We have been promised ‘brave new dawns’ for so long that we have started believing in them. Yet all we get is more of the same. In the 80s the Conservative Government embarked on a programme of ‘managed decline’ as regard to Liverpool. It’s starting to feel like this is the same for Tranmere.
We are three points off relegation. We are reliant on a keeper who started his career in the last century. We have a squad that looks better than last season but we are in a division that is stronger than last season. I suspect that we will see players leave in January rather than new ones arrive. Doubtless, to draw another political parallel, somebody left a note in Andy Crosby’s drawer that said ‘there is no more money’.
I think Crosby is a much better manager than Nigel Adkins. The football is better too. The results, not so much. This time last season we had 17pts from 15 games, one point more than we have now. Our goal difference was -8, now it’s +1. We are scoring goals but conceding them late on.
Swindon, of course, are riding high in the table. Our next two home games are against Cheltenham, two points beneath us, and Milton Keynes, currently on the edge of the automatic promotion spot. Then we play Grimsby away, a televised game, who are in a similar position to Milton Keynes, and then we have a weekend off because we are not in the FA Cup. It’s impossible to predict the outcome of those games, but less than 4 points would be concerning.
Maybe when the new owners finally take over we should change our name to Truman Show Rovers. Season after season we end up in the same place. It seems to be a mystery to everyone as to why this is. It seems obvious though that money might just be a key factor. There doesn’t appear to be any forthcoming. In football terms we are looking for the loose change that has slipped down the back of the sofa.
This season offered much, but now it seems to offer much of the same. It’s time we fessed up to ourselves. This isn’t a blip, this is a club in crisis.
I wouldn't say it was managed decline simply decline. Im not sure the squad is an improvement last season. We have it every summer we sign a bunch of players no one really knows and we hear play offs clamour. Ironside, can not believe we have forked money out for him , what ever we put into wages and the transfer should have gone into Omaris pocket in the form of a new contract, Ironside has less influence in the game than Saunders as least he makes defenders think with his pace even if he cant do anything with it. As for Smallwood and Kenneh pretty sure if we kust played 9 men you couldn't tell the difference.
Id take 21st now and fold.
New owners ; not happening anytime soon and when it does is more likely due to ill health with the current owner rather than an investor coming in.
Cheltenham have started to put some results together since their new owner and manager came in,,they are playing at home to Notts on Monday evening and then they come to Prenton next.
I have to disagree this is a stronger league than last season, In fact it is the weakest one in many a season.
Bradford City, Doncaster, Port Vale, Wimbledon, Carlisle, Morecambe replaced by Crawley, Bristol Rovers, Cambridge, Shrewsbury, Barnet and Oldham.
I think it’s too simplistic to say we are roughly in the same situation in terms of points and games as this time last season and then conclude that it’s all doom and gloom. Last season’s problems didn’t really show up in the first 14 games to November 9th where we were P14 W4 D5 L5, 1.21 points per game. That would have been more than enough to keep us up about 14 points clear of the relegation zone. It was the next 19 games until Adkins was sacked when we were on that terrible run of P19 W2 D5 L12, 0.57 points per game that put us into big trouble. Does anyone really think a collapse like that is going to happen again with this squad and AC in charge? OK it’s possible but I think it’s highly unlikely that we’ll only take 11 points from the next 19 and find ourselves behind the eight ball again.
i think we will be fine - am not worried about relegation at all - a decent season would see us finish mid table, an average season around 17th and we would have to woefully underperform to get relegated
I admire your resilience in the face of an inability to win at home and a defence that consistently contrives to gift goals.
A three point cushion is close enough to the drop for most to worry in the face of form that has all the appearance if that of a drop contender. Add to that a club that is drifting with no resolution of the ownership position. It makes me wonder just what more is needed before worried is an inevitable response to our position ?.
I don't get the obsession alot of people have with the ownership position - the players are all under contract and under no sign of not being paid, so they are largely ambivalent. The longer the sale is stalled the more stable we are as the Palios's run a steady ship. We're in unchartered waters when the sale actually goes through
I have two concerns more pressing than our precarious league position;
Firstly is the number of injuries that we have. Is this just part of playing a professional contact sport or more to do with our training facilities & our method of training?
I am sure we were in the same position last season, maybe with the same staff & same methods?
Secondly is our game management; how many times have we been close to the end of a match, either a goal ahead & winning or drawing & have failed to hold on for the clock to run down.
We seem incapable of seeing a game out & have dropped so many points when we could have won or grabbed a draw.
Cast your mind back to the opening day of the season when we played away; this has been going on for months now.
I agree that Crosby is a far better manager than Adkins but the injuries & lack of game management do need looking at, sooner rather than later.
I also agree that Patrick, the only real threat our team poses, needs to be played further forward in an attacking position & not as a wing-back.
Glasgow Super White I have two concerns more pressing than our precarious league position;
Firstly is the number of injuries that we have. Is this just part of playing a professional contact sport or more to do with our training facilities & our method of training?
I am sure we were in the same position last season, maybe with the same staff & same methods?
Secondly is our game management; how many times have we been close to the end of a match, either a goal ahead & winning or drawing & have failed to hold on for the clock to run down.
We seem incapable of seeing a game out & have dropped so many points when we could have won or grabbed a draw.
Cast your mind back to the opening day of the season when we played away; this has been going on for months now.
I agree that Crosby is a far better manager than Adkins but the injuries & lack of game management do need looking at, sooner rather than later.
I also agree that Patrick, the only real threat our team poses, needs to be played further forward in an attacking position & not as a wing-back.
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