Worse season the last year?

[ollie3686]

I'm going upset some people but I'm sure but I genuinely fear we'll end up in a worse position than last year, ironic as we spent nearly half of it in the top 2 or 3. It's a shame but a sad fact, since Christmas our form has been bottom of the table stuff, just our pre-Christmas success has kept us with a reasonable shout. But we not winning, things are unlikely to improve - and just 3 losses (which is unfortunately quite likely) could easily see us 9th or lower. Yet another pathetic mid table finish just from a different route this time. I'm sure the optimists will start moaning at me, minor after a row - just venting off steam. it would just sometimes be nice to have a little success for once

[Frosty]

If you don't finish in the top 6, does it really matter whether you finished 7th, 8th or 11th.

I think the fact we started a season well, rather than our usual post Christmas run has thrown us as supporters.

The pre-Christmas run was a blast so I do think we are making progress overall

[ollie3686]

I know what you mean with the progress, but we're back where we started last year. How many games have we won in 2015 - 3 or 4, if that? That's worse form than last season!

[Frosty]

I am not suggesting it will happen, but for all we know we suddenly win the next 6 games in a row and all is forgotten.

You can play well and get beaten in football, play sh*t and snatch a late winner. It's what makes football great, let's not write the season off yet mate

[Bluemike]

While it hasnt been great in 2015 we have to latch on to the fact that we are a single point from the play offs and than can be overturned, it all depends on how MM approaches the next 9 games.

[marko69]

I'm going upset some people but I'm sure but I genuinely fear we'll end up in a worse position than last year, ironic as we spent nearly half of it in the top 2 or 3. It's a shame but a sad fact, since Christmas our form has been bottom of the table stuff, just our pre-Christmas success has kept us with a reasonable shout. But we not winning, things are unlikely to improve - and just 3 losses (which is unfortunately quite likely) could easily see us 9th or lower. Yet another pathetic mid table finish just from a different route this time. I'm sure the optimists will start moaning at me, minor after a row - just venting off steam. it would just sometimes be nice to have a little success for once

Can't understand why you think this post will upset people. Well actually, I do understand, knowing how it can get on this forum........., but your post is spot on.

Your last sentence, in bold above,......, very true....., but even if not successful......, at least keeping up with Watford, Boro and shitty seaside town, Bournemouth.

[BLUEBLOOD]

Where have you been all season Ollie 3686 ?
Up until 1 march when you reappeared your previous post was 1 September.?
It just seems strange that when town were doing well you did not post at all now we are just outside the playoffs you start posting again.?
I think this season we have been spoilt by our success early on if we had been outside the top 6 all season then worked our way up to within the playoffs with 9 games to go we would all be excited at the thought of reaching the playoffs.
This is the 1st time in years that we still have something to play for at this stage of the season.

[marko69]

I sincerely hope Ollie doesn't reply saying that his absence was due to losing a close family member or some other massive tragedy.

This new trend of homing in on forum members posting routine is really starting to f**king annoy me. I think everyone should be savvy enough to understand that not EVERYONE has the need to praise. There are only so many words that can be put together to describe a "good" performance........, there are a f**king dictionaries worth to describe a season turning to sh*t. Just let people have their f**king say and maybe have a debate about it.

[Bluemike]

Where the f**k have you been for the last hour or so Marko ???

[marko69]

Curry eating contest down the water front. Stay well clear of my bathroom tomoro morning.

[Bluemike]

Hey marko, what about the Loons ???? Can we possibly do it, it was a dream day for us today.

[marko69]

Morton last week, Stranraer this week? Two statements of intent from the Loons. AND the Brechin Shitty were defeated? It's all coming together for a "swankie" season!

[TODD66]

See there is always a way to put a positive spin on anything - even if it involves going off on a tangent and focusing on other teams

I will agree with BB though, if we had been coming at this from down the table to get to within a point of the play-offs we would all be looking at our position in a positive light.

Even if we continue to fall away, can we not say it was good whilst it lasted. Its been some time since we could actually look down on most teams rather than up wishing we were there. Any hope of success during the season is most welcome given the last few years of mediocrity.

[The Odious Mr Rossi]

While it hasnt been great in 2015 we have to latch on to the fact that we are a single point from the play offs and than can be overturned, it all depends on how MM approaches the next 9 games.

Very true, but................can you honestly see MM approaching the next 9 games any differently from the last 9? Because in all honesty, I can't.

[Bluemike]

While it hasnt been great in 2015 we have to latch on to the fact that we are a single point from the play offs and than can be overturned, it all depends on how MM approaches the next 9 games.

Very true, but................can you honestly see MM approaching the next 9 games any differently from the last 9? Because in all honesty, I can't.

Hand on heart, I do have my doubts.

[loudnproud]

So if MM is not expected to change his game plan then why are we still supporting it???? I want MM to give it another go for next season,but I suspect that he may be lured away and the thought of this will put us back miles again.....

[Bluemike]

We support it because that's what we do, besides until Tuesday comes we don't know for sure that he won't finally shake it up a bit. He will tell us his tactics have got us to 7th place and one point off our goal and we can't really argue with that, we will never know if a change of tactics etc would have been better or worse for us, it is all about opinions.

[herforder]

The changes MM made yesterday, in an attempt to chase the game, led to what he described as a 'shambles', with the team's shape, cohesion and confidence shot. That said, none of the changes were to a defence that conceded two soft goals, and who have been well below previously set standards recently. A big part of that is confidence; individual or collective mistakes takes it toll on concentration and performance levels. When added to a hard-working midfield which lacks creativity and pace, and carries negligible goal threat, it's inevitable that over a long, hard, season there will be lows to match the highs. In truth, it might have been better had we started more slowly, and come up on the outside rail.

But, we're still fighting and in with a real chance of a play-off place. In the wider scheme of things, relative to investment and making the most of what we've got, that's a staggering achievement. But expectations levels having been lifted, anything less than a play-off place will be seen by some as failure.

It will be interesting to see how ST renewals go; or whether some will conclude that, in a season where investment in genuine quality might have got us over the line, we are forever destined to flatter only to deceive.

I will be renewing!

[The Odious Mr Rossi]

The changes MM made yesterday, in an attempt to chase the game, led to what he described as a 'shambles', with the team's shape, cohesion and confidence shot. That said, none of the changes were to a defence that conceded two soft goals, and who have been well below previously set standards recently. A big part of that is confidence; individual or collective mistakes takes it toll on concentration and performance levels. When added to a hard-working midfield which lacks creativity and pace, and carries negligible goal threat, it's inevitable that over a long, hard, season there will be lows to match the highs. In truth, it might have been better had we started more slowly, and come up on the outside rail.

But, we're still fighting and in with a real chance of a play-off place. In the wider scheme of things, relative to investment and making the most of what we've got, that's a staggering achievement. But expectations levels having been lifted, anything less than a play-off place will be seen by some as failure.

It will be interesting to see how ST renewals go; or whether some will conclude that, in a season where investment in genuine quality might have got us over the line, we are forever destined to flatter only to deceive.

I will be renewing!

But I think an even bigger part of it is constantly playing a centre back at right back, and a left sided centre back at right centre back. This has un-doubtably been the main cause of our defensive frailties. It's not rocket science, you just play people in their natural positions. It really riles me that a season that showed so much promise looks as though it may well peter out into insignificance just because of one mans stubbornness. Personally, I'm fast losing support for him.

[marko69]

I may be wrong, but they were playing in the same positions during the "good times" were they not?

[J4ck22]

We support it because that's what we do, besides until Tuesday comes we don't know for sure that he won't finally shake it up a bit. He will tell us his tactics have got us to 7th place and one point off our goal and we can't really argue with that, we will never know if a change of tactics etc would have been better or worse for us, it is all about opinions.

Wait... We do??

[Bluemike]

I may be wrong, but they were playing in the same positions during the "good times" were they not?

Exactly Marko but that doesnt count, it was just luck those 23 games.

[Bluemike]

We support it because that's what we do, besides until Tuesday comes we don't know for sure that he won't finally shake it up a bit. He will tell us his tactics have got us to 7th place and one point off our goal and we can't really argue with that, we will never know if a change of tactics etc would have been better or worse for us, it is all about opinions.

Wait... We do??

Well, some of us.

[The Odious Mr Rossi]

I may be wrong, but they were playing in the same positions during the "good times" were they not?

Exactly Marko but that doesnt count, it was just luck those 23 games.

I think if you look through the line-ups of those 23 games you will find that in quite a few of them we had Parr at left back and Chambers at centre mid back.

The 23 game run you keep mentioning, Mike, is history. Yes it was good while it lasted, just as our current 13 match form has been dire. If we want to make the play-offs then we have to redress current form, simple as.

[Bluemike]

I may be wrong, but they were playing in the same positions during the "good times" were they not?

Exactly Marko but that doesnt count, it was just luck those 23 games.

I think if you look through the line-ups of those 23 games you will find that in quite a few of them we had Parr at left back and Chambers at centre mid back.

The 23 game run you keep mentioning, Mike, is history. Yes it was good while it lasted, just as our current 13 match form has been dire. If we want to make the play-offs then we have to redress current form, simple as.

I cant recall if it was Parr at RB but you could well be right, and yes I agree we do need to address our current form starting Tuesday.

[The Odious Mr Rossi]

Exactly Marko but that doesnt count, it was just luck those 23 games.

I think if you look through the line-ups of those 23 games you will find that in quite a few of them we had Parr at left back and Chambers at centre mid back.

The 23 game run you keep mentioning, Mike, is history. Yes it was good while it lasted, just as our current 13 match form has been dire. If we want to make the play-offs then we have to redress current form, simple as.

I cant recall if it was Parr at RB but you could well be right, and yes I agree we do need to address our current form starting Tuesday.

yes, my slip up, I was indeed referring to Parr being at RB

[herforder]

Playing individuals out of their natural positions has undoubtedly not helped our cause, but I don't think it's the single most critical factor affecting our current situation. Parr, for example, has shown himself capable of filling a number of roles - LB/RB and wide left m/f - successfully.
Others not so versatile or effective, but clearly MM feels they still represent his best options.

For Tuesday, and to take TS out of the firing line, I hope that MM makes those defensive changes that appear so blindingly obvious and necessary (to everyone other than MM, that is!). Assuming he won't budge from 4-4-2, however, and despite his risk-averse nature, let's get a natural winger (Connolly/Stewart/Henshall) into the equation to inject some attacking flair and pace.

We can but hope!