Match Thread

Shame we didn't take at least a point from this. With a difficult run of fixtures coming up I fear we'll be looking over our shoulders. Tranmere have a decent run-in and have a feeling they'll sneak into the play-offs - hopefully not at our expense.

Quoted from Mariner93er

Hurst did get it wrong today but my God, how are the players getting away with barely any criticism here. I saw an interview with Graeme Souness the other week were he said players get away with murder nowadays, escape a large amount of criticism which is then diverted to the manager. I can't help but feel he's right.

I'm sure that the supporters who suffered the non performance today will have plenty to say about the players when they return tonight. By the sounds of it, they did little to deserve that fabulous travelling backing they received today.

Quoted from davmariner

Shame we didn't take at least a point from this. With a difficult run of fixtures coming up I fear we'll be looking over our shoulders. Tranmere have a decent run-in and have a feeling they'll sneak into the play-offs - hopefully not at our expense.

It's the better teams i dont fear us playing though..The crud well that's a different story.  

Quoted from Sigone

It's the better teams i dont fear us playing though..The crud well that's a different story.  

Thats all very well but its not logic is it,  and its a pattern that could easily change come the play offs

Quoted from Mariner93er

Hurst did get it wrong today but my God, how are the players getting away with barely any criticism here. I saw an interview with Graeme Souness the other week were he said players get away with murder nowadays, escape a large amount of criticism which is then diverted to the manager. I can't help but feel he's right.

You've made a really good point there. But the manager is there to inspire confidence and set out tactics the players will believe in. If us fans find it hard to find any inspiration in Hurst, imagine how the players feel working with him day in day out. I don't think he morphs into Alex Ferguson on the training ground. He also picks the team, the formation and orders them to play to a certain style, method and shape.

Some players have been tossing it off for weeks. Unfortunately, like the manager, they think they just need to get to the play offs and that will do for now.

Quoted from Bigdog

You've made a really good point there. But the manager is there to inspire confidence and set out tactics the players will believe in. If us fans find it hard to find any inspiration in Hurst, imagine how the players feel working with him day in day out. I don't think he morphs into Alex Ferguson on the training ground. He also picks the team, the formation and orders them to play to a certain style, method and shape.

I honestly believe the impact a manager can have on confidence is limited, with previous performances dictating it much more. And you're right, and maybe his tactics weren't correct today. But what about the other times we've failed to beat lower opposition when the tactic used has worked previously, surely that is a result of the player rather than the manager. I'm not saying Hurst should avoid criticism, but I do feel he is really let down by the players on days like this.

It'd be great if we could take off one of these under performing players and put a new, chomping at the bit player, eager to prove himself in their place.
Sort of substituting one player for another in a (get this bit!) tactical way.

It could take off, who knows.

Quoted from Garth

Thats all very well but its not logic is it,  and its a pattern that could easily change come the play offs

Football is never logical...Seems that when the players feel a challenge they rise to it..Motivation from either the management team OR the players individually(collectively)  should be called into question.

Quoted from Mariner93er

I honestly believe the impact a manager can have on confidence is limited, with previous performances dictating it much more. And you're right, and maybe his tactics weren't correct today. But what about the other times we've failed to beat lower opposition when the tactic used has worked previously, surely that is a result of the player rather than the manager. I'm not saying Hurst should avoid criticism, but I do feel he is really let down by the players on days like this.

I meant players personal confidence in team selection, management of squad, signings, formation etc. Results and performances do breed confidence though. It's more about whether the players fully buy into his decisions. I think scraping a few wins has papered over the cracks since Halifax. The Bogle outburst was clear evidence that the squad's faith in Hurst's decisions was running a little thin. It has left us brittle when it comes to performances and I'm worried that a team like Tranmere will have the real momentum going into the play offs.