Mick's dire tactics aside

[hallamblue]

I think this Town squad is getting very close to needing an overhaul anyway.

A number of current senior players are fast edging toward their sell by date now and in considering the defence especially, something has to be done to address the almost total lack of competition across the back four - and hasn't it shown this season!

Players that would be on my list of , " need to review urgently" are

Chambers
Berra
Smith
.........................
Tabb
Douglas
Tourè
Foley
.........................
McGoldrick
Murphy
Varney

That's a large gaping % of our current senior first team isn't it. If the players on the list are not already in their 30's they are pedestrian or one trick ponies that are simply not good enough to get us up and certainly wouldn't get into ANY of the current top 6 squads in this league.

We have some talented youngsters but they have little or no experience of first team football. and certainly would not be capable of turning out for a 40+ game campaign....or more Teddy Bishop style injuries would ensue.

So regardless of Micks utter crap tactics, our squad appears to be ageing on us very quickly and several key players all at a similar rate.

Thoughts guys?

[Bluemike]

Of your list I will guarantee that Chambo, Smith, Berra, Murphy will all be here next season while Didsy & Foley are most likely to be here too. Douglas & varney may well be moved on while Tabb & Toure will be gone.

Next season along with the creative players of Feeney, Pringle & Bishop I fully expect to see young Dozzell breaking into the starting Eleven with Kundai Benyu also getting into the first team squad, that lad was on the fringes of it earlier this campaign but was ruled out injured for Four months, he is very talented and very highly thought of.

I don't see the U21 games but by all accounts Paul Digby is making big strides at CB and some have stated they can see why he is well ahead of Malarczyk in terms of getting near to the first team, maybe this lad was written off by some way too soon, time wil tell on that one.

[hallamblue]

Hi Mike. I agree with the initial part of your post. Sadly a large proportion of these players will still be here next season. The problem is there should have been some move by now to be developing players to come in a replace some of these defensive seniors. But there hasn't been any real move to do this. I'd like to think Clarke and Yowarth (spl) would be thought of as contenders. But they're nowhere to be seen. We have absolutely no pace at the back. it doesn't matter how badly the defence plays , they will not....cannot be dropped as we have no replacement "ready" to challenge.

[marko69]

Here's what's going to happen. Mick is going to be enticed to Aston Vanilla, and Norwich will sack Neil. ITFC will offer Neil the job, he'll accept,......, Mevans will insist on tight purse strings, and Hamilton Accies and St Johnstone rejects will start arriving on loan. No one from Hibs will arrive because the cabbage are world class and wouldn't fit in to Neil's plans.

SERIOUSLY THOUGH........., asking a question within the thread here; Tommy Smith has managed to keep himself out of the line of fire recently. Has he been hiding, or playing well?

[hallamblue]

He's been doing OK generally. But Berra until very recently has looked way off last seasons form. so by default, Smith has looked the better CB. Problem is and in my view, he is limited. We need quick, mobile CBS who are comfortable on the ball. I suspect this young lad Derby will fit the bill once they've coached him to be defensive minded and his previous midfield ball playing attributes will come to the forefront but in a CB role.

[The Odious Mr Rossi]

I think this Town squad is getting very close to needing an overhaul anyway.

A number of current senior players are fast edging toward their sell by date now and in considering the defence especially, something has to be done to address the almost total lack of competition across the back four - and hasn't it shown this season!

Players that would be on my list of , " need to review urgently" are

Chambers
Berra
Smith
.........................
Tabb
Douglas
Tourè
Foley
.........................
McGoldrick
Murphy
Varney

That's a large gaping % of our current senior first team isn't it. If the players on the list are not already in their 30's they are pedestrian or one trick ponies that are simply not good enough to get us up and certainly wouldn't get into ANY of the current top 6 squads in this league.

We have some talented youngsters but they have little or no experience of first team football. and certainly would not be capable of turning out for a 40+ game campaign....or more Teddy Bishop style injuries would ensue.

So regardless of Micks utter crap tactics, our squad appears to be ageing on us very quickly and several key players all at a similar rate.

Thoughts guys?

I said earlier on in the season, Liz, that Chambers and Berra should definitely be got rid of as soon as possible. I do not see any reason to change my mind on that, we have conceded far too many goals this season, and the defence must be tightened: and if that means getting rid of, for instance, our captain then so be it. I know Smith has been part of that same defence that has shipped so many goals, but he has been the pick of our defenders this season - not that that says much - so I'd be inclined to keep him on.

[jaykay]

agree with all this,but i was told on another thread the defensive wasnt the problem,it was the midfield where the problem lies.i think mick has addressed this,with pringle and foley,that is if plays them.so lets hope the defensive is beefed up next

[Bluemike]

Hi Mike. I agree with the initial part of your post. Sadly a large proportion of these players will still be here next season. The problem is there should have been some move by now to be developing players to come in a replace some of these defensive seniors. But there hasn't been any real move to do this. I'd like to think Clarke and Yowarth (spl) would be thought of as contenders. But they're nowhere to be seen. We have absolutely no pace at the back. it doesn't matter how badly the defence plays , they will not....cannot be dropped as we have no replacement "ready" to challenge.

I disagree with that to be honest, the fact Yorwerth, Clarke, Emmanuel and Kenlock are nowhere to be seen is because we are doing exactly what you say we aren't by loaning them out to develop and get game time, they need some experience of playing league football and our first team was most definitely not the place to get it as they would without a doubt have struggled. You are right that we don't have much by way of competition at the moment but I expect greater things were hoped for from Malarczyk while nobody could forsee that Johnathon Parr would get homesick and go back to Norway. Kevin Foley was brought in and can play at RB but has done well in Midfield while Paul Digby is also hopefully being groomed for better things by playing in the U21's.

Unfortunately these things take time, I have read recently that lots of Town fans think our efforts in bringing through youngsters lately is abysmal, what utter nonsense that is, the recent U17's England squad featured THREE Town kids in it, Midfielder, Andre Dozzell, goalkeeper Nick Hayes and striker Ben Morris, that is some achievement when the rest of the squad was from the Arsenal's Tottenham's and Chelsea's of this world. Add to that the emergence of Kundai Benyu, Joe Robinson and James Blanchfield and for me we are doing bloody well, granted they may not all make it as some do fall by the wayside but I think people need to remove their heads from their arseholes before they spout rubbish. Bryan Klug is the best in the business and all with a category 2 status.

[marko69]

I know Smith has been part of that same defence that has shipped so many goals, but he has been the pick of our defenders this season - not that that says much - so I'd be inclined to keep him on.

Holy fk, if that's true, Rossi, then I'd agree........, get rid of Chambers and Berra.

[hallamblue]

Hi Mike. I agree with the initial part of your post. Sadly a large proportion of these players will still be here next season. The problem is there should have been some move by now to be developing players to come in a replace some of these defensive seniors. But there hasn't been any real move to do this. I'd like to think Clarke and Yowarth (spl) would be thought of as contenders. But they're nowhere to be seen. We have absolutely no pace at the back. it doesn't matter how badly the defence plays , they will not....cannot be dropped as we have no replacement "ready" to challenge.

I disagree with that to be honest, the fact Yorwerth, Clarke, Emmanuel and Kenlock are nowhere to be seen is because we are doing exactly what you say we aren't by loaning them out to develop and get game time, they need some experience of playing league football and our first team was most definitely not the place to get it as they would without a doubt have struggled. You are right that we don't have much by way of competition at the moment but I expect greater things were hoped for from Malarczyk while nobody could forsee that Johnathon Parr would get homesick and go back to Norway. Kevin Foley was brought in and can play at RB but has done well in Midfield while Paul Digby is also hopefully being groomed for better things by playing in the U21's.

Unfortunately these things take time, I have read recently that lots of Town fans think our efforts in bringing through youngsters lately is abysmal, what utter nonsense that is, the recent U17's England squad featured THREE Town kids in it, Midfielder, Andre Dozzell, goalkeeper Nick Hayes and striker Ben Morris, that is some achievement when the rest of the squad was from the Arsenal's Tottenham's and Chelsea's of this world. Add to that the emergence of Kundai Benyu, Joe Robinson and James Blanchfield and for me we are doing bloody well, granted they may not all make it as some do fall by the wayside but I think people need to remove their heads from their arseholes before they spout rubbish. Bryan Klug is the best in the business and all with a category 2 status.

I know these players are out on loan, and like many before them, they may well "disappear" from the Town squad and return to be loaned out again, onlhnto to offloaded at some point.

As you know I am a very firm believer in our Academy, and support it financially. But tgere is a massivd difference between being the big fish in the little pond, or U1u, 18, 19, 21 England players, if this fails to transend into becoming part if the senior 1st team squad. Asbyou say, in Klug we havd one of thd best in business, and despite still not being given Cat One status ( which I happen to think is a load of bollocks and essentially a PL closed shop), Town have still to this day developed more quality players who have gone onto become PL players than that shower o shyte up the A140. However, whilst I believe we have another excellent cropmof academy players coming up to senior age groups now, it remains to be seen whether Mick will allow them First team experience , whdn he clearly prefers older , more experienced players and usually either ex Irish or ex Wolves players.

I will watch and wait regardinb all tgese young Town players currently in the wings, because I havdnt to much evidence that Mick will be brining them through.

Another thing to consider, is our Academy kids apparently play the game in the "beautiful way".....what a massive culture shock then , should they ever get given their wings to fly in the first team.It will feel like theyve been transported to another football world, where nice pass and move patterns are positively discouraged in favour of the almighty HOOF IT order from the dug out!

[Bluemike]

I don't think that would be the case TBH, when we had Fraser in the team and before that Bishop we did not play this type of football and their games certainly didnt suffer as a result of it. We are playing the way we are because all of our creative players have been fooked in one way or another and MM feels he is playing to the squads current strengths, it is not great to watch but it is probably correct. Now we have some other players here that are more gifted we should see a bloody improvement which makes his c*ck up's agains Rotherham all the more baffling.

[The Don]

What worries me most is that looking through that list, I wouldn't be bothered to see them all replaced. There's a case for each to be questioned. What happened to us having players that were undroppable if fit?

[derick_ipsw]

Chambers is not a right back, this needs to addressed. Change the captain then maybe he would not be so compelled to play him out of position. Mcgoldrick, Murphy, Sears, Pitman, one has to go you cant keep them all happy. Toure, Coke, Tabb and Digby must go. Varney, Pringle,Foley, Bru and Feeney should stay. Maitland-Niles and Fraser wont stay. Douglas, Skuse , Hyam only one of them should play in any one starting eleven. Bishop must play if fit.

Bart
Foley
Berra
Smith
Knudson
Feeney
Bishop
Skuse
Pringle
Mcgoldick
Sears.
Subs: Gerken, Chambers or Malarczyk Bru or Varney Pitman or Murphy Hyam or Douglas.

[Bluemike]

Academy midfielder Andre Dozzell scored the winning goal as England’s U17s beat Finland 1-0 in their second Euro 2016 elite qualifying mini-tournament game at Leek Town’s Harrison Park this afternoon.

The 16-year-old, the son of former Blues midfielder and current academy coach Jason, added the final touch to a slick passing move in the 33rd minute to claim his third England U17s goal in his 11th game.

Blues striker Ben Morris came on as a sub in the 62nd minute to win his fifth cap.

The England youngsters, who have now won their first two matches at the mini-tournament, take on Ukraine in their final game at Burton Albion’s Pirelli Stadium on Tuesday.

[number 9]

Brilliant! He might get a game for Ipswich in the next 10 years.

[Bluemike]

Will be a lot lot sooner than that mate.

[hallamblue]

9 yrs 11 months?

[barmy billy]

Only when he has learned how to hoof it 60 yards!

[Bluemike]

You lot and your negativity, it is in true ITFC tradition and knows no limits.

[hallamblue]

Its black humor Mike, thats all. It usually arrives in situations where individuals percieve they have no control over events, and can see only detrimental events taking place. Its a coping strategy!

[marko69]

Can I book an appointment with you, Hallamski? Your "psycho" knowledge is sure to sort this guy here out!

[Bluemike]

Sadly it isn't Black humour though is it, it has been going on for weeks now and seems to appear on every subject these days.

[hallamblue]

Why isnt it black humour? Micks tactics have been going on like this for the whole season. We have heen absolutely shocking in almost all the games Ive seen , and like many other fans, have had enough of it tbh. What else can people do , but make a joke of things. It isnt actually about making the bloody play offs really, its far deeper than that. Its about the quality of footbal being dished up EVERY bloody game. Dont get me started on this. Trust me the response won't be good.

[marko69]

Dont get me started on this. Trust me the response won't be good.

LMAO!! Someone get her started, PLEASE!

[number 9]

Yes it's all in fun. We all love ITFC, and we just want a better product.

[barmy billy]

Yes it's all in fun. We all love ITFC, and we just want a better product.

Yes, we do all love ITFC, but my goodness we have been a tolerant bunch this season bearing in mind the sh*te that has been on offer this season in the guise of entertainment. As Hallam says, we have got to the point where enough is enough. Never mind key players being absent, that happens all the while and we should be able to deal with it.

Sod all the excuses, we are rubbbish and the buck stops with the manager. Yes, he rescued an ailing club, but that is all in the past now. He has had his day and now needs to be replaced, along with a fair few os his squad.

[marko69]

The new "thing" nowadays witnessed on other forums is being able to name a replacement that is available. It's not having a dig at people saying "MM OUT!", it merely asking who do you think should be approached NOW. Who, (who is out of a job), would make ITFC slightly better?

[Bluemike]

Why isnt it black humour? Micks tactics have been going on like this for the whole season. We have heen absolutely shocking in almost all the games Ive seen , and like many other fans, have had enough of it tbh. What else can people do , but make a joke of things. It isnt actually about making the bloody play offs really, its far deeper than that. Its about the quality of footbal being dished up EVERY bloody game. Dont get me started on this. Trust me the response won't be good.

LOL, is this the same Hallam that has just renewed for Three years, you are a glutton for punishment then.

[marko69]

For the record, I can't think of any "realistic" manager available now.

Same applies end of season though. If wanting MM emptied......, let's hear some realistic available candidates.

[Bluemike]

For the record, I can't think of any "realistic" manager available now.

Same applies end of season though. If wanting MM emptied......, let's hear some realistic available candidates.

No-one ever does/can. We will get the usual Royle, Burley, Mowbray, Ferguson, Holloway, Robinson but nothing sensible or realistic.