McCann

[sedwardsdrfc]

The league form turning around has really saved Grant.

I really like him normally and think we should stick with it as we’ve had some shockers before but he’s not impressed me this season. Imo we’ve really underperformed and made it harder for ourselves a lot of the time. A lot of that is how we seem to set up imo.

Despite the league form up tick maybe it is a bit stale. We try to fo the sand thing almost every game. Grant could change things up himself. Play Hanlan with a partner and go more direct for example. Leeds switched things up mid season and have made a big jump. Sometimes it’s worth not just doing what you did before because it worked once.

[Ryaldinhio]

Personally I think Grant is a top league manager and is out performing our budget. He was building from a broken position. Got us back to L1 and hopefully staying in L1 with what everyone on here keeps calling a squad of L2 players......yet then calls out the manager?

Brum last yr paying £15m raising to £21m for Jay Stansfield in L1

Huddersfield paying 7figure fees regular and not in playoffs, potentially only 7 points infront of us if we win our two games in hand.

Cardiff reportedly have a wage bill of £39m

Eyewatering and sobering.

This league is not what it was last time we were here. People need to calm down. We are slowly building without splurging. We are still on an upward trajectory.

IMO if we lose Grant we end up much much worse off.

[Chris Black come back]

Given our likely budget and certainly looking at other sides in League One, finishing mid-table in this league would be a good return. We could easily still do this and if so McCann has again delivered.

However…he’s made it hard for himself with some mystifying recruitment and at times mystifying selections and set ups. We’re a very odd squad of players and he’s always seemingly solving obvious recruitment failings in the January window. That should really be for opportunistic, cosmetic or emergency signings yet we use it to remodel the squad and / or save the season. That seems a matter of serious concern yet it’s held up as a master stroke. 

[pigeonhole]

We haven’t got the financial clout, status or prestige to attract finished articles so, I believe, the bizarre recruitment is our management team identifying unfancied players with the raw materials they believe they can coach and mould into the right fit for the system. O’Driscoll did it with Mustapha Dumbaya. It’s a gamble. And like most gambles you’ll lose more than you win.

[i_ateallthepies]

"potentially only 7 points infront of us if we win our two games in hand"... So, thirteen points in front of us and in the playoffs.

[drfchound]

He said potentially.
And Huddersfield aren’t in the play off positions just now.

[ncRover]

The teams with similar level budgets will be Stevenage, Burton, Wimbledon, Rotherham, Northampton, Port Vale, Mansfield and Exeter I’d say.

Half of those are clearly ahead of us.

But then we are above Blackpool and Leyton Orient who will have higher budgets.

I think Grant and a lot of the fan base got carried away with the momentum and Grant’s comments pre-season.

Lincoln are the blueprint to follow. They have built their progress smart and steady. Yes they’re getting a cash injection starting to come in now but they didn’t have anything special before that.

[Alan Southstand]

Got us back to L1 and hopefully staying in L1 with what everyone on here keeps calling a squad of L2 players......yet then calls out the manager?

You can call out the manager, but have it in mind that our budget will be ‘limited’ by comparison to some in this league.
Where I think he’s gone wrong is in his belief that the squad was good enough, with a few additions and good loans. However, what we signed in the summer, more or less, fell short of what was required just to compete at this level. Only 1 of the loans worked and he was recalled - the rest were dispensed.
Our shipping of goals is reflective of a team who are good when in possession but anything but when out of possession. The striker position remains beyond our reach, which is frustrating.

[i_ateallthepies]

We can qualify just about anything with 'potentially', Hound but to make a point about the potential position conditional upon winning two games in hand - given our place in the table - is a but feeble.  The old adage of rather have the points in the bag than games in hand is one just about anyone will subscribe to including yourself I'm sure.  I checked the table before making my comment about the playoffs and the only possibility was that the page hadn't updated since I last opened and refreshed it.  Honest mistake.

[In the box]

Form is everything at this time of the season and ours has never been challenging. Over all we have been fine with cups and and the January loans . But our preparations for L1 has been imo over stated by McCann and has juggled his lack of goals  up front and without Bailey or Mols we would taking about a L2 return ..

[mpc123]

Form is everything at this time of the season and ours has never been challenging. Over all we have been fine with cups and and the January loans . But our preparations for L1 has been imo over stated by McCann and has juggled his lack of goals  up front and without Bailey or Mols we would taking about a L2 return ..

But we have Bailey and Mols

[Ryaldinhio]

Got us back to L1 and hopefully staying in L1 with what everyone on here keeps calling a squad of L2 players......yet then calls out the manager?

You can call out the manager, but have it in mind that our budget will be ‘limited’ by comparison to some in this league.
Where I think he’s gone wrong is in his belief that the squad was good enough, with a few additions and good loans. However, what we signed in the summer, more or less, fell short of what was required just to compete at this level. Only 1 of the loans worked and he was recalled - the rest were dispensed.
Our shipping of goals is reflective of a team who are good when in possession but anything but when out of possession. The striker position remains beyond our reach, which is frustrating.

So what, given the budget which he knows, is he meant to say?

Not looking forward to this season, Im left with a team of L2 players and not enough money to improve it adequately so Ive had to extend Billy's contract because I can't afford a forward.....

OR

Does he piss with the cock he has got and try to build belief in the squad because thats the only chance?????

[Ryaldinhio]

We can qualify just about anything with 'potentially', Hound but to make a point about the potential position conditional upon winning two games in hand - given our place in the table - is a but feeble.  The old adage of rather have the points in the bag than games in hand is one just about anyone will subscribe to including yourself I'm sure.  I checked the table before making my comment about the playoffs and the only possibility was that the page hadn't updated since I last opened and refreshed it.  Honest mistake.

Obviously we would rather have the points, as Man City would against Notts F and Manu would have against Newc and Liverpool would against Wolves.....but its a game to play still whether we are fancied or not.

But if we disregard potential then we must do the same with others and given our place in the table then we are staying up 

[dickos1]

The teams with similar level budgets will be Stevenage, Burton, Wimbledon, Rotherham, Northampton, Port Vale, Mansfield and Exeter I’d say.

Half of those are clearly ahead of us.

But then we are above Blackpool and Leyton Orient who will have higher budgets.

I think Grant and a lot of the fan base got carried away with the momentum and Grant’s comments pre-season.

Lincoln are the blueprint to follow. They have built their progress smart and steady. Yes they’re getting a cash injection starting to come in now but they didn’t have anything special before that.

Out of all those teams, there is only one that is well clear of us, all the other teams are fighting it out for the same places with a dozen or so games to go.

[In the box]

Form is everything at this time of the season and ours has never been challenging. Over all we have been fine with cups and and the January loans . But our preparations for L1 has been imo over stated by McCann and has juggled his lack of goals  up front and without Bailey or Mols we would taking about a L2 return ..

But we have Bailey and Mols

If we go down we may not !! But we will still have Billy I suppose !!

[tommy toes]

Been watching a collage of Billy Sharp’s goals over the years. Most of them have been from short range when there are team mates around him and either pass to him in the box or occupy the defence.
He’s never been a lone striker, and certainly isnt now. Play someone up front with him and there might be life in the old dog yet.

[ncRover]

The teams with similar level budgets will be Stevenage, Burton, Wimbledon, Rotherham, Northampton, Port Vale, Mansfield and Exeter I’d say.

Half of those are clearly ahead of us.

But then we are above Blackpool and Leyton Orient who will have higher budgets.

I think Grant and a lot of the fan base got carried away with the momentum and Grant’s comments pre-season.

Lincoln are the blueprint to follow. They have built their progress smart and steady. Yes they’re getting a cash injection starting to come in now but they didn’t have anything special before that.

Out of all those teams, there is only one that is well clear of us, all the other teams are fighting it out for the same places with a dozen or so games to go.

I said “clearly” so as to not include Burton in the group of teams above us because they are only 1 point ahead having played 2 extra games.

The others are above us. Even if we win the game in hand to take us level with Exeter our goal difference is really bad.

Our goal difference is essentially a -1 point at the moment when you look at Burton, Wigan, Exeter and Mansfield’s.

[mpc123]

We can qualify just about anything with 'potentially', Hound but to make a point about the potential position conditional upon winning two games in hand - given our place in the table - is a but feeble.  The old adage of rather have the points in the bag than games in hand is one just about anyone will subscribe to including yourself I'm sure.  I checked the table before making my comment about the playoffs and the only possibility was that the page hadn't updated since I last opened and refreshed it.  Honest mistake.

I just dont get the challenge. Both statements fit.

[Thorney]

Form is everything at this time of the season and ours has never been challenging. Over all we have been fine with cups and and the January loans . But our preparations for L1 has been imo over stated by McCann and has juggled his lack of goals  up front and without Bailey or Mols we would taking about a L2 return ..

But we have Bailey and Mols

If we go down we may not !! But we will still have Billy I suppose !!

Your statment of if we didnt have bailey or mols is daft.
Surely the statment would apply to every team in the league  about their top scorers.

If stockport didnt have wooton, if orient didnt have ballard, if Barnsley didnt have keillor-dunn.

If we go down then they will be gone. But we will replace them. We didnt have them when we last went down

[Reg of the Rovers]

I think it's more about having a single point of failure, it's a risky way to run a team. We do have them so it's ok for now, but if they get injured or leave we're in a mess. In my opinion, without Rob Street we'd have been playoffs at best last year - but we did have him and here we are. But losing him has meant our attack is pretty blunt. See also Walsall with Lowe last year - top of the league by a dozen points then he goes and the wheels come off.

The alternative is a more balanced team of pretty decent players which is a more sustainable way to be successful (i.e. don't get relegated) and stay successful.  But you need much much better recruitment to achieve that, and some semblance of what formation, tactics and type of player you're after. We've got two great players, a few half decent ones, and a lot of dead wood.

[GazLaz]

I think it's more about having a single point of failure, it's a risky way to run a team. We do have them so it's ok for now, but if they get injured or leave we're in a mess. In my opinion, without Rob Street we'd have been playoffs at best last year - but we did have him and here we are. But losing him has meant our attack is pretty blunt. See also Walsall with Lowe last year - top of the league by a dozen points then he goes and the wheels come off.

The alternative is a more balanced team of pretty decent players which is a more sustainable way to be successful (i.e. don't get relegated) and stay successful.  But you need much much better recruitment to achieve that, and some semblance of what formation, tactics and type of player you're after. We've got two great players, a few half decent ones, and a lot of dead wood.

One of the best posts in a long time. That’s exactly the best way to succeed. If we had 6k per week to spend on a striker, signing 2 at 3k is a far more successful strategy long term than putting all the eggs in one basket.

Bigger squads is certainly the way to go. Football teams are only as good as their weakest players, they are not as strong as their best players. In the modern game it’s the weakest players in a match day group of 18 as well, not just the 11 on the pitch.

Our talent identification has been the issue this season, not the amount of players or the wages we pay.

[In the box]

Money talks in L1-2 but we are paying for
too many average player who do not have the ability to sustain a season of 50-60 games . We do not have the characters in the squad who pull teams together. Owen Bailey is our only asset and has been asked to do almost everything required without players of sufficient quality around him . You get what you pay for in any walk of life ..

[ForsolongaRover]

Form is everything at this time of the season and ours has never been challenging. Over all we have been fine with cups and and the January loans . But our preparations for L1 has been imo over stated by McCann and has juggled his lack of goals  up front and without Bailey or Mols we would taking about a L2 return ..

But we have Bailey and Mols

If we go down we may not !! But we will still have Billy I suppose !!

Your statment of if we didnt have bailey or mols is daft.
Surely the statment would apply to every team in the league  about their top scorers.

If stockport didnt have wooton, if orient didnt have ballard, if Barnsley didnt have keillor-dunn.

If we go down then they will be gone. But we will replace them. We didnt have them when we last went down

If you imagine that we can just “replace” Bailey and Molyneux and be where we were before, you perhaps fail to recognise their ability. You also ignore McCann”s inability to recruit well. I suggest you read Reg’s piece which is a much more studied view of where we are.

[graingrover]

I consider we are still in the infancy of AI applications to tactics and assessments and improvements to individuals and teamwork .Conservative managers will fear losing their power and influence .Others will use modern scientific applications to enhance their own decisions .I hope Grant will do so but do agree that man motivation is going to be forever a vital part of coaching

[ForsolongaRover]

I consider we are still in the infancy of AI applications to tactics and assessments and improvements to individuals and teamwork .Conservative managers will fear losing their power and influence .Others will use modern scientific applications to enhance their own decisions .I hope Grant will do so but do agree that man motivation is going to be forever a vital part of coaching

Has anyone tried AI as a means to predict match results? I don't think it does very well, but perhaps its weakness in forecasting human behaviour is a known weakness.

[drfcsteve]

I consider we are still in the infancy of AI applications to tactics and assessments and improvements to individuals and teamwork .Conservative managers will fear losing their power and influence .Others will use modern scientific applications to enhance their own decisions .I hope Grant will do so but do agree that man motivation is going to be forever a vital part of coaching

Has anyone tried AI as a means to predict match results? I don't think it does very well, but perhaps its weakness in forecasting human behaviour is a known weakness.

If it was any good the bookies would be using it too and would factor it in to the odds you get, so no edge.

[GazLaz]

I consider we are still in the infancy of AI applications to tactics and assessments and improvements to individuals and teamwork .Conservative managers will fear losing their power and influence .Others will use modern scientific applications to enhance their own decisions .I hope Grant will do so but do agree that man motivation is going to be forever a vital part of coaching

Has anyone tried AI as a means to predict match results? I don't think it does very well, but perhaps its weakness in forecasting human behaviour is a known weakness.

If it was any good the bookies would be using it too and would factor it in to the odds you get, so no edge.

“Using AI”

Doesn’t really mean anything does it?

If you mean asking a large language model who will win a certain game? You’d struggle.

If you mean using an AI model to help you create some sort of binomial distribution model and train it to scrape datasets that can feed a power rating system? You may get somewhere nearer.

[Filo]

I asked chatgpt, potential scorers today for Rover according it it, Joe Ironside, George Miller and Frankie

[ForsolongaRover]

I consider we are still in the infancy of AI applications to tactics and assessments and improvements to individuals and teamwork .Conservative managers will fear losing their power and influence .Others will use modern scientific applications to enhance their own decisions .I hope Grant will do so but do agree that man motivation is going to be forever a vital part of coaching

Has anyone tried AI as a means to predict match results? I don't think it does very well, but perhaps its weakness in forecasting human behaviour is a known weakness.

If it was any good the bookies would be using it too and would factor it in to the odds you get, so no edge.

“Using AI”

Doesn’t really mean anything does it?

If you mean asking a large language model who will win a certain game? You’d struggle.

If you mean using an AI model to help you create some sort of binomial distribution model and train it to scrape datasets that can feed a power rating system? You may get somewhere nearer.

It means something to me. Surely the whole point of AI to the layman is that you don’t have to frame your question in technical language. The way in which it works is specific to the subject area. I’ve never knowingly encountered a binomial distribution model and I don’t expect many contributors on here have either, so of course I didn’t mean that!