“When it clicks”

[Campsall rover]

There is no panic
We create chances we are pretty solid at the back rarely concede more than one goal
When was the last time we did? It’s quite a while ago Chesterfield game I think.
We are not scoring enough goals we know & we are 3rd in the league after 17 games.
When we do start scoring and it will happen where will we be in the league.

Massively confident we will win the league
I think we have a better squad than Port Vale, Walsall, Crewe etc
Notts C & Chesterfield will be our biggest rivals for top spot come March imo

[Chris Black come back]

Caveat one. I think McCann will get us up this season. Maybe easily, maybe less easily. But I can see him getting us up.

Issue is that if he doesn’t, we’re in a mess. I cannot see him wanting to stay and do a third season in the fourth tier. Then as we have as a club put all our eggs in the Grant and Cliff shaped basket with no DoF model in place (in fact we dismantled this) we are right back to square one again, dependant on the next manager being a success and making a success of a squad that McCann put together at significant cost.

It is in all our interests that he gets us up this season.

[Alan Southstand]

I think all these blank weeks are doing us no favours at all (well, maybe one - injuries). We seem to be going backwards!

 

[pib]

Others have alluded to this, but maybe having a massive squad is hindering us. We had a very settled team in last season’s run, but this season we have players starting one week, and then not even making the squad the next. Not sure there are many games where we’ve had an unchanged team and we do look disjointed at times.

Obviously we’re still in a good position and I still don’t think we are a million miles away, but maybe we need to decide on a system and an XI and stick with it for a few games.

[ForsolongaRover]

Others have alluded to this, but maybe having a massive squad is hindering us. We had a very settled team in last season’s run, but this season we have players starting one week, and then not even making the squad the next. Not sure there are many games where we’ve had an unchanged team and we do look disjointed at times.

Obviously we’re still in a good position and I still don’t think we are a million miles away, but maybe we need to decide on a system and an XI and stick with it for a few games.

Another way of putting it would be to ask whether we have such a diverse array of talent that the "Horses for courses" approach works? This is not a league in which there is  a great deal of sophistication in what we are up against. McCann needs to decide as a matter of urgency which is his best 11 + subs and put out those 16 every match. The 16 may vary a bit depending on form, but players like Fleming can't be good enough for the first 11 one week and not even OK for rhe bench the next. I mention the subs, because players like Sbarra and Yeboah are limited compared with all-rounders like Clifton and Fleming. It seems crazy to not even put them on the bench.

[Campsall rover]

I think all these blank weeks are doing us no favours at all (well, maybe one - injuries). We seem to be going backwards!

 

What blank weeks Alan? We have drawn the last 3 games haven’t we. We are 3rd in the league after 17 games. Where were we after 17 games last season?
How is that going backwards may I ask.
Alan you do seem to find a way to put a negative slant to nearly all your posts.
Look I know it’s frustrating at present but all that is missing is putting the ball in the net.
We are creating, that is very important. We have a very good squad with almost everyone fit.
We are 3rd in the league and we haven’t got to anywhere near what we are capable of yet.

[GazLaz]

I think all these blank weeks are doing us no favours at all (well, maybe one - injuries). We seem to be going backwards!

 

What blank weeks Alan? We have drawn the last 3 games haven’t we. We are 3rd in the league after 17 games. Where were we after 17 games last season?
How is that going backwards may I ask.
Alan you do seem to find a way to put a negative slant to nearly all your posts.
Look I know it’s frustrating at present but all that is missing is putting the ball in the net.
We are creating, that is very important. We have a very good squad with almost everyone fit.
We are 3rd in the league and we haven’t got to anywhere near what we are capable of yet.

Think he means no midweek games.

[ridgewoodrover]

We’re more than capable of going on a 4 or 5 unbeaten streak.
Really don’t think we’ll go the other way.
The next 2 months for me will sort the men out from the boys .

[Campsall rover]

I think all these blank weeks are doing us no favours at all (well, maybe one - injuries). We seem to be going backwards!

 

What blank weeks Alan? We have drawn the last 3 games haven’t we. We are 3rd in the league after 17 games. Where were we after 17 games last season?
How is that going backwards may I ask.
Alan you do seem to find a way to put a negative slant to nearly all your posts.
Look I know it’s frustrating at present but all that is missing is putting the ball in the net.
We are creating, that is very important. We have a very good squad with almost everyone fit.
We are 3rd in the league and we haven’t got to anywhere near what we are capable of yet.

Think he means no midweek games.

Oh right. Don’t see how that hinders us. Surely that helps doesn’t it.

[andyst79]

Caveat one. I think McCann will get us up this season. Maybe easily, maybe less easily. But I can see him getting us up.

Issue is that if he doesn’t, we’re in a mess. I cannot see him wanting to stay and do a third season in the fourth tier. Then as we have as a club put all our eggs in the Grant and Cliff shaped basket with no DoF model in place (in fact we dismantled this) we are right back to square one again, dependant on the next manager being a success and making a success of a squad that McCann put together at significant cost.

It is in all our interests that he gets us up this season.

Has he not been backed by the board? Should be no excuses, if he fails to get us promoted that will be on him nobody else

[BobG]

We’re more than capable of going on a 4 or 5 unbeaten streak.
Really don’t think we’ll go the other way.
The next 2 months for me will sort the men out from the boys .

uh

Isn't it 1 in 11 we've lost now?

BobG

[ridgewoodrover]

Winning 4 or 5 on the bounce then.
Just to make my point clear bob

[BobG]

Lol!

[Campsall rover]

Lol!

We need to win 3 of the next 4 league games. Take a draw at Wimbledon although they are now faltering at home after winning their 1st 5 home league games.
It’s not essential of course but 10 points from the next 12 puts us in a strong position going into the Christmas & New Year holiday games.

Surely surely we are due a win at that place just North of Blackpool. Yes I actually hate even saying their name.

[DonnyBazR0ver]

Well McCann has to find a way of lifting the players, particularly those who are a bit under par at the moment. Molyneux, Bailey, Ironside even Billy. Whether that comes through giving them a rest, who knows but we seem to be struggling with the weight of expectations on some shoulders.

The build up and the match v Kettering could be a very important week. If we can put on a really professional performance and score a couple of goals, it will do us the world of good to take into the next run of games. It's amazing how quickly things can change, as we saw last season. The intensity improves and it looks like the players actually relish every challenge put before them.

[Reg of the Rovers]

Well McCann has to find a way of lifting the players, particularly those who are a bit under par at the moment. Molyneux, Bailey, Ironside even Billy. Whether that comes through giving them a rest, who knows but we seem to be struggling with the weight of expectations on some shoulders.

The build up and the match v Kettering could be a very important week. If we can put on a really professional performance and score a couple of goals, it will do us the world of good to take into the next run of games. It's amazing how quickly things can change, as we saw last season. The intensity improves and it looks like the players actually relish every challenge put before them.

It can change quickly Baz. I remember sitting at Notts County away last boxing day and thinking we'd be going down - no heart, no quality, no fight - the rest of last season is history now! But there's a risk of us being too optimistic that we're going to do that again - it was once in 50 years stuff last year. This season is about points on the board, keeping up that 2pt average and staying close to the pack. Lots of teams with games in hand means we'll start slipping down the league quickly if we don't start turning 1's in to 3's very soon.

[Alan Southstand]

Campsall:

Oh right. Don’t see how that hinders us. Surely that helps doesn’t it.

The performances seem to suggest otherwise, Camps.

[Campsall rover]

Campsall:

Oh right. Don’t see how that hinders us. Surely that helps doesn’t it.

The performances seem to suggest otherwise, Camps.

So how does playing 2 games every week make us a better team. Less rest, less time on the training pitch working on improving.
Not sure I follow your train of thought.
It just takes one game where we score 3 goals and I am confident we will be flying again.
The fact is we have lost 1 game in the last 11 played in all competitions while not playing anywhere near what this team ( squad ) are capable of.
That to me is a massive positive & suggests when we do “start to click” then we will be some force.

[Alan Southstand]

My train of thought is quite simple really,  our form has dipped quite a bit recently and, other than GM turning into Mr Tinkerman, I’m at a loss to explain it. It coincides with the fixture programme as it is. November is proving to be a very poor month from the point of view of collecting league points!

There’s a few things, not just the lack of goals, that seems to be hindering us and they’ve been well documented on here:
Playing a ‘settled’ side seems to be a thing of the past
Undecided whether it’s Sharp or Ironside
Gibson in and out the side
On the other hand, Molyneux always in despite a few, shall we say ‘mixed’ performances
The only permanent fixture in the midfield has been Bailey - the others have been ‘rotated’ regularly.

GM has had to select McGrath and Olowu, due to injuries and suspensions, and it’s no surprise to see those two performing really consistently!

We had the formula last season, when achieving that magical winning run,  but we missed a trick by not having Craig & Adelakun in our squad for this season. I fully realise that there are mitigating factors why that didn’t happen, but what we replaced those 2 with have not had anywhere near the same impact on the team’s performances this season.

My fingers are crossed for a very good January window, as there’s definately something missing from this team.

[Campsall rover]

My train of thought is quite simple really,  our form has dipped quite a bit recently and, other than GM turning into Mr Tinkerman, I’m at a loss to explain it. It coincides with the fixture programme as it is. November is proving to be a very poor month from the point of view of collecting league points!

There’s a few things, not just the lack of goals, that seems to be hindering us and they’ve been well documented on here:
Playing a ‘settled’ side seems to be a thing of the past
Undecided whether it’s Sharp or Ironside
Gibson in and out the side
On the other hand, Molyneux always in despite a few, shall we say ‘mixed’ performances
The only permanent fixture in the midfield has been Bailey - the others have been ‘rotated’ regularly.

GM has had to select McGrath and Olowu, due to injuries and suspensions, and it’s no surprise to see those two performing really consistently!

We had the formula last season, when achieving that magical winning run,  but we missed a trick by not having Craig & Adelakun in our squad for this season. I fully realise that there are mitigating factors why that didn’t happen, but what we replaced those 2 with have not had anywhere near the same impact on the team’s performances this season.

My fingers are crossed for a very good January window, as there’s definately something missing from this team.

There is a lot of what you say there Alan that I agree with.
Playing a more settled side would I think be a big help.

[Lesonthewest]

I just hope this having 2 for every position doesn't come back to bite us. While I trust Grant, just niggles me that there are some good players we have that don't even make the squad, is that good for their moral? fitness, continuity of the team, forming partnerships & understanding, all factors to consider. Surely players want to be playing every week, never mind not even making the bench. Hopefully all the players have bought into it. I'm sure we'll be flying performance wise soon, & the strong squad will be needed in the winter months.

[GazLaz]

My train of thought is quite simple really,  our form has dipped quite a bit recently and, other than GM turning into Mr Tinkerman, I’m at a loss to explain it. It coincides with the fixture programme as it is. November is proving to be a very poor month from the point of view of collecting league points!

There’s a few things, not just the lack of goals, that seems to be hindering us and they’ve been well documented on here:
Playing a ‘settled’ side seems to be a thing of the past
Undecided whether it’s Sharp or Ironside
Gibson in and out the side
On the other hand, Molyneux always in despite a few, shall we say ‘mixed’ performances
The only permanent fixture in the midfield has been Bailey - the others have been ‘rotated’ regularly.

GM has had to select McGrath and Olowu, due to injuries and suspensions, and it’s no surprise to see those two performing really consistently!

We had the formula last season, when achieving that magical winning run,  but we missed a trick by not having Craig & Adelakun in our squad for this season. I fully realise that there are mitigating factors why that didn’t happen, but what we replaced those 2 with have not had anywhere near the same impact on the team’s performances this season.

My fingers are crossed for a very good January window, as there’s definately something missing from this team.

There is a lot of what you say there Alan that I agree with.
Playing a more settled side would I think be a big help.

I’m not saying you are wrong and a settled side wouldn’t help BUT the benefits of managing player minutes now will only really be known in the latter part of the season. What could be the best for now could be detrimental over the season as a whole.

[Alan Southstand]

I’m not saying you are wrong and a settled side wouldn’t help

Do you mean would help? The rest then makes sense.

[BobG]

I don't  think he does mean would Alan. Not managing players time on pitch right now might be great in the short-term but it could lead to a drop off in performance later in the season that costs more than we gained.

BobG

[Avsuptem]

 Now the pitches are gettiing heavier the injuries and suspensions will  affect other clubs far worse than us. The benefit of a big squad should start to tell from now onwards, hopefully.