Hereforthefootball
Well-known member
My thoughts:
1. Clearly it was a disappointing Transfer Day but also another disappointing transfer window. The loss of Yates, Anderson, Madine (yes I'm a fan) and the various loan players left holes in the squad however we're in a league lower and so were never going to get better. We've had bad luck (or whatever it might be) again with injuries but I do feel the squad when fully fit is decent for League One. There is definitely enough in there for a promotion push.
2. However, I don't understand the Apter decision - if we'd sent him back to Bamber Bridge maybe we'd know he wasn't part of the plans but Tranmere is clearly to give him match time and with the EFL Trophy and a heavy fixture load (and our injuries record) am sure we could have given him those minutes. Bad decision all round. I also question where the big loans are this season. Weir should be decent but with a good squad you need to top up 2/3 good loans and I question where they are and what has put players/clubs off us this season (only last night Wigan got back an Arsenal player on loan).
3. Had Critch not sent the players out with handcuffs on them and sent them out to play football and by that I mean quick paced, passing through midfield and wide and really pushing teams back then maybe the reaction might not have been as bad last night. However, we've hit the perfect storm - a manager fans are still wary of, a system that hasn't worked, results which have been poor, a bad window and a sense we have lost our way. Sadly Simon is also receiving some of the criticism - I don't know whether targets have been missed because of a lack of funds - but, for me, that is looking for a problem I don't feel exists.
We have enough to beat Wigan, even with Lavery and Joseph out, it may well need patience from fans, it'll need Critch to be more adventurous to get fans behind the team (so far it has been a snore-fest) and as is always the case with football and 3 points at 5pm and most will be forgiven.
1. Clearly it was a disappointing Transfer Day but also another disappointing transfer window. The loss of Yates, Anderson, Madine (yes I'm a fan) and the various loan players left holes in the squad however we're in a league lower and so were never going to get better. We've had bad luck (or whatever it might be) again with injuries but I do feel the squad when fully fit is decent for League One. There is definitely enough in there for a promotion push.
2. However, I don't understand the Apter decision - if we'd sent him back to Bamber Bridge maybe we'd know he wasn't part of the plans but Tranmere is clearly to give him match time and with the EFL Trophy and a heavy fixture load (and our injuries record) am sure we could have given him those minutes. Bad decision all round. I also question where the big loans are this season. Weir should be decent but with a good squad you need to top up 2/3 good loans and I question where they are and what has put players/clubs off us this season (only last night Wigan got back an Arsenal player on loan).
3. Had Critch not sent the players out with handcuffs on them and sent them out to play football and by that I mean quick paced, passing through midfield and wide and really pushing teams back then maybe the reaction might not have been as bad last night. However, we've hit the perfect storm - a manager fans are still wary of, a system that hasn't worked, results which have been poor, a bad window and a sense we have lost our way. Sadly Simon is also receiving some of the criticism - I don't know whether targets have been missed because of a lack of funds - but, for me, that is looking for a problem I don't feel exists.
We have enough to beat Wigan, even with Lavery and Joseph out, it may well need patience from fans, it'll need Critch to be more adventurous to get fans behind the team (so far it has been a snore-fest) and as is always the case with football and 3 points at 5pm and most will be forgiven.
