The last time we were this consistently sh!*...

[Keith]

...we were all calling for Sammy Macs head, and we suddenly went on a run and ended up getting promoted!

Okay, first things first, we need to win the relegation battle, because the way we are playing, we look like a relegation team. Clueless & dreadful. Pathetic.

Boring football, that fails to entertain.

We'll play for a 0-0 at Stevenage and perhaps get it. But draws away at places like Barnet, coupled with getting stuffed regularly at home, is relegation form without a doubt.

Come on Jim, stop being stubborn, stop going for the clean sheets. Two up front and the ball on the deck. Because if we're going to keep losing, at least lets do it with some style & entertainment, because right now, we're just failing in every department.

[Wild Bill]

Playing for 0-0? Most games I have seen this season Jim has let the opposition have a 0-2 head start.

[Seasider9601]

Playing for 0-0? Most games I have seen this season Jim has let the opposition have a 0-2 head start.

WE had a 2-0 head start last week and still managed to cock it right up.

[Teams like Morecambe]

stop going for the clean sheets

Why do people keep claiming we are playing for clean sheets? We keep conceding 2, 3, 4 goals a game at home! We scored 5 at Wimbledon with one striker. It's not all about formations and tactics, sometimes it's just down to the players. They clearly freeze at home. In tonight's programme Murphy stated he had not yet returned to full training. He wrote that about 10 days ago. Having been out since the opening day of the season he should be nowhere near the first team, getting game time in the reserves. It's a massive statement by Jim not only to name him on the bench tonight but also to bring him on at half time. Immediately he was organising the team, being vocal, asking for the ball and taking responsibility. At the end of the game he was encouraging the others who were desperate to leave the pitch to applaud the fans. As I posted after last week's debacle we have a young inexperienced squad that crumbles under pressure. It's a leader that we need and that man is Peter Murphy.

[Keith]

Because when we were winning in style earlier in the season, Jim said he was unhappy with us conceding goals. He changed things, presumably to address this? All that happened is we stopped playing flowing, exciting football.

Something changed. And not for the better.

[marky No.1]

It's not all about formations and tactics, sometimes it's just down to the players.

Are you Sammy McIlroy?

[KenH]

[In tonight's programme Murphy stated he had not yet returned to full training. He wrote that about 10 days ago. Having been out since the opening day of the season he should be nowhere near the first team, getting game time in the reserves. It's a massive statement by Jim not only to name him on the bench tonight but also to bring him on at half time. Immediately he was organising the team, being vocal, asking for the ball and taking responsibility. At the end of the game he was encouraging the others who were desperate to leave the pitch to applaud the fans. As I posted after last week's debacle we have a young inexperienced squad that crumbles under pressure. It's a leader that we need and that man is Peter Murphy.

Well said. We were surprised to see him on the bench and even more surprised to see him on the pitch. A VERY welcome early return and all credit to him for keeping himself fit and ready to play after such medical issues. Well deserved MOTM last night. As soon as he came on, he made an impact, giving some proper leadership and direction on the pitch which had been severely lacking this season. His interaction with the fans under difficult circumstances was also good to see. He is the true leader we've been waiting for and I hope he stays injury-free and enthusiastic as he holds the key to the future success.

[SolentShrimp]

Portsmouth are another team who've been struggling with their home form, and getting lots of stick from their faithful 15,000 or so.

Then suddenly...

http://thepompeychimes.net/forum/viewto ... =2&t=75568

2nd half, Pompey were playing towards an almost empty away end too!

[Gone_Shrimping]

Teams aren't coming to Morecambe and "parking the bus" anymore.

They are driving the damn thing right through our midfield and defence and giving us some real thrashings !

For me , our main problem is full-back. They both allow the opposition wide players too much room and the first goal last night was a perfect illustration of that. IMHO Beeley looks a pale shadow of the player who was winning MOTM on a regular basis last season. Big Kev had a mare of a match although he was in good company last night.

Other clubs go into the loan market when they are having results like ours but finances will dictate this to be unlikely to happen so Jim will have to go back to the drawing board with what he has in his squad. Hopefully AJ will soon be fit.

The only light at the end of the tunnel was provided by Peter Murphy. The second half was a slight improvement and he looked and behaved like a captain which is what we have been lacking.

[fulwoodshrimp]

I understand the argument that we can't afford loan signings but I would counter this by saying we can't afford relegation - that would be total financial meltdown!! We have been found out by opposition teams. They know we are vulnerable in defence with centre back pairings that don't work and full backs who give too much space to opposing wide men. Tactically we seem very naïve and the squad contains some players flattered to be playing league football. Hopefully, Peter Murphy's return will give the side some leadership and backbone but he can't do it by himself. We need several players to halt the slide down the table.

[glagys]

Teams suss us out early
We hit them on the break and a weak in defence

So who works out the tactics Ken or Jim or joint venture cos he need looking at

[SupermarketShrimp]

stop going for the clean sheets

Why do people keep claiming we are playing for clean sheets? We keep conceding 2, 3, 4 goals a game at home! We scored 5 at Wimbledon with one striker. It's not all about formations and tactics, sometimes it's just down to the players. They clearly freeze at home. In tonight's programme Murphy stated he had not yet returned to full training. He wrote that about 10 days ago. Having been out since the opening day of the season he should be nowhere near the first team, getting game time in the reserves. It's a massive statement by Jim not only to name him on the bench tonight but also to bring him on at half time. Immediately he was organising the team, being vocal, asking for the ball and taking responsibility. At the end of the game he was encouraging the others who were desperate to leave the pitch to applaud the fans. As I posted after last week's debacle we have a young inexperienced squad that crumbles under pressure. It's a leader that we need and that man is Peter Murphy.

This.

[Shrimpy]

we have a young inexperienced squad that crumbles under pressure

Roche - 33 - over 450 appearances
Beeley - 27 - over 200 appearances
Parrish - 27 - nearly 300 appearances
Wilson - 29 - nearly 350 appearances
Goodall - 33 - over 350 appearances
Miller - 28 - over 250 appearances
Ellison - 36 - over 550 appearances

That's 7 players in the starting 11 last night, the rest of them (Edwards, Molyneux, Barkhuizen & Kenyon) are hardly inexperienced having played around 450 - 500 games between them.

There is also this to give you some comparison with the rest of League 2:

[Pandashrimp]

Teams aren't coming to Morecambe and "parking the bus" anymore.

They are driving the damn thing right through our midfield and defence and giving us some real thrashings !

For me , our main problem is full-back. They both allow the opposition wide players too much room and the first goal last night was a perfect illustration of that. IMHO Beeley looks a pale shadow of the player who was winning MOTM on a regular basis last season. Big Kev had a mare of a match although he was in good company last night.

Other clubs go into the loan market when they are having results like ours but finances will dictate this to be unlikely to happen so Jim will have to go back to the drawing board with what he has in his squad. Hopefully AJ will soon be fit.

The only light at the end of the tunnel was provided by Peter Murphy. The second half was a slight improvement and he looked and behaved like a captain which is what we have been lacking.

Agree with most of this. Not only do we look exposed against wide players driving inside at pace. I have seen quite a few goals this year from balls swung in from deep. The wide men in the 3 (Kev) need to be offering the fullbacks support in stopping the cross or doubling up.

We were superb at Rochdale. Kenyon was immense in the middle offering cover for the back 2. The only time they threatened was when Mendez-Laing got at Aaron. Thought he played very well but at times he was exposed