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... can’t see how this isn’t corruption and an abuse of power.
Most rotten government in memory.
Brexit basically meant that a low quality Cabinet, with questionable credentials, was formed, as any quality or seniority in the Tory leadership had resigned or been booted out of the Boris sicophant collective created to implement our EU exit.
Man our new manager is disappointed in the work ethos, hunger and squad he’s inherited!!! But I think he’s disappointed that he’s been unable to squeeze something from these players - because let’s all be honest this is a poor start for him and there’s been no manager bounce.
Selection going forward is going to centre on those who are showing energy, and press and willingness to make a difference - which is a small pool. I can see Nydam starting. Bishop, judge, Dozzell are problem players for him.
I’m surprised Kenlock hasn’t been reintroduced.
Is he heaping too much pressure on the players? Probably. Should players like judge, Sears, Edwards, Bishop, Jackson be able to step up to it - hell yeah.
Tuesday night will be fascinating - COYB!!!
TWTD presser coverage extract:
Pressed further on the boost Norwood and Vincent-Young will give to his squad in the final seven matches of the season, Cook added: “You know yourself, I want to be very careful this morning, especially what I say about the players because I know fans today and everyone else, people want managers to come and be brash and say things that people want to hear.
“For me as a club, and the club’s obviously changed ownership, the performances that I watch are way off performances that I like as a manager.
“I don’t want to debate too much with you about good, bad and sidewards. We are in my opinion, a team that’s got a lot of work to do, shall we say.”
Cook is clearly a fan of Nydam, who caught the eye after such a lengthy spell out during the final half our on Saturday.
“Tristan, I’ve watched the last two U23 games and one of the criticisms of the team as a team is that, again I’m going to speak carefully, we don’t have enough contact, we’re nice,” he reflected.
“[We need to] have players in the team who have contact and win the ball back and break up play, then you’re supposed to supply flair players with the ball to go and create chances and score.
“As you can see with us at the minute, we’re just very much a work in progress. Tristan’s got great qualities, as a lad he’s got a heart as big as a lion, he’s got a great desire to win games, to compete, and that’s something in a lot of games we lack.”
Well the yeee-haa hot dogtastic excitement of the takeover really had its bubble burst yesterday - but I guess we had the right for a little joy after a woeful season and recent form. But perhaps some much needed realism has been brought to the board by Cooks silence. I suspect he is not happy with being kept in the dark. But either way - we as a set of fans need to know who the CEO is, and monitor if Cook and he are going to gel, before we get truly excited about this new dawn. We’re missing a third of the jigsaw.
As for the game - well for me Rochdale away was a new low in my watching of Ipswich Town. We were so devoid of energy, intent and shape, and just basic technical play and skill.
Did we improve against the MK Dons? Significantly. Was it good enough - still some way off.
MK Dons are in some ways ridiculous and in some ways to be admired. They are so bought into their style and possession based patterns of play that it means at times they look really good, but at other times just calamitous. We should have won the game, through the gifted ‘turnovers’ provided in their defensive third. Sadly we are completely toothless and devoid of attacking intent - but we should have won given the passages of play opened up to us by their errrors. Fortunately MK Dons are similarly toothless, they had an excellent passage of play in the second half where they HAD to score on several occasions... yes there was a great Holy save, but in other moments they seemed to have no belief. One thing though, there passing out of the back (ignore the errors), was so much more technical and effective than ours, we looked like a pub team in comparison. That’s coaching I’m afraid!!! Concerning.
What positives; Downes at times was very very good, his tackling, his winning back of ball, his holding of the ball. It’s what we’ve missed. It’s a level that Skuse never achieved at this club (and I like Skuse). If there are scouts watching we are going to get an offer I think the summer. It’s an in demand ability. He did fade. I thought Dobra and Drinan had moments, I do wish Dobra has buried that chance, a great chance. But they are both still a little green, and lack that wily goal grabber trait. Sears used to have that. But it has completely left the building and he let his side down overall, despite getting in some decent shots. He should have taken or created two goals, which we needed him to step up and do.
Nydam coming back is a joy. That boy has the same engine as Downes; a tenacity and desire that this team has so desperately lacked.
I thought the defence was solid against some good probing from MK; Toto and Chambo especially. Ward and The Wolf were poor going forward, again.
But of course this was an improvement - BUT - it was miles off what Cook and the Fans need. And I also have to question the amount of tinkering going on, too many shapes and too many experiments today - on the third wave of subs, the players were visibly confused on what was expected.
Our main problem is that for all Downes good work, Bishop and Dozzell are looking tired (where was Dozzell actually playing?!)... and we have no seasoned strikers fit. We need Hawkins and Norwood back.... supported by Dobra and perhaps Edwards (he still needs to do more) on a foundation of Downes.
Cook needs to stick with a similar selection and shape as the start of the game for Tuesday night.
Yesterday was not terrible, but we need shots and goals ASAP.