[lesgeo]

Actually, it is worse than I thought. Hackney must be added to the list, as well.
A ratio of four to seven.
These seven are as ill-served by the club leadership as are the fans.
In a proper setup, most might make the grade but they are being sold short too.
I applaud their gallant efforts. So reminiscent of the Spartan Leonidas at Thermopylae.

[lesgeo]

We started at Exeter with SIX young/inexperienced/relatively inexperienced players in the starting line-up.
O’Malley, Rowe, Matheson, Burns, Jarvis & Pugh.
It asks an incredible amount of these lads to be able save the Iron’s season.
They are all undercooked and in a proper squad, a nine to two ratio of experience to inexperience might possibly have been acceptable.
But a ratio of five to six is as incredible as it is horrific.

You cannot run a League Two team on a National League North budget.

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North Lincolnshire Irons, bartonscorpion, alcazar

[lesgeo]

Well if Mr Swann has said that it will be paid off ‘if required’ … I am certain that we can wholly rely on that.
Why should we be worrying?

2 users thanked author for this post.

SODIron, North Lincolnshire Irons

[lesgeo]

I approved of the Loft departure but this was solely based on the premise of an experienced replacement.
In the second half of January – I am rather less than gruntled.

[lesgeo]

Two mistakes: Mason didn’t get across Brown allowing the shot; shabby goalkeeping for the second.

[lesgeo]

The proof of the pudding, Fe, is what the side has become in the absence of Manny.
All Hill’s hard work, which was really showing through, has simply turned to ashes without Manny – as predicted that it could.
The depth of squad is pathetically thin. We have been a CB down all season.

Anyone could see Hill’s improvements and it was clear that the half decent CB which Onariase is, could hold it together. Take him away and the house of cards all began to crumble.
He’s been out long enough now not to be quite match fit and will be aware that he now has to get it right all the time. From now on, all of the pressure on him is going to be off the scale – poor sod!

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North Lincolnshire Irons

[lesgeo]

He carries the ball forward well but does not look to have the qualities needed for a CB.
Did he play CB for the cods, Crewe & Morecambe? Played a fair few games. St Mirren too.

[lesgeo]

If Mr Swann has stated that we aren’t going out of the league – then obviously there is a plan to ensure that this tragedy will be avoided.

Rather more seriously though, it is the Manny situation which has tilted everything the wrong way. That’s what happens when you do not have a balanced squad.

Please tell me he is able to play tomorrow!

[lesgeo]

My only concern here is that we do not really know what is in the pipeline for the next couple of weeks.
Okay. Based on times past we can reasonably assume that there are no Ferrero Rocher in the goodie bag – but there may yet be a few Liquorice Allsorts.

[lesgeo]

Kenyon is a better option in front of the back 4 than Rowe.
Agree that we must return to Millen at RB. Sigh.

Anybody got a clue whether Manny has actual Covid or if his great aunt’s cousin knows somebody who might have?

A sudden thought. Was Hallam available yesterday?
Perry?

What’s happening with Wood and Scrimshaw? Turan?

[lesgeo]

Personally, I would have Davis ahead of Roe playing in front of the defence – I just can’t see him as a CB.
Roe was patchy.
It’s not that he has been terrible today but ‘presence’ is so vital.

I’d expect Beestin back in CM next week.

[lesgeo]

No. I try to to fight the pessimism – you embrace it!

[lesgeo]

Lol.

[lesgeo]

Er … ME in my younger days, Alcy.
Tall, wavy blonde hair and semi-fit.
Today, what hair I still have is grey, I’ve shrunk by more than an inch and am now fit to drop.

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alcazar

[lesgeo]

Hmm. Thanks.

[lesgeo]

Description, please.

[lesgeo]

Of course. The Beast!!
Wasn’t Baker younger, though?

We desperately need a back-to-goal forward who can hold the ball up and play others in.

[lesgeo]

It’s one of those gambles which, if it works, would be a real fillip. Could help Jarvo develop too.
BUT – how often do those sort of gambles work for us?
There was Beags and Ford, of course, BUT with big ugly strikers who are old and whose fitness is in question – I’m struggling to recall too many successes.
Mind you, if he’s 90% fit and 60% match fit, to be fair, there aren’t too many on here who would argue that it’s not an improvement on Loft.
(I’ll bet a half fit Andrew would cut down the gifting away of possession by a good 80%.)

As for Matt Done – similar questions to be asked. Too many gambles, perhaps.
But what can you get for 60 quid a week plus £500 win bonuses?

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alcazar

[lesgeo]

There ain’t no ‘possibly’ about desperately needing an extra CB for cover.
Taft is improving to what he can be, Manny has made a few mistakes but has been a stalwart – what if one or both were injured or suspended?
We could get relegated on that scenario alone.

[lesgeo]

More likely – he has sussed that he has been sussed by the new boss.

1 user thanked author for this post.

Awaywego

[lesgeo]

One CB available yesterday and one who may be fit but was surely not match fit. Not to bring in a 4th CB would be dangerous.
(BTW, I don’t think anyone said that Manny has Covid. ‘Covid issues’ and similar language was used.)

[lesgeo]

I was seriously upset to see the teamsheet.
Davis had not had a game in anger for 6 weeks or so. How unmatch fit are you gonna be? His showing was a 5/10 when Manny usually gives us a 7.
I’m convinced it cost us the draw.
Three CBs just ain’t enough to run a squad.

Two incoming quickly and the chairperson was being very tongue in cheek about a forward.
O’ Neill gone to Darlo.
Whatever happened to that Tom Eaves rumour, BTW?

Three bids for Loft. Hmm. If we do get £50k – that could go to boost three incomers’ wages for half a season if …

U23 Championship striker, apparently.

[lesgeo]

Can’t agree with CBRP over getting rid of Perry. He is certainly nowhere near the finished product but a guy who can pass a bit like Tony Curry yet needs to toughen up and have a bit better overview of games is well worth persevering with.
Besides, he only has a dozen first team games under his belt. He is guaranteed to improve with experience and building up muscle tone.

[lesgeo]

Hill clearly knows that Loft intends to leave on a free.
It is a small amount, yes, but …
… and it gives room for a replacement.

We shall, of course, all be totally peed off when he turns into a real striker down the line.

[lesgeo]

Valid points. In an ideal world we need 3 – 5 better players in.

Why did Bhuna not have the knowhow to straighten out the mess is a real biggie for me.
Can we believe that Cox ignored and rode roughshod over a man who really did have the genuine experience?

[lesgeo]

Funny you should mention ‘The Unassuming Assassin’, Cass, it came out originally in 2005 and I hadn’t bothered to read the upgraded/updated/re-edited version brought out by Steel City Press a couple of years ago.
So that was my Christmas reading and I reread the sequel ‘The Assassin Reassessed’ too. (Lesgeo Junior edited TUA – he is a far superior writer to anything I can do and owns Steel City Press.)
Good stuff.
(PS. Never buy the old Kindle edition of TUA, BTW – they noused it up. new version is okay, though.)

[lesgeo]

I really do not mind two postponements – but five or more would be contraindicated.

[lesgeo]

Goals scored?

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bartonscorpion, BobbyGmeister

[lesgeo]

Hippo (customary excellence), Bunn (class act), and Green (best game at the club) – 8
Loft – 9
Nobody below a 6 – and not that many 6s, either!

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alcazar, open hearth iron, BobbyGmeister

[lesgeo]

It’s hardly a line-up which has experience with one another in positions played.
It’s like the first team to play together for 90 minutes in the pre-season friendlies.

[Author]

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