'One swallow does not make a summer' and two successive clean sheets might not change anything for you. You might point to the fact that we got battered 4-0 at Wimbledon in the game before.
I was a lone voice a few weeks ago saying that our defenders are actually quite good but they just need someone to get them organised as a unit, to give them some confidence, encourage them to compete harder and to play for 90 minutes without switching off for one second.
Those at the Gillingham and Crawley games will know that the defence snuffed them both out - Gillingham creating nothing, Crawley next to nothing.
We might lose badly at Dagenham and at home to Morecambe but I think that the evidence is there - they can defend.
The old argument is that they are our Conference defence (apart from Stanno). However, if we signed a Morecambe, Aldershot, Accrington or Torquay defender (who had been with them since their Conference days), would we moan that we had signed a Conference defender? No, we wouldn't.
Our Defence. Have you changed your mind?
posted on 3/4/12
Glad you mentioned the swallow Otep my good friend.Lets just wait and see from now and the end of the season to seal there fate because as you know i have been one of there biggest critics.As yet i have not changed my mind although i do concede the last 2 clean sheets have been a god send,fair play to them.As for defending consistantly lets say i will be very surprised if they do.
posted on 3/4/12
No offence Otep but apart from Stanno i'm with Emnez totally here. They are consistently inconsitent.
The last couple of games great but not able to maintain that level through a season.
posted on 3/4/12
We need to strengthen our defence in the close season . I would like to see Legzins signed on a year long loan deal ,with at least two new signings Parkes would be one i would go for ,with an experienced fullback maybe out of contract with a championship side .As for who would be released, lets see who performs out of their skins over the next six matches .
posted on 4/4/12
One question i woud like answered is why oh why, do we decide to be harder to beat once wev'e got rid of a manager.
Surely as part of Pesch's coaching staff thats what Rowett should have been doing for the past 3 seasons.
Can't believe he's only just realised that the defence has been the problem.
Its been a problem since last season and has only been weakened this season by Parkes departure.
Major surgery needed in all departments in the close season.
Only time will tell as to the chairmans ambitions as to my mind new manager needed.
If we still have Rowett it will be on the cheap and i'm not sure what players he would attract.
Ben will certainly have to open his purse strings for whoever takes over.
posted on 4/4/12
There have been some encouraging signs in the last 4 games, but I agree that you have to wonder how much influence Gary was able to exert in his time as PP's assistant.
Consistency is the most important aspect and if we go undefeated until the last game or until we are mathematically safe then he will have made an strong case for Ben to give him the job. Fans on here and the CTMD forum have previously said they would like to see what this squad could do under a different manager, now is the opportunity. I think GR will be judged on the transformation that he invokes both in matches and in the background over his two months in charge. He has at the very least, shown a recognition that all successful teams are built from the back.
He has sought the job ever since Cloughie left and if we want to be wise after the event, I heard at the time that he was willing to step in when we brought in Roy McF. He clearly has the club at heart otherwise he would have walked at some point in the last 3 years having seen that his work and views counted for so little with PP. In these three weeks he has come across as a more assured managerial figure than PP ever did.
As for attracting players, he is a highly respected coach, and played at a higher level than PP (three premier league clubs; Everton, Leicester and Charlton).
I don't believe Ben can release the purse strings due to the money wasted in the past three years, so the manager could well be working to the same budget or less.
Whoever becomes manager, it absolutely should not be someone who has gone from club to club leaving them all in a worst state than he found them.
posted on 4/4/12
From one Ashton to another thats a very good article. Some excellents points raised. I would agree Gary Rowett has handled himself extremely well so far and one does have to wonder what if any influence he had on Mr Peschisolido.
I've already stated that the job is his to lose, i think the acid test for him is who he can bring in the close season and what sort of budget he will have available.
Whether you want him or not he has made some astute decisions and shown he is not afraid to make decisions, he has certainly proved he can motivate players !
I'm not for or against him at present but watching and listening !
posted on 4/4/12
Is there a Chelsea André Villas-Boas-Di Matteo parallel with what we have? Di Matteo was number 2, part of the old management and yet he has done wonders at the club so far. Maybe we shouldn't be quick to dismiss the connections with Pesch.
That said, if we lose to Dagenham and Morecambe I will be on here shouting my head off about how we need a new Manager.