"A custard pie"

[lush]

Well anyone who fancies a flutter from time to time had better not bet on a LCFC game, theres NO chance of predicting the outcome. Win at watford, lose at home....

Ok lets weigh up where LCFC is right now, 14 games, 15 pts, 18th in division 2, and yet 15 years ago or so, we were in a pretty much similar position league wise, but i can honestly say we have better players now. We have squad of 34, we must have better?

One minute you win when you expect nothing better than a draw, then you get "a custard pie" performance.

So what is the problem?

What do we do about it, where do we go from here?

I bow to Thracian`s footballing knowledge when he said our 2 wingers last night were not acting as wingers. He mentioned they never get to the by line, get round the back of the defence, a phantom menace hey Thrach.

If we pretend to attack and we dont, we lose confidence. Yes we pass the ball around, but burnley played 5 in midfield and Craig said he EXPECTED that, so why fraf around, why not give momo and hamill carte blanche to get down the line, are we waiting for superman smith?

We all think craig is an intelligent man, well 18th is not the work of intelligence.

Our play was of cautious in nature.

We didnt score. They scored with one striker.

Weve now lost 3 from 7 home games.

Peter taylors Hull are above us.

After 14 games last season, we had 18pts.

The fans chanted "what a load of rubbish", and not just a few, hundreds possibly thousands.

Craig, im sorry to have to say this, but you are the one dealing us that custard pie, it is now YOUR team, you have been here a year, and we are NO better, FACT.

You are playing a donkey upfront, everyone can see that, why cant you?

You wont play either of your TWO LB`s, but a CB at LB, its a JOKE!

People are paying huge sums of money to watch that drivel.

I do not see the light from this dark dark tunnel Craig.

Has someone got a crystal ball to put me out my misery, i am sad, F-IN SAD, i love my city, i am passionette, but i am sad.

[breadandcheese]

Lush, that's not true. I had a flutter last night and won. Good old city, you can rely on them to set themselves up for a fall. Akinbiyi 6-1 first goal. You knew it would happen.

Still the winnings goes no where near to making up for the shambles last night.

[Ric Flair]

Well anyone who fancies a flutter from time to time had better not bet on a LCFC game, theres NO chance of predicting the outcome. Win at watford, lose at home....

Ok lets weigh up where LCFC is right now, 14 games, 15 pts, 18th in division 2, and yet 15 years ago or so, we were in a pretty much similar position league wise, but i can honestly say we have better players now. We have squad of 34, we must have better?

One minute you win when you expect nothing better than a draw, then you get "a custard pie" performance.

So what is the problem?

What do we do about it, where do we go from here?

I bow to Thracian`s footballing knowledge when he said our 2 wingers last night were not acting as wingers. He mentioned they never get to the by line, get round the back of the defence, a phantom menace hey Thrach.

If we pretend to attack and we dont, we lose confidence. Yes we pass the ball around, but burnley played 5 in midfield and Craig said he EXPECTED that, so why fraf around, why not give momo and hamill carte blanche to get down the line, are we waiting for superman smith?

We all think craig is an intelligent man, well 18th is not the work of intelligence.

Our play was of cautious in nature.

We didnt score. They scored with one striker.

Weve now lost 3 from 7 home games.

Peter taylors Hull are above us.

After 14 games last season, we had 18pts.

The fans chanted "what a load of rubbish", and not just a few, hundreds possibly thousands.

Craig, im sorry to have to say this, but you are the one dealing us that custard pie, it is now YOUR team, you have been here a year, and we are NO better, FACT.

You are playing a donkey upfront, everyone can see that, why cant you?

You wont play either of your TWO LB`s, but a CB at LB, its a JOKE!

People are paying huge sums of money to watch that drivel.

I do not see the light from this dark dark tunnel Craig.

Has someone got a crystal ball to put me out my misery, i am sad, F-IN SAD, i love my city, i am passionette, but i am sad.

Well said chief, something needs to be done.

[The People's Hero]

You're right - this is CL's team. The way they are performing is due to CL, his coaches and his players.

[BenFilbert]

Well anyone who fancies a flutter from time to time had better not bet on a LCFC game, theres NO chance of predicting the outcome. Win at watford, lose at home....

Ok lets weigh up where LCFC is right now, 14 games, 15 pts, 18th in division 2, and yet 15 years ago or so, we were in a pretty much similar position league wise, but i can honestly say we have better players now. We have squad of 34, we must have better?

One minute you win when you expect nothing better than a draw, then you get "a custard pie" performance.

So what is the problem?

What do we do about it, where do we go from here?

I bow to Thracian`s footballing knowledge when he said our 2 wingers last night were not acting as wingers. He mentioned they never get to the by line, get round the back of the defence, a phantom menace hey Thrach.

If we pretend to attack and we dont, we lose confidence. Yes we pass the ball around, but burnley played 5 in midfield and Craig said he EXPECTED that, so why fraf around, why not give momo and hamill carte blanche to get down the line, are we waiting for superman smith?

We all think craig is an intelligent man, well 18th is not the work of intelligence.

Our play was of cautious in nature.

We didnt score. They scored with one striker.

Weve now lost 3 from 7 home games.

Peter taylors Hull are above us.

After 14 games last season, we had 18pts.

The fans chanted "what a load of rubbish", and not just a few, hundreds possibly thousands.

Craig, im sorry to have to say this, but you are the one dealing us that custard pie, it is now YOUR team, you have been here a year, and we are NO better, FACT.

You are playing a donkey upfront, everyone can see that, why cant you?

You wont play either of your TWO LB`s, but a CB at LB, its a JOKE!

People are paying huge sums of money to watch that drivel.

I do not see the light from this dark dark tunnel Craig.

Has someone got a crystal ball to put me out my misery, i am sad, F-IN SAD, i love my city, i am passionette, but i am sad.

I'm getting rather annoyed with Elvis Hammond too. At least we've got de Vries. He can score, the others can't.

[The People's Hero]

That Akinbiyi might be worth a go....

[Ric Flair]

That Akinbiyi might be worth a go....

That would be like eating shit twice and knowing about it the second time around.

[The People's Hero]

That would be like eating shit twice and knowing about it the second time around.

Nicely put!

[lush]

Lush, that's not true. I had a flutter last night and won. Good old city, you can rely on them to set themselves up for a fall. Akinbiyi 6-1 first goal. You knew it would happen.

Still the winnings goes no where near to making up for the shambles last night.

A tip for sunday to cheer me up?

But what Ric? please make me smile again.

Ben, lum de lump did not score. Do you honestly think lump de lump is better than hammond?

[BenFilbert]

A tip for sunday to cheer me up?

But what Ric? please make me smile again.

Ben, lum de lump did not score. Do you honestly think lump de lump is better than hammond?

I suppose you mean Mark de Vries. No idea where that name came from. I think Elvis Hammond can be a good player. You can find a fault with any player. You should be able to see the good too. Elvis is quick and skillful. He can't head a ball and he can't score. You say that de Vries didn't score, nether did Elvis. de Vries scored against Watford. Elvis didn't. I think Elvis is a good player but i think de Vries (at the moment) is better. Of course i do! de Vries can't head a ball but look at the positives. When the ball is played to his feet he can turn and run. He can then play a good ball through. de Vries wouldn't have missed the chance Elvis had. He should have scored.

[Gené and Tonic]

mmm custard pies

[Thracian]

I'm getting rather annoyed with Elvis Hammond too. At least we've got de Vries. He can score, the others can't.

Craig's inability to deal with Burnley's five-man midfield is another example of his inability to dictate terms.

To do that, of course, he needs to have the personel required to vary things.

What would MON have done. Well, he'd have missed em out altogether. He'd have had Heskey and perhaps Marshall around, fed the ball to them, they'd have held it up for Guppy and next thing there'd have been all havoc as a cross zipped into a penalty area guarded by a maximum of four defenders.

We did this briefly in the final flourish when we abandoned the four-man defence we had to mark one striker and let Dion go forward. With Dion and MDV we started holding the ball up and feeding Hume/MDV on the right flank. Result. Far more penetration than during the rest of the half but too late.

That was the tempo we should have had THROUGHOUT the half - and the commitment.

Levein seems to want to cruise quietly through games - and pinch em and somewhere - but he's finding it doesn't work for him in the Championship cos our players aren't good enough, generally, not to concede a goal.

Hence, we need two or three goals a game... which means fielding a strong strike force - but one which can vary its point of attack.

Trouble is Craig doesn't have the luxury of any aerially relevant forwards. MDV is the biggest bloke I've ever seen who CAN'T head a ball. So, our options are limited and he's gotta increase em..

Another important thing in modern football is variety. Every team is scrutinised by its next opponents so you need to spring a few surprises. I never agreed with fielding an unchanged team after Saturday a) because there were obvious weaknesses that needed improving, b) because two games in three days is never easy and c) because it was a different game with different requirements.

If teams KNOW what you are going to do they can plan ahead (at least some of em can!!!) but if you throw a

few variables into the mix it can furstrate the best laid plans. Keeping one step ahead is a key element of management. Morinho makes it an art form but he does have some advantages...

For instance, and especially with Gerrbrand needing to play, Levein could have gone 4-2-4 against Burnley with Hume high but in the hole. This would have left three of their five midfielders redundant.

Try this:

Stearman, Gerrbrand, McCarthy, Sheehan;

Joey, Tiatto;

Hume;

Hammond, Dublin, MDV.

They wouldn't have had five in midfield for long I promise you that, because they have had two big men to deal with and a third if McCarthy got forward at set plays.

Oh what fun Sheehan might have had then... and certainly our most likely way to victory cos I don't think we'd have outpassed their midfield man for man.

So, purposeful aerial attack on a specific day to do a specific job and with the best personel in place to make it work. Not the same, but a bit like QPR played really. As it was aerial passes were an utter waste until the last 10 minutes when Dublin got involved.

The above is all theoretical now but is an example of how to dictate terms. Always keep the opposition guessing by making sure that you set the questions.

[lush]

Elvis is quick and skillful. He can't head a ball. I think Elvis is a good player

de Vries can't head a ball. When the ball is played to his feet he can turn and run. He can then play a good ball through.

Elvis has scored, albeit one goal, but hes played alot less than de lump. Wonder what the ratio of goals per minutes on pitch is?

What would you rather have, a quick and skillfull player, or someone that can turn and run with the ball, and play a good ball through?

I`d rather have the quick and skillfull striker.

[BenFilbert]

Craig's inability to deal with Burnley's five-man midfield is another example of his inability to dictate terms.

To do that, of course, he needs to have the personel required to vary things.

What would MON have done. Well, he'd have missed em out altogether. He'd have had Heskey and perhaps Marshall around, fed the ball to them, they'd have held it up for Guppy and next thing there'd have been all havoc as a cross zipped into a penalty area guarded by a maximum of four defenders.

We did this briefly in the final flourish when we abandoned the four-man defence we had to mark one striker and let Dion go forward. With Dion and MDV we started holding the ball up and feeding Hume/MDV on the right flank. Result. Far more penetration than during the rest of the half but too late.

That was the tempo we should have had THROUGHOUT the half - and the commitment.

Levein seems to want to cruise quietly through games - and pinch em and somewhere - but he's finding it doesn't work for him in the Championship cos our players aren't good enough, generally, not to concede a goal.

Hence, we need two or three goals a game... which means fielding a strong strike force - but one which can vary its point of attack.

Trouble is Craig doesn't have the luxury of any aerially relevant forwards. MDV is the biggest bloke I've ever seen who CAN'T head a ball. So, our options are limited and he's gotta increase em..

Another important thing in modern football is variety. Every team is scrutinised by its next opponents so you need to spring a few surprises. I never agreed with fielding an unchanged team after Saturday a) because there were obvious weaknesses that needed improving, b) because two games in three days is never easy and c) because it was a different game with different requirements.

If teams KNOW what you are going to do they can plan ahead (at least some of em can!!!) but if you throw a

few variables into the mix it can furstrate the best laid plans. Keeping one step ahead is a key element of management. Morinho makes it an art form but he does have some advantages...

For instance, and especially with Gerrbrand needing to play, Levein could have gone 4-2-4 against Burnley with Hume high but in the hole. This would have left three of their five midfielders redundant.

Try this:

Stearman, Gerrbrand, McCarthy, Sheehan;

Joey, Tiatto;

Hume;

Hammond, Dublin, MDV.

They wouldn't have had five in midfield for long I promise you that, because they have had two big men to deal with and a third if McCarthy got forward at set plays.

Oh what fun Sheehan might have had then... and certainly our most likely way to victory cos I don't think we'd have outpassed their midfield man for man.

So, purposeful aerial attack on a specific day to do a specific job and with the best personel in place to make it work. Not the same, but a bit like QPR played really. As it was aerial passes were an utter waste until the last 10 minutes when Dublin got involved.

The above is all theoretical now but is an example of how to dictate terms. Always keep the opposition guessing by making sure that you set the questions.

You must type really, really quick! Good post though mate.

[BenFilbert]

Elvis has scored, albeit one goal, but hes played alot less than de lump. Wonder what the ratio of goals per minutes on pitch is?

What would you rather have, a quick and skillfull player, or someone that can turn and run with the ball, and play a good ball through?

I`d rather have the quick and skillfull striker.

I would rather have a player that can turn and run and play a good through ball. There's no point in being quick and skillful if there's no end result. Don't get me wrong, i like Elvis. I'm just pointing out that if you want to, you can find fault with anything. You need to start looking at the positives of de Vries.

[filbertway]

any good striker in de vrieses position would have at least 12 goals by now though, the amount of great chances he misses, and the amount of time he spends slamming his arms down is annoying.

I'd rather have big trev up there than de vries

[BenFilbert]

any good striker in de vrieses position would have at least 12 goals by now though, the amount of great chances he misses, and the amount of time he spends slamming his arms down is annoying.

I'd rather have big trev up there than de vries

Exactly what i've been saying you shouldn't say! You need to look at positives! And a team in our position is never going to have a player that is top of the goal scoring list.

[lush]

Another important thing in modern football is variety.

Keeping one step ahead is a key element of management. Morinho makes it an art form but he does have some advantages...

For instance, and especially with Gerrbrand needing to play, Levein could have gone 4-2-4 against Burnley with Hume high but in the hole. This would have left three of their five midfielders redundant.

Try this:

Stearman, Gerrbrand, McCarthy, Sheehan;

Joey, Tiatto;

Hume;

Hammond, Dublin, MDV.

It is without question the hardest thing for a defender to cope with a quick attacking player. Both hume and hammond have pace and skill, if one fails, the other can strive.

Both opposition CB`s are usually different quality. One is usually quick, the other bulky. Eventually one of our quick and skillfull strikers with get past the bulky CB and create.

In the first half V sheff utd, i feared for johanson as their 2 strikers ran from deep (crewes 2nd goal aswell) because they were tricky and quick.

Who gets excited when rooney gets the ball 50 yards from goal and starts getting at the defence, everyone.

Who gets excited if crouch does it, alot less. So how can you put fear in the opposition with a lump like crouch and de lump, its very hard hey.

That team and formation Thrach is rubbish. Its a dave basset hoof and run style weve left dinosoar years ago, sorry mate.

I like the back 4, its about the best we have, but how about 3-4-3?

-----------macarthy--gerrbrand--johanson

Stearman------kisnorbo------Tiatto---------sheehan

-------------------------Hughes

----------------hammond------hume

There is 3 left footers in that team, more balance. The 3 at the back can cover the wing backs when their likely to get forwad to support the attack, and even the 2 in midfield can play full back.

Weve got pace and skill up front to attack their defence, with Hughes supporting that theory.

[BenFilbert]

It is without question the hardest thing for a defender to cope with a quick attacking player. Both hume and hammond have pace and skill, if one fails, the other can strive.

Both opposition CB`s are usually different quality. One is usually quick, the other bulky. Eventually one of our quick and skillfull strikers with get past the bulky CB and create.

In the first half V sheff utd, i feared for johanson as their 2 strikers ran from deep (crewes 2nd goal aswell) because they were tricky and quick.

Who gets excited when rooney gets the ball 50 yards from goal and starts getting at the defence, everyone.

Who gets excited if crouch does it, alot less. So how can you put fear in the opposition with a lump like crouch and de lump, its very hard hey.

That team and formation Thrach is rubbish. Its a dave basset hoof and run style weve left dinosoar years ago, sorry mate.

I like the back 4, its about the best we have, but how about 3-4-3?

-----------macarthy--gerrbrand--johanson

Stearman------kisnorbo------Tiatto---------sheehan

-------------------------Hughes

----------------hammond------hume

There is 3 left footers in that team, more balance. The 3 at the back can cover the wing backs when their likely to get forwad to support the attack, and even the 2 in midfield can play full back.

Weve got pace and skill up front to attack their defence, with Hughes supporting that theory.

You're team isn't much better.

I would like to see Hume just behind Elvis and de Vries. It would be good if Hume could stop being so selfish and PASS THE BALL! He's very good at dribbling but he tries to go to far.

[lush]

I would rather have a player that can turn and run and play a good through ball. There's no point in being quick and skillful if there's no end result. Don't get me wrong, i like Elvis. I'm just pointing out that if you want to, you can find fault with anything. You need to start looking at the positives of de Vries.

If your quick and skillfull, doesnt that mean you have the ability to score?

I agree humey.

Ben, you say look at the positives with de lump, and you describe them as "he can turn and run with the ball". I dont even see him do that, much.

I`d love to know the ratio of goals per minutes both hammond and mdv has made, anyone? Wheres stato

[BenFilbert]

If your quick and skillfull, doesnt that mean you have the ability to score?

I agree humey.

Ben, you say look at the positives with de lump, and you describe them as "he can turn and run with the ball". I dont even see him do that, much.

I`d love to know the ratio of goals per minutes both hammond and mdv has made, anyone? Wheres stato

He doesn't though.

The service he's given is awful. Most balls he gets are hit up to his head! He can't head a ball. When it's passed to his feet, he turns and runs and passes.

[filbertway]

He doesn't though.

The service he's given is awful. Most balls he gets are hit up to his head! He can't head a ball. When it's passed to his feet, he turns and runs and passes.

I dont think he can do all of that in one sequence

He also turns about as quick as a cruise ship

[Thracian]

It is without question the hardest thing for a defender to cope with a quick attacking player. Both hume and hammond have pace and skill, if one fails, the other can strive.

Both opposition CB`s are usually different quality. One is usually quick, the other bulky. Eventually one of our quick and skillfull strikers with get past the bulky CB and create.

In the first half V sheff utd, i feared for johanson as their 2 strikers ran from deep (crewes 2nd goal aswell) because they were tricky and quick.

Who gets excited when rooney gets the ball 50 yards from goal and starts getting at the defence, everyone.

Who gets excited if crouch does it, alot less. So how can you put fear in the opposition with a lump like crouch and de lump, its very hard hey.

That team and formation Thrach is rubbish. Its a dave basset hoof and run style weve left dinosoar years ago, sorry mate.

I like the back 4, its about the best we have, but how about 3-4-3?

-----------macarthy--gerrbrand--johanson

Stearman------kisnorbo------Tiatto---------sheehan

-------------------------Hughes

----------------hammond------hume

There is 3 left footers in that team, more balance. The 3 at the back can cover the wing backs when their likely to get forwad to support the attack, and even the 2 in midfield can play full back.

Weve got pace and skill up front to attack their defence, with Hughes supporting that theory.

That's not the system I'd generally play it is an IDEA I might have adopted last night to specifically deal with five Burnley midfielders who were mobile and could pass the ball well.

I quite accept it would have been a bit hoof-balley but our wingers were progressively knackered from Saturday and we were never going to pass and run it through to goal on the night because we just didn't have have the speed, the skill and the movement necessary against five.

With two big men and two fast men up front we would have had a serious goal threat (they looked pretty threatening at the end) and Burnley may have weakened their midfield to combat it. Under your system, while we would have coped in midfield I think two fast forwards against four defenders would have been hard work, especially with neither being a target man type.

It is all conjecture anyway but the point I was trying to illustrate was that a manager must be willing and able to change his tactics according to the situation. I've seen no signs that Craig is particularly good at that.

[The People's Hero]

I've seen no signs that Craig is particularly good at that.

Apart from a bit of good work on the infrastructure of a club which was rotten to the core as a result of MA's tenure, and the occasional good move in the transfer market, I haven't seen much that CL does do well.

He consistently makes the same mistakes.

It's his team and his players, his project, the buck stops with him. Not bad referees or bad luck.

Quite frankly, if I was as bad at my job as he is at his, I'd have been sacked by now. Or at least had the decency to offer my resignation.

And no this isn't just because MON did so well. Perhaps LCFC do demand a decent standard but is that so bad? We're being served up absolute tripe in terms of performance and results, with a squad which should be doing a lot better.

My guess is that the players lack motivation because they're not being given good instructions or a good gameplan and that the training etc lacks cohesion. CL has no tactical nous, no motivational skills and no bottle.

Get rid.

[BenFilbert]

I dont think he can do all of that in one sequence

He also turns about as quick as a cruise ship

That is where you are wrong. You have to admit, he is very good at turning when the ball comes to his feet.