Barnsley FC (A)

[amberely]

What also winds me up is the totally awful interview after the game. Why doesn’t Shulman ask questions and challenge answers. Where was Brophy, Fejiri? Why didn’t you change formation to match Barnsley when it was clear we weren’t in the game? Why ‘rest’ players when there was still something to play for? How will we have more creativity against Cheltenham etc etc.

[danielcufc]

Feb 12, 2023 11:16:27 GMT Delbert Grady said:

Feb 12, 2023 9:25:40 GMT foolhandy said:

I have no idea whether he'd solve all our problems, but has anyone explicitly asked Bonner why Lankester gets so little game time?

This really winds me up. If he thinks he’s crap then fair enough, but why extend his contract? The biggest missing piece this season has been Hoolahan and whenever young Jack comes on he looks like the only player we’ve got who has anything like the passing & technical quality that he did.

Yesterday for example, comes on with 15 to go and makes a reverse pass to Shilow that totally cut their defence open. It’s all very odd.

I agree and its as if he doesn't trust him. Worman who couldn't get near the 18 at the start of the season came on ahead of him as well. Why extend his contract now and not wait unti the end of the season and see what division we are in. Thats not a sleight on Lankester btw its about Bonner's decsion making on him.

[danielcufc]

Feb 12, 2023 11:41:43 GMT amberely said:

What also winds me up is the totally awful interview after the game. Why doesn’t Shulman ask questions and challenge answers. Where was Brophy, Fejiri? Why didn’t you change formation to match Barnsley when it was clear we weren’t in the game? Why ‘rest’ players when there was still something to play for? How will we have more creativity against Cheltenham etc etc.

Exactly right. The club you tube inteviews are like North Korean State News and never question or challenge him. Shulman does sometimes but why he didn't ask about Brophy & Okeninhiberie yesterday was strange. Last week he was 'ill' but the worry is he's injured again after the window has closed.

[andycufc]

Feb 12, 2023 11:51:59 GMT danielcufc said:

Feb 12, 2023 11:41:43 GMT amberely said:

What also winds me up is the totally awful interview after the game. Why doesn’t Shulman ask questions and challenge answers. Where was Brophy, Fejiri? Why didn’t you change formation to match Barnsley when it was clear we weren’t in the game? Why ‘rest’ players when there was still something to play for? How will we have more creativity against Cheltenham etc etc.

Exactly right. The club you tube inteviews are like North Korean State News and never question or challenge him. Shulman does sometimes but why he didn't ask about Brophy & Okeninhiberie yesterday was strange. Last week he was 'ill' but the worry is he's injured again after the window has closed.

I’m not sure you can expect the official club channel to challenge the manager - I think you’d be hard pressed to find examples of that happening at any club. Agree that BBC Cambs could ask some more searching questions though.

[Andrewlang]

I think playing Knibbs instead of Lankester yesterday was justified after his excellent performance against Ipswich last week, I have no problem with that decision particularly. I'd have made different subs - and earlier - though, for sure.

No real problem with the Bennett substitution either really. I do disagree with him being on the left though, I think it diluted his biggest strength, which is his attacking, and emphasised his biggest weakness*, which is his defending (specifically his positioning on occasion). I'd have preferred him on the right with Williams on the left...mainly because Williams is solid but hasn't really offered much going forward this season. Nobody was particularly playing well enough to argue against taking them off.

I'm not *too* disheartened by the result, I think the Lincoln and Ipswich games suggest there's fight left in the old moose yet so I'm not going to get too downbeat at one setback. Staying up was never going to be plain sailing from here to May so I hope the players aren't as defeated as some supporters seem to be after yesterday, might as well call time on the season if they are.

* Using the word 'weakness' in the very loosest way possible.

Andrew

[foolhandy]

It doesn't have to come across as a challenge. Merely, "Is there a particular bit of thinking behind not involving Lankester more?" or even "What were you hoping for from Lankester when you brought him on?" followed by a "Maybe not enough time?" depending on the answer. Bonner admitted in his post-match interview that he left the substitutions too late (again!) and he doesn't strike me as a man who would baulk at a question such as "Has that been something you've been focusing on, the timing of substitutions?"

[lesj]

Bonner, Waddock & Corr on the touchline, who is making the decisions ?


And according to Jonno, Bonner kept disappearing down the tunnel yesterday, I wonder why ?

[Andrewlang]

In defence of Doug, he's not journalist. I guess he has a certain amount of time to do an interview and cover the full game, so follow up questions aren't really something in his roster. In our desperate search to find something to moan about I don't think we need to pick out Doug. He strikes me as an unapologetic cheerleader too - not a criticism particularly, I think he's probably front and centre for many casual United listeners (my mum for example) so 'happy clapping' or at least positively neutral is probably a must.

It's not him I'd look to for those questions, or expect to be asking them. It's probably something I'd expect to hear in the pre-match Bonnference when there is time to ask more considered, prepared and informed questions. In fact, in those I often find Bonner answers the question that *should* have been asked and offers far more detail than some of the observations deserve. Sometimes he gets asked the same question by a different person yet still manages to answer as though it's the first time he's been asked.

I'm sure he'd be very forthcoming if somebody asked him about his approach to subs, or Jankester.

Andrew

[rayhertford]

rubbish goalkeeping from Mitov for their first. rubbish defending for their second, although Mitov should have seen that coming. A slow, low, long kick from outside the area.

Yeah, they had two off side, but only Mitov tried to complain about that to the lino. The rest of the shambles just walked back to the centre spot with their heads held down.

[Andrewlang]

The first was poor from Jones, I thought. Got his feet muddled and couldn't get a challenge or block in. Lennetts attempt to block looks...'clumsy', though he looks a little turned about because he's suddenly covering the potential for a shot and the guy out wide.

Always annoying to see an opposition player react quicker to a spilled shot too...he was anticipating that and, I think, Rennett let him slip right past him.

Absolutely no pressure on the ball from midfield either, far too much space and far to easy. I think either a striker needs to be dropping back for that or a midfielder (in this case Knibbs) needs to be pressing a little closer.

Inexplicably soft hands from Mitov, though yeah, it's not an especially good hit.

Andrew

[foolhandy]

Feb 12, 2023 14:05:58 GMT Andrewlang said:

In defence of Doug, he's not journalist. I guess he has a certain amount of time to do an interview and cover the full game, so follow up questions aren't really something in his roster. In our desperate search to find something to moan about I don't think we need to pick out Doug. He strikes me as an unapologetic cheerleader too - not a criticism particularly, I think he's probably front and centre for many casual United listeners (my mum for example) so 'happy clapping' or at least positively neutral is probably a must.

It's not him I'd look to for those questions, or expect to be asking them. It's probably something I'd expect to hear in the pre-match Bonnference when there is time to ask more considered, prepared and informed questions. In fact, in those I often find Bonner answers the question that *should* have been asked and offers far more detail than some of the observations deserve. Sometimes he gets asked the same question by a different person yet still manages to answer as though it's the first time he's been asked.

I'm sure he'd be very forthcoming if somebody asked him about his approach to subs, or Jankester.

Andrew

To be clear I wasn't complaining about anybody in particular, just wondering why no one at all seems to have asked Bonner questions about Lankester's lack of game time (and the surely too late substitutions).

I'm not even having a go at Bonner for those things, just really interested in the thinking behind them.

[danielcufc]

It would be nice as fans to know about injuries etc when teams are as announced. Sometimes Doug & Johnno will know but unless I missed it yesterday (being at game so not listening to radio coverage) there no explanation as to what’s up with Brophy.

[Andrewlang]

This is a disappointing thread to read. Did anyone else have the same experience?

Andrew

[barry]

Feb 12, 2023 14:05:58 GMT Andrewlang said:

In defence of Doug, he's not journalist. I guess he has a certain amount of time to do an interview and cover the full game, so follow up questions aren't really something in his roster. In our desperate search to find something to moan about I don't think we need to pick out Doug. He strikes me as an unapologetic cheerleader too - not a criticism particularly, I think he's probably front and centre for many casual United listeners (my mum for example) so 'happy clapping' or at least positively neutral is probably a must.

It's not him I'd look to for those questions, or expect to be asking them. It's probably something I'd expect to hear in the pre-match Bonnference when there is time to ask more considered, prepared and informed questions. In fact, in those I often find Bonner answers the question that *should* have been asked and offers far more detail than some of the observations deserve. Sometimes he gets asked the same question by a different person yet still manages to answer as though it's the first time he's been asked.

I'm sure he'd be very forthcoming if somebody asked him about his approach to subs, or Jankester.

Andrew

Doug may not a journalist, despite being paid as one, but as a fan surely he can ask follow up questions rather than loading every one with an “I guess” or similar. Surely there are things that, as a fan, he wants answers to. Where were Brophy and Okenabirhie and why wait until 70
Mins AGAIN despite acknowledging that their changes on 45 worked for them. Just seems like a happy clapper to me.

[simon]

Feb 12, 2023 15:55:56 GMT Andrewlang said:

This is a disappointing thread to read. Did anyone else have the same experience?

Andrew

My son witnessed one of our fans (part of the ‘we lose every week’ gang) ripping a seat out and arguing with an older fan who berated him for it. It continued after the game.
Nothing to do with Bonner’s substitutions!