STURROCK go and do one

[silentshrimper]

I admit we had 13 excellent away wins.

However, throughout the season we have been mostly dire to watch. Throttling a game away from home is one thing but I think the players felt uncomfortable with tactics at home, especially during the early part of this year. Rotherham, Aldershot, Accrington...the players appeared almost embarassed by the tactics and that appeared to destabilise the momentum that had been achieved with decent results rather than performances.

I do get you, personally I have seen a fair few good games, and a fair few toilet ones.

We played 4 4 2 today in the first half which obviously is the standard football tactic, I have never seen a team fail to adapt to it as badly as we did today. I would like to know what the players thoughts are on tactics to be honest, and what they are comfy with.

 

[Silencer]

Have to agree. At the end of the day one person has cost us this season and that's the manager. Full credit to him for building a team from scratch and for attracting players who are very, very good at this level. But at the end of the day we have challenged this season in spite of his tactics and philosophy, not because of it. He has tried to shoehorn players into his ****, negative set-up which they're not suited to instead of tried to fit the tactics to the players and their strengths.

He has been backed financially in the market but spectacularly failed to utilise his acquisitions to their fullest potential. The players have been uncomfortable with what they've been asked to all season long, visibly so, and discussions have gone on to that effect at the training ground but he wouldn't change things. He's played odd systems and made odd team selections all year, over-complicated tactics with players who are at this level because they require simplicity, and tinkered with winning line-ups.

A change is needed. Sturrock has had his go, he's taken the club as far as he can, credit to him for what he's done well but something fresh and positive is needed to push the club to the next level. We'll always be a nearly team with him.

I hope the financial outlay and subsequent failure haven't ****ed the finances too badly. If he has dipped is back in the **** financially, he could lose his job because of that if not the crap on the pitch.

Spot on, this echo's my feelings...

Paul Sturrock is good at saving clubs in crisis, he did that now maybe (might be an emotional head on here) it is time for someone to try take us forward. Crisis over and a HUGE thank you Mr Sturrock but The poor quality of hoofball (and it is hoofball) wont cut it without results.

Also for me, his business in January was shocking, he spent big and hardly gave his signings a chance. I mean Martin, Baldwin, Benyon, Flood and Dailly....what a waste of money that the club doesn't have!!! He kept his son on a contract despite him struggling to even make the matchday squads!!!

 

[BrettieAngell]

We went to pieces after they scored in the first-half. We very rarely look like we have any pattern or shape but it was actually embarrasing at times today, the lack of movement off the ball and people offering themselves meant we gave the ball away a hell of alot in both games against Crewe.

 

[GregStarz]

I can't hack Paul Sturrock's style of football for another season, I'm not a long ball fan and his poor tactics time and time again drive me nuts!

We got out passed by Crewe, Swindon & Crawley they're miles better than us and play the game the right way.

Goodnight

 

[Medway Blue]

I don't post on here that often these days - a good thing some may say - but I do wonder if some people actually want the best for our club at times.

It is a very emotive time given what happened tonight, but how on earth can anyone advocate sacking a manager who has just given us our highest points haul for many a year? Yes, we're all gutted about losing tonight, but we got beaten by the better team over the two legs - why does there then need to be a major overhaul because of it? We've gone from a club on the brink of imploding with only 3 senior players to a team who has amassed 83 points (enough to have got us promoted 5 out of the last 6 seasons and more than we got when we won League 1 I believe) in a very short space of time. All of which masterminded by PS.

How can sacking him, getting in someone new, and starting all over again possibly be of benefit? If we'd finished 18th, then yes, for sure, but for crying out loud, we've just narrowly lost a play off semi, which in truth, we could so easily have won with a bit of luck.

We have the nucleus of a really good squad here - a lot of which came here solely because of Sturrock.

If you want an example of why we should not do this, take Nottingham Forest.... Sack Billy Davies after losing in the play offs last season, and this season, only just managed to avoid relegation to League 1.... Do we want that here?

It's as if all the positive work he has done, and his extremely impressive CV, have been forgotten or ignored.

Some don't like his style of play? Well it can't be that bad... and as for negative.... Only Gillingham scored more goals than us this season!!!..... If that's negative, then I'll take that every day.

Yeah, we messed it up - from top of the league, we hit a major blip - it happens... it's happened to better teams than us, and sometimes, there is no explanation - loss of form, injury, suspension... I'm certain PS has made mistakes during that time - he always holds hid hands up when he does - but name a manager who hasn't? Should Man Utd sack Fergie because they managed to throw away an even better position than us this season?

And the best comment of the night, we almost got promoted in spite of Sturrock, not because of - That's cheered me up no end. 83 points over 46 games, the second highest scorers, a plus 30 goal difference, but that has nothing to do with Sturrock?..... If that's the case, then teams may as well dispense of managers altogether!!

I think a huge does of reality is needed here - When the dust has settled and everything is calm once again, surely people will see the massive strides forward we've taken this season, and if that continues, then promotion surely has to be a very real possibility next season.

People see things differently and have different opinions. I have my reasons for my point of view which I feel are perfectly valid, just as you think your's valid. Deal with it.

For what it's worth, it'd be different had we not snatched play-offs from the jaws of autos. As i said I'd have taken POs and 83 points for this season after looking forward from last but changed my expectations to promotion after the summer acquisitions and certainly expected promotion when we were on course for top 3 and 90-odd points back in December. It was much more than a blip - it was a dramatic loss of form. We were found out, we became predictable and easy to stifle and the buck must stop with the manager for persisting with his set-up instead of trying something a bit different and adventurous to stay ahead of the game.

 

[Richard_Cadette]

Some excellent points.

One point you have missed however is:

If you employ tactics that bore the pants off of supporters that have paid reasonable entrance fee, in tough times, you had bloody well better win promotion.
He did the boring...but did not deliver the party!

Am not shouting "sack him" but do find it difficult to warm to such an incredibly negative manager. He really did need to deliver!!!

You say negative, I say second highest scorers in the league, with only Huddersfield having a better away record than us in the entire country!!

Yeah, we had issues at home for a while, which now appear to be resolved, but I don't subscribe to this theory that we're a boring team to watch - 4-1 away at AFC Wimbledon, 5-2 away at Northampton, 4-0 at home to Cheltenham, 3-0 at home to Shrewsbury, 4-0 away at Rotherham...... I don't know about you, but I quite enjoyed watching those negative performances! :)

I'm not saying we're perfect, but we're a damn sight better now than we have been for a long time - we're moving in the right direction, and if we chuck it all away now, then we're just plain stupid!

 

[Supa Shrimpa]

onceknownasrab...you lost your argument when you said this...

Just finished watching the match on Sky.

 

[Grayson]

onceknownasrab...you lost your argument when you said this...

Best post of the night.

 

[Silencer]

Harris was injured.

Injured but he changed the game.

Time and Time again he has been 'dropped/rested' when he makes the team tick IMHO.

If Harris was injured then start him, if he breaks down then take him off and it costs a substitution. By bringing him on as a sub (Substitution 1), what happens if the injury forced him to break down, it's another substitution (Substitution 2). If we had made three subs, then PS is risking us going down to ten men.

Harris being injured doesn't wash with me

 

[Csboy]

The irony of this thread started by someone who didn't even bother going to the game tonight. This our biggest game of the season Some fan he is. Would be very interested to know if he has even been to a game at all this season.

 

[Kevin Hogg]

You say negative, I say second highest scorers in the league, with only Huddersfield having a better away record than us in the entire country!!

Yeah, we had issues at home for a while, which now appear to be resolved, but I don't subscribe to this theory that we're a boring team to watch - 4-1 away at AFC Wimbledon, 5-2 away at Northampton, 4-0 at home to Cheltenham, 3-0 at home to Shrewsbury, 4-0 away at Rotherham...... I don't know about you, but I quite enjoyed watching those negative performances! :)

I'm not saying we're perfect, but we're a damn sight better now than we have been for a long time - we're moving in the right direction, and if we chuck it all away now, then we're just plain stupid!

Paul Sturrock is dullness personified...if there is a negative approach to be found ..he will sure as hell find it!!!

 

[Medway Blue]

You say negative, I say second highest scorers in the league, with only Huddersfield having a better away record than us in the entire country!!

Yeah, we had issues at home for a while, which now appear to be resolved, but I don't subscribe to this theory that we're a boring team to watch - 4-1 away at AFC Wimbledon, 5-2 away at Northampton, 4-0 at home to Cheltenham, 3-0 at home to Shrewsbury, 4-0 away at Rotherham...... I don't know about you, but I quite enjoyed watching those negative performances! :)

I'm not saying we're perfect, but we're a damn sight better now than we have been for a long time - we're moving in the right direction, and if we chuck it all away now, then we're just plain stupid!

Shrewsbury at home was fortuitous, 1-0 was a much fairer result and I don't think we played that well. Wimbledon were woeful when we beat them at Kingsmeadow. Northampton and Rotherham away and Cheltenham at home are for me the 3 shining beacons this season in terms of football played and positivity but it's only those 3. They are 3 firm exceptions to the general way we have played this season. A firm minority.

 

[bigmolt]

Cant be bothered to read 6 pages. Just back from game, Railway, and Spread, if Sturrock had seen wot i had he would have gone already. Trueblue virtualy in tears, Airshireblue gutted, various others totally speechless. The tactics that he used are abismal. Why NO HARRIS, WHY THE HOOF TACTICS all first half. Freddy looking totally frustrated as every ball sailed over his head. Timlin couldn't pass wind. Moshni stuck out on wing not allowed to come inside. Gilbert, Prosser and Barker hoofing every ball to no one. If you not gone already Sturrock GO NOWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW

 

[Richard_Cadette]

Paul Sturrock is dullness personified...if there is a negative approach to be found ..he will sure as hell find it!!!

Again, I ask you, how can that be true when we're the second top scorers in the league? It's simply contradictory. We score goals, we're far from a negative team.

 

[Medway Blue]

Cant be bothered to read 6 pages. Just back from game, Railway, and Spread, if Sturrock had seen wot i had he would have gone already. Trueblue virtualy in tears, Airshireblue gutted, various others totally speechless. The tactics that he used are abismal. Why NO HARRIS, WHY THE HOOF TACTICS all first half. Freddy looking totally frustrated as every ball sailed over his head. Timlin couldn't pass wind. Moshni stuck out on wing not allowed to come inside. Gilbert, Prosser and Barker hoofing every ball to no one. If you not gone already Sturrock GO NOWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW

That's what broke my heart. The look on Freddy and Benyon's faces tonight and Harris' on Saturday every time the ball was lumped over the top of their heads. It made me feel so embarassed as a fan to see that. It's soul-destroying for me so I dread to think what it must be like for them.

This is what I mean when I talk about not playing to his players' strengths. Is it really too much to want the ball to be played into your feet when you know you can do something with it?

 

[eastlondonblue]

Must echo the comments that bad style of play must be justified by results and we didn't get them. Don't particularly want sturrock out but It's clear for all to see that the football has to change with him or without because our lack of creativity and imagination cost us a promotion that was there for the taking. Gutted about tonight, lowest point I've experienced!

 

[Richard_Cadette]

Cant be bothered to read 6 pages. Just back from game, Railway, and Spread, if Sturrock had seen wot i had he would have gone already. Trueblue virtualy in tears, Airshireblue gutted, various others totally speechless. The tactics that he used are abismal. Why NO HARRIS, WHY THE HOOF TACTICS all first half. Freddy looking totally frustrated as every ball sailed over his head. Timlin couldn't pass wind. Moshni stuck out on wing not allowed to come inside. Gilbert, Prosser and Barker hoofing every ball to no one. If you not gone already Sturrock GO NOWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW

I believe Harris was injured, and not fit enough to play 90 minutes.

I'm not sure PS would resign because the supporters are upset at not going through to Wembley - we're all upset, as I am sure he and the players are.

The Hoofball tactics as you call them got us 83 points this season.

Mohsni has played on the right for a few months now, with great success - a hat trick the other week in fact.

We, but for the width of the post, could easily be on our way to Wembley now, and no one would have said a word.

 

[bigmolt]

Don't be ****ing idiots. What, if we'd managed to put a chance away near the end and won on penalties, would we have been saying Luggy's done it!

****ing grow up. You don't become as good a lower league club as Crewe are by chopping and changing managers. Sturrock, please stay, please add a little bit to our squad and lose the deadweight and let's go for promotion next year.

bo ll ocks go now

 

[Up the Shrimpers]

The irony of this thread started by someone who didn't even bother going to the game tonight. This our biggest game of the season Some fan he is. Would be very interested to know if he has even been to a game at all this season.

7,600 home fans tonight thats less than turned up for a nothing to play for end of the season game only a couple of seasons ago. Some fans around the town have clearly not forgotten the mess Ron Martin got us in and have not warmed to the Paul Sturrock style of play.

Amyway can't wait for the first game of next season Southend v Crewe I predict!

 

[BrettieAngell]

On another night we could have conceded 5!