I thought we played well and were clearly the better team. We moved the ball about well and got into dangerous areas throughout the game only for the final ball to repeatedly let us down. Lewis’s end product isn’t good enough. How an earth are Preston anywhere near the play offs? I thought it was bizarre that PNE didn’t go for it more and seemed happy to draw the game considering their proximity to the play offs before the game.
That was so dull. At least it will make tonights Korma seem spicy. Jonny Bravo running the line was more concerned about his hair than making the right decisions. For one PNE throw the player had his whole foot on the pitch. And their time wasting!
Dullest game of the season. Neither side looked like scoring at all. I can’t think of a single thing that happened.
Basically they seem to play for a 0-0 or narrow win for most of the season really. Goodness knows how we sc0red 5 against them! Ref was rubbish.
Considering we only shaded it on overall chances but they had some golden ones, probably them! A 0.4 vs 0.8 thriller I'll say!
I think there have been slight incremental gains under Cleverley. He’s probably picking up points where Ismael was losing them at the end… Has he made us immeasurably better? Christ no. But we aren’t worse and we look more solid (for the most part). Cleverley still makes tactical mistakes - which I think have cost us taking more points since his appointment - but that’s to be expected no? Not sure I get the negativity on the whole. But I do get it if you think someone else could come in and fundamentally do far better than Ismael was. The reality - for me - is that anyone coming in will only make us better incrementally over a few years. I don’t see any manager coming in a flicking a switch for us to start challenging. Long way to go - but Cleverley, ‘might’, be what we need.
I think it's always hard when you're up against a team of big lads who sit in deep, especially when you've got a squad that you'll find if you look up the word 'mediocre' in the dictionary. We did look suspiciously Val-like at times today, but how much of that you can pin on Clev I'm not sure. Just one of those games, take the point and forget it ever happened
I decided to stay in the garden and earth up my spuds (not a euphemism) and miss this one. Sounds like I made the right choice.
We went back to passing it around at the back more maybe because we weren't going to beat them physically so hoped top prise an error out of their very organised press. Didn't help when we did get near the area our crossing was poor and we didn't seem keen to shoot.
I genuinely don’t think our squad is ‘mediocre’ at all. I think it’s naive, lacking motivation due to league position and probably a bit arrogant. But there is base-line talent that I think a good manager could expose in 50% of the players. Also - no offence - but not sure I buy into the ‘playing a group of big lads’ thing. It’s senior football. They are all big and athletic. I’m not sure any of them go into the game shying away from the opposing player being a bit wider or taller. Not a perfect science but I don’t really think it’s a big thing.
Yeah looking at their forum they're not pleased with today: "Played for a point. Fuc4in9 shocking decision, I don't care how depleted we were. He just didn't want his rep to be damaged by a 5-1 spanking again." "Imagine knowing your fans have traveled all that way, spent all that money to cheer on their team, and not even try to win. " "It was quite obvious that there was more interest in not losing that game than there was in winning it once the subs were made. Sad really as a point achieved nothing." "What a fitting end to a f*ck1ng disappointment of a season. Load of 5hite. Just shows we’re happy with 10th place, that’s the ambition." "Must win game and we play for a draw.... Fuc4 Off Ryan." "Why has he settled for a point . No urgency at all in the second half. Lowe doesn’t half piss me off sometimes. Season over. And just like the commentary on the game said . ‘How are we in the play off picture ‘ . And osmajic is a pudding …. Rant over" "Absolutely fuc4in9 shameful. I offer to drive the useless negative ba5tard anywhere other than Preston." "I don't understand how we can look like two completely different teams, it wasn't even that long ago we were praising our slick link up play and today they looked like they barely knew each other" https://www.pne-online.net/forum/in...-watford-v-pne-6-04-24-ko-3pm.3440147/page-30
Well that was disappointing . I missed both the Leeds and WBA games so was really looking forward to this new style of football , but we got very much a Val type performance. Don’t remember any chances except for the ones that fell to Lewis . Preston looked like they came for a point . Maybe we struggled because they set up to defend , which I guess we won’t see too much more of this season . Or was that the new manager bounce and it’s over now ?
You answered your own point at the end of the first and start of the second paragraph there. Yes it was a turgid game and we weren't particularly good, but Preston's approach to the game in sitting so deep and being so negative was a significant factor in us looking mediocre and the game being bad. In general it's one of the main problems we've had this season at home, because despite our league position often teams just come to get a point and maybe nick something on the counter attack. Under Val we had quite a few similar home games to that one, but instead we'd lose 1-0. It's very difficult to play quick, fluid attacking football when there is zero space to play that football in. It's one of the reasons why we've often this season actually looked better both away from home, and also at times against the better teams as with Cleverley's previous two games - when the opponent is more open and attacking themselves it affords you more opportunity to show your attacking play yourself.
I'm burnt to high heavens, had a load of great plonk and cheese and I'm now enjoying a late dinner overlooking the beautiful Montmartre, I'll take that as a win!
I don't think the team 'bottled' it because they were playing big lads, but I think it might be why we were a bit less direct than we have been at times under Clev. Looking at the squad, I think Hoedt and Dennis are definitely better than 14th place in the Championship, but honestly, who else clearly is above that level? The midfield are probably just about top half level, Sierralta and Bachmann were members of a promotion-winning squad but were lucky to stumble into the team at that moment alongside some genuinely Premier League level players, Andrews will be good in time, but has shown that he's got a lot to learn. Even if a manager could squeeze something extra out of them as Ismael threatened to do around Xmas, they have to contend with the fact that they're a pretty rag-tag bunch that don't necessarily fit well together, and we have the depth of a wet piece of paper
Preston came for a point and it was up to our creative players to unlock them, and they failed. Lewis and Andrews were both particularly crap. TDB was very good. For a game that was pedestrian paced at best, the last thing it needed was Sloth Kone slowing it down even more. Final free kick of the game and a chance for Asprilla to put it in amongst a packed area, but his free kick failed to even make it into the box. He was poor again. A few players look like they are running out of puff and enthusiasm for this season.
I don’t think anyone can come in and change anything to any great extent, so to be honest I’d be feeling negative at this point whoever was in charge. Probably need a good pre-season to get over it, haha. Not sure I see any great difference from Val either but incremental improvement is probably a good way to describe it. My sense is people have been getting far too carried away about Cleverley so far. But whether he’s the right man for the job or not it points to a bigger long term issue which is the lack of connection the fans feel with what goes on at the club. Same reason Ryan Andrews got the ‘one of our own’ chant from some in the Rookery in the first half today when he hoofed a ball out of the corner to no one in particular.
I think a few of them are better - if they are/were coached well and ride the wave of confidence a winning team brings - genuinely, look at Ipswich! A well drilled team with a style who are made of players that I bet many of us would have turned our noses up at this summer. But I think we probably have more players with more talent - but the coaching and atmosphere is way off in comparison. Genuinely kinda baffles me how people don’t it! I’d say Porteous, Andrews, Lewis, Martins - and dare I say, even Rajovic would be be far better in those conditions. I also doubt there are many clubs in this division who would turn their noses up at Sema. We are in a bad spot. The culture is horrific because the project is horrific. And the owner is behind them both. No manager or coach will do much of note, perhaps beyond an odd season of success, sure…but nothing long term - until that changes. But I think it’s lazy to just suggest our squad isn’t good enough. (Although a decent number of them aren’t!)
Yes, I’m sure you made the better decision. @Lloyd made the better decision tending to his spuds. It was your prediction that the match would be a “corker” I was querying!
Preston seemed to want to play for a draw which was quite odd considering they were 5 points off 6th before the match. Very dull game in general, you can tell a few players have one eye on their summer holidays and their transfers/loans away from the club. 'ORNETS
Totally agree. Sadly, living overseas, I can’t speak for what people are saying in the ground around Cleverley - but the constant need to say ‘ClevsBall’ or ‘He just gets it’ on social media is synonymous with modern football nonsense. Doubt any of them mean it - but engagement innit.
I presume people mean the culture of endlessly sacking managers and high turn over in players is bad which doesn't help? Although think most wanted Ismael to go and ofcourse they like Cleverley now after 3 good results but much more like today and fans will turn again.
Probably from the same people calling him past it or or a waste of space last season when injured. Fans will always be fickle and reactive.
Indeed. Congrats on being made a Moderator too. Well deserved and you’ve been a fantastic custodian for the forum over a number of years. Always had a lot of respect for you and your posts. Good work!
Strange performance from PNE today who still had an outside chance of reaching the play offs but seemed content to kill the game and settle for a 0-0 .
