Now there's little to play for, please lay off the players

What good is it doing slating Hourihane (our most talented player, who probably wonders what the point is with the nasty abuse he gets)?

Why not try and encourage Digby? Don't we all want him to do well? He looked quality a few years ago and he might do again

Lalkovic might be completely different after a full pre-season.



Heck, Jennings might even get in shape and turn into the player he could be.

There's no pressure now, so stop moaning

Peace

 

This club has been in the doldrums for several seasons now, but the recent run of unbeaten games suggested that the players were capable of better than they had been showing. The dip in form again from the Sheffield United game onwards has to raise concerns that having clawed their way to safety, the team has reverted to type. Logically, that must suggest that either they lack ability, or that they are not giving of their best. I personally think it's a bit of both. So if we are not to see a continuation of the patchy and frequently very poor displays of the last three to four seasons, then questions have to be asked of some of the players. As consumers who ultimately pay for their output we, as supporters have that right. Furthermore, and probably more to the point, I don't think that Lee Johnson is prepared to tolerate that situation.

Lee has already identified that while Conor has some skills, he presently lacks the complete set for a key midfield starter. Paul Digby also clearly has some ability, but not nearly enough to make a telling difference in this side. He reminds me of a wannabe Trevor Brooking when we are in an age of Mata or Hazard. Dale Jennings to my uneducated eyes seems to be fighting a losing battle with his physiology. That's not just euphemism - he is broad and muscular, but Lee has identified that his shape and build give him problems in terms of recovery time given the manner of the modern game. It's not a problem to which there is any easy solution. LJ has also correctly identified the lack of leadership within the side. It seemed that Lewin was attempting fill this void yesterday. On an ongoing basis this raises questions about Martin Cranie, who has never appeared demonstrative in the captain's role, and who looks good only when things are already going well.

I think there's a difference between 'slating' players and holding objective views about their shortcomings. In the end though, it will be Lee Johnson's views of their capabilities which will matter. In the meantime, this is a fan's forum not a love-in, and I think people are entitled to express their views in a reasonable manner.

 

We are a young team and in an early development phase. The constant slating of players is just daft. We didn't noticeably improve In the run of unbeaten games we just played against some poor teams. When we played against better ones hoofing up to the big lad didn't work. The criticism of individuals is beyond a joke other than perhaps Jennings who needs to look at his effort the rest are lots of young lads playing at the highest level they have ever played at and it will take time to adjust. The role of 'captain' is completely overemphasised in this country. When you go abroad it's mainly a honorary title. Can't see it matters in the medium term what Johnson thinks he will probably be gone by Christmas.

 

"Captain" or not, we are totally lacking leadership on the field. Johnson is here for the long haul due to the compensation we've paid and the fact we are running out of options. Some of the team are in an early development phase, but some of them simply aren't good enough. Jennings is putting in the effort by all accounts, so as I said, the problem is probably his own physiology.

 

Im not sure everyone wants BFC and every player to do well reading some posts. The negativity has started to filter through to reach Hourihane personally and reading the programme notes he has been advised how to deal with it. My player of the season over the full year. We have seen Jennings play well at the end of last season and he did very well for a long run in the MK team, so ability is there but he has struggled with fitness all season. Maybe a preseason will put the issues behind him. We have some good up and coming talent, Cowgill, Smith, Holgate, Bree but we have to bring them on at the right pace. I can't see us being successful playing all these in the same team, and add Oats, Abbott and Digby to the list we need to decide who to keep and who to let go or loan out. Its for the good of their career as well as our team, but i would like to see the likes of Digby, Oats, Cowgill now on a longer term loan to get them playing professional football week in week out say L2. For me the real issue is that of the acquired professionals. We have seen Lita, Treacy, brown fail miserably. We have seen Hemmings, Bailey and Mvoto not nail a regular start , although i like Bailey we need more bite in midfield.

Davies for me should be the starting goaltender as he has gone from strength to strength. Berry i have always liked and he has never done much wrong in his starts. The real backbone has been Crainie / Nayatanga, Hourihane, Scowan and Winnall. Given that i feel (as i did in December), feel we are 4-5 players from a solid starting line up for this division and perhaps 6-8 players off a competitive squad. We can't do as we did last season and start with a team of 70% rookies. We need leadership, strength in depth and experience to add to our youth. Our hope of success wasn't lost in the last few months, we have dropped points along the entire season. We need to turn draws into wins and losses into draws. LJ has some serious and tough decisions to make, but by the sounds of it he already knows what they are.

 

Spot on post

 

I could not agree more. Yesterday when young Cowgill made the mistake which lead to their goal. An idiot who sits in the low numbered seats around F OR G row in West Stand Upper was screaming Get him off he's useless. This must have done the lads confidence a lot of good( I don't think). Our younger players need encouraging, not constant abuse from a small majority of our supporters like this idiot

 

"A small majority"? .

Mr P. Dantic

 

51% for example would be a small majority, 97% for example would be a large majority

Mrs. P Dantic

 

I quite agree.But and it's a big but, in the commercial world that football is and the utter extravagance it is for a majority of fans to pay to support every week I'm afraid only success matters.

I have met Lee and the majority of players and they all seem nice enough people .But it's not about that.Young ,old ,experienced ,whatever ,that team is sent out week after week to entertain the paying crowd as professionals in an organised way that has been formatted all week in training and been paid handsomely to do it at that.

Even with nothing but pride to play for we should still be championing the mentality of leaving the season on a winning theme not trying things out and annoying people that have paid to see a full committed professional performance.

In my opinion the knowledge of the qualities of young professional should be judged in reserve fixtures ,training matches etc and then introducing the odd one into the team to enhance a position we are struggling for.

Oh and I wasn't one of them at the young players yesterday but plenty were but I really feel Lee ought to have fielded our strongest team til the end of the season and finished on a winning note and as high in the table as possible ,we may now finish only a couple of wins above the relegation zone.

If season tickets are to be sold then wins now and all pre season are a must and without the sale of them there'll be no quality new players coming...

 

Agree with most of this but I have to say given L J has only been here a short while, he needed to see some players play before he declared his retention list.