JD

I hope so. A lot to expect Amaechi, Watts and Pleggy to get up to speed and save the season! TCs squad got thin at Watford and they tanked. We had a deep squad when we won L1. I’d rather competition for places than whatever this is. Money was there so presumably was TCs wish.

We can’t even put out a full bench. Club dropped a bollock with poor recruitment and we’re paying the price. Not convinced by TC as so many problems. Tolaj is so isolated and despite 3 CBs we get opened up constantly. WBs so far from goal and midfield always overrun. Too many holes.

Feeding on scraps. Pepple been no help. Tolaj has to carry the team. Boateng been honking. Why on earth would you play Sorinola out of position and bench Mumba in this game!?

Dreadful team selection. Still unable to progress the ball and players evaporate whenever we lose possession.

Didn't happen as soon as I expected it to but writing was on the wall. As you say, that 7 weeks was ridiculous!

Hope Mitchell isn’t serious!

I don’t know how he didn’t score that bicycle kick. Couldn’t have hit it better 🤦‍♂️ chuffed with the Luton and Stockport results but it’s such a shame the squad is so thin. Feel like we’ll bounce around mid table until Feb where we might go on a run to playoffs (with any luck)

He is by far and away our best player and will hit 15+ if he stays fit. That bicycle kick, having got it on target, is a goal 9 times out of 10. The angle was awkward for the one off the post. Just lacked composure.

I’d prefer Bali LWB too. Just think TC will keep him high. Benarous looks tidy enough. Admittedly it was QPR youth but looked alright there in that cup game too.

Benarous at LWB I would hope. Wiredu, Mitchell and Ross the back 3.

Small squad was always a good idea 👍

Only just had a chance to read it. More red and yellow flags than anything green! Agree, that 9s thing is odd.

I agree Houghton was 'limited' but he's playing a key role sat 2nd in the league. We shouldn't have been so quick to offload him and more ridiculous we went looking for same profile. Like Joni sang "you don't know what you've got till it's gone, they passed it sideways and put up possession stats."

Yeh, we should’ve and could’ve. Can’t wait to get gaslit at next forum about how “we’ve signed 14 players, what else do we want?” 🤣

Still convinced we’re going to hear that Randle left and that’s why we didn’t sign a player for 4 weeks.

Outside of Tolaj, I think the “top 6” budget hasn’t played out.

If we were serious about promotion think we’d have a squad that looked (ironically) more like Bolton’s. The anti-loans thing is so dumb IMO.

We started the season so undercooked it’s hard to know whether it’s TC, the players or both!

I’m not there yet tbh. The squad under Rooney was way better than this one and he was an objectively horrendous coach/tactician. We’ve recruited a lower-to-mid table L1 level of player (for the most part) and it’s showing.

It’s almost like we don’t have a Head of Recruitment 🤷‍♂️

Yep, expecting nothing. The supposed strategies are so flawed. Why brief against loans? Sanctioning a "small squad" then not recruiting two first team players per position - citing "the right players" but can't hack competition for places? "Not panicking" yet not being assertive in the market at all

a close up of a man covering his mouth with his hand and a caption that says `` and just like that he was gone '' . ALT: a close up of a man covering his mouth with his hand and a caption that says `` and just like that he was gone '' .

The greatest trick Tom Randle ever pulled was convincing the world he existed.

Houghton playing a key role in Stevenage sitting 2nd as well. We’re shopping around for an experienced ‘6’ at this late stage who’ll probably be a similar standard of quality.

I put that down to poor execution by players. Cleverley isn’t telling Sorinola to lay it off loose in front of Benarous when he’s not looking like he did in first half. But yeh, we continue to look very beatable by competent teams, let alone potential league winners.

We only need one or two more apparently 🤣🫠 #pafc

3 now. Yeh, we’ve got nowhere near enough quality to do anything this season. We look well off the required level. Recruitment haven’t recognised or been afforded the resources. This isn’t on Cleverley.

“Cleverley stated he would be in 'constant contact' with head of football operations David Fox and chief executive Andrew Parkinson” - shouldn’t Randle also be involved? I’m convinced he left weeks ago 🤷‍♂️

Odd part of the statement lamenting loans. Orient built their squad on loans last season and nearly went up. We largely did the same and went up. Theres a happy medium. Odd we’re not doing more on that front but it’s clearly about money. Was mentioned by club that loan fees seen as prohibitive.

Great stuff! In the presser can we find out if he’s done a preseason and ‘ready’? Presumably not?

The revenue can’t be the same though. Sure I’ve read we stood to lose at least £8m from TV alone.