Do we lack some characters in this team?

[EliotNes]

I get that. But we were looking ok until clay was brought on for gorman. After that we totally gave up midfield. A totally unnecessary change which more than contributed to our downfall.

I don't agree that the midfield gave up, but it was a strange substitution IMO. Nothing wrong with Gorman's play to warrant a substitution.

[Rich Tea Wellin]

I think in the moment, we were attacking and maybe Ross thought that we didn’t need Gorman breaking up play, but would benefit from some hustle and bustle and more finesse from clay.

I agree it didn’t work, but in the moment I understood what he was trying to do.

[Ronnie Hotdogs]

You’ve forgotten Bonne as well. He was a massive character. I’d have had no hesitation in giving him the armband if he was still here.

But yeah, I agree we’re missing that leadership on the pitch, no question about it.

[Joe_Mayo]

I think we have the strong characters but we have too many similar players in attack and midfield which restricts our capabilities as an attacking force..
All our central midfield are holding types with little attacking instinct. Up top, only Angol is different because of his skill , pace and presence. As a defender you would only worry about Alabi, Harrold and Wilkinson at set pieces - not open play.
I thought our weakness today was a lack of attacking threat and we had no one like Angol to makes runs behind the opposition's defence. Thought JMD and Dennis did very little and were easily contained. As a team we also break so slowly and we don't seem to have attacking midfielders that want to support the attack and are comfortable having a strike on goal.
I think our defence gets too much stick - which I don't think is fair when they're up against good attacking teams, like Crewe tonight and Swindon previously, and are under the cosh for long spells.

I think we just have to accept that we have the makings of a good squad but are probably 3 or 4 decent players short of the makings of a strong league 2 side.

[Thor]

I think in the moment, we were attacking and maybe Ross thought that we didn’t need Gorman breaking up play, but would benefit from some hustle and bustle and more finesse from clay.

I agree it didn’t work, but in the moment I understood what he was trying to do.

Not sure you're right on the point of Gorman being tugged. If RE had taken off Wright then I'd have agreed as he was having little or no impact in the game, gorman was playing well and impacting the game.

In my honest opinon it's another mistake from RE which has cost have either 1 or 3 points last night.

[Rich Tea Wellin]

Dont disagree.

RE mentions his reasoning in the post-match interview, which seems similar to my interpretation. Fresh legs, effectively.

Is Ross Faith?

[Red_Army]

Supposedly when we lost to Swindon i offered an opinion that Swindon were pretty ordinary & blamed Clay for 2 of the goals they scored were a direct result of him.

He comes on on Saturday when we are leading 2-1 & we draw, he comes on when we are level & we lose .

They said Swindon were a TOP team & would be IN AMONGST it , but they were ripped a new one by Col U who before tonight were on the same points as us.

Now if JMD scores the penalty a totally different perspective is on the game.

Before Clay comes on we are in control although not dominating , when he comes on we are defending far far more .

Craig fella , you are not a L2 Midfield dynamo .

Pull your socks up or be honest & do one !!

Marvin , you need to read this as well !

We need Jobi back & Dayton needs to be fit, just to give us different options.

What a load of rubbish. I take it you weren't at either of the last two games then? Craig Clay made positive contributions in both games, particularly at Exeter where he had a really good game when he came on. For me, it was the removal of Dennis in both games that was the questionable move.

I've seen you make the same argument, blaming Clay's introduction, on other threads and to be honest, it smacks of football illiteracy.

[Ronnie Hotdogs]

I think in the moment, we were attacking and maybe Ross thought that we didn’t need Gorman breaking up play, but would benefit from some hustle and bustle and more finesse from clay.

I agree it didn’t work, but in the moment I understood what he was trying to do.

Not sure you're right on the point of Gorman being tugged. If RE had taken off Wright then I'd have agreed as he was having little or no impact in the game, gorman was playing well and impacting the game.

In my honest opinon it's another mistake from RE which has cost have either 1 or 3 points last night.

Wright created the first goal. We had left Connor 2 v 1, watching him amble between them as they comfortably played the ball around. It was Wright breaking his line and closing down Adams which caused the initial dodgy pass.

Wright then went on to win the penalty.

I'm not his no 1 fan but to say he had no impact on the game is untrue.

[Thor]

Redo I like Wright and with his skill set he should be running the game and tempo for us. I don't think he did that last night. Gorman was more effective and I'm not sure he was tired either as he wasn't showing any signs of slowing down.

Where Dennis was concerned I thought he was tiring and Matt coming on could and should have given us an outlet, support for Connor and a physical presence. Unfortunately we handed the impetus to our opponents with the changed made. That being said the goal was coming anyway as they were on top at that point.

[Ronnie Hotdogs]

Redo I like Wright and with his skill set he should be running the game and tempo for us. I don't think he did that last night. Gorman was more effective and I'm not sure he was tired either as he wasn't showing any signs of slowing down.

Where Dennis was concerned I thought he was tiring and Matt coming on could and should have given us an outlet, support for Connor and a physical presence. Unfortunately we handed the impetus to our opponents with the changed made. That being said the goal was coming anyway as they were on top at that point.

Yeah, agreed again.

[tuffers#1]

Supposedly when we lost to Swindon i offered an opinion that Swindon were pretty ordinary & blamed Clay for 2 of the goals they scored were a direct result of him.

He comes on on Saturday when we are leading 2-1 & we draw, he comes on when we are level & we lose .

They said Swindon were a TOP team & would be IN AMONGST it , but they were ripped a new one by Col U who before tonight were on the same points as us.

Now if JMD scores the penalty a totally different perspective is on the game.

Before Clay comes on we are in control although not dominating , when he comes on we are defending far far more .

Craig fella , you are not a L2 Midfield dynamo .

Pull your socks up or be honest & do one !!

Marvin , you need to read this as well !

We need Jobi back & Dayton needs to be fit, just to give us different options.

What a load of rubbish. I take it you weren't at either of the last two games then? Craig Clay made positive contributions in both games, particularly at Exeter where he had a really good game when he came on. For me, it was the removal of Dennis in both games that was the questionable move.

I've seen you make the same argument, blaming Clay's introduction, on other threads and to be honest, it smacks of football illiteracy.

I saw both games thankyou very much.
Clay is our bogey player at the moment .
Look at the score stats when he is off the
pitch, then on it.
I was a huge fan of Craig last season,
This season he is not at the races .
He needs to buck up quick , or be out for
A month to get himself fully right.

[Red_Army]

Supposedly when we lost to Swindon i offered an opinion that Swindon were pretty ordinary & blamed Clay for 2 of the goals they scored were a direct result of him.

He comes on on Saturday when we are leading 2-1 & we draw, he comes on when we are level & we lose .

They said Swindon were a TOP team & would be IN AMONGST it , but they were ripped a new one by Col U who before tonight were on the same points as us.

Now if JMD scores the penalty a totally different perspective is on the game.

Before Clay comes on we are in control although not dominating , when he comes on we are defending far far more .

Craig fella , you are not a L2 Midfield dynamo .

Pull your socks up or be honest & do one !!

Marvin , you need to read this as well !

We need Jobi back & Dayton needs to be fit, just to give us different options.

What a load of rubbish. I take it you weren't at either of the last two games then? Craig Clay made positive contributions in both games, particularly at Exeter where he had a really good game when he came on. For me, it was the removal of Dennis in both games that was the questionable move.

I've seen you make the same argument, blaming Clay's introduction, on other threads and to be honest, it smacks of football illiteracy.

I saw both games thankyou very much.
Clay is our bogey player at the moment .
Look at the score stats when he is off the
pitch, then on it.
I was a huge fan of Craig last season,
This season he is not at the races .
He needs to buck up quick , or be out for
A month to get himself fully right.

Do you know the difference between correlation and cause?

[tuffers#1]

What a load of rubbish. I take it you weren't at either of the last two games then? Craig Clay made positive contributions in both games, particularly at Exeter where he had a really good game when he came on. For me, it was the removal of Dennis in both games that was the questionable move.

I've seen you make the same argument, blaming Clay's introduction, on other threads and to be honest, it smacks of football illiteracy.

I saw both games thankyou very much.
Clay is our bogey player at the moment .
Look at the score stats when he is off the
pitch, then on it.
I was a huge fan of Craig last season,
This season he is not at the races .
He needs to buck up quick , or be out for
A month to get himself fully right.

Do you know the difference between correlation and cause?

Yup

[Red_Army]

I saw both games thankyou very much.
Clay is our bogey player at the moment .
Look at the score stats when he is off the
pitch, then on it.
I was a huge fan of Craig last season,
This season he is not at the races .
He needs to buck up quick , or be out for
A month to get himself fully right.

Do you know the difference between correlation and cause?

Yup

Do you not think that may have something to do with it, then?

[tuffers#1]

Do you know the difference between correlation and cause?

Yup

Do you not think that may have something to do with it, then?

Possibly .

Could it not be having the same effect on other
players & the management , yet we seem to allow
Inane comments continually to fly about
" Certain other player/s".

Just a bit of balance being applied
To highlight the shortcomings of
The entire Set up

[Red_Army]

Yup

Do you not think that may have something to do with it, then?

Possibly .

Could it not be having the same effect on other
players & the management , yet we seem to allow
Inane comments continually to fly about
" Certain other player/s".

Just a bit of balance being applied
To highlight the shortcomings of
The entire Set up

It sounded to me like you were blaming Craig Clay.

[tuffers#1]

Do you not think that may have something to do with it, then?

Possibly .

Could it not be having the same effect on other
players & the management , yet we seem to allow
Inane comments continually to fly about
" Certain other player/s".

Just a bit of balance being applied
To highlight the shortcomings of
The entire Set up

It sounded to me like you were blaming Craig Clay.

Im blaming Clay for not being upto scratch this season
Certainly , as a Senior Experienced player & 1 of our leaders his ability to show that quality has been lacking .

Time to step up or be honest about fitness injury or health .
If its not the 1st issue , he needs to step back until he is ready to return all guns blazing

[Red_Army]

Possibly .

Could it not be having the same effect on other
players & the management , yet we seem to allow
Inane comments continually to fly about
" Certain other player/s".

Just a bit of balance being applied
To highlight the shortcomings of
The entire Set up

It sounded to me like you were blaming Craig Clay.

Im blaming Clay for not being upto scratch this season
Certainly , as a Senior Experienced player & 1 of our leaders his ability to show that quality has been lacking .

Time to step up or be honest about fitness injury or health .
If its not the 1st issue , he needs to step back until he is ready to return all guns blazing

You have literally no idea as to his health, let alone whether he is being honest about it or not. It's just a bizarre player to pick to blame for the last two results, simply because he happened to be on the pitch when we conceded two late goals, irrespective of whether or not he had anything to do with them.

[tuffers#1]

It sounded to me like you were blaming Craig Clay.

Im blaming Clay for not being upto scratch this season
Certainly , as a Senior Experienced player & 1 of our leaders his ability to show that quality has been lacking .

Time to step up or be honest about fitness injury or health .
If its not the 1st issue , he needs to step back until he is ready to return all guns blazing

You have literally no idea as to his health, let alone whether he is being honest about it or not. It's just a bizarre player to pick to blame for the last two results, simply because he happened to be on the pitch when we conceded two late goals, irrespective of whether or not he had anything to do with them.

You are correct none of us have a clue about his health ,
I havent blamed him for 2 results ive blamed him for part of at least 5 results, His drop in form is drastic compared to last season maybe 30% lesser the llayer he was ,
I know there is a step up in league , but it is nowhere near that much of a drop off in form & ability.

Which leade me to ask other questions.

[OyinbO]

It seems so obvious what the major factor in the downturn in performances across the whole squad is - but because he's lurking in the shadows on the side of the pitch, and not out on the field commanding your the crowd's attention for 90 minutes, so many of us somehow can't see that far.

And no, it isn't his fault. And yes, I do like and respect and admire him. But no, this isn't the job for him right now. And he isn't the person for the job right now either. Ling et al might think he's a good long-term punt, but honestly it's becoming quite clear that he's got a lot to learn - and how many of us are content to spend 5 years bumbling around in the nether regions of League Two again?

Just watch the crowd's confidence in him ebb over the next few months.

[Red_Army]

Im blaming Clay for not being upto scratch this season
Certainly , as a Senior Experienced player & 1 of our leaders his ability to show that quality has been lacking .

Time to step up or be honest about fitness injury or health .
If its not the 1st issue , he needs to step back until he is ready to return all guns blazing

You have literally no idea as to his health, let alone whether he is being honest about it or not. It's just a bizarre player to pick to blame for the last two results, simply because he happened to be on the pitch when we conceded two late goals, irrespective of whether or not he had anything to do with them.

You are correct none of us have a clue about his health ,
I havent blamed him for 2 results ive blamed him for part of at least 5 results, His drop in form is drastic compared to last season maybe 30% lesser the llayer he was ,
I know there is a step up in league , but it is nowhere near that much of a drop off in form & ability.

Which leade me to ask other questions.

Well that is absolutely ridiculous and completely bizarre. He performed to a more than acceptable standard in both appearances from the bench. The evidence you have for blaming him is simply that he was on the pitch when it went wrong- that is not causal, that is simply a coincidence.

[tuffers#1]

You have literally no idea as to his health, let alone whether he is being honest about it or not. It's just a bizarre player to pick to blame for the last two results, simply because he happened to be on the pitch when we conceded two late goals, irrespective of whether or not he had anything to do with them.

You are correct none of us have a clue about his health ,
I havent blamed him for 2 results ive blamed him for part of at least 5 results, His drop in form is drastic compared to last season maybe 30% lesser the llayer he was ,
I know there is a step up in league , but it is nowhere near that much of a drop off in form & ability.

Which leade me to ask other questions.

Well that is absolutely ridiculous and completely bizarre. He performed to a more than acceptable standard in both appearances from the bench. The evidence you have for blaming him is simply that he was on the pitch when it went wrong- that is not causal, that is simply a coincidence.

I think you need to.read all my posts.regarding Craig Clay
Especially the Swindon game, before you call it bizarre.