Six of worst heaps pressure on Town
Wednesday 7th April 2010, 8:52AM BST.
Kris Bright of Shrewsbury Town and Ben Davies of Notts County
Six defeats in a row has left calls for Simpson to leave, but I doubt a new man in charge would have enough time to turn our season around, writes Shrewsbury Town blogger James Pugh.
After one of Town’s worst run of form in years, most people are blaming the manager and are already thinking about who could replace him.
My fear with Simpson is that he has run out of ideas and may have lost the dressing room, like he has lost the fans.
Confidence is evidently low amongst the players and surely if a manager can’t rectify this after six games, the question has got to be asked – will he ever?
He has had enough time to fulfill the clubs ambition of playing League One football and has made some bizarre managerial decisions on the way, including transfers and openly criticising fans who pay good money to go and watch their team.
However, despite my criticism of Simpson, bringing in a new man now is unlikely to inspire the players and get us promoted, so I would stick with the current gaffer and review matters at the end of the season.
What is certain is that major changes will need to be made in the summer, both in terms of the playing staff and coaching staff.
I fear a good clear out is in order and a fresh squad will need to be assembled to challenge for honours next season.
Players such as Cureton, Coughlan, Murray are coming to the end of their careers, while I doubt others including Dunfield, Leslie and McIntyre are really going to take the club forward.
If I am honest the only players who I would keep at the moment are Langmead, Button and Holden.
Hopefully the concern of being without a club at the end of the season will be enough inspiration for some to start fighting for their future with Town – that is if they are bothered about being here in the first place.
Next up for Town is a local derby at Crewe on Saturday where we will be looking to for a repeat of the 2-0 victory we handed out to them in the reverse fixture in September.
Crewe have been involved in some high scoring games this season.
A 1-0 victory for us is very unlikely then, but at this point of the season many fans would take a 4-3 scoreline in Town’s favour.
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I generally agree with James comments. I must admit my frustration is the amount of players that have been brought in who are clearly not good enough, Walker, Chadwick, Elder, Knight, Robinson, Cureton to name but a few.
In my opinion Simpson should go now, get a new bloke in to look at what’s in place in order to have a clear out during the close season, otherwise leaving it to late might have a detrimental effect on season ticket sales. Lets go for a premiership player at the end of thier career looking to get into manager, someone who is hungry. Nickie Butt or someone of that ilke.
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Sorry Alan Roberts but the suggestion of going for a Premiership player at the end of their career is an absolute stinker. What would the likes of Nicky Butt know about League 2? Management is a craft that needs to be learned, very few ex-players are an instant success without working their way up.
James Pugh is off-beam in trotting out the old chestnut about “supporters who pay good money” being entitled to say what they like. That may be so, but if what those supporters are saying is offensive or complete rubbish then a manager or the players are entitled to respond accordingly. If you can’t take it, don’t dish it out.
In fact, Simpson was probably quite restrained in his criticism of supporters, it wouldn’t surprise me if he would have liked to have said something a lot stronger.
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“A 1-0 victory for us is very unlikely then, but at this point of the season many fans would take a 4-3 scoreline in Town’s favour.”
Are you kidding? the only goal “we’ve” scored in over 8 hours of football was an own goal, where on earth are we going to get four goals from?
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I’d have to agree with Alan about the “players” that Simmo has brought in have ultimately not produced. I’d love Roland to do all he can to try and get Graham Turner back to the club that everyone knows he still loves.
His proven contacts in the game have enabled him to bring in quality loan players as well as his knowledge of the players that can be brought in to get the ultimate aim, PROMOTION.
The only thing i’d add to Alan comments is more worringly the players that he has let go for reasons known unto himself.
Ben Herd – Aldershots player of the year according to a lot of fans, Michael Symes – joint top scorer at Accy, Ben Davies – County’s catalyst and player of the year, Constable – scoring for fun at Oxford.
It seems he can bring in good players but them coaches them in such a way that we as fans dont get to see them fulfilling there potential. Cureton is a top player in and around the penalty box, you dont play him in around the halfway line or down the channels as he has been forced to operate.
dont normally like to advocate sackings of managers, but in this case….
Mr Simpson your time is up!!
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Mark Pugh has scored 10 goals while at struggling Hereford. Not good enough for us but fine at The Bulls with God (Turner)…
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6 losses, terrible. I am an away supporter (now live in Kent and still support the Shrews) and have been bitterly disappointed with the team’s performance (went to Aldershot and thought this was the worst ever i’d seen the team play). So much for Wembley or any promotion this year.
Come on guys, play like you enjoy the game, want to win, and even want to play football.
Can’t say i totally blame Simpson – he’s not on the pitch during matches!
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