He's Ripped The Heart Out Of The Squad

[trevdi9]

I think the squad needed supplementing, but with players being introduced to the team more slowly.

It would seem that a number of the signings are letting DJ down by simply not performing and whilst it will take some players time to settle down, I would have expected more from some of the Championship experienced players he has brought in, even if they're new to the club.

I was surprised to see specialist players like Lee ignored for right back and other non-specialists played in that position. The surprise was only greater when Lee came in and did a good job. Given the injury situation, I expected us to bring in a short term loan at right back particularly given the shambles we have been and continue to be defensively.

Having 2 young players in central midfield with little Championship experience rings alarm bells for me. I think you can play one of them but it seems we are crying out for an experienced midfield general to exert some authority and purpose in our midfield.

Bottom line is that (as we all know), we can't keep shipping 2 or 3 goals and making dreadful mistakes at the back every game - otherwise we won't be picking up many points. In all honesty, I would have expected by now to start seeing some more imposing performances from our back 4, but it's not happening, the mistakes are continuing and something needs to be done in that back line as a matter of priority. I'm surprised with DJ's experience that we're persisting with something that is broken - and with his experience, he should know how to fix it and in double quick time.

Top post daz mate ,

[trevdi9]

plenty of exotic places for lodging on hollidays nigel could be cheap as well,

[Mikes]

Like i said yesterday. yoi should have stuck with the league 1 players.

Norwich and southampton didnt change things too much and they bypassed the championship it seems

Because they had players like Lallana coming through the academy and who do we have?

[Guest Deleted member]

Never let Daz be described as cheap Trev!

[Guest Manwithastick]

especially in a Chinese restaurant

[trevdi9]

ok Nigel ,i like daz so agree whole heartedly ,bless him ,

[Guest Manwithastick]

or a curry house.......

[Essix Blue]

especially in a Chinese restaurant

FFS I'd just about got over that!!!

*rings therapist*

[Bahrain Owl]

Lanzarote, New South Wales, Bahrain, Utah and bleeding Florida now...

just picked up a couple of Shwarmas mate - love em. Them and maghloom - oh luvverly. Off to Champs and Rockies later, maybe pop into Ric's, have a swift one in JJ's before finishing up in Dublin!! (Just thought I'd rub it in a but more...)

[Guest joetownend]

He ripped the heart out of a squid?

[markowl]

if picnic and taylor start on satday im off

Of owlstalk?

*prays they both start*

[Guest Deleted member]

just picked up a couple of Shwarmas mate - love em. Them and maghloom - oh luvverly. Off to Champs and Rockies later, maybe pop into Ric's, have a swift one in JJ's before finishing up in Dublin!! (Just thought I'd rub it in a but more...)

[Guest JC Saviour]

Ridiculous comparison.

Anyone who thinks the bulk of our team last year would compete in this league is deluded. DJ quite rightly saw that and made changes, PERHAPS too many at once but he didn't foresee Lines, Buxton and Reda getting injured.

He's tried players from last season - Llera? Beevers? Semedo? Madine? None have shone that much so far given the chance. I read somewhere last night someone saying we should have kept Rob Jones!?!?

We need to build a team for this level. DJ knows that and he's doing it. It's gonna be hard, against some very good teams but hopefully last night (from the reports I've heard) we've moved slightly in the right direction.

So how many of DJ signings are actually better than we have already. McCabe and who else. Neither of the full backs have pulled up any trees, jury out on kirkland in comparison to Bywater, Barkley is a loan player, Pecnic not showed a deal, Rodri goal in first game then nothing, Bothroyd loan player, Maguire not had enough games to judge but what I have seen nothing special. There are others but not even worthy of a mention. So considering all these players, I think I would have started with the team that got us promotion and see from there which in the main did happen. So whats gone wrong?

[Guest brimowl]

So how many of DJ signings are actually better than we have already. McCabe and who else. Neither of the full backs have pulled up any trees, jury out on kirkland in comparison to Bywater, Barkley is a loan player, Pecnic not showed a deal, Rodri goal in first game then nothing, Bothroyd loan player, Maguire not had enough games to judge but what I have seen nothing special. There are others but not even worthy of a mention. So considering all these players, I think I would have started with the team that got us promotion and see from there which in the main did happen. So whats gone wrong?

because danny bathe, keith tracy,ranger all went back buxton and reda always seem to be injured.If we could get a settled back four we will be ok with a bit of luck

[Guest pops55]

So how many of DJ signings are actually better than we have already. McCabe and who else. Neither of the full backs have pulled up any trees, jury out on kirkland in comparison to Bywater, Barkley is a loan player, Pecnic not showed a deal, Rodri goal in first game then nothing, Bothroyd loan player, Maguire not had enough games to judge but what I have seen nothing special. There are others but not even worthy of a mention. So considering all these players, I think I would have started with the team that got us promotion and see from there which in the main did happen. So whats gone wrong?

Quite right, on one hand people are praising DJ for our promotion last season and saying give him time to prove himself and in the same breath are saying that the players that got us promoted don't deserve the same chance to prove themselves, astounding.

[Hack-Abusi]

Going back to cardiff and his six year tenure,

Whenever he bought someone new and they turned out to be garbage he wouldnt drop them for a while.

Chopra had and still has major gambling debts and problems, dj stuck by him, even when he would go 1 goal in 15 games.

Chops went on to admit he was playing through big injuries just so he could get his appearance fee every week. DJ knew this and wouldnt drop him.

This was annoying our fans, seeing dire performances weeki in week out, and then fans would see chops in the bookies every day after training.

DJ did find some fantastic players, whittingham, for example, but he didnt half bring some garbage here too.

You might well be losing the dressing room, the promoted players must be well cheesed off with not having a stab.

Similar to our dressing room when DJ brought in about 13 players on loan in his last season all on big wages.

DJ's last season was bellamys first stint with us, rumours were, and i must emphasise rumours , were that bellamy started taking over and running the dressing room when results started going against us.

i'm sorry but i think that is utter tosh!

[Guest totemowl]

and my friend you seem to forget that while our 'Inept' squad was letting in 8 goals in our first 4 games we kept busy hammering in 12 at the other end. There was a need to tighten things up little but the radical nature in the way that this was attempted eroded team spirit significantly.

COG has done brilliantly throughout all this, yet we all know his first level par game will see him on the bench. This would be OK if it were applied across the board.

It should n't matter who wears the shirt but for the mild mannered Mr Jones it does, he has an Ego the size of a mountain.

i hadn't forgot how many goals we scored. There was concern that we were conceding so many, on Owlstalk. As we know, goals against are not good for confidence and if we didn't tighten up it was only a matter of time before that confidence turned into negative results. I well remember Megson preaching on this very issue.

I don't know why you think there was a radical approach to this. Getting one player in to improve our defence and boss the defence / midfield didn't seem a bad approach. Obviously though, it hasn't worked (at least not yet).

I don't agree your other comments. First I'd have treated COG just the same. But the rest just seem imo daft.

Edited October 3, 2012 by totemowl

[Daz]

The worldwide banking crisis was caused by us all defaulting on payment to that Chinese restaurant.

Top times though, top times!

[cowl]

and my friend you seem to forget that while our 'Inept' squad was letting in 8 goals in our first 4 games we kept busy hammering in 12 at the other end. There was a need to tighten things up little but the radical nature in the way that this was attempted eroded team spirit significantly.

COG has done brilliantly throughout all this, yet we all know his first level par game will see him on the bench. This would be OK if it were applied across the board.

It should n't matter who wears the shirt but for the mild mannered Mr Jones it does, he has an Ego the size of a mountain.

What?! How the hell do you arrive at that?!

[Utah Owl]

Seem to have touched a nerve with a couple of you!

First of all I appreciate that I am only looking in from a distance (which I hate by the way, would love to be there every Saturday), however I do try to keep in touch via Owlstalk, the official site, The Star and the BBC. All I was picking up on was the fact that DJ said after promotion that he would make sure that the team spirit stayed intact as it was one of the most valuable commodities we had.

His actions fly in the face of that statement for example (as already highlighted by others) the appointment of Taylor as Captain. How can a player who has never played for the club before and knows nothing about players characters, strengths weaknesses and what motivates them be made Captain before even kicking a ball for us? What does that say to the rest of the team?

Yes I know we have injury issues, but even so last years players seem to be getting sidelined and resentment on their part would be pretty understandable hence my comments over a possible split in the dressing room. I did not say in my original post that DJ should be sacked, however he has clearly made some major errors in terms of the set up and selection of the team and he needs to properly re-assess the situation before it get's any more serious.

Does anyone honestly believe that for the last several games our genuine best starting 11 only consisted of 4 of last seasons team (the Bolton game actually had just 2, Jones and Antonio)? I am sorry but to me (and obviously this is just my opinion) but it smacks of DJ putting his stamp on the team almost as a direct riposte to GM's comments. I know players and managers have big ego's (i.e. Bothroyd and Taylor's reactions to the fans) but hoped that DJ would be man enough to swallow his pride but the signs at present don't exactly fill me with encouragement. Nothing a decent run can't put right though.