I know there has been lots of negativity about 4 points from 9 at the start to this season, but this is no worse than Duff or Collins first 3 league games. Duff - 3 points from 9 Collins - Great 7-0 win but 4 points from 9
I’m not at all concerned about the early results, I’m just concerned about how poor the squad looks. We’ve a good 9 players, the top 2 are ***** and we know that. The problem is we’ve nothing on the bench either. we’ve no depth and no quality. Could be a long season.
Yes, its deflating to have a limp start. Things aren't gelling at the moment and there's concern about quality on the pitch, especially up front. But, its very harsh judging things overly negatively, especially a new manager, this early on. Clarke in particular should be given a bit of good grace till the middle of September, even if there are further losses which get people even more pissed off. I can understand criticism of the board much more than I can that of the manager at this moment in time given past performance, but even there Im willing, perhaps naively, to cut them a bit more slack in spite of their failures... My opinion at the moment and I'm still reserving judgement for 3/4 more weeks.
I'll do what I always do, and make my first assessment after 10 games. I think that's a reasonable amount of games to start forming an opinion. However, as it stands he's being hugely let down by those in charge of recruitment.
Yeah, but people probably said the same last season, and the one before. We got to the playoffs last season with a crap defence and poor home record. Season before we couldn’t win a game in which we went behind.
Genuinely not too fussed by the 4 points from 3 games but much more concerned that the recruitment hasn't, so far at least, addressed the obvious issues in the squad and that the performances have been quite poor. Less said about the off the field match day experience the better...
Feels like we never go into a season prepared for it and it's disappointing that we seemingly have to make excuses and waste a decent chunk of the season waiting for things to click. It's a shame that we couldn't hold out for a win on Saturday just from a momentum and confidence point of view. I've got every faith in Clarke and think that when things settle down he will get the best out of our players, I just hope we can keep in touch with the top of the table in the meantime.
I agree about being given time, but not about the ‘hugely let down’ bit. Even given that we are short of a striker or 2, we should have beaten Northampton and could easily have had a draw with Mansfield - in my opinion of course.
it doesn’t help that the transfer window stays open until September and that all clubs are wheeling and dealing right up to the last day.
I think it’s probably because we’ve had 2 home games that everyone expected to win but we’ve only managed a solitary point.
Given results so far, we could be in for a repeat of last season. Poor home form but doing the business on our travels. The fans could be the problem.
Totally agree that it doesn't help but it's still frustrating that Clarke wanted players in early July and we're now possibly losing points for not bringing those players in. (it feels like we get weaker and weaker every season rather than building on things) It is what it is though and I do believe that Clarke has the qualities to get us challenging for the playoffs again.
We'll be up there again this season. We're playing better football. Just need it click in front of goal although Saturday was gutting. Throwing away two points like that. Having said that 2-0 is a comfortable score line. It's that third goal that kills teams off. With weakness of bench you leave Phillips and Watters on though if we' re playing well and on top. Clarke had to take the blame there. Be interesting if he persists in changing stuff for the sake of it going forward. However, it might work with the right players.
I hope we’ll be stronger once Clarke knows what his best side is. We’ve got rid of the players loads slagged off all last season, and we’ve brought in the experience of Roberts and Hourihane. I’ve honestly got no expectation of Clarke, because I know so little about him, but I do think the players are capable of top 6, simply because most have already been there last season.
We needed to bring some experience in after losing Kane, Cole, Williams etc who I thought were all good players for us. Last season was weird in that we did well but none of our players seemed to progress individually, I'm hoping that Clarke can improve a lot of our players for the benefit of the team. It's all guesswork Fitzy but I'm sure we'll be ok again, especially if we sign a couple of quality players with pace and directness along with Jalo could be the spark that we need to trouble defences.
It's been a disappointing start... Generally fuelled by failing to win winnable games and not getting important recruitment done in a timely fashion. It happens... At oakwell, commonly, but it's early and until the window closes, we can't effectively judge if we have enough. At this point though the squad looks very thin in some areas and overbloated in others. Plenty of work to be done before the window closes.
I did the same for Duff and Collins and it will be no different for Clarke. He will get 10-12 league games before I start forming a proper opinion of his tactics, set up etc. However, once again, I suspect there will be mitigating circumstances because the board fail Clarke, much like his predecessor who took a lot of unnecessary criticism in my opinion.
