Darrell Clarke after AFC Wimbledon defeat

[Jon Palmer]

Interview here: https://www.gloucestershirelive.co.uk/s ... wn-8883884

[Ihearye]

First thoughts on listening to that is RM days are numbered. We seem to have brought in and retained the wrong people in the squad.

[Nesty]

Ouch !!!

I can see there being significant changes in January.......... on and off the pitch

[HamTown]

Think he should have held his hands up with the wrong tactics. Couldn't see with my own eyes but slow defence, Will Ferry still seems to be thrown about in all sorts of positions and Lloyd still no more than an squad player to me. Adshead for Olayinka another one that was a head scratcher

[Jerry St Clair]

Think he should have held his hands up with the wrong tactics. Couldn't see with my own eyes but slow defence, Will Ferry still seems to be thrown about in all sorts of positions

Why did no-one ask him about this? It’s the most glaringly obvious question about DC’s team selection and none of them ask him about it.

It’s baffling.

[art vandalay]

We‘ve made progress under DC but there‘s no point shirking away from it looking like a poor team selection, just as it was for the first half at Blackpool, and we‘re not getting the best out of Ferry by continually playing him out of position.

[longmover]

we’ll see what we’re really about against Wigan, some players are done here after today.

[HamTown]

we’ll see what we’re really about against Wigan, some players are done here after today.

Seen a couple of other similar posts. Apart from Adshead who else?

[longmover]

we’ll see what we’re really about against Wigan, some players are done here after today.

Seen a couple of other similar posts. Apart from Adshead who else?

Keena, three months now and nothing to show from it. Get him out on loan, it’s obvious DC see’s nothing in him.

[Malabus]

We‘ve made progress under DC but there‘s no point shirking away from it looking like a poor team selection, just as it was for the first half at Blackpool, and we‘re not getting the best out of Ferry by continually playing him out of position.

Agree 100%

[asl]

"Clarke Out!"

[paperboy]

"Clarke Out!"

Wade didn't ever recover from the Stourbridge defeat last year.

[Si Robin]

Alvechurch.

Stourbridge was pre-season of the 11/12 season, and is used to show that pre-season means squat.

As for DC - I don't think he should be immune from criticism. Yesterday was poor, and Will Ferry must be questioning why he's never started in his strongest position. That's not to say DC should be sacked, but it would be nice if the media weren't scared to ask him basic questions about his team selection.

[paperboy]

Alvechurch.

Stourbridge was pre-season of the 11/12 season, and is used to show that pre-season means squat.

As for DC - I don't think he should be immune from criticism. Yesterday was poor, and Will Ferry must be questioning why he's never started in his strongest position. That's not to say DC should be sacked, but it would be nice if the media weren't scared to ask him basic questions about his team selection.

Yes Alvechurch, thanks!

DC is still in the honeymoon period and Radio Glos are still fan- girling to some extent.
In fairness he's done well with what he has at his disposal.
He's slagged off the recruiting so it'll be interesting what happens in January to see if he can walk the walk as well as talk the talk.

Re Ferry, every time he's played him on the right it's lasted till half time at most so surely he must now realise what looks good in training doesn't work in reality.

[RegencyCheltenhamSpa]

Re Ferry, I think it’s a case of him being our best player and one who DC trusts. So when we are short of players in other positions, Ferry is willing to play there and DC trusts him to do so.

I don’t necessarily agree it is effective, but I think that’s the logic.

[robinsrule]

It was hard to pick anyone out yesterday as being particularly bad because every single player was dreadful for the first 75 mins! The most important thing is the reaction from the players next week. Over the last couple of seasons we’ve been good at bouncing back after defeats but that positive trait evaporated at the start of this season. Let’s see if the players are up for it.

We actually started quite well for the first 10 mins yesterday and were well on top without creating anything. Then our confidence quickly drained away which shows how fragile the whole squad is.

[longmover]

anybody think DC may have been using this game as a bit of an experiment? he’s here to keep us in the league not win the FA Cup.

[Si Robin]

If he wants to make changes in January, then a cup run was crucial. We missed out on £41k prize money yesterday. Tuesday was the time to experiment. A cup game in a comp we're already out of.

[longmover]

If he wants to make changes in January, then a cup run was crucial. We missed out on £41k prize money yesterday. Tuesday was the time to experiment. A cup game in a comp we're already out of.

maybe he was given assurances funds would be available, they don’t budget for cup runs (evidently)

[Si Robin]

I know they don't, but this was a real chance for something positive this season.

I don't accept that a cup run would have hindered our relegation battle either. The second round is a free weekend and there's every chance our fixture with Portsmouth on 3rd round day will be moved anyway if they get that far (they play Chesterfield in a bit).

I don't see any defence for yesterday from either the players or the management.

[robinsrule]

If he wants to make changes in January, then a cup run was crucial. We missed out on £41k prize money yesterday. Tuesday was the time to experiment. A cup game in a comp we're already out of.

100%. A win yesterday and we could have had a favourable home draw in round 2 then Man U away in round 3 (also winnable ). That equates to a couple of new players in Jan.

[art vandalay]

A cup run would bring confidence, money and a welcome break from mostly losing league games. Man City game aside, our record over the past dozen or so years is pretty bleak and represents one missed opportunity after another.

If anyone at the club is not taking these games 100% seriously, please let me know and I’ll replicate this stance by not turning up.

[horlickfanclub]

The Manager must take his share of yesterdays poor result. Picking two players who seemed out of the picture and subbing off Ferry leaving us with no left footer on that side was bizarre. He is already repititive with his excuses.
He is a tinkerman. Let things settle a bit. We had a reasonable week and then he ballsed it up. I agree that he is being given a soft ride by the media.

[Fuller]

A cup run would bring confidence, money and a welcome break from mostly losing league games. Man City game aside, our record over the past dozen or so years is pretty bleak and represents one missed opportunity after another.

If anyone at the club is not taking these games 100% seriously, please let me know and I’ll replicate this stance by not turning up.

Yes, since Spurs in 2012 and Everton in 2013 we’ve only got beyond round two once, and that was in 2021 when we played Man City, and despite no crowds due to Covid, we made a very tidy sum of money that year. It’s not really good enough.

[art vandalay]

A cup run would bring confidence, money and a welcome break from mostly losing league games. Man City game aside, our record over the past dozen or so years is pretty bleak and represents one missed opportunity after another.

If anyone at the club is not taking these games 100% seriously, please let me know and I’ll replicate this stance by not turning up.

Yes, since Spurs in 2012 and Everton in 2013 we’ve only got beyond round two once, and that was in 2021 when we played Man City, and despite no crowds due to Covid, we made a very tidy sum of money that year. It’s not really good enough.

And about half a dozen defeats to non-League clubs.

[Warwickshire Robin]

The Manager must take his share of yesterdays poor result. Picking two players who seemed out of the picture and subbing off Ferry leaving us with no left footer on that side was bizarre. He is already repititive with his excuses.
He is a tinkerman. Let things settle a bit. We had a reasonable week and then he ballsed it up. I agree that he is being given a soft ride by the media.

Agree with most of this but I think subbing Ferry may have been due to injury. He seemed to take a knock late in the first half when going down under a challenge deep in Wimbledon's half (which the ref gave nothing for, he seemed happy to let anything other than GBH go unpunished unless it was committed by one of ours).

He was hobbling after that so hopefully it was just a precaution and not a serious knock or a bizarre tactical change.

[robinsrule]

The Manager must take his share of yesterdays poor result. Picking two players who seemed out of the picture and subbing off Ferry leaving us with no left footer on that side was bizarre. He is already repititive with his excuses.
He is a tinkerman. Let things settle a bit. We had a reasonable week and then he ballsed it up. I agree that he is being given a soft ride by the media.

Jeez, give the guy a break. He’s been in the door 5 minutes and inherited by far the worst team in the league. I agree there is no need for unnecessary tinkering but he’s still trying to find his best team and formation.

I think people’s expectations are too high if they are expecting us to win every game, let alone stay up. The manager made mistakes yesterday but the players were absolutely woeful almost to a man.

[Si Robin]

The Manager must take his share of yesterdays poor result. Picking two players who seemed out of the picture and subbing off Ferry leaving us with no left footer on that side was bizarre. He is already repititive with his excuses.
He is a tinkerman. Let things settle a bit. We had a reasonable week and then he ballsed it up. I agree that he is being given a soft ride by the media.

Jeez, give the guy a break. He’s been in the door 5 minutes and inherited by far the worst team in the league. I agree there is no need for unnecessary tinkering but he’s still trying to find his best team and formation.

I think people’s expectations are too high if they are expecting us to win every game, let alone stay up. The manager made mistakes yesterday but the players were absolutely woeful almost to a man.

I don't think anyone is expecting to win every game, but being competitive against a team from the division below is a minimum expectation surely?

I would also say staying up is not too high an expectation either. We're only two wins from being outside the relegation zone. We're, rightly, favourites for the drop, but staying up won't be some kind of miracle at all.

[paperboy]

A post that hasn't aged well....

The second round is a free weekend and there's every chance our fixture with Portsmouth on 3rd round day will be moved anyway if they get that far (they play Chesterfield in a bit

Can we swap Jamie Grimes for Curtis Davies?

[paperboy]

Oh well we didn't want a risky home draw against Ramsgate anyway did we?

[andgarod]

so was recruitment rusty to blame
or the board
DC has a touch of the Maddock about him
he has done better than buckle
Milton or Clarke most I repeat must be sorting out the January deals now not 31st december

[robinsrule]

The Manager must take his share of yesterdays poor result. Picking two players who seemed out of the picture and subbing off Ferry leaving us with no left footer on that side was bizarre. He is already repititive with his excuses.
He is a tinkerman. Let things settle a bit. We had a reasonable week and then he ballsed it up. I agree that he is being given a soft ride by the media.

Jeez, give the guy a break. He’s been in the door 5 minutes and inherited by far the worst team in the league. I agree there is no need for unnecessary tinkering but he’s still trying to find his best team and formation.

I think people’s expectations are too high if they are expecting us to win every game, let alone stay up. The manager made mistakes yesterday but the players were absolutely woeful almost to a man.

I don't think anyone is expecting to win every game, but being competitive against a team from the division below is a minimum expectation surely?

I would also say staying up is not too high an expectation either. We're only two wins from being outside the relegation zone. We're, rightly, favourites for the drop, but staying up won't be some kind of miracle at all.

I agree, we should have been far more competitive yesterday, but I put most of that on the players. They were shocking under Wade and the same bunch of players were shocking again yesterday. The manager can only do so much and there is a reason why he is managing us and not in the Premier League.

I disagree about us staying up and what an achievement it would be. History would suggest that we are down (as are Sheffields Utd and Wed in the leagues above) by looking at other teams with our points tally at this stage of the season. That six point gap is more likely to grow than shrink, in my opinion. We have to win two matches (and the teams above us lose) just to get on an even keel - and we’ve won 2 in 15 so far.

I was starting to feel a little optimistic that we might pull it off by I have been deflated by yesterday’s performance.

[Fuller]

Robinsrule - I think everybody involved with CTFC must have been seriously deflated after yesterday’s result and performance.
I, like many supporters, have their weekends either made or spoilt by what happens on a Saturday afternoon.
I’m presuming and hoping the players feel the same.
Let’s give Clarkey a few months to sort it out.

[Ihearye]

When I saw the tram selection I presumed it was a mix of resting some players and experimenting to see different options and if some were worth taking a chance on. If it helps on any way, I would much rather have 3 points because of it than be in the next round. League survival is all that matters in the long run.

[Shade]

Well, he now knows that Adshead and others can't do it against a L2 team, let alone L1, so there are positives to be taken from the game. I assume if DC manages to get 15 players out in January and manages to recruit another 7 or 8 better then we might still be paying about the same amount in wages.

I'd be scouring the weekends footage to be picking up some bargains, based on how many upsets there were for L1 and L2 teams. Some of the goals Aldershot banged in against Swindon were far beyond the finishing we have witnessed from our team this season.