stop blaming evans 12 games in and redfearn hasn't got a clue, Redfearn has recruited 6 players

2 don't play yet Redfearn says they are our saviours, they were out of work and now feigning injuries (even Redfearn hinted at this last night)

1 talented young winger, scores in 1st game then made a bit part player. goes back early due to not playing likely to damage relationship with man city

1 young lad from Norwich, extended loan but not 1st choice. Redfearn says he needs men yet recruits 2 boys

1 Player that is now suspended due to personal conduct and a criminal charge (why sign him at all when the club knew it was pending)

1 lad from Ipswich that can actually play but isn't fit enough yet

Headed to Deepest Darkest West Yorkshire hoping to see us edge closer to safety against a side that had lost their last four home games and were well short of confidence or so we were told.

What transpired was that I witnessed one of the most abject performances for a very long time against a team just above us in the division.

What an absolute shambles? What an absolute waste of an evening? It started badly and deteriorated rapidly. First of all, there was our seats, right along the front and wet through after incessant rain which somehow misses any protection from the stand roof in a stadium which is beginning to show it's age through wear and tear. Indeed, a constant flow of torrential rain water at one end of that area, presumably the result of a broken drain suggested a dire need for renovation!

Then there was the horrendous view, which obstructed two thirds of the pitch with only the near goal truly visible through the netting!

Then there was the sight of home fans situated in that very same area separated only by the usual dividers and a line of stewards. I suppose that for those of you who didn't attend (the lucky ones!) this ought to have added to an atmosphere? What it did, thanks to a huge drum was to annoy and exacerbate any shred of enjoyment. To say that we were unable to hear ourselves think, is an understatement. I'm sure that it must annoy the home fans in equal measure?

Moving on to matters on the pitch.

Where was Leon Best, our much heralded striker that's going to be some sort of Messiah and score lots of goals, at least NR reckons so? Apparently, he's injured despite being unable to feature for three weeks? Amazing, what do we do in training?

So, it was back to the tried and not so trusty group of players, and I use the term loosely, to get us a result and close that gap at the bottom of this league.

Despite Redfern's favourite, Danny Ward starting, it was apparent from the off that we were playing one up front. Why? Playing JCH as a lone striker has not worked to date and never will. Collins again started despite everyone and his dog agreeing that he's way, way past his sell by date and ought to retire.

We started badly and the home side should have scored in the first minute. They had width and played to the wings causing us all sorts of problems throughout a first half that was almost unbearable to watch. We were so poor, offered nothing up front and frequently struggled to contain their attack. Collins struggled for pace and positional sense and Buxton's defending and even more so his occasional forays up front suggested he was out of his depth at this level. Mattock looked okay and showed a few flashes of skill and Broadfoot was managing to hold things together on what was becoming a difficult night.

When the goal came, it wasn't a surprise, everyone backed off and allowed Carayol to hit a dipping shot over Camp to score. From our view behind his goal, I thought Camp should have done better.

Tails up and for the rest of that half they threatened to run riot. Somehow, we managed to get to half time just a goal down. NR had to change it?

We improved a bit second half although playing D Ward down the wing was bizarre at best and left JCH even more isolated in the middle. Briefly we suggested an equaliser and Newell, who was having a mare should have scored but his poor shot was easily saved by their keeper. 

They used their subs to replace tiring legs, we didn't, and one of those subs scored the crucial second goal, when Collins, seemingly nailed to the pitch failed dismally to get the right side of Ismael, a player who hadn't scored for over twenty games and that oh not so prolific striker simply ran past him and slotted home.

When our subs finally came, they were much less effective and I can't recall a single touch from Derbyshire. Hyam did hit the post when it looked easier to score but the home side finished the stronger and ought to have won more handsomely. Perhaps that's why our manager didn't use his subs earlier? either way, he doesn't seem to have any confidence in many if any of them.

When the referee finally put us out of our misery, we all sloped off into the night completely baffled after such a dismal display. 

In front of a large travelling support, the current squad is simply not good enough and will be relegated. Huddersfield are a supposed rival in that relegation fight but looked better, stronger, fitter and better coached than our players.

Whilst it's true that NR hasn't had much of an opportunity to bring in his own players,  those few he has managed to sign, hardly give me hope that any additions in January will be able to stem the downward spiral. Kelly and Best are injured, Barker has gone back by mutual agreement to his parent club and Toffolo looks well short of Championship quality. Only Hyam looks remotely up to the quality needed?  

It's going to be a long hard season. 

AxholmeMiller wrote:

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It's all a bit embarrassing at the moment but supporting a football club like RUFC has always been like that. You have ups and downs and after so many ups, we are suffering witnessing a major down. I still can't quite believe that we are in with a shout of escaping the drop, given our pathetic points tally. This slight optimism from me may well be diluted still further if we are beaten by Hull City (likely) and Bolton (maybe).

Everything appears to be resting on some sort of miracle happening in January, but how's that going to materialise. I can't see TS splashing the cash to pay for any real quality signings can you? Plus despite us all agreeing that several of the current squad have to go, who realistically is going to want them?

 It ain't looking great is it?

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Fair comments Ax,  we are not getting hammered though (maybe should have waited 'til after Saturday to say that?), we're not quite good enough.

So 3 or 4 players might, just might, turn it around plus best of what we have, but I agree with you the biggest thing standing in the way of that is probably going to be TS's reluctance to spend anything getting those 3 or 4 players we need..

Although I still can't see the sense it that. one thing for sure is that TS is a businessman, and being in League 1
I would argue is a poorer business case than risking a few £100ks in January and staying up.

AxholmeMiller wrote:

---

Headed to Deepest Darkest West Yorkshire hoping to see us edge closer to safety against a side that had lost their last four home games and were well short of confidence or so we were told.

What transpired was that I witnessed one of the most abject performances for a very long time against a team just above us in the division.

What an absolute shambles? What an absolute waste of an evening? It started badly and deteriorated rapidly. First of all, there was our seats, right along the front and wet through after incessant rain which somehow misses any protection from the stand roof in a stadium which is beginning to show it's age through wear and tear. Indeed, a constant flow of torrential rain water at one end of that area, presumably the result of a broken drain suggested a dire need for renovation!

Then there was the horrendous view, which obstructed two thirds of the pitch with only the near goal truly visible through the netting!

Then there was the sight of home fans situated in that very same area separated only by the usual dividers and a line of stewards. I suppose that for those of you who didn't attend (the lucky ones!) this ought to have added to an atmosphere? What it did, thanks to a huge drum was to annoy and exacerbate any shred of enjoyment. To say that we were unable to hear ourselves think, is an understatement. I'm sure that it must annoy the home fans in equal measure?

Moving on to matters on the pitch.

Where was Leon Best, our much heralded striker that's going to be some sort of Messiah and score lots of goals, at least NR reckons so? Apparently, he's injured despite being unable to feature for three weeks? Amazing, what do we do in training?

So, it was back to the tried and not so trusty group of players, and I use the term loosely, to get us a result and close that gap at the bottom of this league.

Despite Redfern's favourite, Danny Ward starting, it was apparent from the off that we were playing one up front. Why? Playing JCH as a lone striker has not worked to date and never will. Collins again started despite everyone and his dog agreeing that he's way, way past his sell by date and ought to retire.

We started badly and the home side should have scored in the first minute. They had width and played to the wings causing us all sorts of problems throughout a first half that was almost unbearable to watch. We were so poor, offered nothing up front and frequently struggled to contain their attack. Collins struggled for pace and positional sense and Buxton's defending and even more so his occasional forays up front suggested he was out of his depth at this level. Mattock looked okay and showed a few flashes of skill and Broadfoot was managing to hold things together on what was becoming a difficult night.

When the goal came, it wasn't a surprise, everyone backed off and allowed Carayol to hit a dipping shot over Camp to score. From our view behind his goal, I thought Camp should have done better.

Tails up and for the rest of that half they threatened to run riot. Somehow, we managed to get to half time just a goal down. NR had to change it?

We improved a bit second half although playing D Ward down the wing was bizarre at best and left JCH even more isolated in the middle. Briefly we suggested an equaliser and Newell, who was having a mare should have scored but his poor shot was easily saved by their keeper. 

They used their subs to replace tiring legs, we didn't, and one of those subs scored the crucial second goal, when Collins, seemingly nailed to the pitch failed dismally to get the right side of Ismael, a player who hadn't scored for over twenty games and that oh not so prolific striker simply ran past him and slotted home.

When our subs finally came, they were much less effective and I can't recall a single touch from Derbyshire. Hyam did hit the post when it looked easier to score but the home side finished the stronger and ought to have won more handsomely. Perhaps that's why our manager didn't use his subs earlier? either way, he doesn't seem to have any confidence in many if any of them.

When the referee finally put us out of our misery, we all sloped off into the night completely baffled after such a dismal display. 

In front of a large travelling support, the current squad is simply not good enough and will be relegated. Huddersfield are a supposed rival in that relegation fight but looked better, stronger, fitter and better coached than our players.

Whilst it's true that NR hasn't had much of an opportunity to bring in his own players,  those few he has managed to sign, hardly give me hope that any additions in January will be able to stem the downward spiral. Kelly and Best are injured, Barker has gone back by mutual agreement to his parent club and Toffolo looks well short of Championship quality. Only Hyam looks remotely up to the quality needed?  

It's going to be a long hard season. 

 

 

 

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 Very nice post that.