One for the Happy Clappers... What's wrong?

[1964FOX]

I have been on the fence about Pearson for a long time and very willing to give him a chance. Problem is he wiil not change which is clear from his refusal to change tactics or offer a plan B that works. He as clearly lost the support of the players and bears one too many grudges. I haven't bothered listening to his post match talk because I know exactly what he will say.

It's time for him to go so we can move on, not an ideal time for it but I genuinely believe it's the right time.

[Guest ttfn]

Mark_w I like your posts but I have to take issue with a lot of this.

We had a very similar run in late October and early November

Our worst 7 game streak this season before this would start with the Palace defeat (end of October) and end with the Leeds defeat (end of November). In that time we picked up 8 points, so 3 more than in this run. We also absolutely hammered Ipswich 6-0 in that time and two of our three defeats were to Watford and Crystal Palace, both of whom are in the top 4. We've played nobody of note in this run.

There was a real negative vibe from our fans today, despite the fact that we're in a position that most fans would have taken at the start of the season.

We're playing dreadfully. I don't think I really expected us to win today, and we were at home to the side in 20th position in the league. We're going backwards, fast. Get your head out of the sand.

The rest of your post is right though. There is a lot of negativity and a lot of it is completely unwarranted. But we are regressing very, very quickly and the current manager seems to have no idea how to fix it.

If this was my investment I would be thinking very hard about my next move because, whether with Pearson at the helm or not, fresh ideas are needed.

[Guest Col city fan]

Mark_w I like your posts but I have to take issue with a lot of this.

Our worst 7 game streak this season before this would start with the Palace defeat (end of October) and end with the Leeds defeat (end of November). In that time we picked up 8 points, so 3 more than in this run. We also absolutely hammered Ipswich 6-0 in that time and two of our three defeats were to Watford and Crystal Palace, both of whom are in the top 4. We've played nobody of note in this run.

We're playing dreadfully. I don't think I really expected us to win today, and we were at home to the side in 20th position in the league. We're going backwards, fast. Get your head out of the sand.

The rest of your post is right though. There is a lot of negativity and a lot of it is completely unwarranted. But we are regressing very, very quickly and the current manager seems to have no idea how to fix it.

If this was my investment I would be thinking very hard about my next move because, whether with Pearson at the helm or not, fresh ideas are needed.

Ttfn I usually like your posts but this one is massively contradictory.

On the one hand you state 'negativity is unwarranted', then you say 'we are regressing very very quickly and the current manager seems to have no idea how to fix it'.

Make your mind up mate. Why the Fook do you think the negativity is there at the moment?

[Mark_w]

Ttfn I usually like your posts but this one is massively contradictory.

On the one hand you state 'negativity is unwarranted', then you say 'we are regressing very very quickly and the current manager seems to have no idea how to fix it'.

Make your mind up mate. Why the Fook do you think the negativity is there at the moment?

I usually hate your posts Col city fan, this one is no different.

It's not at all contradictory, because the post I made was not just about negativity towards Pearson, but also towards the players and over any and all mistakes made by players. Just because he agrees with you that the negatives aimed at the manager are justified doesn't mean that he has to be ok with all negativity from the fans.

If you simplify what he said to 'negativity is unwarranted', then that would suggest that he's against all negativity. That's not at all what he's saying though...

there is a lot of negativity and a lot of it is completely unwarranted.

Not all of it.

So, you know, actually read posts before responding to them Col.

[foxfanazer]

I love all of your posts

LET'S ALL HAVE A DISCO!!!

[Bluetintedspecs]

Col I feel the term "happy clappers" is a bit Pearsonesque with its arrogant and dismissive tone on a serious note bud this recent run is now genuinely concerning me, I have always been positive over this season and it hurts to even contemplate the possibility it could continue and go totally tits up!Today the team looked devoid of ideas, like we were running on empty and even more concerning their body language was like a scene from dead man walking. After some of the dross I've watched over the years to feel so deflated and we are still in 5th is so strange and sadly it is probably a sad indictment of the modern game coupled with our weight of expectation, mine included.

[Charl91]

I don't think Pearson should be sacked - at least see where we finish at the end of the season first. But I think "happy clappers" is a fairly accurate term, and to be honest, I get just annoyed with those who are unrealistically positive than those who think we will crash and burn after one defeat.

Those who think everything is fine and that we're still on track for promotion are deluded.

[Fox4ever76]

How dare people say anything but good things about our club.

You people make me sick.

We pay our money, we should sit there, smile, clap and never had a bad opinion on our club.

exactly ðŸ‘

[fleckneymike]

I think Pearson mk1 has risen, Lazarus style from the dead. He's killing Pearson mk2, the Pearson who liked to play football and who occasionally changed formation mid match. Now we're stuck playing table football again and he's found the Micky Adams big book of tactics (now laminated) and is trying the masterstroke of putting strikers on the wing.

[funkyrobot]

Well I didn't expect you to have an adult debate to be fair..

This is from the adult who wants Pearson sacked because he gave a bad interview.

[Guest Col city fan]

This is from the adult who wants Pearson sacked because he gave a bad interview.

The interview was just one of a series of errors recently.

You keep clapping mi son...

[funkyrobot]

The interview was just one of a series of errors recently.

You keep clapping mi son...

[foxfanazer]

I can't believe people get criticised for supporting the manager of their club on here!

If you want to boo that's fine, if we want to "happy clap" that too is fine. Support the club whichever way u feel is best and let others do the same for christ sake

[Guest Col city fan]

I can't believe people get criticised for supporting the manager of their club on here!

If you want to boo that's fine, if we want to "happy clap" that too is fine. Support the club whichever way u feel is best and let others do the same for christ sake

That's the point of the thread mate.

Debate, discuss.. But don't just say 'Pearson is shite' or 'Pearson is God'.. He's neither...

I utilise the term 'happy clappers' a little tongue in cheek to be fair.. Cos I'm a cheeky chappy!

[foxfanazer]

That's the point of the thread mate.

Debate, discuss.. But don't just say 'Pearson is shite' or 'Pearson is God'.. He's neither...

I utilise the term 'happy clappers' a little tongue in cheek to be fair.. Cos I'm a cheeky chappy!

It doesn't get debated though, it's all petty squabbles. I put my view across in a post stating what I thought about NP and our current situation.

That post didn't get a reply, somebody says Pearson's shit and you get 3 pages of crap

[Dickov22]

We've lost confidence- need a break of some sort and it'll return. We've got the right man for the job. Stick with him.

[cc_star]

The joie de vivre & smile has gone from the team

What was once free flowing, is now snatched.

Some of the best attacking & defensive football I've ever seen us play has stopped. Negativity has spread & won over.

Going back to how it was, with the pressure on? Near impossible surely.

The shift that Vardy, much maligned on FT, put into the team through his workrate allowing midfielders to join in the attacks & linking up with the wide-men who also came inside to put ridiculous pressure on the opposition box has gone in favour of crosses to suit Wood & then Kane.

All that was good about our game has been sacrificed to attempt to get it in the box quickly where attacks don't have the overwhelming numbers they did have & opposing defenders have time to just head clear.

Is it possible to go back now Vardy is short on confidence not helped by fans who didn't acknowledge his whole game and contribution to TEAM & now he tries too hard, seeing as it's ALL about scoring? I doubt it.

Does Wood or Kane hold the ball up & play others in like Vardy did, allowing Drinkwater to pressure the edge of the box, allowing Marshall & Knockaert to cut in adding further pressure with RDL providing width on the overlap... & King mopping up from deep? Or are they little more than hussle & bustle in the box waiting for nothing more than the cross - Which yesterday, Marshall placed on Kane's forehead only for him to headover.

NO. The fans who wanted our game changed now have it changed. We now have the goalscorer everyone wanted and our team's game has broken down, there is now no pressure on the ball up front, this cascades through to midfield who now seem stretched, the team doesn't press the high line and instead drops back which invites overwhelming opposition numbers into attack.

Vardy wasn't the answer though, we had poor patches with him in the team & we desperate for someone to take all the chances that his workload helped create... but imo the team's game as a whole was far better with a forward of Vardy's style who chased every lost cause, who came out to the wings who linked up well with a pressing midfield & importantly played some excellent balls into his strike partner Nugent... whose game seems to have died a death without him.

Fvck the fans off, go back to plan A. Play a goalscorer (Nugent) alongside a grafter (Vardy) Stop whipping balls into the box before we have the numbers up to support the attack, play it to feet and attack in numbers ripping teams apart in the process. (Cardiff's big defenders will eat our crosses for breakfast) By having the grafter we'll be the defending from the front, getting pressure on the ball high up the pitch, not allowing the opposition to attack in numbers

The pressure needs alleviating from the team and this is where the naive owners come in they need to say something (even if they're lying) positive about the situation

Can we do this? No... Some people's names on the team sheet would cause booing even before we've started from our dreadful, entitled, whiny 'support' who ain't interested unless the ball is in the back of the net - as large numbers of the vocal among them have brought into the short-termism.

Anyway, fck it. Write the growth potential off. Change the manager, lets see what someone else can do now that Nige has worked to almost clear the books... Yes they'll only benefit from about £5m of owner investment which won't even cover the record losses never mind pay off those who need to leave... not to mention £8m of interest payments at 8% of £100m of debt.

Change. Change always works as we've learnt over the past 10 years... Ignore the lessons of Reading & Cardiff and many others. Change is obviously needed.

[Bluetintedspecs]

That's the point of the thread mate.

Debate, discuss.. But don't just say 'Pearson is shite' or 'Pearson is God'.. He's neither...

I utilise the term 'happy clappers' a little tongue in cheek to be fair.. Cos I'm a cheeky chappy!

I prefer being likened to a Seal on Crack

[Corky]

No confidence, out-of-form players, out-of-position players, a manager that is under pressure and fans who love to be negative more than positive most of the time.

[Bluetintedspecs]

No confidence, out-of-form players, out-of-position players, a manager that is under pressure and fans who love to be negative more than positive most of the time.

And allegedly a possible successor sitting in the stands.....again!!!!!!!

[5waller5]

The joie de vivre & smile has gone from the team

What was once free flowing, is now snatched.

Some of the best attacking & defensive football I've ever seen us play has stopped. Negativity has spread & won over.

Going back to how it was, with the pressure on? Near impossible surely.

The shift that Vardy, much maligned on FT, put into the team through his workrate allowing midfielders to join in the attacks & linking up with the wide-men who also came inside to put ridiculous pressure on the opposition box has gone in favour of crosses to suit Wood & then Kane.

All that was good about our game has been sacrificed to attempt to get it in the box quickly where attacks don't have the overwhelming numbers they did have & opposing defenders have time to just head clear.

Is it possible to go back now Vardy is short on confidence not helped by fans who didn't acknowledge his whole game and contribution to TEAM & now he tries too hard, seeing as it's ALL about scoring? I doubt it.

Does Wood or Kane hold the ball up & play others in like Vardy did, allowing Drinkwater to pressure the edge of the box, allowing Marshall & Knockaert to cut in adding further pressure with RDL providing width on the overlap... & King mopping up from deep? Or are they little more than hussle & bustle in the box waiting for nothing more than the cross - Which yesterday, Marshall placed on Kane's forehead only for him to headover.

NO. The fans who wanted our game changed now have it changed. We now have the goalscorer everyone wanted and our team's game has broken down, there is now no pressure on the ball up front, this cascades through to midfield who now seem stretched, the team doesn't press the high line and instead drops back which invites overwhelming opposition numbers into attack.

Vardy wasn't the answer though, we had poor patches with him in the team & we desperate for someone to take all the chances that his workload helped create... but imo the team's game as a whole was far better with a forward of Vardy's style who chased every lost cause, who came out to the wings who linked up well with a pressing midfield & importantly played some excellent balls into his strike partner Nugent... whose game seems to have died a death without him.

Fvck the fans off, go back to plan A. Play a goalscorer (Nugent) alongside a grafter (Vardy) Stop whipping balls into the box before we have the numbers up to support the attack, play it to feet and attack in numbers ripping teams apart in the process. (Cardiff's big defenders will eat our crosses for breakfast) By having the grafter we'll be the defending from the front, getting pressure on the ball high up the pitch, not allowing the opposition to attack in numbers

The pressure needs alleviating from the team and this is where the naive owners come in they need to say something (even if they're lying) positive about the situation

Can we do this? No... Some people's names on the team sheet would cause booing even before we've started from our dreadful, entitled, whiny 'support' who ain't interested unless the ball is in the back of the net - as large numbers of the vocal among them have brought into the short-termism.

Anyway, fck it. Write the growth potential off. Change the manager, lets see what someone else can do now that Nige has worked to almost clear the books... Yes they'll only benefit from about £5m of owner investment which won't even cover the record losses never mind pay off those who need to leave... not to mention £8m of interest payments at 8% of £100m of debt.

Change. Change always works as we've learnt over the past 10 years... Ignore the lessons of Reading & Cardiff and many others. Change is obviously needed.

I agree with your diagnosis of the problem and to some extent can understand your solution .... But the blaming of the fans bit I can't agree with -they're not the problem. And I'm not sure it's quite so simple as a work ethic from the front man thats the solution .... but it may at least help .... as would having a midfield that made challenges and meant it, and keeping the ball on the deck like we used to.

I don't profess to know the complete answer ...... but i don't think NP has anymore of an idea either. Therein, for me, lies the problem.

[Oxfordfox83]

To the staunch Pearsonites...

Rather than coming on here and simply giving us the stock 'Pearson will turn it around' type comments, lets have an adult debate on what is wrong with the team at the moment. Because something is. And please don't start off with 'we are still 5th'... Yes I know that, but if we don't start improving we won't be for much longer.

Ill start... I think there's not enough pace in the side. When coming forward we don't attack quickly enough and give the opposition time to get back behind the ball and to regroup.

Personally I think we miss Lloyd Dyer's pace.

Comments please if you can be bothered..

Couple of things for me:

1) James being out. We were a much better side once he found his form. DD as anchor doesn't have the passing to get things started.

2) Width. We got none. Knocky and Marshall are not wingers (although at least Marsh can do a job there)-they both want to play in the hole, which is sad as Nuge, King and Waghorn also want to play there. De Laet being out will make everything worse still. There couldn't be a better time to have Schlupp back, and I agree with you about Dyer. I'd love to see a 4-5-1 with Wood or probably Nuge taking it on alone. Bad news for Kane and Vardy, but we need to stretch teams.

3) Scruff-taker. Someone to inspire and drive a fightback-to be the first to do something exciting to lift the crowd and the team (like Izzet was, and like Knocky might one day be). King with a stack more confidence perhaps. Wes does it, but it's tough to force the team on from CB.

The biggest thing IMO is width, and while our personnel are not ideal, we could make it fit much better than a narrow 4-3-3 with Nuge on the wing...

Kasper; SSL, Wes, Keane, Schlupp; DD, James (King while injured); Marshall (RW), Knocky(central), Dyer(LW); Nuge/Wood