Really Poor Today

[Vegas Claret]

Doing well with a very good squad, they'll finish in the top 2

I think they will win the league

[bumba]

He was the same at Fulham he was the same at Bournemouth, nothing will change

He also won promotion with Fulham and Bournemouth so I'll take that

[Swizzlestick]

Lifeless, insipid, nothing football.

[jlup1980]

It’s like watching a gridded training session where every player is locked in.

The defenders never step into midfield to break lines. The midfield seem incapable of playing anything other than sideways and backwards. The wingers always come inside into traffic. The striker never looks for the ball in behind.

The result is harmless or congested possession.

I’ll be amazed if these players have gone rogue. It’s how they’ve been told to play.

This is absolutely spot on. It's percentage football. Possession for the sake of possession. There's no creativity, no pattern to the play other than to try to get the ball to the CB's as much as possible. Everything is played backwards or sideways, and always in front of the opposition. We're basically Southgate's England without the individuals capable of pulling a moment out of nothing. It's dull, turgid and frankly I can think of better ways to spend my Saturdays!!

[AGENT_CLARET]

He also won promotion with Fulham and Bournemouth so I'll take that

With Strikers that score and with far better team's, under Parker we are dull, boring, easy to work out and all fart no sh1t

[claretspice]

I think this is the plan and everything is going pretty much as Parker wants it to.

We keep it very tight and hope that an individual will create chances. It results in us rarely conceding and consistently getting good results.

It's awful to watch and isn't going to get any better, it is simply a question of whether that is an acceptable trade-off for promotion.

Nah. The plan is not for us to not create chances at all. That's daft.

It is probably true to say the difference between Parker and Kompany is that whilst both want to dominate possession, Kompany starts coaching a team from the question "how do we score goals", whereas Parker's first focus is being defensively solid and it looks as though far more time on the training ground has been spent on defensive shape and solidity than on what we're going to do in possession. But the way we lost all semblance if shape and pattern in the last 15 minutes today is not the plan. It's just that at present the plan for scoring goals isn't working. Whether that's because it needs more training time, or because Parker can't coach it, remains to be seen.

[bumba]

With Strikers that score and with far better team's, under Parker we are dull, boring, easy to work out and all fart no sh1t

Yes and look what we was doing at the begining of the season, Pace pulled the rug from under him.
We 3rd one win from the top and off to a better start than we were under VK so give it a chance.
If we are there or there abouts come January when we can get a striker in I'd be delighted

[RalphCoatesComb]

Dire !

Should have lost AT HOME to a poor PRESTON BOTH ENDS side

There must be a plan. I just don't see it at present

[dougcollins]

The aim is to go up and stay up. The first part can be achieved but my goodness this team would get killed in the PL.

No way are we going up playing like this.

[Rick_Muller]

Esteve was the best player by a country mile today

Captain material for me, showed the passion I want and will be ever present

[cockneyclaret]

No way are we going up playing like this.

Totally agree as it stands, I'm sure when the injured players return it'll be a different story but to play the formation we are is criminal against teams like Oxford, Plymouth and knob end..

[AGENT_CLARET]

Yes and look what we was doing at the begining of the season, Pace pulled the rug from under him.
We 3rd one win from the top and off to a better start than we were under VK so give it a chance.
If we are there or there abouts come January when we can get a striker in I'd be delighted

We scored in both opening game's because both teams come at us, the rest of the team's have since seen that if they sit back we can't break them down, we are so easy to play against

[Mattster]

We scored in both opening game's because both teams come at us, the rest of the team's have since seen that if they sit back we can't break them down, we are so easy to play against

Also of some help was Cardiff are the worst team in the division and Luton are currently 21st, and when we played them they had three teenagers making their first ever league starts (at any level), two in central defence.

[bumba]

We scored in both opening game's because both teams come at us, the rest of the team's have since seen that if they sit back we can't break them down, we are so easy to play against

If we are so easy to play against why have we only conceded 4 goals, only had one defeat and have a GD of +10 sitting 3rd in the league?

[daveisaclaret]

Nah. The plan is not for us to not create chances at all. That's daft.

It is probably true to say the difference between Parker and Kompany is that whilst both want to dominate possession, Kompany starts coaching a team from the question "how do we score goals", whereas Parker's first focus is being defensively solid and it looks as though far more time on the training ground has been spent on defensive shape and solidity than on what we're going to do in possession. But the way we lost all semblance if shape and pattern in the last 15 minutes today is not the plan. It's just that at present the plan for scoring goals isn't working. Whether that's because it needs more training time, or because Parker can't coach it, remains to be seen.

I don't think it's the plan for us not to create chances, I just don't think the plan accounts for how we will make them. I think the Leeds game is the pinnacle of Parker's plan - very solid and a great individual goal.

[NewClaret]

Going to be honest, I’ve been a big fan and advocate of Parker, but that was incredibly dire. He’s going to have to deliver big improvements on that and the last 3 games.

[Ric_C]

The problem is that currently none of the back 4 can ping a long pass with any real accuracy (or refuse to). This allowed Preston to play high up the pitch and pin us in, just letting us have the ball to play sideways and backards. Add to that Brownhill, Koleosho and Hannibal not making any decent forward runs, made us have no space to play. Foster needs a rest as he can't play the holding it up role at all I'm afraid.

Preston setup with 5 at the back which switched to a 3 in possession with their wingbacks bombing on. The amount of times Woodman found their wingback with ease ,and Parker did nothing to combat this, was concerning.

We need this international beak to try and formulate a plan that gets the best out of these players, because at the moment we are a solid team, but neither direct or possession based. We are essentially a nothing side, who are picking up points as we have really good players in certain positions.

[Pickles]

Oxford, Plymouth and Preston is about as easy as it gets at this level and we've been terrible in all three. No way should that Preston side have had such an easy game of it today.

I'm usually quite half full but I've not been impressed with what I've seen so far.

Lots said about how Kompany's Burnley took their time to click. And this is true. The key difference though was it was clear to me what that side was trying to do, and that when it clicked, we'd wipe the floor with the division. It was very obvious to me. It just looked so sophisticated and effective, was just a case of players getting used to it.

Parker's Burnley seems the opposite to me. I don't know what the idea is. Much less confident about it. Which is a shame because the squad is good enough.

[Roosterbooster]

The ball wasn’t in play for an hour lol

Without wanting to provide an excuse for what was essentially a toothless performance, does anyone know specifically how long the ball was actually in play for?

There was a period in the second half where I timed only 3 mins of play in a 10 min period. And after 90 mins there were at last 2 separate 1 minute intervals (yet the ref only added on 90 seconds)

I'm all for an automatic restart clock, keeper clock, and timer stop for any goals, substitutions, injuries etc

That 2nd half was nothing short of embarrassing as far as a spectacle goes, caused largely in part by the refs completely spineless approach to upholding the rules of the game

[Safron]

Last four games have been a really tough watch really anti football tactics

[JohnMcGreal]

I think in terms of performances we've been getting worse with every passing home game. It's a pretty worrying trajectory.

[Murger]

Absolute dogturd from start to finish. It’s not hard to keep a clean sheet when the entire team is camped in its own half.
And when we do eventually attack, there is such a massive gap between our midfield and forward line, that it’s impossible to get the numbers forward we need.
We are playing the way Parker wants us too, we must be be.

[jrgbfc]

Feel sorry for anyone who paid pushing 50 quid a ticket to sit through that.

[Joe14]

Dire.

Although Plymouth just made the day a bit better

[AGENT_CLARET]

No goal's from open play in our last 3 game's ZZZZzzz

[Bfc]

Brownhill showed total a lack of discipline for one of our senior players, when he was fouled, then reacting to it and getting himself booked.
A melee then involved many players of both sides. A player of his experience had no need to get involved, as the whistle for the foul had been blown. This led to more wasted playing time, which their players (goalie included) played on. That time probably wasn't added to the 7 added on minutes. Brownhill hadn't the nous to consider that. He just had to lose his temper, which may cost him, when his bookings lead to a ban

[Steddyman]

Our biggest problem over the VK championship season, is that all our players are passing to feet, instead of to space.

Cleary that is being dicated by Parker, and it is really starting to annoy me now.

[KRBFC]

I really like Parker when he speaks but I’m not sure I can stomach this kind of football for much longer.

He’s getting the selection all wrong, it’s obvious that midfield 3 doesn’t work. Why are we playing a left footed centre half at right back too?

How poor does that Anthony need to be to get dropped? Same with Foster? And why is Agyei not given a sniff?

[ClaretPete001]

It's not that bad Rovers have lost a couple on the trot. So, have West Brom and Sunderland have lost 2 in 4.

It's a feckin' sad day when someone as glass half empty as me is not amongst the most miserable on here. As a self professed miserabilist you lot are giving me more competition than I enjoy.

We drew, should have had a penalty, and to be fair a goal against but just as VAR wasn't a factor last season neither is a bit of good luck this one.

Other than that we never looked like losing. We put another point on the board and haven't lost since the board sold all our better players prior to buying some new ones.

This squad is not the same quality as the one VK had. If Kolosheo and Anthony had Maatsen and Vitinho behind them no doubt they would be playing better.

It is going to be a grind this season. We may well prove to be a better side away where teams have a go at us and Scott Parker does have to find a number 10 from somewhere because I'm not sure the full backs are good enough to make the width and pace we have out wide really effective.

I think the team is playing as Scott Parker wants them to given the squad we have I'm not sure how else you would do it. We have in Ramsay, Fleming and Brownhill potential for number 10s that can make those late runs and pick the ball up and carry it in their half we just need to find that magic combination and if not just grit it out.

VKs season really picked up when Bayer came in and replaced Charlie Taylor at centre back it can be as simple as that...! Or not, let's see what Mr Parker does ...!

[Elizabeth]

The thread is about how poor we were today. Otherwise it would have read 'mitigating circumstances' or ' another clean sheet' or ' still in top 3 ' or whatever.

I sincerely hope as the season develops the introduction of Flemming does enough to make us look a goal threat. In the meantime until he is match fit we are heavily reliant on this destructive approach.

[Vim Fuego]

Last four games have been a really tough watch really anti football tactics

We were very poor today, but the anti-football is not coming from us. It really isn't. We need to get better at dealing with it.

[bumba]

I really like Parker when he speaks but I’m not sure I can stomach this kind of football for much longer.

He’s getting the selection all wrong, it’s obvious that midfield 3 doesn’t work. Why are we playing a left footed centre half at right back too?

How poor does that Anthony need to be to get dropped? Same with Foster? And why is Agyei not given a sniff?

Who gets in over Anthony until Redmond and Tresor are fit?
Sarmiento isn't the answer I don't think.
Same with Foster who comes in? Our best striker is at Plymouth.
Agree we Agyei not getting a sniff, I'm presuming he's hoping for a lead to bed him in easier.
Not sure why we've signed Egan if he can't get in ahead of Egan-Riley

[Robbie_painter]

We’ll be mid table at the end of the season

[blatherwickstattoos]

Preston have a wage bill that is about a quarter of ours. We looked lost. Parker isn’t a motivational person. Nothing from the sidelines to change the game or pace. We don’t have any movement from Foster. As much as I want us to go up in this **** poor league I really don’t think we are ready for it.

[Overseascricketer]

We have absolutely nothing to get excited about. Does not make changes to anything to have a positive impact on the game. How 20000 people can see a midfield three of brownhill Cullen Hannibal doesn’t work but he can’t God only knows. We look absolutely devoid of ideas going forwards and at this rate we will be lucky to get in the play offs.

People can bleat on all the want about how we’ve got more points than at this stage under VK but at least you could see what VK was trying to get us to do. If we’d tried playing any deeper with the ball today we’d have been in the stand!

[Slurpy]

Anthony and Hannibal need dropping. Anthony to me strikes me as a solid sub against tired legs. Hannibal the same. Not sure what he's really offering in a creative sense.

Flemming should be ready to role after the international break as is going to be one of the first names on the team sheet. The sooner Aaron Ramsey and Redmond back the better as they both improve the starting XI.

You cant really fault the defence because they've just kept 3 clean sheets in a row but the full backs are not offering enough. Roberts has to find some form and start as he is decent at this level.

Trafford
Roberts Worral Esteve Pires
Cullen Brownhill
Ramsey/Redmond Flemming Koleosho
Foster

I'd be very surprised to see this team not score goals. Think it's clear that we need a right back, left back and centre forward.

[Dark Cloud]

To finish in the top two we're going to have to score far more goals and I really can't see it. Play offs at best and even that's not a given!

[123EasyasBFC]

We haven’t played a game since the window closed with anywhere near our strongest team yet. Today wasn’t great at all but how anyone can complain at the start to the season with all the players we lost.

We have lost one game to Sunderland and we had no squad available.

Yes we are struggling to break low block teams down but eventually it will click just like it did under kompany.

In 22/23 we draw games against Luton, hull, Blackpool, stoke, West Brom, Birmingham and even lost 5-2 away at sheff united before it started to click.

We started our 10 wins in a row in November of that season against Blackburn

[Slurpy]

I think the difference is fans were entertained despite not winning early under VK and you could tell it was going to click eventually.

[KRBFC]

Who gets in over Anthony until Redmond and Tresor are fit?
Sarmiento isn't the answer I don't think.
Same with Foster who comes in? Our best striker is at Plymouth.
Agree we Agyei not getting a sniff, I'm presuming he's hoping for a lead to bed him in easier.
Not sure why we've signed Egan if he can't get in ahead of Egan-Riley

Egan Riley is absolutely fine and has been one of our better players.

We’ve got Sambo an actual right back yet we’re playing a left footed centre half there. Poor decision

Anthony is poor I’d rather see Sarmiento or Agyei instead.

The balance in midfield is wrong, 3 defensive midfielders.

Upfront I’d rather play Rodriguez if Flemming isn’t fit, at least with Rodriguez you would fancy him to score a few inside the box. Technically he’s better than Foster too.

[Colburn_Claret]

If we are so easy to play against why have we only conceded 4 goals, only had one defeat and have a GD of +10 sitting 3rd in the league?

He probably meant easy to defend against. Everything is played in front of the opposition, and on the rare occasions we do get behind them, we usually play it backwards.

Every team we play is happy to knock the ball into our area, even if they can't pick a man out it causes confusion and there's always a chance of a lucky break, or a second ball. We get into those same areas, and unless there's a man wide open refuse to take a chance.

We've gone from Kompany happy to lose the ball on the edge of our own box, to Parker frightened to lose the ball on the edge of the oppositions box.


We have enough quality to be so much better than we are, it's such a waste.

[Elizabeth]

We haven’t played a game since the window closed with anywhere near our strongest team yet. Today wasn’t great at all but how anyone can complain at the start to the season with all the players we lost.

We have lost one game to Sunderland and we had no squad available.

Yes we are struggling to break low block teams down but eventually it will click just like it did under kompany.

In 22/23 we draw games against Luton, hull, Blackpool, stoke, West Brom, Birmingham and even lost 5-2 away at sheff united before it started to click.

We started our 10 wins in a row in November of that season against Blackburn

None of this explains why with the team we had out we were so poor today.

[Silkyskills1]

currently down to third, Sheff Utd now second and started on minus two points

Hell, that's a blow. Heads must roll. Going to make it a very bleak 2 week break.

[Vegas Claret]

Hell, that's a blow. Heads must roll. Going to make it a very bleak 2 week break.

[Silkyskills1]

He also won promotion with Fulham and Bournemouth so I'll take that

Hang on, the players available to him at Fulham and Bournemouth were a definite upgrade on what we have currently.

[Steddyman]

None of this explains why with the team we had out we were so poor today.

Passing to feet and not to space is why it is so boring. There is no movement when we are on the ball.

[Silkyskills1]

This is absolutely spot on. It's percentage football. Possession for the sake of possession. There's no creativity, no pattern to the play other than to try to get the ball to the CB's as much as possible. Everything is played backwards or sideways, and always in front of the opposition. We're basically Southgate's England without the individuals capable of pulling a moment out of nothing. It's dull, turgid and frankly I can think of better ways to spend my Saturdays!!

Sadly have to agree with that. I'm a 'dyed in the wool' fan but we had three youngsters with us today aged 13 and14. Performances like today's are not going to win their favour for very long I'm afraid. Absolutely nothing to cheer us on the way home ....... except for Obafemi scoring against 'them'.

[bobinho]

We’re second in the league… be grateful for what you have, blah blah blah.

**** knows how we are where we are and if this ineffective “possession” continues we’ll end up where PNE are now.

We are in trouble. We can’t score under this current system. We couldn’t score under this system even if we had Kane or Lewandowski up top. We don’t score and the best we can hope for is a draw. We managed a draw against a really poor side. That tells me we aren’t as good as we think we are… wholesale changes required.

[Stonehouse]

Brownhill showed total a lack of discipline for one of our senior players, when he was fouled, then reacting to it and getting himself booked.
A melee then involved many players of both sides. A player of his experience had no need to get involved, as the whistle for the foul had been blown. This led to more wasted playing time, which their players (goalie included) played on. That time probably wasn't added to the 7 added on minutes. Brownhill hadn't the nous to consider that. He just had to lose his temper, which may cost him, when his bookings lead to a ban

If we’d have been a bit smarter today PNE would have been down to 10 men but we overreacted a couple of times when the ref could have brandished a 2nd yellow card and the spineless ref finished up doing sod all.

[kentonclaret]

If we are so easy to play against why have we only conceded 4 goals, only had one defeat and have a GD of +10 sitting 3rd in the league?

We have a goal difference of +10 largely due to the number of goals created/scored by players who are no longer at the football club. Since the transfer window slammed shut we have only scored more than 1 goal once (against Portsmouth).