Back after the game (in da jazz bar)

[Schards#2]

We are also suffering from buying on the cheap previously. Generally, cheap players are cheap because either they are not that good, or because they are relatively old.

We are now suffering for buying Harte and Griffen on the cheap as, whilst they could initially do a job, they performance has deteriorated markedly this year as they've got older and slower.

Yes those two old timers at Blackpool are doing really badly arent'y they? You know 33 year old Barry Ferguson and 38 year old Kevin Phillips. Age doesn't automatically make players crap, but it does make them an easy target when things are going well.

The fact that you can highlight a couple of older players that are currently doing well doesn't alter the point. Would you be happy fielding a team of 40 year olds on the basis that Ryan Giggs is still good?

[Hoop Blah]

I agree that we're now seeing the results of a bit of short termism with the fullbacks McDermott has signed. He obviously wanted to have younger blood at left back (hence Williams being his first buy there) but had to gamble on Harte after Williams was so poor.

We do have Cummings ready and waiting to take over from Griffin and I imagine that will happen sooner rather than later. I can understand McDermott only making the one change on Saturday (and it being Harte not Griffin) because other wise we'd have had 3 out of 4 players coming into a new back 4. Better to ease Mills in perhaps than completely disrupt the back 4.

Having heard that Griffin might've been struggling with an injury though that decision might not've been the right one.

[DOYLERSAROYALER]

I agree that we're now seeing the results of a bit of short termism with the fullbacks McDermott has signed. He obviously wanted to have younger blood at left back (hence Williams being his first buy there) but had to gamble on Harte after Williams was so poor.

We do have Cummings ready and waiting to take over from Griffin and I imagine that will happen sooner rather than later. I can understand McDermott only making the one change on Saturday (and it being Harte not Griffin) because other wise we'd have had 3 out of 4 players coming into a new back 4. Better to ease Mills in perhaps than completely disrupt the back 4.

Having heard that Griffin might've been struggling with an injury though that decision might not've been the right one.

..he was out in town Friday evening

[Terminal Boardom]

Yes those two old timers at Blackpool are doing really badly arent'y they? You know 33 year old Barry Ferguson and 38 year old Kevin Phillips. Age doesn't automatically make players crap, but it does make them an easy target when things are going well.

To put a little perspective, Harte and Griffin are defenders and if they make mistakes then they are more likely to result in an effort on goal. If the likes of Ferguson and Phillips make mistakes, then that is a different matter as they generally play higher up the pitch.

We are talking about performances in general not just conceding goals.

I accept that but the sum is greater than the whole. This is a team game if I am not mistaken and if the players on the pitch are not working as a team... I don't need to spell it out. Also, comparing us with a club recently relegated from the PL is a bit of a laugh. We were pissing on sides for the first half of the season that we were relegated from the Prem or have you conveniently forgotten that? Sadly, we had to get the likes of Griffin and Harte in because the other options we had were either injured or truly awful.

[Wycombe Royal]

We are also suffering from buying on the cheap previously. Generally, cheap players are cheap because either they are not that good, or because they are relatively old.

We are now suffering for buying Harte and Griffen on the cheap as, whilst they could initially do a job, they performance has deteriorated markedly this year as they've got older and slower.

Yes those two old timers at Blackpool are doing really badly arent'y they? You know 33 year old Barry Ferguson and 38 year old Kevin Phillips. Age doesn't automatically make players crap, but it does make them an easy target when things are going well.

The fact that you can highlight a couple of older players that are currently doing well doesn't alter the point. Would you be happy fielding a team of 40 year olds on the basis that Ryan Giggs is still good?

No, I'm saying they are an easy target. Leigertwood, Kebe, Pearce, McAnuff have all been as bad as those two but you singled out the two older players. Why, because not only have they not been playing well, but they are also old.

[Schards#2]

^^over the season, rather than on Saturday alone, I don't think they have.

[Wimb]

Have to agree with WR, seems a bit harsh to single out those two, especially as they were part of such a successful side only 6-7 months ago.

For the full-backs, the ability hasn't disappeared overnight, but injuries and motivation certainly seem to be playing a role in their less than stellar performances so far this season. Both Ian Harte and Andy Griffin are more than capable of playing a role in a good Championship side but it's a case of being in the right team with the right tactics and right now we're struggling to find either.

I'm still optimistic that we've got the core of a very good team and that with the right tweaking and a little bit of momentum we can go on a good run. On The Tilehurst End we asked for the thoughts from other Championship fans and to a man they all predicted we'd have a good solid season and that was after we'd sold Mills and knowing we'd probably lose Long. It's easy to get caught up in panic when things aren't going well but look at the promise we have within the squad and think what could be possible.

We've got three top quality goalkeepers, two promising young full-backs, an International calibre centre back and two promising younger backups. The midfield is the envy of most of the division and just two months ago we were all panicing about being unable to sign Ledge, or that McAnuff, Karacan, Kebe would be sold. Up front we've got two strikers who have hit double figures in the Championship before and two more good prospects who are being given a chance to develop their game and make an impact at this level.

Yeah yeah, perhaps that's all a bit RTG but when I see young players such as Cummings, Obita, Taylor, Jack Mills, Jacob Walcott etc coming through and established Championship performers like Jay Tabb and Brian Howard unable to get into our starting XI I'm optimistic that we've got more than enough to avoid a relegation battle and that we have the foundations of another really great team. A few crap results while we're adjusting to losing Long and Mills doesn't change that.

[Terminal Boardom]

Just how good is our record against Watford? The word I would use is dire.

At least next up is a Doncaster side that hasn't beaten us for an age. Defeat would not be a disaster but a really poor, lifeless and anaemic one should set alarm bells ringing.

[Hoop Blah]

Just how good is our record against Watford? The word I would use is dire.

At least next up is a Doncaster side that hasn't beaten us for an age. Defeat would not be a disaster but a really poor, lifeless and anaemic one should set alarm bells ringing.

What was our recent record against Barnsley?

The last time they managed to beat us in the league was 96/97 when they did the double over us.

As much as I admire your positivity I think it might be a little misplaced, but lets hope we don't give Donny their first league win against us since 84/85!

[Terminal Boardom]

I am taking into account the number of games played so far this season. IIRC, no-one has been relegated in September. Perhaps a realignment of expectation levels is needed to a more realistic one. Just because we reached the play offs last season does not automatically mean it will happen this.

[PieEater]

What you think it is unrealistic to expect to get a shot on target at home against a team that hadn't won away all season

[Schards#2]

What you think it is unrealistic to expect to get a shot on target at home against a team that hadn't won away all season

Had not won at all actually.

Neither had Barnsley

Hull hadn't won at home and hadn't scored at home for 8 hours

Doncaster's last win was 1st March 2011

[Tony Le Mesmer]

Bump

[boycey]

Bump

why?

[Tony Le Mesmer]

Take a read through the thread. Thats what we all thought of this team (and manager) earlier this season. FickLOLe.

[FiNeRaIn]

This is all pre-investment, I can't believe people are still bumping this trying to prove a point. The people claiming how crap we were are the same people who were demanding we spend money on the team. We did that, we didn't spend massive amounts but we bought in what we had to and moved from a play-off chasing team playing some average football to a team that won the league and got far more effective at its job.

[muddyfeet]

Almost as bad as charlton
Actually maybe worse as this was meant to be our first team and at least we scored

Load of shit

I was positive

[Tony Le Mesmer]

There was some true dross on the ptich today. Proper shite. Jimmy Kebe can quite frankly fck off if hes going to mope around the pitch with his head down.

And is there anyone out there that still thinks Alex Pearce has a future at this club? The blokes been shuffling round the pitch like he wears Calipers for 4 years now & its plain fcking embarassing. An utter footballing spastic.

[M-U-R-T-Y]

Take a read through the thread. Thats what we all thought of this team (and manager) earlier this season. FickLOLe.

Yourself included m8!

[Mike Hunt]

Alex Pearce. An utter footballing spastic.