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Post by tangerinedream on Dec 29, 2023 11:15:54 GMT
Tonight we face Grimsby Town at Moor Lane, the first game following the sacking of Neil Wood in midweek, that being the sixth manager who has been relieved of his duties since the Class of '92 takeover in 2014, and to be honest probably the one that most supporters were craving for given the well stated reasons elsewhere on this forum. In charge temporarily at least will be assistant coach Simon Wiles whose own career was cut short by injury and who actually turned out four times for Salford City in season 2014/15 (our first under new ownership) and who figured in that seasons impressive opening day 4-1 defeat of Scarborough Athletic before eventually departing the club in November. His only previous job in charge has been at Fleetwood Town where he was the interim manager for six games in 2021.
Grimsby Town arrive at Moor Lane one point ahead of us having played one game more having won just two games from their last twelve league outings with four draws and six defeats. By comparison we've won one from our last eleven having lost six games and presently lie bottom of the form table from the last six. We've only managed two home league victories so far this season so hopefully a fresh injection of new ideas and a renewed enthusiasm will carry us over the line. I just wonder if we might see one or two 'injured' players returning to the fold tonight after seemingly extended and unexplained absences! Either way it's going to be interesting and despite the result against Tranmere on Monday the departure of Neil Wood should see a few more returning home fans present who wouldn't have been there otherwise!
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Post by Chris P. Bacon on Dec 29, 2023 13:19:51 GMT
This is probably the first time the vast majority of fans have agreed on a sacking.
Watson wasn’t even on the bench at the weekend. I wonder if that was a ‘personal’ issue or he has a knock? But just look at Smith’s story. It was clear (and the documentary confirms) that Wood didn’t want to play him. That’s very short-sighted for the coach of a team that can’t score and he was in for a game, then dropped because he didn’t score, then reinstated two games later because no other player could score! Smith was actually doing a real life version of the Okey-Cokey.
The owners make it clear in the documentary that they won’t be held to ransom and clubs want silly money for strikers. But here at Salford, we know why. A striker who can also make his own goals is the unicorn. It’s a sellers market. If they want that striker, they’ll have to break the bank to secure one. But we have no chance now. At the start of the season, we could say we were in the playoffs last season and you are the final piece of the jigsaw that will see us gain auto-promotion. What do we say now? We’re still in with the chance of getting into the playoffs, but we really need you to make sure we don’t go down?
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Post by tangerinedream on Dec 29, 2023 14:33:35 GMT
We need a wholesale clear out of the 'constantly injured' and the 'simply not good enough' players by the end of the season. Yes we all bemoan wholesale changes but unless we see a vast improvement both on and off the pitch then we don't have any other option. Hopefully we'll get to see a new manager installed before too long who can weed out the wheat from the chaff and the owners need to have a complete rethink of how the club is run and to sell a new and realistic vision of where the club is going in the long run.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 29, 2023 14:36:48 GMT
The owners make it clear in the documentary that they won’t be held to ransom and clubs want silly money for strikers. But here at Salford, we know why. A striker who can also make his own goals is the unicorn. It’s a sellers market. If they want that striker, they’ll have to break the bank to secure one. But we have no chance now. At the start of the season, we could say we were in the playoffs last season and you are the final piece of the jigsaw that will see us gain auto-promotion. What do we say now? We’re still in with the chance of getting into the playoffs, but we really need you to make sure we don’t go down? In the documentary the entire selling point to Barry was "You don't want to play for a midtable team. They won't be able to showcase you. You don't want to play for a team in a relegation fight. That's a miserable experience" Well now we are in a relegation fight and at best could hope to finish midtable. How will they sell any potential new recruits?
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Post by Deleted on Dec 29, 2023 14:49:52 GMT
We need a wholesale clear out of the 'constantly injured' and the 'simply not good enough' players by the end of the season. Yes we all bemoan wholesale changes but unless we see a vast improvement both on and off the pitch then we don't have any other option. Hopefully we'll get to see a new manager installed before too long who can weed out the wheat from the chaff and the owners need to have a complete rethink of how the club is run and to sell a new and realistic vision of where the club is going in the long run. The only players we have under contract for next season are: Ashley (Will he ever play again?) Tilt (I rate him but feel he does too much trying to compensate for others. I also feel as all 3 of our CBs this year are built for a back 4 and not a 3 or 5) Shephard (He can go. His entire career has been spent in the trainers room) Cairns (I've always felt he has 1 to 2 mistakes per game. He can pull out an amazing save and then drop a soft shot from 25 yards) Watson (I rate him as a 10, 8, or left midfield in a 4-3-3 but he's been completely misused this season. He's played everything from CB to LW) McAleny (Never rated him. For all of his running and shots he simply can not score and i don't feel he creates for others. At best he would be a sub for me) Garbutt (I'd like to see him as a LB in a 4 at the back. That's where he has played most of his career. He doesn't have the pace to play wingback or strength to play CB) Players that are out of contract I'd like to see back: N'Mai I'm assuming Watt and Bolton are gone. Hendry works for me as a 10 but is never a striker. Vassell only if he can regain some form from last year. In total there are less than a handful I'd want back and I'm not sure all of them would want to be here.
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Post by Chris P. Bacon on Dec 29, 2023 16:59:14 GMT
I wasn’t going to go tonight if Wood was still in charge.
I am going now, if only for the following:
1. Will we see any surprise additions to the line up? 2. Will we see any surprise omissions? 3. Will we see our defenders going forward more? 4. Will we stop messing about with the ball at the back? (That one might take longer to address)
If nothing else, it will be interesting to see how Wiles approaches the match, especially since he was kept on by the owners, which may (or may not) indicate that he isn’t tainted by Wood’s philosophy. Perhaps there was a difference of opinion that was obvious to the owners?
Given how far we’ve fallen, I wouldn’t be angry with a loss tonight if the performance was much improved.
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Post by chipbarm on Dec 29, 2023 17:19:58 GMT
I'll be honest I'm not bothering tonight. My back is playing up a bit and I can't face standing in the cold for 2 hours watching another awful display. I can't see how we'll improve greatly from the last few games so this will be my first no show of the season at ML. No doubt we'll win handsomely now I'm not going 😊
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Post by tangerinedream on Dec 29, 2023 22:19:10 GMT
Yes we've been comprehensively beaten tonight but I neither liked and didn't join in with the chanting of 'you're not fit to wear the shirt'. What does it actually achieve other than demoralising the players even further, particularly after there was a call for collective support following Neil Wood's departure. The plain and simple fact is that we're not good enough all over the field. End of, and until we strengthen our forward options, inject some pace and mobility and get individuals in defence who actually tackle, defend and are positionally aware then we will continue to lose more games than we win. You can't turn a sows ear into a silk purse as the saying goes. Defensive naivety has again cost us with probably only Adrian Mariappa coming out with any credit at the back. The return of Luke Bolton was hardly surprising with his only real significant impact being a run and cross from the dead ball line which Matty Lund really should have put away. Ethan Ingram was dreadful, Elliott Watt anonymous and Matt Smith as usual had his shirt pulled off his back all night. I certainly don't envy the new manager's task because without major surgery to this squad I can't see us winning another game in the foreseeable future.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 29, 2023 22:37:48 GMT
0-1 I didn't expect to win anyway 0-2 The play on the field is embarassing 0-3 F#&$^&$#!!!!!!!
The most demoralizing aspect for me is a distinct lack of belief that things will get better because the C92 will not release recruitment to someone that knows the process. We could change managers 100 times but the quality of the players is lacking. No one could win with this bunch. I also worry that we're looking at another "head coach" appointment because the C92 simply will not admit to themselves they don't know what they are doing.
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Post by tangerinedream on Dec 29, 2023 22:38:59 GMT
Attendance 2921 with 910 away fans tonight.
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Post by Chris P. Bacon on Dec 29, 2023 22:40:42 GMT
That was utter dogsh*t. I made the sow’s ear/silk purse analogy myself. We’ve conceded 8 goals in two games against teams that on paper, were as bad as we are. I feel for Wiles. He tried to change things, but our players aren’t good enough. I’m not sure most of them would get in a National League side. The most striking thing is how slow we are. Too slow to attack quickly and too slow to pick up the second ball. The scary thing was, the bulk of the team looked like they were genuinely trying.
The end of this season should see the biggest overhaul of the squad for some time. It’s really hard to justify keeping most of this bunch. Our Head of Recruitment and Head of Football should be hanging their heads in shame. Of they do read this, for god’s sake, make your mind up. Are you owners or team managers? If you’re the latter, then one of you take the job on. If you’re the former, remove yourself completely from meddling in squad matters and bring in a progressive manager to build his own squad. You may have been decent players…..some of you very good players, but you’re bog-useless at spotting talent and running a squad of players.
If we stay up this season, it will be because others have failed to rally, not because we have. This team isn’t good enough in ALL areas!
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Post by meatpie1 on Dec 29, 2023 22:45:09 GMT
our club got rid of a good recruitment team and scouts a few years ago,we have never been the same.
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Post by tangerinedream on Dec 29, 2023 22:53:06 GMT
That was utter dogsh*t. I made the sow’s ear/silk purse analogy myself. We’ve conceded 8 goals in two games against teams that on paper, were as bad as we are. I feel for Wiles. He tried to change things, but our players aren’t good enough. I’m not sure most of them would get in a National League side. The most striking thing is how slow we are. Too slow to attack quickly and too slow to pick up the second ball. The scary thing was, the bulk of the team looked like they were genuinely trying. The end of this season should see the biggest overhaul of the squad for some time. It’s really hard to justify keeping most of this bunch. Our Head of Recruitment and Head of Football should be hanging their heads in shame. Of they do read this, for god’s sake, make your mind up. Are you owners or team managers? If you’re the latter, then one of you take the job on. If you’re the former, remove yourself completely from meddling in squad matters and bring in a progressive manager to build his own squad. You may have been decent players…..some of you very good players, but you’re bog-useless at spotting talent and running a squad of players. If we stay up this season, it will be because others have failed to rally, not because we have. This team isn’t good enough in ALL areas! Absolutely spot on Chris. There is a malaise at Moor Lane that extends off the field of play right to the very top and behind the scenes. Egos need to be put aside and the good of the club has to come first. if we want to get out of our present downward spiral then we need to have the right and experienced individuals in place. We are being found out and it's not likely to end in a pretty way if things carry on as they are.
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Post by chipbarm on Dec 29, 2023 22:56:55 GMT
The only saving grace from tonight is the teams below us lost too. As it is I had a nice evening at home with a glass of wine watching Paul and Bob Go Fishing which from the sounds of it is million times better than what I missed. Our players aren't good enough and it was far too much to expect what is pretty much the "supply teacher" to get them to perform any better than they have been. We need at least 6 players in January or we are doomed. On current form we are the worst team in the league and it shows. Both Tranmere and Grimsby hadn't won away this season till they played us by the way.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 29, 2023 22:57:09 GMT
Late goals again from teams at the bottom saved us from dropping even closer to relegation.
I've been thinking a lot about how much more successful we were when Jonno & Bern were allowed control over who to recruit/release vs once the owners became involved in those decisions. I understand the finances are much more substantial now but that only emphasizes why we need a qualified recruitment team.
Sport is filled with examples of former great players being horrible as board members/coaches/etc
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