Learning curve

[andyst79]

Got done good & proper, looked like the longer it went on we'd get done by a set piece or something. Don't fully understand what the drop ball was for from the away end?! But none the less we switched off. Played them off the park for large spells but lacked that cutting edge. Great marker though which shows we can compete at this level , just feel we're a transfer window or 2 away from being a really efficient team in league 1.

[In the box]

Got done good & proper, looked like the longer it went on we'd get done by a set piece or something. Don't fully understand what the drop ball was for from the away end?! But none the less we switched off. Played them off the park for large spells but lacked that cutting edge. Great marker though which shows we can compete at this level , just feel we're a transfer window or 2 away from being a really efficient team in league 1.

Experienced-strikers are hard to find and apart from Billy we need another and not in a few weeks time . We had not composure tonight infront of goal and They escaped a hammering by our own inability to land the first blow .. 

[PDX_Rover]

I don't know why Joe Ironside doesn't get a look in. Has to be worth trying him out.

[DonnyRover]

I don't know why Joe Ironside doesn't get a look in. Has to be worth trying him out.

Cos he is shit, absolutely cannot be playing ironside

[Bessie Red]

I don't know why Joe Ironside doesn't get a look in. Has to be worth trying him out.

Cos he is shit, absolutely cannot be playing ironside

Bit disrespectful dont you think?

[Alan Southstand]

Joe is better than Hanlan, going on what I’ve seen, to date. At least he knows where to put himself on the pitch!

[Rovers91]

Ironside spent all last season just wrestling giving away free kicks, he's definitely not up for league 1. I'm pretty confident he will be gone and a loan will be in before window closes.

[DonnyBazR0ver]

Joe is better than Hanlan, going on what I’ve seen, to date. At least he knows where to put himself on the pitch!

That's questionable at this stage Alan and the likelihood is we wouldn't be as mobile and fluid with Joe in the team, and we might not create the same sort of chances. I really don't think Joe is in McCanns plan A. Hanlan may prove not to be either, we shall see.

[DonnyRover]

I don't know why Joe Ironside doesn't get a look in. Has to be worth trying him out.

Cos he is shit, absolutely cannot be playing ironside

Bit disrespectful dont you think?

Maybe, was meant to be just straight to the point. Frustrating evening, more on Ironside though, I know Grant said he hasn’t told any players to look for a new club, but if he hasn’t had the conversation with him to look for a club in the league below then I’d be shocked. If Ironside goes then we can look to bring in at least another loanee surely.

[drfchound]

If Newcastle don’t release Isak to sign for Liverpool then maybe they could punish him by sending him out on loan to a L1 club.
Just saying like …….

[GazLaz]

Joe is better than Hanlan, going on what I’ve seen, to date. At least he knows where to put himself on the pitch!

Ironside had been dreadful for over a year now. Not sure we can play him based on good form, in a lower league, 18 months ago.

[Alan Southstand]

OK, Gaz, you tell me what attributes Hanlan brings and how he makes us better?

[dickos1]

Alan I’m sure you were saying similar after 2 games street had played
It’s far too early to right someone off

[Alan Southstand]

You’d be wrong, then. For starters, Street wasn’t played down the middle for the first few games, but he showed more in those games than Hanlan has so far!

Look, I know it looks bad knocking a guy before he’s got going, but it’s just too obvious not to mention it. He’s 28, he should be showing us more even at this early stage.

I’m not S’Barra’s biggest fan, either, by the way. This is the area of the side we are the weakest and it’s showing.

[Reg of the Rovers]

It's a learning curve for Grant too. Starting Sbarra was a mistake, it meant Billy had to drop deep to cover for him so we lost our presence in their box first half, and were effectively playing a man down as Sbarra headless-chickens around the pitch. Jay didn't look fit either and we've two good other CB options in Grehan and Pearson so not sure why we didn't use them. Broadbent was walking a tightrope so needed to come off, but Crew in the anchor doesn't work - and he nodded off for their first goal. Not sure what Close is thinking after having the game of his life v Boro and not on the bench since!

Having cover is good, but chopping and changing for every game can't be helping build a settled team with a good understanding. Sharp looks busy and hungry but needed a proper no10 to help him out last night.

We've been the best team in the majority of every game this season, but our lack of cutting edge is costing us now.

[oggycompton]

Totally agree with all this. Trying to run a league 1 club like Liverpool and Man City and rotating your squad with three or four changes every week isn't going to work. Pearson played well and has been dropped, McGrath looks unfit, Sbarra wasn't good enough in league 2 so why play him against one of the top teams in league 1? Gibson was excellent Saturday and then dropped to the bench. I realise changes need to be made for freshness but surely the league is the priority?

The chopping and changing happened last season and once it stopped and a regular team was picked from December we played great and the results came. How a forward like Hanlan can expect to be scoring goals when hes in one week, out the next and not be given a fair crack in favour of a 39 year old who again...wasn't good enough in league 2 worries me.

Sbarra, Clifton are not league 1 players, its clear and obvious.

[Jersey Rover]

Has to be said, we played our best football whilst Sbarra was on the pitch. Does a job in there harrying defences into mistakes which creates chances for others

[TonySoprano]

Joe is better than Hanlan, going on what I’ve seen, to date. At least he knows where to put himself on the pitch!

Ironside had been dreadful for over a year now. Not sure we can play him based on good form, in a lower league, 18 months ago.

Shocking take, ironside offers a completely different dimension to our attack, one of the few players that can truly change the game when he comes on.
Easily one of the best strikers we've had at holding up the ball.

[keith79]

Proper proud of our performance last night. We are not far from being serious contenders for the playoffs

[DonnyBazR0ver]

Joe is better than Hanlan, going on what I’ve seen, to date. At least he knows where to put himself on the pitch!

Ironside had been dreadful for over a year now. Not sure we can play him based on good form, in a lower league, 18 months ago.

Shocking take, ironside offers a completely different dimension to our attack, one of the few players that can truly change the game when he comes on.
Easily one of the best strikers we've had at holding up the ball.

An equally shocking take. On last seasons form, I'm guessing with his tussles, 50% of them result in a free kick one way or another. Those that don't result in a free kick, are best he wins half. So when a ball is played to him we have a 25% chance he gets hold of it, then he has to find a pass.

In and around the box, he was largely ineffective and even though we questioned the quality of balls into the box, he generally didn't get on the end of many. Yes, there were a couple of exceptions but he was way behind his contributions from the previous season.

Plus, we don't really want to hold the ball as it slows things up. GM wants to move it quickly to players who get into space rather than tussle with centre half's.

That all said, I'd like to see Joe get a chance maybe as a plan B. Like last night for example when one or two down.

[TonySoprano]

You can't just completely make up stats to try and help your argument   

Joe is better than Hanlan, going on what I’ve seen, to date. At least he knows where to put himself on the pitch!

Ironside had been dreadful for over a year now. Not sure we can play him based on good form, in a lower league, 18 months ago.

Shocking take, ironside offers a completely different dimension to our attack, one of the few players that can truly change the game when he comes on.
Easily one of the best strikers we've had at holding up the ball.

An equally shocking take. On last seasons form, I'm guessing with his tussles, 50% of them result in a free kick one way or another. Those that don't result in a free kick, are best he wins half. So when a ball is played to him we have a 25% chance he gets hold of it, then he has to find a pass.

In and around the box, he was largely ineffective and even though we questioned the quality of balls into the box, he generally didn't get on the end of many. Yes, there were a couple of exceptions but he was way behind his contributions from the previous season.

Plus, we don't really want to hold the ball as it slows things up. GM wants to move it quickly to players who get into space rather than tussle with centre half's.

That all said, I'd like to see Joe get a chance maybe as a plan B. Like last night for example when one or two down.