Where do we go from here?

[Jace]

What now for Beckford? A cup of tea and a Wotsit sandwich.

Brilliant

[seenitall]

Don't get me wrong, I'm never happy to see us lose and I'm not stupid enough to think we don't have to sort things out in our away take if we're going to get anywhere near promotion this season - I just don't think changing manager is going to stop individual players making mistakes.

For me, things will improve when Whitbread comes into the side. Moore has been great but we're lacking that experience in defence alongside Morgan - we need someone who can read the game and is a very good technical defender alongside a physical stopper like Morgan.

The manner of our defeats has annoyed me because I can see that these teams were there for the taking and if we hadn't shipped silly goals, we'd probably be sitting here talking about our great away form. Having said that, I can see that the ingredients are there and I'm convinced we will improve away from home because from what I've seen so far, I'm encouraged.

We need to cut out the sloppy play and defending ASAP, then we'll improve.

I don't know what you saw to encourage you yesterday chap. Huffing and puffing I call it. In the past 2seasons we have fired our manager for being defeated too many times early on to have a top 2challenge and this season will be no different unless we win the next 3. Anything less than than 7 points from those games and NP is unfit for purpose. 7from those games will have us looking like play off contenders.

He's got his players, had his summer, got rid of virtually all the old guard, troublemakers and still serves up ineffective schoolboy football like yesterday. I think when Waghorn came on, which I guess was Nige showing Becks who's boss(again), and missed his sitter (although it was nice to see it stay in the ground for once) you can imagine what his team must think.

And I think it too. Get a grip Nigel.

[Callabinho]

From here I'm going to the toilet.

[Leicester_Numan]

I don't post directly after a bad result to avoid a knee jerk reaction, there's plenty of jerks on here already. We may have lost 3 away games but let's not forget we've played the league one champions and 2 clubs relegated from the premiership, should have had 5 points and deserved 7 from those games. We're not playing badly, we just need to stop conceding stupid goals and put our chances away, that's all that's wrong. We all knew this was going to be a tough start but if we'd got what we deserved we'd be sitting in the play off places and possibly even top. I fully expect us to win the next 2 games but it's going to start becoming a problem if we don't start picking up points away. It's another tough game at Boro but we're well capable of winning it. I think it's time to put St Ledger in, move Moore to right back and start Knockaert, possibly Futacs away from home so we've got someone capable of holding the ball up. That doesn't equal hoofball but at least it gives us an opportunity to win and keep the ball if we have to hoof it out of defence

[Babylon]

1) Stop the individual errors in attack and defence.

2) Support the strikers - too often the players in the final third are too far apart. Meaning we end up taking long shots, playing hopeful balls, or pointless crosses to nobody. Konckaert did this yesterday, he came in from wide and got close to the strikers, meaning for the first time all season we looked like we could actually go through the middle.

3) If it aint working change tactics - we got bullied first half yesterday and it was screaming for an extra man to come into the middle and help out.

There is more but I will leave it at that for now.

[Guest Col city fan]

Defensively we have gone through Mills, Bamba, SSL, Peltier, RDL, Konch, Morgan, Moore...They have all been roundly accused by many on this forum of 'making individual errors'.

Why is this question never answered? Are you REALLY suggesting that these are all bad defenders or that we have consistently had a bad defence?

And, if it's a 'bad defence' away from home, why is it not a 'bad defence' at home.

How do you advocate stopping individual defensive errors? It's clear that the previous and current management have been unable to. Only yesterday, the same errors were occurring.

I submit to you that these defenders are not all 'bad defenders' or that we have a 'bad defence'.

Instead we play a formation, away from home, that pushes the opposition onto us in dangerous positions and places too much pressure onto the back 5.

Answer: a defensive midfield holding player and/or a physically stronger midfield who are as adept without the ball as they are with it.

Individual errors will always happen, such is football, but again trying to pin an explanation as to our defensive frailty onto allow the aforementioned players is potty.. They can't all be bad. They need more support away from home. This STILL hasn't been addressed and we have now lost 3 away this season and countless away last season.

[Babylon]

So you think a DM will stop Moore from spooning a ridiculously simple clearance straight to an opposition team member which led to their first goal. Or will make RDL and Konchesky pick up their man at a set piece. This is basic stuff yesterday that has nothing to do with a DM.

Whether it's lack of confidence, poor ability or just bad form I don't know. But a DM isn't going to help these players with stuff like this. With some goals yes, but it's not the cure to everything.

[chris_lcfc_85]

The title of this topic suggests border line crisis which is crackers!!

What we do from here is stop sulking and look ahead to Wednesday and Sunday. 2 home games and our support is vital

Yes im majorly disappointed like most of us but we're 5 games in. Not one side in the division has even won 4 out 5 games! The most wins by any team is 3 so wide open this year. Up the foxes!!!

[Guest Col city fan]

So you think a DM will stop Moore from spooning a ridiculously simple clearance straight to an opposition team member which led to their first goal. Or will make RDL and Konchesky pick up their man at a set piece. This is basic stuff yesterday that has nothing to do with a DM.

Whether it's lack of confidence, poor ability or just bad form I don't know. But a DM isn't going to help these players with stuff like this. With some goals yes, but it's not the cure to everything.

So what's the answer? At least I'm trying to suggest something which I think may help. All you do is to bleat on about 'defensive errors' across sundry different players. Yes, you're right! What's the answer? And don't start on about poor ability. You've always loved Morgan.

[Ric Flair]

We've not improved under Pearson since he returned. This is now his squad, yet it's producing nothing that Sven's didn't. I'm not saying he should be sacked, because it's still early days but it's worrying that he's had absolutely no positive impact results wise since he's come back. Our situation just seems so delicately poised for my liking, there's too many concerns and unhappy players. Confidence, team spirit and good decision making is needed at this level and we seem to have little of all 3.

I don't think he's got long left here, that's modern day football for you. If we drop in to the bottom 3 the trigger will be pulled instantly. I hope he turns it around but our away form is disgusting and there's no signs he can cause a change in this squad to rectify that.

[chris_lcfc_85]

So what's the answer? At least I'm trying to suggest something which I think may help. All you do is to bleat on about 'defensive errors' across sundry different players. Yes, you're right! What's the answer? And don't start on about poor ability. You've always loved Morgan.

In all fairness yesterday, we could of had a world class midfielder but it wouldnt of stopped 4 players from not marking a man for their first goal and wouldnt of stopped De Laet from going to sleep for the 2nd goal

[chris_lcfc_85]

We've not improved under Pearson since he returned. This is now his squad, yet it's producing nothing that Sven's didn't. I'm not saying he should be sacked, because it's still early days but it's worrying that he's had absolutely no positive impact results wise since he's come back. Our situation just seems so delicately poised for my liking, there's too many concerns and unhappy players. Confidence, team spirit and good decision making is needed at this level and we seem to have little of all 3.

I don't think he's got long left here, that's modern day football for you. If we drop in to the bottom 3 the trigger will be pulled instantly. I hope he turns it around but our away form is disgusting and there's no signs he can cause a change in this squad to rectify that.

I agree we've not really taken a step forward since he came in but you can only really call it 'his team' from the start of this season which is 5 league games. Whilst its not a great start, he deserves till at least Xmas to give him a chance as 5 games is not fair

[5waller5]

1) Stop the individual errors in attack and defence.

2) Support the strikers - too often the players in the final third are too far apart. Meaning we end up taking long shots, playing hopeful balls, or pointless crosses to nobody. Konckaert did this yesterday, he came in from wide and got close to the strikers, meaning for the first time all season we looked like we could actually go through the middle.

3) If it aint working change tactics - we got bullied first half yesterday and it was screaming for an extra man to come into the middle and help out.

There is more but I will leave it at that for now.

I agree, we looked weak against them - and yet their manager had said that in their previous games this season they had been bullied and needed to toughen up - Either they did so very effectively or we are easier to bully!

[Ric Flair]

I agree we've not really taken a step forward since he came in but you can only really call it 'his team' from the start of this season which is 5 league games. Whilst its not a great start, he deserves till at least Xmas to give him a chance as 5 games is not fair

Whilst I tend to agree, we're getting worse though. It's the unsettled players that are here or already left that concern me though. It leads to an uneasy feeling that all is not right.

[Babylon]

So what's the answer? At least I'm trying to suggest something which I think may help. All you do is to bleat on about 'defensive errors' across sundry different players. Yes, you're right! What's the answer? And don't start on about poor ability. You've always loved Morgan.

I'm not a bloody football manager col I don't know how you stop individuals from making basic errors. Perhaps better coaching with regards their decision making. And "bleating" hardly.

Look at the reviews Peltier and Mills have had so far at their clubs. Reviews very similar to we gave them here.

As for loving Morgan, where you get this from? Because I said I didn't think his pace is that big an issue (it hasn't been). He's been the best of our back 4 by a country mile so far though.

[Babylon]

I agree, we looked weak against them - and yet their manager had said that in their previous games this season they had been bullied and needed to toughen up - Either they did so very effectively or we are easier to bully!

They made several changes I think to combat this. Big one being the return of Henry.

[5waller5]

So you think a DM will stop Moore from spooning a ridiculously simple clearance straight to an opposition team member which led to their first goal. Or will make RDL and Konchesky pick up their man at a set piece. This is basic stuff yesterday that has nothing to do with a DM.

Whether it's lack of confidence, poor ability or just bad form I don't know. But a DM isn't going to help these players with stuff like this. With some goals yes, but it's not the cure to everything.

You have no idea how much I hate agreeing with Col City but ...... The defensive midfielder would mean that less balls get through to the centre halves, so they have less opportunities to spoon the ball to the forward, they'd also have an additional body nearby to help out when they do.

I'm just astonished that Drinkwater doesn't come deeper and help more in defence, against us he ran the show in a real box to box role, breaking down our attacks and emerging with the ball to lay off a simple pass ....

[Guest Col city fan]

I'm not a bloody football manager col I don't know how you stop individuals from making basic errors. Perhaps better coaching with regards their decision making. And "bleating" hardly.

Look at the reviews Peltier and Mills have had so far at their clubs. Reviews very similar to we gave them here.

As for loving Morgan, where you get this from? Because I said I didn't think his pace is that big an issue (it hasn't been). He's been the best of our back 4 by a country mile so far though.

Yes and he's also the captain of a side that has shipped 6 goals already AND the defensive Marshall?

I've always liked Morgan but in his current role I'm afraid the 'defensive errors' you speak of rest ultimately with the manager and Morgan as the commander of the defence.

Finally... Compare this to Pearsons play off side and I'm afraid there must be SOMETHING that is sorely amiss with our away performances.

[Guest Col city fan]

You have no idea how much I hate agreeing with Col City but ...... The defensive midfielder would mean that less balls get through to the centre halves, so they have less opportunities to spoon the ball to the forward, they'd also have an additional body nearby to help out when they do.

I'm just astonished that Drinkwater doesn't come deeper and help more in defence, against us he ran the show in a real box to box role, breaking down our attacks and emerging with the ball to lay off a simple pass ....

I think you've been posting some very readable stuff recently Waller and not only this post.

[chris_lcfc_85]

You have no idea how much I hate agreeing with Col City but ...... The defensive midfielder would mean that less balls get through to the centre halves, so they have less opportunities to spoon the ball to the forward, they'd also have an additional body nearby to help out when they do.

I'm just astonished that Drinkwater doesn't come deeper and help more in defence, against us he ran the show in a real box to box role, breaking down our attacks and emerging with the ball to lay off a simple pass ....

I thought James did it 2nd half, he pretty much sat in front of the back 4 allowing the full backs to bomb on

[5waller5]

In all fairness yesterday, we could of had a world class midfielder but it wouldnt of stopped 4 players from not marking a man for their first goal and wouldnt of stopped De Laet from going to sleep for the 2nd goal

It's a great point, I think it may even have been five!!! I've never seen anything like it, the width of the goal there were only blue shirts all lined up, and then two of their players peeling off and going round the back to the far post - it was obviously zonal defending, and seemed to be a great way to beat zonal defending .... the kind of thing a coach is paid for!!

[chris_lcfc_85]

It's a great point, I think it may even have been five!!! I've never seen anything like it, the width of the goal there were only blue shirts all lined up, and then two of their players peeling off and going round the back to the far post - it was obviously zonal defending, and seemed to be a great way to beat zonal defending .... the kind of thing a coach is paid for!!

Yes NP needs to sort that out but 2 weeks prior against Blackpool, these issues werent there so surely there wasnt a massive issue there. These players need to take responsibilty. Surely Morgan and Moore should be marking Ebanks Blake and Doyle on EVERY set piece?

[5waller5]

I thought James did it 2nd half, he pretty much sat in front of the back 4 allowing the full backs to bomb on

That's a fair point and in the current squad James may be the answer. He's a bit anonymous for me so far and I haven't rated him that highly as a result - but he was very well thought of at United.

[Burmesefox]

This is where we go from here.

1. We keep NP for the whole of this season. Regardless of thoughts on NP (I actually quite like him as a amanager) to change now or even later this season will disrupt our squad and make us the Chenoble of the football world - i.e no player/manager/or agent will want to be within 30 miles of us.

2. We start With Knockeart

3. We do not bring Waggy on but instead use Beckford.

4. We get a new defensive coach in and or attacking coach in. The signs are there defensively that we will leak goals this season. De Laets positioning for teh second was woeful. He just went to sleep. As for scoring goals - we are struggling.

[maddog]

I'm all for sticking with NP as its unlikely any new manager could come in and turn NPs squad into promotion in the same season.

However, the owners have invested tens of millions of pounds, for a well below average points return for the squad of players we have amassed. So they may be thinking differently.

All we've done this season is beat the worst team in the division at home, plus a one goal victory courtesy of a penalty. With a humiliating home defeat to Burton Albion also.

The owners know they have backed Pearson highly, and took a gamble bringing him back and axeing Sven, they might feel its time for a change and they know they can attract plenty of other managers by offering high wages who have similar if not better abilities than Pearson.

Needless to say the owners may sack Pearson if we fail to win either of the 2 home games this week, they're the ones who have invested tens of millions and if I were the investors, I would be getting itchy feet.