Just a few thoughts

[royalgull]

Not really sure where to put this and I'm sure I will waffle on and go off in tangents to apologies in advance for that but as the title said it's just a few thoughts about all things TUFC at the minute.

Anyone else see this coming? because sadly I did. Something didn't seem right about this run in, awful run on paper but we just aren't a side I confidently back to beat anyone in this league. Maybe it's because we have over achieved this year but everyone was predicting well we'll win at Wimbledon, we'll beat Hereford we should beat Crewe, really? Admittedly I've not seen us as much as others this year, in fact it's probably been my worst year for 4 or 5 years in terms of games attended but in every game I've seen there has been next to nothing between the sides and we've sneaked a win (where applicable) completely opposite to last season where we really did play some exciting stuff and win games comfortably home and away. We don't seem to have the right balance in our side especially in the wide areas. The only game I have seen Morris remotely play well or look comfortable was for 20minutes against Accrington when he replaced Lathrope in centre midfield. When he's out wide he is completely ineffective, Stevens traditionally blows hot and cold and to be fair for the majority of the season he's been good but this little spell where he's been poor is of no surprise. This area is where we are so much worse than last season and the year before that. I am convinced if we had a Gavin Tomlin, Jake Robinson, a Muzzy Carayol or possibly a Chris Zebroski we'd be up by now. Zebs was never may favourite player but I'm certain he'd have got 5-10 goals minimum from the flank. Jarvis has come on and at times has done some good things but I'm far from convinced he's the long term solution to this clear problem area.

We desperately lack pace and incisiveness when we go forward, those two wingers need to be getting at people, getting supply and support into Howe and chipping in with goals. It must be so easy for a defender to line up against Morris knowing he's never going to go past you and is also incapable of using his right foot. This isn't a go at Morris because I actually think he's a good footballer but the problem is he's played 95% of this season woefully out of position. He should be competing with Lathrope to play in that defensive midfield role or competing with the other 2 for a a central place. He is so much more effective and comfortable there it's untrue.

We just don't have enough attacking players on the field when we play the 'normal' side. I just never feel confident that we'll score against anybody. Our best hope is keeping it 0-0 then maybe just getting a goal from somewhere be it a set piece or quite often a scrambled goal, that can only take you so far in the end. I look through the side and if you take out the freak goalscoring of Mansell which is totally out of context with his whole career there just aren't enough goals in the likes of O'Kane, Morris, Lathrope, Stevens. If Mansell scores it's a bonus, it's not really his job, Howe has done well and would have more if he had any sort of decent service but the rest simply not enough.

I was thinking last night, we've all seen how good Rene is in the air when the ball is aimlessly chucked at him but how many crosses (from open play) has he had to get on the end of to finish? Either with head or foot, it's not many. Or anywhere near enough. The best one I can think of was Macklin in pre season against Exeter. Macklin is the bizarre scenario of the season for me, his one appearance at Cheltenham he was one of our better players and actually threatened their backline with his pace and he constantly got crosses in. OK some of them were awful but you get that from young wingers, the important thing was he was getting those crosses in in the first place. He also scored our goal and offers a goal threat. Now there must be something up with him either off the field or on the training ground because 2 managers have failed to pick him at all. Obviously we don't see this and aren't privvy to what goes on but he is someone I would just liked to have seen more of even off the bench instead of LRT. LRT is a good defender for this level he's been unlucky that Nicho has been faultless all year but he's never a winger and I feel we'd have been so much better giving those cameo opportunites to Macklin rather than him. Some players play differently to how they train and aren't great 'trainers' yet perform in games maybe Macklin is one of those I don't know. It looks like the ship has sailed for him here but a better version of him has to be number 1 priority for the summer.

I don't know what I'd do for the playoffs in terms of system or team selection in all honesty. It could be made easy if Rene isn't fit (not good news) in that we have no choice but to straight swap him and Tai and then he has a decision over whether Jarvis plays instead of Morris/Stevens. I actually like Tai and have done from the first game I saw him play. We have far worse problems in the squad than him and he always gives you a shift. For me we have to get more attacking players on the pitch, we have to give ourselves more ways than pinching a game 1-0 of winning a game so Jarvis has to play for me in place of Morris.

I and loads of people on this forum have said it and it's true we've had an unbelievable season (it's not over yet) Ling has done wonders with the resources or lack of them at his disposal but I'm starting to wonder if it's catching up with this threadbare squad. Regardless of what league we are in I hope Ling gets the opportunity in the summer ot make a few changes with the squad, if we go up we need some serious strengthening across the pitch (minimum 5/6 players) but if not we still need improving out wide if we are to persist with this formation and style of play to really start getting the best out of it.

[Northumbergull]

Royal

Thanks for your thoughts. As you may know, I rarely get to a game these days and your little insights are interesting food for thought.

From what I've seen on clips, I hope Tai does get a start as he looks a bit nippy.

Cheers

Bruce

[Trojan 67]

Martin Ling will be adding to the squad and releasing/loaning out the under performers of season 2011/12.

There is definitely something not right when 5 players don't even make the bench on a regular basis.

Those who are regular on the bench don't even make regular starts. See it now?

We need a match day squad of 18 players who are all capable of playing first team football on a regular basis. This is the real competition for places that will make us a force next season. Add the fact that out of form players can be dropped and injured players can be rested so as to properly recover.

Then there's round pegs in round holes, square pegs in square holes with the r's in 'rseholes.

:devil:

[bobby93]

I am largely in agreement with you, but I do think for a small squad with limited resources, we've done so well this year. We might have played better football under Buckle, but I don't think we had the harmony we had now and I don't think we had the same kind of trust in our manager as most of us do now either. We're basically playing at absolute maximum and I hope that Mr Ling will be able to use this as a springboard for next year.

Also, on the subject of wingers - we all know about Nico's ability to whip a ball in, but I've been very impressed with Oastler's improvement in that area. I know they are both defenders and Nico in particular is not able to fly up and down the wing like a greyhound but the crosses are coming in, is my point. Oastler put some excellent balls into the box at the weekend.