Definitely. Two of the worst three players from last season still start every week & O’Keeffe’s played a fair bit too.
We remember always always having quality in the back 4, we could reel them off. Last season and even this season. The worst back 4 in memory of watching the Tarn. 1.5 goals on average per game in last 10 league games means 2 goals a game to win. Same problem as last season only we managed to out score teams. You don't need FIFA coaching badges to work this out. Robbo was good signing for this level but he needs a couple o good mates along side him as he as lost his pace.
Earl was at Fleetwood for good reason and MDG was playing French third tier football I believe? How on earth we managed to recruit him I have no idea. We obviously thought he could be developed as a reliable CH at L1 level. So far I'd say that hasn't worked out. How long does he get?
You can't blame the head coach for this. I remember an old saying at the pit. Tha can only p!^s wi the pr#ck thas got.
But you can direct that p15s and not p15s all over the floor, on your shoes or all over the seat etc. some things you can control and mitigate
I maybe have a contrarian opinion on this one but I don't think it is necessarily the defence. If it wasn't for the defence we'd concede even more. For me it is more a case that the entire team sit too deep, especially for a pressing team, the forwards offer little in terms of holding the ball up so it comes back time and time again and ends up being a matter of time before the defence concedes.
Agreed, the issue for me last year was the Midfield and is again this year, the defence take the brunt of it as a result.
I think you can easily look at any aspect of our board, recruitment, development, selections, substitutions, formations, defence, midfield and attack and find something thats not worked or working to a significant level. I don't think we've the personnel to press. We certainly don't have a consistent shape to do it effectively. Our defence plays deep because it has no pace and doesn't want to be turned. Our forwards don't get good service because the delivery is often from distance and aimless. Our midfield either seem too advanced (as Connell empties it) or too deep. At times not helping either defence or attack. For me, we've some decent players, with a couple of exceptions, but fundamentally, however bad the balance of the squad is, we're stuck with it til January and so it's down to Clarke to get something working. If he hasn't made a notable improvement by late November, I think the board will act given they asked Collins to go when they did.
