Saint Martin in for the play offs. Unfinished business. Silly little dream not so silly. Grace and Vokes by his side. Wake me up.
11 Likes
Charlton arenât that good. We just have made them look better than they are, twice changing the starting 11 with a negative mindset shortly after incredible winning away performances.
Take away the 6 points weâve donated to them and theyâre well off the pace.
We should worry more about Stockport because theyâve got to 84 points without getting freebies from us.
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The Dodds switch up against Brum has actually worked against us, as weâve gone 5 at the back ever since.
I donât think Kones loss of form is to do with heads being turned. Itâs almost boiled down to the one on one he fluffed v Shrewsbury. He seems a bit knackered, and then we didnât give him good chances for a while. That meant he went on a run without scoring and is now doubting himself. Simple as that.
If he hadnât have scored 18 goals so far, we wouldnt be surprised a lad who has been in the league for a season suddenly had issues.
2 Likes
Alternatively weâve scored 14 goals in 17 games under Dodds yeeeeehaw viva Torquay away
Heâs simply not getting the service any more. You could have Messi up there on his own and it wouldnât make any difference.
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Probably playoffs but thats besides the point this manager isnt capable and its been proved already
1 Like
Exactly. Everyone since this forum launched has repeatedly said how isolated Kone is.
At 1-0 down with 10 mins tp go today Orient were barely committed with 3 attackers and we had EIGHT players behind the ball.
Right as we need two goals in under 15 mins those are their instructions.
Thatâs not on Kone. Thatâs not on any of the players.
Thatâs on only one man.
15 Likes
We desperately need someone with his motivational ability to come in and get these players believing in themselves again.
2 Likes
Weâve scored five goals in the past eight games.
We only scored four goals in the eight games before Torquay in 2013/14.
So in that respect, we are nicely on track to comfortably beat Stockport with goals from Matt McClure, Steven Craig and Sam Wood. Except this time weâre already mathematically safe from relegation, which is tremendous news.
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Well, what another pretty awful day. Actually, I have to say this was far more disappointing than last week against an inspired Charlton. Today, we played a decent side but by no means anything special and, for me at least, we really didnât compete sufficiently, or show the attitude required of a team still in with a good shout of automatic promotion.
Our response to going a goal down today was possibly the worst I can remember for some time. There was absolutely nothing and we never even slightly threatened an equaliser which is really concerning. I think Dodds had done ok until these last 2 games. Too defensive for my taste certainly, but I have always largely agreed with his words in post match analysis, albeit he isnât the most charismatic character to watch/listen to.
These last 2 games though have been really chastening. I think the Charlton match until 55 minutes we just came up against an inspired team where a fair few things went against us, it happens. We picked an ultra defensive line up which I didnât like, but could understand, but as soon as we were 2-0 down we shouldâve been switching to a back 4, not after an hour or at halftime, but after 20 minutes. Also, his subs at that stage (taking off both midfielders, pulling Humphreyâs back with Simons and adding an attacker while retaining the stilted back 3) were really, really poor tactically. I said when I saw the subs that was game over, and so it proved.
His post match interview today after our performance has also really baffled me for the first time - it wasnât a game decided by a moment or two. We were second best, and didnât do nearly enough to justify even a point, in spite of desperately needing all 3.
But still I honestly canât wholly blame Dodds. He is a young coach and learning his trade, as Matt Bloomfield was. We are equally as painful to watch now as some of the earlier days under Bloomfield. In fact, after 10 months in charge for Matt, having a pre-season etc, that performance at Leyton Orient in December 2023 sticks in the memory as completely devoid of any attacking intent or cohesion. We stuck with Matt and should afford Mike Dodds the same time and space.
Ultimately though, the blame for this season petering out cannot be laid solely at his door. He was the wrong appointment for a situation completely created by the arrogance of the club hierarchy in allowing our wonderful young manager (and club legend to boot) to be in a position where he felt he had to leave the club, all while not ensuring the man that they actually did want would join the club immediately upon the vacancy becoming available (presumably Rasmus Bertelson).
On a final note, watching Matty win that game today for Luton was such a contrast with our game. The passion and emotion on show was so at odds with our performance it was striking. And it is just so sad that we are missing that now, not just the quality of the football, but the human side to him and the real connection to our club and the fans. What a great man (as is Gareth) and his gesture this week for his goalkeeper really shows the mark of him. What makes it almost sadder in a way is the fact that his departure has driven such an irreparable wedge between the fan base, particularly in the gasroom. We will all continue to debate this season and what happened to Matt for many years, rightly so as this was such a monumental change to what our club is now going forward compared to what we have all known and loved. But it is a shame to see what it has done to some posters - some have downright disappeared, some have obviously lost some of their love and passion for the club, while some relentlessly target the new manager and hierarchy (rightly or wrongly).
In a way, I think itâll be good to finish this season as soon as possible, so we can all get away from the club for a few months, and hopefully players and fans can arrive refreshed for next season.
31 Likes
The result coming through in 10 minutes means we should certainly pick the reserves next week, partly so we donât give Stockport too many clues how weâll play in the play offs / a chance to get our players injured or suspended. I suspect theyâll do the same too in terms of their line up.
Dodds shouldnât be sacked until after we crash out of the play offs. No one coming in will turn it round now. Our play is as ponderous as the Titanicâs turning circle and the result is just as ordained. Let Dodds take the blame then start again afresh with someone more capable of getting some pizzazz out of our attacking options.
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Frankly Iâd rather lose the fans who booed at the end today rather than Dodds. Truly imbecilic and totally counter productive behaviour. I get the disappointment but this is sport and if you canât take the rollercoaster, go and find something else to do on matchdays. The players worked their socks off and deserve our full support. Having said that, the vast majority were applauding at the end, and hopefully the players felt that. Its just that undercurrent of booing also filters through.
16 Likes
My worry is that MD has failed to improve a team that was flying for most of the first half of the season. If the falling away could be down to managers âfinding us outââŚwhy couldnât we find some other teams out?
If we do a Darren Moore and get to Wembley I will be as elated as anyone but the evidence in front of my eyes suggests we wonât get there.
Palace just gave a masterclass in taking on a better team and battling to a win.
1 Like
The fans who booed made clear they were booing Dodds and not the players. When Dodds left the scene the players were applauded. Quite correctly.
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get a gripâŚhe has turned us into a boring and dull team and tunred a star striker back to a sunday league footballer âŚget your rose tinted glasses off âŚpeople spend their money and bases on that crap performance the team and manager deserved to be booed
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I think we all know how weâll play in the playoffs.
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I should think the odds on us and Stockport playing out a draw are pretty good, leaving both in the favourable spots for the playoffs.
Donât wanna ruin their âwill it be Grimmer or Low at right third CB?â thrill.
Or âhow deep and ineffectual can they make Humphries?â
6 Likes
I donât think playing Charlton again is particularly favourable for us. They will dust themselves off from today and will be licking their chops at the prospect.
Itâs so important for us to try and get a good cohesive performance and 3 points from the Stockport game. We need the slightest chink of confidence going into the playoffs and will have to hope Reading get the final spot. I think that would be our only potential hope of getting to the final.
Humphries has been poor for weeks but Dodds.will nor drop him, he should have dropped Kone also, i really wanted him to work out but he just does not have what it takesâŚBlooms was.given a chance at the begining but Dodds style turning fans.away from the clubâŚ
1 Like