In regard to the Orient game they’ve only had one call up so will go ahead.

7 hours ago, NW9Valiant said:

This bullsh-- again.

Some facts:

xG is accumulative. Lots of crap chances, high xG. We are creating plenty of chances but they are not of fantastic quality in the end chance themselves (we've had scored some honestly if they were), or the phases of play. We know this, because we rely on crosses a lot, but the quality of the crossing is not great, and neither is our heading.

xG does not decide a game, goals do.

A high xG but lower goals scored is bad when you're looking at it from a stats point of view. But it does tell you that the players can be coached to do better. 

I do agree with you that we don't need to massively worry by any stretch of the imagination. It's probably the poorest game from us going forward this season, and the defensive lapses are telling our players there is no margin for error. 

But I do think we need to worry about that - the defensive lapse will be what is drilled into the players that they need to firm up on, knowing Darren there is not a lot he has to say about us in an attacking sense. He wants to not lose, first of all. 

I've said in this thread / elsewhere, the answer though isn't just in a striker (plus, we just recruited one). We need to address how they get service, and have more variety in our play. We need to start seeing returns on set plays if we putting so much stock in them, or we need to see the team play football to create more good chances for the forwards, like the one that Brown had today. 

Just one or two of these good chances a game means they need to be very clinical. Last 2 games we've had 3 shots on target, which is about average for us so far. Be very lucky to score more than 1 a game with that. And that isn't just a striker problem, its a service issue too. 

Spot on. 

 

Moore and Bowers/Sproson on Radio Stoke commentary are bemoaning and blaming our poor position on lapses of concentration in games. Yes of course these occur in games and are an issue. However are these the main reason why we only have two points from 6 games? Bradford fans for example yesterday would say they had two lapses of concentration that cost them two goals against Wimbledon. However they overcame this by scoring three. Because we can't score, every error we make if punished by opposition is costing us the game because we can't score. That is the reason why we are in the position we are in.

1 minute ago, Freddie the Dog said:

Moore and Bowers/Sproson on Radio Stoke commentary are bemoaning and blaming our poor position on lapses of concentration in games. Yes of course these occur in games and are an issue. However are these the main reason why we only have two points from 6 games? Bradford fans for example yesterday would say they had two lapses of concentration that cost them two goals against Wimbledon. However they overcame this by scoring three. Because we can't score, every error we make if punished by opposition is costing us the game because we can't score. That is the reason why we are in the position we are in.

Fair points . But then we are set up to be tight and keep in games. That was our style in league 2.

bradford are a bit more gung ho in their style.

i like that we are disciplined and remaining in games. We need that player that can get you a goal out of nothing to tip the balance the other way. Unfortunately that was Tolaj.

the bookies had us favourites to go down and unfortunately losing our best striker confirms this. 
 

this is why i can’t be to angry with anyone or thing - we are where we are predicted to be and we have been unlucky in this run.

the performances have deserved more.
 

4pts from the next 2 home games needed. Exeter away a bonus game. 

I'm not saying that Paton is the answer, DM obviously thinks he isn't. However, I felt like Tolaj early on last season that the system we employed suited neither. Eventually it was changed and Tolaj looked a different player, Paton was already out on loan by then and I appreciate he didn't tear up any trees at Dundee. Having said that he buzzed around like Waine does and did score the odd goal for us early on last season when everyone was struggling. Was impressed that when he came on at the end against Brum he had one chance and buried it, admittedly ruled out for some infringement elsewhere but he took his goal calmly and clinically.

It could be worse, at least we don't have VAR to contend with.

8 minutes ago, man in the pub said:

I'm not saying that Paton is the answer, DM obviously thinks he isn't. However, I felt like Tolaj early on last season that the system we employed suited neither. Eventually it was changed and Tolaj looked a different player, Paton was already out on loan by then and I appreciate he didn't tear up any trees at Dundee. Having said that he buzzed around like Waine does and did score the odd goal for us early on last season when everyone was struggling. Was impressed that when he came on at the end against Brum he had one chance and buried it, admittedly ruled out for some infringement elsewhere but he took his goal calmly and clinically.

Thought the same about Paton against Birmingham. It was a great finish. 

4 minutes ago, davehartshill said:

Thought the same about Paton against Birmingham. It was a great finish. 

But he didn't make the bench even yesterday. 

11 hours ago, PV1973 said:

Apologies are hollow. Just do your best to put it right on the pitch. 

Does that suggest they're doing it on purpose...?? Losing on purpose...??

I don't know any professional football player who goes out onto the field of play and deliberately doesn't try to do their best...?

13 minutes ago, man in the pub said:

I'm not saying that Paton is the answer, DM obviously thinks he isn't. However, I felt like Tolaj early on last season that the system we employed suited neither. Eventually it was changed and Tolaj looked a different player, Paton was already out on loan by then and I appreciate he didn't tear up any trees at Dundee. Having said that he buzzed around like Waine does and did score the odd goal for us early on last season when everyone was struggling. Was impressed that when he came on at the end against Brum he had one chance and buried it, admittedly ruled out for some infringement elsewhere but he took his goal calmly and clinically.

Totally agree he’s got to be given a chance in the middle up front he’s got be better than the <ovf censored> they’ve bought in 

11 hours ago, PV1973 said:

Apologies are hollow. Just do your best to put it right on the pitch. 

Oh, and one other thing.  People do - regularly, say on here (when we loose or the club get someothing wrong) that an apology would be a good start. But you're saying they're just hollow...? Damned if they do, damned if they dont.

This ain't a knock at Paton.

I think he should be at least on the bench. 

The Brum keeper made absolutely zero attempt to save his shot. Clearly offside, in fact Patons shot was more of an afterthought rather than actually in game play. The whistle had already blown.

He has to be a better option than Waine and Faal.

What a pigs ear we've made of striking options. 

Just now, Osh said:

Oh, and one other thing.  People do - regularly, say on here (when we loose or the club get someothing wrong) that an apology would be a good start. But you're saying they're just hollow...? Damned if they do, damned if they dont.

Ripley got slated when he came out apologising now it’s Jesse it’s all good. 
Stay out of the media and sort it out. That’s not aimed at him in particular but the whole group. 
 

 

4 minutes ago, Osh said:

Does that suggest they're doing it on purpose...?? Losing on purpose...??

I don't know any professional football player who goes out onto the field of play and deliberately doesn't try to do their best...?

Faal wasn’t trying yesterday imo. 

I'll ask a question to all the OVF members who read this thread. If we sign by tomorrow a proven goalscorer by spending £1m by tomorrow, would you be confident that this would solve our lack of goal scoring? After all, football is a team game so we score and not concede as a team.

36 minutes ago, Freddie the Dog said:

I'll ask a question to all the OVF members who read this thread. If we sign by tomorrow a proven goalscorer by spending £1m by tomorrow, would you be confident that this would solve our lack of goal scoring? After all, football is a team game so we score and not concede as a team.

There's absolutely no guarantees with any signing. Proven or raw. 

Indeed Tolaj himself missed 2 very acceptable chances to kill off Stevenage. 

A new striker gives us a shot at it and proof that we are reactive to what's happening in front of our eyes.

Do nothing and I fear a long painful watch until May.