Has our promption bubble burst?

[father ted]

We have amassed five points out of the last fifteen, and on performances you could argue that we didn't even deserve that many. We have failed to work up a head of steam in any of these games and some of the spirit shown is looking questionable.

Our wingers seem to be going through a quiet spell and without any spark from them we resort to hoofing clueless long balls down the middle. We appear tactically naive and there is a possibility that other clubs have sussed us out.

We have two tough away games before we welcome Bury to VP. Darlo seem to be finding their feet and Mike Newell seens to have instilled a bit of life in to Grimsby. I can't honestly see us getting more than one point out of these two matches.

Hopefully it is just a bad patch, but the energy levels shown by some players of late aren't up to the required level and with our player's ageing limbs having to cope with heavier pitches then there may be more to it.

Personally, I think we have lost our way and automatic promotion will prove beyond us. Play-offs at best, I'm afraid.

[Young bantam]

what the hell are you talking about were 6th and still a very long way to go were gunna win the league or at least promotion .Just you wait and see my friend.:D

[sweetcakes]

Will say after XMAS to early to say so

[mowgli]

tactically naive

A phrase i used after Shrewsbury away and got slated on the OMB for it but now everyone seems to be in agreement. We are often transparent and rigid and unable to adapt during a game to counter the changes made by opposing managers. Sorry to hark back to Hudders away again but at half time we were still in the game, the ball was in the air all the time and both teams were awful. Credit to Ternent, he got Hudders to play the ball on the floor, pass through midfield, use the wings and get in behind us, they destroyed us 2nd half and we had no answer.

I don't like 4-5-1 but Bournemouth had 5 in midfield against us and ran us ragged, if ever we needed more men in midfield it was then, we didn't adapt during the game and got what we deserved, nothing. Igoe and Anderton were instead left to run the show.

We went to Shrewsbury with a negative 4-5-1 that looked like we would rely on nicking the odd goal, possibly by a set piece and then defending our lead, that plan was gone after their 1st goal and we were left chasing the game.

Luton had our strikers in their back pockets but no effective changes made or made soon enough.

Frustrating being a city fan isn't it???

[Jose]

Problem with the 4-5-1 at Shrews was that we conceded after 7 minutes.

Erm, where was the change to try and have a go?

Shrews will not come to VP and play one up top, guaranteed.

Macca seems more worried about the opposition than what his own team can do.

[Mallorcabantam]

The forads are scoring --- the defence are leaking goals

So where is the problem -- go on -- its am easy question --

[Hulmebantam]

After the early season optimism, with some good signings, I think the reality is setting in that although we are a better side than last season, we are still only one of a group of teams with play-off aspirations.

The current evidence is that in central defence we are less solid than last season, and that we are still struggling for the right balance in central midfield.

Promotion is still very much on, but we will have to show greater flexibility and variety in team selection and be more responsive to our opponents game plan to be challengers.

[Parrot]

After the early season optimism, with some good signings, I think the reality is setting in that although we are a better side than last season, we are still only one of a group of teams with play-off aspirations.

The current evidence is that in central defence we are less solid than last season, and that we are still struggling for the right balance in central midfield.

Promotion is still very much on, but we will have to show greater flexibility and variety in team selection and be more responsive to our opponents game plan to be challengers.

Well said HB clap:

Im sure we'll improve gradually as the season progresses and we'll be in the mix come May tup:

[tony d]

Personally, I think we have lost our way and automatic promotion will prove beyond us. Play-offs at best, I'm afraid.

Quite right.. Surely everyone must agree with this chap..

We have played **** and are already three whole points off the top slot..

Sack em..Sack em all.. We have no chance of catching up in the next 30 odd games..

3 points.. Totally unassailable.. Im gutted..tup:

[Parrot]

Quite right.. Surely everyone must agree with this chap..

We have played **** and are already three whole points off the top slot..

Sack em..Sack em all.. We have no chance of catching up in the next 30 odd games..

3 points.. Totally unassailable.. Im gutted..tup:

Lol....I've never seen so much shite posted on a m/b as soon as we play bad or dont win.

Some fans need to get a grip!

Im sure the likes of Wycombe, Shrewsbury and the rest haven't played like Brazil EVERY week and will go through patches where they dont play fluid football.

When we won promotion In 96 and 99 did we win EVERY home game?

Did we beat EVERY team 5-0?

Did the manager make the right decision EVERY time?

Did he get the subs right EVERY time?

Im begining to wonder if our fans deserve success after some of the moaning and negativety i've had to read through on here for the last few weeks! tdwn:

[MARKG]

Does our manager get many decisions right
Does our manager get any subs right

[peter beagrie is mint]

What will be the feeling, if we beat Darlo and go top:rolleyes: Get a grip FFS! 11 games that's all..

[lee]

The thing I don't understand is the lack of movement in front of us when we've got the ball. These are supposed to be good players who are getting into their stride fitness-wise at around about this point in the season yet everytime we receive the ball we're either passing it backwards or hoofing it up field and surrendering possession because noone is finding space in front of us. Is it because of the age of the team in general? Or we aren't fit enough? I don't know, but we don't look interested as other teams.

Stu's tried to big us up as a passing side but we don't look like a good side at all when we try it for these reasons and Macca said this after the game yesterday so why isn't it changing... I am sceptical as to how long we can look so lacklustre and carry on grinding out points, maybe it's a tribute to how crap this league is that we are still only 3 off the top. I'll take it but I think we can play much better. Maybe it's a blip, who knows, we'll see.

[Bantam-in-Greece]

I think that maybe Macca should dip into the loan market for a couple of experienced pro's in order to steady a very shaky ship.

[Lofty]

IF WE WIN 2-0 TOMORROW NIGHT WE WILL BE TOP OF THE LEAGUE!!!!!!

TIS ALL :rolleyes:

[lee]

[B]IF

That's a pretty big if.

[Bantam Kitchen Gunner]

No way lol, we cannot win all games. WE will be fine. It is far from over. Plus if were not losing games or only a odd one. Not yet hit top form, only 2 points off topp place. Then no. We will be back soon better than ever.

[Lofty]

That's a pretty big if.

If my Aunty had bollocks she'd be me Uncle and all that...tup:

Okay then if we lose tomorrow we're still only 3 points off the top jump:

[Lofty]

Did you mean the if was big?! If you did I only just got that tup: :D

[lee]

Did you mean the if was big?! If you did I only just got that tup: :D

Well a bit of both really.

Keep up. :rolleyes: tup:

[Lofty]

well a bit of both really.

Keep up. :rolleyes: Tup:

Must try harder :D

[Macca Ha Ha Ha]

As far as i can see we can only improve - and yet we are just 3 points from top spot - already a bit different from last season we will be fine for auto promotion if not winning this division.

See Posh form last season when they were very wobbly early on, we might not have splashed out on big transfers but the wages will be substantial.

[sweetcakes]

Way to early to judge where we will finish we are playing crap but sit only 3 points of the top while still picking points up.
A more realistic view will be after Crimbo when a fair few others hit a bit of poor formtup:tup:lets see how many points they pick up then tup:

[Tallinnbantam]

Remember we've got Brandon coming back in January, who can play in any position across the midfield. Then we'll see if Colebeck and McClarens perfomance improve, knowing that they have a ready made, experienced, replacement breathing down their necks.

[father ted]

Lol....I've never seen so much shite posted on a m/b as soon as we play bad or dont win.

Some fans need to get a grip!

Im sure the likes of Wycombe, Shrewsbury and the rest haven't played like Brazil EVERY week and will go through patches where they dont play fluid football.

When we won promotion In 96 and 99 did we win EVERY home game?

Did we beat EVERY team 5-0?

Did the manager make the right decision EVERY time?

Did he get the subs right EVERY time?

Im begining to wonder if our fans deserve success after some of the moaning and negativety i've had to read through on here for the last few weeks! tdwn:

Whoa, steady on fella!

I don't consider this post to be whingeing or negative, or at least that wasn't my intention. I was just giving my opinion on where we would finish. The play-offs would represent progress and I'd take that.

Nor am I having a dig at Macca. The thing I particularly like about him is that his post match assessments seem to be honest and accurate enough. I accept he is on a learning curve, I just wish it could be shorter.

Ironically, he describes the performance yesterday as not good enough. Yet when someone voices the same opinion on here they get slated for it.

I do think that our performances have dipped of late, and more worryingly, so has the work rate. I am also concerned that we seem to have neither the tactics or back-up personnel to adapt an effective Plan B when necessary.

Hopefully I'll be proved wrong. It's a long season after all. Who knows what twist and turns we face between now and May?

[Parrot]

Whoa, steady on fella!

I don't consider this post to be whingeing or negative, or at least that wasn't my intention. I was just giving my opinion on where we would finish. The play-offs would represent progress and I'd take that.

Nor am I having a dig at Macca. The thing I particularly like about him is that his post match assessments seem to be honest and accurate enough. I accept he is on a learning curve, I just wish it could be shorter.

Ironically, he describes the performance yesterday as not good enough. Yet when someone voices the same opinion on here they get slated for it.

I do think that our performances have dipped of late, and more worryingly, so has the work rate. I am also concerned that we seem to have neither the tactics or back-up personnel to adapt an effective Plan B when necessary.

Hopefully I'll be proved wrong. It's a long season after all. Who knows what twist and turns we face between now and May?

It wasn't aimed at you mate, despite it been on your thread.

Im on about others on here and City fans in general who seem to be nit picking at every miniscule decision McCall makes!

[father ted]

It wasn't aimed at you mate, despite it been on your thread.

Im on about others on here and City fans in general who seem to be nit picking at every miniscule decision McCall makes!

Oh.. them !!:mad:

[beerbantam]

Im on about others on here and City fans in general who seem to be nit picking at every miniscule decision McCall makes!

McCall hasnt come under any pressure either on the boards or in public. Its a good thing that he's a legend and is being given the time required to learn his trade.However most i have spoke to harbour doubts about his ability as a manager. Common comments often include, lack of a plan B, inability to change a game & predictability with all substitutes.
In an ideal world Macca will guide us straight to automatic promotion this year, sticking to his guns and doing it as he is. Once again he will get a clean slate for the L1 promotion push. Failure to do this and it will get messy in the terraces imo.
There is a pretty big element of our fans who think Macca can do no wrong, any criticism of him is shouted down with questions of loyalty to the club - which is of course obsered. Yet on the other hand there are many fans who think we should be moving back up the leagues and no man is bigger than the club. Success and promotion is imperative this season.

[Parrot]

McCall hasnt come under any pressure either on the boards or in public. Its a good thing that he's a legend and is being given the time required to learn his trade.However most i have spoke to harbour doubts about his ability as a manager. Common comments often include, lack of a plan B, inability to change a game & predictability with all substitutes.
In an ideal world Macca will guide us straight to automatic promotion this year, sticking to his guns and doing it as he is. Once again he will get a clean slate for the L1 promotion push. Failure to do this and it will get messy in the terraces imo.
There is a pretty big element of our fans who think Macca can do no wrong, any critisism of him is shouted down with questions of loyalty to the club - which is of course obsered. Yet on the other hand there are many fans who think we should be moving back up the leagues and no man is bigger than the club. Success and promotion is imperative this season.

The way people are going about you'd think we were 3 points of the bottom, not the top, thats what annoys me!

I dont agree with every decision Macca makes and no ones beyond critisism but i just dont know what most City fans expect?

If they thought we were gonna win the league by 20 points, playing like Brazil and not go through a few bad patches then they only have themselves to blame for being deluded.

[father ted]

McCall hasnt come under any pressure either on the boards or in public. Its a good thing that he's a legend and is being given the time required to learn his trade.However most i have spoke to harbour doubts about his ability as a manager. Common comments often include, lack of a plan B, inability to change a game & predictability with all substitutes.
In an ideal world Macca will guide us straight to automatic promotion this year, sticking to his guns and doing it as he is. Once again he will get a clean slate for the L1 promotion push. Failure to do this and it will get messy in the terraces imo.
There is a pretty big element of our fans who think Macca can do no wrong, any critisism of him is shouted down with questions of loyalty to the club - which is of course obsered. Yet on the other hand there are many fans who think we should be moving back up the leagues and no man is bigger than the club. Success and promotion is imperative this season.

I could accept not going up if it means the likes of O'Brien and Osborne are given a chance. Failure to get promoted wouldn't be the end of the world if we could see some bright, young talent emerging.

[Tills]

I could accept not going up if it means the likes of O'Brien and Osborne are given a chance. Failure to get promoted wouldn't be the end of the world if we could see some bright, young talent emerging.

Fine sentiments indeed. However, IMO I would put you in a minority of about:



1

[beerbantam]

I could accept not going up if it means the likes of O'Brien and Osborne are given a chance. Failure to get promoted wouldn't be the end of the world if we could see some bright, young talent emerging.

O'B's the main man now - the big cheese - the head boy!!tup:tup: