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Post by dannyboy on Dec 31, 2023 16:46:32 GMT
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Post by je85 on Jan 2, 2024 16:05:21 GMT
Been playing catch up on the Grimsby pod and your stint on BBC RM. Thought the round table was a good format by the way.
In my opinion, Kieth Hill was way off in some of his comments, appreciate he is not watching as closely as ourselves week in week out, but the idea just get Gary Bowyer and play direct is a bit too simplistic by half.
Big issue in the here and now is confidence - it’s clearly shot amongst the group and they seem to have a no fire in the belly. Having watched the highlights of the TRFC, GT, Accrington games again just now I think bringing in players would create a level of relief as much as new ideas from a new ‘Head Coach’. We need some quality and enthusiasm, whether that’s loans, signings or recalling players (Bailey and Dackers) that could improve the situation. In life I am sure many have been in jobs where your picking up the slack when you’re understaffed, but when someone new comes in or someone returns your relieved to get back to your own remit. The squad looks short of 4/5 players even when fully fit, and this brings me to the other reason I think Hill’s Bowyer comment was without merit.
The current group is probably 2/3 wingers/inside forwards, a number ten, a number 6 and a centre back short of what Bowyer had when he arrived post Wellen’s (I would also add a GK because I am not having Cairns as a starter). Not sure what the Declan John’s situation is but you could add another LB to that list, which if Ross Duncan can wave his magic wand and find 6 players to improve the group and then also sell that to a potential new HC would be a minor miracle.
It’s all a bit chicken and egg on what to do next and gives more resonance to Tom King’s point about how very little appears planned. Like I mentioned in my post game post after Accrington I think we need a full staff to come in and fully exorcise the Wood regime. Whether that’s possible with Compensations etc I don’t know but of all the names mooted so far I think the ‘head coach’ set up we had previously will be a tough sell to a Mark Hughes, Cowley’s, Paul Hurst or Karl Robinson type manager. They will want control over the who comes in and tactics with no interference. In a word it’s a shambles.
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Post by chipbarm on Jan 2, 2024 16:47:34 GMT
Agree with all that JE. I would add that our squad is weaker even than when we came up from NL. A back 5 of Neal, Wiseman, Hogan, Pidge and Touray was miles better than what we have now for example. Midfield and forward options are no better and arguably worse.
One point to expand on from the Grimsby pod was about the owners insisting that NW abandon his preferred style and hump it to Smith. If that was the case, taking it to its logical conclusion what was the point in sacking Bowyer who had done ok with that system.
One other point re Smith from the podcast. I was under the impression he came on a 2.5 year contract in January 2022 which expires this summer. I don't think he's had any extension but I may be wrong.
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Post by je85 on Jan 2, 2024 17:42:41 GMT
Agree with all that JE. I would add that our squad is weaker even than when we came up from NL. A back 5 of Neal, Wiseman, Hogan, Pidge and Touray was miles better than what we have now for example. Midfield and forward options are no better and arguably worse. One point to expand on from the Grimsby pod was about the owners insisting that NW abandon his preferred style and hump it to Smith. If that was the case, taking it to its logical conclusion what was the point in sacking Bowyer who had done ok with that system. One other point re Smith from the podcast. I was under the impression he came on a 2.5 year contract in January 2022 which expires this summer. I don't think he's had any extension but I may be wrong. My opinion on Smith is he isn’t used properly and with hindsight actually showed up Wood’s lack of tactical acumen sooner than I originally thought. Evidently he is a goal scorer at this level and clearly a good influence in the dressing room when it’s going off whilst not being a shouter and articulates himself exceptionally well in interviews. When he stays high up the pitch in between the width of the goal with his back to goal he doesn’t just need to flick the ball on - he can bounce pass or hook the ball around the corner. Both traits I would associate with a possession focussed, fast transition style Wood wanted. Plus if he is higher up the pitch and has less distance to cover to get in the box where he will bag goals and occupy CBs. Why Wood didn’t look to do that in rotation with Hendry who is more dynamic and can drop deeper and win balls off midfielders I don’t know. That could’ve been Hendry starting - Smith on for 20 minutes or visa versa. |
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Post by Chris P. Bacon on Jan 2, 2024 17:58:54 GMT
Agree with all that JE. I would add that our squad is weaker even than when we came up from NL. A back 5 of Neal, Wiseman, Hogan, Pidge and Touray was miles better than what we have now for example. Midfield and forward options are no better and arguably worse. One point to expand on from the Grimsby pod was about the owners insisting that NW abandon his preferred style and hump it to Smith. If that was the case, taking it to its logical conclusion what was the point in sacking Bowyer who had done ok with that system. One other point re Smith from the podcast. I was under the impression he came on a 2.5 year contract in January 2022 which expires this summer. I don't think he's had any extension but I may be wrong. I believe Smith’s contract is up in June. |
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Post by Chris P. Bacon on Jan 2, 2024 18:01:45 GMT
Agree with all that JE. I would add that our squad is weaker even than when we came up from NL. A back 5 of Neal, Wiseman, Hogan, Pidge and Touray was miles better than what we have now for example. Midfield and forward options are no better and arguably worse. One point to expand on from the Grimsby pod was about the owners insisting that NW abandon his preferred style and hump it to Smith. If that was the case, taking it to its logical conclusion what was the point in sacking Bowyer who had done ok with that system. One other point re Smith from the podcast. I was under the impression he came on a 2.5 year contract in January 2022 which expires this summer. I don't think he's had any extension but I may be wrong. My opinion on Smith is he isn’t used properly and with hindsight actually showed up Wood’s lack of tactical acumen sooner than I originally thought. Evidently he is a goal scorer at this level and clearly a good influence in the dressing room when it’s going off whilst not being a shouter and articulates himself exceptionally well in interviews. When he stays high up the pitch in between the width of the goal with his back to goal he doesn’t just need to flick the ball on - he can bounce pass or hook the ball around the corner. Both traits I would associate with a possession focussed, fast transition style Wood wanted. Plus if he is higher up the pitch and has less distance to cover to get in the box where he will bag goals and occupy CBs. Why Wood didn’t look to do that in rotation with Hendry who is more dynamic and can drop deeper and win balls off midfielders I don’t know. That could’ve been Hendry starting - Smith on for 20 minutes or visa versa. Wood only played Smith grudgingly. He played him and if he scored, he’d pick him again. If he didn’t, he was dropped again. He also seemed to drop Bolton in tandem with Smith. So it’s no surprise he doesn’t know how to play him. |
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Post by dannyboy on Jan 2, 2024 19:20:20 GMT
Loads of interesting points in there.
The only one I can clear up quickly is Smiths contract. From what I’ve read it was eighteen months from Jan 2022. Bearing that in mind it must have been revised or re-signed in some way for him to still be at the club.
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