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View Full Version : Martin Allen's comments after the defeat at Peterborough


Edmundo
21st August 2004, 21:09
I am very disappointed in that performance. Without a shadow of a doubt that is the worst performance since I have been at the club. I am very disappointed. We had an awful lot of supporters here, and even at 3-0 down kept singing for their team. I personally found it quite gruelling. It could have been 7, and that’s not taking it lightly.

I’ll have to change it – I am not going to stand for that. I want to win badly. If you don’t win, it still has to be close. Its always going to be close. Today, it could have been 7-0.

It was disappointing. If we are going to lose, it has to be close. Whenever I have been involved, whatever team I was with – win, lose or draw it was close. Today it could have been 7. I am not going to stand here and knock individuals as they have just won the last 2 games they have played. They were unlucky at Chesterfield. Today, that was the worst performance since I took over. We have worked very hard at the training ground and preparation. First and foremost as manager I will look at what I have been doing with them. I will look how I have been doing training with them, and my methods. I will see if I have been getting it wrong.

It has come as a big shock. We have good individuals, but they have to play as a team. At any level if it’s the top team in the Premiership or the Rose and Crown on a Sunday, you have to work as a team. It doesn’t matter at what level. You have to compete. If you do not compete you do not win. That’s it. Forget all the passing and skills. You have to compete. You have to win tackles and headers. You have to have the desire and determination. How well you win the ball, twisting etc – you do not win.

We have conceded too many goals now, and there will be changes. I don’t think anybody could knock on my door and ask why. We caused problems for ourselves all over the pitch. I will not knock any individual, as it was a collective effort. That includes myself, staff and players. We are all responsible for that performance. We were poor. Its my responsibility. I am not going to stand in that box week in, week out and watch that. That hurts me.

I have never changed the training – they always do the same thing. We missed a few players obviously – we had one which came back from Jamaica on Thursday afternoon and we had another who has played twice this week. He is just getting a run in the first team, and has just been called up to the national team and its not easy to cope. But as a manager, I will have to take that into account next time.

(Thanks to Trandy.)

ChinaBee
21st August 2004, 21:15
Ed thanks for this, it is always nice ( :confused: ) to see that the manager gets as frustrated as us and cannot really say what he means

Bring on September,then we will loook at the table, we will be very near the top

Yiggy
21st August 2004, 21:55
I'm glad he realises that there were serious problems today. Some managers would bury their head in the sand and blame it on bad luck. Bad luck was nowhere to be found today it was all down to playing terribly.

It's good that Allen realises he is not above criticism.

Luton Bee
21st August 2004, 21:59
Martin Allen can talk the talk, now he needs to prove he can walk the walk.

North London Bee
21st August 2004, 22:05
This is good management as he is telling us how he feels without publically criticising any individuals.

In private though that will be a different matter and I suspect that the dressing room was not a happy place afterwards and that sparks flew.

Johnny Bravo
21st August 2004, 22:28
Thanks Ed for that ;)

Clearly MA realises there are probs. OK Tabb was jaded and Deon back from his game midweek too, but at least we have a manager that admits we have a few problems.....more than could be said for the previous incumbant!.

MA WILL get it right no doubt about it.

JB....not having sleepless nights at all! ;)

longdistancebee
22nd August 2004, 09:47
Martin Allen can talk the talk, now he needs to prove he can walk the walk.

Very true sir, but as others have said, isn't it great that we have a manager who fronts up to the problems and doesn't just give us the old flannel about everything in the garden being rosy.

I for one am confident that MA will quickly identify the sources of our problems and remedy them. He is a true breath of fresh air. :sorted:

Downbeat Bee
22nd August 2004, 14:18
Didn't go to Peterborough but I've had some concerns since the start of the season - the main one being that Allen has not signed the right players.

I'm sure he will try to do everything in his power to get us up the league, but I think the nature and balance of his acquisitions may make things a touch more difficult.

Boston Bee
22nd August 2004, 16:02
Wha?...

We acquired three players I couldn't imagine having in my wildest imagination and an excellent looking loan acquisition. We supply them with some service and our current front two will score goals, they're both in their physical prime and have something to prove. Ok, I'll grant you Myers has not impressed anyone, including MA - but at least he's shown the courage to admit his mistake within 60 minutes of game 1 and go to Frampton.

More concern is the loss of Sonko and the goals pouring in. Maybe Sonje is going to change that.

Hargreaves and Salako are getting on and I worry also but they're experienced hands and they're looking for promotion. Hargreaves is an excellent mentor for Steady Edward.

Do think that we miss Hunts aggression and pace.

Don't panic!


Didn't go to Peterborough but I've had some concerns since the start of the season - the main one being that Allen has not signed the right players.

I'm sure he will try to do everything in his power to get us up the league, but I think the nature and balance of his acquisitions may make things a touch more difficult.

Trandy
22nd August 2004, 20:49
Wha?...

We acquired three players I couldn't imagine having in my wildest imagination and an excellent looking loan acquisition. We supply them with some service and our current front two will score goals, they're both in their physical prime and have something to prove. Ok, I'll grant you Myers has not impressed anyone, including MA - but at least he's shown the courage to admit his mistake within 60 minutes of game 1 and go to Frampton.



I think thats more due to the fact that Myers is injured in game 1 and has been since. I also think that Myers will be back in the side on Tuesday, because Turner is cup tied (according to the RTT) and Framps needs to play alongside Firz.

Truth is we need a big man up front (Mark McCammon would be ideal), so Rankin or Burton can play off him with our current high ball tactics.

Luton Bee
22nd August 2004, 20:51
Or perhaps we could consider changing the tactics! :idea:

Boston Bee
22nd August 2004, 20:56
Really?

Injury was why he was responsible for the first two goals and kept getting beat for pace from basically the first minute onword? With no evidence at my disposal, it certainly looked to me like MA dragged him out because he was killing us.

Maybe he'll return healthy and not slow and really impress!


[QUOTE=Trandy]I think thats more due to the fact that Myers is injured in game 1 and has been since. I also think that Myers will be back in the side on Tuesday, because Turner is cup tied (according to the RTT) and Framps needs to play alongside Firz.

QUOTE]

Idaho Bee
22nd August 2004, 21:16
Martin Allen can talk the talk, now he needs to prove he can walk the walk.


That's a bit hard LB. ;)

MA's already walked the walk last season, saving us from almost certain relegation.

I know that was last season, and this is the one we're now concerned with, but it's still only 4 games old, 2 of which we won. I'm sure MA will sort it out, and his attitude of "this is not acceptable" is the right one to keep making changes until the team gains some much needed consistency.

MA deserves our full support for the full season (IMO) as he earned that right at the end of last season. :sorted:

Hey, it could be worse, we could be at the bottom of the table, say like Brighton and QPha. lol

chippendale
22nd August 2004, 23:52
Agree, lets give MA our support. This is a new team who have not had much practice against league teams. The warm up games weren't upto much, although we did have those behind doors games.

We need a few more games to bed the team in.

thefatcd
23rd August 2004, 07:28
MA putting it right straight away, arrived at Jersey Rd at 09.45 Sunday morning for a Centre of Excellence match only to find most of the 1st team just leaving, MA must have had them in at 08.30 at least !!

Ace Face
24th August 2004, 16:40
I would have had them in after the Posh game and had them training all through the night until Sunday morning carrying rucksacks full of bricks and singing Brentford songs while they practise defending, passing, shooting and tackling.

You can`t help but like MA, but we need to remember this team is costing £100k more than last years youngsters and I want VFM from them.

I also think Hunty is better than Salako or Rhodes and I feel we miss his energy and desire. But what do I know....

The H
24th August 2004, 16:48
£110k more - does that include Hunt's wages??

Banana
24th August 2004, 17:00
it was £91k according to a post by Ace Face in another thread :confused: