|
Post by ExeterAddick on Jan 17, 2019 12:41:50 GMT
Very disappointing - I thought he was a really good player for us.
I'm not sure how we can say with any certainty that he won't get game time, given our injury record.
|
|
|
Post by canterburyaddick on Jan 17, 2019 14:03:43 GMT
Very disappointing news for us and for Billy but clearly he hasn't managed to come out the other end of his 12 month lay off the same player who did his cruciate. That said I still think he is too important a player to let go. It's unfortunate, but LB doesn't seem to feel that he's going to add to our team, and I'm sure he is further down the pecking order as players like Cullen come into contention again. I think the recruitment of Williams was the final nail. It's better for all concerned that he moves on and plays. It will release some money, or maybe helped us secure Williams, if LB lets a couple of salaries go.
|
|
|
Post by Mundell on Jan 17, 2019 20:01:23 GMT
Disappointed because I liked Clarke before his injury, but I’m not that surprised. Not sure he was likely to get a game and it’s not obvious he’s a player who is likely to make an impact as a sub.
This is partly about the players in competition with him, but in addition I’m not sure he’s the type of player Bowyer tends to favour.
Very best wishes to him, but I don’t think our chances of promotion will be impacted if he does go.
|
|
|
Post by seriouslyred on Jan 17, 2019 20:04:55 GMT
The reality is that hard decisions have to be made in order for us to hit top form during the run in. Barring a very strange set of results, we are really going to struggle to make the top two. We are simply too many points off the pace but that can change over a month.
Therefore to secure promotion, Bowyer has to ensure we are the best play-off contender. Take a look at the table and recent performances... then watch the next ten games and look at our likely opponents.
The whole management team look to have concluded that Clarke simply won't add to the mix, but we should certainly thank him for his contribution last season when we hit two points per game.
Bowyer, Gallen and Jackson have one job - that's to shape or challenge over these last 18 games. Not just winning on Saturday but loaning out players who won't feature and sourcing a last couple of additions... And building the team.
One word: Wemberleee!
|
|
|
Post by Mundell on Jan 17, 2019 21:48:30 GMT
We are just three points off second place with eighteen games to play, albeit the clubs above us have games in hand!! No way is that too many points off the pace!!
The bookmakers’ odds must reflect a view that we aren’t good enough, but I doubt Lee Bowyer would agree with that assessment. If we pick up two points per game from here we won’t be far off. I’m not saying that’s easy or that we’ll make it, but I am saying that a top two finish is in our own hands and that will be the team’s target until we’re truly out of the race. Only then will Bowyer start thinking about the playoffs.
|
|
|
Post by oldred on Jan 17, 2019 23:47:19 GMT
Sorry to read about Billy probably leaving , he was really good for us before his injury. The team has evolved a lot , in the time he has been out , and at the moment , we are not short of midfield options.
I guess the decision was taken after seeing him in trainin and in U 23 games , and maybe LB feels that he can’t offer us enough now for where we want to be . Hopefully he can get some games somewhere else , it’s been a long road back for him .
|
|
|
Post by seriouslyred on Jan 18, 2019 0:08:21 GMT
We are just three points off second place with eighteen games to play, albeit the clubs above us have games in hand!! No way is that too many points off the pace!! The bookmakers’ odds must reflect a view that we aren’t good enough, but I doubt Lee Bowyer would agree with that assessment. If we pick up two points per game from here we won’t be far off. I’m not saying that’s easy or that we’ll make it, but I am saying that a top two finish is in our own hands and that will be the team’s target until we’re truly out of the race. Only then will Bowyer start thinking about the playoffs. Multiply through points per game for the top five times 46 games and we are ten points off the pace! The only answer is that we have to keep winning and our competitors drop points... Perhaps the gap narrows to five then it's worth considering. Not worth worrying about until March when there are ten games to go. Until then it's about shaping up this team, starting Saturday followed by a sold out away end at Peterborough My guess is that today we have a 10% chance of automatic promotion? And almost certain to be in the playoffs. However (!), one reserves the chance to revise that view once we see Cullen back etc. In other words, 50:1 for the title looks a very good price if one were to go each way!
|
|
|
Post by Mundell on Jan 18, 2019 7:46:11 GMT
We are just three points off second place with eighteen games to play, albeit the clubs above us have games in hand!! No way is that too many points off the pace!! The bookmakers’ odds must reflect a view that we aren’t good enough, but I doubt Lee Bowyer would agree with that assessment. If we pick up two points per game from here we won’t be far off. I’m not saying that’s easy or that we’ll make it, but I am saying that a top two finish is in our own hands and that will be the team’s target until we’re truly out of the race. Only then will Bowyer start thinking about the playoffs. Multiply through points per game for the top five times 46 games and we are ten points off the pace! The only answer is that we have to keep winning and our competitors drop points... Perhaps the gap narrows to five then it's worth considering. Not worth worrying about until March when there are ten games to go. Until then it's about shaping up this team, starting Saturday followed by a sold out away end at Peterborough My guess is that today we have a 10% chance of automatic promotion? And almost certain to be in the playoffs. However (!), one reserves the chance to revise that view once we see Cullen back etc. In other words, 50:1 for the title looks a very good price if one were to go each way! With respect, I think you’ve missed the point I was making or, perhaps, have simply chosen to ignore it. We are three points behind Luton who are in second place, albeit they have a game in hand. That’s nothing at this stage of the season. Since our defeat at Rochdale we’ve taken 28 points from 13 matches and if we continue at that rate we won’t be far off 90 points. Sunderland who, Portsmouth apart, have the best points per game record in League One, are on ‘target’ for 92 points. That’s a very small margin with so much football still to be played. However, despite this Sunderland are 11/10 for a top two place while we are out at 16/1. The odds for the other top five sides are Portsmouth 8/15, Luton 1/1 and Barnsley 6/4. We appear to be seen as rank outsiders compared to these main contenders. It is also worth noting that we’ve already played each of these four teams away from home and have just Portsmouth and Luton to play at the Valley, where we have a very good record this season. It might be argued, therefore, that our fixtures from here on in are relatively favourable. Moreover, we’ve clearly strengthened in this window, while Luton have lost their inspirational manager and Barnsley one of their best players. What does all of this mean? In my view it tells us that the ‘market’, as represented by the bookmakers’ odds, doesn’t believe we’re as good a side as our current record and points total suggests. In other words, the view is that our results have been better than our underlying performances, perhaps measured by ‘expected goals’, for example, so that we’re not seen as good enough to mount a serious challenge for automatic promotion, despite our current record not because of it. Further evidence for this interpretation is the fact that Doncaster Rovers, who are five points behind us, i.e. further from us than we are from Luton, are 18/1 to finish in the top two. Odds that are not materially different from our own. We shall see. My point though was that I’m sure Lee Bowyer thinks we’re good enough and his focus will absolutely be on a top two finish. I doubt he’ll give a second thought to the playoffs unless and until we’re actually in them. 16/1 for a top two place looks good value to me at this stage.
|
|
|
Post by seriouslyred on Jan 18, 2019 8:16:16 GMT
Mundell a post on a message board is a blunt instrument of communication so I would simply state, having read your posts: 1) Bowyer was aiming for 17 points every nine games and we have achieved that once while missing the other two by just a few points. 2) so we are just under the curve for 86 points, and could easily catch that up. But 86 looks unlikely to be enough - who knows? 3) the odds look good if one believes, as you and I do, that we are going to have a good final set of results. As posted elsewhere, with players coming back we should have a very decent looking team come March 4) but without that knowledge of all things CAFC, the loyalty and the hope, an outsider might place us fourth or fifth right now. We can and we should go for the top two but let's not get too carried away. Did I really write that?! One thing... if we do go where we think we can then the excitement and crowds are going to build at the Valley - let's see where we are at 5pm on Saturday!
|
|
|
Post by tonyshootersbull on Jan 18, 2019 9:47:43 GMT
Billy clarke.i would keep him but maybe bowyers been told hes got to go to free up wages for another striker to come in on loan and unless clarke doesnt go then no money to do it. Id let hackett fairchild go as not up to speed yet and keep clarke.ajose gone on high wages
|
|
|
Post by seriouslyred on Jan 20, 2019 10:29:38 GMT
Multiply through points per game for the top five times 46 games and we are ten points off the pace! The only answer is that we have to keep winning and our competitors drop points... Perhaps the gap narrows to five then it's worth considering. Not worth worrying about until March when there are ten games to go. Until then it's about shaping up this team, starting Saturday followed by a sold out away end at Peterborough My guess is that today we have a 10% chance of automatic promotion? And almost certain to be in the playoffs. However (!), one reserves the chance to revise that view once we see Cullen back etc. In other words, 50:1 for the title looks a very good price if one were to go each way! With respect, I think you’ve missed the point I was making or, perhaps, have simply chosen to ignore it. We are three points behind Luton who are in second place, albeit they have a game in hand. That’s nothing at this stage of the season. Since our defeat at Rochdale we’ve taken 28 points from 13 matches and if we continue at that rate we won’t be far off 90 points. Sunderland who, Portsmouth apart, have the best points per game record in League One, are on ‘target’ for 92 points. That’s a very small margin with so much football still to be played. However, despite this Sunderland are 11/10 for a top two place while we are out at 16/1. The odds for the other top five sides are Portsmouth 8/15, Luton 1/1 and Barnsley 6/4. We appear to be seen as rank outsiders compared to these main contenders. It is also worth noting that we’ve already played each of these four teams away from home and have just Portsmouth and Luton to play at the Valley, where we have a very good record this season. It might be argued, therefore, that our fixtures from here on in are relatively favourable. Moreover, we’ve clearly strengthened in this window, while Luton have lost their inspirational manager and Barnsley one of their best players. What does all of this mean? In my view it tells us that the ‘market’, as represented by the bookmakers’ odds, doesn’t believe we’re as good a side as our current record and points total suggests. In other words, the view is that our results have been better than our underlying performances, perhaps measured by ‘expected goals’, for example, so that we’re not seen as good enough to mount a serious challenge for automatic promotion, despite our current record not because of it. Further evidence for this interpretation is the fact that Doncaster Rovers, who are five points behind us, i.e. further from us than we are from Luton, are 18/1 to finish in the top two. Odds that are not materially different from our own. We shall see. My point though was that I’m sure Lee Bowyer thinks we’re good enough and his focus will absolutely be on a top two finish. I doubt he’ll give a second thought to the playoffs unless and until we’re actually in them. 16/1 for a top two place looks good value to me at this stage. An update after yesterday. It's a five horse race for the top two and while we won, the other four gained seven points between them. Two of those sides have two games in hand over us so we were and still are the fifth favourites. Luton and Barnsley both won - will we finish above them? We all know our side has improved and we had a poor August but that doesn't change the fact that the target for automatic promotion is still 90 or 91 points... And that we have less games than others to get there. Still in our own hands and Bowyer will take each game as it comes. By mid February the target might drop to 88 points if our rivals drop points and our prospects might have improved? At that point the bookies odds will level out more. This process started at 5pm yesterday and we are now 33:1 for the title, down from 50:1. If Taylor's red card appeal goes well, and or we sign a decent striker then our prospects improve. If people believe we will make the top two then fill your boots because our odds will shrink every week we do well. Most importantly, we are in a far better place than 12 months ago and we had an extra 2,000 in the Valley yesterday compared to games before Christmas.
|
|
|
Post by reamsofverse on Feb 2, 2019 22:01:44 GMT
Should we have waited before agreeing to allow Billy to rejoin Bradford?
Bristol City and Bolton hung fire on us until their targets came in, should we have done the same with Billy?
|
|
|
Post by willett on Feb 2, 2019 22:17:42 GMT
Should we have waited before agreeing to allow Billy to rejoin Bradford? Bristol City and Bolton hung fire on us until their targets came in, should we have done the same with Billy? Yep, We should have.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Feb 3, 2019 9:59:09 GMT
Should we have waited before agreeing to allow Billy to rejoin Bradford? Bristol City and Bolton hung fire on us until their targets came in, should we have done the same with Billy? 100% this. We let Ajose, Grant and Clarke leave without preparing any back up, and got caught out. Bristol and Bolton both gave us a lesson we shouldn't have needed in how to play your assets.
|
|
|
Post by reamsofverse on Feb 3, 2019 10:07:53 GMT
Billy clarke.i would keep him but maybe bowyers been told hes got to go to free up wages for another striker to come in on loan and unless clarke doesnt go then no money to do it. Id let hackett fairchild go as not up to speed yet and keep clarke.ajose gone on high wages Thing is though no striker did come in and given a choice between Clarke and Parker it's Clarke all day long.
|
|
|
Post by essexaddick on Feb 3, 2019 12:29:01 GMT
Billy clarke.i would keep him but maybe bowyers been told hes got to go to free up wages for another striker to come in on loan and unless clarke doesnt go then no money to do it. Id let hackett fairchild go as not up to speed yet and keep clarke.ajose gone on high wages Thing is though no striker did come in and given a choice between Clarke and Parker it's Clarke all day long. Absolutely. It was a no brainer imo
|
|
|
Post by revilo on Aug 20, 2019 22:52:09 GMT
I know it's random but I like how Billy Clarke still cares about us. I wish him the best for the future. Attachments:
|
|
|
Post by redrobin on Aug 23, 2019 19:56:47 GMT
Loved Billy Clarke. Great player. Shame about his injury. Expected big things from him. Was our best player before his injury.
|
|