Tranmere Rovers v Huddersfield Town Match Discussion

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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2010:02:26:16:31:17 by Deadly Submarine.

Every game is now massive but especially this one. If we can win tonight there would be a real belief that relegation can be avoided and and for the younger players in particular this would add to their self confidence.I would settle,however for not being defeated for this is a really tricky fixture against team in form and due a win here.

Well tonight was a bad night in more ways than one, our defeat and then most results going against us. We actually did o.k I felt in the first half, we had most of the posession but created nothing, which we do too often.

Second half they battered us, simple as that, and if it wasn't for Daniels it could have been more. It is a bit concerning that usually if we concede the first goal we lose, very rarely do we come back and get anything.

I know Huddersfield are a good side but we need to be picking up points at home. With a very difficult run of fixtures coming up the table could look bleak this time next month. Our lack of goals is a major concern, Sordell looked ok but that's about it. Oh well, we need to bouce back on saturday.

Last few days has been majorly over positive and next few days are going to be majorly over negative.

We lost against a team that will get promoted imo, have a budget probably five times the size of ours, have an ambitious chairman and spent loads of £ in the summer.

The first half IMO we were the better team, we just, as usual, couldn't finish when we got in front of goal. I'm still not convinced the goal was over the line, the lino gave it not the ref and the (b)lindesman's positioning was terrible.

Second half was a shambles though. The lack of communication is evident and was the reason they got through so many times.

I hope to god Edds was injured rather than Les telling him to come off over McLaren though, and if he is injured let's hope it's not too serious.

We're still out the relegation zone and I still think we can do it. It won't be easy but it's not impossible. Knowing Tranmere we'll probably win on Saturday followed by two home defeats then win the next three or something... we don't do it the easy way, do we?

I just thought their class showed throughout to be fair to them and some of the football they were playing on occasions was the best I've seen at Prenton Park this season.

We were poor (again) as well though and two poor home performances in a row is a concern even though we just about got the result on Saturday AND Huddersfield are obviously a decent team.

Although the results mostly went against us tonight I still don't think much has changed and won't for the next few weeks. We're still in there and hopefully can bounce back with at least a point on Saturday.

and the Charlie Barnett fan club ?

With a few exceptions we are a poor side. We have a team of players who are past their best, with some who are clearly 3rd Divsion players. When is Curran going to score? He huffs and puffs and puts in massive effort but that cross near the end says it all about him. Useless.
Second half was dreadful, appaling and its no use Les saying that the goals came at bad moments. We could not respond if we were still playing now. Most teams that play us, seem to be sharper and fitter and much more skill and how about practising crosses and corner kicks? Surely our players know the weight of a football, they are professional after all?
Sorry to go on but it really was lamentable. Finally, is McClaren the most ineffective player we've ever had?

McClaren the most ieffective er NO we have had worse alas

heard comment at the game which I agree with it was like watching boys vs men last night.

People need to be very careful before criticising yesterday's result.
Our form INCLUDING last nights defeat is better than Yeovil (+1), Carlisle (+4), Orient (+1), Hartlepool (+3), Gillingham (+2), Brighton (+2), Southend (+6), Oldham (+2).
If this trend continues for the rest of the season we will be ABOVE all these teams. As you're all aware all we need is to be above 2 of these teams and we stay up!!!!
Further the team we lost against yesterday are bang in form, over the last 6 games they are joint 3rd in the division with Swindon and Norwich. Clearly we're miles away from this level at the moment.
The big picture is that we are doing very very well considering our position a few months ago. If we maintain our form we won't get relegated.

***In reference to my last post, I should have pointed out that this is our form over the past 6 games.

Spot on.

We've lost four games in 16, hardly relegation form. Les & co are doing a remarkable job for the position we found ourselves in when they took over.

Who knows what would have happened had there not been a managerial change. To me, that's not the point I'm making. The point I'm making is that we have been doing very well in recent weeks and people should not forget that.
Onwards and upwards

Never mind 10 grand for Les Aid, I think we'll have to double it and get a decent playmaker if we can. We couldn't string two passes together and our positional play was abysmal. I hope we can sort it at Brentford cos with Leeds and Southampton coming up we could be right back in the relegation zone.

I agree with previous posts that we can probably stay up this season despite last nights result.
I just hope that staying up is not considered by the board as such a great success for Les that he gets the job full time.
For me the really troubling thing is the manner of our performances recently - its cringeworthy at times watching a team of professionals play as if they dont have a gameplan or any ideas, or at times the basic ability to cross a ball or deliver a decent pass. (what the hell do they do in training?) Ok, players being garbage isnt Les's fault and i agree that Les has done well since he came in, but what he's doing is a salvage job really. I wont be willing to pay next season to watch a side that plays like they have no leadership.

Boys against men...... 35yr old boys

I thought we were the better side in the first half without making many chances, from my position on the kop it looked a goal.
The 2nd half was a different story, after a decent save from their keeper a simple ball over the top undid us and that was game over. From then on we looked totally clueless the strikers ran around to no effect the midfield were just as poor.
I still think we will just stay up but it will be a big struggle as we wont score that many goals.

Quote:

ozric
With a few exceptions we are a poor side. We have a team of players who are past their best, with some who are clearly 3rd Divsion players. When is Curran going to score? He huffs and puffs and puts in massive effort but that cross near the end says it all about him. Useless.
Second half was dreadful, appaling and its no use Les saying that the goals came at bad moments. We could not respond if we were still playing now. Most teams that play us, seem to be sharper and fitter and much more skill and how about practising crosses and corner kicks? Surely our players know the weight of a football, they are professional after all?
Sorry to go on but it really was lamentable. Finally, is McClaren the most ineffective player we've ever had?

You are on my wavelength now.! What the hell do players do between matches? What have they ever done ?
They need teaching, though if they had any interest in their own skills, or lack of, they would be back practicing. Practice makes perfect.
They are all too often left to it by managers who think mediocrity is ingrained in them at this level and they would not do what would be rquired of them for the money they get.
Do they ever watch televised soccer ? Surely not ?

I do not care for Parry's saying he doesn't bother about results and the league table as the only one that counts is the final position.
I think we need a proper manager and one who wants attacking football. This club is@#$%&all round as it is.

Ivvy,
Thanks for your points, I always find a difference of opinion really interesting. I would be grateful for your views on the following:
1. What did you think of Barnes and what he was trying to do?
2. Did you agree with the sacking of Barnes?
3. After Barnes was fired, what did you feel was fair for the new manager to have achieved by the end of the season?
4. With the resources available at Tranmere what do you think the targets/objectives of the team should be in the next 2yrs?
5. Who would you replace Perry with and what do you feel he would have done better than Perry this season?
6. Long-term what would be the benefit of replacing Perry?
I await your reply with interest.
Thanks, Eric

Perry or Parry?

You seem obsessed with John Barnes for some reason!

He is obsessed, it's hardly a co-incidence he happened to mention Barnes directly after I posted is it, we had that talk yesterday!

Ivvy, when Les Parry took over he inherited a team that was leeking goals like a bucket with no bottom. We now concede on average about 1 goal per game. He has fixed our defensive problems well and truly. The squad he inherited was, and still is not good enough, though I believe they have the ability to stay up.

I think you have extremely unrealistic targets for Tranmere Rovers and would be interested to see your response to questions 3, 4, 5 and 6.

Ivvy probably thinks we should be in the Championship though and came to us on the back of that Wembley run ten years ago

[quote eric2]Ivvy,
Thanks for your points, I always find a difference of opinion really interesting. I would be grateful for your views on the following:
1. What did you think of Barnes and what he was trying to do?
2. Did you agree with the sacking of Barnes?
3. After Barnes was fired, what did you feel was fair for the new manager to have achieved by the end of the season?
4. With the resources available at Tranmere what do you think the targets/objectives of the team should be in the next 2yrs?
5. Who would you replace Perry with and what do you feel he would have done better than Perry this season?
6. Long-term what would be the benefit of replacing Perry?
I await your reply with interest.
Thanks, Eric[/quote

I thought Barnes would get them playing football! In pre-season and in the Liverpool game that was evident. THey actually scored two goals !!! I liked what I saw in that game.
That they conceded so many once the season was under way made me wonder if the players wanted to play for him? After all, they were not used to playing football and for some, too late to start then.
2) THe one thing I did not like about Barnes was his quickfire speech, and under the circumstances, I was prepared to see him go. He had never come across such@#$%&as were posing as footballers, leaving aside the young players on loan.

3) To avoid relegation.

4) If that's all they've got for the next two years, I only see more of the same unless there is a man avalable who knows of, and wants, attacking football. Which is what brings people in.

5) I don't know who is out there for starters and whether anyone is wanting the job. I would have to interview them !!
6) I would hope to see players being really put through their paces ...you know, doing a bit of what others do at other clubs. Ball control, one and two touch , pass and move. They may not be aces, and never will be perhaps, but they should be more competant if they expect to be paid.
Amazing isn't it to see crappy teams on the box and see them scoring goals. LIke Brighton, Hartlepool etc, who look likely to be above TRanmere.
Initially, I thought the present set up was ok, but I fear not. Parry will not be bothered by losing to Huddersfield as they are well up the table, while he is only concerned with fellow strugglers.
I would have expected an organised defence and an effort at getting a point.
What qualifies THe Chief for the job he is supposed to be doing ? Parry says he tells them what he wants,so how the hell can anyone get an attack functioning with a none footballer shouting the odds ?
End of story.

Cheers for your response Ivvy and I respect you standing up for your views.
I think that I agree on many of your points:
- The Barnes appointment was exciting
- Barnes didn't help himself with his arrogance
- Parry should be applauded if we avoid relegation
- Parry does not inspire confidence that he has the ability to implement attractive football. I have a hunch he is just boring old Moore in disguise.
We disagree on:
- You saying on current form we'll be below Brighton and Hartlepool: Eric Response;Based on the last 6 games we are trending above both of these teams
- You seeming to expect attractive football immediately: Eric Response; This is very very unfair to expect this season, we MUST stay up and as you said you will be happy if this happens. I will judge Parry's ability in this area next year.
Thanks for your time in helping me to understand your views.

Quote:

ivvy
3) To avoid relegation.
This was nearly impossible-looking in October. Now its very much a reality that it can happen. Therefore Les has done a great job with the players involved.

4) If that's all they've got for the next two years, I only see more of the same unless there is a man avalable who knows of, and wants, attacking football. Which is what brings people in.
I would bet Les is more than capable of producing a team that play attacking football. However this can only be done with high quality players which needs money (a la Huddersfield) therefore WHOEVER is manager of Tranmere Rovers will not be able to play attacking football without investment, so crowds will only dwindle (personally I don't think they'll go below 4500 - on a regular basis anyway) So for me your expectations of this attacking football is unrealistic, if you don't have a good enough defence to rely on, or strikers who finish a high percentage of their chances we'll get hammered every week. This to me is what Barnes WANTED to play but never had the know-how to implement it as (this is first hand from players) "he couldn't explain to us what he wanted us to do properly."


6) I would hope to see players being really put through their paces ...you know, doing a bit of what others do at other clubs. Ball control, one and two touch , pass and move. They may not be aces, and never will be perhaps, but they should be more competant if they expect to be paid.
Les never put them here, the previous "manager" did. But again thats what they will be doing. You have to remember we're a low standard L1 club. If you want really good football with very little mistakes then you're at the wrong place at Tranmere.

Amazing isn't it to see crappy teams on the box and see them scoring goals. LIke Brighton, Hartlepool etc, who look likely to be above TRanmere.
Check the form tables, we currently lie in the top half, Hartlepool I think, are bottom (or v.close to it)

Initially, I thought the present set up was ok, but I fear not. Parry will not be bothered by losing to Huddersfield as they are well up the table, while he is only concerned with fellow strugglers. I would have expected an organised defence and an effort at getting a point.
Ridiculous. Of course he is bothered about losing, it'd be more concerning however if we had lost to a team at our standard. Huddersfield spent hundreds of thousands in fee's alone. There wage budget is probably humungous compared to ours, we cannot compete with it really. They've had substantial investment over summer. As for the defence, they were the worst part of our team in September. Now they're arguably our best. This area has been the biggest improvement imo.

What qualifies THe Chief for the job he is supposed to be doing ? Parry says he tells them what he wants,so how the hell can anyone get an attack functioning with a none footballer shouting the odds ?
His coaching badges, what exactly do you have against the chief? Whose the 'non footballer' you talk about here. You don't need to be an ex pro to make a good coach or manager, similarly good players don't necasarilly make good managers/coaches.