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Squad?
Jan 15, 2019 8:53:00 GMT
Post by jdl on Jan 15, 2019 8:53:00 GMT
Not exactly rocket science, makes you wonder why Jay didn't discover the moral of it all ! Of course he did, but goes to show that playing fantasy football is a lot easier than the real thing. The Wheeler Dealers reign was catastrophic we can all agree, but equally we can be sure that the team that started the season was always going to struggle. Jay's summer recruitment of new players was disappointing. Our dynamic duo are doing more than ok but let's not pretend the squad is strong enough to stay up. The owners must support them in strengthening the team with at least 3 more quality signings I'm not claiming it's rocket science at all; the gist of my post is that it's blindingly obvious. And I fully accept that identifying the problem isn't the same as solving it (although you can't solve a problem without first identifying it), and that it's not down to the owners or management not trying. It's purely financial - we just cannot afford to buy (and pay) the sort of quality striker(s) that we need. So we are stuck with managers trying to get round that with loans and short-term contract for out of favour higher-level players - which Jay did fairly successfully, but Wheeler failed to do catastrophically. But the simple fact remains that you don't succeed without winning games, you don't win games without scoring goals, and you don't score (enough) goals without a decent striker (or two). Getting a good striker in (and keeping them) should be our priority at all times, overriding every other issue - and whatever it costs (within our ability to pay, obviously).
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Post by Nick on Jan 15, 2019 10:28:53 GMT
and although the annual accounts give an idea of the overall wage bill, we don't know what individual players are paid. whatever our ability to pay may be, there is a strong case to state that a couple of really good strikers are worth a big premium over the wages of other players goes against team ethic and nothing fair about it, but one striker's wages = 2 midfielders or 2 defenders, perhaps a fact of footballing life.
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Post by 61666 on Jan 16, 2019 8:50:16 GMT
After last night's débâcle, you again have to question what we have. Simon Walton's post match comments sum up what a relegation fight is all about - passion, desire, putting in a shift for the fans and directors who pay your wages. It is less about quality now (though undoubtedly more would help) and more about bottle, but not the brandy I resorted to when I got home last night. So who is up for it, in terms of attitude?
DeHavilland for sure, a real warrior second half. Paxman, for all his faults, he tries McClellan, awful last night, but has done enough to show he cares Phillips, always gives 100% The keeper, whose name I forget, but despite being a temp, looks up for it. Edobor, good effort second half, when further forward Romain, never stops trying Tajbaksh, again, the effort was there second half, for all his limitations Walton, really needs to play Richards, simply because he is home grown
So that's ten. You can probably add Muldoon and Powell to that list, though one is as much a yellow card waiting to happen as AT and the other too inconsistent.
Apologies to anyone I've missed out. Let's face it, there have been so many. However, we clearly need four or five more fighters at least, because one of the reasons certain players are getting so many bookings is that they are the ones who do care and who are busting a gut for the club, but not being quite big/strong/good enough then leads to errors when they try too hard. On the second half showing, we need five more Will DeHavillands, because he was everywhere and clearly has an eye for goal too. But as we know, this means he gets injured and, bad as we are, a couple more injuries and suspensions now and last night's first half could become the norm. Where this all leads to is anyone's guess and like politics, there will be differing views as to the solutions. Nevertheless, I for one will be very disappointed if we don't see a reaction on Saturday to last night. The half time substitutions at least show T&S are not frightened to make wholesale changes, but surely Walton now has to play to the end of the season. He may not be the best, but brings a sense of discipline on the pitch. I am pretty sure he will be looking players in the eyes to see who is up for it on Saturday, which is why I believe the team that finished will be the one to start. We know we are not good enough, but if we are going down,at least let's do it with a bit of pride and passion. Another first half like last night's and there will be fewer home fans than Maidenhead brought by the end of the season.
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Squad?
Jan 16, 2019 9:22:01 GMT
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Post by hammerstone on Jan 16, 2019 9:22:01 GMT
A new midfield is key.
Muldoon for every good pass (oxford city assist) he has 20 bad ones. Lightweight as well.
Paxman coughs the ball up too much and needs replacing. He’s the sort of luxury player to have when everything else around him is solid, but not in a struggling team.
Powel - inconsistent.
A new CB is required urgently, and also pace out wide. Not sold on Taylor, barely noticed him in the games he has played so it’s a shame we didn’t shields back.
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Squad?
Jan 16, 2019 9:30:53 GMT
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Post by pieman1982 on Jan 16, 2019 9:30:53 GMT
I think we need to start planning for the NLS and that means identifying the players we need for that league.
The following are the players I would want in the NLS
WDH MCLennon Phillips Walton Ayern T Romain Robinson Richards
I think the following would leave
Powell Maldoon Swaine Turgott
I’ve missed a couple I’m sure, but I’ve also left out loan players.
The positive from NLS is how average Woking looked, but they are flying high!
I’ve left Paxman out as I simply can’t decide if he should be in the team now or next year! Also if WDH carries on the way he is I can see a league 2 club buying him. He is too good for NLS. Love to keep Turgott, but same for him.
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Squad?
Jan 16, 2019 9:33:33 GMT
jdl likes this
Post by porkystone on Jan 16, 2019 9:33:33 GMT
But the best of these guys won't want to stay in NLS - that's the problem.
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Squad?
Jan 16, 2019 9:36:42 GMT
Post by Better things to do in life on Jan 16, 2019 9:36:42 GMT
Pax fights and Muldoon can pull something extraordinary out of the bag from time to time, but they need an old hand alongside them in the middle to keep them focussed. Taylor, Swaine, Wishart and Wassmer are all disinterested journeyman - send them home (or have we, God forgive us, got any of them for keeps - I lose track). Robinson battled as well, but needs a big man striker alongside him. George Mac and Phillips have off days, but worth keeping, although Phillips is better as an attacking midfielder. If relegation is about fighting, Aryan has to play every game, maybe Romain too, but he, like Robinson needs a big central striker. WDH is gold, just needs an old hand CB next to him. So, we need a big strong CB, a big string midfielder and a big strong striker to put a backbone through the middle. But where from, and with no money? Unless Mr Kinnear or Mr Still or whoever can bring them with them where are SW and TL going to get those kind of players to a club with relegation written all over us? Tough one.
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Squad?
Jan 16, 2019 9:37:09 GMT
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Post by jdl on Jan 16, 2019 9:37:09 GMT
Anyone who can score goals! That's really all we need (although a couple of others would be nice too). If we were capable of converting just a few of our chances to goals, and were able to get that critical first goal, we wouldn't be in this mess.
As for Walton's post-match interview, I'm getting a bit tired of his 'honesty' - genuine honesty is good, but just saying we were shit and the players let us down each time gets us nowhere.
And he almost entirely glossed over the fact that he and Lewis should be taking much more of the blame for the first half. True, the players weren't good enough, but who selected them? Romain should have started, and surely Richards had done enough to earn a start? And why play someone in such a vital game who is clearly still ill?
That was probably the most important game of our season, and the management screwed up. Simply blaming the players is just a cowardly smokescreen.
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Post by steveh21 on Jan 16, 2019 9:40:55 GMT
Anyone who can score goals! That's really all we need (although a couple of others would be nice too). If we were capable of converting just a few of our chances to goals, and were able to get that critical first goal, we wouldn't be in this mess. As for Walton's post-match interview, I'm getting a bit tired of his 'honesty' - genuine honesty is good, but just saying we were shit and the players let us down each time gets us nowhere. And he almost entirely glossed over the fact that he and Lewis should be taking much more of the blame for the first half. True, the players weren't good enough, but who selected them? Romain should have started, and surely Richards had done enough to earn a start? And why play someone in such a vital game who is clearly still ill? That was probably the most important game of our season, and the management screwed up. Simply blaming the players is just a cowardly smokescreen. Yes team selection was wrong but how do you explain the lack of tackling, tracking back and fighting for the cause? If our players cannot get up for a six pointer like last night then what will inspire them? Maidenhead, like Dover, wanted it more. It mattered to them. Second half we saw some fight but it was much too late. I still think this squad is good but football is a mental game and if you don't have the right mindset when the whistle goes you won't win matches. It is so frustrating and I can feel Simon's pain!
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Squad?
Jan 16, 2019 10:01:20 GMT
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Post by pieman1982 on Jan 16, 2019 10:01:20 GMT
Would love to have been a fly on the wall for the last directors meeting. There must be a point that was spoken about where no more money is pumped into the squad and religation is accepted. It makes no good business sense to spend money on a lost cause. I am not saying that moment is here yet or not. Religation from a business point of view is by no means a bad thing! We could be successful with less money on wages and still have the 3G model pulling in the cash, add the extra beer money spent every game and it becomes apparent why we are not going into the red to save this season. I believe we would maintain a similar crowd number if we put some wins together in the NLS We are hardly going to lose thousands in tv writes and add the money saved on long away games. Had a die hard Stones fan won the Euros and bought the club with 100,000,000 in the bank I’m sure the business side of things would not be an issue! The owners are business men first and fans second. So either way we have a club still full of potential for the future.
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Squad?
Jan 16, 2019 10:05:15 GMT
Post by maxthestone on Jan 16, 2019 10:05:15 GMT
After last night's débâcle, you again have to question what we have. Simon Walton's post match comments sum up what a relegation fight is all about - passion, desire, putting in a shift for the fans and directors who pay your wages. It is less about quality now (though undoubtedly more would help) and more about bottle, but not the brandy I resorted to when I got home last night. So who is up for it, in terms of attitude? DeHavilland for sure, a real warrior second half. Paxman, for all his faults, he tries McClellan, awful last night, but has done enough to show he cares Phillips, always gives 100% The keeper, whose name I forget, but despite being a temp, looks up for it. Edobor, good effort second half, when further forward Romain, never stops trying Tajbaksh, again, the effort was there second half, for all his limitations Walton, really needs to play Richards, simply because he is home grown So that's ten. You can probably add Muldoon and Powell to that list, though one is as much a yellow card waiting to happen as AT and the other too inconsistent. Apologies to anyone I've missed out. Let's face it, there have been so many. However, we clearly need four or five more fighters at least, because one of the reasons certain players are getting so many bookings is that they are the ones who do care and who are busting a gut for the club, but not being quite big/strong/good enough then leads to errors when they try too hard. On the second half showing, we need five more Will DeHavillands, because he was everywhere and clearly has an eye for goal too. But as we know, this means he gets injured and, bad as we are, a couple more injuries and suspensions now and last night's first half could become the norm. Where this all leads to is anyone's guess and like politics, there will be differing views as to the solutions. Nevertheless, I for one will be very disappointed if we don't see a reaction on Saturday to last night. The half time substitutions at least show T&S are not frightened to make wholesale changes, but surely Walton now has to play to the end of the season. He may not be the best, but brings a sense of discipline on the pitch. I am pretty sure he will be looking players in the eyes to see who is up for it on Saturday, which is why I believe the team that finished will be the one to start. We know we are not good enough, but if we are going down,at least let's do it with a bit of pride and passion. Another first half like last night's and there will be fewer home fans than Maidenhead brought by the end of the season. dont forget mclennan and wassmer were both ill on saturday so they both werent 100% and both did awful shoudnt have thrown them out there
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Squad?
Jan 16, 2019 10:09:30 GMT
Post by maxthestone on Jan 16, 2019 10:09:30 GMT
Pax fights and Muldoon can pull something extraordinary out of the bag from time to time, but they need an old hand alongside them in the middle to keep them focussed. Taylor, Swaine, Wishart and Wassmer are all disinterested journeyman - send them home (or have we, God forgive us, got any of them for keeps - I lose track). Robinson battled as well, but needs a big man striker alongside him. George Mac and Phillips have off days, but worth keeping, although Phillips is better as an attacking midfielder. If relegation is about fighting, Aryan has to play every game, maybe Romain too, but he, like Robinson needs a big central striker. WDH is gold, just needs an old hand CB next to him. So, we need a big strong CB, a big string midfielder and a big strong striker to put a backbone through the middle. But where from, and with no money? Unless Mr Kinnear or Mr Still or whoever can bring them with them where are SW and TL going to get those kind of players to a club with relegation written all over us? Tough one. i like that sutton said taylor was good hes too defensive to be a winger barely knew he was there but wishart he hasnt been bad you cant blame him because didnt forget he didnt paly last night he was suspended
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Post by daveu on Jan 16, 2019 13:36:18 GMT
Well now,l having had time to calm down after last night here are my thoughts.
If Wassmer was fully recovered from his illness there's no excuse for how poor he was first half. If not fully recovered he shouldn't have been playing.
Had George recovered from the injury that kept him out of Saturday's squad? Again, if not he shouldn't have played.
Ethan Ross is not ready for men's football. For those who thought Worgs didn't command his area, last night was the best demonstration you'll ever see of what not commanding your area really means. At fault for three of the goals and his overall lack of presence makes the back four nervous and affects their decision making.
Muldoon very unlucky with the second yellow. I was convinced that it was our free kick.
Will needs to bring the ball out more often, looked a bloody good player last night when he started running with the ball rather than playing it long.
Not sure why Taylor was subbed at half time, looked one of our better players first half.
Edobor is a bloody good backup for George.
The game: First half probably the worst 45 minutes I've seen us play. Last half hour possibly some of the best football we've played at home this season. I know Maidenhead probably took their foot off the gas a bit, but we played with more freedom, more belief and most importantly a huge increase in tempo, and were maybe a bit unlucky not to pull one more back and possibly even scrape a draw.
The Ref: What is he even doing on a football pitch? Enough said.
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Squad?
Jan 16, 2019 13:46:39 GMT
Post by maxthestone on Jan 16, 2019 13:46:39 GMT
Well now,l having had time to calm down after last night here are my thoughts. If Wassmer was fully recovered from his illness there's no excuse for how poor he was first half. If not fully recovered he shouldn't have been playing. Had George recovered from the injury that kept him out of Saturday's squad? Again, if not he shouldn't have played. Ethan Ross is not ready for men's football. For those who thought Worgs didn't command his area, last night was the best demonstration you'll ever see of what not commanding your area really means. At fault for three of the goals and his overall lack of presence makes the back four nervous and affects their decision making. Muldoon very unlucky with the second yellow. I was convinced that it was our free kick. Will needs to bring the ball out more often, looked a bloody good player last night when he started running with the ball rather than playing it long. Not sure why Taylor was subbed at half time, looked one of our better players first half. Edobor is a bloody good backup for George. The game: First half probably the worst 45 minutes I've seen us play. Last half hour possibly some of the best football we've played at home this season. I know Maidenhead probably took their foot off the gas a bit, but we played with more freedom, more belief and most importantly a huge increase in tempo, and were maybe a bit unlucky not to pull one more back and possibly even scrape a draw. The Ref: What is he even doing on a football pitch? Enough said. george was also ill on saturday
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Squad?
Jan 16, 2019 14:14:35 GMT
Post by bear5 on Jan 16, 2019 14:14:35 GMT
The last half hour was a great improvement but in these situations it's always difficult to judge whether that's because the opposition aren't quite sure what to do. As with Gateshead, who were 3-0 up, they didn't seem to know whether to try and keep going or shut up shop.
I agree on Taylor - I was surprised he was subbed at half-time given that I thought both Paxman and Powell were dreadful first-half. They were both much improved second half but the issue is that doing well at 4-1 down isn't that difficult, particularly with an opposition who aren't sure what to do. What you need is midfielders especially who are influential when you're 1-0, 2-0 down. Prestedge and, dare I say it, Lewis were like this but I'm afraid Powell and Paxman aren't.
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