(That long since we've had any, couldn't find the thread)

Alan Nixon: "Top Liverpool starlet Cameron Branagan will Ben allowed out on loan in Jan.

Bolton lead the race for the 20 year old midfielder"

Edited December 11, 20169 yr by Ratwhite

28 minutes ago, tomski said:

‘Joel Randall, he’s our man,

with the ball, he’s got a plan,

Rim-Wolf, Rim-Wolf, hear us roar,

Joel Randall, we adore’

🫣😳🙄

2 hours ago, Johnnyrotten said:

 A modern version of what we're missing, whether they are hard men or just can look after themselves physically, is Cameron Branagan*.  

*see Page 1 of this very long thread.

1 hour ago, Tonge moor green jacket said:

Fair enough. 

That's not our greatest weakness/need though, so I'm not arsed.

A grizzly-Adams for midfield will do for me!

 

I can't see anyone else coming into our midfield now 

If everyone stays fit we've got

GT / Morley / Sheehan / Matete

Randall

If Morley leaves fair enough but it'd mean dropping GT or Sheehan which I can't see

A midfield three of Randall, Morley and either Sheehan or GT is very tasty on paper. A target man with an eye for goal and a couple of defenders and we are good to go

4 hours ago, VividDreamer said:

A midfield three of Randall, Morley and either Sheehan or GT is very tasty on paper. A target man with an eye for goal and a couple of defenders and we are good to go

Tasty? It has zero defensive qualities and would get trampled underfoot by proper athletes rushing to get forward in this league.

Can’t play 3 at the back without a shield.

3 hours ago, Wanderlust said:

 

Can’t play 3 at the back without a shield.

How many lads do you want back there? 

3 minutes ago, gonzo said:

How many lads do you want back there? 

He's discounting wing backs, with some justification.

Ours aren't exactly the greatest of defenders, and it's not their fault.

Never having seen the new lad play it might be a bit harsh but feels another player who might be talented but not sure how he fits into  our system.

Add him to a list that started with Dapo, but also includes CMG, Lolos, Collins and McAtee. Even Big Vic. 
 

 

14 minutes ago, gonzo said:

How many lads do you want back there? 

As you know - I'm fucking useless when it comes to football tactics. So I've just been reading about 3 4 1 2 which is apparently what Evatt is playing at the moment 😁

Apparently - you'd usually play 2 deep lying central midfielders and one attacking midfielder. So I presume that the AM will be Randall and then the deep lying players take your pick from Matete, GT, Morley and Sheehan. 

Also relies heavily on wing backs for width. That's where I think we're still a bit light or at least low on quality. 

Here's a link to what I was reading. Just don't tell anyone on here that I've shared this with you though or they will know I've been cheating and that I don't really understand what I'm talking about. And I like to keep up the facade that I'm a tactical mastermind 😁

https://www.soccercoachingpro.com/3-4-1-2-formation/

43 minutes ago, kent_white said:

As you know - I'm fucking useless when it comes to football tactics. So I've just been reading about 3 4 1 2 which is apparently what Evatt is playing at the moment 😁

Apparently - you'd usually play 2 deep lying central midfielders and one attacking midfielder. So I presume that the AM will be Randall and then the deep lying players take your pick from Matete, GT, Morley and Sheehan. 

Also relies heavily on wing backs for width. That's where I think we're still a bit light or at least low on quality. 

Here's a link to what I was reading. Just don't tell anyone on here that I've shared this with you though or they will know I've been cheating and that I don't really understand what I'm talking about. And I like to keep up the facade that I'm a tactical mastermind 😁

https://www.soccercoachingpro.com/3-4-1-2-formation/

Aye, though I think Williams had been decent at RWB and whilst Schon is #1 pick for LWB I do think we must try to find a starting spot for Tutu 

40 minutes ago, kent_white said:

As you know - I'm fucking useless when it comes to football tactics. So I've just been reading about 3 4 1 2 which is apparently what Evatt is playing at the moment 😁

Apparently - you'd usually play 2 deep lying central midfielders and one attacking midfielder. So I presume that the AM will be Randall and then the deep lying players take your pick from Matete, GT, Morley and Sheehan. 

Also relies heavily on wing backs for width. That's where I think we're still a bit light or at least low on quality. 

Here's a link to what I was reading. Just don't tell anyone on here that I've shared this with you though or they will know I've been cheating and that I don't really understand what I'm talking about. And I like to keep up the facade that I'm a tactical mastermind 😁

https://www.soccercoachingpro.com/3-4-1-2-formation/

Refreshing to hear someone be honest  and hit the nail on the head.

We’re all novices and fans spouting shit, which is good fun in the main, despite a few oddballs, who think  they are tactical masterminds from their laptop.

If we are going to play Randall, that’s pretty much the shape we‘ll have to play, if he plays where he did at Peterborough.

Personally prior to Randall signing I was hoping for a more solid midfield 3 of Matete, Tommo and Morley. I still am, I think, so Randall could start on the bench.

But I’m not going to start throwing my arms up in the air and have a hissy fit because a professional manager isn’t following my advice.

17 minutes ago, desperado said:

Refreshing to hear someone be honest  and hit the nail on the head.

We’re all novices and fans spouting shit, which is good fun in the main, despite a few oddballs, who think  they are tactical masterminds from their laptop.

If we are going to play Randall, that’s pretty much the shape we‘ll have to play, if he plays where he did at Peterborough.

Personally prior to Randall signing I was hoping for a more solid midfield 3 of Matete, Tommo and Morley. I still am, I think, so Randall could start on the bench.

But I’m not going to start throwing my arms up in the air and have a hissy fit because a professional manager isn’t following my advice.

I agree we’re not professionals but don’t you think playing and watching football for 40, 50, 60 years gives you some idea what you’re on about? Pretty mental if not. 🥴

16 minutes ago, desperado said:

Refreshing to hear someone be honest  and hit the nail on the head.

We’re all novices and fans spouting shit, which is good fun in the main, despite a few oddballs, who think  they are tactical masterminds from their laptop.

If we are going to play Randall, that’s pretty much the shape we‘ll have to play, if he plays where he did at Peterborough.

Personally prior to Randall signing I was hoping for a more solid midfield 3 of Matete, Tommo and Morley. I still am, I think, so Randall could start on the bench.

But I’m not going to start throwing my arms up in the air and have a hissy fit because a professional manager isn’t following my advice.

Can't find where we were discussing whether Randall was more an off the striker type or a Paris Maghoma type attacking midfielder.

But listening to the Buff they're referring to him as a "10" who could play behind the strikers or in one of the wide attacking positions in the 343.

If that is the case it doesn't seem to be what we need. A proper midfielder who can link midfield and attack is where I think we're short.

15 minutes ago, Whitesince63 said:

I agree we’re not professionals but don’t you think playing and watching football for 40, 50, 60 years gives you some idea what you’re on about? Pretty mental if not. 🥴

If you've been watching football for 60 years and you still have a tantrum when your 3rd division team loses a football match, I'd say you've probably not learned much.

Edited January 10, 20251 yr by Cheese

19 minutes ago, Whitesince63 said:

I agree we’re not professionals but don’t you think playing and watching football for 40, 50, 60 years gives you some idea what you’re on about? Pretty mental if not. 🥴

Yes, but you'll never know as much as people who have lived it daily, and are surrounded by other professionals in the same field. 

We'll also never know the intricate details of players like coaches and manager do. Last season, i watched Kyle Dempsey play two or three games where, quite frankly, the lad could barely kick a ball straight. I thought he was pissed and assumed Evatt was blind. It came out a few days later he'd done some major back damage and was playing on painkilling injections as we had no fit alternatives.

The problem with football is that all of us on here have an emotional investment. And everyone employed at the club has a financial (plus sometimes emotional investment). If you really want to know what's good and bad about our team, you're best asking a fan Crewe or Darlington, or any such team that couldn't give two monkeys about us

21 minutes ago, Stig said:

 

21 minutes ago, Stig said:

If that is the case it doesn't seem to be what we need. A proper midfielder who can link midfield and attack is where I think we're short.

Isn't that what Randall is?

I'm hoping he's of the same ilk as Dempsey and Magohma because that is what we're missing on the evidence of this season and last 

1 hour ago, Ani said:

Never having seen the new lad play it might be a bit harsh but feels another player who might be talented but not sure how he fits into  our system.

Add him to a list that started with Dapo, but also includes CMG, Lolos, Collins and McAtee. Even Big Vic. 
 

 

Impression is Evatt sees him doing what Maghoma did. If he does it as well as Paris, fair enough, may be money well spent. I'd be pleasantly surprised if he's that effective though. 

28 minutes ago, thebells said:

Yes, but you'll never know as much as people who have lived it daily, and are surrounded by other professionals in the same field. 

We'll also never know the intricate details of players like coaches and manager do. Last season, i watched Kyle Dempsey play two or three games where, quite frankly, the lad could barely kick a ball straight. I thought he was pissed and assumed Evatt was blind. It came out a few days later he'd done some major back damage and was playing on painkilling injections as we had no fit alternatives.

The problem with football is that all of us on here have an emotional investment. And everyone employed at the club has a financial (plus sometimes emotional investment). If you really want to know what's good and bad about our team, you're best asking a fan Crewe or Darlington, or any such team that couldn't give two monkeys about us

So basically because we aren’t footballers or managers we should just stay quiet. 
 

May as well shut this down as there is only @Gumbo who’s qualified to comment. 
 

I would love us to play how pep plays and win the champions league. Reality is we don’t have the players and players recruited don’t seem to change this. Maybe the coach should look at getting the most out of his squad and not some weird formation that doesn’t work. 
 

46 minutes ago, Whitesince63 said:

watching football for 40, 50, 60 years gives you some idea what you’re on about

It’s debatable 🤣

And I’m not just on about you, I include myself and everyone else in that!

As @thebells said we are too emotionally invested (well I am anyway) to be balanced and impartial.

We’d all like to think we know what we are talking about and would make a good manager. I can harp on about my achievements and successes as a youth coach, but it’s all bollocks and irrelevant to what BWFC are doing.

I’m still waiting for the 30 odd year old professionals I taught 20 years ago, to tell me how good my management and football coaching skills were, but not one has done 😂. However I’ve had a few tell me how much they enjoyed their sport and how they’ve been inspired to become teachers too, so that’ll do for me. Isn’t that right @London Wanderer 😊 (I’m stretching this as he hardly remembers me, so not the best example)

1 hour ago, Stig said:

Can't find where we were discussing whether Randall was more an off the striker type or a Paris Maghoma type attacking midfielder.

But listening to the Buff they're referring to him as a "10" who could play behind the strikers or in one of the wide attacking positions in the 343.

If that is the case it doesn't seem to be what we need. A proper midfielder who can link midfield and attack is where I think we're short.

We can watch with interest, as it seems both options are being touted.

I agree with you, I’m hoping he’s more a Dempsey/Maghoma replacement because that’s what we’ve missed. I’m only going off what little I’ve seen of Peterborough and looking at their formation maps, where he seems to be a deeper forward (10, CAM or whatever new age definition we are using 😊) 

Personally I loved maghoma and thought we made a huge mistake not moving heaven and earth to have him back here. Let’s not forget though that he went missing in games for huge spells.

Randall on the face of it looks like he could add some much needed technical ability to unlock a defence and pick a pass and receive the ball under pressure in a tight area. Maghoma was excellent at this and retained the ball really well. Sheehan is clearly talented on the ball and I believe he would complement Randall. I think our issue lies with the thomo role in this midfield as he just isn’t quite up to it. I think he’s come on leaps and bounds but has been really poor of late.

For me, a further addition of an athletic ball winning centre mid and a mobile target man would make a massive difference to our play. We’re always going to be shaky at the back as we tend to lose it in dangerous areas but I think these two further additions would get us comfortably over the line as there is just too much ability in the squad as a whole. Just missing the final couple of pieces. If Evatt see’s this and addresses it, he gets my vote to stay on (I’m probably one of the earliest and harshest of his critics). 

 

Nathan Lowe on loan is one I’ve just heard.

47 minutes ago, Big E said:

So basically because we aren’t footballers or managers we should just stay quiet. 

Yeh shut all the threads down, no opinions allowed 😂

We just need to know our place, long suffering fans who enjoy spouting a bit of shit and telling managers how it should be done.

It’s a big part of our lives, we wouldn’t have 1000s pages of waffle if it wasn’t. I like reading fan’s opinions, surely we all do or we wouldn’t come on here. As I said above it’s only a very small handful who actually believe their opinions are an intellectual coaching handbook for professional managers. 

 

A customer just said he watched our highlights v Exeter and we absolutely battered them. And he fancies us to make a push for promotion.

Amazing what an non invested view looks like

1 hour ago, Cheese said:

If you've been watching football for 60 years and you still have a tantrum when your 3rd division team loses a football match, I'd say you've probably not learned much.

Well I’ve learned enough to know to ignore non entities like you.