Attitude and performance

[daz]

After last nights training i was pretty p****d off due to a comment made by Matt. It was basically a dig at our attitude and it being the cause of our 3 defeats. What annoyed me was that we have a good attitude otherwise we would not turn up and i dont know about anyone else but i try hard everytime im on the pitch. To hear this from someone who has not played this season due to injury is abit much, and not to mention when he weakens the left side with a dodgy sub which coincided with the last two goals on sunday.

[Gareth]

To be fair Daz, that last comment regardiong the subsitutions is something that is out of Matt's hands. In presaeson it is only fair to give everyone a game in the hope that they will show something that will add to the strength of the squad. I suspect that when the competative games start, and subs are limited to 3, then a few on the fringe players might not get as many minutes on the pitch.

However, on another point, I thought pre-season games were for trying different ideas, but there has been little change to the team in the 3 games, especially at the back where the opposition are getting a lot of chances.

It seems to me that the midfield is nearly there, however up front we are missing so many chances and at the back we are giving away many chances, yet the defence and attack seem to stay on for 90mins, but we swap around the strong midfield!!

It doesn't seem quite right to me!!

[Matt Hallam]

Morning All,

Well there are certainly one or two comments that have been expressed above that I would like to answer. I feel a reply of record length is on the cards

Firstly, Daz, if you interpreted my comment on Wednesday as a dig at the commitment shown by the players, particularly those who were with us last season, then I apologise unreservedly. I have not, and never will, question the commitment of those players who turned up week in, week out last season despite it being so wretched on the pitch. And I would have hoped that you would know me well enough by now to know that I wouldn't do it.

As for what my injury has to do with the price of smarties I don't know. Are you saying that because I'm injured I'm not committed, or that my attitude is wrong or that I'm not allowed to offer an opinion? To be perfectly honest Daz, having stood on the sidelines and watched the last three games, instead of playing, I think that gives me even more right to say what I think needs to be improved.

Gaz. Nice to see you can post a reply without causing a riot ;D I certainly agree with what you have written in the first half of your post. Craig made it perfectly clear last season that wherever possible everyone who turned up would get a game even if it was only for 15 minutes or so. And during pre-season this is perfectly fair whatever peoples opinions are on how it may strengthen or weaken the team.

As for trying different ideas - Where is Ian AS's best position? Upfront or left side of midfield? - What is our best pair up front? Mark and Martin, Mark and Jafo or Martin and Jafo? Where can Lance play? Centre midfield or left midfield? Is Andy what we are looking for in centre midfield? Can Dicho play at right back? And we are going to find the answers to more questions after the game this Sunday.

Just because players haven't been played massively out of position doesn't mean that Craig isn't learning things each week. He also has the difficult balancing act of wanting to put players in new positions while still getting a good enough team together for us to go out and win games. Which isn't easy.

Yes, you are right about the defence, midfield and attack Gaz. We are giving away too much at the back and not taking enough chances upfront HOWEVER...... In the game against Pure it was midfielders who missed most of the chances so don't be too quick to point the finger at the strikers. Both Mark and Jafo have scored two in three games.

Defensively I think part of the problem with team selection has been options. Realistically, we me injured, who else is really a defender? Or if we put someone else in defence do we lose something in another area of the pitch?

Craig is all too aware of our defensive frailties at the moment but he will get it right.

Well I've waffled on for far too long now. I've only covered the topics above fairly briefly so if anyone would like to discuss them in anymore detail please feel free.



COME ON YOU BLUES!!!!!

[Manager]

Thought it was time I interjected.

First things first.

Its nice to see players don't just turn up on a sunday and then go home winging.

First of all as far as subs go in pre-season, So far we have had upto 6 subs for some games and contary to what people may think I decide on the subs & Matt is only doing what I tell him to do.

Secondly, 'dodgy' substitutions, everyone who turns up deserves a game especially in pre-season, put yourself in their shoes. So after substitution 3 or 4 its difficult to make it a positive one sometimes, but that person deserves a game and will get his chance to push for a first team place.

Thirdly, I know our frailties, I know where we are poor, but at the moment I have the following players.

1 keeper
5 defenders
3/4 forwards
8 midfielders

So give me an alternative, at our level you are what you are. We've tried playing midfielders in defence & vica versa it doesn't work. So when everyone turns up midfielders will have to give way.

Its too easy to blame defenders for chances given away, for attackers not scoring. I agree we do have a good looking midfield coming on, the best for a few years. Also we aren't scoring enough and leaking too many, but I have my own feelings as to why this is happening and the people concerned will know what I think because I will speak to them individually.

You can't split the team into 3 areas when apportioning blame its not as simple as that.

As to attitude i'm with Daz. I've not got a problem with attitude (although I do make you look good Daz!!!!) its good that people care and I know on the whole I've got a good bunch of players. As to what Matt said I didn't hear it hes said hes sorry end of! We all say things during games which we either don't mean or say in the heat of the moment.

However, there is one or two players who could sort their attitude out, both on and off the pitch & they know who they are because i've told them, so if your reading this sort it!

Finally, 3 pre-season games left I hope I will see the same commitment and energy on Sunday as I have on this message board today.

Also if people have problems with what someone has said, or how the team is playing or the selection of the team. You can always speak to me at home. Some of you have my home number but if anyone wants it I will give it out on Sunday.

Craig

[We Hate Forest]

DAt least the red dog scum are back to losing ways!!!

[T T T T T Tony]

i dont care wot mess we are in...ur worth al the trouble in the world. i wil b here 4 u always jus remember that

[Ian AS]

I'm sure everyone agrees that we're not the best team in the world but the fact that we all turn up week in week out off of the back of so many losses shows that we are all seriously dedicated to the team.

I don't think we have a problem with commitment or effort but I do think we have doubts within the team concerning individual abilities. Naturally, as a Sunday team we are going to have an imbalance of strengths and weaknesses because we simply cannot afford to turn players away, it would be foolish. Therefore, we need to strike a strong sense of cohesion amongst all players. By this I mean that we all have to have the same amount of confidence for the lesser able players as for the more able players. In my opinion, not only does this mean consistent and constructive criticism and encouragement but also having the confidence to assume that, for example, should you pass someone the ball you will get it immediately back, or knowing that should you try a deft bit of skill you wont be immediately berated for doing so.

I suppose this is all easier said than done. I'm sure we are all guilty of not passing the ball or making an alternative option because we lack faith in the abilities of some of our fellow team mates. But I believe in the power of positive thinking and that the bringing up of the levels of the weaker members of the team can only be done by giving people more than just one chance to prove themselves.

Obviously, I'm being very general here but I remember on a few occasions last season witnessing some of the lesser players of the oppostion either scoring against us or simply doing the 'right' thing on a consistent basis. I don't think those individual performances was because they were amazing players or down to sheer luck but because their fellow team mates showed a bit of confidence in them. We played teams, I believe, who were no better than us but the difference was that they managed to work alongside their weaknesses. That is, in my opinion, what teamwork is all about. Develop that and we could be equally successful!

[Daz]

I agree with Gaz about the defence not changed changed and that pre-season is the time to do it. So if there is anyone out there who would like to play at the back then please step forward cause im sure that the present back four would agree with me when i say that we don't like being in defence when we get beat.
Also would Ian stop using big words it's difficult to find a dictionary and then even more so to read it.
Anyway back to the serious stuff. When i signed for Bridge Inn i did say I was not a cental defender but due to the lack of volunteers i was typecast. Oh bugger i hate being typecast....but thats life.

[Daz]

That should be changed enough on the first line of the last message.

[Matt Hallam]

I think I must have woken up in an alternate universe today where cats chase dogs, the Sun revolves around the Earth, Nottingham Forest are the dominant footballing force in the East Midlands and Daz and Gaz agree on something!!!!!! I really must go and lie down in a dark room.

Well to be honest Daz the back four was changed around during Sundays game against Toton Manor. Harry started at right back for the first time this season, Dicho was at centre half and there was this new lad playing at left back (I thought he was brilliant though :. Then when Craig went off injured Lance played at left back, then right back. Harry was moved to centre half and finally Phil played at right back!!!!! So I think we made up for the previous few weeks on Sunday alone.

Some things worked, some things didn't but again Craig learned an awful lot on Sunday. If you read the latest news items on the main site you will also see that there is going to be disruption for the next couple of weeks.

Finally Daz I do think you are being very hard on yourself when you say that you are not a centre half. At the end of last season you looked like a very good centre half. The problem this season is that, to date, the back four haven't gelled as well as they did late on last season, and if you speak to Craig he'll tell you why he thinks that is. You're the same as everyone else who plays in the back four i.e. not Rio Ferdinand (although I'm doing a pretty good impression of Johnathan Woodgate!!!!). When we play as individuals we all can look very ordinary, but when we play as a unit we look infinitely better.


PS. Ian was suitably ridiculed on Sunday for his babbling post above so you can put you dictionary away. He has promised not to make the same mistake again ;D

[Gareth]

I think Daz is right, lets try him up front, I bet he can hold the ball up and bring others into play. We could then look at Mark in defence again.

The biggest posative from Sunday was the emergence of Kelvin's long throw. When ever we come up aginst a team with a long throw, we all know how difficult they are to defend aginst. So to find that we can put other teams under the same pressure is great, we must utilise this, as the opponents struggled to clear it and each time it came close to creating a chance.

So Craig, regardless of where Kelvin is supposed to be playing, let him hurl one in and lets get the bodies in the box. His throws were better than a lot of our corners and free kicks and should be a weapon we make the most of rather than not.

[manager]

A quick off the cuff reply from me.

A few questions ?

1. Daz. What is your position ?

2. Gaz. Supposing I do as you say, whose going to finish off the chance Kelvin creates from the throw? Also cannot Harry do the same thing ?

3. Gaz. As far as Mark is concerned, like Ian, Mark is an excellent defender but not a natural marker, he'll admit to that, also in my opinion Mark is capable of producing so much more going forward.

One final comment. I was extremely dissapointed in one or two of our players on Sunday, after the game.

I know we lost again ! But I don't need players rowing on the side lines with each other or generally complaining, that we lost without making any reasonable comment.

We are all supposed to be grown-ups and I know things get heated during & after games especially when we've lost, but complaining & arguing aren't going to change things.

If players have a problem with another player or with something i've done ,if we can't discuss it sensibly then its best kept to yourselves.

Sorry to sound pessamistic but from the feedback i've already had from Sunday, i'm not the only one who thinks this.

We have an excellent bunch of players but on occasion we take out our frustrations on each other instead of the oppostion. We are never going to amount to anything unless we sort this out.

I do not want to lose any player because of this sort of thing. One thing we have going for us is that no matter what we stick together.

Gaz. Just because i've question your comments don't think they're not appreciated.

Craig

[Gareth]

Craig, with all due respect to Harry, Kelvin's throws were better and caused more of a threat. I doesn't really matter who finishes them off in the middle. Kelvin's not exactly known for his heading ability, where as Harry ain't a bad header of the ball, so lets chuck him in there - he due (no overdue) a goal!!

[Gareth]

Craig

I'm sure we're not getting to the point where we are likely to lose players over things. But I do feel there is starting to become a bit of a divide and a bit of annoyance/ resentment coming from some individuals and groups in the directions of others.

It also seem that the players are not allowed to put forward their view point without us being told that it's not constructive or that we are moaning.

Surely it is better that we express our feelings to each other rather than let them escalate into something bigger. At least then we can nip it in the bud!!

It seems clear, just from the posts on this link, that several of the squad have grievances with other players and with things that are happening.

I am quite willing to discuss any of mine either with our management team privately or in front of the whole team.

Perhaps a bit of team bonding is required (that's bonding, not bondage - Matt, so don't get excited)

[manager]

Gareth,

I know you're willing to pick the phone up & speak to me whenever you have a problem. But as can be seen from the posts the discussions revolve around just a few people ie You,me,Matt,Daz,Ian AS.

I'm trying to manage this team the best way I know how, & I don't think i'm unapproachable (or am I?). Surely,players arguing with other players directly after a game is not a good idea.

Perhaps you're putting yourself in the role of Player Rep. (like Rich used to be) is that so. If so it may be a good idea if players don't want ot talk to me directly they may feel better coming through you & then You,me,Matt & possibly Ian H can talk about it.

What do you all think.

Finally call me paranoid, but now i'm starting to worry if there is a serious problem here that needs sorting or are we just sick of losing. You tell me!!!!!!!!!!