Motorway miles & Differing styles – 10/11 **Season 11/12 from page 51**

[TightEnd]

Colchester lost away from home again last night, 4 on the trot, all without scoring, at the same time they've won 3 on the spin at home.

Playing home/away, does it really make that much difference? 

Bugs me to hell as to why so.

Some teams are set up to play well away from home..solid, able to play on the counter. Some aren't, they need to press to be effective as at at home and therefore leave themselves too open?

that's my theory anyway

[TheChipPrince]

Colchester lost away from home again last night, 4 on the trot, all without scoring, at the same time they've won 3 on the spin at home.

Playing home/away, does it really make that much difference? 

Bugs me to hell as to why so.

Some teams are set up to play well away from home..solid, able to play on the counter. Some aren't, they need to press to be effective as at at home and therefore leave themselves too open?

that's my theory anyway

But then why do teams set up differently home/away so much?

I saw Hartlepool at Oldham last week, played 4-1-4-1, very defensive, got battered 4-0, I'm pretty sure they played far more offensive when camel saw them last night at home v Charlton.

I think its down to mindset mainly, eg, ''we're away, a point will do'', but when at home the crowd expect so players have a completely different outlook.

No real answer I guess.

[gatso]

a decent crowd can be a big factor, varying pitch dimensions, grass watered/not watered to suit home team, long distance travel for the away team, loads of factors

[TheChipPrince]

a decent crowd can be a big factor, varying pitch dimensions, grass watered/not watered to suit home team, long distance travel for the away team, loads of factors

Crowd can also be a factor against though, on occassions.  All the others are pretty minute, but yes they do make a difference, I just don't think they make a big enough difference to warrant the lop-sided home/away records you see out there.

[gatso]

Crowd can also be a factor against though, on occassions. 

yep agreed. this is I think a huge factor in our season so far. we're pretty free scoring away from home where the players haven't got the crowd expectation and can just go out and play but pretty poor at home where the crowd's been on the players' backs (up to the point powell came in)

[boldie]

Crowd can also be a factor against though, on occassions. 

yep agreed. this is I think a huge factor in our season so far. we're pretty free scoring away from home where the players haven't got the crowd expectation and can just go out and play but pretty poor at home where the crowd's been on the players' backs (up to the point powell came in)

Surely that's just for a manager to sort out?

[gatso]

Crowd can also be a factor against though, on occassions. 

yep agreed. this is I think a huge factor in our season so far. we're pretty free scoring away from home where the players haven't got the crowd expectation and can just go out and play but pretty poor at home where the crowd's been on the players' backs (up to the point powell came in)

Surely that's just for a manager to sort out?

how would you suggest a manager sorts out the crowd's expectations?

[boldie]

Crowd can also be a factor against though, on occassions. 

yep agreed. this is I think a huge factor in our season so far. we're pretty free scoring away from home where the players haven't got the crowd expectation and can just go out and play but pretty poor at home where the crowd's been on the players' backs (up to the point powell came in)

Surely that's just for a manager to sort out?

you don't need to sort out the crowd's expectations..you need to sort out the players mental state where they can't cope with 15k cheering and expectant supporters when they clearly have skillz

how would you suggest a manager sorts out the crowd's expectations?

[gatso]

but there are times when crowd expectations are way above the level of players. charlton is a prime example, we were a premier league club a couple of years ago, in fact we were challenging for europe and the fans haven't adapted and still expect to see a high level of performance despite the fact that the players are now league 1 standard. that can lead to a lot of (completely irrational) disappointment and frustration in the ground even if the players are performing at their best. not a lot a manager can do to counter that and it's hardly a surprise that some players are affected by 15-20k people booing them

[boldie]

but there are times when crowd expectations are way above the level of players. charlton is a prime example, we were a premier league club a couple of years ago, in fact we were challenging for europe and the fans haven't adapted and still expect to see a high level of performance despite the fact that the players are now league 1 standard. that can lead to a lot of (completely irrational) disappointment and frustration in the ground even if the players are performing at their best. not a lot a manager can do to counter that and it's hardly a surprise that some players are affected by 15-20k people booing them

Yeah that's a fair point and I obviously don't know how bad the booing is at Charlton but surely the fans still cheer a win, no?

[TheChipPrince]

Rochdale v Southampton for me tomorrow, Rochdale unbeaten in 8 I think, won't be easy for Saints, will be interesting to see how he fits in N'Guessan, Lambert, Barnard, Forte, Guly, Chamberlain, Connolly.  Also be interested to see how mnay fans they take there.

[Josedinho]

On the subject of the crowd at bigger clubs putting pressure on the players - Megson has an interesting take on it - If the players can't handle playing in front of a big home crowd they shouldn't have signed for the club.
That's sorted that then. Also would have liked Purse to stay and says Morrison is the only player that talks and that we have no natural leader.

Oh and we haven't had a scout for 13 months. Throw your name in the hat please Chip. Let's get you and Wednesday promoted!

[TheChipPrince]

lol, really?  very surprised at that if true, maybe he means coaching staff get sent out and about?

Surely they don't go into games 'blind'?

Clubs with budget problems sometimes can't do it, but weds not short really considering who they signed pre-season

[Josedinho]

Megson held a fans forum last night and basically said the clubs in a bit of a state. Must have been extreme cost cutting to keep us going so can imagine lots of things need upgrading. He said that there was no scouting network but the the "no scouts" thing came from this article.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1358099/Whatever-happened-Sheffield-Wednesday.html
Apprently we had one scout and they left 13 months ago and have never been replaced.
Don't know whether that means we don't have any full time scouts so just send other staff or people are on similar arrangements to you.
Are most teams in league one similar to Colchester? Scouts that do it part time just for the love really? What level do you have to get to before people are full time and going to games all over all the time etc?

[TheChipPrince]

Megson held a fans forum last night and basically said the clubs in a bit of a state. Must have been extreme cost cutting to keep us going so can imagine lots of things need upgrading. He said that there was no scouting network but the the "no scouts" thing came from this article.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1358099/Whatever-happened-Sheffield-Wednesday.html
Apprently we had one scout and they left 13 months ago and have never been replaced.
Don't know whether that means we don't have any full time scouts so just send other staff or people are on similar arrangements to you.
Are most teams in league one similar to Colchester? Scouts that do it part time just for the love really? What level do you have to get to before people are full time and going to games all over all the time etc?

Colchester have 2 full-time, one is Andy King who is ex-Swindon manager, Everton player.  Then another 4 of us not full-time as such.

I would expect every club in L1 to have at least 1 full-time, most 2 or 3.  L2 clubs maybe 50% of them but I have no figures to back that up.

I remeber reading Chelsea have 67 full-time around the world.