2 hours ago, ianofcleveleys said:

Reflecting a few hours on from today, we have a tough run of early fixtures, aren't turning out yet the 11 I'm sure SS sees as his best and haven't the forward options off the bench he would no doubt want. 

That side today with Simons and Erhahon in tandem and Dalby up front ought to be the one SS is judged on. Taylor also to add into the defensive mix, though Conway did himself no harm at all.

This squad was a serious crock of imbalanced and weak minded shit when SS came in, he's done pretty well to manoeuvre as much as he has in one window (with still some scope for more), a bit of holding of the nerve might be required this month while it all gels, some get up to speed and further reinforcements arrive 

 

I'm not getting too high on the first half performance today, nor too low at the result.

However, SS absolutely should and will be judged by the results of the team as they are. Not many (or any) managers get to wait until their nominated first XI are all fit. 

20 games. 24 points. It needs to get better from here and quickly, regardless of who is out on the pitch.

3 minutes ago, Tombwfc said:

 

I'm not getting too high on the first half performance today, nor too low at the result.

However, SS absolutely should and will be judged by the results of the team as they are. Not many (or any) managers get to wait until their nominated first XI are all fit. 

20 games. 24 points. It needs to get better from here and quickly, regardless of who is out on the pitch.

SS will be judged on this season. Today was ok, very good in bits and poor in bits. 
 

Watching bits back now after having a terrible view in ground, Burstow was very unlucky with 2 calls by the ref. The most obvious was the non penalty, which if given is also a red, 

Then the non foul on Norwood where he could then put CMG in. 
 

There is lot more to be optimistic about today than there were negatives. 
 

 

View from Dublin in the pub.

Great first 35. We needed to score when on top.

Bit of a durge after that, because Stockport were happy with what they had. In fact they couldn’t quite believe what they had.

Not surprisingly, I’m not going to jump in and be critical, but I’m not happy clapping saying everything’s going to be ok. 

I don’t think today on its own tells us a great deal. We need a few games to start making or validating some of the forthright opinions that have been expressed today.

2 hours ago, desperado said:

View from Dublin in the pub.

Great first 35. We needed to score when on top.

Bit of a durge after that, because Stockport were happy with what they had. In fact they couldn’t quite believe what they had.

Not surprisingly, I’m not going to jump in and be critical, but I’m not happy clapping saying everything’s going to be ok. 

I don’t think today on its own tells us a great deal. We need a few games to start making or validating some of the forthright opinions that have been expressed today.

Spot on. Always the case but you know what the excitables are like.

Watched it live down here and was pleased with our performance right up to conceding. Had said to the missus that the missed chances and unfair decision on the penalty might come back to haunt us. Dacres Cogley hits the target and the penalty is correctly given and the same ones ready to end it all would be telling us that we will be champions and daylight will be second.

No. Let's walk down the hill and fuck all of them.

As before, it won't define our season, but it is clear that we need a decent striker for a start.

Some strange substitutions too, which has happened before.

8 hours ago, Ani said:

SS will be judged on this season. Today was ok, very good in bits and poor in bits. 
 

Watching bits back now after having a terrible view in ground, Burstow was very unlucky with 2 calls by the ref. The most obvious was the non penalty, which if given is also a red, 

Then the non foul on Norwood where he could then put CMG in. 
 

There is lot more to be optimistic about today than there were negatives. 
 

 

Definitely

What I will say is though

I doubt there will be a lower point in the season than walking out when the second went in and having to walk the length of a stand through their fans with "Bolton get battered" ringing in my ears

 

 

Nothing said about Dalby and when will he return..........That is all that is missing from this squad

Toal and Firino will have competition When Taylor returns.........Conway will take some shifting

Midfield we have some quality for this lge yet i do not see a stand out 10....4/3/3 suits this team over the present system but each is way better than anything starting with a 5.

We seemed to have gone direct and bypassing the midfield which i found strange

As was mentioned elsewhere Wooton starts for us we win....Hard to disagree

All in all more good times than bad will be had this season

Onwards and upwards

42 minutes ago, Zico said:

Definitely

What I will say is though

I doubt there will be a lower point in the season than walking out when the second went in and having to walk the length of a stand through their fans with "Bolton get battered" ringing in my ears

 

 

I’ll trump that with the same scenario in there end last year…. but after the fifth went in 😂.

If we are looking for a positive comparison in defeat, yesterday was a  1000 times better than the debacle last year.

I’m hoping an early defeat will provide some valuable learning lessons for SS. Better to learn from those experiences earlier than later. 

9 minutes ago, desperado said:

I’ll trump that with the same scenario in there end last year…. but after the fifth went in 😂.

I walked out their end after the 4th

1 hour ago, Zico said:

Definitely

What I will say is though

I doubt there will be a lower point in the season than walking out when the second went in and having to walk the length of a stand through their fans with "Bolton get battered" ringing in my ears

 

 

we've got wigan soon

1 hour ago, Zico said:

Definitely

What I will say is though

I doubt there will be a lower point in the season than walking out when the second went in and having to walk the length of a stand through their fans with "Bolton get battered" ringing in my ears

 

 

luckily you had a sacrificial lamb if it kicked off 

Genuine question this and not having a dig but why didn’t SS just replace Conway with Johnson yesterday rather than disrupting the whole defence, moving Cogs to the left and using tutu at RB who will never make a full back in his life and in fact why remove Conway at all? As far as I’m aware he played and finished every game for Donny last year so why take him off when he was arguably our best player?

Ah that explains it then.

He's perhaps still a bit knackered having played for 2 sides in league 2 at the same time! 😁

6 minutes ago, Whitesince63 said:

Genuine question this and not having a dig but why didn’t SS just replace Conway with Johnson yesterday rather than disrupting the whole defence, moving Cogs to the left and using tutu at RB who will never make a full back in his life and in fact why remove Conway at all? As far as I’m aware he played and finished every game for Donny last year so why take him off when he was arguably our best player?

Totally agree on that. Said before Tutu shouldn't even be allowed in our own half never mind right back in a 4. Very strange.

16 minutes ago, Whitesince63 said:

Genuine question this and not having a dig but why didn’t SS just replace Conway with Johnson yesterday rather than disrupting the whole defence, moving Cogs to the left and using tutu at RB who will never make a full back in his life and in fact why remove Conway at all? As far as I’m aware he played and finished every game for Donny last year so why take him off when he was arguably our best player?

TSL played for Doncaster Conway for Crewe.......Conway was cramping up

Dont think Johnson has the pace for the leftback position in all honesty

1 hour ago, masi 51 said:

Midfield we have some quality for this lge yet i do not see a stand out 10....4/3/3 suits this team over the present system but each is way better than anything starting with a 5.

I think I'd like to see Randall given a run of games in the 10 role, to give him a real, sustained opportunity to show if he can cut it. With the right sorts behind him (Simons and Erhahon) and up front, he ought to be able to make an impact

Games in this league are won or lost in the physical scrap in midfield, those two both need playing together, to protect the defence and give the forwards the platform to do what they do.

We've a bit to do yet to be as physical a unit over 90 minutes as SS gave the impression he wanted. The subs yesterday sent us backwards into being lightweight again and Erhahon was on too late. 

 

54 minutes ago, L/H White said:

we've got wigan soon

yeah but I certainly won't be in their end sat amongst them

23 minutes ago, masi 51 said:

TSL played for Doncaster Conway for Crewe.......Conway was cramping up

Dont think Johnson has the pace for the leftback position in all honesty

My apologies of course it was Crewe, old age strikes again but the same question applies? 😁

10 minutes ago, Whitesince63 said:

My apologies of course it was Crewe, old age strikes again but the same question applies? 😁

He pulled up with a niggle makes sense to change him. With Taylor also injured wouldn't want to play him longer and risk a real injury. Leaving us with both left backs out injured.

The biggest issue yesterday yet again was our inability to put the ball in the back of the net. Who played full back for the final few minutes was neither here nor there.

12 minutes ago, Whitesince63 said:

My apologies of course it was Crewe, old age strikes again but the same question applies? 😁

We were 1-0 down. We wanted to find a way to score a goal. Bring on an attack minded wide player, while trying to remain solid at the back.

Made sense to me

10 minutes ago, frank_spencer said:

He pulled up with a niggle makes sense to change him. With Taylor also injured wouldn't want to play him longer and risk a real injury. Leaving us with both left backs out injured.

The biggest issue yesterday yet again was our inability to put the ball in the back of the net. Who played full back for the final few minutes was neither here nor there.

Exactly. Plus the usual shit refereeing.

No need to over analyse chaps, they were solid, rode their luck and took their chances. 

It was encouraging and once everyone’s up to speed, I think we’ll see a different side altogether. I’ve no doubt we’ll be up there in the mix. New system, fresh faces. Once gelled, we’ll cause mayhem.

They can have the points for now, we’ll have the last laugh though come next may. 

 

2 hours ago, Zico said:

Definitely

What I will say is though

I doubt there will be a lower point in the season than walking out when the second went in and having to walk the length of a stand through their fans with "Bolton get battered" ringing in my ears

 

 

Sadly I think there will be lower points, there always are.

Atmosphere yesterday was as flat as I ever known at a game. 

20 hours ago, Wanderlust said:

I do like Sheehan - preferably in a League 2 possession based team when he’s given loads of time on the ball. His style is tidy and easy on the eye. It’s just that he’s not cut out for the quicker more robust game SS is aiming for.

And when he’s brought on and immediately starts by miscontrolling a pass, floating a corner into the goalie’s hands, giving away unnecessary fouls and then running around in circles a lot it doesn’t help his cause.

 

you clearly don't 😁

we all see things differently, but for me we didn't start to gain any control in the second half until Sheehan came on and started getting on the ball. Did what he does best - always available, finds pockets, draws players in and feeds it out to someone who - because of that - has space to move forwards.

For someone who knows and analyses the game as you clearly do, I find your dislike of him weird.

Granted, his corners were shite mind.

12 hours ago, Tombwfc said:

 

I'm not getting too high on the first half performance today, nor too low at the result.

However, SS absolutely should and will be judged by the results of the team as they are. Not many (or any) managers get to wait until their nominated first XI are all fit. 

20 games. 24 points. It needs to get better from here and quickly, regardless of who is out on the pitch.

It is very early and this was a tough opening game, but I have to agree SS has to start getting results given his poor results since he came in.

The general narrative and his interviews are telling exactly the same story as Evatt’s tenure….”created the chances but didn’t convert them” “when we get this player or that player back” “individual mistakes” “bad refereeing/decisions” “fine margins” etc etc etc - we’ve heard it all before and it’s time for it to stop.

All these things are part of the game for sure but top teams are good enough to score enough and concede so few that they become irrelevant for the most part, and we are still some distance from that.

I feel that if SS doesn’t start consistently delivering wins by hook or by crook in the next month or two he will be under enormous pressure.

This was just one game so nobody’s getting carried away, but it must be in the back of Schueys mind and the next couple of months will be a real test of character for him.