League Two Stockport (2) v Rovers (0)

[Stickman]

It's really grating on me every week we get told to stick together. We have to keep going, learn the lessons and go again next week blah blah. What lessons have they learnt over the past few weeks as I can't see any improvement at all? They feed us this BS every week. Quite simply, this team is doomed if we keep on doing the same thing every week. Adkins is not the answer either. I think for me, the only faint hope is we get Norris back up to speed and get some kind of partnership with Dennis who are proven goalscorers not like the joker Saunders.

As someone once said. "Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results."

I live close to Stockport but quite simply couldn't be bothered to go today as the result and performance were inevitable. 8 consecutive away defeats is a disgrace. What a mess we are in.

 

[overthewater]

Each time I see Adkins interviewed I think of David Brent more and more...

 

[bigmart]

Everything is fine!
And despite some mistakes, we are in this together!
Where there is faith.............!

No doubt we were unlucky according to someone........

 

[Rockford's Love Child]

It is a minor point, but I did not like the fact Adkins patted Saunders on the back as he left the pitch today. It just smacks of the lack of discipline and accountability at the club at the moment.

 

[bigmart]

The interview from Adkins is truly awful, that and the Palios comments from last night show why we are in a total mess with little hope of getting out of it, absolute shambles

 

[Stickman]

It is a minor point, but I did not like the fact Adkins patted Saunders on the back as he left the pitch today. It just smacks of the lack of discipline and accountability at the club at the moment.

Something that has crept into the game in the last few decades is supporters applauding players off the pitch after they have received a red card. I've never done it and never will. Most of the time it is the player's own fault and they have let their team down. Certainly seems like the case with Saunders today.

 

[Sparky]

It is a minor point, but I did not like the fact Adkins patted Saunders on the back as he left the pitch today. It just smacks of the lack of discipline and accountability at the club at the moment.

Yes in his interview he mentions VAR about a dozen times as if to suggest the lack of it affected the result. I noticed him patting Saunders and thought once again is Nigel capable of giving these lads a rollicking?
What work is going on the training ground to improve our defensive record? Why are we playing 4-3-3 every week when we’re losing with it every week.
It’s such a mess.

 

[Ian]

I noticed him patting Saunders and thought once again is Nigel capable of giving these lads a rollicking?

I don't think he is. He is probably the opposite of what we need right now. Don't forget, he is also a 'failed manager' ..

 

[Sparky]

Also makes you wonder about what is happening on the training field. I love Parky for his playing days but before every game it’s the same drill with the back 4 etc. surely when managers are sacked and you need a fresh voice shouldn’t the same apply to coaching staff?

It’s almost like some of them have a job for life.

 

[drwhoman]

The interview from Adkins is truly awful, that and the Palios comments from last night show why we are in a total mess with little hope of getting out of it, absolute shambles

I sometimes think that owners and Managers think that all fans are brain dead. There is no excuse for what is happening. Palios badly needs to get a grip. Adkins may be a nice guy but that is of no value at present. Urgent decisive action is needed if all the effort of getting out of the NL is not to be totally wasted. Adkins is not going to turn this around. A new broom is needed with their own support team.

 

[Boz]

Now seen the brief highlights and heard Nigel Adkins post match interview.

The camera angle didn’t help for the first Stockport goal but even if it was offside so tight that you can’t stop defending. A great through ball from them.

Saunders second yellow was a daft challenge to make, if you’re already on a yellow for similar. From comments on this thread, I was expecting something worse than the camera captured, couldn’t tell from the footage who got to the ball first. Adkins thought Saunders did, hence his pat.

The second goal was well created and finished but our defensive work was feeble, allowing them so much space to set it up.

Was it the opener that Adkins was talking about a player not sticking to script on? He didn’t name the culprit.

Maybe not intentional but Adkins comes across as treating the fans as stupid. He didn’t sound at all like a Rovers fan in that interview. His VAR points seem misguided, maybe we were unlucky in the areas he raised, but so were Stockport in terms of shots hitting the woodwork. I’ve not seen or read anything that suggests this should have been anything other than a comprehensive defeat.

 

[dollar'sbloke]

Yes in his interview he mentions VAR about a dozen times as if to suggest the lack of it affected the result. I noticed him patting Saunders and thought once again is Nigel capable of giving these lads a rollicking?
What work is going on the training ground to improve our defensive record? Why are we playing 4-3-3 every week when we’re losing with it every week.
It’s such a mess.

We played 442 yesterday, it didn't many any positive difference however much people obsess about it

 

[dollar'sbloke]

Yes in his interview he mentions VAR about a dozen times as if to suggest the lack of it affected the result. I noticed him patting Saunders and thought once again is Nigel capable of giving these lads a rollicking?
What work is going on the training ground to improve our defensive record? Why are we playing 4-3-3 every week when we’re losing with it every week.
It’s such a mess.

The last thing the team needs is a shouting at, confidence must be rock bottom and confidence in team mates non-existent in places. Pike was the big plus yesterday looks like he can do a job far beyond others! Apter must get his chance now. Norris can get minutes in next week although I would revert to 451 as he might an injury away from leaving us bare again. Dennis just isn't fit.

 

[Ian]

The last thing the team needs is a shouting at, confidence must be rock bottom and confidence in team mates non-existent in places

We've spent too much time pussy footing around. These are grown men, professionals. They need to be held in some part accountable for the dross we are being served up weekly.

There is no leadership or accountability. We need people to stand up and fight otherwise it's time to say goodbye to our league status again!

Shout at them, wake them up as the weeks are ticking by!

 

[Goody Two Shoes]

I’m okay with most of Adkins post-match interview, aside from referencing VAR which is pretty pointless. There was some critique related to both goals and recognition of the difficulties we’re in and that it’s tough on the supporters, so it wasn’t all positivity. There’s no way he’s going to reflect abject disappointment and anger felt by many, that’s clearly not his role, remit or style. In reality, Stockport are streets ahead of us right now (literally) and even with a flawless performance and eleven players on the pitch for the full game, it’s likely we’d have walked away with nothing. I’m saving my judgement for the next two league games, as I feel they’ll be a much better barometer to measure where we’re at. I’d say the marker has to be a home win against FGR and a minimum of a point at Sutton; anything else might not be terminal, but would be hard to feel positive about and Adkins sell would be mighty difficult.

 

[Sparky]

The last thing the team needs is a shouting at, confidence must be rock bottom and confidence in team mates non-existent in places. Pike was the big plus yesterday looks like he can do a job far beyond others! Apter must get his chance now. Norris can get minutes in next week although I would revert to 451 as he might an injury away from leaving us bare again. Dennis just isn't fit.

Dennis is fit. He said so in his pre match interview that he’s been available for every league game. He looks unfit because as a penalty box goal poacher he’s not suited to all the running around he’s having to do. Just imagine having Muir or Aldo running around chasing the ball between two centre halves all game. Aldo had Malkin to do the donkey work.

It wasn’t 4-4-2 yesterday it was a 4-2-3-1 with Jennings behind Dennis. It didn’t work as it created big gaps in the midfield because Lewis and Walker were both defensive midfielders. Boz mentions Nigel’s reference to someone not sticking to their role. That was because Lewis pressed high meaning when they found Bailey he had time to pick the pass, when it sounded like they weren’t supposed to press too much early on so the back four had 2 players protecting them.

I think they do need a rollicking or similar because whatever Nigel is doing, and it likely more arms round the shoulder than the hairdryer treatment, clearly isn’t working. Something needs to change

Goody is right in that we were always going to lose yesterday and it’s the next two league games that matter the most. Hopefully if Norris fit and with a fair wind we can pick up a win or two. We’ll need to keep 11 players on the pitch though and hopefully play two strikers together, especially at home

 

[Ian]

Realistically, how many points do you think we'll get from the FGR & Sutton games? I have a feeling it's not going to be many.

 

[Goody Two Shoes]

Realistically, how many points do you think we'll get from the FGR & Sutton games? I have a feeling it's not going to be many.

We shall see Ian, we shall see. With this team it’s hard to be certain of anything, but we live in hope! In the words of the boss “don’t throw the towel in”

 

[Rockford's Love Child]

It is not working under Adkins and the problems go beyond his post match interviews, although they certainly don't help. There has been no significant improvement tactically or in terms of the spirit and body language of the players, despite his motivational messages.

The next couple of weeks provides a good opportunity to bring in a new manager and coaching staff ahead of the crucial games against FGR and Sutton, and with time to prepare for the January window.

Of course, Palios won't do that, and his complacent attitude of 'I have time on my side' (he has not) will in all likelihood see us relegated.

Defeat in the next two League matches could be terminal even at this stage, as this squad provides absolutely no evidence that it would be capable of overturning a six or nine point gap to safety, at least not without a change of management and a number of personnel.

 

[Higgy 2]

The last thing the team needs is a shouting at, confidence must be rock bottom and confidence in team mates non-existent in places. Pike was the big plus yesterday looks like he can do a job far beyond others! Apter must get his chance now. Norris can get minutes in next week although I would revert to 451 as he might an injury away from leaving us bare again. Dennis just isn't fit.

I agree Pike is a bonus and would be an able deputy for LOC. Pity we haven't got a LB to facilitate this happening. In terms of Apter, he's really good and I would imagine he'll get better loan offers and will be off as soon as his term with us finishes - shame.
I'm not sure Dennis was ever much of an athlete, but still got plenty of goals. He was running around like a dog on a deserted New Brighton beach at times as the rest stood off, or joined the press to late. It wasn't a good luck for him. I think the offside "goal" he scored is more him. For that to happen we need more men in there half....or even in their penny area.
Jenno had a good game, but spent a lot of time doing "necessary " good work assisting the defence - top pro.
At times we had 10 or 11 players in a relatively compressed area in our half, and they were still had time to be calm, get their heads up and pick passes in and around the box to players moving into pockets of space unmarked - shocking. They were never rushed on the ball despite the numbers we had in and around them. Too many standing off to far back. Scared probably.
I just can't watch the interviews. There may have been a couple of dodgy decisions, but don't let that mask that we were inept. We got spotted.