Listen, Clarke

I'm not sure whether they're doing it to cash out, as they're so deep in now, they'd not recoup anywhere near what they've put in. But I think the model needs shifting again. We've drifted away from the Brentford style model of recruiting the best players from the division below, polishing them up and moving them on, to the Peterborough model of, sign them from 3 leagues below, give them game time elsewhere, and hope that they're ready to make an impact for us in 12-24 months, now onto a completely different model of, untested overseas players. I get that we've got to find a niche to become competitive again, like we did 10 years ago, but I'm not sure this is it.

 

Williams never really got to play on wings under Collins, he was stuck CB because our options there were utterly dreadful. Far worse than Clarke has had in his time.

Cadden is better than what we have now for sure and we miss do Cole but DKD is better than McAtee, we've upgraded there so it balances out in that respect imo.

CB options are far better than what Collins endured for basically the entire season. And midfield is no worse. To be fair Clarke has had far more at his disposal in that area but he's chosen to not use/used it wrong. Collins had Kane, Russell, connell and Phillips. That was about it. Yeah we lost Kane but in summer we added Nwakali, Craig and then for a short time Conor. Plus the emergence of Vimal. Far more options.

Overall the squad is no worse than what Collins had, arguably better depth wise, albeit neither are particularly amazing squads.

Only thing Clarke has missed and is still missing is that 15 goal a season striker that we had in Cole. But they did give him Humphrys who top scored for Wigan at this level last season and is being incorrectly used.

 

I think we'll have to agree to disagree on many of those points mate. As much as I like DKD, for me, McAtee's all round game was much better, he was just often more wasteful in front of goal. DKD is one addition this season we have got right though, albeit it should have been sorted much quicker than it was.

You've used the argument that we have more options in midfield now in support of Collins, but not used that argument for defensive options to his detriment. Despite having more players at his disposal in that area, he still chose to use our best wing back as a centre half for the majority of the season. Roberts for Williams is the only change which has been made to our back 3 in the last year, so I disagree that Clarke has had more at his disposal on that front.

Either way, we're splitting hairs over what ultimately is a sorry state of affairs on both counts. My initial point was that the recruitment model needs a fair bit of reconstruction (again) if we're ever going to be competitive again in this division.

 

I tend to agree with this. The last few games have been excruciating , I hope to god this afternoon is a proper Derby and he's got them up for the fight!

 

I can't 'reason' out the reasons anymore, its like looking into a bowl of spaghetti and trying to find a string without sauce because everything is so intertwined and tainted by something or other

 

Conway"s two summer signings cost the club a fortune. Signing players to immediately loan out when, I bet, we are paying nearly all the wages, costs another fortune. We have had more coaches than ever, another fortune. Hassell won't be cheap, Eaden too. Alot more staff behind the scenes, who won't be cheap either. The academy isn't producing players, why sign Hayton? Is he better than Flavell, no chance. Smith, signed to loan out, ridiculous he's not 18!!

 

At least one person sees it the same as me then. Some right waffle written on various sites and social media about ‘what’s he meant to do, the recruitment is the worst ever’. He needs to stem the tide on the same problems we run into every week.

• We’ve dropped the most points in the football league from winning positions
• We concede from corners and long balls every week yet make no change to the style of play. For example, if we’re hell bent on playing this way, play an old fashioned sweeper, think Matty Appleby.
  
• Games where we don’t shoot
• Passing percentage is reletively poor
• We’re slow in possession, don’t move the ball with pace
• We have no width

We Play with zero heart, we’re going through the motions and we’re uninspired. As much as I didn’t want him back would a team look so disinterested under Stendel? Maybe we were spoilt under Val and Duff but the last 4 managers (excluding Duff) have made my glass eye fall to sleep.

Happy Saturday!

 

Roberts should be captain

 

Deep man; Yeh!

 

We both agree with the recruitment being sub par but we do have more at the back than Collins had up till this point last season.

McCart MDG, Lopata and Shepherd were the only CBs we had up till January, bar the two games kitching played. Pines and Earl did join in Jan to add more, but Pines was not available until probably around this time when we played Bolton at home and he then only made 5 apps.

Clarke started with Lopata and Shepherd available but they were loaned out. Then had MDG, fully fit pines, Roberts, Earl and McCarthy who was back fit. So your point of Collins having more options at the back isn't true.

You may also feel McAtee is better all round which is personal opinion. But the facts are the DKD is far more effective as a goalscorer, not just this season but through his entire career. So we've upgraded in that area in terms of output for sure.

Ultimately neither squad is perfect, but I wholeheartedly disagree with the notion that Clarke has had it worse than Collins squad wise.

The only bit where Clarke has been more unlucky is with the level of the division. I think we'd probably be in top 6 with this squad we have now under Clarke, if we were in last divisions L1 lineup. Collins had it much easier in that regard.

 

I like the man Clarke. I think he speaks well and I do think he is a good manager, deep down.

Like the squad, he’s still learning too.

He has been let down by the board and also his players too, in equal amounts.

However, if we are poor today and get beat easily, he has to go. Simply because he clearly cannot lift them out of this rut.

Devaney, Stead & Hourihane also need to take a look at themselves too.

Who replaces Clarke? No idea. Probably Paul Warne for me.

 

The only logical option in my opinion.

Whether the board would see that is another matter though.

 

Ryan Lowe, did a great Job at Plymouth playing a back 3 system

 

They have spent nothing. Outgoing fees exceed incoming. Don’t know if you have seen their training facilities. They make ours look. State of the art. They have good progressive manager and a supportive board we don’t.

 

@SuperTyke level analogising.

 

Nah, I can't spell spaghetti