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Post by otleybard on Dec 6, 2017 0:54:24 GMT 1
Having heard or read what is presumably the majority of Paul Cox's responses to Sunday's mauling, I have to take issue with one of his frequent points, namely that the job he has inherited is even bigger than he feared, strongly implying a level of previous mismanagement.
But here come the stats. Of the eleven starters against Mansfield, five of them were Paul Cox signings (some, his former players) and thus untouched by any of the past encumbents' alleged faults. The offences that led to our 18% reduction in manpower were all committed by members of that group.
Of the other six (all usually first choices throughout the Cox regime) one received his tactical grounding at Billy Heath's 'ping it long' NFU academy, while another could be a poster boy for PC's world view.
In the run-up to the game, the team were presumably coached on a reasonably full-time basis by Paul Cox and his hand-picked cohorts and our tactics, initially at least, seemed a choreographed replica of the ones that obtained the result at Accrington and for which he rightly accepted the plaudits.
True, all Paul Cox needs to achieve in order to improve upon his predecessors' records is to cement our National League presence by the end of the penultimate game. I believe - and certainly hope - he'll achieve that with a chunk of the season in hand. However, when demanding that the players need to 'man up' and 'take responsibility' Paul has similarly to accept and acknowledge that a proportion of our failings in recent weeks are down to his own decisions.
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Post by Nik on Dec 6, 2017 12:40:11 GMT 1
There's definitely a whiff of the latter-day Kittricks around giving interviews telling the players to take a look at themselves and get ready to be moved on if they don't improve. Only a few of his signings have made a really positive impact - Fondop, Holden and M'Boungou - and at least one of those has a real discipline problem. I'm yet to see with my own eyes why ARH, Haworth, Hughes and Niate were brought in.
The game against Sutton was the first one where I stopped assuming Cox would definitely get us out of trouble, but I still think it's likely he will. Blanketly blaming the club probably isn't the way to get there tohugh.
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Post by MrP on Dec 6, 2017 12:59:08 GMT 1
Agree with OB and Nik, Cox is changing the goalposts. Locky took over in a far worse position with less resources and remained PT. Before that Bowser did a miracle job with even smaller resources. Surely FT football allows you to get your ideas across and assimilate new players much quicker. Sunday’s selection was bemusing - having said players were to blame after Sutton, he picks Molly again who arguably cost us the points Vs Sutton. I think survival is in the balance - we definitely need some 3 points before the end December
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Post by reinvented on Dec 6, 2017 13:55:11 GMT 1
In my opinion:
Maxted was fantastic.
M’Boungou is a class act in the air, a little clumsy on the floor, but I think that may have been some of the pace of the attacking players.
We have the makings of a good team for our level. Need a bit more pace in the middle and to stop hoofing it as much. I don’t mind long ball, but we have to hit our man or over the top to a quick lad. Fondop is pretty fast but not that fast.
Shame we are out 3-0 not a bad result. Mansfield were better than accrington.
Evans is a knob
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Post by ivor on Dec 6, 2017 14:10:04 GMT 1
talking down the team; talking up the challenge and your own ability is a well worn path. Moyes tried it as Sunderland and it didn't end well - he may be on the same path at West Ham. We are 4 points from safety with 2 games in hand and we have made huge investment in the team. We have an excellent chance of staying up and there should be no excuses if we don't.
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Post by troll on Dec 6, 2017 18:26:45 GMT 1
There's definitely a whiff of the latter-day Kittricks around giving interviews telling the players to take a look at themselves and get ready to be moved on if they don't improve. Only a few of his signings have made a really positive impact - Fondop, Holden and M'Boungou - and at least one of those has a real discipline problem. I'm yet to see with my own eyes why ARH, Haworth, Hughes and Niate were brought in. The game against Sutton was the first one where I stopped assuming Cox would definitely get us out of trouble, but I still think it's likely he will. Blanketly blaming the club probably isn't the way to get there tohugh. Not entirely fair on the discipline point I don't think. Um Bongo's 2 red cards have both been for getting 2 yellows - and the second at Accrington, at least, was an appalling refereeing decision. Perhaps fairer to say he's not cut out for a level above the Conference.
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Post by otleybard on Dec 6, 2017 19:16:25 GMT 1
Um Bongo's 2 red cards have both been for getting 2 yellows. I'd be surprised if his five yellow cards in the first two rounds of the FA Cup proper wasn't a record.
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Post by Nik on Dec 6, 2017 22:14:39 GMT 1
There's definitely a whiff of the latter-day Kittricks around giving interviews telling the players to take a look at themselves and get ready to be moved on if they don't improve. Only a few of his signings have made a really positive impact - Fondop, Holden and M'Boungou - and at least one of those has a real discipline problem. I'm yet to see with my own eyes why ARH, Haworth, Hughes and Niate were brought in. The game against Sutton was the first one where I stopped assuming Cox would definitely get us out of trouble, but I still think it's likely he will. Blanketly blaming the club probably isn't the way to get there tohugh. Not entirely fair on the discipline point I don't think. Um Bongo's 2 red cards have both been for getting 2 yellows - and the second at Accrington, at least, was an appalling refereeing decision. Perhaps fairer to say he's not cut out for a level above the Conference. Agreed on the second at Accrington and point taken on the League 2 opposition. He’s got some work to do to catch Connor Brown up too so I guess I should reserve judgement for another ten league games or so - and he has looked a good defender so far.
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Post by reinvented on Dec 7, 2017 9:19:37 GMT 1
Um Bongo definitely looks the part!
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