Last week saw us exit two cup competitions. One mattered the other didn’t although you’d still have expected us to progress in both.
As find ourselves left “to focus on the league” we again have an horrendous injury list. I recall Sandgaard promising to fix it. Like may other things he didn’t despite medical matters allegedly being one of his areas of expertise alongside making great music man!
Devoid of several players reasonable comparisons to Holden’s management can be made of Appleton. Dean was without Leaburn at the start of the season. Unlike the previous manager though Appleton has Watson L, Watson T, Abankwah and Tedic available to him.
Not all are equally good but at least two of those have proved more than capable. Holden would loved to have been able to field Leaburn. It might have saved him to be fair.
Injuries albeit that we have loads, are part and parcel of football and managers have to deal with them.
In the last 10 league games we’ve secured 16 points. 4 wins have come courtesy of beating teams in 14th, 20th, 23rd and 24th place.
There have been 4 draws against teams in 1st, 8th, 12th and 22nd. Only the draw at Portsmouth can be considered a good result. Our recent failure to put Carlisle away was shocking.
We’ve lost to teams in 2nd and 9th place.
I know some will defend the manager by saying these aren’t his players, he hasn’t had a transfer window and I get that. However, overall Appleton has had a reasonable squad at his disposal. I just don’t think he’s used them as well as he can.
He has a very inconsistent use of some players. Former favourites are now persona non grata and some outcasts are now very much in favour. Others like Watson L switch between the two.
No wonder there’s an apparent apathy in some of the performances especially when some of our boys appear to be untouchable despite that a kick up the backside would do them good!
The majority of games are marked by inconsistent halves of football although when we’re bad we’re very, very bad!
Often there’s a failure to sub players despite almost the whole team having a stinker. I’m all for giving players a second chance but you can go too far! It’s the old stone in the shoe scenario……remove it asap!
Look how we stormed ahead at Wigan and ended up holding on. Made a poor starts against Exeter, Reading and Portsmouth before finally getting some form those games.
Mickey has failed to address the poor defending that almost guarantees a couple of howlers in every game. The perennial problem of our inability to make the best of set pieces remains.
To that I’d add our basic issues in defending short corners and for every type of corner feeling the need to have every player back to defend! Arghhh!
Tomorrow, he’ll oversee our boys as they take on Cambridge. The U’s have just appointed Neil Harris as manager. He’s no fool and will know exactly how to organise the U’s whilst being acutely aware of all matters at our club.
Appleton needs to have the team better organised and motivated for every game that remains in December as a minimum. Then we’ll see what the transfer window offers (very little I expect!),
Whilst Appleton has an apparent imposing physical presence I’m not sure that’s backed up by words and deeds. A bit of passion during the game and at other times and/or directed towards players (not the fans!!!) wouldn’t go amiss.
Let’s hope we can get back to winning ways tomorrow.
Come On You Reds!
Yeah but I don't reckon passion wins games meself. E's doin is best n some players aint performin as well as wot they can. Ere are Alfie aint scorin every game but iss up to them other midfielders n defenders to step up. Some of them ave worked with Mikey at other clubs like Lincoln so iss up to them to step up to the place., Mikey aint got a magic wand on ere.
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