This is becoming a crisis

[Move DRFC]

Been saying it for weeks that Hanlan needs a run. Sharp isn’t good enough to be a L1 starter. He was a sub impact player in L2 so I’m not sure what we are expecting playing him week in week out in the division above.

Hanlan touch and finish was brilliant. He needs to start. We need someone with pace who can make run and stretch teams a bit.

[tommy toes]

Change the formation and play Hanlan and Sharp.

[scawsby steve]

Strikers with a 1 in 2 ratio are indeed hard to find, yet we've had one in 5 of the last 9 seasons.

[NickDRFC]

Strikers with a 1 in 2 ratio are indeed hard to find, yet we've had one in 5 of the last 9 seasons.

I’m not sure we quite have, Steve. Street last season, Adelakun (although not with as many as 10-15 goals) the year before and Marquis back when we won League Two makes 3.

Marquis under McCann and Ironside were both a shade under 1 in 2, plus Adelakun was the same season as Ironside so not sure which the fifth season you’re referring to would be.

[les@donr]

I can’t see where the next point is coming from, let alone the next win.

[scawsby steve]

Strikers with a 1 in 2 ratio are indeed hard to find, yet we've had one in 5 of the last 9 seasons.

I’m not sure we quite have, Steve. Street last season, Adelakun (although not with as many as 10-15 goals) the year before and Marquis back when we won League Two makes 3.

Marquis under McCann and Ironside were both a shade under 1 in 2, plus Adelakun was the same season as Ironside so not sure which the fifth season you’re referring to would be.

OK, so my maths is slightly out with a couple of them. 1 in 2.5 or there abouts is still pretty prolific.

My point is that the strikers are there if the recruitment team can spot them.

[ncRover]

Change the formation and play Hanlan and Sharp.

Why does Sharp need shoe-horning in?

[Donnywolf]

Some need to calm down a bit, we played ok for long spells today and against Barnsley, we have enough quality to stay up, and be clear of relegation in my opinion.

We also need to recognise Lincoln are a seasoned league one team in excellent form, and we managed to make them feel very uncomfortable toward the end.

The team needs some work, look at Lincoln, every one of them were tall fast, powerful and just about on the right side of aggressive.

In comparison we lack pace throughout and we have a few small players. We are really struggling in left and right back areas with pace and quality. I’m not convinced in the midfield yet either.

A word on TLT, he has begun to look slightly better and he did well under pressure from some great crosses.

I agree and lets not forget people are rightly pointing out the huge chances we missed which "could" have changed the game

However ( forgive me if Ive missed it ) no mention that the easiest chance of the match fell to them a completely gaping goal , wide open needing just a sidefoot from 18 yards .... which they missed for 2 0

[colincramb]

It’s a terrible run but it will turn. We are more than in games and losing by the odd goal to teams with a bit more quality than us. Anyone that didn’t expect this season to be a scrap had their head in the clouds. The primary objective was to stay up. We will do that

[Padge_DRFC]

We can't play with only 4 in midfield to play 2 strikers. Not got the 2 CMs to do that

[grayx]

We can't play with only 4 in midfield to play 2 strikers. Not got the 2 CMs to do that

I get your concern BUT we wont score enough goals to stay up with one striker, let alone challenge for play offs.
Hows about the old fashioned 4-4-2?

[selby]

  We had enough chances again to win the match. three easy ones from within 10yards of the goal line and near central of the of the goal, and dallied enough on another that they had time to get a defender on the goal line.
  At the other end we gave two really poor goals away and were cut open straight down the middle that resulted in probably the worst finish of the season. The second goal just the result of not being strong enough physically.
  We are and have been poor in both penalty areas all this season up to press and were for the first half of last season.
  We need at least two S**T house defenders and start to take chances at the other end.

[DonnyBazR0ver]

No crisis just the wrong end of the fine lines at the moment.

As others have said, we need belief more than knee jerk decisions . We need refining more than rebuilding.

[GazLaz]

  We had enough chances again to win the match. three easy ones from within 10yards of the goal line and near central of the of the goal, and dallied enough on another that they had time to get a defender on the goal line.
  At the other end we gave two really poor goals away and were cut open straight down the middle that resulted in probably the worst finish of the season. The second goal just the result of not being strong enough physically.
  We are and have been poor in both penalty areas all this season up to press and were for the first half of last season.
  We need at least two S**T house defenders and start to take chances at the other end.

What’s Pearson of he’s not a shit house defender?

[Usher wide.]

I can’t see where the next point is coming from, let alone the next win.

Stevenage away next Saturday.

No way are Lincoln 17 places & 10 points better than us. I honestly believe that if we hadn’t had the stuffing knocked out of us after conceding just one minute after a great equaliser, we’d have gone on to win that game.

It’s fine margins. Yes Street’s goal should have stood, but Billy should have buried his chance when he rounded the keeper after their defender made a Rick & Moly set him up. Bails had a chance late on as he slid & stretched his leg to reach the ball but was an inch from making a clean contact.

I know Lincoln had other chances too (Pearson had a mare of a game & got bullied pillar to post by their No.9) but we were definitely in the ascendancy 2nd half & matched their physicality with slick passing movements & a player who looked Championship material on the day in Molyneaux.

We’re not a bad side. We are well capable of competing in this division but yes, a front man in the Rob Street mould wouldn’t come amiss in January.

Slim margins.

[steve@dcfd]

We can't play with only 4 in midfield to play 2 strikers. Not got the 2 CMs to do that

Lincoln play the same system and two midfield players.
Draper played behind Collins is a striker/forward then Street and Okoronokwo are forwards.
We haven’t got that player to play behind the striker. We play Clifton or Gotts who graft but haven’t got the skill set.
We are where we are because this is a league that you must defend well and take your chances.

[selby]

 Gaz, a slow s********e defender as the Huddersfield supporters pointed out when we signed him.  In some cases I think that's what we do, we sign names without looking at the big picture of will they fit in, and what are they capable of.
  And the club they come from is one of their big advantages and draw us to them.

[GazLaz]

Gaz, a slow s********e defender as the Huddersfield supporters pointed out when we signed him.

He’s always been slow. Even when he was doing well in the Champ. Like Anderson, Wood and others who couldn’t run but were fine.

[graingrover]

My summary and belief is that Grant will sort this so-called crisis, and with the support of GB and TB we will become strong.So I spare myself and others the  pain of introspective anxiety .

[ncRover]

McCann asking the players to believe saying they are playing with the handbrake on and will be replaced in Jan if they don’t improve.

Why doesn’t he take some responsibility for the squad he’s built and contracts he’s handed out?

How many are proven decent L1 players who aren’t on the decline? Not many at all.

[selby]

  Gaz, if you look back at my posts early and before the season we are just about where I thought we would be in this division before a ball was kicked in anger, in fact I think I posted if we finish mid table it would be a good season.
  Now I have read many times players you and others have put forward to the club as worth signing, you especially some very good propositions if followed up, and statistical records to prove their ability.
  WE need as a club to get better at identification of players, and as a team we need to be more adaptable to situations.
 

[GazLaz]

  Gaz, if you look back at my posts early and before the season we are just about where I thought we would be in this division before a ball was kicked in anger, in fact I think I posted if we finish mid table it would be a good season.
  Now I have read many times players you and others have put forward to the club as worth signing, you especially some very good propositions if followed up, and statistical records to prove their ability.
  WE need as a club to get better at identification of players, and as a team we need to be more adaptable to situations.
 

I agree mate.

[TonySoprano]

Certainly not a crisis  .

Its a bad run, performances have picked up and the next win isnt far off.

I would suggest that mcann should play more defensively until we have made a couple of good signings in January.

[BillyStubbsTears]

Some need to calm down a bit, we played ok for long spells today and against Barnsley, we have enough quality to stay up, and be clear of relegation in my opinion.

We also need to recognise Lincoln are a seasoned league one team in excellent form, and we managed to make them feel very uncomfortable toward the end.

The team needs some work, look at Lincoln, every one of them were tall fast, powerful and just about on the right side of aggressive.

In comparison we lack pace throughout and we have a few small players. We are really struggling in left and right back areas with pace and quality. I’m not convinced in the midfield yet either.

A word on TLT, he has begun to look slightly better and he did well under pressure from some great crosses.

I agree and lets not forget people are rightly pointing out the huge chances we missed which "could" have changed the game

However ( forgive me if Ive missed it ) no mention that the easiest chance of the match fell to them a completely gaping goal , wide open needing just a sidefoot from 18 yards .... which they missed for 2 0

That wasn't the easiest chance of the match. It was the easiest chance I have ever seen.

[DonnyOsmond]

We can't play with only 4 in midfield to play 2 strikers. Not got the 2 CMs to do that

I get your concern BUT we wont score enough goals to stay up with one striker, let alone challenge for play offs.
Hows about the old fashioned 4-4-2?

Then you're reducing the threat from our better wide players to shoehorn in an extra striker, who would probably offer less than Moly in his best role.

[GazLaz]

We can't play with only 4 in midfield to play 2 strikers. Not got the 2 CMs to do that

I get your concern BUT we wont score enough goals to stay up with one striker, let alone challenge for play offs.
Hows about the old fashioned 4-4-2?

Then you're reducing the threat from our better wide players to shoehorn in an extra striker, who would probably offer less than Moly in his best role.

When you are not winning people always want to blame something. Players that are not in the team tend to improve for not playing and the shape is wrong!

[Sammy Chung was King]

We will need at least three players in January, potentially four. A striker, winger, central midfielder and a centre half who can organise a bit but has a bit left in his legs.
Billy still has the ability just not getting the service. I think once we get one win we will go on a run.

[GazLaz]

We will need at least three players in January, potentially four. A striker, winger, central midfielder and a centre half who can organise a bit but has a bit left in his legs.
Billy still has the ability just not getting the service. I think once we get one win we will go on a run.

Can’t sign three centre halves in the summer then ask for another in January!

[ncRover]

We will need at least three players in January, potentially four. A striker, winger, central midfielder and a centre half who can organise a bit but has a bit left in his legs.
Billy still has the ability just not getting the service. I think once we get one win we will go on a run.

He can’t make the best of crosses in to the box because of his size nor can he make the best of balls in behind because he’s got no pace whatsoever, but it’s the people supplying him that are the problem?

He also now misses a fair few chances he would have buried in years gone by.

[Metalmicky]

I watched Billy carefully on Saturday and for all his running and chasing he actually got onto very little.  The chance he did get in the first half, he took too long over and then managed to hit it directly at the defender on the line.  Hanlan did more in his 30 minute spell than Billy did in the first hour.  I think Billy would make more of an impact coming on as a sub for the last 20-25 minutes when defenders have already expended some energy..