Higgy2 will know more but I think in commentary Boz the home commentators suggested it was a trial but they may keep it after todays resultHiggy 2, do Accrington usually play in those weird shirts or is it a new kit?
If you do the maths, 25 less the 13 or so we already have under contract that means nearly everyone out of is going? JT is obviously staying so maybe just Norris, Wood and a central mid?Post match Nigel says he’s looking to bring 9-10 new players in
Yes McAlear has been offered another year but remains to be seen whether he’ll accept it. I think there will be a good clear outIf you do the maths, 25 less the 13 or so we already have under contract that means nearly everyone out of is going? JT is obviously staying so maybe just Norris, Wood and a central mid?
McAleer is easy on the eye when on form and on the ball. But for me he's nowhere near fit or energetic enough to put pressure on his opposite number, or when he himself is pressurised. Unless Nigel is going to to run him ragged "up & down the sand dunes" he'll only ever be good enough for a cameo role where he may flatter to deceive every now and then.Yes McAlear has been offered another year but remains to be seen whether he’ll accept it. I think there will be a good clear out
Totally agree.The only positive from that debacle is that it will make Adkins' decisions a lot of easier. At least half a dozen of the players that featured today have surely played their last game in a Tranmere shirt.
Defensively we were abysmal. I doubt Hockenhull and Belehouan are even National League North standard and James Norris is nowhere near good enough either. He offers nothing defensively and must have hit the first man on five occasions when he got into attacking areas. O'Connor is the only competent member of the back four that played today.
The midfield did not cover itself in glory either, and Merrie was very poor. As for Kristian Dennis, just wow. Irrespective of manager, formation or playing style, he has offered absolutely nothing this season and has been a waste of a substantial amount of money. Hopefully we can ship him on.
Of the out of contract players, I would only retain Luke Norris and O'Connor, both of whom I thought were ok this afternoon. Hopefully Adkins directs the summer recruitment and Palios and Beck keep their oars out, or we will end up with similar dross outside the first eleven next season.
Within hours this point may well be redundant, however surely McAlear is an understudy for Walker and an unfinished one? So asking him to do the things you do would be unrealistic. By far our best combo is Walker playing as a pivot letting very little get through, stealing the ball when he gets a sniff and jockeying back when the odds aren't in his favour. Hendry appears to great effect on both sides of Walker and hits both goal lines, he puts the odd dangerous slip up but his energy is as good as we will get at this level. Merrie does neither roles, he has a very decent pass but overall is anonymous for long periods. Lewis probably does more than we credit him, but surely time is up. Jennings gets bogged down in a flat four, get him beyond that and he sees great openings.McAleer is easy on the eye when on form and on the ball. But for me he's nowhere near fit or energetic enough to put pressure on his opposite number, or when he himself is pressurised. Unless Nigel is going to to run him ragged "up & down the sand dunes" he'll only ever be good enough for a cameo role where he may flatter to deceive every now and then.
BTW I've never seen Accrington in that shirt before, but I understand it's their Third strip.
Think we have seen enough of him to say like Walker and Banks his attacking is limited to long range shooting. I'm no fan just cannot dismiss as I do with Merrie and Lewis. Lewis has a modest record boosted by N'ton promotion, honest pro but not for me. Oldham?McAlear was signed as an attacking midfielder and despite the fact he's roughly the same height and a bit broader than Walker, he lacks a lot of the attributes for the defensive role at present. In my view defensive midfield is one of the key areas we need to inject quality into the squad, factoring in Walker's fitness record. Ideally we can get someone in capable of providing enough competition for the role that Walker doesn't just stroll into the side when fit.
Fair comment BBTC! Mind you, as you know, what is past is past and looking forward is really the only way particularly in football!This result was the worst of the whole season. At least at Wimbledon we had ten players for a lot of the match. It seems like with the back four we have had for the last three games, it was only a matter of time. However, I think the turning point was that ridiculous penalty. I don't think the Accy players appealed. Robbie's position was natural and not exaggerated. You can't run with your hands tied to your hips. Without that, we may not have won, but it would surely have been closer. The third goal was pinball not football and the final goal should have been three penalties.
Listening to Nigel's interview, I had to smile. His team had just been thrashed, yet he was beaming - positive yet honest and believable. How does he do it?