Hunt out.

[Snowflake Royal]

Ahmed's started 3 games, it's rather premature to expect him to be sold for big money. Unless you want to do an SCR flounce.

We'd still have most of a decent spine with Pereira, O'Connor, Williams, Fraser, Wing

Were you excited by Abrefa or Ahmed signing new deals a few months ago? And your touting one for a big sale and the other is an early top performer

I’m not necessarily expecting Ahmed to be sold for big money, that was an example

Point is from that list of players we probably need to sell a couple to make ends meet

This season we had Wing, Knibbs, Savage, Abrefa, Elliott under contact coming into the season

Next year the spine might be JP, Wing, O Connor, Fraser, Williams, Kelvin E plus a few solid players who we re-sign during the season

The first group is probably stronger than the second

Point is that I wouldn’t next expect is to be better next year. Players like Savage and Elliott won’t be easily replaceable with the budget we have

And we need to do well this year. A season of struggle this year could make it really difficult to attract quality next

Savage’s contract expires at the end of next season, so he can be added to that list.

Hound is assuming he's sold.

[Extended-Phenotype]

Difficult to say how much weight to give last nights game in terms of monitoring progress; cups can yield result outliers with their different pressures and team selections from both sides, but at the very least win with a changed lineup demonstrates we actually have a bit of strength in depth for once.

The team goal showed we have a team in there somewhere. Fraser looked tidy - would like to see him combine with Wing in what many think would be the more natural positioning of the two (Fraser deep, Wing ahead of him); could see Wing loving that sort of hand-off.

Let’s call it a half step forward, Hunt-wise. Team selection was good, the players seemed a bit more confident, and the football is starting to spark. Will be interesting to see Hunt’s selection for Saturday, especially with Marriott joining us.

[Hound]

I’m not sure it changes loads, but maybe the hierarchy will be look at the result more favourably if we pull that Spurs away draw out the bag in the next round

Definitely some positives - mainly the second goal. The set up was better, no one was running like a headless chicken. Starting to get something useful out of O Mahony. Line up and subs all made sense

I’m not sure we were particularly impressive though. Reckon they prob had the better chances. We still don’t create a lot and we didn’t get behind them a lot

But a wins a win and we certainly have some good players and depth, and I reckon we’re not far off having a clear first 11 (or 11 from 13 with some rotation)

[Extended-Phenotype]

Yeah, Elliott/Fraser and Doyle/Savage are clearly interchangeable. It’s nice to have options there which wouldn’t disappoint if their names cropped up on the starting lineup.

Decent backup in defence, out wide, and even up front now. I think the only thing we need now is time and consistency. A bit of flexibility tactically would be the next step. Obviously we have to avoid being predictable, but getting Plan A sorted is the priority. We should be able to tweak it to be more attacking/defensive as necessary.

[Snowflake Royal]

Yeah, Elliott/Fraser and Doyle/Savage are clearly interchangeable. It’s nice to have options there which wouldn’t disappoint if their names cropped up on the starting lineup.

Decent backup in defence, out wide, and even up front now. I think the only thing we need now is time and consistency. A bit of flexibility tactically would be the next step. Obviously we have to avoid being predictable, but getting Plan A sorted is the priority. We should be able to tweak it to be more attacking/defensive as necessary.

I don’t see Elliott/Fraser or Doyle/Savage even remotely interchangeable.

Doyle/Elliott - yeah sure. Savage/Fraser... maybe.

[Extended-Phenotype]

Lol, it’s funny how often two people can watch the same matches and get completely different takes.

To me, Elliott looks like a player who keeps the midfield three ticking over while two more creative players take their chances. Fraser seems to fit that mould, and I’m not sure I’d want a midfield without one of those two anchoring it.

With Wing arguably the first name on the team sheet, Doyle and Savage feel like players you’d happily throw into the mix to make up the three.

Of course other variations are possible, but Wing, Fraser/Elliott, Doyle/Savage would be my favoured formula.

[Snowflake Royal]

Lol, it’s funny how often two people can watch the same matches and get completely different takes.

To me, Elliott looks like a player who keeps the midfield three ticking over while two more creative players take their chances. Fraser seems to fit that mould, and I’m not sure I’d want a midfield without one of those two anchoring it.

With Wing arguably the first name on the team sheet, Doyle and Savage feel like players you’d happily throw into the mix to make up the three.

Of course other variations are possible, but Wing, Fraser/Elliott, Doyle/Savage would be my favoured formula.

Yeah, I'm often surprised by how differently even fairly clued in and sensible people see things. And it's interesting to see them.

I see Elliott as the guy who finds space, receives the ball turns his man and breaks forward, then playing in someone else to either shoot or assist. Furthest forward of the midfield.

Doyle same role, turning his man, finding space... bit more pace driven, bit more twinkle toes through challenges.

Fraser on the other hand to me is the workman. Keeping it simple. Lay off, distribution, harrassing, cover, challenges. Better defensively than Wing, but without the speed of passing or quality of passing. Like Savage but without the high octane lung busting running everywhere.

I think we've seen Fraser doesn’t work well with Wing and Savage, it's all a bit safe, lacking someone who'll turn their man and burst into space or tiptoe through a few challenges. That's what I think Knibbs brought us, and what I think Elliott and Doyle replace. Obvs Elliott has some way to go on fox in the boxing like Knibbs did.

I absolutely would not play Wing, Fraser, Savage together again unless I absolutely had to.

And I think Wing, Elliott, Doyle is a bit fancy dan and lightweight to combo well.

But opinions and arseholes is the phrase isnit?

[Hound]

Some of Fraser’s passing is excellent tbf. Very quick to spot a pass

Big fan of his actually. Wins headers and tackles. Doesn’t suit that Knibbs-esque role Hunt gave him in the league games though

I think you have to play at least one of Doyle and Elliot. And I think you could go Fraser, Doyle, Elliott but it’d be a brave (and prob foolish) man to drop Savage and Wing

[Mid Sussex Royal]

Performance poor again and against very limited opposition and like Brogue and a number of others I'm not convinced by Hunt/coaches.

Hopefully the win and clean sheet will build confidence and I would wholly expect to see a tangible improvement in the next block of games given we have 2 weeks to work with just about a full squad.

If results and particularly performances don't improve by the next international break I'd make the change then as it will then be a case of clear underachievement with the squad we have.

[RoyalBlue]

Performance poor again and against very limited opposition and like Brogue and a number of others I'm not convinced by Hunt/coaches.

Hopefully the win and clean sheet will build confidence and I would wholly expect to see a tangible improvement in the next block of games given we have 2 weeks to work with just about a full squad.

If results and particularly performances don't improve by the next international break I'd make the change then as it will then be a case of clear underachievement with the squad we have.

Much as I love Hunt as an individual and for all of the things he has done for our club, I'm starting to question the management and coaching abilities of him and his management/coaching team.

Why on earth do we persist with the aimless and completely unproductive long ball approach when our players have proven they are much better suited to a quick, short passing game with long balls used sparingly when they are likely to be productive.

What is the point of putting Elliott into the team and have no one give him the ball to his feet? Who on earth comes up with the routines for dead ball situations in our favour?! We very nearly conceded early in the game from our own corner when it was stupidly played short and then backwards before we lost possession and got caught with a quick counter-attack. This despite the fact that we had both Burns and Williams in the Vale's area waiting for the corner and Williams in particular has a good record of scoring from set pieces during his career.

And when we do get a goal, why do we then retreat into defence instead of going for the jugular?

[Hound]

Why is the CF always so deep and behind the wingers? That’s one I’d like to know. And it’s not MOM as Marriott was there as well

But 4 games unbeaten is fair enough despite some ropey performances

[Royal_jimmy]

I'm the same, we've looked flat all season and we have players with ability. To be honest it was similar last season we just managed to get the odd penalty or we had Bindon and Mbengue to bail us out or Nigel Gibbs to support the coaching team.

We don't work the opposition goalkeeper enough and now we are leakier at the back. The football is also dull to watch. I think Hunt will be gone by November. Not unless we improve because we aren't getting promoted from this league otherwise.

[West F]

Dear Noel,

Please for the love of god stop playing Pep’s inverted 4 3 3. Ruben did it because it suited the players we had at the time, only after his tactical vision was undeliverable. Stop splitting the centre backs to take goal kicks to the keeper to invite a press. Only for him to whack it up the pitch anyway, with our centre backs now so deep that there is no offside if the ball is returned straight into their forward players.
We are easy to play against, because everyone knows exactly how we play . Because they know how we play, every team we have faced has set up to negate us. Sticking to a failing plan is dogmatic stupidity. You are allowed to play left wingers on the left, and right wingers on the left. The referees will allow it and Pep may not approve, but f*ck him!
At this time I have no idea whether O’Mahony is a professional footballer let alone a striker. Do it for him, give him something to attack. Get yourself natural width. Stretch teams out wide, have overlapping fullbacks, and go for it at a high tempo. You remember that surely.
This crap mat get Pep’s nod of approval. But it will get you the sack, and none of us want that.

[Vision]

Why is the CF always so deep and behind the wingers? That’s one I’d like to know. And it’s not MOM as Marriott was there as well

But 4 games unbeaten is fair enough despite some ropey performances

I think some of it is just a consequence of how we engineer the press now. The two wide forwards are now the furthest forward closing down the keeper/centre halves and the centre forward drops deeper to cut out the central passing lane. If the opposition go long and we get the ball moving forward then it's noticeable that the wide players are still furthest up the pitch.

[Snowflake Royal]

Performance poor again and against very limited opposition and like Brogue and a number of others I'm not convinced by Hunt/coaches.

Hopefully the win and clean sheet will build confidence and I would wholly expect to see a tangible improvement in the next block of games given we have 2 weeks to work with just about a full squad.

If results and particularly performances don't improve by the next international break I'd make the change then as it will then be a case of clear underachievement with the squad we have.

Much as I love Hunt as an individual and for all of the things he has done for our club, I'm starting to question the management and coaching abilities of him and his management/coaching team.

Why on earth do we persist with the aimless and completely unproductive long ball approach when our players have proven they are much better suited to a quick, short passing game with long balls used sparingly when they are likely to be productive.

What is the point of putting Elliott into the team and have no one give him the ball to his feet? Who on earth comes up with the routines for dead ball situations in our favour?! We very nearly conceded early in the game from our own corner when it was stupidly played short and then backwards before we lost possession and got caught with a quick counter-attack. This despite the fact that we had both Burns and Williams in the Vale's area waiting for the corner and Williams in particular has a good record of scoring from set pieces during his career.

And when we do get a goal, why do we then retreat into defence instead of going for the jugular?

Elliott did receive the ball to feet yesterday (and Wycombe), but against Vale he was dreadful and gave it away immediately time and again. Plus we were having a lot of joy down the flanks, so the slower more central passing play he's good at wasn't the way to go.

That early chance we conceded was because Elliott was so poor, he fell over receiving a simple pass and they were away.

[Snowflake Royal]

Why is the CF always so deep and behind the wingers? That’s one I’d like to know. And it’s not MOM as Marriott was there as well

But 4 games unbeaten is fair enough despite some ropey performances

It's not like Smith was a big scorer for us and we've been relying on the striker for goals.

The wingers and Savage are quick, so they do the pressing and striker covers the lanes into central midfield. Better for MOM etc to come a bit deeper to receive the ball either in more space or breaking the defensive line taking a CB with him. Neither MOM nor Marriott nor Ehibhatiomhan are going to win much up high against CBs and there's no one for them to flick on to if they are high.

[leon]

Why is the CF always so deep and behind the wingers? That’s one I’d like to know. And it’s not MOM as Marriott was there as well

But 4 games unbeaten is fair enough despite some ropey performances

It's not like Smith was a big scorer for us and we've been relying on the striker for goals.

The wingers and Savage are quick, so they do the pressing and striker covers the lanes into central midfield. Better for MOM etc to come a bit deeper to receive the ball either in more space or breaking the defensive line taking a CB with him. Neither MOM nor Marriott nor Ehibhatiomhan are going to win much up high against CBs and there's no one for them to flick on to if they are high.

This sounds like tactics through inevitability rather than design.

[Snowflake Royal]

Why is the CF always so deep and behind the wingers? That’s one I’d like to know. And it’s not MOM as Marriott was there as well

But 4 games unbeaten is fair enough despite some ropey performances

It's not like Smith was a big scorer for us and we've been relying on the striker for goals.

The wingers and Savage are quick, so they do the pressing and striker covers the lanes into central midfield. Better for MOM etc to come a bit deeper to receive the ball either in more space or breaking the defensive line taking a CB with him. Neither MOM nor Marriott nor Ehibhatiomhan are going to win much up high against CBs and there's no one for them to flick on to if they are high.

This sounds like tactics through inevitability rather than design.

You play what you're dealt.

[hughsies no.1]

I’m not calling for Hunt to go - but I am betting increasingly concerned by our ‘second ball tactics’ we seem to have, especially at home.

We don’t dictate games, teams play through us.

I’d hope this long break means we can work on not being a second ball team - which I currently think we are.

IF Selles is sacked, which looks likely…

Would you -
A - have him back straight away
B - think he would want to come back?

FWIW - I would have him back in a heartbeat and reckon he would be open to it too.

[Extended-Phenotype]

I’m not calling for Hunt to go - but I am betting increasingly concerned by our ‘second ball tactics’ we seem to have, especially at home.

We don’t dictate games, teams play through us.

I’d hope this long break means we can work on not being a second ball team - which I currently think we are.

IF Selles is sacked, which looks likely…

Would you -
A - have him back straight away
B - think he would want to come back?

FWIW - I would have him back in a heartbeat and reckon he would be open to it too.

Selles bailed halfway through a job when the going got tough. I didn’t find it surprising, but I was disappointed with him. Not really interested in letting him walk back in now the ship has steadied. And to be honest, I’m really not sure he is much better than Hunt (he’s lost two jobs since bailing on us).