This isn’t going to be a popular post but...

Although the game in terms of excitement was poor today I actually thought we did ok against a good PNE team.
They were a typical Alex Neil team - solid, passed very well, fit and closed down very well.


Tomlin had no space in the 10 role So Harris moved him wide where (in this game) he was more effective in a more free role.
This showed in the last 15 mins or so.
I think Glatzel will do well with LT, so much so that I’d possibly get rid of all of the others we have and get in another one striker that could potentially go straight into first team.
I think Nelson is going to be an excellent signing; possibly a player that we’ll make a few million on in time.
Bacuna did well and Pack was ok.
NML was a threat with the ball and did well covering back.
Defence looked ok (clean sheet).
Three points on Boxing Day now please

Very poor game, don't disagree about the player assement tho.

NML and Murphy were poor imo though, we need so much more in the wide areas.

Trouble is weve looked poor against every side in championship so far yet 3 points off playoffs and 5 off 3rd! But there really is some trimming of dead wood involved if we are to improve enough to win those 3or4 elusive back to back wins that will put us top 6..

Trouble is weve looked poor against every side in championship so far yet 3 points off playoffs and 5 off 3rd! But there really is some trimming of dead wood involved if we are to improve enough to win those 3or4 elusive back to back wins that will put us top 6..

Why are we looking poor with so much money spent.

Because NE played a high pressing game in the oppo half.. and didn’t like to play in our half. NH likes to keep it down, so we’re in transition.

Because NE played a high pressing game in the oppo half.. and didn’t like to play in our half. NH likes to keep it down, so we’re in transition.

Spot on but in some people's eyes Harris's time is already up

Because NE played a high pressing game in the oppo half.. and didn’t like to play in our half. NH likes to keep it down, so we’re in transition.

Spot on but in some people's eyes Harris's time is already up

two sides cancelling each other out made for a poor spectacle. but for the manager if you cant win you don't lose. job done. and a draw against 3rd in the league is not an awful result even if your top anywhere other than here.. personally id have thought results would have needed to be far worse before writing him off but its so so negative here its unreal..

Nml actually looked like he wanted to have a go. Murphy... Well. ... What a disappointment.

We actually looked better running at them. Bacuna nml and Tomlin tore them open on more than 1 occasion we just didn't have the support there for them

Nml actually looked like he wanted to have a go. Murphy... Well. ... What a disappointment.

We actually looked better running at them. Bacuna nml and Tomlin tore them open on more than 1 occasion we just didn't have the support there for them

Agree.

My first game watching a team under Harris and I thought what a great front line we had on paper before the match.

Murphy & NML can rip apart defences on their day, Glatzel I believe can do a great job with the right service and Tomlin is so skilful and creative.

Then the match started!

Murphy hiding and didn’t want to know like a frightened little rabbit, NML disappointing and played poorly, Glatzel had to deal with balls launched at him at all heights and Tomlin, to be fair, the only one who came out with any credit.

Harris needs time without a doubt but I saw no improvement in play, very little change in tactics and certainly no speed or movement of players since Warnock’s tenure.

Preston were slightly the better team but were also poor considering their league position.

Murphy is a defensive liability. Sure. He can run fast and when in the mood can threaten defenses. But when the ball is lost and they attack us he stands there looking for a few seconds before trotting back

Agree with most said here however I felt the same about Murphy until he went off he looked gutted Harris and the other coach hugged him when he came off he looked distraught shaking his head he knew he had a bad game . He didn't go off and without a care so I did feel a bit for him as we all know when he is on form he can scare any defence but he was poor yesterday and he knew it himself.

We are missing ralls ,Murphy is a shadow of the player he was and needs to be moved on , jazz done well more solid defender than Bennett,glatzel had no service we are desperately needing a bit of forward creativity in the middle of the park to supply our attackers the sad thing is we are not that far away from the play offs and one or two un the transfer window could sort us out , hopefully Harris can bring the right player in

We are missing ralls ,Murphy is a shadow of the player he was and needs to be moved on , jazz done well more solid defender than Bennett,glatzel had no service we are desperately needing a bit of forward creativity in the middle of the park to supply our attackers the sad thing is we are not that far away from the play offs and one or two un the transfer window could sort us out , hopefully Harris can bring the right player in

Top post. Agree with all that.
Skating Glatzel on yesterday’s performance is stupid as he had awful service but showed one or two glimpses that he and LT could come good - maybe more so away from home.

Agree with most said here however I felt the same about Murphy until he went off he looked gutted Harris and the other coach hugged him when he came off he looked distraught shaking his head he knew he had a bad game . He didn't go off and without a care so I did feel a bit for him as we all know when he is on form he can scare any defence but he was poor yesterday and he knew it himself.

Maybe he was shaking his head as a sizeable amount of the crowd cheered when he was called off. How ever bad anyone is playing, I’d never ever do that.

Agree with most said here however I felt the same about Murphy until he went off he looked gutted Harris and the other coach hugged him when he came off he looked distraught shaking his head he knew he had a bad game . He didn't go off and without a care so I did feel a bit for him as we all know when he is on form he can scare any defence but he was poor yesterday and he knew it himself.

Maybe he was shaking his head as a sizeable amount of the crowd cheered when he was called off. How ever bad anyone is playing, I’d never ever do that.

I really didn't get that, yes he didn't have a great game but no one did. No one else has that reaction.

I think Murphy is a good player but in the wrong team. He is a 433 wide forward, he needs space and our system doesn't give him that. His confidence looks shot. Luckily he is still young and English so I don't think we will have trouble moving him on.

In the cold light of day without the beer in me, we need to sacrifice at least one of the wingers maybe both. Malky had next to no pace on the flanks and it worked.

I do like the look of Glatzel, and I can't believe I am saying this but Paterson on the right may take some of the physicality requirement away from Glatzel. He looked a little trimmer and can knock a decent cross in. None of our wingers get to the byline , we just lose pace but that allows team to push up on us.

I think Murphy is a good player but in the wrong team. He is a 433 wide forward, he needs space and our system doesn't give him that. His confidence looks shot. Luckily he is still young and English so I don't think we will have trouble moving him on.

In the cold light of day without the beer in me, we need to sacrifice at least one of the wingers maybe both. Malky had next to no pace on the flanks and it worked.

I do like the look of Glatzel, and I can't believe I am saying this but Paterson on the right may take some of the physicality requirement away from Glatzel. He looked a little trimmer and can knock a decent cross in. None of our wingers get to the byline , we just lose pace but that allows team to push up on us.

It could be a simple as swapping players around and losing certain players? While our football is poor our actual scoring is good just 12 behind WBA , we do not have a solid platform for pressing teams yesterday was prime example 1 corner 90+ mins that is indicative of what is wrong at moment! A change of tactics which means change of personal is imperative if we are to make a consistent effort to win 3or4 games in a row which us whats needed to be in top 6 at end season..

I think Murphy is a good player but in the wrong team. He is a 433 wide forward, he needs space and our system doesn't give him that. His confidence looks shot. Luckily he is still young and English so I don't think we will have trouble moving him on.

In the cold light of day without the beer in me, we need to sacrifice at least one of the wingers maybe both. Malky had next to no pace on the flanks and it worked.

I do like the look of Glatzel, and I can't believe I am saying this but Paterson on the right may take some of the physicality requirement away from Glatzel. He looked a little trimmer and can knock a decent cross in. None of our wingers get to the byline , we just lose pace but that allows team to push up on us.

It could be a simple as swapping players around and losing certain players? While our football is poor our actual scoring is good just 12 behind WBA , we do not have a solid platform for pressing teams yesterday was prime example 1 corner 90+ mins that is indicative of what is wrong at moment! A change of tactics which means change of personal is imperative if we are to make a consistent effort to win 3or4 games in a row which us whats needed to be in top 6 at end season..

:lol:

I think Murphy is a good player but in the wrong team. He is a 433 wide forward, he needs space and our system doesn't give him that. His confidence looks shot. Luckily he is still young and English so I don't think we will have trouble moving him on.

In the cold light of day without the beer in me, we need to sacrifice at least one of the wingers maybe both. Malky had next to no pace on the flanks and it worked.

I do like the look of Glatzel, and I can't believe I am saying this but Paterson on the right may take some of the physicality requirement away from Glatzel. He looked a little trimmer and can knock a decent cross in. None of our wingers get to the byline , we just lose pace but that allows team to push up on us.

It could be a simple as swapping players around and losing certain players? While our football is poor our actual scoring is good just 12 behind WBA , we do not have a solid platform for pressing teams yesterday was prime example 1 corner 90+ mins that is indicative of what is wrong at moment! A change of tactics which means change of personal is imperative if we are to make a consistent effort to win 3or4 games in a row which us whats needed to be in top 6 at end season..

Awww bless not wanted over xmas fo come and need a cwtch!

Was painful watching the game. Might have looked ok defensively but we were totally clueless going forward and seemed incapable of stringing a few passes together. Too many hit and hope balls hit long which just came straight back at us. Lucky Preston were poor in the final third or I doubt we would have got anything from the game. I used to think our problem was in the middle of pitch. But I think it’s our wingers and fullbacks that is the problem. Wingers completely out of form and fullbacks that don’t offer much going forward means we are poor when attacking. Hopefully Harris can bring a fullback and winger in in January.

It wasn't pretty, but there were a few plusses and I certainly agree that we look like a team in transition. We're trying to play to feet from the back but after a few years of hitting the front much earlier (which worked perfectly well for 2 seasons) it doesn't come naturally and a few times you could see players stopping mid swing to ensure we kept the ball.

That's not a criticism by the way, I just think it will take time and, possibly, a few new players.

Tomlin didn't have his best game and, in the end, was trying too many flicks rather than just keeping it simple but I do think he and Glatzel are worth persevering with.

I heard a few people slagging Glatzel on the way out of the ground but can anybody remember him having a single pass to feet in or around the box ? He certainly didn't miss any decent chances because we didn't create any !!

Jazz, Nelson and Bacuna played really well and you can see them thriving in a team playing more football as well as Pack.

I thought that would be the same for Murphy but, unfortunately, he doesn't seem to be willing to put the hard/any yards in to make it happen for himself. If it wasn't for the fact he's probably on a lucrative contract I'd say he'd be off in January but I just can't see anyone paying the transfer fee never wind the wages he'd be looking for.

There are signs that this team is developing but January will be important in terms of player movement and the next 3/4 games will be too as we need to be in touch to make any sort of impact in the back end of the season.

It wasn't pretty, but there were a few plusses and I certainly agree that we look like a team in transition. We're trying to play to feet from the back but after a few years of hitting the front much earlier (which worked perfectly well for 2 seasons) it doesn't come naturally and a few times you could see players stopping mid swing to ensure we kept the ball.

That's not a criticism by the way, I just think it will take time and, possibly, a few new players.

Tomlin didn't have his best game and, in the end, was trying too many flicks rather than just keeping it simple but I do think he and Glatzel are worth persevering with.

I heard a few people slagging Glatzel on the way out of the ground but can anybody remember him having a single pass to feet in or around the box ? He certainly didn't miss any decent chances because we didn't create any !!

Jazz, Nelson and Bacuna played really well and you can see them thriving in a team playing more football as well as Pack.

I thought that would be the same for Murphy but, unfortunately, he doesn't seem to be willing to put the hard/any yards in to make it happen for himself. If it wasn't for the fact he's probably on a lucrative contract I'd say he'd be off in January but I just can't see anyone paying the transfer fee never wind the wages he'd be looking for.

There are signs that this team is developing but January will be important in terms of player movement and the next 3/4 games will be too as we need to be in touch to make any sort of impact in the back end of the season.

Got impression the marked Tomlin one to one so preventing him foing anything other than to try quick flicks to beat player, but January window is crucial in what happens rest season.

It wasn't pretty, but there were a few plusses and I certainly agree that we look like a team in transition. We're trying to play to feet from the back but after a few years of hitting the front much earlier (which worked perfectly well for 2 seasons) it doesn't come naturally and a few times you could see players stopping mid swing to ensure we kept the ball.

That's not a criticism by the way, I just think it will take time and, possibly, a few new players.

Tomlin didn't have his best game and, in the end, was trying too many flicks rather than just keeping it simple but I do think he and Glatzel are worth persevering with.

I heard a few people slagging Glatzel on the way out of the ground but can anybody remember him having a single pass to feet in or around the box ? He certainly didn't miss any decent chances because we didn't create any !!

Jazz, Nelson and Bacuna played really well and you can see them thriving in a team playing more football as well as Pack.

I thought that would be the same for Murphy but, unfortunately, he doesn't seem to be willing to put the hard/any yards in to make it happen for himself. If it wasn't for the fact he's probably on a lucrative contract I'd say he'd be off in January but I just can't see anyone paying the transfer fee never wind the wages he'd be looking for.

There are signs that this team is developing but January will be important in terms of player movement and the next 3/4 games will be too as we need to be in touch to make any sort of impact in the back end of the season.

Got impression the marked Tomlin one to one so preventing him foing anything other than to try quick flicks to beat player, but January window is crucial in what happens rest season.

Don't get me wrong, Tomlin is way in credit at the moment and is bound to have a quiet one every now and again. Being man marked is something he needs to get used to and I thought he was a bit static instead of looking to take his marker into places he didn't want to be or just playing it simple to keep the move going.

That's probably down to the number of minutes he's played recently after hardly having played for a couple of seasons, hopefully next game he'll be right back on it

It wasn't pretty, but there were a few plusses and I certainly agree that we look like a team in transition. We're trying to play to feet from the back but after a few years of hitting the front much earlier (which worked perfectly well for 2 seasons) it doesn't come naturally and a few times you could see players stopping mid swing to ensure we kept the ball.

That's not a criticism by the way, I just think it will take time and, possibly, a few new players.

Tomlin didn't have his best game and, in the end, was trying too many flicks rather than just keeping it simple but I do think he and Glatzel are worth persevering with.

I heard a few people slagging Glatzel on the way out of the ground but can anybody remember him having a single pass to feet in or around the box ? He certainly didn't miss any decent chances because we didn't create any !!

Jazz, Nelson and Bacuna played really well and you can see them thriving in a team playing more football as well as Pack.

I thought that would be the same for Murphy but, unfortunately, he doesn't seem to be willing to put the hard/any yards in to make it happen for himself. If it wasn't for the fact he's probably on a lucrative contract I'd say he'd be off in January but I just can't see anyone paying the transfer fee never wind the wages he'd be looking for.

There are signs that this team is developing but January will be important in terms of player movement and the next 3/4 games will be too as we need to be in touch to make any sort of impact in the back end of the season.

Got impression the marked Tomlin one to one so preventing him foing anything other than to try quick flicks to beat player, but January window is crucial in what happens rest season.

Don't get me wrong, Tomlin is way in credit at the moment and is bound to have a quiet one every now and again. Being man marked is something he needs to get used to and I thought he was a bit static instead of looking to take his marker into places he didn't want to be or just playing it simple to keep the move going.

That's probably down to the number of minutes he's played recently after hardly having played for a couple of seasons, hopefully next game he'll be right back on it

He seemed to find a bit of space when he went to the left side of midfield when we played 2 up top.

I dont understand why we dont play with some of our best assets, the wingers.

We never seem to try a through ball in front of them to run on to or see a give and go, which to me is pretty simple.

Currently the other team just need to man mark our striker and Tomlin.

Love to see Murphy going down the wing wondering if he will cut in and shoot or cross. NML has shown the odd flash of it

I dont understand why we dont play with some of our best assets, the wingers.

We never seem to try a through ball in front of them to run on to or see a give and go, which to me is pretty simple.

Currently the other team just need to man mark our striker and Tomlin.

Love to see Murphy going down the wing wondering if he will cut in and shoot or cross. NML has shown the odd flash of it

Seems the OP's initial post was more popular than he perceived it might be and I agree with a lot of the content, including your comments above

Seeing the wingers 'plying their trade' and getting it right is one of the beauties of football and can be at the CCS, if the players are given their legs in the proper formation

I dont understand why we dont play with some of our best assets, the wingers.

We never seem to try a through ball in front of them to run on to or see a give and go, which to me is pretty simple.

Currently the other team just need to man mark our striker and Tomlin.

Love to see Murphy going down the wing wondering if he will cut in and shoot or cross. NML has shown the odd flash of it

Seems the OP's initial post was more popular than he perceived it might be and I agree with a lot of the content, including your comments above

Seeing the wingers 'plying their trade' and getting it right is one of the beauties of football and can be at the CCS, if the players are given their legs in the proper formation

They are to busy defending to be up the field attacking! Take look when we are defending a corner and Etheridge gets the ball he as no one wide to pass ball to and he doesn't when eventually he kicks it! Really need change of philosophy but as of yet it's very much same as NW way of 11 man defending our area from dead ball situation , resul no one upfront to pass to ..

I think because we are playing them defensive the other team can come to our stadium and play like the home team, pretty much 75% of the home games so far i felt we play as if we are away and just looking like we don't want to conceded.

Really when we are home its the other team that should be worried.

4231 fits our team so well and we could be such a joy to watch, at the moment its pray the other dont score and hope we do