Game 40: QPR 0 Preston North End 2 (07.04.2023. 14,620)

Have to revert to one up top with chair and willock in behind. We don’t put enough quality into the box to play two lumps. I’d start Martin personally. 3 cb 2 wb two in central mid with chair willock and maybe Amos/Tim further up if fit. Whatever happens if these cunts concede early I’m genuinely done

I get the reasoning but It's hardly gonna help our precious princesses on the pitch when the ground is booing not even 10 mins in.

Fuck that. We need these fuckers to pull one out the bag this week not give them a reason to sack it off.

I’m hoping for a home win, but Ainsworth needs to have a massive rethink on team selection and tactics to achieve that.

Two limited immobile lumps up front don’t work and neither does bypassing the MF by keep launching the ball into the channels from defence, the ball playing individuals we have don’t suit that primitive style.

Lyndon Dykes is undroppable, irrespective of his form.

Three out of our four last managers have demonstrated that.

Will be such a pisser if we drop then play the youngsters and they cut it. Nothing to lose giving one or two a decent run out now.

I would play maximum one up top, even consider a false nine. None of our strikers can either score or hold the ball up, so what do they contribute?

One step at a time: don't even think about three points at the moment, instead lets just try and not lose a game. Stop the rot. That means not conceding stupid goals.

Five at the back, pack the midfield. Best chance of scoring is a bit of creative skill from someone running deep. We are incapable of scoring the kind of bread and butter goals most teams manage. They say its a sign of madness to keep trying the same thing and expect different results. If Ainsworth isn't a one trick pony, now is the time to prove it. Good managers change a system to suit the players. Extreme example but Pep didn't play with a centre forward when he didn't have a good one. Now he has the best in the world, so does play with one. Ours are all shit so don't play them. On mass we have some pretty decent midfield players - so lets play to our limited strengths.

Get an ugly point and we can build on it. Concede another 3rd minute goal and its game over, riots on the pitch at full time, abuse of the players, complete meltdown. Ainsworth needs to prove he can think.

Think its well beyond strategy or even tactics at this point. Its Dad's Army style blind panic just to get through the next match. Wouldn't even assume Ainsworth will be here next season, the club's in total meltdown. Only thing possibly saving him is we will prob be in League 1 and he has demonstrated pretty conclusively he is a League 1 manager.

Unfortunately very true.

i think gareth will mix it up a bit. he's gone to a back 3 for example.

problem is we have a squad on piss poor confidence right now that play shit every week, its a huge death spiral to be in so i don't really blame gareth for everything.

i think hes the right man for the job but the end of the season can't come quick enough for the squad and it'll do them all a world of good imo.
bare in mind that by the time they come back our training ground will be fully built which would freshen things up a bit for the players.

i'm not defending the players either but we're stuck with most of them and it is what it is.

Nothing wrong with bringing in experience...absolutely crying out for it at the moment IMO.

I'd be tempted to stick to our own players for the run-in, on grounds of motivation/commitment (though some may be questionable...)

Our loaners (Ethan Laird, Tim Iroegbunam, Tyler Roberts, Jamal Lowe) may be more concerned about their Summer holiday plans and staying un-injured in preparation for their parent Prem clubs' pre-season.

That would be Stef 🤣😂

Dom ball was squad player at best. And he’s been injured most the season so actually would have fitted right in.

One of only two sides we can still do the double over.