[Devongone]

As we are so decidedly moderate at the moment, packed to the gunwhales with geriatrics I just wondered if there any rumours flying around that we are interested in Tom Cursons?

Who?

Well he is playing down the road at Ilkeston. He's scoring plenty of goals and looking like an EFL-class act every week. Apparently a number of EFL clubs are after him, I just vaguely wondered if we might be one of them? He's a student at Nottingham Trent.

If we can't even beat Gary Caldwell isn't it time to wake ourselves up and start to look like a Paul Cook side more than once every six weeks? And perhaps consider bringing back Bailey Hobson and Kane Drummond too to freshen things up?

[Dancingwilldoit]

Drummond hasn't pulled up any trees at Oldham but agree about Hobson. Drummond not scored and has hardly featured recently. Hobson on the other hand seems to be enjoying himself.
Madden injured in the warm up. Must be something wrong with the training kit. Maybe the shorts are too tight cutting the blood flow, it's not only our keepers.
Bring back Joe Quigley I say (joking I think)

[Devongone]

I don't think Oldham's style of play suits Drummond. They seem to play him as support striker to eith Fondop or Norwood.

Uchegbulam can't get a game either ........ In fact only Raglan and Fondop-Talom of their huge ex-Chesterfield contingent seem to be doing the business.

There's no point in leaving Drummond on loan somewhere he isn't doing well ........ He's starred with different teams at lower levels for three seasons, so it is reasonable to assume this dip is temporary.

I agree about us warming up all the way to destruction. I'm convinced these warm-ups are merely to justify staff jobs. They are of ZERO benefit to the players.

Joe Quigley is behind Doidge at Forest Green, so he might as well he remained on our bench. But at least he's had a change of diet.

[spireitematt]

We have a lot of players out injured and I guess some players will be moved on in January to bring in reinforcements. I think there is an overreaction on Bob's Board about losing to Exeter. We are 8th in L2.

[Dancingwilldoit]

Kane Drummond recalled from Oldham

[Devongone]

Great move there. We bring back a player who isn't succeeding a tier lower, put him straight in the squad and bring him on at 2-0 down when we've only got 10 men. Bet that built his confidence sky-high! But at least we know now that Cookie isn't satisfied with things either.

Isn't it strange how teams start to fail when long-term managers get a new contract? Pep's extended contract at Man City or ..........

I haven't read Bob's Board. I suppose I have to, do I Matt?

Liam Jessop played at MKD???????? Mr Cook is more than red-faced by the sound of that. And Oldaker gets himself sent off ....... another lead balloon.

---

Great move there. We bring back a player who isn't succeeding a tier lower, put him straight in the squad and bring him on at 2-0 down when we've only got 10 men. Bet that built his confidence sky-high! But at least we know now that Cookie isn't satisfied with things either.

Isn't it strange how teams start to fail when long-term managers get a new contract? Pep's extended contract at Man City or ..........

I haven't read Bob's Board. I suppose I have to, do I Matt?

Liam Jessop played at MKD???????? Mr Cook is more than red-faced by the sound of that. And Oldaker gets himself sent off ....... another lead balloon.

I blame you MATT!!!!!! I just read a bit of Bob's Board. If you need me I'll be checking in at The Priory. Next door to Wayne Rooney. I now know why I left Bob's forever.

My view is YES we have lots of injuries. I think we would be sensible to ask why. As we are even getting them warming up it suggests something is SERIOUSLY wrong within our back-up staff and their methods. Things happen for a reason. I don't believe in God and especially not as a micro-manager at Sheffield Road levels.

Bob's is very keen on applying hindsight and putting their own interpretation on Jessop's selection last night. I'm pretty sure Mr Cook was partly sending a message to the team, but it is in any case very difficult to decide when a young player is ready to play at a much higher level. We see examples of youngsters who are cotton-wooled far too long and begin to go backwards before being offered a dog's chance (sub' away at 4-0 down to a top team), we also see young players faced with demands initially beyond them - Man City did it very recently with a centre back, but occasionally we see a Tyler Dibling at Southampton (or a Saka) and we are left wondering how long have they been waiting to deliver their stunning ability. It's hard. For some making that leap is a nightmare, others just do it without a thought. The player and the circumstances have to be right and there are a huge number of variables to be taken into account. Bob's is full of crocodile tears for Jessop, but he played for Chesterfield. He got on that field!!!!!! (My dad didn't want me to play 1st team football for his team in goal at just 17, because he thought I'd be a target for a lot of rough play and find the demands very difficult. Unfortunately my dad died of a heart attack and two weeks later they asked if I'd be prepared to try stepping up. My dad never got to see me play one of the best games I ever played ..... It turned out I was ready and was big enough and strong enough to handle it. But my dad was just protecting me. It isn't easy to know at amateur or professional level. I was a schoolboy, around me and against me were some big, tough blokes. I don't think Cookie would have thrown a young lad to the wolves, but every manager can get these things very wrong or very right. So Cookie got it wrong. He's got Bailey Hobson wrong too. Hey ho.

[Dancingwilldoit]

Hobson now recalled. Humble pie from the Boss maybe.

[Devongone]

I AM the manager.

[spireitematt]

In the last 3-4 years we have gained new supporters because of the last few exciting seasons in non-league but I've noticed these new supporters on social media believe that Cook is out of his depth and that the players are not good enough. They seem to think we should be running away with the league like we were last season, but last season was a freak season which will very likely never be repeated. I wonder how many remember the Caldwell or Saunder's years? Not many or none at all I reckon.

I remember the McFarland years where staying in L1 was a success on a rather small budget.

[Dancingwilldoit]

Problem we have is exactly as Dev (the boss) and I thought. Too many older players is not a good way to go. They are usually injury prone and take longer to fully recover. We just didn't cater for so many at the same time. It's happened before and it'll happen again. We need a younger mix and bring our youth squad in gradually not like we did Tuesday. That is just piss poor management.
Injuries have decimated us but I have no idea what Grimes must have done. To be benched again on Tuesday was a real jaw dropper.
I still don't think Dobra brings anything to the table. I know others beg to differ but he needs a long rest. Refs have him in their little black book. He can't even win us a Free Kick ATM.
It's not going to happen but I would love to see a back 3 off Aroujo Grimes and Williams. If we played a midfield 3 of Gordon Hobson and Shackleton. Move the ball forward quickly not piss around at the back. I reckon I could be the next town manager.
We are just so predictable. For this league we need to adapt and be flexible depending on the opposition.