For a squad with 13 players who've played top-flight football in the UK or abroad (and who have 178 full international caps between them) this was seriously underwhelming. This is shaping up as a repeat of 2019-2020: promising start in the first third...dire form in the middle third...some improvement in the final third, but not enough to achieve anything. Last season, despite Bowyer's peculiar tactics and endless re-shuffling of the side, it was a no-brainer to say that Lyle Taylor was responsible for us being relegated. This season?
I've thought for the last month or so that Bowyer has lost the dressing room. Not in a bad way, just that the players can't figure out what he wants them to do, and he keeps changing his mind and/or changing the team.
Given how much money Sangaard has put into the club, how many more games does Bowyer get?
Said it before and say it again. 15-16 players, 0 team.
Compared to that play off side we are miles behind. Absolutely no cohesion, no fluidity, no confidence.
It’s difficult to stick up for a bunch of players you’ve got no sympathy, affection or affiliation too. No crowds don’t help that but it’s just a squad of individuals.
First half was an improvement, Smyth and Millar doing exactly what you want of them, then nobody in the box. A midfield with no connection and tore to pieces because there’s no shape. Washington, works his bollcks off but dealing with balls at his head. Aneke, comes on and does a great job, why can’t he start? He’s a fucking fully paid pro footballer that can’t start games. Absolute madness!!!
What does Maatsen offer? Being our left-back throughout our good run and a generally good performer, maybe? He was defending well one-on-one today. Lost it in a bad spot for the 2nd goal when he should have headed it clear but we still didn't defend it well thereafter. He then did a bit of a headless chicken act, but he never hides and he has no little ability. Insane to make him one of the scapegoats compared to some of the dross we had out thee today. He showed a real understanding with Millar too.
Come on, Leuth; who do you want to be playing there ?
We managed to get this team and squad assembled with no money, rushed and with a wage cap in a matter of weeks having for 2 years consistantly Lost our best player
bowyer will have known it wld be a struggle and to be fair evn on that good run we had kept down plying it saying we are not where we need to be and shouldnt get carried away
clearly we havent got good enough players to be at or close to the top right now
in a normal season with no cap and with gd owner like we now have we wld have a semi overhaul and add at least to the defense and midfield but simply we cant due to this poxy cap
a few months ago we nearly didnt have a club to even support and i think a few people need to chill out and realise that yes we aint playing great and have some sub standard players and yes bowyer has made mistakes but quite simply just to know we have a squad team and management to follow for years to come im happy with and wouldnt have it anyother way
people have short memories and bowyer has worked magic before lets not jump the gun here with all thats gone on to get us in this situation
Gilbey getting pelters again but he was far from the worst out there. Had some efforts on target in the first half, put some tackles in and a couple of gut busting runs
I’m starting to think Bowyer was the right man at a bad time, but he isn’t the right man at this time.
Really, who else will be better?
I mean lots of managers would be better. Of those that we could realistically attract, someone like Appleton would be a good shout (plus it would fulfil a long running prophecy on this site).
There is no way this squad is that bad. I repeat myself, I believe we have one, if not the best squad in this league. But, it’s now put together to produce one of the worst teams. I think we are demoralised, and devoid of confidence. That is the managers job to install that in his team. Bowyer, if anything would appear from outside, to be making things worse. Sorry, he looks to be the problem, not the solution.
Constant tinkering has left us devoid of any pattern of play. Like a group of strangers out there
This.
Its no surprise that the team that has made the least changes beats the team that has made the most.
You have to have a settled side. Only Amos has played every game this season - and we've only played 20 !!
Pick you best players; play them in every game you can. We are not playing sat/tues/sat every week so there is no reason why they all cant play in every game.
Speechless, more mistakes and playing like complete strangers. The injuries and suspensions are no excuse. The set up, style and commitment on the pitch over the last 6 weeks has been all wrong.
Liked Millar, wish Schwartz had 10 more minutes, thought Oshilaja did enough to stay in the side, otherwise, the only thing it inspired was a bad mood.
Bowyer hasn’t known his best team since half way through last season, even with the best squad league 1 has ever seen we only scraped play offs. As much as he is a fan favourite and always will be much like Powell a time comes when enough is enough and we’ve been there for a few weeks now. Get him out now and give someone else a chance while we’re still in a window and they have a chance to make a difference.
Awful yet again, bowyer is being out managed in most games now, we just don’t seem to have a playing style, I don’t think the players know what it is, maybe because of so many changes game to game. We can’t keep going through the motions and hope something clicks. I know we’ve lost the two centre backs but Lee hasn’t addressed it in any way. A big decision needs to be made otherwise we are in this league which has suddenly got a few better sides in it now for quite a while. It is so gut wrenchingly disappointing after the boost of TS taking over. Bowyer just isn’t riding the wave that should be there after recent events. Fuming again.
Two defensive cock ups has cost today.. along with not playing our first eleven. Even when we kept the ball the first touches would be directed backwards, needing the player to turn to face forward, instead of a quick touch and keep moving forward. Terrible performance.
Other than the goals Amos did not have a shot to save,their keeper was called upon at least 6 times,we lost because we have gone from having the best defence in the div. to the worst,those goals were under 10 standard.We need to give Matsaan and Gunter a rest,Centre backs ,well we are stuck,although Oshi defended ok,Pearce looked shot.We cannot expect Williams to be at his best when he only comes on when we are in the shit and chasing the game,same about Maddison,although he is now obviously gone for a while.We have made the most team changes in the whole division,they have made the least and it showed.
Gilbey getting pelters again but he was far from the worst out there. Had some efforts on target in the first half, put some tackles in and a couple of gut busting runs
Not doing enough for a “key signing” we spent all those wages on before the cap
Could it be time for TS to ask Curbs to come in and help LB? I don't know the answer tbh, but of the managers available that would actually come here I can't think of one that would be much better?
Comments
Compared to that play off side we are miles behind. Absolutely no cohesion, no fluidity, no confidence.
im just sick of it.
We managed to get this team and squad assembled with no money, rushed and with a wage cap in a matter of weeks having for 2 years consistantly
Lost our best player
bowyer will have known it wld be a struggle and to be fair evn on that good run we had kept down plying it saying we are not where we need to be and shouldnt get carried away
clearly we havent got good enough players to be at or close to the top right now
in a normal season with no cap and with gd owner like we now have we wld have a semi overhaul and add at least to the defense and midfield but simply we cant due to this poxy cap
a few months ago we nearly didnt have a club to even support and i think a few people need to chill out and realise that
yes we aint playing great and have some sub standard players and yes bowyer has made mistakes but quite simply just to know we have a squad team and management to follow for years to come im happy with and wouldnt have it anyother way
people have short memories and bowyer has worked magic before lets not jump the gun here with all thats gone on to get us in this situation
other than Taylor, Gallagher and famewo/innis
I remain optimistic.
I think we have enough about us to stay up.
Its no surprise that the team that has made the least changes beats the team that has made the most.
You have to have a settled side. Only Amos has played every game this season - and we've only played 20 !!
Pick you best players; play them in every game you can. We are not playing sat/tues/sat every week so there is no reason why they all cant play in every game.
The saving grace is that it’s Friday so hasn’t totally fucked up the weekend.