Farce

[BigMarkLeonard]

I actually think that we DON'T need another player to sit alongside Pearson. We have Browne, Johnson and even Welsh who can do that. Although it would be a "nice to have" to get someone in if they had more quality than all of the above and if Ledson is that player, fine. However...

In my opinion, what we need with our current formation is a number 10 of real quality. Someone who can play that killer ball and has great technique in that key area. A lower league Cantona or Bergkamp (the impossibility of which is not lost on me). Someone like Hoolahan in his pomp, or clearly McGeady - a tricky little player in the pocket with great technique, a low sense of gravity and the ability to play the killer ball or shoot.

It seems we do well until the final third where we lack that killer ball or that bit of magic.

Perhaps a change of formation is required, or at least more flexibility? We have Moult and Hugill who both thrive on crosses. The 4-4-2 served us very well at times last season, though much of that was down to one man.

We are OK everywhere else in the squad if you ask me and with one or two additions we could JUST scrape the play offs.

A Mediterranean or European magician to play in the hole would ideal. I don't think anyone we have at present plays that role effectively, including Harrop, Horgan, Browne, Robinson, Bodin, Bakhuizen, who are all better attacking from wide positions. From what I can gather Bodin is struggling to adapt, but there's plenty time.

Just my opinion. Clearly what we are doing isn't creating many chances.

And lets's not piss our pants at today's defeat. It was with 7/8 changes against a team above us in the League and down to one stupid error.

 

[sedgwick__7]

I actually think that we DON'T need another player to sit alongside Pearson. We have Browne, Johnson and even Welsh who can do that. Although it would be a "nice to have" to get someone in if they had more quality than all of the above and if Ledson is that player, fine. However...

In my opinion, what we need with our current formation is a number 10 of real quality. Someone who can play that killer ball and has great technique in that key area. A lower league Cantona or Bergkamp (the impossibility of which is not lost on me). Someone like Hoolahan in his pomp, or clearly McGeady - a tricky little player in the pocket with great technique, a low sense of gravity and the ability to play the killer ball or shoot.

Neil doesn't see Browne in a deep role though, and Welsh frankly isn't first team standard now, especially on a regular basis.

I think we need a signing for both positions you mentioned. Harrop could be the no.10 but he's still a 'project' really, with so little experience and so few games under his belt. Whether we could get 2 pieces of business done though before the deadline I don't know.

 

[Tugg Speedman]

So you were at today''s game?

No (but I listened) and I didn't need to see today's game to come to my opinion. Every credit to anyone who went by the way.

 

[Baldygit]

I thought we were the far better team - it wasn't a penalty- the referee was shite - we were unlucky - some (if not all) of the squad were suffering from upset tummies - the grass was too long - the Yorkshire air was smelly - the manager knows nothing about football - the lads are tired etc etc
1001 excuses for why are now playing a lot less attractive football to what was served up for the first few weeks of the season. THIS IS PRESTON NORTH END what do you expect?

 

[Final Stand]

I thought we were the far better team - it wasn't a penalty- the referee was shite - we were unlucky - some (if not all) of the squad were suffering from upset tummies - the grass was too long - the Yorkshire air was smelly - the manager knows nothing about football - the lads are tired etc etc
1001 excuses for why are now playing a lot less attractive football to what was served up for the first few weeks of the season. THIS IS PRESTON NORTH END what do you expect?

So is your inference fair weather footballers at the start of the season? No steel or stamina? You could be right.

 

[Nobber]

65 years

Now I know you're really old my money is on Preston1880 😉

 

[john2321]

Now I know you're really old my money is on Preston1880 😉

Bring it on ?

 

[Euxtonboy]

I actually think that we DON'T need another player to sit alongside Pearson. We have Browne, Johnson and even Welsh who can do that. Although it would be a "nice to have" to get someone in if they had more quality than all of the above and if Ledson is that player, fine. However...

In my opinion, what we need with our current formation is a number 10 of real quality. Someone who can play that killer ball and has great technique in that key area. A lower league Cantona or Bergkamp (the impossibility of which is not lost on me). Someone like Hoolahan in his pomp, or clearly McGeady - a tricky little player in the pocket with great technique, a low sense of gravity and the ability to play the killer ball or shoot.

It seems we do well until the final third where we lack that killer ball or that bit of magic.

Perhaps a change of formation is required, or at least more flexibility? We have Moult and Hugill who both thrive on crosses. The 4-4-2 served us very well at times last season, though much of that was down to one man.

We are OK everywhere else in the squad if you ask me and with one or two additions we could JUST scrape the play offs.

A Mediterranean or European magician to play in the hole would ideal. I don't think anyone we have at present plays that role effectively, including Harrop, Horgan, Browne, Robinson, Bodin, Bakhuizen, who are all better attacking from wide positions. From what I can gather Bodin is struggling to adapt, but there's plenty time.

Just my opinion. Clearly what we are doing isn't creating many chances.

And lets's not piss our pants at today's defeat. It was with 7/8 changes against a team above us in the League and down to one stupid error.

Just back home and totally agree with these comments. A scrappy game from two average sides who on todays performance will be nowhere near the play offs. And why on earth DJ seems intent on picking up yellow cards for dissent and petulance is beyond me. Is he trying to take up the mantle for silliness now that Pearson has calmed down a bit?

 

[Doc Brown]

I disagree. Neil did take it seriously but the players didn't perform. I'm told he was not a happy bunny on that touchline.

You've got a brass neck, you have marsbars.

Manager makes 8 changes for a cup game with 2500+ PNE fans in attendance away from home only to put in a dismal performance....sounds strangely familiar.

The way you've changed your tune to justify Neil's squad rotation compared to the way you hounded Grayson for doing exactly the same last year in the league cup is equally audacious as it is comical.

It appears Neil The Revolutionary and his side are faltering, and some of the locals (and, rumour rumour, some of the players 😱) aren't best pleased if this forum is anything to go by. What do you think the issue is at the moment?

 

[wld]

Just my gut feeling after watching our body language and performances. Lots of arm waving from players, blaming each other, not taking responsibility, not showing for the ball. Something's not right.

Only talking about today but there was absolutely none of that going on at Sheffield. Some players played poorly but there was no lack of effort and passion, it just didn’t happen. The defence seemed confused a few times expecting Rudd to come for balls that Maxwell would have come for but confusion is all it was.

In general we have tried to be much more positive this season than the last two years. I don’t like putting too much stock on individual players but it is undeniable that the absence of Maguire has been absolutely pivotal.

 

[Town_ender]

Ok so Alex wasn't really taking this game seriously with 8
changes but I feel hes cheated the 2500 or so die hard supporters who would only have gone if they expected something out of the game

As stated in other posts he did take it seriously, the players let him down. Yes there were changes but the team selected should have been strong enough to win the game.

Also saying 2,500 'die hard' fans is stretching it a bit, it was £10 a ticket and £10 travel, cheaper than a home game. If we'd been playing Norwich or Ipswich away and paying full price then you may have had more of a point.

 

[Strongbow]

For me I would have played todays team on Tuesday night v Forest and put the strongest eleven out today and again on Saturday against Hull.

Lets be honest at the moment too many better teams above us to achieve promotion this year so why not have a decent cup run.

We should have called Sheff Utd's bluff and gone strong today ... It did Wigan no harm against a weakened West Ham today.

 

[California_PNE]

Lets be honest at the moment too many better teams above us to achieve promotion this year .

Just took a good look at the table and I think it's quite striking now, above us are teams bang in form, it's tight, we'd have to put a winning streak together and that is looking unlikely at the moment.

 

[Strongbow]

Just took a good look at the table and I think it's quite striking now, above us are teams bang in form, it's tight, we'd have to put a winning streak together and that is looking unlikely at the moment.

Being honest if we did fluke the play-offs Fulham, Derby, Villa or Boro .... two nuts to crack over 2 legs imho .....

 

[California_PNE]

Being honest if we did fluke the play-offs Fulham, Derby, Villa or Boro .... two nuts to crack over 2 legs imho .....

Feels like we're miles off any sort of form to even consider ourselves in that position.

The challenge to AN and the team now is clear, need to go win 3, 4, 5... On the bounce otherwise seasons over lads

 

[California_PNE]

Being honest if we did fluke the play-offs Fulham, Derby, Villa or Boro .... two nuts to crack over 2 legs imho .....

Feels like we're miles off any sort of form to even consider ourselves in that position.

The challenge to AN and the team now is clear, need to go win 3, 4, 5... On the bounce otherwise seasons over lads

 

[Town_ender]

Feels like we're miles off any sort of form to even consider ourselves in that position.

The challenge to AN and the team now is clear, need to go win 3, 4, 5... On the bounce otherwise seasons over lads

It's only a month since we played a good Boro team off the park in the first half, yes we didn't see it through, but with everyone fit I think we can compete with the play-off team's. The only game I've seen us outplayed was at Derby, and for that game we were missing Ben Pearson suspended and AN held his hands up and said he should have made changes after we played the last 30 minutes with 10 men at Leeds the previous Saturday. The biggest worry at the moment is lack of cover for key players most notably Ben Pearson, but the club are trying to address that in this transfer window.

 

[26-0]

Feels like we're miles off any sort of form to even consider ourselves in that position.

The challenge to AN and the team now is clear, need to go win 3, 4, 5... On the bounce otherwise seasons over lads

I'd actually say the challenge for AN now is to find a sustainable winning formula, getting the players working to improve their individual and team performances and recruiting players of good enough quality to play in a team challenging for promotion.

All tricky challenges for him.

We seem to have lost our direction somewhat lately, playing quite poorly, creating few chances and resorting to long high balls to Hugill. It seems like we need to go back to basics, work on the system that brought us early success in terms of performances, results and entertainment and put that out on the pitch every match.

 

[California_PNE]

It's only a month since we played a good Boro team off the park in the first half, yes we didn't see it through, but with everyone fit I think we can compete with the play-off team's. The only game I've seen us outplayed was at Derby, and for that game we were missing Ben Pearson suspended and AN held his hands up and said he should have made changes after we played the last 30 minutes with 10 men at Leeds the previous Saturday. The biggest worry at the moment is lack of cover for key players most notably Ben Pearson, but the club are trying to address that in this transfer window.

My point is more about the other teams than us,.fullham middlesbrough Villa Derby even Norwich - quite a few teams in really neat form. We need to join them is the point, put a winning run together and it'll have to be as I day 4games+ territory - starting this week in Nottingham.

 

[California_PNE]

I'd actually say the challenge for AN now is to find a sustainable winning formula, getting the players working to improve their individual and team performances and recruiting players of good enough quality to play in a team challenging for promotion.

All tricky challenges for him.

We seem to have lost our direction somewhat lately, playing quite poorly, creating few chances and resorting to long high balls to Hugill. It seems like we need to go back to basics, work on the system that brought us early success in terms of performances, results and entertainment and put that out on the pitch every match.

Yep, absolutely.
Think its time to attack and take some risks.
It's a challenge for all of them now no doubt about it.