Still a few weeks left of the transfer window, can we even afford to let him go? results are shocking.

16 minutes ago, jmjhb said:

Pretty sure Dickinson signed neither. Cissoko was his though.

You're probably right, I forgot he came in slightly later

Beat Wigan Saturday it will all be forgotten until the next crisis !

2 hours ago, HR said:

Can't believe how quickly the wheels have fallen off.

Same here.

We were the draw kings for a while, then getting good results from moderate play. Then mid December to now it's been the fatal combination of poor play AND poor results.

I really don't want him sacked but if the results & performances are poor, the players aren't playing for him (rumour), he doesn't know his best team, or formation & his natural fall-back is the drop deep & play pitta-patta, keep-ball, badly ... then it's getting hard to defend him.

The madness on 43 minutes v Peterborough is, was & will long remain, unfathomable. ... &, for me, less forgivable than anything in previous matches.

I also wonder whether Fergal can escape blame either.

Edited January 14Jan 14 by Dr. Feelgood

I've just thought, is Schumacher the first manager we've had that has run at a transfer profit since before we were in the Prem? 

14 minutes ago, meanderson93 said:

I've just thought, is Schumacher the first manager we've had that has run at a transfer profit since before we were in the Prem? 

I've thought more and no, obviously Parkinson was the last, but that all got syphoned off so I forgot.

It seems like a very long time ago that I was happy with the fact that thanks to Sharon, Pink Floyd’s drummer and some assorted local names we continue to exist. The problem for me is the mere fact of existence is no longer enough.

Evatt got us promoted and gave us that wonderful day out at Wembley, but despite a massive win percentage, the promise of his teams was never completely fulfilled and his parting words were that he felt he would never be able to get promotion with that squad. 
Schumacher said he was chuffed with inheriting Evatt’s squad, and started off well  and his signings showed promise but there were always concerns and recently - a year into his tenure, those chickens have come home to roost.

Looking at net spending, he’s not had a lot of backing - maybe he knew that from the beginning - but with £2 million coming in from GT and Collins maybe he hasn’t spent more because we simply haven’t got it to spend? 
Maybe the simple fact is we’re broke?
Maybe Evatt did an Allardyce - back me or I’m off? 
Despite our tremendous support at this level, I can’t see FV having made tons of money that would buy us the players we need so why are folk banging on about potential new signings and slagging off our squad ?

Anyhoo, I’m still happy we exist, but it seems I want more and unless Schumacher finds a way of turning the current squad into serial winners or the Board magic up a bunch of money we are going to have to accept we are what we are. Not rich enough and a marginally above average league 1 team.

Which is better than not existing at all.

Edited January 14Jan 14 by Wanderlust

No one knows what money there is (or isnt) to invest.

FV have saved us, steadied us, and moved us forward. Maybe ax far as they can? Know one knows.

The on field echoes last season under SS short reign. Started great then went to shit.

He's got three very tough and critical games coming up. If we don't show up for these, he's done for me, 

We're turning into the new "Sunderland" of Division 3

Edited January 16Jan 16 by Ratwhite

The only issue I have with the manager at the moment (a big one) is that he doesn't seem to be able to get us out this rut. Tried different systems, different players, rotation, adjusting things tactically and he cannot seem to find an answer which is a real concern.

What has caused the change in the level of performance from the start of the season up to the end of November and December to now? Surely they've not all become bad players overnight? 

FWIW I don't think sacking SS is necessarily the right thing to do but if we lose at them lot on Saturday it's going to turn very very ugly.

21 minutes ago, Ratwhite said:

No one knows what money there is (or isnt) to invest.

We're turning into the new "Sunderland" of Division 3

Lets not pretend to be Sunderland.They have had 5 seasons in the 3rd Division in their entire history.Sharon has already had 6 in the 3rd Division and one in the 4th Division.

10 hours ago, London Wanderer said:

It’s a blessing we’re out of this cup. 
 

Christ we’re a team low on confidence though. I’d give SS three games from here to turn it around. Critical point of the season. 

Why's it a blessing? 

It's an extra handful of games where we've been able to fully use the squad 

Saturday is really worrying as we know they will be up for it and we are brittle.

 

BUT also a massive opportunity to turn up and do a job on them and move from here. Only needs one performance and things will start to look brighter. (Hopefully) 

We all want the team out of this division but unfortunately it's not going to happen soon with the way we are playing I think we need to get used to being around top 8 in this division for a few more seasons  and watch teams like Lincoln surpass us and get frustrated. if we can start playing with a bit more pace and forward movement instead of side to side we will get goals. in this league it's about motivating lower league players and keeping it simple

Halfway through the season and he isnt close to knowing his best starting 11 is not a great look.

 

Edited January 14Jan 14 by deeane Koontz

9 minutes ago, deeane Koontz said:

Halfway through the season and he isnt close to knowing his best starting 11 is not a great look.

 

We have got into this atrocious run because of the idiots massive changes every game; Evatt had run his course but was miles better than this clown

He’s stubborn like Evatt with his blind belief in inverted wingers which surely he can see isn’t working but refuses to change. I still maintain we have an excellent squad but SS just isn’t making the best of it. If he continues to ignore the obvious and plough on regardless then he will have to go. I personally wouldn’t give him a penny for this window, just use what we’ve got, pick a team and stick to it and ffs at least try wingers on their natural side.

27 minutes ago, Whitesince63 said:

He’s stubborn like Evatt with his blind belief in inverted wingers which surely he can see isn’t working but refuses to change. I still maintain we have an excellent squad but SS just isn’t making the best of it. If he continues to ignore the obvious and plough on regardless then he will have to go. I personally wouldn’t give him a penny for this window, just use what we’ve got, pick a team and stick to it and ffs at least try wingers on their natural side.

No we definitely need to send back Forss, Cissoko and Burstow and bring in another striker. I would keep Cogley for right back and use Tutu for back up winger or full back from the bench

16 hours ago, ianofcleveleys said:

Another case of a DoF sitting in the shadows making a monumental fuck up then shutting his office door. We've had three goes at this now, with only modest success.

The so-called 'recruitment guru' Dickinson also has a lot to answer for. What are we going to do with the likes of Taylor and Dalby, on 4 year deals and our wages but currently only fit for loaning back to somebody like Kilmarnock.

Don't think JD makes the signings. 

He just finds the players.

It's the manager who has the final say.

We should get this guy in. 

I'm sure he'd move to a better supported club. And he's lives local too! 😁

Hope he wins it.

Poisoned chalice.

1 hour ago, Tonge moor green jacket said:

Don't think JD makes the signings. 

He just finds the players.

It's the manager who has the final say.

True, fair enough, he identifies them, others decide on the deal, contract etc

5 minutes ago, ianofcleveleys said:

True, fair enough, he identifies them, others decide on the deal, contract etc

If JD’s job is to identify potential players and that’s all he does then what on earth does Fergal do?

2 hours ago, Tonge moor green jacket said:

Don't think JD makes the signings. 

He just finds the players.

It's the manager who has the final say.

Think the manager, scout, and dof all have an input on each signing.

9 hours ago, Roger_Dubuis said:

Lets not pretend to be Sunderland.They have had 5 seasons in the 3rd Division in their entire history.Sharon has already had 6 in the 3rd Division and one in the 4th Division.

clutching at straws 

3 hours ago, Tonge moor green jacket said:

Hope he wins it.

Poisoned chalice.

They can't buy a victory atm.

That Iles piece in the BEN is brilliant.

I reckon that's just the tip of the iceberg re the discontent behind the scenes.

Seen it all before, cliques within the group, upset players causing grief and shouting the loudest.

The cunts down tooled last season after SS lost the plot with them and it seems a few have done similar this.

You can tell with SS Interviews he's had it with a few of them.

Can talk about systems and tactics all day long but you can clearly see there's a lot just going through the motions.

Not a stitch of bravery on the ball with or without.

I'd back SS all day long to weed the cunts out.

Same under Evatt, same late on last season, the players get away with fuckin murder.