I’m encouraged

[PR3BFC]

By the first half yesterday, that was the best I’ve seen us play in a long time, 4-3-3 and the personal selected worked for me and that goal last kick of the game obviously wounded us and they were always going to come back into it second half.

Let’s not forget Luton are 3rd and we more than matched them first half and you could put up a stronger argument we were the better side in the first half (we definitely weren’t the second though!).

However, this was on the back of Dobbie having ONE day preparation with the lads and it looked a lot better too me, if only we had done this sooner we might have had half a chance.

Yes we are more than likely still going down (would agree the Wigan game before World Cup was the nail in the coffin) but win our next two home games and who knows, football is a strange game.

Obviously the amount of errors we make leading to goals needs to stop but stick with the formation we played yesterday with Jerry up top and you’d hope he will slot a few chances away.

For the record I’ve been saying we are down for ages so I’m not deluded but I really did think we looked good in the first half against an in form Luton.

 

[Mark_GT]

By the first half yesterday, that was the best I’ve seen us play in a long time, 4-3-3 and the personal selected worked for me and that goal last kick of the game obviously wounded us and they were always going to come back into it second half.

Let’s not forget Luton are 3rd and we more than matched them first half and you could put up a stronger argument we were the better side in the first half (we definitely weren’t the second though!).

However, this was on the back of Dobbie having ONE day preparation with the lads and it looked a lot better too me, if only we had done this sooner we might have had half a chance.

Yes we are more than likely still going down (would agree the Wigan game before World Cup was the nail in the coffin) but win our next two home games and who knows, football is a strange game.

Obviously the amount of errors we make leading to goals needs to stop but stick with the formation we played yesterday with Jerry up top and you’d hope he will slot a few chances away.

For the record I’ve been saying we are down for ages so I’m not deluded but I really did think we looked good in the first half against an in form Luton.

Me too. The reality is, no team can make progress if they make the kind of calamitous defensive mistakes of the kind we perpetrated yesterday. Our general play showed glimmers of what could be though. First task for the new coach/manager is a full defensive overhaul, from the keeper right through to the defensive midfield - with reliable (i.e. fit and capable of controlling and kicking/heading a football) replacements for each position. We had this not so long ago but we allowed ourselves to lose it.

 

[tangible]

Me too. The reality is, no team can make progress if they make the kind of calamitous defensive mistakes of the kind we perpetrated yesterday. Our general play showed glimmers of what could be though. First task for the new coach/manager is a full defensive overhaul, from the keeper right through to the defensive midfield - with reliable (i.e. fit and capable of controlling and kicking/heading a football) replacements for each position. We had this not so long ago but we allowed ourselves to lose it.

We can't claim bad luck I know, but the injuries to Marvin, Jud, Gabriel, then losing Goode so soon, plus the majority of our defensive midfield cover in Trybull, Bridcutt, Stewart (yes I know) and that adds up to one hell of a deficit in defence. Think that's what has cooked our goose this season, well, got it simmering nicely with the seasoning added.

 

[basilexile]

We can't claim bad luck I know, but the injuries to Marvin, Jud, Gabriel, then losing Goode so soon, plus the majority of our defensive midfield cover in Trybull, Bridcutt, Stewart (yes I know) and that adds up to one hell of a deficit in defence. Think that's what has cooked our goose this season, well, got it simmering nicely with the seasoning added.

Which makes even less sense in not using our more attacking players. If you know you are going to give away1/2 per game you have to be equipped to score 2/3.

 

[1966_and_all_that]

We can't claim bad luck I know, but the injuries to Marvin, Jud, Gabriel, then losing Goode so soon, plus the majority of our defensive midfield cover in Trybull, Bridcutt, Stewart (yes I know) and that adds up to one hell of a deficit in defence. Think that's what has cooked our goose this season, well, got it simmering nicely with the seasoning added.

And those injuries weren't bad luck. They were a lack of squad planning and buying on the cheap.

 

[PR3BFC]

Which makes even less sense in not using our more attacking players. If you know you are going to give away1/2 per game you have to be equipped to score 2/3.

Dobbie set up I feel like that as he knows we are weak at the back so essentially went for it attacking wise.

Why McCarthy could never see it even with losing every away game (and his last 8 games at Cardiff) god only knows.

You do have to wonder if we got Dobbie or someone more attacking minded instead of McCarthy if we’d be in a much better position as I feel we would be.

 

[BFC95]

Completely agree with your post. The way we played first half after only 1 day with the players against 3rd in the league can be seen as nothing but impressive. Unfortunately second half their quality told and individual errors as you say cost us again.

I'm looking at these last 5 games as a bit of an audition for Dobbie. I know some have already wrote him off and said we can't go with inexperience etc.. but I don't see why he can't turn out like his former team mates Ian Evatt and Rob Edwards. They all played under the same manager, and it's obvious all are from the school of "attack attack attack". So I'm really not against him getting the job FT next season, regardless of what division were in. Everyone has to start somewhere, it's just a case of taking a chance.

 

[Critchknows]

You could see straight away there was a plan and a set formation. Bowler was kept higher which makes sense and it looked like they kind of knew what they were doing. Luton are a good team and on top of it all we have no striker, Rogers is okay ish but he's not a striker clearly and then you get the double whammy of missing him on the left too.
Do I think we'd have stayed up without Mick and straight to Dobbie..... Yes actually I do and if he does well in the next 5 then why should he not be given the gig full time. If its true that we are looking at Richardson and Adam then frankly I think I'd prefer him

 

[FY5_Seasider]

Overlapping full backs was the first thing I noticed. How nice it was to see too. We overloaded them down the sides a few times only for the end product to be lacking.

 

[tangerine_neil]

You do have to wonder if we got Dobbie or someone more attacking minded instead of McCarthy if we’d be in a much better position as I feel we would be.

Apparently the Board know best.
What they thought would happen under the prehistoric guidance of Mad Mick, I’ll never know.
Worryingly awful foresight from the people who are supposed to be to be good at it.

 

[Bloomers123Be bop deluxe]

You could see straight away there was a plan and a set formation. Bowler was kept higher which makes sense and it looked like they kind of knew what they were doing. Luton are a good team and on top of it all we have no striker, Rogers is okay ish but he's not a striker clearly and then you get the double whammy of missing him on the left too.
Do I think we'd have stayed up without Mick and straight to Dobbie..... Yes actually I do and if he does well in the next 5 then why should he not be given the gig full time. If its true that we are looking at Richardson and Adam then frankly I think I'd prefer him

Agree with the post. Noticeable lack of positive responses that suggest a lot of people are of the doom munger persuasion . We really do need to be more positive and move forward.

 

[Mark_GT]

Dobbie set up I feel like that as he knows we are weak at the back so essentially went for it attacking wise.

Why McCarthy could never see it even with losing every away game (and his last 8 games at Cardiff) god only knows.

You do have to wonder if we got Dobbie or someone more attacking minded instead of McCarthy if we’d be in a much better position as I feel we would be.

There is absolutely no doubt. The decision to go defensive minded and not use our best players cost us our best chance of escape. All those games we drew - think a bout Rotherham for instance - we only had to nick a couple of them and we'd be in with much more of a chance than the negligable one we now have.

 

[Wizaard]

You could see straight away there was a plan and a set formation. Bowler was kept higher which makes sense and it looked like they kind of knew what they were doing. Luton are a good team and on top of it all we have no striker, Rogers is okay ish but he's not a striker clearly and then you get the double whammy of missing him on the left too.
Do I think we'd have stayed up without Mick and straight to Dobbie..... Yes actually I do and if he does well in the next 5 then why should he not be given the gig full time. If its true that we are looking at Richardson and Adam then frankly I think I'd prefer him

Agreed. Chalk and cheese from Friday.

Not so sure we can make a decision on his longer term management capabilities, but it was a good start let down by familiar avoidable failings.

 

[PR3BFC]

I must admit when Appleton went and there was a few tiny shouts for Dobbie I was well against it, however that first half on Friday has proved me wrong and I so wish we had give him the chance then and I’m glad this thread has proved it’s not just me that was encouraged and saw hope.

If the remaining 5 performances are encouraging then why not give him a shot next season, again he’s not my first choice at the moment (I do like the sound of Wellens as gaffer) but if he gives us a respectable end to the season or even does the impossible and keeps us up then you can’t ignore him.

You could tell the players looked a lot more lifted and understood their roles.

I just hope we can build on it and win these next two home games and see how the table looks then.