Parker today.

[Newchurch Claret]

Parker is entirely at fault for not being able to get the best out of a squad that is now underperforming due to his tactics. We are a far superior squad to Preston’s and many others in the league but he refuses to play aggressively against these teams, continuing with players in the wrong position (Flemming, Foster…) with bore draws the result.

Look at Sheff U today. You just knew they would get a late goal, not something you associate with Parker’s team.

I’m completely convinced that a more aggressive approach with this talented squad would have seen use well ahead of the pack now.

[Dark Cloud]

That team made more than enough chances to beat Preston easily. They didn't take them. I blame the players!

[dvalley69]

If we were scraping lucky wins like Sheff Utd are then many a fan would be complaining that the luck will run out & the wheels will eventually fall off. I'm not convinced by us, but let's keep plugging away and see where we are at the international break. We'll have 8 to go after that and then we can start to judge our chances better.

[Murger]

Parker should pay with his job if he fails to get this squad up. This negative dogger that’s being served up week after week is inexcusable.

[boatshed bill]

We did.

As a replacement for Rodriguez, yes.
But we needed a first choice centre-forward.

[Hipper]

I wonder if we are over-rating our defenders (sacrilege I here said!)?

As has been discussed we defend as a team. Our actual defenders are usually well protected. Hence we have such a good defensive record.

Can they actually defend with out so much support from the rest of the team? Perhaps Parker doesn't think they can. Therefore if we become bolder we are taking greater risks. We might create more chances but if you factor in our woeful finishing we may not gain anything. Why take big defensive risks if the odds on scoring are so low?

Of course what we are missing is a clinical striker. Some have suggested Adam Armstrong, now at WBA. I saw his debut match on TV and he scored a goal but missed three good chances. He hasn't scored in the last two. I know, early days, but it just illustrates the difficulties of finding such a player.

I can't see Parker changing the style of play at this time of the season. That's what is required if you play Shelvey - and I haven't seen enough good things from him to get a place in the side. Edwards may have potential but he's only shown bits. Barnes is the one player who is a bit different yet still offers some defending abilities - actually more then Flemming. He also seems fit enough so I can't understand why he isn't given more opportunities.

We will have to accept that this sort of result will keep occurring.

[stateofthenation]

Only used 2 subs, we can safely say… could have done more to win the game.

[123EasyasBFC]

The biggest mistake Parker made today was keeping Laurent on if we were trying to win the game, could of gone brownhill and Edwards for Laurent and Hannibal and gone 4-4-2

[ClaretinJapan]

Now 18 points ahead of Coventry in 7th. I've not seen the game but if there was negativity in the approach, it seems self defeating at this stage of the season.

[Roger1960]

I think it’s pretty straightforward,Leeds and Sheffield utd keep winning we keep drawing the gap inexorably widens , either Parker tries to win or it’s the playoffs and you can’t win those with draws. His use of substitutes to try and effect a positive change is even worse then SD,s we are virtually nailed on for a playoff place regardless so why not go for broke and make the automatic place

[Holtyclaret]

I think it’s pretty straightforward,Leeds and Sheffield utd keep winning we keep drawing the gap inexorably widens , either Parker tries to win or it’s the playoffs and you can’t win those with draws. His use of substitutes to try and effect a positive change is even worse then SD,s we are virtually nailed on for a playoff place regardless so why not go for broke and make the automatic place

Last 4 - w3 d1

[Alan Young]

Could have changed things quicker - it was obvious at half time that we were jaded and needed a bit more quality on midfield - and could have tried harder to win it late on.

Once again, we've failed to score in a game the onus was on us to win, and we haven't brought a striker off the bench. Barnes may be 35 but he's our plan B striker and it makes no sense that we didn't introduce him late on when we looked to go more direct. We kept two holding midfielders on the pitch rather than trying to win it.

Even Parker has acknowledged in post match interviews that Flemming is more naturally a number 10 than a number 9. Once again today, in trying to win a game he had the chance to try him in that natural role. Once again he passed it up out of an abundance of caution.

Flemming is an old fashioned 10 in the same way as Barnes. There’s no way he plays behind a striker in our system. Certainly not behind Barnes unless we decide to completely change style.

I thought we played fine and as others have pointed out, simply missed some big opportunities. There’s nowt as fickle as a football fan. If Foster takes one of those chances, people on here would be waxing lyrical.

I do think it’s probably time for Edwards to start.

[Roger1960]

Last 4 - w3 d1

Last 6 Leeds and Sheffield won 5 lost 1 we drew 3 won 3
That’s 15 points each for Leeds and Sheffield 12 for us
They have pulled away from us by a win in that time , as I say inexorable if we keep playing not to lose rather then to win

[Stonehouse]

When youre relying on Foster who can’t hit a bull’s backside from 10yrs to score goals for you then you might as well aim to draw every game until the end of the season and try and go up on penalties.

[kentonclaret]

Parker’s negative tactics will ultimately cost us an automatic promotion spot.

Failing to have a natural finisher as part of the squad will make sure of that. Most of our forward players probably struggle to finish their dinner.

[Dark Cloud]

Now 18 points ahead of Coventry in 7th. I've not seen the game but if there was negativity in the approach, it seems self defeating at this stage of the season.

There was absolutely no negativity in the approach (imo). We were far, far better than PNE and had at least 5 golden chances to score and missed them. That's down to players being not good enough. Not the manager or the "approach".

[TopCat]

Our bench is now amazing.
To not fully utilise the options is criminal.

[dvalley69]

Our bench is now amazing.
To not fully utilise the options is criminal.

Really? Barnes amazing? Brownhill, after a month out, amazing? A guy who's not played all season in Portugal? Some guy who's been languishing in Turkey? They might've been amazing in their primes but certainly haven't for a while and not yet up to competing at the top end of a highly competitive league. All opinions on paper rather than actual facts as far I can see about our bench.

[Stayingup]

That team made more than enough chances to beat Preston easily. They didn't take them. I blame the players!

But Parker picks the team.

[Dark Cloud]

But Parker picks the team.

Tbf, I agree with you there.

[quoonbeatz]

Parker is entirely at fault for not being able to get the best out of a squad that is now underperforming due to his tactics. We are a far superior squad to Preston’s and many others in the league but he refuses to play aggressively against these teams, continuing with players in the wrong position (Flemming, Foster…) with bore draws the result.

Look at Sheff U today. You just knew they would get a late goal, not something you associate with Parker’s team.

I’m completely convinced that a more aggressive approach with this talented squad would have seen use well ahead of the pack now.

Yep. We’re still playing really within ourselves.

[123EasyasBFC]

But Parker picks the team.

3 days ago when Parker picked the players and we won 2-0 it was a good result and today when the same players missed golden opportunities to score in the first 50 minutes it’s Parker’s fault for picking the players

[Swizzlestick]

Parker is entirely at fault for not being able to get the best out of a squad that is now underperforming due to his tactics. We are a far superior squad to Preston’s and many others in the league but he refuses to play aggressively against these teams, continuing with players in the wrong position (Flemming, Foster…) with bore draws the result.

Look at Sheff U today. You just knew they would get a late goal, not something you associate with Parker’s team.

I’m completely convinced that a more aggressive approach with this talented squad would have seen use well ahead of the pack now.

Spot on.

[TPClaret]

Spot on.

So who do you suggest instead of SP

[Swizzlestick]

So who do you suggest instead of SP

Somebody with a more aggressive approach. But this can be Scott Parker. If he has it in him.

[Sheedyclaret]

We did ok today bar certain players missing golden opportunity’s we win that game comfortably .. I shudder at the thought of this team in the prem league anyway be a record points low unless we rip it up and start again

[Big Vinny K]

As we do most weeks in this league we have a much stronger bench than the opposition. Today was no exception and cannot understand in a game like today why he is not making substitutes and trying to win the game.
Today was a tough game for our players - in the last half an hour we were visibly tiring and it was crying out for bringing fresh players on.
The pitch was awful which personally I think meant that it would not have suited Sarmiento. But we got plenty of joy hitting the ball down the channels in the first half and if we would have brought on Shelvey, and Edwards and Benson with 20 or 25 minutes to go it could have given us new impetus to start running at their slow defence again.

The pathetic refereeing meant that they knew they could get away with bringing us down at every opportunity when we started to run at them from the middle of the park. Again take off a tiring Lauren for Shelvey just gives us something different. And given Preston seemed happy with a draw and just sat deeper and deeper the more the game went on why not bring Barnes on alongside Flemming for the last 15 or 20…..especially because we were getting so many set pieces and having to put the ball into the box.

I know we are all managers sat in the stands and Parker has far more experience and knowledge that any of us could dream of but it’s hard to understand why with the quality we have on the bench that we seem to be looking to preserve our position in the last part of games than try and win them. Not sure if we are fearful of teams hitting us on the counter and winning the game but in most teams we are playing every week I just do not see the quality for them to do that (only maybe Leeds and definitely Sunderland looked anywhere capable of doing that in the closing stages of the game)

[Notsosuperstevedavis]

100% agree with this.
Parker, despite having a ridiculously talented back line, refuses to throw abit of caution to the wind and try and win a game. I am honestly at the stage where id rather us try and go for a win and lose the odd game 1v0 than all these tepid draws.

Despite the nay sayers I have that want to try tell me I’m chatting. Can’t help but feel people are catching on to the point I’ve been making all along.

[Quickenthetempo]

I just don't understand how he accepts draws do easily?
Yes, they happen in football and we created enough to win the game. But every other manager in football would be well peed off with dropping 2 points to inferior opposition.
We never scored against 15th place over two games of football and he's well pleased with the team.

Does he just lack a winning mentality?

[bumba]

We played some good football yesterday and have been for weeks it's easy to see why Mitrovic scored so many under Parker, if we had a striker even an average championship striker he'd have 20 goals by now.
Parker needs to start using subs earlier to change games rather than settling for a point because that's the reason we'll end up in the play offs and not automatic spots

[Quickenthetempo]

We played some good football yesterday and have been for weeks it's easy to see why Mitrovic scored so many under Parker, if we had a striker even an average championship striker he'd have 20 goals by now.
Parker needs to start using subs earlier to change games rather than settling for a point because that's the reason we'll end up in the play offs and not automatic spots

But the striker didn't have any chances yesterday, only where he didn't see the cross coming in when sight blocked by a team mate.

[bumba]

But the striker didn't have any chances yesterday, only where he didn't see the cross coming in when sight blocked by a team mate.

Flemming isn't a striker

[willsclarets]

In the cup game, he'll probably start Shelvey, Edwards and Barnes. Maybe Benson. And we'll probably score more than one and win.

[morninbob]

But the striker didn't have any chances yesterday, only where he didn't see the cross coming in when sight blocked by a team mate.

Flemming spent most of the game in his own half...

[willsclarets]

I just don't understand how he accepts draws do easily?
Yes, they happen in football and we created enough to win the game. But every other manager in football would be well peed off with dropping 2 points to inferior opposition.
We never scored against 15th place over two games of football and he's well pleased with the team.

Does he just lack a winning mentality?

A draw against a preston in their form in and of itself is fine. Two things mitigate it, firstly the draws at home where he's not gone for it against really poor sides and we've dropped many points on our own ground. Secondly the teams above us simply aren't dropping points just now. It's our lack of aggression at home that's slightly dented our promotion hopes over the course of the season.

I still believe we can do it though, but Edwards has to start, Foster has to compete with flemming for the striker spot and /or play both in a 9/10 with Laurent dropped. Alternatively Hannibal drops back alongside Cullen and Browny in the 10. I really like Laurent but when we need to win games he's a defensive safety net we can't afford. We're in the playoffs already.

[Quickenthetempo]

Flemming isn't a striker

But he's playing as our striker.

[Jakubs Tash]

I accept that we missed chances but the manager didn’t do anywhere near enough to try and win the game.

He had options on the bench to change things and be a bit more attacking but he hasn’t got the devil in him to do it. Everything is very deliberate and safe. That’s what is costing us - not the misses. Every team misses chances in every game, the idea is you create more of them so the chances are that you put a couple away.

[Newcastleclaret93]

A draw against a preston in their form in and of itself is fine. Two things mitigate it, firstly the draws at home where he's not gone for it against really poor sides and we've dropped many points on our own ground. Secondly the teams above us simply aren't dropping points just now. It's our lack of aggression at home that's slightly dented our promotion hopes over the course of the season.

I still believe we can do it though, but Edwards has to start, Foster has to compete with flemming for the striker spot and /or play both in a 9/10 with Laurent dropped. Alternatively Hannibal drops back alongside Cullen and Browny in the 10. I really like Laurent but when we need to win games he's a defensive safety net we can't afford. We're in the playoffs already.

Not a dig but what makes you believe we can still get top two?

Sheffield have won circa 30% more games than us.

Leeds have won circa 20% more games than us.

For us to get close to the top two they would both need to hit a significant drop in form where they lose 4-5 games between now and the end of the season.

It’s done we are in the play offs

[willsclarets]

Not a dig but what makes you believe we can still get top two?

Sheffield have won circa 30% more games than us.

Leeds have won circa 20% more games than us.

For us to get close to the top two they would both need to hit a significant drop in form where they lose 4-5 games between now and the end of the season.

It’s done we are in the play offs

Things can change very quickly. I agree the playoffs are more likely at this point, but is it beyond the realms of possibility that Sheffield United lose their next 2 games against Leeds and then QPR away? If we win our next 2 we're in the top 2 in that scenario. Not saying it will happen, but there's a natural tendency to believe our rivals will just keep winning and we won't.

[Clive 1960]

That's where the problem is we didn't get a striker in after letting Jay go so to be successful and get promoted you can't rely on Fleming as he's not a poacher but a link up player and as i said on other posts it could come back and bite us and then the play offs are a lottery and another thing why not give Barnes 15 minutes up top yesterday as he played really well at Southampton..

[bumba]

But he's playing as our striker.

But he doesn't finish the chances he gets, 4/5 yards out open goal v Hull for example.
Scores some important goals but doesn't score the easy chances that a proper striker would and is sometimes hovering around the edge of box because he doesn't have that instinct.
Yesterday two chances fell to Foster due to his strikers instinct but he couldn't finish.
Previous strikers Gray, Payton, Ings, Vokes, Wood even Barnes all finish with two goals yesterday

[bfcjg]

If he starts Flemming and Foster in those positions against Sheffield Wednesday I'll start to doubt him. Wednesday are extremely workmanlike at the back and they'll negate their threat as PNE did.

[deanothedino]

Parker should pay with his job if he fails to get this squad up. This negative dogger that’s being served up week after week is inexcusable.

Foster alone had 2 chances I’d expect most of a reasonable age and fitness to score after 4 pints. You can’t blame Parker for that.

[Newcastleclaret93]

Things can change very quickly. I agree the playoffs are more likely at this point, but is it beyond the realms of possibility that Sheffield United lose their next 2 games against Leeds and then QPR away? If we win our next 2 we're in the top 2 in that scenario. Not saying it will happen, but there's a natural tendency to believe our rivals will just keep winning and we won't.

Statistically yes that is very very unlikely.

The chances of us winning two in a row and Sheffield losing two in a row is likely less than 5% chance.

Your talking about Sheffield adding 50% of losses to there season in the next two games and Burnley winning two in a row (at the moment it’s unlikely we will even score in both the next two).

I appreciate things can change but the reality is that our only hope is complete change in ethos. Going for games rather than settling. Otherwise we won’t get close across the next 13 games.

[Clive 1960]

Foster alone had 2 chances I’d expect most of a reasonable age and fitness to score after 4 pints. You can’t blame Parker for that.

you can if he keeps playing him , time to put Edwards in as he as pace..

[Newcastleclaret93]

Foster alone had 2 chances I’d expect most of a reasonable age and fitness to score after 4 pints. You can’t blame Parker for that.

Them chances happened when there was 45 mins left of the game.

Come on a blind man in an alley can see the issue.

Where was the throwing people forward at the end of the game. 2 forwards on to try nick something.

The tactics didn’t change and we settled for a draw

[Murger]

Foster alone had 2 chances I’d expect most of a reasonable age and fitness to score after 4 pints. You can’t blame Parker for that.

We’ve 10+ 0-0 draws this season. I can blame Parker for that. His inability to change what is happening will cost us. Look at our bench ffs. He made 2 subs, he didn’t even try to win it.

[Quickenthetempo]

But he doesn't finish the chances he gets, 4/5 yards out open goal v Hull for example.
Scores some important goals but doesn't score the easy chances that a proper striker would and is sometimes hovering around the edge of box because he doesn't have that instinct.
Yesterday two chances fell to Foster due to his strikers instinct but he couldn't finish.
Previous strikers Gray, Payton, Ings, Vokes, Wood even Barnes all finish with two goals yesterday

The old striker has gone. Finishing is well down the list of what a modern manager wants from a forward.

Sad but true.

[deanothedino]

Them chances happened when there was 45 mins left of the game.

Come on a blind man in an alley can see the issue.

Where was the throwing people forward at the end of the game. 2 forwards on to try nick something.

The tactics didn’t change and we settled for a draw

Yeah, and if we’d taken them the game would have been dead and buried without needing to throw people forward at the end.

A blind man in an alley can see the issue… the issue is Foster and Flemming can’t finish their dinner. I’ll criticise Parker when they both start again on Friday night.

[Newcastleclaret93]

We’ve 10+ 0-0 draws this season. I can blame Parker for that. His inability to change what is happening will cost us. Look at our bench ffs. He made 2 subs, he didn’t even try to win it.

We haven’t scored in 14 league games this season. Or 42% of our games this season.