• Nigel Adkins has been given the Tranmere job on a permanent basis signing until the end of the 25/26 season. Continue the discussion here.

Deja vu!

Joined
2 May 2021
Messages
829
Player
Ged Brennan, Big Steve McNulty,
Manager
Mickey Mellon, Johnny King.
Since 2015, every season has been very similar in the face of it.
We start bad but grow into the season and build momentum in the last few weeks of the season.
But the numbers of players since then have been far too many, too many clear outs, too many different managerial appointments, the recruitment and at times the football has been ugly and disheartening.
This goes along with the success we have had in the playoffs, how I'm still uncertain?
The underlying cause of all this is in my opinion, the uncertainty about the clubs future and consequences of going down in two seasons and three hard seasons to get back. That first season back then the second promotion. And being dumped back into league two because of covid and the PPG decision.
Not being a wealthy club, and this rollercoaster ride has had an impact on how the club has had to be careful of how the budgets of the business is used. Some decisions and issues have been part of the cause, but it does seem to be deja vu, in many ways, to 1981, 2014, 2015 and other than the first season in the national league, we have not been able to sustain a promotion challenge, having to get into the playoffs, to get promoted.
The prospect of most fans and we are no different, we expect to be entertained playing at the highest level possible and surviving and competing. Progressive attacking football and a resilience to deliver the points. We expect too much! But for many years gone, bar a few, the value in watching Rovers is overpriced and only the experience going to the games, is now the reason for going, it can't be for the shocking performances on the pitch.
One of the reasons for this is it takes a few months into the season for the players to gel and be a team, but we still get a result that because we are so bad, that you have to wonder why we bother?
The biggest incident of this was Bolton away two seasons ago, when if we had won there and got out of the relegation zone, I do wonder if we could have stayed in league one? We got stuffed, and the performance levels that night were shocking. Too many games in that shortened season, we were less than average, and not good enough to stay in league one, for the simple reason, the squad was not good enough and the performances were just as bad!
You may think I'm too critical, but for far too long in our history if we haven't played conservatively, we have played kick and chase or hoofing it to no one! Survival football. We, as a club have a long past of managers, who fit this description. (Johnny King exempted)
The club needs a plan for the future, it is unsustainable relying on a new squad every season to be competitive. It is not in the best interest of our club that we are not building the football side of the club up.
Money is the ultimate culprit, as in football for the past fifty years, it is those clubs that have been successful because they are the richest clubs in that division. The relationship between money and success is known to most people in football.
As I said, the coincidence of bad start, poor recruitment, boring football and struggling to understand where will be in the future, which may not be Prenton Park, I'm sure that is a recurring theme. It just seems like the same story every season. The video of seasons previous, are the same ones we have been watching for years.
As supporters, we have had some great days but the bad games and performances outweigh those great days.
Deja vu, explains so much. If we didn't get our hit of football, like, covid, is really depressing and not advised.
But I'm sure I have said all this before!
 

Ian

Super White!
Admin
Joined
21 Sep 2005
Messages
12,019
Player
Aldo
Manager
Kingy
I have not enjoyed the majority of games this season simply because we are not being entertained by goals and I feel we are also lacking control in matches but I do also have the belief that it will get better as we grow into the season. Possibly slightly naive view but surely it has to get better than this?!

I think a lot of it also has to do with expectations. Are mine too high? Are Mickys more realistic with what he has to work with? He seemed relatively happy with Sat performance bar some bad luck. I thought it was quite poor overall.
 
Joined
24 Jul 2017
Messages
4,185
Player
aldo
think about it you would not go to a restaurant or a pub and put up with shit you would never go back, fan numbers will drop if we keep playing like this then the club loses money what then in the last season and a little this the only time we have had entertaining football was when Daws and parky had there first spell
 

Boz

Member
Joined
30 Sep 2005
Messages
8,851
Player
Iain Hume
I enjoyed Walsall because it was great to be back at a live game and although the match was lacking in quality, it was very end to end. Hartlepool was a different matter as we set up negatively and were absorbing pressure until Micky changed things second half. Yesterday, while it was good to be able to attend an away game, most of the quality came from the hosts. It was the re-appointment of Micky that persuaded me to renew my season-ticket, but at present think this will be the last time.
 

bigmart

bigmart
Member
Joined
29 Jul 2009
Messages
7,110
Player
Ian Muir
If we had Norwood type of player with good pace and movement then the way we are setting up and our tactics would make sense but without that type of player it doesn't make sense.
 
Joined
17 May 2021
Messages
254
Player
Ian Goodison
Manager
Johnny King
Bit depressing that OP. Don’t think it’s been quite that bleak. I’m happy to have a moan/listen to others moan after each game or result doesn’t go our way and performances not being entirely satisfactory, but then move onto the next game with renewed hope and optimism. We’re in a much more stable position, even with the impact of COVID, than we were not so long ago. A lot of clubs and fans would happily swap places with us with our history, loyal fan base, stadium, chairman , finanacial position, imminent new fanzone, training facilities, prospects and intellectual forum posters :).
Our goal scoring problems won’t go on forever either (you heard it hear first!). I want us to pick up points and win games as much as the next person, but a little bit of perspective is helpful when looking at the bigger picture. Personally, it takes me a day to get over a defeat, but a week enjoying a victory, so I’m quids in with “happy days” even on this stuttering season so far.
Chin up!
 
Top