...and two of them scored against us...
That was abysmal. Even at 3-0 I was worried, knowing how we'd capitulated under pressure before. Then at 3-1 it became utterly obvious we needed a change, especially to strengthen midfield, and of course we all knew good old reactive Jim would wait til another goal went in, and only then make a substitution. And then what does he do? Bring on a rookie striker for a midfielder, thus weakening us in the middle even more.
Words fail me. If Torquay had kept up the pressure after their equaliser, I reckon they could have got a winner in those 5 minutes of added time.
Even if we played reasonably well in the first half, 3-0 flattered us, and once we started to collapse, you could predict the rest easily.
I can't believe there wasn't a major chorus of "Smith Out" at full time. I thought our fans were meant to be legendarily impatient? I tried to start one myself, but no luck. Even so, he needs to go. And now.
The boys were back in town...
We went three nil up because for a change we had players who finished clinically & as soon as Torquay made mistakes we punished them. I also thought we looked better in the first half because we had the steady experienced heads of Gilly & Wilmott back || two at the back who can play a bit of football in Corcoran and Foster. But even then our midfield had no creativity. We did not need both Trainer and Hutch. We needed Rose or Standing. We were still too much hoof and too little football.
The substitutions were just bonkers. The act of a deluded madman. We needed to strengthen the midfield. Trainer’s legs always go but Jim never swaps them for fresher ones. We were crying out for someone in midfield who could find space and put their foot on the ball to slow things down and take the sting out of the game. And also to play decent balls to Yemi instead of hopeful hoofs. A job for Standing or Rose.
When Jim goes he should take the fitness coach with him because we don’t look as fit as our opponents.
The substitutions were just bonkers. The act of a deluded madman. We needed to strengthen the midfield. Trainer’s legs always go but Jim never swaps them for fresher ones. We were crying out for someone in midfield who could find space and put their foot on the ball to slow things down and take the sting out of the game. And also to play decent balls to Yemi instead of hopeful hoofs. A job for Standing or Rose.
When Jim goes he should take the fitness coach with him because we don’t look as fit as our opponents.
Well Jim says he won't quit as manager : "If we're bottom of the league and six points adrift you might have a point." Hmm, so that's how badly we'd have to be doing before you, a director of the club, feel that the management is utterly failing? Lovely.
Apparently you could also "argue it was tremendous entertainment". For Torquay fans perhaps...
And on the second half collapse: "Not even Man Utd do that well for 90 minutes, and other teams come into it". Yeah, keep talking Jim, you're really making a case for yourself.
Apparently you could also "argue it was tremendous entertainment". For Torquay fans perhaps...
And on the second half collapse: "Not even Man Utd do that well for 90 minutes, and other teams come into it". Yeah, keep talking Jim, you're really making a case for yourself.
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Swissbloke
- Mid-life Crisis
- Posts: 717
- Joined: Tue May 23, 2006 2:07 pm
- Location: Oxford & Brentford
I can't disagree with any of Jimski's analysis of the game. The first half reminded me of a game against Portsmouth about 10 years ago at the Manor when we were 3-nil up at half time but would have been lucky to go in level.
Once agin we had no creativity in midfield and Rose and Standing who could have got hold of the ball were once again ignored. The substitution was a joke. At a time when we were being overrun in midfield and unable to keep the ball Jim took off a midfield player (the wrong one anyway) and we reverted to our standard plan B of what is effectively 5-2-3. But the 3 up front is misleading because he banished Yemi and Jordan Rhodes to wide position in a system that meant there was almost no way for anybody to get the ball to them. The wing backs were playing so deep that we effectively had a flat back 5 that at times became a flat back 7. At one point I commented that we had a flat back 9 as they all lined up on the 18 yard line with Torquay in posession on the half way line!
Chris W comments on the playing of "All Together Now" and "That's Entertainment" at half time in his match report. Can I suggest that Jim listens to the Clash's "Should I Stay or Should I Go" on his way into work this morning.
Once agin we had no creativity in midfield and Rose and Standing who could have got hold of the ball were once again ignored. The substitution was a joke. At a time when we were being overrun in midfield and unable to keep the ball Jim took off a midfield player (the wrong one anyway) and we reverted to our standard plan B of what is effectively 5-2-3. But the 3 up front is misleading because he banished Yemi and Jordan Rhodes to wide position in a system that meant there was almost no way for anybody to get the ball to them. The wing backs were playing so deep that we effectively had a flat back 5 that at times became a flat back 7. At one point I commented that we had a flat back 9 as they all lined up on the 18 yard line with Torquay in posession on the half way line!
Chris W comments on the playing of "All Together Now" and "That's Entertainment" at half time in his match report. Can I suggest that Jim listens to the Clash's "Should I Stay or Should I Go" on his way into work this morning.