a lot with worse teams then Ipswich, Swindon and Lincoln to name the best 3 we have faced.

There is a lot to improve on no doubt and finding the best 11 is still not nailed down, but the lads are learning valuable lessons and a bit of character building, lets see who can shrug it off and come back stronger.

We do need to pick up points and with Crewe, Charlton, Mkdons, Wimbledon and Burton in the next 5 i dont think there's a team that will finish anywhere near as high as Ipswich will. No easy games but there's a fair chance for points and to kick the season off.

I have been negative myself about it before but just trying to see some positives, the bottom line is if we can cut out and improve on mistakes, were not a bad team, were in each game, we should see improvement.

UTP
 
BlackpoolsFinest said:
It's all ifs and buts, however without conceding the early goals we did, the flow of the games would have likely been totally different.

That is why it is so ludicrous that so many fans are slitting their wrists.
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Its a shame we didn't have the defence nailed down earlier as a solid base to bulld on and maybe we wouldn't have seen all these errors.

Nottingham and Ekpiteta never looked right to me but maybe it had to be by understood by NC whilst more recruits came in.

We are hoping the new defenders help and it really can change a team if their upto it. Seeing as we're like a Liverpool wannabe look at the difference Van dijk made. A leader at the back lifts all the defence.

Let's hope they are upto it, they sound good.

As for goals we havent created enough clear cut chances, sometimes sides who play possession football get a bit lost in keeping the ball and almost forget to go forward. I notice against Ipswich we rolled the dice more and a few long balls here and there to mix it up.

I'd like to see us pass it around to the final 3rd then instead of faffing, culminating in going back to the keeper to keep the ball we need to see shots on goal, fire a cross in, practice 1-2's, faint to shoot to create space etc. There are many ways to them get that promising position into some sort of chance.

Hopefully we can start to gain the understanding of how to do so.
 
A few counter points:
- very little fighting spirit in the side
- very little organisation and leadership in the side
- if CJ is marked out, we are short of ideas and guile to break down defences
- the standard of our passing, tackling, crossing, set pieces and shooting has been below par

It may all gel, but we have problems all over the field atm
 
bfcpete said:
A few counter points:
- very little fighting spirit in the side
- very little organisation and leadership in the side
- if CJ is marked out, we are short of ideas and guile to break down defences
- the standard of our passing, tackling, crossing, set pieces and shooting has been below par

It may all gel, but we have problems all over the field atm
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Piss poor defending set pieces. Piss poor free kicks and corners. What are we doing all week?
 
BobHatton said:
Errmm, we haven't been battered by anyone? 1-4 at home would suggest otherwise.🤣
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We were not battered, 3 goals were gifted by 1 guy, Gabriel who having his second ever game for us was caught out badly.

Despite Turtons limitations would he have been so caught out in that position?

With stronger central defender's marshalling the line would we be caught out so much?
 
bfcpete said:
A few counter points:
- very little fighting spirit in the side
- very little organisation and leadership in the side
- if CJ is marked out, we are short of ideas and guile to break down defences
- the standard of our passing, tackling, crossing, set pieces and shooting has been below par

It may all gel, but we have problems all over the field atm
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It definitely isn't something that is going to be rectified over night, but we might have been looking at potentially another 3 or 4 points if silly early goals hadnt been conceded which would have us sat comfortably in mid table.
There is undoubtedly room for improvement, and some players must significantly improve or need replacing, but we haven't looked hopeless or out of our depth, we've only been resoundingly beaten by the two teams currently in 1st and 2nd place.

Hardly enough to warrant burning it all to the ground.
 
clappers said:
Piss poor defending set pieces. Piss poor free kicks and corners. What are we doing all week?
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Yes its been dreadful, we look like conceding from them and unable to put a ball in.

However again, if these 2 lads come in at the back and are close to what we think we have brought in id expect improvement there and maybe more threat at the other end.

The main cause of our crossing failure that I have seen has been Grant Ward, the lad has barely cleared the first man all season.

Maybe try someone else.

Also let's have in swinging corners, we saw it happen against Ipswich for probably the first time and it was much better, once it clears the first man that is.

But yes more practice needed, I suppose we could say its been that bad, it cant get any worse than hitting the first man each time ot balsting over into touch, only way is up 😃
 
I'll add to that:

- there's still time for incomings before the end of the transfer window
- we haven't had a settled defence yet. Garbutt, Gabriel and Viking will probably become that and once settled they may be effective.
- The Ipswich guy who scored their fourth, not enough credit has been given to him. 99% of the players in this league wouldn't have been able to take the ball as well as he did for that goal. He was excellent all game and was really the main difference between the two sides. We won't encounter a player that effective in most matches this season.

Obviously theres a lot to work on, a hell of a lot, but the first five games aren't and never have been a good indicator of how a season will pan out. Let's give it time.
 
bfcpete said:
A few counter points:
- very little fighting spirit in the side
- very little organisation and leadership in the side
- if CJ is marked out, we are short of ideas and guile to break down defences
- the standard of our passing, tackling, crossing, set pieces and shooting has been below par

It may all gel, but we have problems all over the field atm
Click to expand...
Its hard to say about fighting spirit as giving away the goals we have is literally giving away games with mistakes, no amount of fight can change a mistake. We saw a good reaction against Ipswich, but then was killed off but their 4th.

I dont think is lack of fighting spirit just the quality in the final 3rd still needs to be there to get back on the game no matter how hard you fight.

Passing has been a mixed bag, we have seen some decent spells and dominated some games. But equally yes some possession lost far too easily. I've seen quite a few other teams fo it too even the better ones at times, the problem has been when we give it away at the moment we have been punished.

But yes I expect a bit more composure in the final 3rd and a bit more belief in how we play and awareness. I think this will improve as NC gets more time to work with them and they also get to have an understanding more.
 
BFC_53 said:
I'll add to that:

- there's still time for incomings before the end of the transfer window
- we haven't had a settled defence yet. Garbutt, Gabriel and Viking will probably become that and once settled they may be effective.
- The Ipswich guy who scored their fourth, not enough credit has been given to him. 99% of the players in this league wouldn't have been able to take the ball as well as he did for that goal. He was excellent all game and was really the main difference between the two sides. We won't encounter a player that effective in most matches this season.

Obviously theres a lot to work on, a hell of a lot, but the first five games aren't and never have been a good indicator of how a season will pan out. Let's give it time.
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Yeah he was on it their lad and fortunately for him he was up against a guy playing his second game in a makeshift back 4 and who was very naive.

I like Husband, usually solid but has limitations.

When he is back we have options and enough there to build what should be a fairly decent back 4 with experience and talent in this league.

Hopefully...
 
JJpool said:
We were not battered, 3 goals were gifted by 1 guy, Gabriel who having his second ever game for us was caught out badly.

Despite Turtons limitations would he have been so caught out in that position?

With stronger central defender's marshalling the line would we be caught out so much?
Click to expand...
really disagree. Gabriel didn't gift them 3 goals at all. Their first, sure he got skinned for pace but it was a good cross in and a quality finish. That's not gifting them a goal at all. Fourth goal, again great crossfield ball and brilliant control by their guy to control and take it on all in movement and then finish. No way did Gabriel gift them the goal. If we'd have scored them two we'd have been purring about them rather than saying the opposition gifted them to us. Sometimes you just have to take your hat off to the opposition and in the case of those two goals that's what you should do. I'd also say Maxwell gifted them the second much more than Gabriel did!
 
20togo said:
really disagree. Gabriel didn't gift them 3 goals at all. Their first, sure he got skinned for pace but it was a good cross in and a quality finish. That's not gifting them a goal at all. Fourth goal, again great crossfield ball and brilliant control by their guy to control and take it on all in movement and then finish. No way did Gabriel gift them the goal. If we'd have scored them two we'd have been purring about them rather than saying the opposition gifted them to us. Sometimes you just have to take your hat off to the opposition and in the case of those two goals that's what you should do. I'd also say Maxwell gifted them the second much more than Gabriel did!
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Its true it was great forward play, but he certainly was caught out.

The first goal he was yardrs ahead of play and allowed him to pass by him. A more experienced player even with the same pace would have and should have done better.

The second he gave it away i think then made up with a tackle but not enough to stop the through ball which the lad dispatched, beating both Ekpiteta and Maxwell too easily.

The third goal he was involved in and their 4th was a great ball and control but his position was wrong and he wasn't in an area to intercept when staying goalsdie more would have at least put pressure on their lad.

Maybe not gifted them but certainly made errors that had he not have made, them scoring from those positions, as good as it was, would have been way more difficult and probably wouldn't have happened.
 
We have played some of the better sides and there is a quite a lot with worse teams then Ipswich, Swindon and Lincoln to name the best 3 we have faced.
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Seems to me if these are the best teams in the league, it's even more embarrassing that we're 22nd in the table. 😟
 
We were clearly second best against Ipswich and there wasnt much positive spin in that game thats for sure...I cannot believe how many have crucified Gabriel and he wasnt as bad as some have made out. The second goal wasnt really his fault at all and the first and third goals were very very good strikes at goal.
 
JJpool said:
Of the games so far, we were a little unfortunate not to get anything at Plymouth, although a silly error and crap in the final 3rs cost us. There were enough chances to score. Deserved a point at least.

Swindon we played fairly well in spells and managed to keep them out and win.

Gillingham, another terrible start but dominated and couldn't break them down another error for their 2nd. Never really threatened so didn't really deserve anything.

Lincoln we were in the game strongly first half and then drifted second half and gave it away, shockingly.

Ipswich took their goals very well but we weren't carved open without first gifting them the chances, silly mistakes again.

Now I know it says a positive spin in the title so here it is.

We haven't been battered by anyone, most goals were from our basic errors, which I would hope can be improved upon rather quickly, especially with more central defenders coming in.

It's a brand new squad pretty much and they will need time, we haven't even played the centre halves we think we need yet.

There has been positive signs with the possession play, pressing, I know its hard to watch when we pass it and then waste it in the end but its not the style at fault, just need refining and mastering. We could barely pass sometimes last season for some spells in games and it was way more aimless at times. You quite often see teams who try to change to play this kind of way at first have the ball more, but lack cutting edge once teams figure it out and it takes time to really master it, but once you do its very effective.

We have played some of the better sides and there is a quite a lot with worse teams then Ipswich, Swindon and Lincoln to name the best 3 we have faced.

There is a lot to improve on no doubt and finding the best 11 is still not nailed down, but the lads are learning valuable lessons and a bit of character building, lets see who can shrug it off and come back stronger.

We do need to pick up points and with Crewe, Charlton, Mkdons, Wimbledon and Burton in the next 5 i dont think there's a team that will finish anywhere near as high as Ipswich will. No easy games but there's a fair chance for points and to kick the season off.

I have been negative myself about it before but just trying to see some positives, the bottom line is if we can cut out and improve on mistakes, were not a bad team, were in each game, we should see improvement.

UTP
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We havent been battered by anyone.....
Come on......
Blackpool 1-4 ipswich at HOME....
We are learning valuable lessons...
Come on.......
We are getting worse......
The job is to big for NC...
Barton for me
 
Spider29 said:
We havent been battered by anyone.....
Come on......
Blackpool 1-4 ipswich at HOME....
We are learning valuable lessons...
Come on.......
We are getting worse......
The job is to big for NC...
Barton for me
Click to expand...
Just because you keep saying it, it won't happen.

This time last year and in January you were clamouring for Big Sam.

You clearly have a habit of woeful managerial choices.
 
Just had a look at the league table (first time this season) and only Burton have conceded more goals than we have. There is the problem as strangely we're not that far behind many clubs with 5 goals on the board). Sorting that out is key before we start to look at the rest of the side - at least with a clean sheet you're turning defeats in to draws minimum.
 
Spider29 said:
We havent been battered by anyone.....
Come on......
Blackpool 1-4 ipswich at HOME....
We are learning valuable lessons...
Come on.......
We are getting worse......
The job is to big for NC...
Barton for me
Click to expand...

I've said we've been poor, with some flashes of what we want to be.

Let's see in the next 5 games which are eminently more winnable, although nothing easy.

Its a new group who are all learning, including NC, we haven't had our best defence out yet presuming those we brought in are upto it.

We have played 3 good sides, beat one, the two away games we should have got something at Plymouth and dominated at Gills, but lacked nous. School boy errors but again hopefully the new central defenders can improve us.

We shall see, next 5 games will tell us more.

No point calling for clowns like Barton.

Also Ipswich wasn't a battering in how the game went, it wasn't one sided just every mistake we made they were very clinical. We clearly have to cut them out.
 
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Barton a Cl
JJpool said:
I've said we've been poor, with some flashes of what we want to be.

Let's see in the next 5 games which are eminently more winnable, although nothing easy.

Its a new group who are all learning, including NC, we haven't had our best defence out yet presuming those we brought in are upto it.

We have played 3 good sides, beat one, the two away games we should have got something at Plymouth and dominated at Gills, but lacked nous. School boy errors but again hopefully the new central defenders can improve us.

We shall see, next 5 games will tell us more.

No point calling for clowns like Barton.

Also Ipswich wasn't a battering in how the game went, it wasn't one sided just every mistake we made they were very clinical. We clearly have to cut them out
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Barton a clown ?
Do me a favour he took lowly Fleetwood to the play offs....
How do we know weve played 3 good sides ?
Ipswich 12 th last season...they absolutely battered us.....
Lincoln and Gillingham i think finished
Mid tableish...
If Swindon finish top 10 ill take up knitting
 
Spider29 said:
Barton a Cl

Barton a clown ?
Do me a favour he took lowly Fleetwood to the play offs....
How do we know weve played 3 good sides ?
Ipswich 12 th last season...they absolutely battered us.....
Lincoln and Gillingham i think finished
Mid tableish...
If Swindon finish top 10 ill take up knitting
Click to expand...

Hes a clown we dont want at the club. He may have done alright but if thats the type of character you want... laughable.

Ipswich have started very well and will be up there, the others mentioned will to probably.

But its fine they were all shit clubs, we got battered by some of the worst teams 🙄 totally dominated and had no chance in any game. If that makes you feel better.

Its the first games of a new team who need to improve, let's see if they can.

The next 5 games look a little kinder, but we still Have to improve, maybe with the new lads in defence we can, maybe not, maybe even knitting will become your new pastime.
 
If teams are sussing us out by putting 2 players on CJ, then surely that frees the space up elsewhere to compensate for that? That's not been happening so far and needs to do quickly!!
 
Wizaard said:
Just because you keep saying it, it won't happen.

This time last year and in January you were clamouring for Big Sam.

You clearly have a habit of woeful managerial choices.
Click to expand...
So Sam Allardyce is a woeful manager? How many teams has he managed in the prem? Not to mention the national side.
 
ive seen every game including friendlys weve played soom good attractive football most of the time plymouth was frustrating as we should have won the game comfortably we were very poor against gillingham the ipswich game was very strange it was a good even contest till they scored the second goal we then looked a bit shell shocked and confidence ebbed away.The biggest concern for me is for all our attacking intent were creating very few chances and players like yates are having to drop deep to try to get the ball and apart from madine we have few options sarkic isnt fit kemp busy player very lightweight lubala very raw critch may have bitten a bit more off than he can chew 15 new players blending into a new system in a league he has little experiance in i hope it can come together for all the hard work being put in behind the scenes with a great new pitch the ground being revamped plus all the money simon sadler has invested in the squad in very uncertain times.
 
Better today but still lots to improve, especially in the final 3rd. Looked more solid, dominated and a small step in the right direction. With new lads who will push for places who can only add quality to the squad. But overall despite the lack of real chances and going behind, we still came back and got a point away.
 
bfcpete said:
A few counter points:
- very little fighting spirit in the side
- very little organisation and leadership in the side
- if CJ is marked out, we are short of ideas and guile to break down defences
- the standard of our passing, tackling, crossing, set pieces and shooting has been below par

It may all gel, but we have problems all over the field atm
Click to expand...
think thats a bit unfair to be honest. the team fights and you can see the workrate.
there might be a bit too much organisation in my mind, its kind of the set plays are ruling the players who arenet playing with quite the freedom that they might but i think it might come good.
the comment about CJ is right we are not exploiting the space that CJ having two markers creates.
shooting and set pieces ill grant but our passing in general is light years ahead of what we have been accostomed to over the last few years.
 
Cheers for the bump, seems it was indeed early days and coming together and gelling and we have found a formula that improves us, still not the finished article but much better now.
 
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