We had a decent thread a while back discussing Evatt’s philosophies and approach to the game (think it got tainted and pulled)

So not a bad time to start it up again at the beginning of the season.

In the main he’s done a fantastic job. A minority lost patience round about Xmas/New Year in both seasons. 

But surely now he has the large backing of the majority of fans and the brand he talked about implementing here is now well and truly established.

Good article above highlighting how he’s using Sport Science to get the squad performing to it’s optimum level.

A young, meticulous, intelligent and passionate individual, who we are very lucky to have leading our club.

I hope he gets what he deserves with promotion to the Championship. 

13 minutes ago, thebells said:

In which case i think 3 of the current top 4 in League One are in the right place. We don't have the budget (which includes both transfer fees AND wages) of those teams. Wycombe will almost certainly fall away. For balance, if it was purely budget related, I'd guess we are about 4th.

So we are massively under achieving then!

39 minutes ago, Zog1 said:

I think i'll believe my own critical analysis

🤣

4 minutes ago, woolli said:

So we are massively under achieving then!

I wasn't debating whether we were under or over achieving. I was making the point that, based on budgets, we probably aren't a top 3 team.

I did also say for balance that we are probably about 4th on the list. So, yes, based on budget, we are underachieving!

 

10 minutes ago, woolli said:

So we are massively under achieving then!

It's January. The season finishes in May.

5 minutes ago, Cheese said:

It's January. The season finishes in May.

Who mentioned May? I said we are massively under achieving, thats present!

2 minutes ago, woolli said:

Who mentioned May? I said we are massively under achieving, thats present!

I mentioned May, because that's when the season ends. As shit as we are at the moment, we are not "massively underachieving". We are having a dogshit season. If it doesn't improve Evatt will go at the end of it.

44 minutes ago, woolli said:

Who mentioned May? I said we are massively under achieving, thats present!

If you were Sharon, what would you do to help us achieve our expectations this season? And based on budgets, what do you think a realistic expectation is for us?

Edited January 17, 20251 yr by thebells

3 hours ago, Lt. Aldo Raine said:

I'm not convinced there's really been a big difference between this season and last

We tend to beat the also rans and then invariably lose to/struggle againstthe club's we're expecting to compete with (or on the big occasion/ in high-pressure situations)

The same pattern has followed suit this season, except this time there are more clubs competing

We'll win comfortably on Saturday

Agree on the "flat track bully" idea, but we simply haven't been as good this season.

Buggered around with the midfield, and rumours abound about discontent.

Moreover, even standing still, isn't really acceptable  

5 hours ago, meanderson93 said:

I don't want to retread old ground here too much, we've had the diagnosis before but as you say, Evatt can't seem to find a cure. But, for me, that isn't exactly how we were found out, probably more of the opposite. 

In our worst games it was painfully obvious the issues. Oppositions were dropping a single striker off the press and eliminating the entry pass into Sheehan, who was essentially acting as the quarterback for everything we did in possession. They were then playing very narrow width wise when we had possession and triggering the press when the ball was played to the left and right centre backs, essentially taking away the ball wide especially when Toal was playing at LCB as he couldn't move the ball efficiently enough to counter it. 

So we were left with the now infamous image of Santos stood on the ball and Evatt watched his entire ethos crumble in front of his eyes. 

In theory though, in that final, if he hadn't been completely shell shocked and actually made effective changes. We could have switched the midfield 3 so Sheehan goes to a 10 and Maghoma and Thomason drop deeper to offer two angles of entry pass and forcing their striker to actually have to choose a passing lane rather than just man mark Sheehan. You'd have then brought Iredale on and switched Toal to RCB and had a much more fluid passing out from the defence to the wing backs that would have given us even more options to bypass their press. 

Easy to say now looking back I suppose, but the worrying thing is that it hasn't been easy for Evatt to see that and plan his squad accordingly. As you say, he's actually gone the wrong way entirely and somehow made us even easier to play against. When adding depth and quality to midfield and more focal points in the forward areas to give the defenders more options of passes to relieve pressure was the obvious choice.

Bloody hell mate, fair play with that analysis. 

I just go to the match, jump up and down, shout a lot and go home.

😄

3 hours ago, Lt. Aldo Raine said:

I'm not convinced there's really been a big difference between this season and last

We tend to beat the also rans and then invariably lose to/struggle againstthe club's we're expecting to compete with (or on the big occasion/ in high-pressure situations)

The same pattern has followed suit this season, except this time there are more clubs competing

We'll win comfortably on Saturday

Depends what criteria you’re looking at. Maybe if you’re just going off beating shit clubs, lose to good ones. 

Where’s the excitement?

Where’s the belief?

Where’s the swagger of convincing victories playing good football?

Where’s the 4/5 goal victories?

Where’s the defence that can keep clean sheets? 

Where’s the club that looks like it can compete at the top end of the table? 

Where’s the great atmospheres home and away with fans excitedly selling out with great expectation? 

All of the above were on offer last year. We are a million miles away from any of that this season.

For me it couldn’t feel any different.

I think thats what i was saying

All i know is oxford took the wind out of my sails and im 'just' a fan

Fuck knows what it does if its your life

I suspect that maybe covers some of your points

2 hours ago, thebells said:

If you were Sharon, what would you do to help us achieve our expectations this season? And based on budgets, what do you think a realistic expectation is for us?

First of all im not Sharon, only one answer, sack Evatt. Ive been anti Evatt for over 18 months, and have had alot of shit off fellow posters, which, is part and parcel of being on a forum from the Evatt inners. I was in the minority, now a majority. Unfortunately a few still believe in him, they have taken to much deludemol. Budget wise, we should be top three. We shouldnt be in this position. Recruitment is piss poor, any manager letting footballers on a football pitch with socks rolled down, no shin pads, is weak as piss. We get enough injuries, lets not invite any more!

4 minutes ago, woolli said:

First of all im not Sharon, only one answer, sack Evatt. Ive been anti Evatt for over 18 months, and have had alot of shit off fellow posters, which, is part and parcel of being on a forum from the Evatt inners. I was in the minority, now a majority. Unfortunately a few still believe in him, they have taken to much deludemol. Budget wise, we should be top three. We shouldnt be in this position. Recruitment is piss poor, any manager letting footballers on a football pitch with socks rolled down, no shin pads, is weak as piss. We get enough injuries, lets not invite any more!

What a bizarre thing to proclaim - "I've been anti Evatt for over 18 months". And calling other people "Evatt inners". The mind boggles.

Imagine wanting evatt out 18 months ago

Suppose thats what having half a brain does

3 minutes ago, Cheese said:

What a bizarre thing to proclaim - "I've been anti Evatt for over 18 months". And calling other people "Evatt inners". The mind boggles.

Look back, you know! You re still an Evatt " inner" along with another cunt starting with C. Why is it bizarre? You are right, the mind boggles!

1 minute ago, Casino said:

Imagine wanting evatt out 18 months ago

Suppose thats what having half a brain does

Didnt take  long the  other C. Only to be expected!

Just now, woolli said:

Look back, you know! You re still an Evatt " inner" along with another cunt starting with C. Why is it bizarre? You are right, the mind boggles!

I've said several times that it's time for him to go. You seem to think anyone who doesn't post vitriolic abuse towards Evatt is your enemy. Get a grip man.

2 minutes ago, woolli said:

Didnt take  long the  other C. Only to be expected!

Have you worked with toxic fumes in an enclosed environment recently?

Hes full of Carling

3 minutes ago, Casino said:

Hes full of Carling

Stella at the very least, I'd have thought. Guaranteed Reform voter.

Edited January 17, 20251 yr by Cheese

1 minute ago, Cheese said:

I've said several times that it's time for him to go. You seem to think anyone who doesn't post vitriolic abuse towards Evatt is your enemy. Get a grip man.

You fuckin get a grip! Im not anti Evatt as a person, he was great for us for a few years, and thanks for that. But its time for a change. Im not vitriolic ,and have never been abusive towards him. Stop staring shit!

 

4 minutes ago, Cheese said:

Stella at the very least, I'd have thought. Guaranteed Reform voter.

Weak as piss. Im a Dorada man. If you know, you know.

10 minutes ago, woolli said:

You fuckin get a grip! Im not anti Evatt as a person, he was great for us for a few years, and thanks for that. But its time for a change. Im not vitriolic ,and have never been abusive towards him. Stop staring shit!

You literally just described yourself as "anti Evatt". I'm not staring at you, and there's no need to call me a shit.

3 hours ago, Cheese said:

I mentioned May, because that's when the season ends. As shit as we are at the moment, we are not "massively underachieving". We are having a dogshit season. If it doesn't improve Evatt will go at the end of it.

It all still reminds me of Phil Neal's final season... hero to zero in 6 months

4 minutes ago, Cheese said:

You literally just described yourself as "anti Evatt". I'm not staring at you, and there's no need to call me a shit.

Leave off the drink and drugs mate, bless you, hope you get home ok