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Messages - TonyM
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46
« on: January 23, 2024, 06:26:43 PM »
To be fair to SC, there were many fans both on here and elsewhere on social media who were saying we couldn't let Josh go for anything less than 'silly money' at the start of the season. The fact that he has now gone on a free is more down to how much his stock has fallen than any action of the chairman, no matter what valuation he had unless you have a willing buyer you won't have a sale and I think that is where we have been with Barrett for a while and so I think we were right to cut our losses as better now than on a free at the end of the season and at least we can use the wages saved on someone AL wants in the team.
47
« on: January 22, 2024, 02:02:06 PM »
Few reflections on Saturdays match:
First half we were mostly chasing shadows and it looked like a top v bottom kind of clash. Second half we had a great spell and also got some luck. Paul Jones was magnificent and basically kept us in it.
I think we are better 4-4-2 than 3-5-2. I guess the reason why we maybe set up to play 3-5-2 is that we don't have centre backs that are quick. Coulson looks exposed in a 4 even though he is a tremendous player and a warrior. Gabby looked better further forward and is not a wing back in my opinion. When we went 4-4-2 we looked a lot better in midfield and really caused them some problems. Hargreaves was good wide right also.
New signing Magretts showed good directness and the rare times he got the ball he tended to use it well. I think he will be a good player for us.
Best player for them was the winger no 17 who was almost impossible to play against. Apparently he is on load from Banbury which is madness, surely they need him?!
I enjoyed the game from the Hereford directors area as guest of a mate whose firm are a sponsor there. I celebrated loud and proud the penalty save as well as our two goals and enjoyed annoying the locals. However I must say that Hereford are a top club with really decent people and I was interested to hear of their 50% fab ownership model.
TDA, firstly thank you for such a comprehensive report, really helpful for those of us that only go to the odd away game in a season. I think AL is in your camp, preferring 442 than 352 but given the players he inherited (particularly the centre halves that remain from the MH's initial squad) it is going to be a risk, although whether we ever had the wing backs to make that system work is now a mute point. Maybe as the squad evolves we will see that 442 more often although I would prefer to see the line up from Buxton (with Magretts for Stephens) tomorrow night. Also, are you able to give a bit more detail on what their fan ownership means at a practical level? Thanks.
48
« on: January 22, 2024, 01:54:45 PM »
Personally, I am not really bothered about the communication issues for the rest of the season, as long as the results are good enough to keep the club in the NLN. I am sure a top down review of what goes on at the club will be necessary and be carried out before the start of next season........but get relegated and the whole structure is in jeopardy
Pink, I have to admire your optimism but what gives you confidence that there will be such a review (however necessary) before the start of next season? I would also be interested in what you think the 'whole structure' currently looks like and why and which bits would be in in jeopardy should we be relegated. Given that there has been very little in the public domain other than SC saying all is well now, I guess we are all making up our minds based on how much faith we have in SC's word.
49
« on: January 21, 2024, 11:57:33 AM »
Two points from the two away games is probably par (Buxton on a poor run but so were we, Hereford in the playoff spots so point there has to be seen as a bonus given our form/position).
As for the next two home games, two teams in or around the playoffs but realistically we need to be targeting at least four points if we are going to start closing the gap on teams ahead of us. AL's two wins at the Walks have come against the 2nd top and bottom teams but we haven't played well against many of those around us at home so maybe a chance to do well against slightly better (and maybe more attacking) opposition. That was one of the criticisms of AL's team at Curzon - play well against the better teams but couldn't get results against the lower teams. Hopefully we will set up to play a bit more football as I still think there is more ability in this squad than our current position suggests, even if under both MH and AL we have failed to produce that on a regular basis.
50
« on: January 21, 2024, 11:45:59 AM »
... Anyone know why Josh Barret wasn’t at the game today
Didn't make the Squad.
In a similar vein, was there any news of why Powell went from starting to not being in the squad? Must be close to the end of his loan spell and can't imagine either Peterborough or the player will feel it has been particularly beneficial which given our lack of a proper left back in the current squad makes it even more of a mystery.
51
« on: January 17, 2024, 02:18:25 PM »
...
The discarding of skilful players is becoming a trend with AL. This is worrying because without playmakers we will be
relegated. Nice to praise the 100% runners but look how many points we’ve dropped with a team full of runners and
no playmakers. Could it be that the differences between AL and JB will ultimately get us relegated? Surely not? 
Stop acting like kids and sort it out like grown men. Time to put the team first!
Whilst I wouldn't disagree with your questioning of AL's treatment of 'skilful' players at times, I am not sure bringing JB into the debate is fair as you could equally argue that MH and AL (when he first arrived) were both guilty of giving JB too much game time in the hope that our most talented player would produce some moment of magic to inspire a struggling team, a gamble that didn't often pay off. Personally I liked the midfield trio of Rogers, Hargreaves and Hughes selected for Buxton and would like to see AL stick with that for a few games to see if that can inspire us to play a bit more football and if we can manage to keep 11 on the pitch maybe pick up a few more points.
52
« on: January 14, 2024, 04:40:36 PM »
Getting rid of Barrett will not be “cutting your losses”…. It will be cutting your standard! Something I believe would be acceptable to many, if it meant replacing ability with effort!! A move that will assist our downward slide, imho!
Dilly, I am not sure you would find many regulars at the Walks who would consider Barrett's contribution this season as being of NLN standard so how on earth could letting him go be assisting our downward slide? It isn't a case of replacing ability with effort imo, heaven only knows AL has tried to accommodate him but the truth is we are in the relegation places having carried Josh this season and looks like AL is now thankfully putting the team above an individual.
53
« on: January 14, 2024, 10:34:01 AM »
Only managed to listen to the final 10 minutes although to be fair I can't take much more of Rob's sidekick anyway. In the end has to be seen as a point gained after playing over a half with 10 men but a much better selection imo and assume Crowe will come in next week with a full weeks of training under his belt. Saw AL's comments about Stephens which seemed fair - he has been given more opportunities when not in form but now maybe an opportunity for Curtis to get a couple of starts and stake a claim to extend his loan for the rest of the season.
54
« on: January 14, 2024, 10:27:25 AM »
What’s the problem they’re wrestling with? Most talented player on the books. Simples!
OK Dilly, a simple question for you, when was the last time you saw with your own eyes Barrett (again like B&G assume that is who you are referring to) have a big influence on a game at the Walks? Would be interesting to know what serious offers we have had for him, personally if the fee for Crowther was £35k plus a sell on then basically we should be listening to any offer for Barrett - doesn't seem to be in managers plans and out of contract at end of season so as Mall says, time to cut our losses if we can find a buyer
55
« on: January 12, 2024, 10:24:22 PM »
Powell, Tony ?
Personally I would have him in the starting XI but for whatever reason AL has preferred to play Rogers at left wing back but very much a round peg in a square hole imo. Lots of opinions and options but ultimately it will be down to AL to find the right mix to get us out of our current position
56
« on: January 12, 2024, 05:45:44 PM »
Tomorrow could be a good litmus test as to where we are at. AL’s first game in charge was a disappointing 3-1 defeat against Buxton. Lakeland said the squad was unfit and blew up after 60 mins.
By my reckoning ( I stand to be corrected) AL has brought in 8 new faces so the side now is really ‘his team’.
Can we afford to settle for a point or is 3 points against one of the teams in the bottom half what we have to, not expect but now really need ?
A defeat tomorrow give Lakeland a return of 0.9 points per game, during his reign. Hughes got the sack after registering just 0.8 points per game.
To be fair to AL, four of those 8 have signed in the past 10 days and Billy Jones has been injured so only really three AL signings in his squad for most of the time (Morrison, Walker & Rogers), although why Walker has only featured once off the bench is anyone's guess? Will be interesting to see who he starts with tomorrow, probably only Jones, the three centre backs (by default), the new right back and Hargreaves (purely on commitment even when asked to do a role that isn't his natural or best) are inked in which is probably why we find ourselves where we are with no consistent selection or pattern of play. Would obviously be good to get the win given Buxton's form but in light of how poor we have been since Christmas I would take a point, particularly if it comes with being more cohesive. I know some would say they want three points however they come but we can't show up every 5th game (Scunthorpe, Southport) and then look like the players have never met each other in the games in between.
57
« on: January 12, 2024, 01:15:24 PM »
Crowe possibly looka the better of the two signings as appears to be an upgrade on what we currently have or rather haven't had in that position all season. Nothing against Taylor and hope he does well but can't imagine he is going to add much pace compared to the departing Crowther and personally thought it was that not experience that was lacking in the back three, but as AL had sent out Oke on loan we we did need someone in.
Hopefully there will be at least a couple more arrivals and departures before the next home game to Curzon in a couple of weeks time.
58
« on: January 10, 2024, 01:44:15 PM »
Interesting interview with SC on Radio Norfolk this morning. It sounds like he still may have a few short term issues before the new owners start feeding the cash in
Any idea of rough time he was on Mall? Thanks
3 hours 12 minutes.
Thanks B&G, just had a listen, SC certainly sounds as if a weight has been lifted although had to smile at his comment that he has been 'too open' with the fans! Still very vague as to how the deal is structured and what they are actually investing in so hopefully they will allow SC to open up a bit more on that, if only so that expectations can be managed as to what we can expect to see going forward. Football has an uneasy relationship with venture capital and very difficult to see how they can get what they want (a return on their investment) whilst a football club can get what it wants (another source of finance to pour into the seemingly bottomless pit). Generally venture capitalists aren't in it for the long term and Turn Capital say similar things in terms of their other invetments, looking for positive cashflow in 12 months and then flip their investments within 5 years so could be some interesting times ahead.
59
« on: January 10, 2024, 09:22:13 AM »
Interesting interview with SC on Radio Norfolk this morning. It sounds like he still may have a few short term issues before the new owners start feeding the cash in
Any idea of rough time he was on Mall? Thanks
60
« on: January 07, 2024, 05:27:48 PM »
TonyM - I don’t think players really go on how the manager has set them up to play! I think players only pretend to listen when the manager screams from the touchline and points in a temper to where they should go! The manager, imho, before the game, should merely tell them to try to always outnumber the opposition whether attacking or defending…
Are you saying you haven't seen the difference in Hargreaves this season to last year? Under TW he was continually making runs from midfield beyond the forward line into space and drawing players with him creating space for others, this season he has 'sat' in midfield and hardly ventured away from the middle third of the pitch. Also last year he was a key ball winner, now under AL you can see so often when the ball is potentially there to be won he stops himself and forces the opposition to play sideways / backwards but they still retain the ball as AL appears not to want his midfield to commit to tackles and risk getting beaten. Dilly this obsession with numbers is worrying me, are you sure you are not watching under 8s and the 'honeypot' formation? There are many ways to set teams up, IC's midfield diamond and TW's dynamic midfield three were very different but both were effective and got the best out of the players available which for me is the key to good management, particularly when you are looking at non-league where clubs can't just go out and buy a ready made player to fit a certain role.
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