3 down at half time, a kick up the arse?

[earthworm]

Just thinking maybe something good will come out of Saturday. We sounded shite on the radio in the 1st half, and it lead to a spirited fight back second half. I wonder if the players can keep that up for tomorrow night? It might be the spark that gets us on another run.

There will be one or two bruised egos after that sort of humbling (McGugan not least of all), and they'll be eager to make amends and prove a point. Hopefully this will distract them from the pressure that Billy mentioned post match, and help our young team to deal with it.

 

[yam]

The fact that we scored two goals is a massive positive and a big improvement on the previous 5 away games.

Its something we can build on but our squad is woefully thin in some areas.

 

[Daniel]

I think McGugans days are numbered in all honesty, we all are fully aware of his attitude problems and it seems this problem persists I feel Billy will tell him to 'f' off!

 

[Jelly Bean]

I'm not sure we'll see lewis in a forest shirt again, much as it disappoints me to say that

 

[Snorlax]

I'm not sure we'll see lewis in a forest shirt again, much as it disappoints me to say that

and I wouldn't give a shite if we didn't. He was a disgrace Saturday, no workrate, no helping the team out and no surprise he went off at half time. Also no surprise by sticking Cohen in midfield we looked a much better side.

McGugan has ability no question but he is only interested in the game with the ball at his feet, when we haven't got the ball he is a waste of space.

I'd have given up on him after Doncaster away

 

[earthworm]

How much of the 1st half performance can be put down to Lewis? Reading the replies so far, it sounds like he went AWOL. If one man in a four man midfield isn't fighting for possession, its quite possible for him to single handedly ruin a performance I suppose.

Was anyone else having a 'mare first half?

 

[Hoax]

I dont think it will do anything. Weve been playing shit for a few months now and the Derby/Leicester game should have been the humbling we needed. I think it is the team selections/tactics away from home that are effecting our performance.

My view of McGugan now is f*** off you lazy shit. You had your chance

 

[Snorlax]

I'm not sure we'll see lewis in a forest shirt again, much as it disappoints me to say that

How much of the 1st half performance can be put down to Lewis? Reading the replies so far, it sounds like he went AWOL. If one man in a four man midfield isn't fighting for possession, its quite possible for him to single handedly ruin a performance I suppose.

Was anyone else having a 'mare first half?

It was interesting a number of his teamates had a right pop at him after the first goal and his response was "Who me?"

In fairness most of them were crap in the first half but at least the rest of them were working.

In all honesty I'd never start McGugan again, he is way to lazy to play in midfield, you cannot just play when you are on the ball.

He is handy to come off the bench against tiring defenders.

Just look at Raddys workrate and then watch McGugan, both talented on the ball but only Raddy works his nuts off without it.

 

[Kier]

I can see McGugan being bombed out of the club in the summer, which will be a shame as he has a lot of talent but not the attitude.

 

[uNco]

Poor Lewis, but you`ve had yer chances fella!!

We`ve had too many lazy journeymen at the club in the past, to tolerate it again.

 

[Kier]

I think we will have to start McGugan again before the end of the season though, we have such a small squad that our choices are so limited.

 

[earthworm]

I think we will have to start McGugan again before the end of the season though, we have such a small squad that our choices are so limited.

Indeed. Just got the Post at lunch, Billy's in there saying some of the players at Preston were "hanging by a thread in terms of their fitness".

Might that excuse Lewis? Maybe he's just not match fit seeing as he's not started many and we've no reserves for him to practice in?

Maybe a kick up the arse isn't what's needed at all. Maybe its a rest or 5 loan signings!

 

[deleted]

Just look at Raddys workrate and then watch McGugan, both talented on the ball but only Raddy works his nuts off without it.

Typical bloody Poles, coming over here and taking all those midfielder jobs ...

 

[birkin youth]

We should keep McGugan for as long as he is happy to play the 'super-sub' role.

When he comes on late in the game, he always plays with so much more hunger.

 

[RICH1977]

was the fight back down to us playing better or preston taking foot off the gass?

 

[Wazza]

was the fight back down to us playing better or preston taking foot off the gass?

Bit of both, really.
Going back to Lewis, the difference in his and Chambos attitude to being subs is vast. Chambo wills the team on to score, encourages the players and generally tries to lift morale. Lewis just sits in the dugout pouting until he's told to warm up. Not the sort of attitude thats likely to earn a new contract off BD!

 

[earthworm]

Bit of both, really.
Going back to Lewis, the difference in his and Chambos attitude to being subs is vast. Chambo wills the team on to score, encourages the players and generally tries to lift morale. Lewis just sits in the dugout pouting until he's told to warm up. Not the sort of attitude thats likely to earn a new contract off BD!

This thread is doing nothing for the blokes' image. He's coming across as the sort who loves himself far too much

Maybe we should loan him to Notts to knock him down a peg or three

 

[redbeard]

I'm not sure we'll see lewis in a forest shirt again, much as it disappoints me to say that

lewis seems to play better when coming on for last half hour or so and has scored a couple of goals when doing so but he hasnt got 90 minutes in him .

 

[Jonathan]

I don't think Billy will have much choice as to whether he plays again since we've got no other players left!

He won't start away from home this season, though.

 

[Tartan Tart Ups]

3 Down at half time , a kick up the arse? Hmm...the kick in the arse should be going to Billy Davies, he picked the wrong team and believed the wrong man. Lewis just hasn't got the work rate to play that position (especially as he's hardly been played recently); (hence when our hardest working player : Cohen) replaced Lewis at half time things changed..for the better. Okay Lewis made a plea to his manager and the NEP in the week saying he could do mckennas job, and he proved to everyone including his manager that he just cant do it.

It's a real shame because hes a very talented player, I would love to see him play every week, but until he sorts his workrate out I see no place for him in this team unless we are 2 or 3 up with half an hour to go.

 

[Jelly Bean]

was the fight back down to us playing better or preston taking foot off the gass?

Yeh, the nature of football being the team thats behind presses and the team thats winning sits back - particularly in this tight league, seems to happen most weeks and definitely was the case on sat.

Alot of this was because of the reknewed drive that came from midfield in the second half however, Cohen takes much of the credit for this. We had much better shape in the second half and actually pressed them and put major pressure on them - they looked a different side under pressure. I think we have to do this from the kick off - high tempo and go at teams, even away. The 'play for a drw' mentality just isn't working at the moment.

 

[Hoax]

Preston didnt look all that to me they caught us with two quick breaks and had a penalty. How many shots did they have overall in the end?

 

[winnits]

About three on target!

 

[Kier]

Both sides had 7 attempts on target, with Preston having 7 off target compred to our si, according to BBC stats.

 

[Hoax]

About three on target!

well they definately had 3! I mean though did they have many more than that? There was one tame effort straight at Camp I can remember.

EDIT: Just saw Kiers post before. Still think they werent anything special though