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Probably nothing in it like but...

Probably nothing in it like but...

Jack Daniels

Jack Daniels

PNE-ONLINE Boxing Expert.
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Jun 7, 2004
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...much like Arsenal struggled at The Emirates when they 1st moved there with it's size cited as the main reason compared to the smaller compact Highbury, does anyone think that our players, all of whom were playing at smaller grounds last season for their previous clubs, are intimidated by Deepdales size?

Not saying that this is the sole reason for our underperforming home form but I am convinced that it is affecting some individuals, like the stage is too big for them, and it is a part, mentally, of the ongoing home form problem. Yes, I know that GW has made errors, too. I am quite aware of this. I am thinking more in the early stages of the game if things don't go to plan or a mistake is made by a player(s)

If you check out our 5 League away wins to date this season, you'll see we won at the following.

Bury 1 - 2 ... small ground
Doncaster 1 - 3 ... small ground
Scunthorpe 2 - 3 ... small ground
Stevenage 1 - 4 ... tiny ground
Hartlepool 0 - 1 ... small ground

Could there be a correlation here somewhere?

I think that some of our players (not all but some) suffer psychologically from playing at Deepdale. Look at how many great players have failed at both Anfield and Old Trafford, as examples, a different level but the point remains the same.

Sensible replies please. I am aware they are paid well to do a job, sadly, some will wilt under the pressure and/or spotlight.

Just a thought.
 
Jack Daniels said:
...much like Arsenal struggled at The Emirates when they 1st moved there with it's size cited as the main reason compared to the smaller compact Highbury, does anyone think that our players, all of whom were playing at smaller grounds last season for their previous clubs, are intimidated by Deepdales size?

Not saying that this is the sole reason for our underperforming home form but I am convinced that it is affecting some individuals, like the stage is too big for them, and it is a part, mentally, of the ongoing home form problem. Yes, I know that GW has made errors, too. I am quite aware of this. I am thinking more in the early stages of the game if things don't go to plan or a mistake is made by a player(s)

If you check out our 5 League away wins to date this season, you'll see we won at the following.

Bury 1 - 2 ... small ground
Doncaster 1 - 3 ... small ground
Scunthorpe 2 - 3 ... small ground
Stevenage 1 - 4 ... tiny ground
Hartlepool 0 - 1 ... small ground

Could there be a correlation here somewhere?

I think that some of our players (not all but some) suffer psychologically from playing at Deepdale. Look at how many great players have failed at both Anfield and Old Trafford, as examples, a different level but the point remains the same.

Sensible replies please. I am aware they are paid well to do a job, sadly, some will wilt under the pressure and/or spotlight.

Just a thought.
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JD What about Shrewsbury, Walsall,Oldham and Orient though ! 😉
 
Westley's tactics just don't work at Deepdale. It's nothing like Stevenage's ground. He basically admitted that at the end of last season and his solution was we needed to add pace to the side. He brought in Amoo, Holmes and Monakana and attempted to introduce proper wing play but it all just seems fudged together. Westley is much more used to playing a more flat midfield full of Mousinho's and Welsh's.

One obvious correlation you can draw from those 5 away wins is that three of them were against bottom four league teams (Hartlepool, Bury and Scunthorpe). Those three sides have only managed a combined 12 wins this season (home and away) in 81 attempts.

Westley's tactics worked at Stevenage cos it's a tight ground. You can play balls down the line, play for throw ins and corners and contain teams, stopping them play their own game and overpower them with work rate. We could give Westley years to work his magic at Deepdale but I have little faith he'll ever be able to offer us consistent winning football unless his tactical game gets a total overhaul.
 
JD you are getting as bad/desperate as Westley now, the way Westley works and sends his teams out is based on fear, we have some decent players imho but they are not allowed to try things and get taken apart by Westley and his thug if they cock up.
 
billymac said:
Jesus wept we are now being compared to Arsenal and Manure!!!!!
Click to expand...

😀

Now come on Billy, I was making an observation that might or might not hold some truth within it...and I did in my OP, to avoid replies like yours, state that I was talking on a smaller scale. 😀

Anyway, if people want to take the piss, then fire away.

It is a fact of life that some people, in whatever job they happen to be in, fail on a bigger stage. Meanwhile, some will flourish.

I was just seeing if this might be one issue of many currently surrounding our club right now. Nowhere have I defended the management team in my OP.

Of course, this PNE ONLINE where words are cruelly twisted!!!😀😀

I shall leave the debate, if there is one!, to you lot. Just an angle that might have a grain of truth in it somewhere. Who knows!
 
I think GW is guilty of overcomplicating, what in essence is very simple game & tries to nullify/outmanouvere the opposition with the consequences that we are now witnessing. Play your best formation with the best players for the position. Tell players to play to each others strengths & keep a settled side
 
billymac said:
JD you are getting as bad/desperate as Westley now, the way Westley works and sends his teams out is based on fear, we have some decent players imho but they are not allowed to try things and get taken apart by Westley and his thug if they cock up.
Click to expand...

Billy, I simply go on the match for a catch up with my mates nowadays, much like I did 20 odd years ago pre Beck. No expectation, just a laugh, some dark humour and banter.

I am not sure if this is a good or a bad thing in all honesty.

Westleys biggest challenge is whether he has the balls to improve his coaching staff imo. His loyalty could well be his undoing. Time will tell.
 
Jack Daniels said:
Billy, I simply go on the match for a catch up with my mates nowadays, much like I did 20 odd years ago pre Beck. No expectation, just a laugh, some dark humour and banter.

I am not sure if this is a good or a bad thing in all honesty.

Westleys biggest challenge is whether he has the balls to improve his coaching staff imo. His loyalty could well be his undoing. Time will tell.
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Like wise Steve, I enjoy the banter and at times the football is seldom watched, well maybe out of the corner of a good eye!!

We are just offered up excuse after bloody excuse from Westley, look at Crewe and recently Walsall, neat small grounds and when they come here we get humped, these players seem to revel in the spaces allowed to them at Deepdale
 
I think we'll get something tomorrow out of the game. Just a gut feeling, probably based upon the final few minutes at The Ricoh t'other week. Revenge and all that.

We are due 3 home points.

COYW!!!
 
To be fair, I personally think a lot of players do actually shit themselves when playing at Deepdale and it leads to individual errors and poor performances.
 
sf said:
To be fair, I personally think a lot of players do actually shit themselves when playing at Deepdale and it leads to individual errors and poor performances.
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Wankerette!!!!! Crewe, Crawley and Walsall took the piss and Bury were hardly put off.
 
Westley as made playing at Deepdale an issue not the players. In a relaxed enviroment with confidence from the manger with our fan base we would should be doing a lot better than we are at home. Its his fear and also its his inability to adapt to whats happening in front of him thats the problem. This as led to a situation were if we dont score after 20 mins were fucked. You can see the fear in the players eyes as they look over to the bench.
 
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