Nice and early Port Vale match thread....... - Page 3

fc:stanley · 27-02-2012, 17:04

Just got in from work after a really crap day! Malcolm thankyou! You have put a smile on my face!

Can understand with his changing of the team so rapidly but getting rid of cook! On your bike son!! or back down the hole you mole!

carpon · 27-02-2012, 17:35

Maybe we should have looked into having Coley & Bell cloned before they went to Rochdale

Seriously though, Coley and Bell were ALWAYS going to be a very tough act to follow. Like others have said, there were some warning signs of our defensive frailty before Coley & Bell left, but these have only been exaggerated / highlighted by injuries. Add to that, we lost key players in Long & Proctor, so ( for me at least) the current predicament / run of poor results was always on the cards.

I don't for one minute think that the current problems will vanish overnight. It's going to take plenty of hours on the training ground to get things onto an even keel. Looking at the way other results are going and the way the league table is developing, although it's still mathematically possible to get into the play offs, realistically, I think that bird has long since flown the nest..

So for me, it's now all about consolidation ( which I'm sure most would have been happy with before a ball was kicked this season ) I'm sure Cook is rapidly getting an idea of which positions need strengthening and who he needs to bring in. Giving Cook the rest of this season (and the close season) to evaluate and work on our strengths and weaknesses hopefully will result in a strong push for glory next season...

As the saying goes "Rome wasn't built in a day" Malcolm. We've had plenty of good times under Coley & Bell. It's time to take the rough, as we've had plenty of smooth !!!

It's only fair that we get behind Cooky and Leam and give them time to make their mark on the team.

shakermaker · 27-02-2012, 17:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by Redraine

Malcolm, I often think of myself as a glass half empty man as far as Stanley are concerned, and I can understand the way you feel at the moment. However, it was an extremely dicey time for the new manager to take over with the recent crucial losses of key players from a young squad, as a result of which we had already showed worrying signs of "losing it" even before King Coley left (Barnet e.g.). Even when beating the Gills 4-3 we looked very frail at the back. Positives I can see are as follows:-

Cook's post match comments from Swindon suggest to me that he grasps the realities of the situation very well and seems very positive as to how we can get back on course. It can't be a quick fix, however, for a club of our resources.

He has already made what seem to be, hopefully, three good acquisitions. I have only personally seen Devitt in action so far, but early impressions are very favourable.

Judging by this messageboard, the fans in general are backing the manager to come good, and hopefully this will show in the crowd continuing to give the team vocal backing at a difficult time.
Keep the faith, Malcolm. Don't vote with your feet!

Top post.

Alvin the chipmunk · 27-02-2012, 18:46

Malcolm in your long and illustrious year and a bit following the club what makes you qualified to indulge in such a petulant rant? You were fortunate to start supporting the club during a period which culminated in our highest ever league finish. Quite simply we were spoilt. This cannot be the yardstick by which the club is measured. Do you expect romping wins every week? True we are on a poor run of form but that is football. The lows are low and the highs are high. And having a pop at the support too is frankly ridiculous.

This is a transitional period. Cooky will get things right...keep the faith.

Although I thank you for reminding me of this.

smudgie · 27-02-2012, 18:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by carpon

Maybe we should have looked into having Coley & Bell cloned before they went to Rochdale

Seriously though, Coley and Bell were ALWAYS going to be a very tough act to follow. Like others have said, there were some warning signs of our defensive frailty before Coley & Bell left, but these have only been exaggerated / highlighted by injuries. Add to that, we lost key players in Long & Proctor, so ( for me at least) the current predicament / run of poor results was always on the cards.

I don't for one minute think that the current problems will vanish overnight. It's going to take plenty of hours on the training ground to get things onto an even keel. Looking at the way other results are going and the way the league table is developing, although it's still mathematically possible to get into the play offs, realistically, I think that bird has long since flown the nest..

So for me, it's now all about consolidation ( which I'm sure most would have been happy with before a ball was kicked this season ) I'm sure Cook is rapidly getting an idea of which positions need strengthening and who he needs to bring in. Giving Cook the rest of this season (and the close season) to evaluate and work on our strengths and weaknesses hopefully will result in a strong push for glory next season...

As the saying goes "Rome wasn't built in a day" Malcolm. We've had plenty of good times under Coley & Bell. It's time to take the rough, as we've had plenty of smooth !!!

It's only fair that we get behind Cooky and Leam and give them time to make their mark on the team.

Amen !!!!!!!!!!!

football19 · 27-02-2012, 18:59

Some good points but I still don't buy into its all down to losing key personal.
I remember us opening the game up against port vale away with hessey,long and proccy playing ,we was 4 down at half time and coley of es did that away from home again .
People shouldn't underestimate the tactical side of football,

football19 · 27-02-2012, 19:01

Should have said never

cashman · 27-02-2012, 19:05

Have to disagree Football19, Whilst tactic is very important no doubt, With a skeleton squad, its unfair to expect the best wi what we got left. Transition from what was, was never gonna be simple, it can be hard enough wi a monster squad.

smudgie · 27-02-2012, 19:06

Like with anything 19 its always a combination of a few factors.

Losing Hessey, Long & Proccy obviously hasnt helped the situation, but Cooky has also made mistakes along the way.

Im just hoping now that he sees where the main problem is, he can sort it come Saturday.

By the sounds of it Nicholls and Liddle had decent second halves. Shame about Deano, he is an automatic pick for me.

MASSIVE game on Saturday.

cashman · 27-02-2012, 19:09

Fer me excluding Long, Deano from my viewpoint has been the most consistent player this season. Will be a big miss IMHO.

carpon · 27-02-2012, 19:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by football19

Some good points but I still don't buy into its all down to losing key personal.
I remember us opening the game up against port vale away with hessey,long and proccy playing

Well at that stage we were still getting over losing players like Cisak, Edwards, Jacobson, Ryan, McConville and Gornell !!! And the players that Coley brought in to try and fill the gaps left by those who had departed were still bedding in !!!(so to speak )

So how can it be so different in you're opinion ????

It doesn't take a rocket scientist to work out that, if you suddenly robbed Ferguson or Mancini, A.V.B. or Wenger of several key first team players even the mightiest clubs with astronomical resources will struggle.

So do you still think you cant "buy" into that line of thinking football19 ??

Tactics are all well and good, and Cooky will still need time to figure out which formation suits best, who fits in with his plans and who he needs to replace!!! Even the greatest managers realize that you can't just throw "square pegs into round holes"

football19 · 27-02-2012, 19:24

Agree smudgie,when I say tactical, I will give you a example.
Toto is at the start of his career, I would have made sure hee had a bit of protection,ie,fullback tucked in and covering,instead he is isolated and dragged into areas he's not comfortable in.
Dean has a man so he's not available, toto is them hung out to dry.
Basic defending imo ,but not the modern way apparently.
Watch the prem league,half can't defend ,it really does frustrates me

smudgie · 27-02-2012, 19:29

It also frustrates me........ BUT Toto in particular is simply not ready. It has been painfully obvious for weeks now.

I can count at least 3-4 goals that are directly his fault.

Liddle & Murphy play at Center Half for me on Saturday.

football19 · 27-02-2012, 19:36

I think will disagree on this carpon,following the post vale game we went on a 5 game unbeaten with more or less the same team,just different tactics

yonmon · 27-02-2012, 19:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by cashman

Fer me excluding Long, Deano from my viewpoint has been the most consistent player this season. Will be a big miss IMHO.

Couldn't agree more with you Cashy !!...but as I read in the paper this morning (Quote)...' It's goals that win matches !'..
so where do you think the first goal in five games is going to come from ?..