Pool Panel - QPR and Bolton

Two away games on the spin saw us only gain one point, but there were plenty of positives to be gained from the games.  At Bolton on Tuesday they did to us, what we’d done to Huddersfield in that they gained an early lead then frustrated us by dropping deep and repelling all attacks.  While we had plenty of possession, we struggled to create clear chances and consequently lost the game.

By contrast, at QPR we took an early lead then set up to hold that, relying on occasional breakaways to add to that lead.  A goal from Goodwillie gave us a real platform, and with MacMahon marshalling the back three superbly, we looked fairly comfortable as QPR tried to mount a recovery.  Despite plenty of possession, they didn’t really look like a side with multi-millions spent on them as they huffed and puffed in front of us.  The one time we didn’t close down as tenaciously, they managed to score with a shot from the edge of the area.  Even then, I never thought they were going to go on and win the game, and indeed, Barkhuizen had the best chance, outrunning the labouring Dunne to bear down on goal only to blaze wide.

I don’t know if it’s the influence of Eric Black, or whether we are just more comfortable with a back three, but the side is suddenly looking compact and with a decent shape throughout.  As such, I have no doubt we’ll stay up this season.  A win against Yeovil next Saturday will go a long way to confirm that.  At that point, I’d like to see Ferguson confirmed in the job, and an immediate start to rebuilding put into place.  This season has been dogged by bad decisions; we must learn from it.

STARMAN: Tony MacMahon

Huddersfield (h) Win 1-0

A very important win against Huddersfield that goes a long way to securing our place in the Division.  The fans’ anger that we should be in this position at all, was reflected in the demonstration before kick off organised by SISA, against the dearth of investment in the club.

The game started off with the team set up differently (Eric Black’s input?), with a 3-5-2 formation.  That gained immediate dividends as Perkins made a surging run from midfield and set Fuller away; he accelerated from Gerrard and crashed an unstoppable shot into the net.  We then had a spell when we really should have finished off the game with golden chances close in missed.

The injury to Broadfoot then disrupted us and allowed Huddersfield to get a foothold in the game, but in truth, neither side really threatened the goal.  It took until well inside the second half before they created a real chance, but the linesman’s flag intervened correctly.  As the half wore on, probably because of nerves, we dropped deeper and deeper, resorting to hurried clearances which only resulted in additional pressure coming in.  McMahon and Cathcart defended well though, and I thought we saw out the game relatively comfortably.

As I see it, another win or two and we’ll definitely be safe for next season, when lessons must be learned about how we got into this position and a strategy put into place to ensure it doesn’t happen again.  For that to happen, we must make the right managerial team appointment and back them with a settled squad who are good enough, rather than gamble on ‘names’ and jacks of all trade who can fill in but really aren’t good enough to command a place.

 STARMAN: Ricardo Fuller

Tom Shuter - Funeral

It with great sadness that we have to announce that one of our number, Tommy Shuter has passed away.  Tom was a fine gentleman and someone I consider myself privileged to have met. I really enjoyed taking him to matches - his tales of days gone by in Blackpool made the journey fly by.

For those of you who would like to attend, Tom's funeral will be held on Friday 28th March at 10.30 at Our Lady of Unfailing Help and St Paul of the Cross, Cleckheaton, followed by a burial at Liversedge Cemetery.

There's also a buffet and a drink for anyone who can make it at Healds Hall, Liversedge.

Pool Panel: Blackpool v Doncaster (h) Draw 1-1

A new manager and a complete change in approach.  Freed from the shackles of a rigid 4-5-1 system, we looked far more threatening and actually capable of scoring.  In that first half, how Chopra alone didn’t score three, I’ll never know.  There was a much better balance in the side with full backs able to push on and support the midfield and attackers, and as a consequence, the defence were rarely pressed, as the ball was at the other end of the pitch.

The lost confidence started to come back, and with Perkins making an assured debut (echoes of Billy Ronson in his look and play), we finally could see that we’re not that bad a side.  When the goal came, it was because we had numbers in the box, meaning the ball had a better chance of falling our way.  The isolated lone forward was a thing of the past, and the goal was celebrated both on and off the pitch as a great lifting of a weight around the club’s shoulders.

With ten minutes to go, perhaps understandably, we started to drop deeper to save what we had.  With that nervousness, for the first time we stopped passing the ball and resorted to lumping it long.  A debateable freekick then found its way right across the goal into the far corner.  Not what we deserved from the game, but the plunge down the table has been halted and we can now build from here.

With Ferguson allowed to bring in his assistants and a few players, it would appear the job’s his if he wants it.  Onwards and upwards with a win at Reading.

STARMAN: Perkins

Pool Panel: Middlesbrough (h) Lost 0-2

The run of defeats continues with two very late goals condemning us yet again.  Having said that, the performance was better than we’ve had recently, with better balance to the side given to us by Tom Ince on the left and Tom Barkhuizen to the right of Ricardo Fuller.  The loss of Barkhuizen to a bad injury disrupted the balance of the side and consequently we lost momentum.  For me, our subs don’t change the game, as they are always like for like, rather than a switch in tactics.  As a result, opposition managers must see us as predictable and consequently easy to nullify.

We still lack a real attacking threat with no real creativity in midfield, leading to no service to the front man.  At any other club the manager’s position would be untenable after the run we’ve been on, but the Chairman insists he’s not under threat.  If that is indeed the case then he needs to be backed.  The threadbare nature of the squad is clear, having lost all the loanees, to the extent that we are putting youth players on the bench.

The upcoming games with Barnsley and Doncaster are key to the season, as victories would see us well clear of any relegation threat; defeat, and we’re looking over our shoulders towards the unthinkable.

The fans did their best to be upbeat on Saturday, giving the team support throughout, but there is an underlying anger at our failure to strengthen from a great start to the season.   The Chairman must support his manager by getting in new players, and not with empty words in the paper.

STAR MAN: Craig Cathcart 

Yorkshire Seasiders Update

Happy New Year to you all.

Middlesbrough Hospitality Draw

Thanks to all who signed up for the raffle for the Hospitality tickets at next week's Middlesbrough game.

The lucky winner is....  Dave Bentley.  

Congratulations!  You get a pair of tickets for the game, including a four course meal, balcony seats and a chance to meet the Man of the Match after the game.

Future away Travel

Our next bus trip will be Ipswich away.  Please get in touch if you are interested in travelling with us.

Further details to be announced closer to the time.

Up the Pool.

New Year Games - Sheffield (a) Lost 2-0 & Bolton (a) Lost 2-1

Another couple of games and two defeats.  On New Year’s Day we went to Hillsborough, missed a few chances early on then once again, fell away badly in the second half, conceding two without looking like scoring ourselves.

As a consequence, the pressure on the manager has ramped up a few more notches and we really need to arrest the slide and get some home wins.  At least on Saturday, despite going out of the Cup, we gave it a real go in the second half, creating a number of chances and probably deserved at least a replay.

What was a tight defence are now losing cheap goals and that was evident at the Reebok, where both goals were avoidable; the first saw Ngog allowed to turn and run at us without any real challenge.  While it was a decent strike, he should have been stopped further out.  Similarly, their second goal saw Mackenzie too easily pushed off the ball, leading to a tap in for Beckford.

As we’ve set our stall out to keep things tight, it’s giving us too much to do to recover.  At least Barkhuizen scored a great goal to give us some cheer.

Rumours are now going round that Tom Ince is to leave.  While he hasn’t been in top form, he remains far and away our most creative player, and he’ll be badly missed without any replacement.

We’ve got the stage where the upcoming games with Middlesbrough, Barnsley and Doncaster are becoming massive in our season.  A decent set of results from those three games and we can banish any suspicion of relegation and possibly reinvigorate a playoff push.  There is still half a season to play.  Onwards and upwards.

STARMEN: Gary Mackenzie (Sheffield); Tom Ince (Bolton)