Dunnfc
Senior Member
Why would you bother turning up on a Saturday?
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NEXT GAME: Sheffield Wednesday FC
Sunday April 21st 2024
Kick off 12.30 pm
Ewood Park
Championship
John Eustace
- Thread starter goozburger.
- Start date
goozburger.
Senior Member
I think Eustace has taken over a situation where the players weren't too happy with Tomasson. What was being asked of them was probably too much for their abilities and fitness levels. At the end of the day, we have an average Championship squad at best.
I don't know if Eustace will be the answer. The jury will always be out, and there have been two or three poor performances under him, but I'd argue we've picked up a few draws where I'm convinced we would have comfortably lost under Tomasson due to a utopian style of football.
I'm not a Eustace fanboy if that's what you're thinking. I'm not convinced by him, yet, and it will take a good few wins for me to believe that he'll have saved us from the drop this season when I think Tomasson had given up on trying to work with what he had. I suppose we will see. It has been slightly depressing, but I think it would have been even more so had things not changed.
That's why I was (am) on holiday and didn't even bother turning up to the internet, haha.
Dunnfc
Senior Member
I’d take any win at the moment but that’s the issue he dosent seem able to win a game. 7 games almost and not a win is pathetic. Dreadful appointment
Dunnfc
Senior Member
Hahaha No I actually think he's. decent chap, problem is he's just not a very good manager. You can't bring someone in to then only pick up what is it 3 points in 18?
I don't think the players are having him either. I will say though he's on a par with Appleton who also didn't last long with a similar poor/crap style of football.
steve w
Senior Member
IF and its a big IF he is doing a Hughes and defending us to safety - then fair do
That first few months under Hughes were a very tough watch but he did the job - I dont think you can fully judge until they have been given a window or two and then it is their players if he fails
After saying that - this squad is good enough that we shouldnt be having to defend for our lives - 3 or 4 months ago we were playing some of the best football I have seen in years at times in games - where has THAT team gone?
That first few months under Hughes were a very tough watch but he did the job - I dont think you can fully judge until they have been given a window or two and then it is their players if he fails
After saying that - this squad is good enough that we shouldnt be having to defend for our lives - 3 or 4 months ago we were playing some of the best football I have seen in years at times in games - where has THAT team gone?
Ditto with Tony Parkes. I rem after a match against Ruud Gullitt's Chelsea when we gritted out a defensive draw for a priceless point. The MoTD interviewer sensing blood fed Parkes the line "Ruud Gullitt's just been stood where you are and said your style of play is awful. What's your opinions Tony"? TP said simply "Well if he say's that then it must be right, after all he's a proper manager int he? I'm just a caretekker"
goozburger.
Senior Member
There are some very good examples of us playing very well against teams in higher leagues than us, and how we revert to type thereafter. It's an historic constant. In that type of game, particularly when the national cameras are putting the players on display to infinitely more viewers than they otherwise get, there is probably a natural motivation that players rarely manufacture against standard opposition.
That is obviously down to motivation. So how do we motivate our lot cos although they were better than Millwall (imo) they were taking 2/3 touches to pass a ball when one should have done.
Last Tuesday they were playing off the front foot, last night it was the back foot and it makes all the difference. Take our goal last night I don't know what was in Sigurdsson's head when he gave the ball away (an invisible friend?) but when he got it back it was a quick pass to Szmodics and in the back of the net in an instant. Speed deceives but when we are playing poorly we are too slow and deliberate.
Last Tuesday they were playing off the front foot, last night it was the back foot and it makes all the difference. Take our goal last night I don't know what was in Sigurdsson's head when he gave the ball away (an invisible friend?) but when he got it back it was a quick pass to Szmodics and in the back of the net in an instant. Speed deceives but when we are playing poorly we are too slow and deliberate.
goozburger.
Senior Member
Eustace's mandate has clearly been to stop the sheer volume of goals we concede. Playing three central defenders and maintaining an organised structure is a big part of carrying out that mandate, but it costs creativity, particularly when the individual quality needed to make intelligent runs and passes is missing.
Confidence also has to be a factor. Three months of generally poor performances have to take their toll.
We are far more solid and organised under Eustace than Tomasson, but at the expense of creating chances. The shackles were off against Stoke City and Newcastle United, and we did well on both occasions. Eustace needs to consider loosening the defensive shackles against Plymouth Argyle and put some faith in loosening up the structure to create some much needed chances, even if it costs a goal or two. We have the league's top goalscorer, after all.
Old Darwen Blue
Prediction Champion 2021 & 2022
Yes, I spotted that too
What though? With the current bunch of players I don’t see an answer
Old Darwen Blue
Prediction Champion 2021 & 2022
Get Gilsenen on the pitch.