Reasons for failure

[cc_star]

That is the bloody problem, the game should suit the occasion not players warranting selection after one game because we won it, Milwall were a physical and away from home would you play Gally, Wellens and King I wouldn't because I know the result will be a loss.

No I'd play Danns, but seeing as he ****ed that up...

[Guy]

That is the bloody problem, the game should suit the occasion not players warranting selection after one game because we won it, Milwall were a physical and away from home would you play Gally, Wellens and King I wouldn't because I know the result will be a loss.

That's spot on, you don't put the exact same players that came on in the second half of a game we won in to a starting formation of a different game to follow if they don't fit the type of opponents we next face - just because these players (in this case King and Gallagher) triumphed as latecomers to part of a unit in the previous game, you alter the squad accordingly for each game if need be, not do it on loyalty and/or who earned a place in the next starting line up just because they put in a shift in the previous successsful game - that is old hat style management! Keeping a winning side formation without changinng it plays into the oppositions' hands a lot of the time ....as happened at Millwall on Saturday!

[Happy Fox]

No I'd play Danns, but seeing as he ****ed that up...

Gally lightweight and so is Wellens away from home they have hardly pulled up the trumps, when the opposition run directly at us they cut the midfield like butter, Neil Danns being injured is such a shame because he could break up play, we really need a defensive midfielder and that must be a priority for next season because we will struggle to deal with teams when they attack.

[cc_star]

One up front mate not three.... And if those that came off the bench were hungry coming off the bench use the same tactic ?? You don't change a winning side ..... You dont play your top scorer wide and you dont play a winger behind your lone striker

Nugent's best work has been cutting in from the left channel, almost all of his goals this season has come from that

Gally & Marshall can play as wide forward or down the middle.

the extra player in the middle when playing 433 allows for an extra man in the middle to support the defence, something which we desperately need

You seem to imply we should be 442? The only players who've played well as a middle 2 in a 442 are Danns & Wellens... Every other combination has been shit therefore two upfront in a 442 as you seem to want isn't possible because of Danns' suspension then injury

[thezagnworb]

Danns is suspended

[thezagnworb]

We have wingers we have strikers play them as they sould be ... Beckford plays loads better with Nuge as a partner !!!

[mrmagoomc4]

vassel being injured help wreck our season he really was missed up front .......

[Raw Dykes]

Danns is suspended

He's not. He served a four match ban which ended before the Millwall match. He's out injured now.

[Fox92]

Players not tackling/no passion... Players like King, and especially Gallagher, are too lightweight.

Also, I think Vassell's injury wasn't good for us. I just hope we don't get rid, he is a lively footballer with the ability to beat players. Better option than Gallagher out wide.

[Guest Col city fan]

This is an interesting thread...

The reasons for our 'failure' this season, for me anyway, are these:

1. The midfield... Not sufficiently creative, far too few goals, far too few assists.

Also, not tough enough, not strong enough. Away from home we have been carved open time and time again. We have cried out for a goal scoring midfielder and a tough tackler.

2. Jermaine Beckford.... Not enough League goals and a severely poor first touch has meant that we have been unable to keep the ball sufficiently.

3. A big squad, but one lacking real quality. Fat Johnno, Balls, Stevie Howard etc are all not good enough to take us up at this level.

4. Sven.... An apparent inability to judge the division, to make the correct blend of signings to get out of the division and a lack of discipline when it was required.

Therefore... We need a tough bloke in the middle of the park, a better striker alongside Nuge and a midfielder who can change a game.

Drinkwater and Marshall will make a difference next season though IMO. Both very good signings.

Oh... And finally... To keep Pearson and give him at least the same amount of time as Sven had.

[smudgerfox]

This is an interesting thread... The reasons for our 'failure' this season, for me anyway, are these: 1. The midfield... Not sufficiently creative, far too few goals, far too few assists. Also, not tough enough, not strong enough. Away from home we have been carved open time and time again. We have cried out for a goal scoring midfielder and a tough tackler. 2. Jermaine Beckford.... Not enough League goals and a severely poor first touch has meant that we have been unable to keep the ball sufficiently. 3. A big squad, but one lacking real quality. Fat Johnno, Balls, Stevie Howard etc are all not good enough to take us up at this level. 4. Sven.... An apparent inability to judge the division, to make the correct blend of signings to get out of the division and a lack of discipline when it was required. Therefore... We need a tough bloke in the middle of the park, a better striker alongside Nuge and a midfielder who can change a game. Drinkwater and Marshall will make a difference next season though IMO. Both very good signings. Oh... And finally... To keep Pearson and give him at least the same amount of time as Sven had.

Agree with all this. I would add a squad "mentality" which believed its own pre-season hype, constantly under-estimated the lower lights (in my eyes it was a strong division this season with barely any weaklings) in the division (see poor points return v bottom 8) and clearly felt they only had to turn up sometimes to collect the points. See also pre-match comments following victories where player quotes clearly demonstrate an attitude that one or two victories meant order restored, corners turned, season on track. Smacked of complacency. Too many players joined assuming we'd provide a one-season ticket to the Premiership.

I think you'd also have to throw in discipline - the loss of Danns in the run-in was a real blow, points were sacrificed due to completely unnecessary sendings off with Schmeicel, Mills, Danns and Konchesky (guess what, all this season signings) particular culprits.

And a poor goals return from set pieces

[paulsherwood1]

Some good points again! As I have said before I don`t think sacking managers gets you anywhere fast, however you need to start with the right one. I liked Sven, but I dont think his style suited the championship. We then bring in NP, who has no Championship promotions to his name, a successful season in League 1, and an fairly successful season in the Champ with LCFC, but ultimately no promotion.

I think a lot of the support for NP is either people living off old `League 1` Glories, or people who know that changing the manager all the time is not good practice. However.... if we dont start with the right man then we may as well bury our head for next season. Pearson`s tactics and inability to manage big name players worries me. He ( and his team ) do seem to have the knack of spotting talent, but can he Lead, Motivate and inspire them as a manager should? Not sure.

Personally I can`t be convinced like others are that just by having a summer and a Pre Season that we are going to turn into promotion candidates.

[roachmachine]

Great post chris, best ive read on here in a good while i think, which believe me takes some doing for a bloke who makes victor meldrew look like a stand up comedian

[roachmachine]

Tho only when the frustrations of following lcfc have driven me to drink it has to be said, which obvously this season has meant alot of drink.

[Happy Fox]

Some good points again! As I have said before I don`t think sacking managers gets you anywhere fast, however you need to start with the right one. I liked Sven, but I dont think his style suited the championship. We then bring in NP, who has no Championship promotions to his name, a successful season in League 1, and an fairly successful season in the Champ with LCFC, but ultimately no promotion.

I think a lot of the support for NP is either people living off old `League 1` Glories, or people who know that changing the manager all the time is not good practice. However.... if we dont start with the right man then we may as well bury our head for next season. Pearson`s tactics and inability to manage big name players worries me. He ( and his team ) do seem to have the knack of spotting talent, but can he Lead, Motivate and inspire them as a manager should? Not sure.

Personally I can`t be convinced like others are that just by having a summer and a Pre Season that we are going to turn into promotion candidates.

It depends what NP does in the summer if Wellens and co are still here then we aren't going anywhere.

We need to be ruthless get rid that is if any club will take them, pray that their are some suitors for Wellens, Gallagher, Dyer, Howard, Mills, Pantsil, Bamba

[yorkie1999]

As i see it our problem has been we/players expected to go up and haven't realised you actually have to put a shift in to do that.

we are hopeless in defence at set peices and balls in from the wings. The midfield are not strong enough and don't defend well enough. We haven't got a defender who has the skill to win a ball and run up the pitch with it taking pressure off the rest of defence, instead we fanny about trying to pass it out from the back when opposing teams have their players in or around the box. Our strikers don't hold the ball up long enough for the midfield to get up to them. Our one touch passing and ball control is crap. Our corners are rubbish and we dont pressure the opposition goalie, how many have we actually scored from corners, probably less than 5 times in the last 2 years. We don't go down for free kicks where as we should. We are not aggressive enough. We seem to play better when we go 1 up early on and the opposition have to push out thereby creating space, so to me that says that other teams we play against want to sit deep and are looking to hit us on the break because they know we have no pace in midfield and can't get back quick enough. We need to get wingers tracking up and down the pitch and not our defence, our defence should stay back and defend because they're simply not quick enough. And ipa beer is crap, we need to be able to buy stella and guiness downstairs.

[Guest Col city fan]

As i see it our problem has been we/players expected to go up and haven't realised you actually have to put a shift in to do that.

we are hopeless in defence at set peices and balls in from the wings. The midfield are not strong enough and don't defend well enough. We haven't got a defender who has the skill to win a ball and run up the pitch with it taking pressure off the rest of defence, instead we fanny about trying to pass it out from the back when opposing teams have their players in or around the box. Our strikers don't hold the ball up long enough for the midfield to get up to them. Our one touch passing and ball control is crap. Our corners are rubbish and we dont pressure the opposition goalie, how many have we actually scored from corners, probably less than 5 times in the last 2 years. We don't go down for free kicks where as we should. We are not aggressive enough. We seem to play better when we go 1 up early on and the opposition have to push out thereby creating space, so to me that says that other teams we play against want to sit deep and are looking to hit us on the break because they know we have no pace in midfield and can't get back quick enough. We need to get wingers tracking up and down the pitch and not our defence, our defence should stay back and defend because they're simply not quick enough. And ipa beer is crap, we need to be able to buy stella and guiness downstairs.

What a great post! Especially the bit about IPA...

[flowwolf]

What a great post! Especially the bit about IPA...

Or pints of Pernod shandy.

[Grewks]

Sven's players did not play for him, so WTF would they play for Pearson.

Give him time to establish his own side who share his and the clubs ambition. I have yet to see the £5 million Mills and £4 million Beckford show any quality which suggests that they were worth half their pricetag. Whereas marshall, drinkwater and morgan have all offered better value for money.

Before the argument of 'well we dont even play mills', when from what i have seen from mills this season is that his performances have been below that of Bamba, St Ledger and Morgan, just because he is more than likely a higher earner does not mean he should start.

All i will say is this Fryatt > Beckford, you may mock and laugh, but ask yourself this, which has offered greater service to this club? Which is younger? Which had a lower wage? I do not care what beckford has done at Leeds or Everton, it is about what he does here, now, in the present. The only reputation i care with regards to footballers is their reputation at this club, not others, totally irrelevant and does not benefit us.