FA Cup 2024-25

[Deleted]

Oct 1, 2024 9:31:13 GMT @oldboy1973 said:

Oct 1, 2024 8:36:35 GMT daveu said:

Yes, everyone knows we’re not great but your negativity is off the scale.

I think GGstones negativity is based on a very reasonable scale of factual evidence - low league position, poor results, disappointing individual player and team performances, not looking any better than lowly sides like HB and crazy recruitment (ludiwhatshisname) and inability to keep/get back good talent (Faal).

Its very much in line with a factual scale and not off it at all.

You really need Amber coloured specs showing you a complete turnaround in all of those facts before Christmas to say its "off scale" negativity. 

When the reality changes, so will the posts on this forum get more supportive.

I disagree. We are undoubtedly under par at the moment. The use of the word “shit” is excessive in my opinion. We are not shit, we are poor, pedestrian, underperforming. Shit is purely an emotional response and has no place in rational argument.

[Deleted]

Oct 1, 2024 10:25:21 GMT daveu said:

Oct 1, 2024 9:31:13 GMT @oldboy1973 said:

I think GGstones negativity is based on a very reasonable scale of factual evidence - low league position, poor results, disappointing individual player and team performances, not looking any better than lowly sides like HB and crazy recruitment (ludiwhatshisname) and inability to keep/get back good talent (Faal).

Its very much in line with a factual scale and not off it at all.

You really need Amber coloured specs showing you a complete turnaround in all of those facts before Christmas to say its "off scale" negativity. 

When the reality changes, so will the posts on this forum get more supportive.

I disagree. We are undoubtedly under par at the moment. The use of the word “shit” is excessive in my opinion. We are not shit, we are poor, pedestrian, underperforming. Shit is purely an emotional response and has no place in rational argument.

Unless you're discussing poo, of course...

But Dave is right. As disappointing and frustrating as things are, we are some way from being shit.

With one or three exceptions, George has put together a pretty good squad, there aren't many I would let go at the moment. The problem is that the squad is under-performing, and there is no really obvious reason why. We could do with a couple of new players, especially up front, and, personally, I'm not all that convinced by George's strategy and tactics at the moment (despite last season's successes, he is still very much learning the job), but there isn't that much wrong.

Things just need to click properly. It feels like a couple of good performances on the trot would do the trick, the team would gel, self-belief would grow and we'd start facing teams with more confidence. But, at the moment, we have the odd good game, but never seem to build on that - one step forward, one step back.

I think we are only a couple of good results or one new player away from restarting the season and moving up the table, and it's still early enough to make a decent crack at the play-offs. The next couple of games will be good indications of what we might be capable of, both are probable defeats on paper, but both are also winnable.

[Deleted]

Interesting to read such contrasting posts. They are all right to a point, those rubbishing the players and team are totally excessive, those that are only mildly critical, maybe a shade understating the problems, but not by much imo.
I remain of the view that we are short of probably 3 quality signings to push on and be really competitive again.
George's recruitment has not been an unqualified success but in reality that never happens.
Team tactics and dullish style of play still look questionable at times but it's a long season ahead, learning all the way.
Still functioning in 2nd gear most of the time, collectively the team must improve.

[jackster]

Win, win win, all the time or "I'm giving up on this club"
Don't want good days and bad days, only good days will do.
I deserve to be entertained, I demand to be entertained, or else !
What actually did George achieve last season ?
We failed to get promoted and got knocked out of the FA cup.
Didn't even make the Q/Fs.
Grateful to the owners for investing their hard earned cash into our club to bring it back to the town and create a community stadium to be proud of ?
"Nah "
Time for LongGone and Grovegreenie to put up and rescue the club from this bunch of losers.

[Deleted]

If George just gets the players playing well then its problem solved. We just haven't played well for a long time. So why will it change ?

[Deleted]

Oct 1, 2024 11:21:55 GMT nick said:

Interesting to read such contrasting posts. They are all right to a point, those rubbishing the players and team are totally excessive, those that are only mildly critical, maybe a shade understating the problems, but not by much imo.
I remain of the view that we are short of probably 3 quality signings to push on and be really competitive again.
George's recruitment has not been an unqualified success but in reality that never happens.
Team tactics and dullish style of play still look questionable at times but it's a long season ahead, learning all the way.
Still functioning in 2nd gear most of the time, collectively the team must improve.

One genuinely creative player, another Luque, would probably make a huge difference. Yes we need a big striker to support Blair but maybe another Luque would work just as well. After all we didn’t have a tall striker when him and Barham were scoring for fun.

[Deleted]

Oct 1, 2024 16:38:33 GMT daveu said:

Oct 1, 2024 11:21:55 GMT nick said:

Interesting to read such contrasting posts. They are all right to a point, those rubbishing the players and team are totally excessive, those that are only mildly critical, maybe a shade understating the problems, but not by much imo.
I remain of the view that we are short of probably 3 quality signings to push on and be really competitive again.
George's recruitment has not been an unqualified success but in reality that never happens.
Team tactics and dullish style of play still look questionable at times but it's a long season ahead, learning all the way.
Still functioning in 2nd gear most of the time, collectively the team must improve.

One genuinely creative player, another Luque, would probably make a huge difference. Yes we need a big striker to support Blair but maybe another Luque would work just as well. After all we didn’t have a tall striker when him and Barham were scoring for fun.

The key is a free-scoring striker (so obvious, I can't understand why George doesn't rush out and buy one...).

In our promotion season, we had two (Luque 20 and Barham 18), with Corne also getting 9, and last season we had Amantchi (20), then Rush (13) - and Corne actually got 14! We also had Wanjau-Smith with 8, and 7 from Faal.

We have, of course, retained none of those players - except the ever dependable Captain Corne.

There's also the psychological side to all this. For instance, our promotion season didn't start well, it was only after Luque came back from suspension that the goals stated to flow. Then his partnership with Barham (and Corne) created a fantastic team spirit, which turned even run-of-the mill journeymen into star players. And, again, last season didn't start brilliantly, but once Amantchi started scoring, everything changed. Suddenly the team had self-belief and went into each game thinking they were going to win. This attitude even lasted beyond Amantchi's departure and got us to the 5th round of the FA Cup.

We need either a new Luque or Amantchi, who can bang the goals in and get us believing in ourselves again, or a player/players who can provide the service that Blair and Coulthirst so badly need. If we can manage that, I think the good side we have on paper could well turn into an excellent side, even a Championship one. We have plenty of players who can score goals - Corne, of course, but also players like Seaman, Brookes, Papadopoulas, Krasnigi and Eweka. Once the goals (and wins) start to come and the pressure's off, I think we'll get goals from all over the pitch.

All we need is just that one or two elusive new players...

[Deleted]

Oct 1, 2024 23:48:51 GMT @johndaubneyslegs said:

Oct 1, 2024 16:38:33 GMT daveu said:

One genuinely creative player, another Luque, would probably make a huge difference. Yes we need a big striker to support Blair but maybe another Luque would work just as well. After all we didn’t have a tall striker when him and Barham were scoring for fun.

The key is a free-scoring striker (so obvious, I can't understand why George doesn't rush out and buy one...).

In our promotion season, we had two (Luque 20 and Barham 18), with Corne also getting 9, and last season we had Amantchi (20), then Rush (13) - and Corne actually got 14! We also had Wanjau-Smith with 8, and 7 from Faal.

We have, of course, retained none of those players - except the ever dependable Captain Corne.

There's also the psychological side to all this. For instance, our promotion season didn't start well, it was only after Luque came back from suspension that the goals stated to flow. Then his partnership with Barham (and Corne) created a fantastic team spirit, which turned even run-of-the mill journeymen into star players. And, again, last season didn't start brilliantly, but once Amantchi started scoring, everything changed. Suddenly the team had self-belief and went into each game thinking they were going to win. This attitude even lasted beyond Amantchi's departure and got us to the 5th round of the FA Cup.

We need either a new Luque or Amantchi, who can bang the goals in and get us believing in ourselves again, or a player/players who can provide the service that Blair and Coulthirst so badly need. If we can manage that, I think the good side we have on paper could well turn into an excellent side, even a Championship one. We have plenty of players who can score goals - Corne, of course, but also players like Seaman, Brookes, Papadopoulas, Krasnigi and Eweka. Once the goals (and wins) start to come and the pressure's off, I think we'll get goals from all over the pitch.

All we need is just that one or two elusive new players...

You’ve not mentioned Regan Booty who was a massive reason

[Deleted]

And now captain at Gateshead.
Whether we have good players or not, it is hard to tell when our tactics just look wrong.
We never seem to pick a strong starting eleven - though substitutions have been effective at times.
We don't seem to have much of a plan, other than play the ball safe to each other, waiting for a chance to play a long ball up front. That can work once you are ahead, but is too easy for opponents to defend - especially when (Blair apart), our forwards are not fast, mobile or indeed savvy enough to find spaces to run into. Spaces that often aren't there because our sideways passing means opponents already have eleven behind the ball.
How do you get round that? Two simple ways are slick passing - working in triangles to open up space by leaving opponents behind and having players who can take on their opponents to do the same thing. Not always easy, but not rocket science either. A well marshalled defence can usually comfortably hold off our main (only?) tactic, as seen so often this season.
Oh yes - and when do press forwards, later in the game, because we are already a goal down, that inevitably leaves spaces at the back and we get picked off far too often.
A half decent side knows when to turn defence into attack. Win the ball in your own half and play out AT PACE. There are times when the big Welly upfield is important, but it rarely leads to anything and all too often comes straight back again.
We may have good players, but until our coaches start drilling them properly (and with the freedom to innovate), we are never going to know.

[Deleted]

Oct 2, 2024 7:53:41 GMT @61666 said:

And now captain at Gateshead.
Whether we have good players or not, it is hard to tell when our tactics just look wrong.
We never seem to pick a strong starting eleven - though substitutions have been effective at times.
We don't seem to have much of a plan, other than play the ball safe to each other, waiting for a chance to play a long ball up front. That can work once you are ahead, but is too easy for opponents to defend - especially when (Blair apart), our forwards are not fast, mobile or indeed savvy enough to find spaces to run into. Spaces that often aren't there because our sideways passing means opponents already have eleven behind the ball.
How do you get round that? Two simple ways are slick passing - working in triangles to open up space by leaving opponents behind and having players who can take on their opponents to do the same thing. Not always easy, but not rocket science either. A well marshalled defence can usually comfortably hold off our main (only?) tactic, as seen so often this season.
Oh yes - and when do press forwards, later in the game, because we are already a goal down, that inevitably leaves spaces at the back and we get picked off far too often.
A half decent side knows when to turn defence into attack. Win the ball in your own half and play out AT PACE. There are times when the big Welly upfield is important, but it rarely leads to anything and all too often comes straight back again.
We may have good players, but until our coaches start drilling them properly (and with the freedom to innovate), we are never going to know.

Dont be so blooming miserable 61666 or JDL and Dave U will be after you

[Deleted]

Sept 30, 2024 15:52:27 GMT Benny said:

Sept 28, 2024 17:05:18 GMT Benny said:

Prize money £5625. Maybe ~£5000 gate receipts. Around £16,000 in total now?

£9375 for a win, £3125 for losing, plus 40% of gate receipts (£16,000?).

Plus TV money? Minus a huge police bill.

Only if they are inside the ground. Outside is at their or whoever's cost. The one positive thing Ken Bates has done in his entire life was to win a court case that set this precedent as West Yorkshire Police were flooding Elland Rd with police officers and billing the club regardless of the potential for trouble between fans.

[Deleted]

Oct 2, 2024 18:41:35 GMT @oldboy1973 said:

Oct 2, 2024 7:53:41 GMT @61666 said:

And now captain at Gateshead.
Whether we have good players or not, it is hard to tell when our tactics just look wrong.
We never seem to pick a strong starting eleven - though substitutions have been effective at times.
We don't seem to have much of a plan, other than play the ball safe to each other, waiting for a chance to play a long ball up front. That can work once you are ahead, but is too easy for opponents to defend - especially when (Blair apart), our forwards are not fast, mobile or indeed savvy enough to find spaces to run into. Spaces that often aren't there because our sideways passing means opponents already have eleven behind the ball.
How do you get round that? Two simple ways are slick passing - working in triangles to open up space by leaving opponents behind and having players who can take on their opponents to do the same thing. Not always easy, but not rocket science either. A well marshalled defence can usually comfortably hold off our main (only?) tactic, as seen so often this season.
Oh yes - and when do press forwards, later in the game, because we are already a goal down, that inevitably leaves spaces at the back and we get picked off far too often.
A half decent side knows when to turn defence into attack. Win the ball in your own half and play out AT PACE. There are times when the big Welly upfield is important, but it rarely leads to anything and all too often comes straight back again.
We may have good players, but until our coaches start drilling them properly (and with the freedom to innovate), we are never going to know.

Dont be so blooming miserable 61666 or JDL and Dave U will be after you

Projecting again, Oldboy? I think you're mistaking 'accurate' for 'miserable'.

[Deleted]

Oct 1, 2024 16:38:33 GMT daveu said:

Oct 1, 2024 11:21:55 GMT nick said:

Interesting to read such contrasting posts. They are all right to a point, those rubbishing the players and team are totally excessive, those that are only mildly critical, maybe a shade understating the problems, but not by much imo.
I remain of the view that we are short of probably 3 quality signings to push on and be really competitive again.
George's recruitment has not been an unqualified success but in reality that never happens.
Team tactics and dullish style of play still look questionable at times but it's a long season ahead, learning all the way.
Still functioning in 2nd gear most of the time, collectively the team must improve.

One genuinely creative player, another Luque, would probably make a huge difference. Yes we need a big striker to support Blair but maybe another Luque would work just as well. After all we didn’t have a tall striker when him and Barham were scoring for fun.

I think that individuality and flair may even be in some of the current team but they are prevented from doing so due to over analysis and fear of failure. Yes boy do we need a Luque or a Flish - a character really.

[Deleted]

The idea one can just go out and buy another Luque at a moments notice and everything will suddenly be fine is hilarious.

[Deleted]

Oct 5, 2024 9:27:57 GMT Benny said:

The idea one can just go out and buy another Luque at a moments notice and everything will suddenly be fine is hilarious.

That’s why I said one of the current team needs to step up and be a Luque-pay attention Benny!
Today at Worthing Benton looked good for that and Corne was well totally Corne!