Before he drains the last speck of life out of the squad. Only Luca Connell looks to be even half as good as he was last season. He’s reduced the rest to ashes. Luca hasn’t been around enough to be infected yet but it can’t be long. Even players who started the season quite well, Cole, Kane, even Jon Russell was ok for the first six or eight games; they are shadows of footballers now. Terrible. Nicky Cadden looked like scoring or assisting every week last season, this season he’s been average at best. His starting position at any given time is probably twenty yards deeper and in his own half this season though. He sounds dour. His football is dour. The performances are getting worse, the fans are staying at home, the atmosphere tonight was the only thing flatter than the performance. It’s a good job it was f*****g freezing otherwise I’d have slept through a lot of it. I really hope that freak ending (I’m delighted we got three points out of it, it keeps us well in touch with the top six and you’d hope we can get much better, with the right changes) doesn’t paper over the cracks. That wasn’t acceptable; and there is zero prospect of anything about the performances improving currently. He’s got to go. Surely? We haven’t played well for god knows how long. A controversial (though I think perfectly legitimate, what a tit their keeper is) late winner shouldn’t be allowed to cloud what we’ve been seeing all season.
Got to agree with what you are saying. Even tonight win against Wycombe was due to a bizarre goal as their goaljeep rarely had a shot or effort to save.
I'll be bitterly disappointed if he doesn't start Cole & Cosgrove with McAtee behind them. Both times in the last 2 games when he's gone to that system we've improved, even if he did **** up the Lincoln game with changing the defence later in the game.
Agreed. Also, in the last two games when we have started to panic in the last 15 minutes, we have started to up the tempo and looked dangerous. We have started shooting, and surprise, surprise, we have started scoring. No coincidence that it is when Cosgrove comes on and McAtee drops back. Why not try starting with that and see how it goes. Also, why keep bringing Jalo on for 5+ minutes. Give him a run, or sell him to some team that will.
He won’t go anywhere yet and in my opinion, I think we need to stick by him at the moment. The transfer window was absolutely awful and that isn’t his fault. Yes, I agree it doesn’t look hopeful at the moment but we ask for consistency and I think he’s still worth the chance. I expect 10 points before the New Years home game against Wigan and that’ll still give us a fighting chance in looking like we could get top six. Pressure could be on him after that with some tough games coming up against two very good sides in Stevenage and Peterborough, Reading have started picking up and Charlton aren’t a bad side either. The first six games into the New Year includes Oxford (at the moment) and Bolton away. I think Collins will know if he’s here for the long term or jobless after those games.
We do have players who look like their underperforming, Cole, Cadden, Phillips and Kane don't look like they did. One issue is there's no consistency in the 1st eleven and even the return of players like Connell and Lopata change the team again. Agree with Cole/ Cosgrove up front with McAtee behind but surely Connell,Kane and Styles must be the best midfield in this league. 4-3-3 to shore up the defence and we look pretty decent but I don't think he's got the players support and that could cost him his job..
It's been awful to watch recently without a doubt. But our last 8 matches, while missing several key players: W4, D3, L1, which yields 86/87 points over the course of a season. It's an understatement to say it would be unfair to fire any manager off the back of that.
I think by far the most annoying thing is that we showed at Lincoln in the second half when we upped the tempo that we can play entertaining football under Collins.
Can I suggest that at the upcoming fans forum someone reminds those on stage of the commitment made when the club was bought to play front foot, attacking, entertaining football and that was to be our DNA. Maybe it would do them all good, Collins especially, to be reminded of that.
Its definitely frustrating. And it's not the only game. Portsmouth was the prime example, even though we lost. We have players appearing to be going through the motions. Then surprisingly wake up. When a sub or 2 come on. Dare I say too much competition for places up front especially. Chopping and changing Coles partner leading to frustration for the others not playing. But none have shown enough, to hold down a place. I may have to agree with the idea of Jalo or Marsh starting. At least they show fight.
I really want last night to be his Fergie / Robins seminal moment and we kick on from here and conquer the world. Then I reflect on the other 96 moments in the game. What to do?
He has a few weeks for me now Connell is back. If we haven't improved following Christmas then fair enough. Also Cadden has as many assists so far this season as the entirety of last season.
I’m not here to defend Neil Collins, however surely the players have to take some of the heat? I’m sure he isn’t telling players to instantly give the ball away, every time they get hold of it? Personally think there are signs he’s lost the dressing room, but they are professionals. They should be able to pass a ball 5 yards, without instruction. The quality on the ball for about 80 minutes last night was just woeful. Little to do with formation for me.
Cole’s only really had 2 strike partners in McAtee & Watters. Cosgrove’s only started once & neither Marsh or Jalo have started a league game. I think it’s more than neither Watters or McAtee can do what Norwood & Tedic could. That’s why we need Cosgrove to come good.
Sorry but Styles would not be in any best midfield in league 1, whether he’s an international or not (total mystery how he is btw)
What are these signs he’s lost the dressing room? Players had each others backs when it kicked off, there were no players been subbed throwing tantrums, players are making runs for team mates (Kane & Williams never stopped making runs for Cotter in spite of rarely getting a pass off him), players are busting a gut to get back & stop counter attacks, there’s been no ill discipline off the pitch that I’m aware of, nothing on social media anyway.
I'm seeing many players way way way off the standard they showed under Duff. Some players who simply look like they can't be ar$ed, for large portions of games. I find Collins really hard to listen to, so I wouldn't be too surprised if some players felt the same way.We played okay-ish for about 10 minutes last night, IMO. I'm not about to start heaping praise on the manager for that. I'm far more concerned about the other 80 minutes. I'm not saying he has lost the dressing room by the way, Just that there are signs he could be.
Well our superstar striker has hit form, no idea what he was thinking scoring goals early season ? The real Devante is back can’t see anyone knocking doors down to sign him on January.
