Half term report

TOMOGP

TOMOGP

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Half term report

Time for a half term report (well nearly 21 not 23)

Intriguing to see that it is nearly a mirror image to last season figures wise

W D L F A W D L F A
2010/2011 Played 21 4 2 4 11 14 5 2 4 15 11 +1 31 10th 2 points of play off and 6 of 2nd


2011/2012 Played 21 4 2 5 13 14 5 4 1 12 8 +3 33 6th but 10 points of 2nd

Player wise Logan vast improvement, Donaldson yes improvement in overall play and will score (after all Holdsworth hardly scored for a long period), Douglas certainly an improvement on last seasons various,. Grella not for me thanks, Mcginn on loan can understand why he is unlikely to remain at Celtic to hot and cold Eager not keen at first but seems to be improving.
Overall although Weston is going downhill, with Jake & Manny developing well a definite overall squad improvement on last season.

Playing style a great improvement in a number of games but in others worse than last season. The defence seems reasonably secure but it’s the strikers again (although we don’t appear to have missed Charlie Mac) is it the strikers or the service (lack of) We have yet to see the great midfield hope of Forrester who may be the link.

Outright promotion NO
Play offs as good as any outside the top 3 or 4 subject to our injury rate improving and 3 long term injured players to return YES

Uwe has done well to keep us up there with the injuries we have had

Tin hat now on
 

Half term report

Happy with style of play a vast improvement, up front remains an issue which hopefully will get rectified in time, have been impressed with the signings as they are better quality although the likes of clayton have yet to deliver

6th at Christmas following loads of injuries and a team that is now attempting to play football. I would say a pretty good half term but with room for further improvement
 

Half term report

I don't really think those stats tell the whole story, it was in the build up to Christmas last season that we had that great run of away wins where we shot up the table. Then the new year arrived, we lost at Bournemouth and then it all went wrong and less than a month later Scott was gone and relegation was a possibility. If we compare the league table in about a month's time it'll give us a better comparison.

As I said on another thread, we can't complain with 6th at Christmas but ultimately unless we find a new striker then the lack of goals means we won't achieve promotion. If you look through the squad, we have two very good keepers, solid in defence with some excellent centre backs not even in the starting eleven. Hard working and grafting midfielders and quality wide players. We threaten on set pieces and now have more creativity within open play but if you don't have goal scoring strikers then it makes the other qualities in the side seem redundant. You look at Peterborough last season, they conceded for fun but always knew they could out score sides and thats what won them promotion. It would be interesting to see how we would have fared with MacDonald still here. With the way Donaldson and Alexander have performed he certainly would have been given a chance that he probably didn't expect.

The way I see it is that we just need to hang on in there. If we can get through to Febraury/March and be in the top 10 then i'll be happy. The top five look difficult to crack but 6th place is anyone's who wants it and we're definitely in with a shout.
 

Half term report

Defensively we are top drawer.
Unfortunately I suspect the only way this side will really be potent in front of goal is with a pretty susbstantial change in personnel in midfield and attack.
I don't think this will be our season.
 

Half term report

scruff puppy pup said:
Defensively we are top drawer.
Unfortunately I suspect the only way this side will really be potent in front of goal is with a pretty susbstantial change in personnel in midfield and attack.
I don't think this will be our season.
Click to expand...

Can't disagree, defensively as good as anyside in this division, going forward we are worse then some blue square team.
 

Half term report

magicbees said:
Can't disagree, defensively as good as anyside in this division, going forward we are worse then some blue square team.
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Hmm can't agree with the BS comparison.We can play some superb football but we haven't got a box man with pace and physique. We all know where we are light but looking back , I've seen many a side win promotion on the back of strings of 1-0 wins. Even the great George Graham owed his success to a solid defence and nicking the results. So you never know and all good sides are built on a solid defence . We are halfway there and half a season to go. If Clayton finds his scoring boots we will be in business.
 

Half term report

Work in progress, still. To be where we are, with the injuries and a goal shy forward line, we've done well considering. If the 3-4 players we need, to compliment what we have, come in January, with a few moving on, we could definitely be in with a shout of play offs. We've been better than we have but at times just as bad. Need to be a little bit more positive. Well done Uwe, the players and the club.
 

Half term report

Negative boring football. Not enjoying so stopped going!!
 

Half term report

Goalkeeper :No issues. Solid as a rock and as good as you can expect at this level.
Full backs: We are getting there now Logan is fit again and Bidwell looks more of an attacking threat than Woodman.
Centre Backs: With the recent loan acquisition of Dean we wre probably as strong in this department as any in the division. They need to start weighing in with some goals from time to time though.
Centre Midfield: Combative but with little or no creativity. Reeves the main bright spot this season and Rosler seems to have decided this is a season too soon for him which is a shame. Massive changes needed in this area for next year.
Wings: Fancy dan with little end product in general. Saunders the pick of a poorish bunch is at least helping with the goal tally McGinn and Weston unlikely to be here next year.
Up front: No real threat from anyone on a regular basis. Whilst service to the 3 front men has been dire all season as a group they aren't up to it. Not clinical enough and rarely on the end of things.
Management: To get this lot to 6th place is a fantastic achievement. With a full season under his belt and the opportunity for a proper clear out at the end of year next season looks promising.
Overall: A good start for Rosler but disappointing he has failed to make us more dangerous up top.
 

Half term report

Mcginn's a star imo - potentially as good as any player we've had in many a year.
 

Half term report

Oldmead said:
When he turns it on yes....but way, way too inconsistent for me. Frustrating to watch
Click to expand...

Agree. Premiership class vs Col U earlier this season, totally anonymous today apart from missing an easy chance in the first half.
 

Half term report

A point to add is that we've been very good at beating sides in the bottom half of the table, but need to get some results against teams in the top half, especially as these become "six-pointers" in the latter stages of the season.

Our record against the teams in the bottom half is: WWL-WWWDWWWW (still to play Bournemouth)
Top half is: LDLL-DLDLDD (still to play MK Dons)
 
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Half term report

alexcavell said:
Our record against the teams in the bottom half is: WWL-WWWDWWWW (still to play MK Dons)
Top half is: LDLL-DLDLDD (still to play Bournemouth)
Click to expand...

Wow incredible!

Normally it's the complete opposite lol
 

Half term report

I will wait until after MK Dons before making an assessment
 

Half term report

alexcavell said:
Our record against the teams in the bottom half is: WWL-WWWDWWWW (still to play Bournemouth)
Top half is: LDLL-DLDLDD (still to play MK Dons)
Click to expand...

:thetruth:
Interesting - suggests our league position is fully justified. Might be we worth placing some bets and using that as a guide...!

I wonder if a :computer: can correlate how many of the bottom-half wins are 'away' and how many of the top-half losses are at 'home'? It could be that our belief in our great away form/sh*t home form is actually a misnomer, and it comes down to our consistency against lower sides which have mostly been away from home?

We've got a very good shout at playoffs this year - let's see those players that can make a difference in Jan!
 

Half term report

McGinn again and again. Love watching him receive the ball and run at defenders - an entertainment in itself - just like the expectation I used to feel watching Tony Rougier - great fun
 

Half term report

Wow. Some pretty sensible posts. What's going on?
 

Half term report

Looking at the league table... if we can manage to get a great goalscorer and a bit of creativity from CM and a left sided midfielder, we could just sneak into the playoffs!
 

Half term report

so only need to replace more than a quarter of the team then....
 

Half term report

hanworthbee said:
so only need to replace more than a quarter of the team then....
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Yep. A problem? Or signs that some need to move on, as they're not required, or have competition? Pim, Spillane & Wood out and off the budget, room for 3 more, a forward, midfielder and winger. Minimum. Maybe Karleigh off and Dean in too? This summer will see movement anyway as a fair few are out of contract, so a few deals now and we could improve.
 

Half term report

hanworthbee said:
so only need to replace more than a quarter of the team then....
Click to expand...

More in my opinion, a lot of players in the current squad aren't up to this standard, but it's been debated over and over again, just like the Charlie Mac thing. Getting a bit repetitive and boring, time to look ahead.
 

Half term report

We are close - ever so close.

UR has done well to take this squad so far and we are IMO at the crossroads.

With some clever tinkering and investment we can maintain our position and mount a serious playoff challenge.

Next month is crucial.

Can we shed some unwanted payroll in hudson, pim, Wood and Spillane?

2 maybe, the other 2 probably not.

Can we use what remains in the pot plus anything saved on salaries to strenghen.

The key is whether we decide to keep our powder dry for the Summer or go for it now.
 

Half term report

North London Bee said:
We are close - ever so close.

UR has done well to take this squad so far and we are IMO at the crossroads.

With some clever tinkering and investment we can maintain our position and mount a serious playoff challenge.

Next month is crucial.

Can we shed some unwanted payroll in hudson, pim, Wood and Spillane?

2 maybe, the other 2 probably not.

Can we use what remains in the pot plus anything saved on salaries to strenghen.

The key is whether we decide to keep our powder dry for the Summer or go for it now.
Click to expand...

TBH NLB, If we are in 6th come Jan. The club might as well go for it now. What would we be looking for next season better than where we could be, other than an automatic promotion spot.,Which, if the club had this intention would take a massive investment to guarantee this. Easy for me to say I know, as I don't have MB's money. All we are missing is someone who can place the ball in the bloody net on a consistent basis. With the sale or release of the 4 players you have mentioned plus money from KO (with Harlee as his replacement) Forrester will be like signing a new player when he gets back IMHO he will give us the creative midfield player we also need. It will, however be a massive task to make it through the playoffs this season. But why not go for it, the playoffs are a lottery anyway. This season or next.
 

Half term report

readingbee said:
TBH NLB, If we are in 6th come Jan. The club might as well go for it now. What would we be looking for next season better than where we could be, other than an automatic promotion spot.,Which, if the club had this intention would take a massive investment to guarantee this. Easy for me to say I know, as I don't have MB's money. All we are missing is someone who can place the ball in the bloody net on a consistent basis. With the sale or release of the 4 players you have mentioned plus money from KO (with Harlee as his replacement) Forrester will be like signing a new player when he gets back IMHO he will give us the creative midfield player we also need. It will, however be a massive task to make it through the playoffs this season. But why not go for it, the playoffs are a lottery anyway. This season or next.
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I agree - all the teams above us are the ones that you expected to be there so we shouldn't fear any of the teams below us, except maybe Preston. I also think that MK Dons are punching above their weight so imo, we can get one of two play off places if we want.
 

Half term report

Les Beeavinu said:
I agree - all the teams above us are the ones that you expected to be there so we shouldn't fear any of the teams below us, except maybe Preston. I also think that MK Dons are punching above their weight so imo, we can get one of two play off places if we want.
Click to expand...

If we can get in that top six at the end of the season and get a striker, we are capable of winning the playoffs. On our day we can boss any of the top 5 football- wise as shown vs Charlton.
 

Half term report

beebopalula said:
If we can get in that top six at the end of the season and get a striker, we are capable of winning the playoffs. On our day we can boss any of the top 5 football- wise as shown vs Charlton.
Click to expand...

Agree, but we have wanted a striker for 2.5 years, until we sign one I won't beleive it.
 

Half term report

North London Bee said:
We are close - ever so close.

UR has done well to take this squad so far and we are IMO at the crossroads.

With some clever tinkering and investment we can maintain our position and mount a serious playoff challenge.

Great post! Get involved Brentford!


Next month is crucial.

Can we shed some unwanted payroll in hudson, pim, Wood and Spillane?

2 maybe, the other 2 probably not.

Can we use what remains in the pot plus anything saved on salaries to strenghen.

The key is whether we decide to keep our powder dry for the Summer or go for it now.
Click to expand...
 

Half term report

beebopalula said:
If Clayton finds his scoring boots we will be in business.
Click to expand...

Unlikely, I just don't believe our goalscoring problems are down to one player only.
Uwe has made a good start overall but he needs to reappraise what approach is required to jump a level to match the big five in this division. We have the same points as Carlisle and I doubt many people would be taking them seriously as promotion contenders.
There's some kind of character or threat lacking in us. Uwe has sorted out the technical part except for scoring bloody goals, but he needs to build a competitive spirit in this side now.
I'm confident Huddersfield will miss out on promotion again. I reckon the automatic promotion places are between Charlton and the two Sheffield clubs.
 

Half term report

scruff puppy pup said:
Unlikely, I just don't believe our goalscoring problems are down to one player only.
Uwe has made a good start overall but he needs to reappraise what approach is required to jump a level to match the big five in this division. We have the same points as Carlisle and I doubt many people would be taking them seriously as promotion contenders.
There's some kind of character or threat lacking in us. Uwe has sorted out the technical part except for scoring bloody goals, but he needs to build a competitive spirit in this side now.I'm confident Huddersfield will miss out on promotion again. I reckon the automatic promotion places are between Charlton and the two Sheffield clubs.
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Not sure that there is a lack of character and certainly Gary yesterday exemplified the character within the team, we do have some players who are not the getting down and dirty style of players however in the main I reckon the desire is there, the will is there, what perhaps is lacking is the abilty With a couple of new faces this could be rectified, a forward and presuming existing loanees remain, some alternative challenge to the wide men accepting that Forrester will be great in centre mid.
 
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