This is one of the big problems. Let's be honest, the squad is paper thin and the players are young and inexperienced. Looking now at the last half a dozen games, Mellon has got some work to do with that squad. I still do think we will improve but this season but not so much were we are challenging for anything. The squad is just not good or experienced enough.
Newcastle also play wolves next Sunday so I’m sure they’ll play a weakened team against us but it’ll still probably be enough to beat us but you never know
There is some experience like Hemmings, Lewis, turnbull and Byrne - but I don’t see any obvious leaders out there. Someone to hand out a rollicking like spearing and Clarke did. Someone who opposition would fear playing against. Someone to take the game by the scruff of the next
I would say that Turnbull seems to be consciously or not adopting the mantle of Clarke and being the voice of the defence - he absolutely roasted Byrne after the first goal and was the one more in the face of the referee than anyone else.
Totally agree re losing the leadership qualities of Clarke and Spearing, I would add Murphy and Scotty, even Vaughan to that list. Hopefully some of the new recruits will bring something.
The important thing whatever team that they put out is that we do not get an absolute stuffing..... the youngsters do not need what little confidence they have shattered by a mauling.
Lack of leadership was a major issue yesterday. I don't think last season's squad would have capitulated in the same manner having taken the lead.
Think I'm going to skip it because they'll look awful against City which will give me false hope
We have started poorly under Mellon numerous times and still finished at the right end of the table. However, the concern this season is the blend of youth and experience in the squad, and the lack of the latter. Given the youth of the squad, there is a possibility that we will never achieve consistency this season.
Yes and I think some of the SWA would accept that. A work in progress and some rebuilding. The question is whether form like one win in five is acceptable enough for the chairman. Still early days and Palios apparently told sky sports he doesn’t really look at things until 10 games in.
I think it will be acceptable to Palios, because it is largely his strategy.
I agree with your last sentence.
Who mentioned sacred cows ? There have been several changes at the back already this season. However, I did not think Turnbull and Jameson had individually bad games, the penalty incident aside, so I would not have messed around with the defence. I might have switched to a back four, but purely for tactical reasons, to give Newport something different to think about.
It’s about perceptions. Both goals we conceded were eminently preventable and the first was almost entirely down to failings by the defenders. Jamieson fluffed his clearance for their first goal so has to accept some responsibility for that. Only Turnbull seemed to have a reasonably steady game defensively.
