Crossroads

[Super_Danny_Allsopp]

Where do we go from here?

Losing week in week out, unable to buy a point at the moment, defeat against bad sides and good sides.

All of this with improved performances. I think we've established what is wrong. We have a weak spine, bar Bart. 

So the question is, what is to be done from here? As far as I'm concerned, we have 2 options, 

1. Try and get rid of any dead wood we can in January and bring in some players to try and secure a position outside the relegation zone.

Pros:

- We stay in League One

- We get rid of underperforming players
- We get better players in

Cons:

- We could end up going down anyway
- Cost
- Players available might not be good enough

2. Keep what we have, try and do what we can, and if worse comes to worse, re-group and re-build for next season in L2.

Pros:
 

- Less spend
- Youngsters get a chance
- Derry gets experience
- We can get rid of dead-wood at the end of the season

Cons:
 

- We are back in L2, it took a financial fiasco (Munto) to get us out last time
- This season is depressing, crowds will inevitably fall.
- Some of the dead wood might want to hang on to their wages in L2.


Thoughts?

 

[Chris Website URL Visit Site 𝕏 fmcj10 Instagram fmcj10]

I think we certainly need to obtain a few players in January, if we can get rid of a couple of forwards and slim the squad down, so it's more about competition for places and players picked on their performances (not how they train).

We should be much better off, the problem is we don't defend well enough.

Midfield play second fiddle, our back line buckles and adds pressure. We need to strengthen these two areas, not with youngsters but experience and quality. We need to re-establish connections with teams above our own, try to cherry pick some unwanted players and consider making the odd signing. If we can sign one good player for even 50k, it will give us interest.

If we go down, we need to make sure our squad is far better than the league below. SD needs to make sure he's good enough to get us back up, he seems to be doing okay but he needs to choose what he does carefully.

[Super_Danny_Allsopp]

I think the main problem with our defence is our midfield.

I.e our defence always looks suspect because our central midfielders give them absolutely no cover what-so-ever. Teams can walk right over Fotheringham, Labadie and McGregor.  A pairing of one of Leacock, Smith or Liddle is good enough, I think.

If we are to purchase and/or loan to stay up, central midfield has to be key. Our best players are now in the wide positions, teams can walk straight through the middle with little to no resistance. 

I think it is safe to say that replacing Jeff Hughes, Bishop, Alan Judge and Ben Davies with Mark Fotheringham and Joss Labadie is an absolute failure. 

[PTID1862]

Yup, well we can all see it, we are back again to the holding midfielder, I want one who will melt if he ventures anywhere near the opposition penalty box.

 

The required characteristics for me: disciplined, combative, vocal, able to pass the ball approx. 15-20 yards.

 

But also I am sure we are only 2 players short, being the above, and the captain to lead us.

 

Get these in and I think we will survive, but if we go down, I am not going to be completely suicidal. The cloth needs to be cut accordingly, so get rid of the deadwood, streamline the squad, and if necessary the backroom staff.

Prepare the younger players this season for a good go at it, and come back leaner and stronger. There are a couple of old sayings that will apply.

 

If it doesn't kill you it will make you stronger. - so lets make sure we are financially sound.

 

You don't win anything with kids. - there are sides the world over have proved this to be false. And the more chance the youth get at our club, the more they will come. Which will make us stronger again.