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We have become a very dull football club

We have become a very dull football club

Being honest I can’t say I’ve really enjoyed supporting us since the ‘as good or better’ transfer window which was quickly followed by the departure of Alex Neil.

We lost quality players no doubt, but the biggest loss was our identity. Before that we were always a side who’d take it to anyone, get in your face, be prepared to win ugly.

We’d win a scrappy 1-0 away and you could hop on twitter to see opposition fans calling us shit, calling Pearson a wanker, giving Fisher dogs abuse.

Our squad now is so beige in comparison. I don’t really like anyone bar maybe Andy Hughes and he’s fallen off a cliff the last 18 months.

When we played Bristol City a few weeks back, the forum consensus was that they were shit and cheated. But handball aside, their performance reminded me of how we used to approach games in times gone by. They pressed high, hassled, wasted time, countered really well and played some legitimately good football.

Even down to Joe Williams winding up the town end as he walked off. It just reminded me of Pearson, Fisher, Hugill etc.

We don’t have players like that anymore, we don’t have competitors like we used to
 
Joanpne said:
I still think relegation would be a total disaster. The budgets would reduce even more drastically and as a poster said we could well be the new Bradford or Accrington Stanley. I can hear it now, my great grandchildren saying “Preston North End who are they”.
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For the fans maybe. Sadly, Joan, I think the balance sheets make Division One much more appealing if you own a football club. And it gives them a ready-made excuse to avoid the kind of investment needed to simply survive in the championship.
 
Final Stand said:
Can only agree, they would argue a new training facility, a nearly finished stadium, new floodlights etc etc.

So I could only view a relegation to division one as inevitable and part of a continuing downward spiral with this hierarchy and that would be my days of going North End finished. Absolutely no chance of a reset and an immediate return to the championship.
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I think the profit from the houses they were able build on the golf course thanks to JK and others would easily have covered the costs of the training facility (not the new one we were promised I might add) and floodlights. The stadium was “nearly” finished long before Trevor bought the club.
 
I've had nearly 24 hours to reflect on yesterday and chose to put my thoughts on this thread, because very dull sums it up. I sat in the car with the rain hammering down not really wanting to get out.
I'll probably get called out for this, but sod it. I'm quickly losing faith in Hecky. Why does he persist with Whiteman? Ledson, and not Whiteman, sacrificed at half time. No Frokjaer, although he now seems to be a pale imitation of the player he was when he first came, no doubt having the individuality coached out of him by both Lowe and Heckingbottom. Apart from him, and at a push, Osmajic, nobody excites me.
Lowe got loads of stick on here, I was as guilty as anyone. Yesterday was as shit as anything I saw under Lowe. It was like we were pleased with the point. If Derby had realised how bad we are, they win, and they were poor.
I won't even start on the issues off the pitch, other than to state the obvious, radical change is required. I live in hope.
 
Lee Trundle said:
Being honest I can’t say I’ve really enjoyed supporting us since the ‘as good or better’ transfer window which was quickly followed by the departure of Alex Neil.

We lost quality players no doubt, but the biggest loss was our identity. Before that we were always a side who’d take it to anyone, get in your face, be prepared to win ugly.

We’d win a scrappy 1-0 away and you could hop on twitter to see opposition fans calling us shit, calling Pearson a wanker, giving Fisher dogs abuse.

Our squad now is so beige in comparison. I don’t really like anyone bar maybe Andy Hughes and he’s fallen off a cliff the last 18 months.

When we played Bristol City a few weeks back, the forum consensus was that they were shit and cheated. But handball aside, their performance reminded me of how we used to approach games in times gone by. They pressed high, hassled, wasted time, countered really well and played some legitimately good football.

Even down to Joe Williams winding up the town end as he walked off. It just reminded me of Pearson, Fisher, Hugill etc.

We don’t have players like that anymore, we don’t have competitors like we used to
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We need inspiration from the top down. Currently not going to happen, living in a sterile world. Make do being the favourable option.
 
janiejones said:
I've had nearly 24 hours to reflect on yesterday and chose to put my thoughts on this thread, because very dull sums it up. I sat in the car with the rain hammering down not really wanting to get out.
I'll probably get called out for this, but sod it. I'm quickly losing faith in Hecky. Why does he persist with Whiteman? Ledson, and not Whiteman, sacrificed at half time. No Frokjaer, although he now seems to be a pale imitation of the player he was when he first came, no doubt having the individuality coached out of him by both Lowe and Heckingbottom. Apart from him, and at a push, Osmajic, nobody excites me.
Lowe got loads of stick on here, I was as guilty as anyone. Yesterday was as shit as anything I saw under Lowe. It was like we were pleased with the point. If Derby had realised how bad we are, they win, and they were poor.
I won't even start on the issues off the pitch, other than to state the obvious, radical change is required. I live in hope.
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To be fair Frokjear had only trained on Friday after an injury at Portsmouth. I am staying with Heckingbottom and McCall because they are stuck with players that were chosen by the mad controller and Lowe and it was even evident to Lowe what a pigs ear they had assembled hence he cleared off sharpish. So I think it’s unfair to judge them until they get some help with squad renewals because they inherited a pile of blunt dull tools to do a job.
 
janiejones said:
I've had nearly 24 hours to reflect on yesterday and chose to put my thoughts on this thread, because very dull sums it up. I sat in the car with the rain hammering down not really wanting to get out.
I'll probably get called out for this, but sod it. I'm quickly losing faith in Hecky. Why does he persist with Whiteman? Ledson, and not Whiteman, sacrificed at half time. No Frokjaer, although he now seems to be a pale imitation of the player he was when he first came, no doubt having the individuality coached out of him by both Lowe and Heckingbottom. Apart from him, and at a push, Osmajic, nobody excites me.
Lowe got loads of stick on here, I was as guilty as anyone. Yesterday was as shit as anything I saw under Lowe. It was like we were pleased with the point. If Derby had realised how bad we are, they win, and they were poor.
I won't even start on the issues off the pitch, other than to state the obvious, radical change is required. I live in hope.
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I know it’s probably already been said but starting with all three of Whiteman, Ledson and McCann was unnecessarily negative against a side who we should have been confident of beating. Ffs it was against a very average at best Derby not some top team like Leeds. Has it really only taken this long for the new management team to be dragged down with negativity.
Everything about the Club absolutely stinks right now 😡
 
Joanpne said:
To be fair Frokjear had only trained on Friday after an injury at Portsmouth. I am staying with Heckingbottom and McCall because they are stuck with players that were chosen by the mad controller and Lowe and it was even evident to Lowe what a pigs ear they had assembled hence he cleared off sharpish. So I think it’s unfair to judge them until they get some help with squad renewals because they inherited a pile of blunt dull tools to do a job.
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Fair comment. I didn't know about Frokjaer until I saw it on another thread just now. You're probably right about my assessment of Heckingbottom and McCall, I'm just a bit fed up of same old, same old. You're most certainly right about the players at their disposal though.
Let's see what January brings, but I'm not getting too excited.
 
jumping mouse said:
.
Yes I like and back Hecky. But if he's as good as we hope he is he needs to get a tune out of this failing squad. A squad who are painfully low on belief. We've seen this play-safe slump with every manager.
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It's the natural reaction they all have when they realise how shite the squad they've been left with is. Alex Neil played thrilling, pressing aggressive football in season one, then reverted to it in that awful final season. When Grayson got promoted and we didn't back him he didn't the same after some tough results. I think Lowe is just always like that, a really conservative manager who loves proper 5 at the back.

I think our best chance of survival is to adopt the more gung ho approach PH showed early on. It gives the opposition loads to think about.

Relies a lot on KH being super human though.
 
Henry Weston said:
I know it’s probably already been said but starting with all three of Whiteman, Ledson and McCann was unnecessarily negative against a side who we should have been confident of beating. Ffs it was against a very average at best Derby not some top team like Leeds. Has it really only taken this long for the new management team to be dragged down with negativity.
Everything about the Club absolutely stinks right now 😡
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I thought this when I saw the selection. Just drop Captain Fantastic FFS.
 
Lee Trundle said:
Being honest I can’t say I’ve really enjoyed supporting us since the ‘as good or better’ transfer window which was quickly followed by the departure of Alex Neil.

We lost quality players no doubt, but the biggest loss was our identity. Before that we were always a side who’d take it to anyone, get in your face, be prepared to win ugly.

We’d win a scrappy 1-0 away and you could hop on twitter to see opposition fans calling us shit, calling Pearson a wanker, giving Fisher dogs abuse.

Our squad now is so beige in comparison. I don’t really like anyone bar maybe Andy Hughes and he’s fallen off a cliff the last 18 months.

When we played Bristol City a few weeks back, the forum consensus was that they were shit and cheated. But handball aside, their performance reminded me of how we used to approach games in times gone by. They pressed high, hassled, wasted time, countered really well and played some legitimately good football.

Even down to Joe Williams winding up the town end as he walked off. It just reminded me of Pearson, Fisher, Hugill etc.

We don’t have players like that anymore, we don’t have competitors like we used to
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Agreed. I literally wouldn't give a fuck if anyone left. In fact if we could command a fee for anyone over 100k I would accept.
 
janiejones said:
Fair comment. I didn't know about Frokjaer until I saw it on another thread just now. You're probably right about my assessment of Heckingbottom and McCall, I'm just a bit fed up of same old, same old. You're most certainly right about the players at their disposal though.
Let's see what January brings, but I'm not getting too excited.
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I wouldn’t get excited either. At least we will know the club’s true plans by what goes on in January although, I think it’s been apparent for some time. Ridsdale I just cannot abide he seems to think we should be happy and turning up in numbers for visits of premiership clubs to Deepdale the absolute bloody divvie. I remember at the end of last season how he was touting we were playing a newly promoted club (Leicester) as our last game of the season and how great it was I just wanted to smack his smug face then, by the end of the game I wanted to verbally punch his lights out we were that crap. That man will forever be a dirty stain on this club along with his employers for many years.
 
janiejones said:
Fair comment. I didn't know about Frokjaer until I saw it on another thread just now. You're probably right about my assessment of Heckingbottom and McCall, I'm just a bit fed up of same old, same old. You're most certainly right about the players at their disposal though.
Let's see what January brings, but I'm not getting too excited.
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I'm in the same boat, ish. Don't want to lump you completely in with my issues. Despite all the love for PH since his appointment I'm not feeling the same. I think we're probably overall regressing somewhat.
 
jumping mouse said:
We were taking about this. It's magnolia football. Vanilla football.

It's all about the data. Whatever looks best on the post match spreadsheet analysis. But, wow, is it tedious ponderous turgid garbage.

Whatever happened to players with passion who were their heart in their sleeve? Cantona. Worthington. Gregan. Players who were brave enough to try something. Even players like Ruddock would liven up the spectacle.

We only have Mads. Then who? And our esteemed managers only start him every so often. Madness. (Madsness even) Mads is our only player worth paying to watch!

How much are your seriously prepared to pay again to watch Whiteman bump his pass completion stats up with another flurry of sideways and backwards passes?

And we've just splashed over £3 million on players who are even more magnolia than the was ones we've already got. They can't even get a start.

It goes beyond North End too.

How many players in the Championship can you recall or revere? Where have the characters gone?

Everyone is just a pale vanilla version of everyone else.

Same faceless fearful anonymous players. Same pointless own-half possession-based back passing. Same points in the league. Everyone.

Football has forgotten it's supposed to be an entertainment. We want to see passion from brave heroes who want to win at all costs. That's the whole point. Not a 0.25 xG increment. (For clarity, I'd take 0.25 right now)

From the moment we forced entry into the stadium through non-working turnstiles, tried to buy over priced drinks from another batch of staff in insufficient numbers to cope, tried to make out what the announcer was saying ... it was atrocious. The football was even worse.

Yesterday was offensively shit. It was insulting.

Both teams offered nothing. A festival of painful indifference. Why would anyone pay to watch that garbage?

It's been this way for 5 years. Maybe longer.

Hecky is morphing into every other manager: Lifts the mood. Then regresses into safety first tedium. Grow some Hecky.

I still believe he's better than that. And the January transfer window must help him. Ridsdale, however, is beyond help.
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Great point regarding notable Championship names. It's true, when growing up, there were so many other players in other sides that were big faces and had an influence on a game.

You knew when the likes of Reading came to Deepdale, they had players like Kitson, Lita, Sidwell etc. Cardiff - Peter Whittingham, Chopra. Derby - Peschisolido, Rasiak, Idiakez. Norwich - Dean Ashton, Huckerby, Grant Holt. They were ones to watch but like you said you couldn't even name many when team come to Deepdale anymore.
 
05simpsonm said:
Great point regarding notable Championship names. It's true, when growing up, there were so many other players in other sides that were big faces and had an influence on a game.

You knew when the likes of Reading came to Deepdale, they had players like Kitson, Lita, Sidwell etc. Cardiff - Peter Whittingham, Chopra. Derby - Peschisolido, Rasiak, Idiakez. Norwich - Dean Ashton, Huckerby, Grant Holt. They were ones to watch but like you said you couldn't even name many when team come to Deepdale anymore.
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Great list
 
Shouldn’t we have some green boxes ?


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Thracia said:
Relegation is also inevitable. A glance at the accounts and then the squad shows this. Our owners set a relegation budget every year. The squad is reverting to that level of investment.

The club needs a reset. No reset is coming while we are in the Championship - the owners won't sell for a realistic price while we're in the Championship, and they also won't finance a reset of the squad, the academy - anything - at Championship prices themselves.

A reset is only coming with relegation. And better sooner rather than later IMO - get this shitty squad off the books before Ledson, Hughes and Storey get to enjoy a joint testimonial match; let Ridsdale provide us with his "what next" sermon on the mount; and finally show these absentee owners that their strategy is useless, because nobody wants that match yesterday on endless repeat forever, which is their current plan in full.
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A reset won't happen though if we get relegated to League one, yes all the OoC players will have left.
They won't though be replaced with anything any better,the budget will be massively reduced and we will be shopping in the bargain basement without bargains, lower league freebies will be the main bread and butter players
There will be no investment from the IOM to nurture players from the academy, there will be even less money available.
Yes PR will probably leave,take retirement with a golden hand shake, off to warmer climates to spend his "hard earned" gains from his PNE tenure.
Don't expect any charismatic, inspirational replacement, it will be a "Yes Man" to minimise expenditure and losses and nothing more.
Those in the IOM happy with the huge reduction in costs and the minimal amount required to keep North End breathing.☹️🥴😡
 
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