Fisher vs AJ

[njb]

Stats after 4 starts: Fisher 1 goal, AJ 5 goals

Managerial master stroke or terrible decision..

Views?

[Darlo will]

Lets give him a chance, He has been woeful so far but then the rest of the team have been too.

[darlo reborn]

When A J was playing we were creating loads of chances at the moment we are not so don't think you can compare

[Darlofart]

Frrrrap. In the 2 games I've seen Fisher he's only kicked the ball 3 times so its hard to make judgement but so far I've not been impressed, and its clear that the treatment of Andy Johnson has been poor by Gray. I've been even less impressed with Edwards who along with Pilatos has been a very poor signing. In the first half out of about 34 passes that Edwards made only one of them actually went forwards. Surely Galbraith or the departed Robinson would be much better options than Edwards. Quite a lot of our squad sadly don't seem good enough and if Gray doesn't accept that the likes of Edwards and Pilatos aren't good enough then the season will soon be over and gates will dwindle.
Hhhhhhhnnnnnnnng pppppprrrrrrrsssppplllllt..oh bollocks!

[Big Tim]

Here we go, AJ would of scored that, fisher is s*** etc

He's gone now, get over it

[darlo999]

No connection at all with either strikers. I would start with Amar and Dowson for the next game, as they have a spark and fight for the ball. Fisher will have to earn a place for me !

[Bogratsteve]

To say Pilatos is not good enough shows how little you know about football, he's a very talented youngster who has not done much wrong.

Agree with Tim it futile to try and compare them, Fisher would probs have scored just as many if he had as much service as AJ had at the start of the season before the opposition scouted us properly and closed us down, our ability to react to this is the most concerning tbh, are we scouting them fully?

[quakersam]

Considering Dowson and Amar have played together for about 3/4 seasons, they'd always start together through choice. It will take time for Fisher to learn one another's game, you can't just expect the lad to click just like that.
AJ had a full pre-season with the lads, Fisher has played the equivalent of about two games, with fuck all service, playing with his back to the goal. He needs to work harder but give the lad a chance. Not impressed with a lad that has played 3 levels higher in the Conference just shows how little the "experts" on here know

[LoidLucan]

Obviously Gray wasn't overly impressed with his contribution today otherwise he wouldn't have taken him off. He was brought off because he was having very little impact on the game.

[m62exile]

Irrespective of comparisons, Fisher was ineffective today. Whether that was due to form, fitness, service or whatever is up for debate but as a statement of fact it can't be argued with.

[LoidLucan]

Anyone there would have to agree with that. At no point did he make things happen. He lost the ball a few times and got hustled out of it by the big bastards at the back, I remember that.

[roadrunner]

number 10 was kevin Gaul was it not.

[Quaker0006]

Hasnt impressed in the two games so far, but people who think hes a poor player were obviously not at Sunderland or Cammel Laird games. Hes had no supply what...so...ever

[Darlogramps]

Hasnt impressed in the two games so far, but people who think hes a poor player were obviously not at Sunderland or Cammel Laird games. Hes had no supply what...so...ever

Well it's a good job we haven't just got rid of our most creative and experienced midfielder in Paul Robinson. Oh wait.

The fact Gray has got rid of AJ and Robinson, when they were supposed to be the two marquee signings that would propel us forward leaves question marks over his summer transfer dealings.

It seems like he's making it up as he goes along, rather than having a steady strategy.

[Quaker0006]

Fisher was always the first choice signing, AJ was brought in when Fisher didnt come. Agree completely on Robinson, big fan and shows when hes gone to a club flying high in division above.

Was defending Fisher as individual, think he will show in time hes got quality. The problem is centre midfield. The wingers and strikers are being starved of quality service

[divas]

Fisher was always the first choice signing, AJ was brought in when Fisher didnt come. Agree completely on Robinson, big fan and shows when hes gone to a club flying high in division above.

Was defending Fisher as individual, think he will show in time hes got quality. The problem is centre midfield. The wingers and strikers are being starved of quality service

Yet with those same players AJ managed to score goals, against arguably better teams too. Waaay to early to judge Fisher at the moment but we had a player who WAS doing the business and gambled on one who may do it.

Fact is since AJ got injured we've been crap and whilst I'm sure it's not solely due to him it's too much of a coincidence to not be a factor.

[wellindarlo]

Fisher was always the first choice signing, AJ was brought in when Fisher didnt come. Agree completely on Robinson, big fan and shows when hes gone to a club flying high in division above.

Was defending Fisher as individual, think he will show in time hes got quality. The problem is centre midfield. The wingers and strikers are being starved of quality service

Yet with those same players AJ managed to score goals, against arguably better teams too. Waaay to early to judge Fisher at the moment but we had a player who WAS doing the business and gambled on one who may do it.

Fact is since AJ got injured we've been crap and whilst I'm sure it's not solely due to him it's too much of a coincidence to not be a factor.

Not with the same players, midfield different since he got injured and you know it. Your fishing.

[divas]

Fishing for what?!?!

Who played CM earlier in the season?

[Darlogramps]

Not with the same players, midfield different since he got injured and you know it. Your fishing.

CM is one of those positions that's changed regularly throughout the season. It's not been settled because Gray doesn't know his best partnership. A bit like upfront too.

The loss of Craig Gott was the biggest blow to us, as the solidity he offered has not been replaced.

[divas]

But Gott never really played did he apart from the odd sub appearance.

Looking back it was actually Davis and Galbraith who featured mostly. Considering Galbraith took some hammer for being not at the races was it really a better midfield then than now?

We have been a bit s*** since Edwards came results wise, not pinning it on him in any way shape or form but since the Harrogate game we've struggled a bit. Maybe we should go back to Davis and Galbraith...

[super_les_mcjannet]

Fishing for what?!?!

Who played CM earlier in the season?

Galbraith and Davis mainly with Gott and Robinson coming on.

To be fair we struggled in the centre of midfield early on in the season but the lads coming off the bench were making an impact in most games and Thompson was on fire.

When AJ played and was scoring we were playing better alround at the moment clubs have worked out if the cut the supply lines to Thompson & Moore we struggle. Confidence within the team has gone and we are currently resigned to kicking the ball up the field in the hope something comes off.

[Quaker0006]

Fisher was always the first choice signing, AJ was brought in when Fisher didnt come. Agree completely on Robinson, big fan and shows when hes gone to a club flying high in division above.

Was defending Fisher as individual, think he will show in time hes got quality. The problem is centre midfield. The wingers and strikers are being starved of quality service

Yet with those same players AJ managed to score goals, against arguably better teams too. Waaay to early to judge Fisher at the moment but we had a player who WAS doing the business and gambled on one who may do it.

Fact is since AJ got injured we've been crap and whilst I'm sure it's not solely due to him it's too much of a coincidence to not be a factor.

To blame current form on AJ not being here is some stretch. He bagged a few yeah but wasnt offering much to the team otherwise. In fact many people still preferred Dowson. He undoubtedly could finish, but theres been games where we havent created much and dont think he would have had a sniff.

[divas]

Early in the season AJ's goals were the difference between us winning and losing. It seemed early in the season he was dragging us back into games. No one seems to have done that since.

[super_les_mcjannet]

Fisher was always the first choice signing, AJ was brought in when Fisher didnt come. Agree completely on Robinson, big fan and shows when hes gone to a club flying high in division above.

Was defending Fisher as individual, think he will show in time hes got quality. The problem is centre midfield. The wingers and strikers are being starved of quality service

Yet with those same players AJ managed to score goals, against arguably better teams too. Waaay to early to judge Fisher at the moment but we had a player who WAS doing the business and gambled on one who may do it.

Fact is since AJ got injured we've been crap and whilst I'm sure it's not solely due to him it's too much of a coincidence to not be a factor.

To blame current form on AJ not being here is some stretch. He bagged a few yeah but wasnt offering much to the team otherwise. In fact many people still preferred Dowson. He undoubtedly could finish, but theres been games where we havent created much and dont think he would have had a sniff.

Yep agree generally with this, I would of rather at the time we kept AJ but his last main game he came on as sub against Ramsbottom and made no impact whatsoever in fact he done much less than Amar in the first half.

Can't just blame AJ for that second half but just shows him on the pitch wasn't the total answer. MG has some serious confidence issues in his squad, they seem nervous to get on the ball and try passing. Edwards is one of the main ones willing to get on the ball but sadly his passing is about 50% accurate, he completed one great pass in the second half and then about a minute later a terrible one. The lad really would of been a decent squad player building his football over the next few years but not convinced at him being a leading ball playing midfielder, simply not ready to bear that responsibility week in/week out.

[Quaker0006]

Early in the season AJ's goals were the difference between us winning and losing. It seemed early in the season he was dragging us back into games. No one seems to have done that since.

There may be some truth in that in terms of the result, but while not setting the world a light, we were doing ok generally across the park, the way we are playing now is poor especially in central midfield

[Darlogramps]

But Gott never really played did he apart from the odd sub appearance.

I was referring to last season. Gott was a very important player for us last time out as he solidified the midfield, allowing Galbraith/Davis a bit more freedom.

Edwards doesn't really offer us that.

[divas]

But Gott never really played did he apart from the odd sub appearance.

I was referring to last season. Gott was a very important player for us last time out as he solidified the midfield, allowing Galbraith/Davis a bit more freedom.

Edwards doesn't really offer us that.

Last season is irrelevant here as neither Johnson or Fisher were here

[super_les_mcjannet]

Early in the season AJ's goals were the difference between us winning and losing. It seemed early in the season he was dragging us back into games. No one seems to have done that since.

Scored against Warrington when we were already 1-0.
Got the first 2 in a 3-0 against Wwarrington.
Scored against Farsley in a 2-4 defeat.
Scored against Kendal to put us 1-0.
Scored first against Clitheroe when 2-0 to win 3-2.

I would say yes he made a difference and I did think a run in the team alongside Amar we would see the best. However he has gone now so we will never know whether he would of continued to do well in a team lacking in confidence and playing hoof ball too often.

[Darlogramps]

But Gott never really played did he apart from the odd sub appearance.

I was referring to last season. Gott was a very important player for us last time out as he solidified the midfield, allowing Galbraith/Davis a bit more freedom.

Edwards doesn't really offer us that.

Last season is irrelevant here as neither Johnson or Fisher were here

Maybe I haven't been fully clear.

Our midfield is one of our main problems. Last season, there was no such issue.

So why is it a problem this season and not last? Not saying Gott's departure is the sole reason for that, but for me, it is a big factor.

As I explained, Gott provided solidity in the midfield, allowing Galbraith or Davis more freedom to get forward.

My point is this season, we've not properly replaced Gott. Edwards certainly hasn't filled that holding role that Gott primarily held last season. As a result of that, and teams in this division being better defensively, there's less freedom for the likes of Davis and Galbraith.

And that is linked into the problems Fisher has had this season. It's not really in dispute that he has had poor service from the midfield this season.

So I don't think it's a case of Fisher vs AJ. The problem is more complex.

[divas]

No, you were perfectly clear.....but in this thread we were not comparing this season to last season.

Everyone knows we're playing against better teams and the midfield is weaker, and yes that has hampered us creating as many chances.

However this specific thread was discussing how Johnson was scoring and now he's left we're goal shy - with pretty much the same group of midfielders still at the club and playing at the same level.

The fact we've sold a proven scorer and gambled on an unknown quantity rankles with me. We were still creating enough at the beginning of the season but as weeks have gone on we first started missing a lot of chances to put games to bed and have slowly lost confidence and are not now even creating much.

The Buxton game(s) for me seem to have knocked the group.