If Toal is available

Whichever keeper is fit

Williams Toal Santos Johnston Schon

Lolos Sheehan Matete

Charles Adeboyejo

Without Toal

Keeper

Cogley Santos Johnston Schon

Lolos Sheehan Matete Williams

Charles Adeboyejo 

I'm one of the few Evatt in people, but that would involve him redesigning the squad in close season, knowing full well that this year will not be our year. Think he's the right man, but he's recruited badly and made a mistake, a new manager would only have that excuse in place anyway. 

 

I'd love to see him give Collins and McAtee a run together uptop, Collins did well for us at the end of last season and seems to have been dropped down the pecking order. Charles just isn't working out and he's been stuck in second gear since before his injury.. As a lone striker, I just felt for him. I like victor as a player and if he's happy to do the second half cameo's then that's all great. 

But what does really kick is that Evatt was a defender, we're playing 3 at the back with wing backs and still playing like school kids, 

55 minutes ago, Leyther_Matt said:

I’m not quite in the Evatt out gang, but far enough from it to say that’s a little harsh. Particularly when you consider the post-Christmas turnaround in League Two, the late season push in year one in League One and play offs year one where we were far from a cert for top 6.

In keeping with my opening sentence I do feel duty bound that the credit from the above occasions is very much wearing thin, if not gone already. 

Harsh ? I was asking what it is that people are basing their support on ? Which I think you have then answered. 
 

The first turn round you mention was prompted by 3 signings, Lee, Dapo and MJ. I think we would need a similar transfer boost this year. With only 1 squad slot available we need to dump some deadwood and ask the board for more backing. Which then leads to the next question, what does 'backing' IE mean from a Board perspective ? Not sacking him ? Or giving him money to spend ? 
 

The first seems pointless and the second risky given last window was not a raging success. 

I think he’s a nut sack

21 minutes ago, Ani said:

Harsh ? I was asking what it is that people are basing their support on ? Which I think you have then answered. 
 

The first turn round you mention was prompted by 3 signings, Lee, Dapo and MJ. I think we would need a similar transfer boost this year. With only 1 squad slot available we need to dump some deadwood and ask the board for more backing. Which then leads to the next question, what does 'backing' IE mean from a Board perspective ? Not sacking him ? Or giving him money to spend ? 
 

The first seems pointless and the second risky given last window was not a raging success. 

Apologies, didn’t mean it come across arsey 👍

I think the change in formation helped in L2 as well, which then led to Gethin Jones moving from LWB to RWB once Kioso left which then led to us being far more balanced. Honourable mention to Tutte too who really steadied things pre-MJ.

As you say, to find equivalent boosts now would cost a few quid though and his last couple of transfer windows have been far less dazzling than those before. And why would the board fund any transfers if the axe is dangling above his head.

It does kind of feel like it’s a question of when, not if. Stockport is very much the acid test, but he won’t get that far if we lose at Walsall or maybe even one of the next two. 

IE called it Plan A 2.0 rather than Plan B because he was planning to double down on the way we've been playing. This is why his signing are near identical to the players we already have. He recruited exactly what he wanted. 

Having thought about it (too much time on my hands today), the most frustrating part of all is that the league isn't anywhere near as strong as I thought it was going to be.

Birmingham will walk it, not just because of the money they've spent but also because of how decidedly average the league is.

We're just 7pts shy of the automatic promotion places with a game in hand and seriously any of those thirteen teams there could finish 2nd or 14th depending on how they apply themselves.

There's nothing wrong with the squad we have, we just need someone to get the best out of them.

 

1 minute ago, Traf said:

Having thought about it (too much time on my hands today), the most frustrating part of all is that the league isn't anywhere near as strong as I thought it was going to be.

Birmingham will walk it, not just because of the money they've spent but also because of how decidedly average the league is.

We're just 7pts shy of the automatic promotion places with a game in hand and seriously any of those thirteen teams there could finish 2nd or 14th depending on how they apply themselves.

There's nothing wrong with the squad we have, we just need someone to get the best out of them.

 

It’s a good observation to make pal. 👍

It’s one of the reasons I’m remaining positive about the season at this juncture.

If one of these things happen then the season can still bring reward

1/ The most unlikely for me now, but I’ll take it, Evatt galvanises us, gets us though this tricky spell with some good wins and a foundation is in place to move into promotion contention. But let’s be honest this is becoming increasingly more unlikely, hopeful and fanciful 

2/ The moment we falter from the above, a change is made while there’s enough time and points on the board for a new regime to give it a go.

The worst scenario is limping along in a status-quo of inconsistency, apathy and excuses.

 

 

7 hours ago, gonzo said:

I don't want some clever cunt manager trying to re-invent the game.

The basics gets you out of this division.

 

lol you want a manager who reinvented the game with a 5/2/3 formation

These young, clever managers who are forward thinking who have mainly worked in u21 and Academy teams get you out of this Division Ipswich, Plymouth, Oxford and Birmingham got out of this division after employing this kind of manager.

Yes i know Birmingham are not up yet

Here's my burning question, did we all think we'd be in 14th place after 11 matches?

3 minutes ago, Wullie said:

Here's my burning question, did we all think we'd be in 14th place after 11 matches?

No, so we've underachieved

3 hours ago, Ani said:

As part of a genuine debate, 2 questions from to anyone favouring sticking with IE. 
 

What is there in his managerial career that makes you think he is capable or willing to change sufficiently to impact and improve our performances ? 
 

Based on anything or everything he has sad and done this season, in particular with regards to his own state of mind makes you think he is the right man to live the current feeling around the club, motivate players and to a lesser extent to believe in him, his systems and ideas ? 

I'm still, just about, Evatt in but find myself nodding in agreement with much of what the Evatt outers have to say.

In answer to your question;

He's finished each season higher than the previous one. He deserves some patience and support during the most difficult period of his tenure.

Like all of us, he's still learning.  What he's experienced with us in the past and what he's experiencing now, will make him a better manager. Shouldn't we stick with him and be the recipients?

I'm terrified who we might get as replacement and them being a latter day Coyle, Freedman etc

2 hours ago, only1swanny said:

I'm one of the few Evatt in people, but that would involve him redesigning the squad in close season, knowing full well that this year will not be our year. Think he's the right man, but he's recruited badly and made a mistake, a new manager would only have that excuse in place anyway. 

 

I'd love to see him give Collins and McAtee a run together uptop, Collins did well for us at the end of last season and seems to have been dropped down the pecking order. Charles just isn't working out and he's been stuck in second gear since before his injury.. As a lone striker, I just felt for him. I like victor as a player and if he's happy to do the second half cameo's then that's all great. 

But what does really kick is that Evatt was a defender, we're playing 3 at the back with wing backs and still playing like school kids, 

We’ve tried AC and McAtee and it didn’t work any better as both of them are support players not central strikers. The same goes really for Dion and Vic because again neither are really physical enough to hold the ball up. In fact the only one we’ve had who could fill that position was Bod and despite his injuries I 5hink we’ve missed him. Rather than some of the players Evatt’s signed I’d have rather he’d gone for a big guy up top because at this level you need it but we all know that that’s not Evatt’s way and that’s why I believe he’ll continue to fail.

Just now, Whitesince63 said:

We’ve tried AC and McAtee and it didn’t work any better as both of them are support players not central strikers. The same goes really for Dion and Vic because again neither are really physical enough to hold the ball up. In fact the only one we’ve had who could fill that position was Bod and despite his injuries I 5hink we’ve missed him. Rather than some of the players Evatt’s signed I’d have rather he’d gone for a big guy up top because at this level you need it but we all know that that’s not Evatt’s way and that’s why I believe he’ll continue to fail.

Haven't they had one game where they started together? As a pair rather than a 3

2 hours ago, Traf said:

If Toal is available

Whichever keeper is fit

Williams Toal Santos Johnston Schon

Lolos Sheehan Matete

Charles Adeboyejo

Without Toal

Keeper

Cogley Santos Johnston Schon

Lolos Sheehan Matete Williams

Charles Adeboyejo 

Remember when Campo arrived & he played at centre-back and was LITERALLY laughed at by Lawrenson, Hansen & Lineker ?

Sam moved him to in-front of the back 4 & he made that position his very own.

Could Toal, or Johnston do that ?

3 minutes ago, only1swanny said:

Haven't they had one game where they started together? As a pair rather than a 3

Yes but have regularly been brought on together as a pair but for me they’re just too similar to be a pairing. A good strong target man and a solid midfielder for me would transform this side but many have been calling for that for some time but it obviously isn't the way IE sees it.

8 minutes ago, Traf said:

No, so we've underachieved

Which is the correct answer for me, and at this moment in time, i have zero confidence he will get us promoted. The playoff final defeat has hit him, the team, the owners and us fans more then we believed, and my opinion is he is still living with that fear, shown in the formations both in midfield and upfront.  Does he still not know what his best strikeforce is out of Dion, Vic and collins, disconcerting as they are hardly new players bought this season

25 minutes ago, Dr. Feelgood said:

Remember when Campo arrived & he played at centre-back and was LITERALLY laughed at by Lawrenson, Hansen & Lineker ?

Sam moved him to in-front of the back 4 & he made that position his very own.

Could Toal, or Johnston do that ?

Johnston would be more capable than Toal, I think, but then Toal has to play LCB where he struggles.

1 hour ago, Dr. Feelgood said:

Remember when Campo arrived & he played at centre-back and was LITERALLY laughed at by Lawrenson, Hansen & Lineker ?

Sam moved him to in-front of the back 4 & he made that position his very own.

Could Toal, or Johnston do that ?

No.

I always thought our central defenders  were our most valued players suitable to play in a higher league. But they have gone backwards, it’s as though they don’t know their own role. Do I pick up a runner, man to man or zonal.  Is it because there is no midfield defender/ enforcer? Is there no organiser apparent. Are they not being coached on the right way to defend. It’s baffling.

What was a strength is now a real weakness.

If we lose badly against Peterborough, think we should get rid of Evatt, he's had plenty of time and he's had money to spend, he's not as good as he thinks he is either, apart from Brum, there's nothing in between the rest of the teams, judegement day for me.

4 hours ago, Traf said:

Having thought about it (too much time on my hands today), the most frustrating part of all is that the league isn't anywhere near as strong as I thought it was going to be.

Birmingham will walk it, not just because of the money they've spent but also because of how decidedly average the league is.

We're just 7pts shy of the automatic promotion places with a game in hand and seriously any of those thirteen teams there could finish 2nd or 14th depending on how they apply themselves.

There's nothing wrong with the squad we have, we just need someone to get the best out of them.

 

I said this earlier we are not far behind BUT if we draw or lose 2 or 3 games before Christmas we will be mid table it's okay if 2 or 3 clubs are in front of you but not 10 or 11 they can't all lose they play each other you can easily be 9 or 10 points behind by then 

1 hour ago, nantwichwhite said:

I always thought our central defenders  were our most valued players suitable to play in a higher league. But they have gone backwards, it’s as though they don’t know their own role. Do I pick up a runner, man to man or zonal.  Is it because there is no midfield defender/ enforcer? Is there no organiser apparent. Are they not being coached on the right way to defend. It’s baffling.

What was a strength is now a real weakness.

I think both santos and toal have peaked, that or Jones was an unsung hero. 

Toal doesn't seem to be developing as a player, which is a shame. 

1 hour ago, nantwichwhite said:

 Is it because there is no midfield defender/ enforcer? Is there no organiser apparent. Are they not being coached on the right way to defend. It’s baffling

It's a bit of all those things, a cocktail of all those issues, though I'd add to it Evatt's fixation with wing backs that can't defend. He's had at least four goes at LWB, none have shown any real defensive capabilities. 

5 hours ago, Zog1 said:

IE called it Plan A 2.0 rather than Plan B because he was planning to double down on the way we've been playing. This is why his signing are near identical to the players we already have. He recruited exactly what he wanted. 

Agreed. Which means he's learnt absolutely nothing and he remains the stubborn bastard he always has been.