23 minutes ago, Big E said:

He got marked out of the game and only did bits. He is a good player but folk getting far too giddy with him. We can’t end up like an under 8’s team where we just give it to him. A few times yesterday his decision to shoot was poor. If it was other players people would lose their shit. 
 

mcattee may be poor but Dalby is doing nothing for me. Saying that having a striker who apparently scores headers will look shit when we have Jonny step over who doesn’t put a cross in 

Don't disagree, yesterday was more a lot of average performances 5/6s rather than 7/8s to get us the win.

I think this season may have been a lot different if Dalby had been our main striker, and not in a good way.

Also seems greedy having the leagues top scorer, but of all the positions, another No.9 striker is needed IMO. Unless he's planning on that being Vic 😵‍💫

Edited November 23, 2025Nov 23 by JimmyRiddle

2 hours ago, Wanderlust said:

Sheehan is like a new player this last month or so, much improved having added proper tackling and higher workrate to the technical ability he’s always had. 
Simons also works, tackles and has technical ability.

Morley is in the same vein but seems marginally less consistent and has the occasional dangerous misplaced pass in him which can put us in trouble.

Dempsey has pace, power, tackling, a goal threat and leaps like a salmon and is easily our best 10 IMO and with 2 quality CBs the spine of the team is solid enough but we’ve just not got the ruthlessness in front of goal we all want.

If you look at the wingers/wingbacks and central strikers individually there’s an argument to say they all have merits, especially ACD who gets praise heaped on him for his runs and goals but the issue for me is how they play collectively and the general bluntness around the box - summed up yesterday by Toal striding through and being forced into a long range pop due to lack of options.

I feel really positive about the way we have improved defensively and cut down giving away daft goals - and also positive about the general workrate of the whole team - but if we are going to be the team that goes on a long winning streak and breaks out of the pack, the structure of our attacks and the shot conversion rate have to improve considerably.

We’re great at getting the ball up near the opposition box but we just can’t fucking score enough and the quality of crosses and through balls and/or the movement of our forwards is way below par. When our wingers are dancing around with it, especially ACD, it’s as if all movement stops in the box as though they are expecting the ball to be recycled back or that the winger will cut inside and shoot themselves.

The outcome is we have loads of shots from distance or half chances under pressure. In fact, we have more attempted shots on goal than any other team in the league - by a considerable distance.

But they are weak shots, wide shots, easily blocked shots, shots from way out, late shots - just generally shit shots.

And as a result our conversion rate is appalling - 21st in the league - and that isn’t the shot conversion rate of a team that wants to break out of the pack.

One element of the problem is that opposition defences are happy to let us faff about with it outside their box because none of our players have a cannon in their boots that would worry them, but there is undoubtedly work needed on the training ground and/or the January window to improve our potency around goal without sacrificing our recent defensive solidity.

 

 

Some decent analysis and valid points.

I would just pick up on the certainty of a new defensive solidity.  Our problems were almost entirely away from home, where we'd typically concede with virtually every serious attack by the opposition.  I don't recall a home game all season when I've thought we've looked dodgy defensively, our keeper was famously not having to make any saves.  The only significant goals we conceded were a header to Lincoln (no different to the 2 Vale had that TSL saved or the one Cardiff put wide 1st half) and the flukey deflected one v Reading that was just unlucky.  

Away from home, we await further evidence.  We've got 8 opportunities to test the theory over the next couple of months, I hope you're right!

51 minutes ago, Ani said:

I was not there yesterday and did not get to watch game as the bars over here did not know who we were 😂

We drew with a team who despite a poor run of form are above is in the table and as disappointing as it to drop points at home it is always going to happen at some point.

Based off the reports I have read and heard we should have killed game off in first half. Bradford reorganised and stifled us and had a few smaller chances late on 

As much as I like SS the system we play can be nullified if teams pack midfield and limit supply upfront. If we score early like Wigan and Vale we can then pick teams off, if we do not it becomes more attritional and our quality is nullified.

Looking at our league position and the current run - 13 points in last 6 - we do not need whole sale changes and the idea of shipping 5 or 6 out in Jan is frankly stupid. The fact it is justified by signing a prolific striker shows this. There is no website when you can log on and the 30 goal a season bloke is delivered in 24 hours. 
 

It will be interesting though to see how SS adjusts when teams gone down this route and get on top in games . Was surprised Morley played yesterday as Simons and Sheehan seemed to working so hope it really is a minor knock, if anything after the internationals thought Sheehan might be rested. 

Wonder why you think shipping  five or six is stupid?  SS has already said training is hard with so many on the training ground. Fergal Harkin said when he came in that the squad needed to be smaller than last season yet it has grown.

Simply the Squad is way top heavy and will be pruned certainly next Summer  if not before.

Taylor ,Erhahon, Simons, Cissoko, Gale and Dalby are SS signings yet did not start yesterday......Top and bottom of it we are paying  north of 100k a month on players not in the first team squad.

No need for a website to get you a 30 goal goalscorer in league one   The lad Tolaj  who went from Port Vale to Plymouth and Jata from Notts County would all get 20 plus in this league.

And i would think many here would get rid of four or five of   Cogley,  Forrester,  Taylor, Morley, Sissoko, TuTu, Dalby, Randall and McAtee if it meant we could get Keillor -Dunne with the savings

Edited November 23, 2025Nov 23 by masi 51

2 hours ago, Mounts Kipper said:

We should have took Humphrey’s years ago I noticed him playing against us for Southend caused us loads of trouble,  saw he was a northern lad and a good age would have been perfect signing back then. 

It says a lot about where we were at that time (post-Southend home game) that Humphreys got a move back to the NW after Southend got relegated with us, but he was probably out of our reach.  Rochdale signed him and paid a fee, they were in L1 and we were in L2, even if we wanted him he wasn't likely to drop down to L2.

10 minutes ago, JimmyRiddle said:

Don't disagree, yesterday was more a lot of average performances 5/6s rather than 7/8s to get us the win.

I think this season may have been a lot different if Dalby had been our main striker, and not in a good way.

Also seems greedy having the leagues top scorer, but of all the positions, another No.9 striker is needed IMO. Unless he's planning on that being Vic 😵‍💫

If we played crosses in Vic would score. He’s proved that. 

agree about players not being quite at it. I wasn’t trying to blame ACD. 
 

 

17 minutes ago, masi 51 said:

Wonder why you think shipping  five or six is stupid?  SS has already said training is hard with so many on the training ground. Fergal Harkin said when he came in that the squad needed to be smaller than last season yet it has grown.

Simply the Squad is way top heavy and will be pruned certainly next Summer  if not before.

Taylor ,Erhahon, Simons, Cissoko, Gale and Dalby are SS signings yet did not start yesterday......Top and bottom of it we are paying  north of 100k a month on players not in the first team squad.

No need for a website to get you a 30 goal goalscorer in league one   The lad Tolaj  who went from Port Vale to Plymouth and Jata from Notts County would all get 20 plus in this league.

And i would think many here would get rid of four or five of   Cogley,  Forrester,  Taylor, Morley, Sissoko, TuTu, Dalby, Randall and McAtee if it meant we could get Keillor -Dunne with the savings

It is stupid because you are comparing a fully fit squad with no suspensions for what we will need over a full season.

4 of those you mention played yesterday. Many saying on here Cogley should have been on bench.  No one you sign mid season will be out of contract so before you start talking wages how much are you paying for your 20 goal striker ? You are looking at well in excess of £1m Tokal had a £1.2 m buy out Vale and has done well since so that vale must be nearer £2m. Now if you said ship McAtee and Randel it makes sense but both their values have dropped. Trimming the squad is sensible and losing more of the non trainers Evatt left behind makes sense but the idea we should ship 25% of the first team squad out to bring in 1 player is crazy. 
 

Collins,McAtee and Big Vic were all hailed as the missing link up front. None of whom worked out. We are fifth in the league and to adopt and tweak not look at a mid season clear out. 
 

 

7 minutes ago, Ani said:

It is stupid because you are comparing a fully fit squad with no suspensions for what we will need over a full season.

4 of those you mention played yesterday. Many saying on here Cogley should have been on bench.  No one you sign mid season will be out of contract so before you start talking wages how much are you paying for your 20 goal striker ? You are looking at well in excess of £1m Tokal had a £1.2 m buy out Vale and has done well since so that vale must be nearer £2m. Now if you said ship McAtee and Randel it makes sense but both their values have dropped. Trimming the squad is sensible and losing more of the non trainers Evatt left behind makes sense but the idea we should ship 25% of the first team squad out to bring in 1 player is crazy. 
 

Collins,McAtee and Big Vic were all hailed as the missing link up front. None of whom worked out. We are fifth in the league and to adopt and tweak not look at a mid season clear out. 
 

 

I think more would have been shipped out last Summer if they had got decent offers but have stayed to see the last year of their contracts. SS wont want a repeat of last year when five or six give up once Evatt was potted because they knew they were out the door in June.  You are indeed correct in saying anyone we bring in will come with a fee. We either go with what we have up-front or grit our teeth and bring one in for a fee.

Just had a look including loan players we have 13 players only contracted with us until June 26. SS wil have a good idea who he wants to keep  maybe better getting shut in January than have players moping about knowing they are off come June

14 minutes ago, masi 51 said:

I think more would have been shipped out last Summer if they had got decent offers but have stayed to see the last year of their contracts. SS wont want a repeat of last year when five or six give up once Evatt was potted because they knew they were out the door in June.  You are indeed correct in saying anyone we bring in will come with a fee. We either go with what we have up-front or grit our teeth and bring one in for a fee.

Just had a look including loan players we have 13 players only contracted with us until June 26. SS wil have a good idea who he wants to keep  maybe better getting shut in January than have players moping about knowing they are off come June

Are you forgetting the return of the hand bandage ? 

i think our midfield was all wrong yesterday, morley offered nothing, burstow was to isolated to do much, i think we are to right side attacking which is sort of understandable with acd,form.

i thought when dalby came on he won every header and held it up well but was too isolated.gets a lot of stick does dalby, but rather than have to widemen when he plays put the 2 wingers in a no 10 role so the can link up with the striker a bit better.

2 hours ago, Big E said:

If we played crosses in Vic would score. He’s proved that.

Are you sure? In 68 games for us, he’s never shown he can head a ball in an accurate and controlled manner.

Dalby has had one half decent cross from ACD and did brilliantly to put the ball into the back of the net, at Huddersfield.

Edited November 23, 2025Nov 23 by Rival Son

14 minutes ago, Rival Son said:

Are you sure? In 68 games for us, he’s never shown he can head a ball in an accurate and controlled manner.

Dalby has had one half decent cross from ACD and did brilliantly to put the ball into the back of the net, at Huddersfield.

Crosses can be on the floor.

His goals do tend to be "Johnny on the spot" types: early balls in would suit him- as they do Burstow.

1 hour ago, Ani said:

Collins,McAtee and Big Vic were all hailed as the missing link up front. None of whom worked out. We are fifth in the league and to adopt and tweak not look at a mid season clear out. 

 

Collins and McAtee may not have "worked out" but their 23 league goals last season are going to take some replacing.

19 minutes ago, Rival Son said:

Are you sure? In 68 games for us, he’s never shown he can head a ball in an accurate and controlled manner.

Dalby has had one half decent cross from ACD and did brilliantly to put the ball into the back of the net, at Huddersfield.

I’m pretty sure as when we did it under evatt he scored. I’m not saying he’s great but 3 crosses into the box was when he scored his hat trick. 
 

dalby won little yesterday and was as poor as Vic has been for us. 
 

He did well with his header at Huddersfield but we don’t play crosses into him and he’s poor elsewhere imo 

47 minutes ago, fester58 said:

i think our midfield was all wrong yesterday, morley offered nothing, burstow was to isolated to do much, i think we are to right side attacking which is sort of understandable with acd,form.

i thought when dalby came on he won every header and held it up well but was too isolated.gets a lot of stick does dalby, but rather than have to widemen when he plays put the 2 wingers in a no 10 role so the can link up with the striker a bit better.

Burstow is best with forss behind him. 

2 minutes ago, Johnnyrotten said:

Collins and McAtee may not have "worked out" but their 23 league goals last season are going to take some replacing.

Tbf  Burstow and ACD have 13 between them after 17 

2 hours ago, masi 51 said:

Wonder why you think shipping  five or six is stupid?  SS has already said training is hard with so many on the training ground. Fergal Harkin said when he came in that the squad needed to be smaller than last season yet it has grown.

Simply the Squad is way top heavy and will be pruned certainly next Summer  if not before.

Taylor ,Erhahon, Simons, Cissoko, Gale and Dalby are SS signings yet did not start yesterday......Top and bottom of it we are paying  north of 100k a month on players not in the first team squad.

No need for a website to get you a 30 goal goalscorer in league one   The lad Tolaj  who went from Port Vale to Plymouth and Jata from Notts County would all get 20 plus in this league.

And i would think many here would get rid of four or five of   Cogley,  Forrester,  Taylor, Morley, Sissoko, TuTu, Dalby, Randall and McAtee if it meant we could get Keillor -Dunne with the savings

We signed 3 of those in the summer and 2 we're still paying for. It's not Football Manager.

6 minutes ago, Big E said:

Burstow is best with forss behind him. 

Burstow is 22 with 12 career goals. 7 of those this season. I do think the burden of playing the role he does for us is a lot to ask of him. 
 

I like him and his game involves bringing others into game like the winner at Huddersfield, but the out and out striker with 3 others behind or wider is tough. 
 

32 minutes ago, Ani said:

Burstow is 22 with 12 career goals. 7 of those this season. I do think the burden of playing the role he does for us is a lot to ask of him. 
 

I like him and his game involves bringing others into game like the winner at Huddersfield, but the out and out striker with 3 others behind or wider is tough. 
 

Agree with @Big E that Forss is a much better link with Burstow. Dempsey doesn’t play anywhere near high enough when he’s in that role which leaves Burstow isolated.

Someone by us mentioned that Sheehan played behind the front man for Wales last week. No idea how true that is. 

1 minute ago, Leyther_Matt said:

Sheehan played behind the front man for Wales last week. No idea how true that is. 

I’m pretty sure he didn’t 

5 minutes ago, Leyther_Matt said:

Agree with @Big E that Forss is a much better link with Burstow. Dempsey doesn’t play anywhere near high enough when he’s in that role which leaves Burstow isolated.

Someone by us mentioned that Sheehan played behind the front man for Wales last week. No idea how true that is. 

Sheehan plays in front of the CB’s for Wales. 

Thought Morley was below par yesterday along with Tutu (always feel he has another gear but doesn’t use it) offers little linkup with Conway , Burstow struggled looked a bit isolated & although Dempsey was decent we looked a bit lob sided.Maybe Forss needs to start.Dalby is a fish out of water as we don’t fire crosses in , it’s not rocket science to fix though.

Good point in the end , most of us were worried about being mugged by either Sarc or Humphries (a player we should have signed years ago).

1 hour ago, jmjhb said:

We signed 3 of those in the summer and 2 we're still paying for. It's not Football Manager.

 

1 hour ago, jmjhb said:

We signed 3 of those in the summer and 2 we're still paying for. It's not Football Manager.

Do you suggest we have Dalby on the Bench for Four years and Taylor in the Stands for three.....Cissoko is a loan player

Think a few clubs would be in for both

Top and bottom we cannot afford a 28 man squad.

1 hour ago, Ani said:

Tbf  Burstow and ACD have 13 between them after 17 

Yes fair point, I suppose I was just looking at "strikers" but if ACD is going to continue to be one of our main sources of goals we may not need a 2nd striker to be scoring.  Only Burstow is starting regularly, whereas last season, upto January, it felt like Collins, McAtee and Charles were all starting more games than not, and so could to an extent be judged on goals and assists.  Its a bit unfair to apply that to Dalby and Forss with their limited minutes, which makes us rely heavily on Burstow and ACD to have their shooting boots on.

28 minutes ago, masi 51 said:

 

Do you suggest we have Dalby on the Bench for Four years and Taylor in the Stands for three.....Cissoko is a loan player

Think a few clubs would be in for both

Top and bottom we cannot afford a 28 man squad.

14 of the squad are out of contract next summer anyway. 

I'd expect 2-3 to go elsewhere in Jan, whether that's on loan or permanent, but there's a natural turnover at the end of the season.

Edited November 23, 2025Nov 23 by jmjhb

4 minutes ago, masi 51 said:

 

Do you suggest we have Dalby on the Bench for Four years and Taylor in the Stands for three.....Cissoko is a loan player

Think a few clubs would be in for both

Top and bottom we cannot afford a 28 man squad.

It’s a long season and we have been relatively free from bad injuries. There’s a chance players who haven’t been involved so far become permanent fixtures by may.