What today has brought into sharp focus

[Ldr]

The issue with this team isn’t substitutions or tactics. It’s a squad with no character, no mental strength. Not everyone but the majority of the squad don’t have the mental strength to deal with adversity and this season we seem to have tipped the balance into a bottling team.

Make no mistake, that result doesn’t happen with a Tom Anderson, or a Rob Jones or Richard wood in the team.

The first hour shows what we are capable of but soon as Wigan scored our collective arses dropped.

Only one way to describe it today, we bottled it

[keith79]

We could have been 2 down in the 1st 10 minutes

[Ldr]

We could have been 2 down in the 1st 10 minutes

I know, I was there

[colfromdonny]

We could have been 2 down in the 1st 10 minutes

I know, I was there

So could they!!

[jmt23]

This is exactly what I mean when I say the team is too quiet - I was hoping Pearson would be that leader of men (unfortunatly he isn't), shouting, pointing - and coaching the team on the pitch. You don't want a team with too many as that causes friction, but at least one is a minimum.

It would certainly help Jay who is erratic with his positioning and loses his satnav on a regular occasion. I know he's getting a lot of stick (and some deserved too) but he has loads of potential and needs some calming influence he can learn from at the side of him.

[RoseTInteD]

What today brought into focus is that even though we were incredible for 60 mins, we can still blow it. Getting out of the bottom four and staying out is going to be harder than most think.  I am tired of thinking “this is a must-win game” and we don’t. And now Tuesday is a must-win game. Draws won’t get us out of the bottom four.

[Nudga]

We were saying similar today. I said that we dont have any "bas**rds" in the team. A Wellens , Corporal Jones, Tim Ryan types.
This team has all "good lads" apparently.  You don't get anywhere in football being nice, good lads .

[CJK]

On reflection, that was so bloody careless of us today. That should have been another three points, six out of six and having a very good chance of making it nine out of nine on Tuesday.

What was really disappointing was the atmosphere in the second half. To say it was meant to be 'Black Bank Takeover Day' or whatever it was called, when the team really needed the backing in the second half, it wasn't there. It's very easy to sing and make noise when we're winning but its most useful when the team need a lift to help them dig in.

Defensively poor at the back again. Really lacking a Wood/ Jones/ Anderson figure in there. I get the impression the new CH is to replace Bailey but I'd be taking McGrath out personally.

Going forward we looked very good today and Gotts was absolutely superb. Got to be more clinical though.

I genuinely think we've enough to escape if we get the right defender in. But McCann needs to have a serious look at how he approaches changes to the game in the second half of matches.

[sedwardsdrfc]

If the new CH replaced Bailey and not McGarth we aren’t giving ourselves a chance. Midfield looked good today he’s better for the team at the back as much as I love him getting forwards

[RoseTInteD]

Give me  "bas**rds" in League One over "good lads" in League Two any day.

Fail to get 3 points on Tuesday and I don’t think McCann has any plan B, and we will stay in a relegation battle to the end of the season.

[GazLaz]

The issue with this team isn’t substitutions or tactics. It’s a squad with no character, no mental strength. Not everyone but the majority of the squad don’t have the mental strength to deal with adversity and this season we seem to have tipped the balance into a bottling team.

Make no mistake, that result doesn’t happen with a Tom Anderson, or a Rob Jones or Richard wood in the team.

The first hour shows what we are capable of but soon as Wigan scored our collective arses dropped.

Only one way to describe it today, we bottled it

I thought there was a big focus on bringing in good characters. Maybe what the management team perceive to be good characters isn’t what adds value to football teams.

Grant himself said we were too quiet at times in a recent interview. The optimal personality for a footballer is a really interesting one.

We have some good lads at the club, generally easy to manage if presume and they all get along. All important ingredients but is that enough? Not sure.

[Goole Rover]

On reflection, that was so bloody careless of us today. That should have been another three points, six out of six and having a very good chance of making it nine out of nine on Tuesday.

What was really disappointing was the atmosphere in the second half. To say it was meant to be 'Black Bank Takeover Day' or whatever it was called, when the team really needed the backing in the second half, it wasn't there. It's very easy to sing and make noise when we're winning but its most useful when the team need a lift to help them dig in.

Defensively poor at the back again. Really lacking a Wood/ Jones/ Anderson figure in there. I get the impression the new CH is to replace Bailey but I'd be taking McGrath out personally.

Going forward we looked very good today and Gotts was absolutely superb. Got to be more clinical though.

I genuinely think we've enough to escape if we get the right defender in. But McCann needs to have a serious look at how he approaches changes to the game in the second half of matches.

You are correct, we don't have the stopper, the bloke with a redesigned nose someone who lacks style but can clear his line. Jack Charlton, Norman Hunter, Tom Anderson and recently Wood.

[sedwardsdrfc]

On reflection, that was so bloody careless of us today. That should have been another three points, six out of six and having a very good chance of making it nine out of nine on Tuesday.

What was really disappointing was the atmosphere in the second half. To say it was meant to be 'Black Bank Takeover Day' or whatever it was called, when the team really needed the backing in the second half, it wasn't there. It's very easy to sing and make noise when we're winning but its most useful when the team need a lift to help them dig in.

Defensively poor at the back again. Really lacking a Wood/ Jones/ Anderson figure in there. I get the impression the new CH is to replace Bailey but I'd be taking McGrath out personally.

Going forward we looked very good today and Gotts was absolutely superb. Got to be more clinical though.

I genuinely think we've enough to escape if we get the right defender in. But McCann needs to have a serious look at how he approaches changes to the game in the second half of matches.

You are correct, we don't have the stopper, the bloke with a redesigned nose someone who lacks style but can clear his line. Jack Charlton, Norman Hunter, Tom Anderson and recently Wood.

u

Isn’t that Pearson? Wins all his headers and 50/50s that I can remember. Honestly don’t think he’s done much wrong to be so far down the pecking order. Certainly better than what started today if he’s fit.

[drfchound]

We could have been 2 down in the 1st 10 minutes

We scored our first goal in the 7th minute.

[Thorney]

On reflection, that was so bloody careless of us today. That should have been another three points, six out of six and having a very good chance of making it nine out of nine on Tuesday.

What was really disappointing was the atmosphere in the second half. To say it was meant to be 'Black Bank Takeover Day' or whatever it was called, when the team really needed the backing in the second half, it wasn't there. It's very easy to sing and make noise when we're winning but its most useful when the team need a lift to help them dig in.

Defensively poor at the back again. Really lacking a Wood/ Jones/ Anderson figure in there. I get the impression the new CH is to replace Bailey but I'd be taking McGrath out personally.

Going forward we looked very good today and Gotts was absolutely superb. Got to be more clinical though.

I genuinely think we've enough to escape if we get the right defender in. But McCann needs to have a serious look at how he approaches changes to the game in the second half of matches.

You are correct, we don't have the stopper, the bloke with a redesigned nose someone who lacks style but can clear his line. Jack Charlton, Norman Hunter, Tom Anderson and recently Wood.

u

Isn’t that Pearson? Wins all his headers and 50/50s that I can remember. Honestly don’t think he’s done much wrong to be so far down the pecking order. Certainly better than what started today if he’s fit.

He's awful, looks like it hurts for him just to try and run. So slow

[steve@dcfd]

The lack of mental strength is there for us to see in the last 40 minutes. The manager is not exempt from that as his substitutions were poor he believes some of these players are better than what they are. He brought in Adelakun because Gibson and Middleton have shown consistently they are not good enough. Gibson gives the balll away and he doesn't work back enough in his defensive duties yet Grant chose to play him behind the strikers when he changed the formation hhes never that player. Hanlan Grant says he ran like Eronokwo he did but never looked like controlling the ball at any time or capable linking up with other players that was Grants decision. He brought on Grehan to strengthen the defence but it had the opposite effect and weakened it. Robison was okay Billy for Molyneux I didn't understand. So yes the players could have shown better mental strength yet Grant chose to bring in players who were worse than the players they replaced in his squad.
Wait with bated breath to see who the CH is will he improve us and be good leader or will he be just be another average player like most signings this season.

[goalkick]

You only have to look at the goal difference to see the problem we leak goals when in a good position. Has happened many times. When we defend corners poorly.

[StocksArmy]

Anybody who tells me that it isn’t down to our full back’s inability to stop crosses doesn’t know football. The only one who is half decent at it is Nixon and he can’t get a kick if Sterry is fit. McCanns so hell bent on them getting forward that we fail on the basics.

[BigKeif]

Anybody who tells me that it isn’t down to our full back’s inability to stop crosses doesn’t know football. The only one who is half decent at it is Nixon and he can’t get a kick if Sterry is fit. McCanns so hell bent on them getting forward that we fail on the basics.

I’ve been saying this for quite some time now. It frustrates the life out of me. When defending as a kid, we were taught the basics. Close your man down, push him on his weaker foot and whatever you do, don’t let them cross it.

Our fullbacks just seem to let the attackers run 15/20+ yards unchallenged, on their strongest foot before stepping up to them and then still let them have a free cross in to the box.

Basics and fundamentals of defending and we lack it so badly!

[Padge_DRFC]

On reflection, that was so bloody careless of us today. That should have been another three points, six out of six and having a very good chance of making it nine out of nine on Tuesday.

What was really disappointing was the atmosphere in the second half. To say it was meant to be 'Black Bank Takeover Day' or whatever it was called, when the team really needed the backing in the second half, it wasn't there. It's very easy to sing and make noise when we're winning but its most useful when the team need a lift to help them dig in.

Defensively poor at the back again. Really lacking a Wood/ Jones/ Anderson figure in there. I get the impression the new CH is to replace Bailey but I'd be taking McGrath out personally.

Going forward we looked very good today and Gotts was absolutely superb. Got to be more clinical though.

I genuinely think we've enough to escape if we get the right defender in. But McCann needs to have a serious look at how he approaches changes to the game in the second half of matches.

Not sure what's happened but it's really quiet for 95% of the game. Today was even worse as the Wigan fans turned up pretty much hating their own team until 3v2.

[drfchound]

The Wigan fans appeared to have given up at 3-0 when they were  “olaying” as their defenders were knocking the ball across the back line and were singing “we’ve got the ball”.
Quite funny really.
After it went to 3-1, in the main, all I could hear from our end was a stream of criticism towards our players.

[ForsolongaRover]

The lack of mental strength is there for us to see in the last 40 minutes. The manager is not exempt from that as his substitutions were poor he believes some of these players are better than what they are. He brought in Adelakun because Gibson and Middleton have shown consistently they are not good enough. Gibson gives the balll away and he doesn't work back enough in his defensive duties yet Grant chose to play him behind the strikers when he changed the formation hhes never that player. Hanlan Grant says he ran like Eronokwo he did but never looked like controlling the ball at any time or capable linking up with other players that was Grants decision. He brought on Grehan to strengthen the defence but it had the opposite effect and weakened it. Robison was okay Billy for Molyneux I didn't understand. So yes the players could have shown better mental strength yet Grant chose to bring in players who were worse than the players they replaced in his squad.
Wait with bated breath to see who the CH is will he improve us and be good leader or will he be just be another average player like most signings this season.

He took off Adelukan on 63 minutes (only 18 minutes into the second half) and they scored their second on 66 and he took off Clifton and Molyneux just before they scored their third. There were two ways to stop them scoring more goals: bring on more defenders or keep the players who were causing their defence problems on the field. Instead he reduced our goal threat and made no attempt to add defenders. Substitutions seem to be compulsory in McC's playbook and I can't recall that they have changed games for us at all.

[Upton Rover]

A side who are 3 up should be ashamed with the final score. Reflecting on the final score, that's our worst performance of the season

[Chris Black come back]

Surely at 3-0 up the change to make is 75 mins and to bring on a load of defensive players?

[ForsolongaRover]

McCann is a man who has few personal qualities that could cause you to dislike him and although I have no knowledge of how he conducted himself at Hull and Peterborough, I’m not sure whether he revealed any more of himself then than he does now.

SOD’s belief in his playing philosophy - controlled and high quality possession defined the style that made you proud to support his team. Ferguson’s ability to understand his players and philosophise about management was fascinating to listen to and must have contributed to getting the best out of them.

Yet I find it almost impossible to understand what drives McCann’s approach to management and coaching. Does he focus purely on performance, what happens on the pitch, does he man-manage like Fergie seemed to or does he look at technical and tactical shortcomings?

Clearly the latter two aspects of the game are key to putting right where we are failing so badly now? Yet he is so generalised in his excuses that you wonder whether he has a solution or even whether he is capable of identifying what needs correcting and how to deal with it.

[EasyforDennis]

Why do we always have to make substitutions?  It seems that in quite a number of games the alarm clock goes off and we have to make a change. Adelakun, Okoronkyo, Clifton and Molyneux were all playing well and none of them appeared to be injured or struggling so why did we take them off.
It changed the way we were playing and we went from being 3-0 up and being comfortable to hanging on for a draw which felt like a defeat.

[drfchound]

Surely at 3-0 up the change to make is 75 mins and to bring on a load of defensive players?

McCann only usually has one regular defender on his bench and it was the same on Saturday with Greehan being the one he had on there.

[Donnywolf]

The Wigan fans appeared to have given up at 3-0 when they were  “olaying” as their defenders were knocking the ball across the back line and were singing “we’ve got the ball”.
Quite funny really.
After it went to 3-1, in the main, all I could hear from our end was a stream of criticism towards our players.

AND seriously did you see how many of them left the Ground as we made it 3-0 ?

Looked to be a coachful maybe more given the Seats that appeared.

[Donnywolf]

Surely at 3-0 up the change to make is 75 mins and to bring on a load of defensive players?

Agree , but there's also two cliches that sprang to mind .

Attack is the best form of defence and if its not "broke" don't fix it

And my own thoughts in the real world , we should have stayed as we were in an attempt to up our GD and make us look "world beaters" to others in L1

[Smyth]

Surely at 3-0 up the change to make is 75 mins and to bring on a load of defensive players?

Difficult if your one defensive option is someone who last played in defence,  in the league, in a 1-5 home defeat.