I believe keep the faith

I have watched the reds for nearly forty years and strongly believe that Lee Johnson will eventually get us moviing in thr right direction. The transition has not been as sucessfel as I had or he would have hoped for. We are bottom of the league! BUT the performances recently do deliver hope that this is a situation that can and will improve giving patiance. The recent signings have undoubtedly added a poaitive attacking flare. Defensive frailties have been exposed but can and will improve with added experience. The fact we can go to Wigan and be the better team and like many performances this season be the better team but due to individual errors lose games we should have won gives me the hope of long term success.
I am pleased we have not jumped to quickly and sacked Lee Johnson. I for one was not happy that we were playing just one up front at home, but I hope that we are finding a shape now in recent matches that will bring us long term success.
I am a realist and like most people can see were we have fallen short this season. This is a long term transition and anyone thinkig it would be plain sailing and a walk in the park need to step back and get behind the team they support. These are my beliefs and I shout my criticisms from the stands like any other frustrated fan but again. I will keep the faith clap the lads off and I will be there to enjoy the sucess we all want and that will eventually come. It is hard to have taken three steps backwards to make strides forwards in the future but it is what it is. I wish Lee and the team a happy Christmas and an even happier and successful New Year.

 

I agree, we don't look too bad at the moment. One thing that worries me though, if you look at match stats, yesterday's being a good example, Wigan had only two efforts on target and scored two goals, Port Vale had very similar, we seem to need five on target to score one. Maybe i'm being too critical.
Great result yesterday, the only way is up!

COYR

 

This will hopefully improve with adding experience although the positive I can take from that is that they only had two attempts on target against a team at the bottom of the league. Statistics are like a lampost for a drunken man ideal for leaning on but no use for illumination. Lets enjoy the positivs when we can.

 

Did you miss the Sheffield United game then?

 

Oh that one when we missed the pen hit post and bar and missed a sitter, yes i believe united had a few chances as well, Thats football for you

 

So you'd seriously use those bare facts to persuade yourself that was an acceptable performance? Did you not hear the crowd singing "how bad must you be, it's only 1-0"? Did you not see the cascade of disenchantment on this board last Saturday night? Have you not read Doug O'Kane in the Chronicle, recounting "a totally rubbish first twenty games"?

Don't get me wrong, I truly hope this is the start of Johnson turning it around. But there isn't anything like enough evidence to suggest he will just yet.

 

Don't other teams manager and fans put conceding darn to individual errors as well, swings and rarndabarts, what costs us also has had gains for us.

To me the individual error thing used by the manager is an excuse which lays the blame elsewhere, whilst fans use it to batter their latest target.

What worries me abart LJ is early season we were far too defensive and it produce poor entertainment, but since we got upto the nackers in the brown stuff he has changed tack and now we are a more attacking force, so if given the opportunity will he revert back to type if given next season and another clean slate.

 

I also truly hope this is the start of Johnson turning it around, as for the singing. Even I like banter

 

The fact is an error is an error weather to mention it or not doesn't change the fact he ether failed to clear or missed a run or challenge. Yes he has changed his style and is starting to have a positive reaction. Now if we start having a sucessful run And Lee changes back to a more negative style a we fall backwards again then that may change my opinion.

 

Way I see it is, a performance like yesterdays apparently was has to be a positive, its always nice to win whatever.

My concerns (mainly) regarding LJ are still, he has taken a helluva long time to stop using tactics and formations that weren't working and it wasn't a league match ( but irrespective a good performance at Wigan is a good performance so that has to be a positive).
However the facts are that although we got a result in our last league match much of the performance was dire, he is still the manager whoa couple of games ago took off a fresh striker for a centre half with minutes to go with us only being a goal behind.
Theo other worry for me is that ultra caution is built into him and he won't be a able to change ( backed up by past comments from Oldham fans) but despite that our defending at times is shambolic.
Thing is he also got lucky recently, how many times do you get the chance to pick up a player of Hammills quality at this stage of the season? and he has undoubtedly helped.
Anyway my outlook is enjoy the win and performance yesterday but not getting overly excited until it transposes to league form, which lets face it is still pretty much dire

 

We were abject against Sheffield United. They were bloody poor too but we were worse.

 

Correct Mario.

Next week massive game for a few reasons hence why I may make the journey

 

Sheff U. Was a poor performance I agree, but goals change not only games but many fans perception of a performance (not having a dig at anyone in particular) and had one of those opportunities gone in and we'd have won the game a large number of fans would suddenly have been happy with the performance, likewise the Swindon? game....after a crap first half when we were about to be booed off, Wabara smashed one in out of the blue...and suddenly everyone's happy!
Doug Kane. ..that's his opinion , not a fact...some of those games were crap, and some we played quite well and didn't get what we deserved.
As for LJ...his, to me negative 1 up front has largely neutered Winnall, our best striker, and contributed heavily to us not being a lot further up the league. The only reason I haven't called for his sacking is the fact that he's young....and hopefully capable of learning. I've always thought we have the players, but the addition of Hammill and his excellent performances have indicated we were a little short. The bad results have forced LJ to change....if we can take heart from the last few games (Sheff U excluded) and get a reasonable result at Colchester things could well start going in the right direction, but even if we lose there, providing we keep up the attacking intent I think we'll be OK.

 

Respect your post Mr Sadbrewer but Colchester is a game we cannot afford to lose under any circumstances.

 

No you can't say that, whilst I want us to win every game, it's not a knock out competition, losing at Colchester won't be good, but the other however many fixtures are collectively more important than any one game.