Shrimpsvoices

How poor is the overall standard of the league this season? We have been absolutely terrible for 6 weeks, yet we are only 6 points off the playoffs with a game in hand. Madness.

Next week away at York is a massive game for the team and one that could define what type of season we are going to have in the new year:

Win and we pull 18 points clear of the bottom and perhaps a little closer to an outside playoff tilt with a playoff hopeful at home on Boxing Day
Draw and it's as you were with the bottom sides still playing catchup and a comfortable 15 point margin as we drift in and around mid table
Lose and York get closer to us and perhaps gain some form like Hartlepool did when they visited the Globe and drain our fragile confidence even further

With all that in mind I'm off to Everton vs Leicester

You know the script when we play teams towards or even bottom - a la Dagenham.
The Christmas and New Year period often defines a season - let's hope we get some games played

RedRedWine wrote:How poor is the overall standard of the league this season? We have been absolutely terrible for 6 weeks, yet we are only 6 points off the playoffs with a game in hand. Madness.

I think it is more to do with the fact that we were excellent at the start of the season, then for whatever reason... tactics, confidence or our style of play was 'found out', but we've been completely rubbish ever since. Fortunately we built up a decent cushion (for the time being).

I totally agree with the rest of your post, next weekend is almost a season defining 'six pointer'. We need to go to York with the intention of thrashing them, in which case, I think we are capable of doing so. If we go there intending to 'keep it tight' and 'nick a goal', then I fear, not only for the game but for the season as a whole. Ball on the deck, run at them, nice neat passes, shoot from distance, play with confidence. All the things we were doing a few months ago with the same squad... PLEASE!

.... not just the same squad, but put them in their best positions

Keith wrote:

RedRedWine wrote:How poor is the overall standard of the league this season? We have been absolutely terrible for 6 weeks, yet we are only 6 points off the playoffs with a game in hand. Madness.

I think it is more to do with the fact that we were excellent at the start of the season, then for whatever reason... tactics, confidence or our style of play was 'found out', but we've been completely rubbish ever since. Fortunately we built up a decent cushion (for the time being).

I totally agree with the rest of your post, next weekend is almost a season defining 'six pointer'. We need to go to York with the intention of thrashing them, in which case, I think we are capable of doing so. If we go there intending to 'keep it tight' and 'nick a goal', then I fear, not only for the game but for the season as a whole. Ball on the deck, run at them, nice neat passes, shoot from distance, play with confidence. All the things we were doing a few months ago with the same squad... PLEASE!

For me it was our tactics that changed. Jim seemed to worry that we were letting too many goals in when we were winning 3-2 , 4-2 and 5-2 , so now we are losing 4-2 , 4-3 etc etc

Seems like it's the usual mid season crisis once again brought on by a change in tactics. Last season things got worse after Mansfield roughly the same time in the league programme.

One thing for sure the fans will only return when the product on show provides some entertainment......not the sterile stuff we are witnessing the at the moment.

Christies Child wrote:Seems like it's the usual mid season crisis once again brought on by a change in tactics. Last season things got worse after Mansfield roughly the same time in the league programme.

Almost to the day

2015/16
http://www.soccerstats.com/team.asp?lea ... &teamid=12

2014/15
http://www.soccerstats.com/team.asp?lea ... &teamid=36

The Mansfield horror show will haunt me for a long time, almost as long as D&R replay and season before's Bristol Rovers away. All games where we appeared more intent on not conceding than winning. Lessons to be learned?

Keith wrote:

Christies Child wrote:Seems like it's the usual mid season crisis once again brought on by a change in tactics. Last season things got worse after Mansfield roughly the same time in the league programme.

Almost to the day

2015/16
http://www.soccerstats.com/team.asp?lea ... &teamid=12

2014/15
http://www.soccerstats.com/team.asp?lea ... &teamid=36

The Mansfield horror show will haunt me for a long time, almost as long as D&R replay and season before's Bristol Rovers away. All games where we appeared more intent on not conceding than winning. Lessons to be learned?

That's the trouble Keith....they don't seem to be being learned

I agree with Black Morse. We do not seem to learn but stubbornly carry on with defensive intentions and bizarre team selections. The lessons flagged up by the Mansfield result last season should have been learnt long ago but haven't been. We are a better team when players are given their head to go at the opposition and forwards are encouraged to shoot on sight. This was bringing us success last season and this season but meant we conceded a few goals. A more defensive, negative approach has failed and reduced us to be one of the poorer teams in the division. Some players that looked excellent early season are now looking very ordinary. A squad that many said was the strongest ever now looks very average. On the evidence of the past couple of seasons we will go to York with a defensive formation, with players playing out of position, trying to nick a goal on the break and give York their first three points in the last couple of months. I hope I am proved wrong but ......