Teams taking punts on transfers...

[palexander]

After seeing Windass come up trumps for Hull today, was about the final straw.

A month or two back, there was quite an exchange on SZ when a couple of us dared to question Tilson and his transfer policy. In the end, it was an argument I wouldnt (or couldnt with the majority against me) win.

This is not a 'I told you so' post - we cannot bring anyone in now and that is history. I just thought it is interesting to look at the teams around us and see how they have tried to change their sides in an effort to get out of trouble.

HULL - Brought in Windass and Parlour
BARNSLEY - Brought in the Hungarian striker
LEEDS - Virtually have changed their starting 11 albeit against FA Rules! :thump:
LUTON and QPR have both been active up until the window closed too.

Who was right or wrong with their dealings will be revealed at the end of the season of course, but if we dont make it, I'm afraid we have to look at our lack of options in the squad.

Tilly must have looked around at the bench today and could not have failed to be uninspired.

Again, this is in the past now, but maybe Tilly's biggest regret is not being able to look to the bench in a game like today at 1-0 down and throw on a Bentley or a Gray? Not saying that they are Championship class and should play week-out-week-in for a whole season, but for a few quid more, would have been good squad players for us this season...

 

[Boreham Shrimper]

Again, this is in the past now, but maybe Tilly's biggest regret is not being able to look to the bench in a game like today at 1-0 down and throw on a Bentley or a Gray? Not saying that they are Championship class and should play week-out-week-in for a whole season, but for a few quid more, would have been good squad players for us this season...

I hate to criticise Tilson on this after everything he has done for this club but I agree really. Our one loan signing (if I remember correctly) from the loan period just gone has had to return to Charlton and we have meanwhile sent out Paynter and Hooper on loan. They really must be recalled immediately, given our almost complete lack of other attacking options. Yes, with Macca back, Foran can go up front but even then, Harrold and Bradbury are not the kind of substitutes that can change a game for us. Although Paynter and Harrold are sadly rather unproven, Paynter may at least have built up some confidence after the form he has been in at Bradford.

We have a pitifully small squad really compared to the majority of teams in this league and can scarcely afford to be sending all these players out on loan. Even then, I'm not sure we really have anyone that can change a game from the bench for us and provide us the kind of inspiration we so sorely lacked today :(

 

[* ORM *]

Tilly must have looked around at the bench today and could not have failed to be uninspired.

Are you implying that Matt Harrold really can't turn a match :eek:

 

[Richard_Cadette]

I am almost regretting typing this message as I am doing so because I do not want to be one of those 'I told you so' posters like Wiggy (come to think of it, nothing i say could make me like that!!) but you are 100% correct. The bench today was, well, almost pointless.

This issue has gone quiet recently because results have improved, and quite rightly so, but my point has always been we are now entering the business end of the season when players have injuries, knocks, suspensions, they are jaded and sometimes out of form, and that is when you need to be able to freshen things up, oday being the case in point.

The midfield had absolutely no bite, the defence was being pulled all over the show (although this could have been rectified if Hammell had played in his righful position along with Hunt and Francis had stayed in Essex!) and the attack was just non existent but there was absolutely no options to change it, although you could argue that only 10 substitutions would have helped today!

It was a worry when we decided to take a punt on getting to the end of the season with a school boy size squad and now it is potentially a huge problems for us as we could well fall short of the finishing line when with a few more faces, we could have got over it.

 

[palexander]

One of the best pieces of crowd banter i heard today was when Harrold was waiting to come on, someone said:

"Its just good news that one of them is going OFF, let alone anyone coming on!"

 

[stickyboy]

yeah looking at the bench we had only Matt Harrold to change the game (??!!). Normally when teams are getting stuffed you have a triple substitution but we only have one change as everyone else was just there to make up the 5

 

[CC51DAS]

the defence was being pulled all over the show (although this could have been rectified if Hammell had played in his righful position along with Hunt and Francis had stayed in Essex!)


What I don't understand is why he didn't take Francis off at half time and bring on Hammell ? after all he took Chesney off at half time against Sheff wed

 

[Boreham Shrimper]

I think the ineptitude of today's all-round performance was encapsulated by the substitution of JCR for Harrold, with the frankly woeful Bradbury slotting into JCR's slot. Wake up Tilson and DROP BRADBURY!

:mad: