I would like a whole new midfield to be honest. I do like Dobson but the exciting things he's very good at don't make up for the things the players in his position are actually supposed to do. He's great at tackling, getting across to a player and trying really hard, but your defensive midfielder is supposed to shield the defence, stop teams being able to run directly through you and, most importantly for us, control the game from a deep position when needed. What we needed from our holder and captain today at 2-1 and 3-2 was some calm, the ability to slow the game down, hold the ball and stop the opposition building up a head of steam. Dobson just can't do that. He's lost if there isn't action to get into. I swear if you left him in an empty room and told him to stay put he'd slide tackle the door. Sure, it's probably not a lot of fun having only Watson and Anderson alongside you when the going gets tough but we should be looking to him to set the tone in these situations, not go haring round looking for things to kick. I honestly think he'd be more useful further up the pitch where positional discipline and calm isn't so important. I pray Bakinson and hopefully Coventry can come in and apply a bit of IQ to our midfield because right now we could save wages on just not having one at times.
I’m increasingly if the belief that he’s part of the problem for all of the reasons you outline.
Yes we need better for the backline but they’re really not THAT bad, as a unit they’re not the best in the league but they are regularly made to look non-league. That has to be in part because they’re just exposed to opportunities to be exposed far more often, if that makes sense.
I know there’d be a meltdown if we lost him but I honestly want to see a midfield that doesn’t include him (especially now with Bakinson and Fiorini on board) just to see if things improve. It can’t really get much worse.
He's just not the player we try to use him as. He shouldn't ever be the deepest midfielder because he's not good enough at reading the game or positionally aware enough to do it. I find it interesting that Adkins and Garner didn't want him there, Jackson had him there specifically to win a lot of tackles and little else, and even Appleton put McGrandles alongside him first chance he got to try and shore things up. A proper, intelligent holding midfielder dictating play and the players around him's positions with Dobson playing in front of him could really change our team for the better. Right now there's zero leadership in the middle and it's killing us
Watched the first 65mins but have had a crap few days and couldn't deal with the shitness of it all so had to switch it off. Their big lump upfront is one of the most limited footballers I have seen but utterly bullied our softies at the back. Port Vale were dreadful but still outplayed us for large parts.
That's so weird. I switched on at 65 to watch us promptly let in an equaliser. Got a bit happier when Campbell scored, having moaned about him, then the predictable wet fart is released.
If you have pride in a squad that is 7 points from the relegation zone, won one in ten and conceded an injury time goal for the billionth game on the bounce then you’re not fit for post.
There was nothing proud about watching Port Vale play us off the park for 70% of the game.
I'm so sick of this reading that we can't sack him because we've already sacked someone else this season. In no other walk of life would that be the case.
Didn't watch the game but pleased that Daniel Kanu scored a goal. I Watched the last 3 losses on Charlton TV and had my therapy session this afternoon. No surprise that 3 times we couldn't hold on to a lead; It's mandatory!
I'm so confused with the players scores? Did you all watch the same match ?
'To put the effort in that we did against Oxford on New Year’s Day and
get the sucker punch at the end and then to be able to do what we’ve
done today is pleasing'.
What? What?? We did the exact same thing! We conceded right at the death again! Has he got a late goals conceded accy on or something?
Our defence is without doubt the worst we’ve had in years. Three times we were ahead and three times they were found wanting in closing the game out. Of course I’m disappointed we didn’t win but I hope this focuses the mind of Scott to realise that it’s not just a striker and a midfield that needs bringing in. I’d bring in a left and right back, a centre back x 2. That’s in addition to what we’ve been hinted at.
If you have pride in a squad that is 7 points from the relegation zone, won one in ten and conceded an injury time goal for the billionth game on the bounce then you’re not fit for post.
There was nothing proud about watching Port Vale play us off the park for 70% of the game.
That is only because Reading had a points deduction.
It's good that we got three, but infuriating that we let the lead slip three times. That's without the knowledge that without some brilliant keeping from AMB the scoreline would have looked a lot worse. We looked weak at the back for much of the game, but when Thomas was brought on it was like a Pavlovian signal for our defence to play with the solidity of dog saliva. That's not to say all our problems were defensive or that all our defensive problems were Thomas' fault.
The contrast between them and us in terms of movement of the ball when attacking was amazing, that's not to big Vale up as something special, but there was a zip in their play that we never had. Again, so many times we got the ball forward but then stopped, went backwards and allowed them to get everyone behind the ball. No-one seems to get in a good position where they can receive the ball and do something positive with it. If you look at our goalscorers it gives you a clue to the problems. CBT has either lost his pace or his interest, so many times he gets beaten to the ball by the defender. Kanu spent half the game looking lost whilst Campbell despite racking up his second good performance in a row, looked shattered ten minutes before the end. They are all good enough to play a part, but none are good enough or strong enough to play the full 90 mins without the support of others. I am hopeful that we have a good transfer window, though I have reached the point where I feel a new manager is the priority.
I think maybe both Jones and Hector aren't good enough. To be honest they seem a similar level to TT.
I think that's harsh on Jones. He was a bit off his game today but he's been our best defender this season by a big margin. And Thomas is way off the pace for a league one side.
Was at the game , a 3-3 sounds like it was a great game when truth it was two poor sides , defending badly , most of the goals were due to poor defending and ref was an embarrassment but there is nothing new there.
I do feel we aren’t as bad as it looks and it wouldn’t take much to make us into a winning side
I think maybe both Jones and Hector aren't good enough. To be honest they seem a similar level to TT.
I think that's harsh on Jones. He was a bit off his game today but he's been our best defender this season by a big margin. And Thomas is way off the pace for a league one side.
What I can't understand is when we are winning and we go into injury time the players still jog around and look apathetic. Other sides seem to do anything to protect the goal, tracking back at double speed, throwing themselves in front of the ball to make blocks, fouling if neccessary, just keping possession...we seem to lack that desire or knowhow...,
Comments
Please go and take your team with you.
Positives.
We are a point closer to safety.
We are a point further away from 4th bottom
Burton v Wycombe was a draw so neither went above us.
Negatives
Another game goes by that we dont win after leading - this time we were ahead THREE times.
Appleton is still in charge
So...moe positives than negatives. That must be a first from me 😆.
we are a crap team and we need professional Help and investment and guidance!!
There was nothing proud about watching Port Vale play us off the park for 70% of the game.
https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/michael-appleton-after-yet-another-late-goal-conceded-during-port-vale-draw-i-wish-i-could-just-get-on-the-pitch-and-deal-with-it-myself/
I Watched the last 3 losses on Charlton TV and had my therapy session this afternoon.
No surprise that 3 times we couldn't hold on to a lead; It's mandatory!
I'm so confused with the players scores?
Did you all watch the same match ?
The contrast between them and us in terms of movement of the ball when attacking was amazing, that's not to big Vale up as something special, but there was a zip in their play that we never had. Again, so many times we got the ball forward but then stopped, went backwards and allowed them to get everyone behind the ball. No-one seems to get in a good position where they can receive the ball and do something positive with it. If you look at our goalscorers it gives you a clue to the problems. CBT has either lost his pace or his interest, so many times he gets beaten to the ball by the defender. Kanu spent half the game looking lost whilst Campbell despite racking up his second good performance in a row, looked shattered ten minutes before the end. They are all good enough to play a part, but none are good enough or strong enough to play the full 90 mins without the support of others. I am hopeful that we have a good transfer window, though I have reached the point where I feel a new manager is the priority.
I do feel we aren’t as bad as it looks and it wouldn’t take much to make us into a winning side