Tue May 02, 2017 9:26 am
It's taken me all weekend to calm down from a meaningless end of season match, which is worrying in itself.
The performance was shambolic once the first goal went in and the heads dropped and the interest visibly waned. This was a pity as it was the first time he'd played two up front with Oztumer since the year dot. Even with a lightweight pair of forwards we looked brighter and more threatening. Of course the payback is that we were caught out by a simple diagonal ball for the first. Instead of keeping as they were, they resorted to the England speed of build up we've been renowned for all season.
McGillivray - no chance with any of the four goals!
Edwards, O'Connor, O'Connell - end of season standard.
Roberts - He's only 19 and will learn a great deal from this. He's a good player who just needs to improve his decision making.
McCarthy - not his greatest game, but a well deserved award.
Chambers, Dobson - end of season standard, but can still keep Osbourne out of the team
Oztumer - likewise, but tries something at least
Makris, Candlin - started brightly with nice touches, but quick;y became anonymous.
Subs
Cuvelier, Morris - injected some life into it, mind you a dead cat bounces.
Clearly something is very wrong. Jackson and Osbourne have been 'patchy' in their application. However, we didn't know whether that was down to themselves or the manager. Laird was ready to sign and heaped praise upon the club, then suddenly that ceased. Now that might suggest that the manager is being undermined by the board, which is not an unreasonable assumption. However, this doesn't explain that Jackson has thrown his toys out some time ago and Bakayoko appears to have fallen under this influence, They are both under contract for next season, so should have no axe to grind, other than with the manager. All the players appear to be good players individually but the shambolic displays suggest we are being out-thought and ill-organised.
This does rather suggest that the manager is struggling. He publicly remonstrating with players and complaining about his budget. There is nothing wrong with this in itself, but the weight of individual items collected together seems that he could well find himself without a job very shortly. This is an important close season and we must act decisively and quickly, so that the manager (whoever he is) can come in and get on with things.