Burton Albion (A)

[waffer cup 07]

 I would question a couple in the starting 11 yesterday, but, pick who you want where you want from a strong squad, i do feel the players are letting the manager down, big time, away from home.

[gonzo]

We can all argue about semantics and individual players all day long but that result yesterday should as a dawn of reality to everyone involved at the club.

That for a club like us, or who we think we are, is as bad as it gets.

This isn't a flash in the visit to the bottom league result, a Scarborough type where you look back and think Jesus what the hell were we doing there.

This result is one of the worse as this wasn't some form of giant killing. We were beaten away at Burton as equals.

Bonafide division 3 also-rans loaded with division 3 players without a win away all season.

We are lightyears from the club we think we should be. 

As the years tick by the recruitment becomes harder and harder.

If we don't wake up soon, we are going to be stuck down here for a very long time. Gates or no gates.

Edited October 12, 2025 by gonzo

[bwfc4ife]

The mad thing with Burstow and Dalby is I’m not sure we sign Burstow if Dalby doesn’t get injured pre season 😳 

When SS first came, he looked to me to be a lot more pragmatic and made direct changes to influence games which was a breath of fresh air. 

This season, we’re wedded to 4-2-3-1 and back to personnel only changes. 
 
I think you pick the best system to defeat what’s in front of you, move the ball quickly and get loads of crosses, corners, throws into the box and keep the opposition under as much pressure as possible trying to remain solid at the back. League 1 defenders are donkeys and can’t hack it which leads to opportunities. 
 

It’s simple, we’re over thinking it and make life difficult for ourselves. 

[Matt Lofthouse]

Looking back on yesterdays goals, although the 3rd looked very close for offside, we are still all over the show at the back, as we were last season. The squad that he inherited was rotten to the core and weak as piss throughout. I’m looking at the centre backs mainly and until we sort that nothing will change, win one, lose one, draw one for a mid table finish.  

Always was a big ask to sort in a single transfer window, so I’m certainly not on the managers back. 

[thebells]

6 hours ago, Wanderlust said:

It’s very optimistic to think that we might be in for a repeat of those two miracle seasons but of course they are possible if unlikely. Smells of desperation.

But the meltdown on here is equally surprising given that the potential issues I pointed out months ago and got pilloried for are now being used as a stick to beat the manager and players with.

Doesn’t change the fact there is a good team in there if the manager and players can find it,

The point of my post wasn’t to suggest we’ll repeat them. It was to point out to those longing for a ‘Rioch’ type, that we were far worse off under him at this point. Nothing more. 

And no desperation on my side. Like many, I’ve watched us rise from division 4 to Europe and drop all the way back. I don’t get hung up or carried away with short term stuff.

Que sera sera! 

[gonzo]

1 minute ago, thebells said:

The point of my post wasn’t to suggest we’ll repeat them. It was to point out to those longing for a ‘Rioch’ type, that we were far worse off under him at this point. Nothing more. 

And no desperation on my side. Like many, I’ve watched us rise from division 4 to Europe and drop all the way back. I don’t get hung up or carried away with short term stuff.

Que sera sera! 

This isn't short term though. 

[L/H White]

looks like a few of you are finally waking up

[ianofcleveleys]

7 hours ago, Zog1 said:

Think we can easily get to the route of the issue with the team. 

Today is just a symbol of whats been going wrong all season. 

Lack of flexability and incomprehensible tactics. 

Why if you'd been promoted with Plymouth comprehensively, would you join a team in the same league and then use totally different tactics. 

This is not how you do 4231 or even 442. 

This is how 90% of our attacks go:  Get ball - pass to ACD - cuts inside to shoot - misses/hits first man - registers XG 

We signed two target men and we're not using them, we signed an advanced forward using him as a no 10. Forcing our wingers to play on opposite sides so they can cut in on their stronger foot meaning no crosses. Make it make sense. 

League one is easy, this is all you need. 

A few hard buggers to win and recycle the ball. No 8/10 who can run and pass, pacy wingers who'll  either pass/overlap/shoot or cross. Someone to cross to and people to pick up lose balls in the box....that's it. 

I know this BECAUSE IT'S WHAT SS DID AT PLYMOUTH!

It's what most of the promoted teams have done in the last decade. 

 

 

The anticipation when SS joined was for him bringing the blueprint from Plymouth, the team that could score goals but also defend and, if need be, shithouse their way to a result, as in that 0-0 when Evatt's side put in one of its best performances that season but couldn't score.

What we've got is a side displaying too many of Evatt's side's bad traits, just in a different set of players, and an approach to recruitment and shape that's not as advertised in SS's talk over Summer and isnt delivering results, certainly away from home.

It has a whiff of Evatt's first season about it and another window of tweaking may be necessary to set us up for a sustained challenge from Feb onwards

[JimmyRiddle]

For me, it's Evatt all over again in terms of getting a reaction after conceding, especially these last two away games.

Dodgy penalties are a part of the game, and conceding a goal shouldn't derail the process.

Yet, it clearly does, mentally weak for me, and now SS coming out with questionable post match comments which isn't going to help.

 

[Dr. Feelgood]

1 hour ago, bwfc4ife said:

The mad thing with Burstow and Dalby is I’m not sure we sign Burstow if Dalby doesn’t get injured pre season 😳 

When SS first came, he looked to me to be a lot more pragmatic and made direct changes to influence games which was a breath of fresh air. 

This season, we’re wedded to 4-2-3-1 and back to personnel only changes. 
 
I think you pick the best system to defeat what’s in front of you, move the ball quickly and get loads of crosses, corners, throws into the box and keep the opposition under as much pressure as possible trying to remain solid at the back. League 1 defenders are donkeys and can’t hack it which leads to opportunities. 
 

It’s simple, we’re over thinking it and make life difficult for ourselves. 

Except that, with our squad & potential, we should be picking players to suit ourselves. Fck the opposition, let THEM worry about US.

We weren't actually poor in the first half. Well on top throughout, missed two glaring chances and gave away a daft penalty.

Second half, when we needed to grab it ... good God almighty we were poor.

[Domcarey1]

6 minutes ago, Dr. Feelgood said:

Except that, with our squad & potential, we should be picking players to suit ourselves. Fck the opposition, let THEM worry about US.

We weren't actually poor in the first half. Well on top throughout, missed two glaring chances and gave away a daft penalty.

Second half, when we needed to grab it ... good God almighty we were poor.

Spot on with what you’re saying. That 2nd goal just drained us of any confidence. I know we had a few chances but a comeback never looked on.

On a seperate note, I ventured into burton town centre for the 1st time yesterday. It made Bolton look like Brugge…..

[Rizlar]

Gets me how we never have 2 good halves been a problem for a long time . 

[desperado]

Just listened to the last word

Fair play to Jack, Derek, Iles and the Bolton FM fella for pressing with their questions, they didn’t let SS and Johnston off the hook.

But equally neither SS or GJ shirked from trying to give answers. There wasn’t a lot to disagree with 

My own personal reflections are still on the  side of being really concerned about this defeat. It’s by far the worst one of the season and if we continue making the same mistakes and getting worse away from home then it’s fair game to question the manager and the players.

I’m hoping some of the problems/mistakes/selections are reversible and avoidable.

When the 3 changes you make - Cissoko, Morley and Dalby don’t work and the half time tactical change doesn’t either, learn and move on.

When you see weak midfield pairings being overrun, don’t select them again without offering some protection.

The trickier bit, where SS is really going to have to earn his corn, is getting his head around the inconsistencies our L1 players have and who, in our big squad, is best to either play consistently or rotate for specific games.

Hard when some players go from game to game looking different players. I’m with @Johnnyrotten, it’s perplexing how Simons looks so good at home but he’s, so far, ineffective away from home.

Then Johnston, after I would say a lot more good games than poor ones, was definitely off the boil yesterday. 

When you add in Christie, Burstow, and Conway who were all also off form it’s no surprise we got beat.

I still maintain it can get sorted - but it needs sorting sharpish

[Zico]

22 minutes ago, Rizlar said:

Gets me how we never have 2 good halves been a problem for a long time . 

Early doors SS was adept at turning a poor half around, or when we were behind, proper in game changes based on how the game was playing out 

Now it just feels like for like 

Not sure what we need to do away from home that we're doing at home 

Maybe it's a simple as just taking the chances we are presented with before they inevitably nick one

[desperado]

7 minutes ago, Zico said:

Not sure what we need to do away from home that we're doing at home 

Maybe it's a simple as just taking the chances we are presented with before they inevitably nick one

SS addressed this in his long post game presser which is on the last word. 

He agrees, as I think we all do, that getting that first goal away is massive.

And at least then we’ll have the upper hand and pass the problem back to the opposition.

But he also says it can’t just be that, we also have to find a way to keep in the game and find ways when we go behind (Barnsley, Blackpool, Orient).

But when we do we have to be resolute at the back and take our chances when they come.

Something which was badly missing yesterday. 

[Zico]

4 minutes ago, desperado said:

SS addressed this in his long post game presser which is on the last word. 

He agrees, as I think we all do, that getting that first goal away is massive.

And at least then we’ll have the upper hand and pass the problem back to the opposition.

But he also says it can’t just be that, we also have to find a way to keep in the game and find ways when we go behind (Barnsley, Blackpool, Orient).

But when we do we have to be resolute at the back and take our chances when they come.

Something which was badly missing yesterday. 

At least if he's aware of it he can work to address it

We haven't taken the lead once away from home this season

He needs to figure it out sooner rather then later he as the gap to the top six is getting bigger - 4 points and played more games is not a good look

[Rizlar]

8 minutes ago, desperado said:

SS addressed this in his long post game presser which is on the last word. 

He agrees, as I think we all do, that getting that first goal away is massive.

And at least then we’ll have the upper hand and pass the problem back to the opposition.

But he also says it can’t just be that, we also have to find a way to keep in the game and find ways when we go behind (Barnsley, Blackpool, Orient).

But when we do we have to be resolute at the back and take our chances when they come.

Something which was badly missing yesterday. 

Think he really needs to have a look at our defence and also 2 midfielders away from home he needs to make us hard to beat and I am not convinced by TSL  , a formation change is needed away from home.

[desperado]

3 minutes ago, Zico said:

At least if he's aware of it he can work to address it

We haven't taken the lead once away from home this season

He needs to figure it out sooner rather then later he as the gap to the top six is getting bigger - 4 points and played more games is not a good look

I actually thought his full post match comments were fair and honest.

I worried when I saw snippets on here about him blaming the long grass.

In context, within a whole host of other things that were wrong, he talked about the pitch being shit - but never used this as an excuse for losing.

[Johnnyrotten]

1 hour ago, Dr. Feelgood said:

Except that, with our squad & potential, we should be picking players to suit ourselves. Fck the opposition, let THEM worry about US.

We weren't actually poor in the first half. Well on top throughout, missed two glaring chances and gave away a daft penalty.

Second half, when we needed to grab it ... good God almighty we were poor.

I'll always say when I think we've played decent or been unlucky to be behind at H-T (Stockport, Blackpool).  We were awful in the first half.  At no point did we have our fairly usual level of possession-based domination, the midfield was non existent, the wingers were hardly in the game, Burstow couldn't get going, Conway was having a bad 'un, Christie not much different.  The 2 chances didn't reflect how poorly we played IMO, we were never "on top", Burton had far more controlled possession and forced Forino into loads of clearances.

[desperado]

2 minutes ago, Rizlar said:

Think he really needs to have a look at our defence and also 2 midfielders away from home he needs to make us hard to beat and I am not convinced by TSL  , a formation change is needed away from home.

Maybe.

I’m really not sure.

And for the odd poster who thinks it is simple and they have the answers I whole-heartedly disagree.

Personally I don’t think 4-4-2 with two traditional forwards like we had yesterday, where there’s little protection and link support, is the answer.

I said this at the beginning of the season when some were banging the drum for 4-4-2.

The only anomaly we’ve had to dispel this is when Forss played the number 10 against Wigan. It’s not had the same impact since.

It definitely didn’t work with him on the left yesterday.

TSL jury still out - I’m not clamouring for him to be replaced yet.

Up until yesterday I didn’t think our defence had given much away and I’d been happy with the Forino/Johnston partnership, the FBs have been ok too IMO. But 3/4 of them were poor yesterday, so yes it’s another headache which has no obvious answer. 

 

[Farnywhite]

16 minutes ago, desperado said:

context, within a whole host of other things that were wrong, he talked about the pitch being shit - but never used this as an excuse for losing.

He is though by even mentioning it you don’t mention it if you win so sounds like a excuse he said once they get in front snd have 11 men behind the ball on a bobble pitch there hard to break down . He even says you can play like that for a hour in training and  not score even the best teams in the world struggle there poor excuses 

Then in Johnston  interview he goes on about the bloody sprinklers only working at half time and a health and safety issue 😂that’s your hairy arsed centre half for you . 
 

Edited October 12, 2025 by Farnywhite

[Rizlar]

4 minutes ago, desperado said:

Maybe.

I’m really not sure.

And for the odd poster who thinks it is simple and they have the answers I whole-heartedly disagree.

Personally I don’t think 4-4-2 with two traditional forwards like we had yesterday, where there’s little protection and link support, is the answer.

I said this at the beginning of the season when some were banging the drum for 4-4-2.

The only anomaly we’ve had to dispel this is when Forss played the number 10 against Wigan. It’s not had the same impact since.

It definitely didn’t work with him on the left yesterday.

TSL jury still out - I’m not clamouring for him to be replaced yet.

Up until yesterday I didn’t think our defence had given much away and I’d been happy with the Forino/Johnston partnership, the FBs have been ok too IMO. But 3/4 of them were poor yesterday, so yes it’s another headache which has no obvious answer. 

 

This 4-2-3-1 away from home doesn’t work we are being overrun in midfield we are way to open SS is an experienced manager and if he can’t see it well he’s in the wrong job as he not learned from IEs tenure from last season how bad it was and this having to score first is an excuse .

[Mounts Kipper]

4 hours ago, waffer cup 07 said:

 I would question a couple in the starting 11 yesterday, but, pick who you want where you want from a strong squad, i do feel the players are letting the manager down, big time, away from home.

Not great from the players, but yesterday Schumacher started with wrong team and formation and then he had a chance to change it and the subs made us even more unbalanced. Dalby and Cissoko should have both been hooked at HT Forss and Tutu brought on. Revert to same formation we’ve been using most of the season. 

Edited October 12, 2025 by Mounts Kipper

[waffer cup 07]

We need to find a way to maintain a tempo. Most games we start high tempo, with lots of pocession. Problem is if we don't score in that period, that's it. We then invariably conceed and never really recover, once we go behind.

[desperado]

4 minutes ago, Farnywhite said:

He is though by even mentioning it you don’t mention it if you win so sounds like a excuse he said once they get in front snd have 11 men behind the ball on a bobble pitch there hard to break down . He even says you can play like that for a hour in training and  not score even the best teams in the world struggle there poor excuses 

Then in Johnston  interview he goes on about the bloody sprinklers only working at half time and a health and safety issue 😂that’s your hairy arsed centre half for you . 
 

He was asked a specific question about sprinklers from Iles, he gave a detailed answer. He could have been an ignorant prick and dismissed/ignored it.

Did you miss all the other stuff like, not taking chances, not playing in behind enough, not dealing with with first/second balls from goal kicks, getting caught the wrong side defending and plenty more.

You’re acting as if the manager and captain have said the reason we lost is because of long grass and sprinklers.

SS was prepared for this, he tried to come up with a way of dealing with it. It didn’t work - both him and Johnston spent a significant amount of time answering all the press questions.

Of all the things we can be critical of yesterday on the pitch. Lambasting them for how they handled the post match interviews should be low priority IMO