oldsarum Posted 26 September, 2009 Share Posted 26 September, 2009 Well done to all the 921 supporters who went, excellent numbers and vocal support by all accounts http://www.carlisleunited.co.uk/page/MatchReport/0,,10361~47608,00.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
locks heath saint 2 Posted 26 September, 2009 Share Posted 26 September, 2009 If we had just taken our chances this would have been a comfortable win. We have to start takIng them Carlisle were an extremely average team, our defence seamed a bit off thier best possibly due to the lack of Thomas ( never though I would say that). Just didn't get a boot In when a chance appeared. Mills is getting better by the match, very impessive IMO Totally deserved the point and it should have been three. It us so good to get the goal back at the death it has for so long been against us. Who knows we may even win in the dying seconds in the not too distant future! Coyr Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lordswoodsaints Posted 26 September, 2009 Share Posted 26 September, 2009 Was that really good enough? Have we dropped so low? It sounded poor. I'm not convinced. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
St_Tel49 Posted 26 September, 2009 Share Posted 26 September, 2009 we obviously are not doing something right are we.....or are we still rebuilding and lucky to have a team to support at all with no pre-season? Moe: "This thing can flash fry a water buffalo in 45 seconds" saint_Stevo: "Aw! - but I want it now" with apologies to Homer ;-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alpine_saint Posted 26 September, 2009 Share Posted 26 September, 2009 I consider this a good result. Why ? Because we fought ourselves back into the game by playing the full 90 minutes for the first time since WGS was in charge. Yes, its worrying that we dropped 2 points we should have picked up, and yes its worrying that the team are STILL not firing on all cylinders, but at least the mental toughness and physical fitness are improving. Roll on the next 2 games... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jim_bergerac Posted 26 September, 2009 Share Posted 26 September, 2009 Just got back after what is the home game for me living in Scotland. Really delighted to see the fans go away with something as the support was tremendous. Carlisle fan said to me at the station "you lot made some noise by gum". Was surprised to hear and see so many Scottish Saints there today. Fantastic gesture by the team to throw their shirts into the crowd at the end (I believe they have to pay £50 back to club when they do that). A small price though giving the support they got. Anyway, onwards and upwards me hopes. COYR. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WGC Saint Posted 26 September, 2009 Share Posted 26 September, 2009 Not sure whether to be happy with an away point or cheesed off at our failure to beat a team we really should be beating.......... I'll be there Tuesday where hopefully we can get into positive points and kick onwards and upwards......I won't hold my breath though! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
S-Clarke Posted 26 September, 2009 Share Posted 26 September, 2009 I consider this a good result. Why ? Because we fought ourselves back into the game by playing the full 90 minutes for the first time since WGS was in charge. Yes, its worrying that we dropped 2 points we should have picked up, and yes its worrying that the team are STILL not firing on all cylinders, but at least the mental toughness and physical fitness are improving. Roll on the next 2 games... Agree 100% apls. Good post. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Windmill Arm 2 Posted 26 September, 2009 Share Posted 26 September, 2009 Id have taken that result before kick off, that was a tricky away match, and over the last few seasons would have come away with nothing, so to pull it back at the death was fantastic. We will beat the Fish Fukkers to +ve points against Brizzle. Cant stop laughing at the skates 7 out of 7 BRILLIANT!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyNorthernSaints Posted 26 September, 2009 Share Posted 26 September, 2009 " And Mellis must score " screamed the Radio Solent commentator. "Like **** he will " I said to myself .Very lucky to get away with that result,yet again no pace and penetration up front and every crap team that we face has someone in it that causes us problems.Would much rather have Ian Harte in our side than some of the players we have. Lol you mention pace and Harte? doh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! what is the connection there? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monosaint Posted 26 September, 2009 Share Posted 26 September, 2009 Still 10 points off safety. Pretty damn poor. Must start performing consistantly and winning. MUST But only 16 points from the Playoffs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gaz Posted 26 September, 2009 Share Posted 26 September, 2009 Not fantastic but points are points, and you can't argue with that. Apart from some saying its not all 3. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rick1976.4.38 Posted 26 September, 2009 Share Posted 26 September, 2009 back from the game.firstly us fans were tremendous,will put some videos on you tube later if i can work it out.the saints have one big problem,PACE,weve none either end.we should have killed them off first half but our crossing is woeful and there are a lack of players in the box,we should have a more attacking setup.lloyd was getting skinned every time,hes young and still learning but all teams will make sure they attack down our right side.rickie lambert hardly got the ball,playing to deep for me.it was a good point but think we should and could have one if we went for the kill from the off.coyr Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saint_clark Posted 26 September, 2009 Share Posted 26 September, 2009 With regards to Lloyd James we all know he is a poor RB, but let's not forget he is also our third choice. In league one you cannot afford the luxury of having too many back up players. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trousers Posted 26 September, 2009 Share Posted 26 September, 2009 Leon Best scored today on 90 +5 minutes too. The world would be a duller place without little quirks like that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the saint in winchester Posted 26 September, 2009 Share Posted 26 September, 2009 At least we are not losing but we need the forward players to be scoring. Lambert has still to prove he is a top goal scorer Lambert proved that with Bristol Rovers. That's why we bought him! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crab Lungs Posted 26 September, 2009 Share Posted 26 September, 2009 I keep reading over and over and over and over again that we need width. Well we have someone with the ability to play in the Premier League at some point (IMO) in his career sitting on the bench. Allegedly Joe Mills takes a mean corner, but to me he'll always be a left back playing left wing. Not quite the same effect as an out-and-out winger. Holmes pace, trickery and delivery would provide Lambert alot of serivce. AP, start using him PLEASE Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MorningtonCrescent Posted 26 September, 2009 Share Posted 26 September, 2009 Holmes pace, trickery and delivery would provide Lambert alot of serivce. AP, start using him PLEASE He did today, so no need for this "plea" - unless you're looking to claim some credit at some point in the future when Holmes has fully recovered from his injury and performs as we all know can ......?? Holmes needs games to bring back the edge that he gives us, and introducing him slowly after such a long time out is very sensible - he was rushed back once before and look where that ended up! I fully expect Holmes to get more time on the pitch for the next few games and then become an integral part of the first eleven IF he can demostrate he has recovered both his form and physically... :-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saint_clark Posted 26 September, 2009 Share Posted 26 September, 2009 From the short highlights on the Beeb it looked like we were unfortunate to concede and fortunate to score, so swings and roundabouts etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kingsbridge Saint Posted 27 September, 2009 Share Posted 27 September, 2009 Another false dawn. Need wins. A few strung together. Good that we scored late for a change rather than conceded. Defence looks like it will be bang on when Murty gets back too. Just need a bit more pace - and Lallana to start delivering some sort of end product or I want him gone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Berkers Posted 27 September, 2009 Share Posted 27 September, 2009 Just got back. A dreadful performance with no creativity. Carlisle were poor and there for the taking. It's easy to blame the midfielders but they were simply missed out with long ball tactics. We're letting oppo dictate the pace with no wide play at all. Getting a little worried about Pardew as failing to see any pattern. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SFKA South Woodford Posted 27 September, 2009 Share Posted 27 September, 2009 Again points dropped! Again we can say that we were the better team and played so well we should have won, but how long is it going to be before that starts sounding like a broken record, and people realise that all these draws are what has cost us so dearly over the past few seasons? The erradication of the minus ten is not the big issue, the fact that we haven't gotten any nearer to getting out of the relegation zone is! We desperately need pace in the team, every team in our division can see that, so know that they are going to see at least the same amount of the ball as us in matches and in a lot of cases will see more with their superior pace and resulting workrate. Pardew has got to get some more pace in the squad and soon, he should do a deal with teams for loans now, with us paying a fee to make them permanent once the window reopens, in order to get full commitment from the incoming players. If this is not rectified soon, we wont be treading water any longer, we'll be sinking, as there will come a point where we aren't being unlucky to draw rather than win! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LostBoys Posted 27 September, 2009 Share Posted 27 September, 2009 I only listened on the radio but to have 7 chances in the first half and not score is worrying. Also it sounded like the final pass and cross at the end of each move was dire - again. The other thing we must address is the ability of the opposition to punt the ball past James and then outrun him - Mr Leitch of the Echo thought this was amusing whereas I do not. 2 points lost but we are at least unbeaten. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ericofarabia Posted 27 September, 2009 Share Posted 27 September, 2009 (edited) alex ferguson is regarded as a good manager because he has won everything in the club game....EVERYTHING... League 1 Promotion? Championship Promotion? Not quite everything then and we have a manager who has Edit ... should have read the whole fred before posting, seems I wasn't the only one with that thought Edited 27 September, 2009 by ericofarabia Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scotty Posted 27 September, 2009 Share Posted 27 September, 2009 Again points dropped! Again we can say that we were the better team and played so well we should have won, but how long is it going to be before that starts sounding like a broken record, and people realise that all these draws are what has cost us so dearly over the past few seasons? The erradication of the minus ten is not the big issue, the fact that we haven't gotten any nearer to getting out of the relegation zone is! We desperately need pace in the team, every team in our division can see that, so know that they are going to see at least the same amount of the ball as us in matches and in a lot of cases will see more with their superior pace and resulting workrate. Pardew has got to get some more pace in the squad and soon, he should do a deal with teams for loans now, with us paying a fee to make them permanent once the window reopens, in order to get full commitment from the incoming players. If this is not rectified soon, we wont be treading water any longer, we'll be sinking, as there will come a point where we aren't being unlucky to draw rather than win! its a massive issue psychologically, for the fans and the team. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Legod Third Coming Posted 27 September, 2009 Share Posted 27 September, 2009 I consider this a good result. Why ? Because we fought ourselves back into the game by playing the full 90 minutes for the first time since WGS was in charge. Yes, its worrying that we dropped 2 points we should have picked up, and yes its worrying that the team are STILL not firing on all cylinders, but at least the mental toughness and physical fitness are improving. Roll on the next 2 games... While I am very, very disappointed that we couldn't win - not scoring while dominating is the hallmark of poor sides - the fact we scored so late is encouraging. I hate the phrase, but these things are genuinely green shoots - sporadic evidence that the grass is growing. Give it a month and if the lawn is not lush then it's time to start upping the ante in calls for better. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thedelldays Posted 27 September, 2009 Share Posted 27 September, 2009 While I am very, very disappointed that we couldn't win - not scoring while dominating is the hallmark of poor sides - the fact we scored so late is encouraging. I hate the phrase, but these things are genuinely green shoots - sporadic evidence that the grass is growing. Give it a month and if the lawn is not lush then it's time to start upping the ante in calls for better. I agree with you completely mate it was great for once that WE got a last min goal..but really, getting excited about that is a little clutching at straws.... what happens in a month and say the next 6 games (which are all very winnable) bring in abother paultry 8 points.. what happens..? will we have to look at pardew...will HE need to come into question..? I just dont know Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Legod Third Coming Posted 27 September, 2009 Share Posted 27 September, 2009 I agree with you completely mate it was great for once that WE got a last min goal..but really, getting excited about that is a little clutching at straws.... what happens in a month and say the next 6 games (which are all very winnable) bring in abother paultry 8 points.. what happens..? will we have to look at pardew...will HE need to come into question..? I just dont know To my mind we have to win the next two games. This is a pyschological imperative. We need to breed a winning spirit and while this sounds bleedin' obvious, you cannot do that without winning regularly. Under WGS we kept going in every game because we genuinely believed we could win - and we did. Who can forget the last minute winners against Villa, West Ham etc and often away from home too... This is not about 'fitness' per se - footballers are fit. It's about not giving up, not accepting second best, not being complacent and not resting until you are spent in the cause of victory. Pardew has brought in enough players to change the mentality at our club. It has been a losing mentality for too long. The next two games have to show that the mentality is now a winning one. Players should be taking to the field fully expecting to win and working until they do, in every game. Crafting winners is the hallmark of the great manager. If we do not win the next two games, there are serious questions to answer about whether we can ever regain the right mentality. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thedelldays Posted 27 September, 2009 Share Posted 27 September, 2009 Crafting winners is the hallmark of the great manager. If we do not win the next two games, there are serious questions to answer about whether we can ever regain the right mentality. totally agree... I had hoped that this would have happened sooner..but understand we needed a few games/weeks to settle in.. as I have said many times....at least 20 teams in this league would dream of having the squad of players we have... 1m keeper 1m defender international defender defence with prem experience 1m midfielder signing a rival captain England u21 midfielder 1m striker striker with Champions league experience poslish international. etc etc etc when you look at what we have spent and done this season many teams above us will not spend that bewteen them in the next 5 years..... I hope for at least 7 points from the 3 games this week..we have to win the next 2 now...minimum just concerned that if we carry this form on for longer will anyone dare question pardew...? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Red and White Army Posted 27 September, 2009 Share Posted 27 September, 2009 It really amazes me how people can twist a result to suit their agenda. You would be spitting teeth if we were playing like this and getting these results with Lowe in charge. Don't lecture us about twisting results when you twisted everything for years to put an anti-Lowe spin on it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Red and White Army Posted 27 September, 2009 Share Posted 27 September, 2009 Yes but you can't have it both ways. For example again just using the last 3 games. We played 2 away and got 5 points from 9. That is not amazing, not setting the world on fire. But if we use that as our points ratio and apply it to the table last year it would see us finish 6th and take a playoff spot. What an inane example. If we get results like we did for our last 1 game, we'd be relegated. What kind of idiot seriously uses 1 or 3 games and extrapolates out to an entire season? You sir - are a fool. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
St Will Posted 27 September, 2009 Share Posted 27 September, 2009 Crafting winners is the hallmark of the great manager. To be fair, I don't think I've seen a single manager, even in the champions league, craft a winner. I've seen a few players do it before though. At the end of the day, Fergie could be in the dressing room throwing electronics around, it still, ultimately, comes down to the players. We have good midfielders and strikers, but they're not creative enough. They would probably shine in another team if there were creative players playing alongside them....so it's Pardew's job to bring in creativity, and more than likely in the form of new players. I think we'll do OK up until January, and then really kick on from there with a few new players. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alpine_saint Posted 27 September, 2009 Share Posted 27 September, 2009 totally agree... I had hoped that this would have happened sooner..but understand we needed a few games/weeks to settle in.. as I have said many times....at least 20 teams in this league would dream of having the squad of players we have... 1m keeper 1m defender international defender defence with prem experience 1m midfielder signing a rival captain England u21 midfielder 1m striker striker with Champions league experience poslish international. etc etc etc when you look at what we have spent and done this season many teams above us will not spend that bewteen them in the next 5 years..... I hope for at least 7 points from the 3 games this week..we have to win the next 2 now...minimum just concerned that if we carry this form on for longer will anyone dare question pardew...? These are fair comments Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Legod Third Coming Posted 27 September, 2009 Share Posted 27 September, 2009 totally agree... when you look at what we have spent and done this season many teams above us will not spend that bewteen them in the next 5 years..... I hope for at least 7 points from the 3 games this week..we have to win the next 2 now...minimum just concerned that if we carry this form on for longer will anyone dare question pardew...? For my money, I am happy to give Pardew time becase he was denied a pre-season, but three months or 15 games is my limit. Why? Who knows. It just 'feels right' - it's long enough to gel a team in my view. It doesn't mean I then expect us to win every game but we need to see more wins more often and by bigger margins. These are the things we appear to have got right: Defence Work-rate Spirit These are the things we still need to work very hard on: Movement Use of the ball Attacking Shooting Delivery I won't comment on yesterday's game but I am disappointed that we don't use the ball better. We really did under JP whatever you say about him. The lack of pace people talk about is excacerbated because we go direct too early too often from what I have seen this year. It leaves our players stranded and stretches the play back to front. If Morgan hits a 60 yard cross-field ball he can't then be in the box to receive the cross either... so we need to play higher up the park, push more midfielders on and stop bringing every one back for corners (does my head in always has!!!) I would like to see KD ordered not to pass the ball more than fifteen yards!!!! And then players fined for any ball over 30 yards that does not hit its target. If we're not winning more than we're losing after October 1st then we are in for a long old season, and possibly a long time here in this Division. It's very well saying give Pardew this season, but then what? Surely, we have to be winning games this season to show we can do it, full stop. For the record, I am not calling for change, but I don't believe we can win the league/promotion next season unless we are challenging for it this season, because we simply will not be winning enough games often enough. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
up and away Posted 27 September, 2009 Share Posted 27 September, 2009 Originally Posted by SFKA South Woodford Again points dropped! Again we can say that we were the better team and played so well we should have won, but how long is it going to be before that starts sounding like a broken record, and people realise that all these draws are what has cost us so dearly over the past few seasons? The erradication of the minus ten is not the big issue, the fact that we haven't gotten any nearer to getting out of the relegation zone is! We desperately need pace in the team, every team in our division can see that, so know that they are going to see at least the same amount of the ball as us in matches and in a lot of cases will see more with their superior pace and resulting workrate. Pardew has got to get some more pace in the squad and soon, he should do a deal with teams for loans now, with us paying a fee to make them permanent once the window reopens, in order to get full commitment from the incoming players. If this is not rectified soon, we wont be treading water any longer, we'll be sinking, as there will come a point where we aren't being unlucky to draw rather than win! its a massive issue psychologically, for the fans and the team. If this is a massive issue psychologically, the manager is doing something very wrong. I have heard Pardew mention this excuse and I cannot believe someone of his intelligence would actually let this raise it's head. Just consider all the massive psychological issues the team will now face The first issue of being negative The second issue of being bottom of the table The third issue of being in the relegation zone The fourth issue of that massive gap to the play off's The poor little dears stand no chance and by all rights should be gibbering wrecks that would match a gaggle of Dreyfus from a Pink Panther convention. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
S-Clarke Posted 27 September, 2009 Share Posted 27 September, 2009 (edited) For the record, I am not calling for change, but I don't believe we can win the league/promotion next season unless we are challenging for it this season, because we simply will not be winning enough games often enough. That comment is a good comment... I don't agree with the view ''scraping relegation'' will be a good achievement, that would equal a ****ing **** poor season and not the preparation we need to go into next year. Think of it this way - if these players struggle all year, and just achieve safety in the last couple of games, would you be confident that the structure/team would then go and storm the league the following year? (Because that is what we HAVE to do....we HAVE to storm it next year, we will not have an excuse - and by storming i mean constant involvement in the auto promotion fight) I know i wouldn't, and I'd have to ask a few questions. Edited 27 September, 2009 by S-Clarke Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saint_clark Posted 27 September, 2009 Share Posted 27 September, 2009 I'm sure there are plenty of teams in the Football League who have avoided relegation and then got promoted the next year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JustMike Posted 27 September, 2009 Share Posted 27 September, 2009 I only listened on the radio but to have 7 chances in the first half and not score is worrying. Also it sounded like the final pass and cross at the end of each move was dire - again. The other thing we must address is the ability of the opposition to punt the ball past James and then outrun him - Mr Leitch of the Echo thought this was amusing whereas I do not. 2 points lost but we are at least unbeaten. i was there and i have to say your points were very true yesterday. We had alot of good stuff in the 1st half but no end product, the final ball was often shocking or non existant. Mellis is as bad as everyone on here keeps saying, he got into good positions at least twice in the first half only to do nothing with it, its almost as if he panics, turns around and passes it back 50 yrds when all he had to do was cross it into the box and his miss in the 2nd half was embarressing. Lambert works his socks off but there is nothing he can do when the ball is consistently fired into his chest area and the nearest saints player to him is half a mile away. James was shocking at RB, not sure where thomas was but we missed him there. AL again frustrates, lots of promise but no final delivery. On the plus side. Holmes looked sharp when he came on and Morgan and Hammond appear to be getting an understanding. Final point is that i do not understand why AP carrys on with 1 up front. It was obvious to all yesterday, including a few Carlisle who said that if we had played 2 up front in a 442 we would have had the game won by halftime. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
S-Clarke Posted 27 September, 2009 Share Posted 27 September, 2009 I'm sure there are plenty of teams in the Football League who have avoided relegation and then got promoted the next year. That's true - Watford are good example, but that only came about because they brought in Boothroyd, rather than sticking with the same structure. I'm behind pards, the players and the backroom staff 110% but i just cannot see how just staying up this year can be seen as progress/preparation for promotion next year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thedelldays Posted 27 September, 2009 Share Posted 27 September, 2009 I'm sure there are plenty of teams in the Football League who have avoided relegation and then got promoted the next year. I think most who did this changed their manager or did towards the end of the previous season.. is that what you would rather we did..? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cabrone Posted 27 September, 2009 Share Posted 27 September, 2009 TBH I'm dissapointed with this result. We should be winning games like this. Need to get moving now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dellgirl Posted 27 September, 2009 Share Posted 27 September, 2009 Alot of footballing thoughts go through the mind and a lot of "ifs"..I liked much of what JP did with the young that he was given...if..we had todays defence and Lambert up front last year ,where would we have ended up in your opinions? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saint_stevo Posted 27 September, 2009 Share Posted 27 September, 2009 Alot of footballing thoughts go through the mind and a lot of "ifs"..I liked much of what JP did with the young that he was given...if..we had todays defence and Lambert up front last year ,where would we have ended up in your opinions? In administration earlier Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cabrone Posted 27 September, 2009 Share Posted 27 September, 2009 Final point is that i do not understand why AP carrys on with 1 up front. It was obvious to all yesterday, including a few Carlisle who said that if we had played 2 up front in a 442 we would have had the game won by halftime. Exactly the same problem as Charlton - AP is not being brave enough. Is he learning anything? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kingsland Codger Posted 27 September, 2009 Share Posted 27 September, 2009 Given our problems of the summer and the minus 10 points, I guess we all ought to be happy with finishing around 10 points off the play-off positions. Looking back a few seasons, finishing about 10 points off the play-offs means coming around 10th place. We have a long hard haul ahead but I am pleased with the team AP has built and am sure we will finish somewhere around 10th come May. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clifford Nelson Posted 27 September, 2009 Share Posted 27 September, 2009 The current predicament is not due to AP, but to what he found when he arrived here, very late in the pre-season, with a caretaker manager who went out in the Echo declaring that we were well prepared and ready to start the season. From last years side we are now left with KD, James, Lallana and Schneiderlin. For three of those players there are still question marks. In spite of all the new players we're still not got natural wide players, nor do we have pace, and apart from Holmes on the left wing for natural width, the other things don't exist in the club. Every player need Character, Pace and Technique. Pace has been neglected for years and has ceased to exist in the club. Character was almost killed off with all the excuses and the non-competitive ethic of the coaching staff. AP spotted this immediately, just like Redknapp spotted the lack of pace a long time ago. AP is getting some of the character back. Pace, however, can only be coached in very limited fashion. Either you're quick or you're not, and the older you get the slower you get. It must be bought together with crossing skills. The only question I've got over AP's judgement is holding on to Lallana and James at any price and therefore ending up shunting them from left to right and wide to central rather than just subbing them. With a fit Thomas or Murty at RB there just isn't room for any wide players if AL and LJ are still to play every game. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alpine_saint Posted 27 September, 2009 Share Posted 27 September, 2009 The current predicament is not due to AP, but to what he found when he arrived here, very late in the pre-season, with a caretaker manager who went out in the Echo declaring that we were well prepared and ready to start the season. From last years side we are now left with KD, James, Lallana and Schneiderlin. For three of those players there are still question marks. In spite of all the new players we're still not got natural wide players, nor do we have pace, and apart from Holmes on the left wing for natural width, the other things don't exist in the club. Every player need Character, Pace and Technique. Pace has been neglected for years and has ceased to exist in the club. Character was almost killed off with all the excuses and the non-competitive ethic of the coaching staff. AP spotted this immediately, just like Redknapp spotted the lack of pace a long time ago. AP is getting some of the character back. Pace, however, can only be coached in very limited fashion. Either you're quick or you're not, and the older you get the slower you get. It must be bought together with crossing skills. The only question I've got over AP's judgement is holding on to Lallana and James at any price and therefore ending up shunting them from left to right and wide to central rather than just subbing them. With a fit Thomas or Murty at RB there just isn't room for any wide players if AL and LJ are still to play every game. You are not allowed to say these things on here, you know !!! I said during the summer that the only way to completely clear out the culture of under-achievement and failure that has blighted this club in recent years was a complete clean-sweep of playing and non-playing staff. The latter has happened, the former is not complete. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NickG Posted 27 September, 2009 Share Posted 27 September, 2009 would you have preferred Kelvin to go to WHU and us to recruit a proper league 1 keeper? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alpine_saint Posted 27 September, 2009 Share Posted 27 September, 2009 would you have preferred Kelvin to go to WHU and us to recruit a proper league 1 keeper? No, of course not. But then he wasnt really guilty of the defeatism last season, was he ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan56 Posted 27 September, 2009 Share Posted 27 September, 2009 My prediction that we will be unbeaten until Xmas holds firm... My prediction that we will still be 10 points adrift of safety at Xmas still stands. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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