The Lounge

[Windlesham Don]

Good to see some much needed perspective and informed comment from our editor, far better than the abusive bear pit that WUP turns into when things aren’t going to plan!

Undoubtedly Clarke is under pressure after some game influencing gaffes, yesterday being another which ruined what was a second solid performance on the spin. However, it does seem that NA has chosen him as his #1 after Shea’s inability to cope with the physicality of League 2 last term. Does NA change track in the last week of the window and bring in another keeper instead of centre back cover? Risky, but it must have crossed his mind. Did we consider breaking the bank (via a benefactor?) to bring back Roos when it became obvious he was available for loan? We will probably never know and that opportunity has passed.

However, the Clarke witch hunt is in my opinion overlooking other issues which need to be resolved. For example, in our 5 league games how many goals have our touted 4 man strike force scored from open play? The answer is of course zero. All very well to blame Clarke for letting them in, but if we are toothless up front then we are heading for a world of pain.

Taylor looks distracted and seems to have lost his mojo. However, it needs to be realised that League 1 opposition will have targeted him as our only consistent goalscorer from last season. He has also failed to break through at this level before. Elliott may be a physical beast, but he poses very little goal threat at this level. Barnett probably expected to stroll into the starting XI and it remains to be seen whether he is prepared to fight for his place – no evidence of this to date. Poleon seems to have been short changed a little to date, with very few chances to show what he can do – it may be time to give him a run of games if things don’t pick up soon.

In conclusion, we have drawn two on the spin, dominating Northampton and leading Rochdale after 95 minutes. We need a few lucky breaks and with these the confidence will return. NA’s post match comments were calming and considered – we all need to pull together, with the players working extra hard on the training ground and the supporters backing them from the sidelines.

After the distraction of the Swansea kids on Tuesday, we have the visit of the financially dubious outfit from Chesterfield and their low life talisman Ched Evans – a hostile atmosphere should be ensured.

[liamwimbo]

With five games gone, I am sure we would all rather results had gone better, but it is still early days. So much so that a win next week could lift us out of the bottom four. The crazies on the “other” website are already calling for Ardley’s head, which is ridiculous. Yes, he did seem to make mistakes yesterday, but that happened last season as well, and look how that turned out. I have no idea about this division, but did think that Rochdale were one of the few teams that we should finish above, so that late equaliser was very hard to stomach and made it seem like a defeat. Next week I will be at KM so from a selfish point of view, very much hoping for a win.

[Colum]

To answer Mac Womble’s question, the home team keeps 100% of the gate receipt for league games. Cup games are different. There’s some sort of complicated formula where the gate receipts are shared after expenses, bungs, etc.

[Colum]

Just seen the match highlights. With the exception of the substitutions, I think NA got it just about right. Perhaps he should have played three up front after the sending off, but we were under a lot of pressure prior to this. Maybe his thought process was that reducing the number in midfield would give them the room to outmaneuver us. Perhaps this was a sign that he is feeling the pressure?

As for Clarke’s flap, maybe we are being a bit harsh on him. He did play fairly well, although I do think he could have commanded his area a little better. Maybe this is a confidence thing. If so, he hasn’t helped his case. If there are any further slip ups, the goalkeeper position could well become a problem again. I can’t see Shea being a good League One keeper, and to be honest I think neither can Mr Ardley. I expect him to stay until his contract runs out, and maybe then we can get a better keeper.

[Windlesham Don]

From the highlights it looks as though we were very poor at bringing the ball out of defence. Having gone to 4-5-1, presumably to stop getting overrun in midfield, we needed to pass our way out of defence as we had no long ‘out’ ball. This meant that the 5 in midfield needed to make themselves available when we regained possession, it also meant that the defenders needed to be brave enough to pass to a player rather than simply relieving the danger by hoofing long. This does not appear to have happened.

If we could have got another goal in the first half then things may have been different. Elliott had the best chance, but whereas a natural finisher would have buried the shot, Tom delayed a split second and allowed the defender to block (the shot was probably also going straight at the keeper, another sign of a lack of confidence).

Finally, a big pat on the back for Chris Whelpdale for our goal. He took the ball on his own for 70 yards with no support and managed to get in a great cross for Barch to bury.

[Singapore Don]

There are three days until the loan window closes. Ardley has said he’s trying to get in another centre back to replace Sweeney. Fair enough. But should we be strengthening elsewhere? Clearly there are big question marks over Ryan Clarke – should we be looking to bring in a keeper on loan? Or stick with Clarke/Shea and perhaps reassess in the January window? Clarke was a minute away from having kept two clean sheets, so perhaps is finding his feet (or gloves); but there’s no doubt he’s still not helping confidence in the team at the moment, let alone on the terraces.

The other department that is not working properly is our forward line. Elliott has been putting in some great performances, looking very strong and threatening, but so far no goals. LTB is a shadow of the top marksman from last season; his fitness looks questionable, as does perhaps his commitment to the cause. Has he been found out in League One?? Personally, I don’t think we should be looking to loans for trying to fix this lack of goals problem. I’m a big fan of Dominic Poleon, who was firing on all cylinders last Tuesday scoring two and providing two assists. I would start him alongside Elliott. He’s in form, and we’ve got to try something different. Even young Olusunya, with his amazing speed and power, might work as a last 15 minute impact. Whoever Ardley goes for, there are options, so no need for a loan striker in my view.

Ardley said after the Rochdale that he does’t want the team turning on anyone (big hint I think to mean Clarke), and he wants to build that team spirit that saw us all the way to Wembley last season, so I think beyond the centre back it’s unlikely we’ll see any other loans. But should we?

[Author]

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