Carlisle Carnage

A late Jamie Douglas equaliser earned PNE a deserved point against Carlisle who led twice at Deepdale in the well attended Boxing Day clash.

On reflection a point was probably about fair, as for long periods Carlisle dominated the midfield and looked threatening through Francois Zoko. PNE's midfield was the real weak link and was bypassed throughout the match until Grezzworth bought Tsoumou on, which led to the very disappointing Adam Barton dropping back into central midfield, with Doyle and Coutts so PNE had more presence in the centre.
               This along with a more orthodox strike force and a tiring Carlisle led to PNE dominating the final 20 minutes and they could have potentially grabbed the win they wanted if they had put their chances away and had a little more luck, particularly with Doyle hitting both posts.

PNE would probably have lost this game under Phil Brown, not just because we showed more fight but also because of the changes Grezzworth made when things weren't working and the bold decision to take off the tiring talisman Iain Hume, on 85 minutes when PNE were desperate for a goal, bringing on eventual match saver Jamie Douglas.

Man of the Match


Francois Zoko looked like the sort of player we would love at North End, skillfull, powerful and quick. He took his goal superbly and earned himself a round of applause from both sets of fans when substituted late on. Shame there is no money in the coffers to make a realistic bid, but these are the sort of players PNE need to be attracting, lower league players who are talented and showing promise for the years ahead (although Zoko is 28) who have hunger to win, rather than the rejects and uninterested players bought in under Phil Brown. 


Player Ratings:

• 01 Stuckmann 7 - It's great to not have to worry about your keeper making gaffs again. Another solid game.
• 02 Gray 7 - played fairly well, could have hidden away after unfortunate leg breaking tackle, bombed on down the right late on. Made crucial header over own bar to prevent score becoming 2-4.yellow card
• 03 McLaughlin 6 - played fairly well in less familiar role.
• 06 Morgan 7- becoming one of most crucial players, another solid performance and has cut out mistakes.
• 39 McCombe 6- gave away clumsy penalty, troubled by Zoko's pace. Comical moment on half way line passing ball to Carlisle player 3 yards infront of him.
• 08 Coutts 6 - went missing for large portion of game, a little disappointing but maybe stifled by Barton infront of him. But crucial run and cross for late equaliser.
• 15 Barton 4 - really poor, looked uninterested, didn't make any tackles. Crowd got on his back late on. No impact.
• 16 Mayor 6 - Looked good in 5 min spells, but then disappeared for 15. Got caught on ball that led to chance and seemed to instantly lose confidence.
• 17 Parry (Tsoumou 68) 6 - Not much impact, took penalty well but apart from that not much to offer, even his delivery was very average. (7, threw his weight around showed some very good touches and worried Carlisle defence, must start next game! Shame he couldn't finish his chance).
• 38 Doyle 6- Once again looks good but then goes missing, as midfield was over run. Needs to start bossing the centre, he has ability.
• 07 Hume (Douglas 85) 7- Once again worked hard, caused problems, probably should have scored another. Will remain most important player, needs to stay fit. (6- only had a few touches, looked delighted with tap-in equaliser).

PNE 'Legends' (2)

George Koumantarakis 


Arguably one of the worst player to play for PNE in the recent years? Maybe that's a little harsh but he is well remembered by fans for numerous reasons. More renowned for his long hair and height (6ft 4 in, to be exact) than his footballing ability, the Greek born South African raised striker signed from FC Basel in 2002, when Preston was under the command of the frighteningly incompetent Craig Brown. He was only able to muster up 17 appearances in two years and notched up 5 goals, (which actually makes him sound better than he was).

'...the icon of GK, with his shoulder length hair and incredibly long name, will live long in PNE fan's memories.'

One of his most memorable appearances was in a 5-0 victory over Walsall in March 2003. Where he bagged a brace, which must be said wasn't the best two goals you will ever see, the ball hit him more than anything else. But nevertheless after the game, Koumantarakis said he saw Preston as a stepping stone to greater things and that he could not wait to be playing in the Premiership! Comical stuff.

His time at North End, maybe fortunately for us fans, was plagued by injury and he eventually left in 2004 and his career petered out before eventually retiring in 2006.

Koumantarakis never lived up to expectations. He was obviously a good player as he represented South Africa and even played in the Champions League. But his career was all but over when he joined Preston, despite his terrible and frustrating performances, the icon of George Koumantarakis, with his shoulder length hair and incredibly long name, will live long in PNE fans memories.

Defeat of the Dons

The great away win yesterday against MK Dons highlighted the incompetence of Phil Brown as Graham Alexander and David Unsworth took charge of the team for the first time. They put players in their familiar positions and initially adopted a simple but solid 4-4-2.

We all watched the game so there is no need for a match report, but it was obvious that many of the senior players and staff disagreed with Brown's previous selections and systems, as the reversal back to a more traditional system shows.

The MK Dons were fourth in the league and went into the game in top form. They were unable to break PNE's defence down and looked to lack creativity and their team consisted of a few poor players who looked clumsy and lacked technique on the ball. But they are considered one of the better teams in the league.

The major change in the game occurred with the injury of Mellor relatively early in the game. The caretaker managers seemed reluctant to put Tsoumou on as Mellor's replacement and used Adam Barton in behind the lone striker Iain Hume, which meant that PNE struggled to keep the ball at the top of the pitch, as we were often outnumbered by the Dons defence line. This invited on a lot of pressure but PNE defended admirably, particularly Craig Morgan, who we feel deserved the man of the match as he probably had his best game in Preston colours.

If Mellor had stayed injury free and on the field, the game could have played out much differently, as Hume and Mellor had linked up particularly well early on and looked dangerous, along with the deep runs from Paul Coutts who looked good on the ball and also the trickery of Danny Mayor on the right, who looked to take on his man whenever he could and troubled the Don's defence early on.

The game shows that PNE are one of the best teams in the league and under Phil Brown have been punching under their weight. With some confidence and players returning from injury anything is possible for this team and we are in a good position going into the hectic Christmas period, just three points off the play-offs.

Preston

• 01 Stuckmann 7- Did well when required, another solid performance. Sign him up!
• 02 Gray 6- No mistakes, work needed with Mayor if they are to form a partnership on right.
• 06 Morgan 9- Solid, won many headers and didn't look like being beaten. (Our MotM)
• 14 Smith 6- Had match fitness finally, fairly solid. One dodgy header led to a chance.
• 39 McCombe 7-Could have been sent off, grew into game. Better second half.yellow card
• 08 Coutts 8- Much better centrally, good runs, creative going forward. Sky's MotMyellow card
• 16 Mayor 7- started well, skilfull runs, decent delivery. Needs to be more involved throughout the whole game, hopefully this game gave him confidence.
• 17 Parry (McLaughlin 82yellow card) 7- goalscorer with powerful header, helped Smith well defensively. (6- Only on for short time, quick booking, great late effort that looked destined for top corner).
• 38 Doyle 7- Looked fit and athletic, played well centrally put tackles in. Hopefully be more involved in the future.
• 07 Hume (Tsoumou 66) 6- Not best of games, hard time on his own up-front though and not fully fit yet. But looked good with Mellor early on. (5- We all witnessed Tsoumou's first touch when one-on-one with keeper. Enough said).
• 33 Mellor (Barton 31) 7- Shame about injury looked a handful early on. Hopefully back soon. (6- A little disappointed, fairly ineffective didn't offer Hume enough support.)

Who's next on the PNE managerial merry-go-round?

Billy Davies


Well wouldn't that be interesting? The man who left PNE in a ditch because he demanded more money and came back to North End to a howling off boo's and anger. But he built a highly successful team and took us to the brink of the promise land.
             Personally I think in the short term he is the most able manager to take us back to the Championship but it is likely it will all end in tears at some point, with ego's clashing in the boardroom. But he is currently the bookies favourite. The main problem is that Billy loves and needs money, we have none!


Dave Jones


Ex-Cardiff and Wolves manager has already been strongly linked with the job, mainly due to his availability and close ties to chairman Peter Ridsdale.
             He has experience and would probably do reasonably well, but may not be the most positive of appointments. He probably should have got Cardiff promoted in his 6 years in charge, after good backing and a talented squad at his disposable. He is running close behind Davies with the bookies.

Graham Alexander/ David Unsworth


The pair in temporary charge of the club have been backed by some supporters to take on the role permanently due to their knowledge of the club. The next few games will be a real test and a chance for them to stake their claim on the jobs. It would be more likely Alexander would take the managers role with Unsworth as assistant. But their inexperience has to be taken into consideration and they would need to be given plenty of time to get things back on track at the club, time which PNE may not have.
                                       
Sean O'Driscoll

O'Driscoll was the immediate favourite for the job at 3/1 but at the time of writing he has been put back to 10/1. He was sacked by Doncaster Rovers after a poor start to the season. He is renowned for trying to play attractive, positive football which many fans on the terraces are crying out for. But he was sacked from Doncaster for a reason (poor results) and stamping his style of play on the team may take time.

Paul Ince

From the talk on twitter it would seem Ince would be an unpopular appointment and I would have to agree. His poor reign at Blackburn Rovers suggests he needs more time in the game to get to grips with managing big clubs. Preston aren't necessarily a 'big club', but for League 1 we are and we do not have the luxury of time to start on a five year project along with Ince as he develops as a young manager. We need a fast recovery as Ridsdale has said, the best way for the club to get over our financial problems is to get promoted!

Outsiders include: Garry Flitcroft (5/1 but can't see it happening and if it did I think many fans would be disappointed),  Peter Reid (unlikely but 6/1 due to Ridsdale link), Michael O'Neill (Shamrock Rovers manager who took them to the Europa League group stages), Nicky Butt (12/1), Roy Keane (33/1), Sean Gregan (40/1, hugely popular as a player and would be backed as a manager but would be massively questioned as soon as things went wrong, lack of experience making it extremely unlikely but don't rule it out in the future) and the rank outsiders who are almost laughable, the legendary Danny Dichio (66/1) and finally someone called David Beckham at 200/1.

(Odds taken from Sky Bet)

Pitiful Phil GONE!

The news has recently broke that Phil Brown has left the club. The blog heard a very small amount of talk last night but considered it incorrect as the timing seemed odd.

The mid-week departure seems to suggest that there has been talks and negotiations since the Stevenage game, as if the sacking was 100% on results alone, it would have made more sense for the dismissal of Brown to have occurred straight after Saturdays game, or the board would have let Phil Brown have one last chance on Saturday against the MK Dons to keep his job. So it seems that the terrible form, possibly along with a couple of boardroom differences may have resulted in the slightly surprising news today.

David Unsworth and Graham Alexander will take temporary charge, as the search for a new manager begins. We will look to write up a post on potential candidates for the job in the near future.

Comment or tweet us your thoughts.

Simon Whaley

Simon Whaley played a total of 120 games for PNE and scored 14 goals, in his prime he could be by far the best player on the pitch, even sometimes more effective than the legendary David Nugent. But what looked set to be a promising career, slowly declined and the announcement today at the young age of 26, of his retirement is sad news.

Whaley signed for PNE from Bury, in January 2006 for around £250,000 and played a crucial role in getting the club to the play-offs that season.

The following year after more play-off disappointment Whaley started brightly and worked very effectively with star striker David Nugent. His pace terrorised defences, as he ran wild up the right hand flank. On his day his delivery was superb and he became a crucial player in the strong team under Billy Davies. Premier League teams were often reported interested in the right midfielder, particularly Middlesbrough who were believed to have made a bid of £2.5million which was turned down, showing how highly rated Whaley was.

In the later stages of Paul Simpsons reign of terror and later Alan Irvine's time in charge, Whaley's form gradually worsened after reports of fall outs and the mysterious 'marble table incident' that led to a broken toe, he was sent out on loan before eventually moving to Norwich City.

But Whaley never again hit the heights of his first couple of years at Preston when he played alongside the likes of Nugent. After playing for a host of clubs, he today took the decision today to retire from the game due to continuous knee troubles. 

We wish Simon good luck in his future endeavours, whatever they may be and thank him for the service he gave to the club and the memories of delight that he has left with us fans, particularly of him tearing up the opposition's left back time and time again.  

Dave Seddon and PNE's mythical 'defensive solidity'.

Past readers of the blog will know I am critical of the LEP's sports editor Dave Seddon and his unwaveringly supportive articles about PNE, from their performances to staff and players. And in his match report in Mondays LEP he claims PNE's defence has turned a corner, but really there is no evidence for this.

Seddon claims that the 5-2 hammering against Charlton was a 'watershed moment' and since then PNE's defensive line has been robust.

When looking at the fixtures PNE have played since the Charlton game it is clear the 'new look defence' has not been tested. And nobody can yet claim that we have truly tightened up at the back.

Seddon's claim (and I am sure Phil Brown will be arguing it too) is ridiculous. Lets look at the results since the Charlton drubbing:

Tue 8	19:30	A	Rochdale	JPT (N) QF	W	1-1 (aet 4-2 on pens)	2,395
Sat 12	15:00	H	Southend	FACP	D	0-0	6,609
Sat 19	15:00	H	Rochdale	FL1	L	0-1	10,456
Tue 22	19:45	A	Southend	FACP	L	0-1	4,537
Sat 26	15:00	A	Bury	FL1	L	0-1	4,957
Tue 29	19:45	A	Hartlepool	FL1	W	1-0	4,156
December
Tue 6	19:45	H	Chesterfield	JPT (N)	L	1-1 (aet 2-4 on pens)	5,835
Sat 10	15:00	H	Stevenage	FL1	D	0-0

The opposition in these games can not be seen as strong attacking teams and have not been true tests for the defensive side of the team. And along with this PNE's form has clearly still been shocking.

The '8 game defensive revival' which Seddon naively states has occurred, has come against some of the  worst teams in the league, two of the games were in the JPT and two in the FA Cup against lower league opposition! How can anybody possibly state that all our defensive woes have been solved. 

The televised game against MK Dons on Saturday will be the first real test for the new look back-line, as the Dons look to play positively and are sharp going forward, only after this game and the ones following over the Christmas period will we be able to properly see if there has been a real turn-around.

I am afraid that this is yet another example of poor journalism on Dave Seddon's behalf. He needs to become much more analytical and critical for his articles to really hold any value. But part of me obviously hopes that he has seen something that I have missed and can somehow tell that the defensive line is more solid than it was at the start of the season. In the hope that we have actually sorted at least one of our major problems and can put a series of good results together. But another part of me knows that this may just be too much to ask for and unfortunately I feel we have not seen the very last of our defensive worries.

 

PNE 'Legends' (1)

SIMON LYNCH

Remember him? The Canadian born striker signed for PNE in 2002 (by the incompetent Craig Brown) after a £130,000 transfer from Celtic.

Lynch was always described as 'promising' but frustratingly only managed 2 goals in 36 appearances and was eventually shipped out on loan to Stockport and even Blackpool.

Lynch had brief spells back in Scotland and eventually in Australia for Queensland. But retired at the age of 29 following a year at Stenhousemuir in 2011, after apparently 'losing his enthusiasm for the game'. To be honest I cant say I am surprised.

His Preston career never even looked like kicking off, as can be seen by his goals to games stats. Lynch was one of a number of poor signings by Craig Brown, many of whom will no doubt turn up in the 'Legends' posts to come.

PNE 'Legends'

A new and hopefully ongoing feature in the blog will be to look at some of the more obscure players who have put on the PNE shirt throughout the years. Looking at players who failed to impress during their time at the club  or those players who worked hard but were ever so frustrating.

Please send in your suggestions of players who you think fit the criteria.

The first 'legend' will be posted soon so keep a look out.

'Brown: Recipe For Success' - a response

The pre-match article on the PNE website is a typical example of what is seen on the site every Friday before a match. Phil Brown talking about the teams 'improved' performances and the usual injury list and past meetings facts.

Here is the post for anyone who is just dying to see it. http://www.pnefc.net/page/NewsDetail/0,,10362~2542564,00.html

We attempt to give our readers a different match preview.
In regards to the game against Stevenage tomorrow, it is yet another must win match. The teams performances have not vastly improved over the recent weeks and the response to Neil Mellor's (@neilmellor33) tweet on Tuesday evening after the loss to Chesterfield, shows that the fans opinion has not improved either. Mellor tweeted...

Big blow to lose tonight. Always a lottery pens but we have turned corner and playing better stuff.results will follow #keepbelieving

Many fans replied bemused at Mellor and particularly his suggestion of 'playing better stuff'. Looking at the feedback from various tweets and posts fans are concerned about the rigidity of the team and recently their lack of creativity. Which has come as a surprise to many after the goal glut at the start of the season.

The truth is on paper (which is such a great but rather frustrating phrase) the team is full of attacking talent and ability. Brown does have options, but admittedly the loss of Iain  Hume is a significant blow to the team, as he is by far the most creative and influential player in the squad. Nevertheless, many fans have shown concern about the style of play that Brown is trying to implement on the team and its ineffectiveness.

One option which I have chosen to assess is nothing too drastic, as I do not feel the team is too far off starting to put a string of good results together. But it simply displays one of the many possibilities that Brown has open to him and that he may opt for, for the game against Stevenage tomorrow.

I have to say there are a number of things that I don't particularly like about this line-up. I am not completely comfortable with Parry playing at left back, as he is a much better attack minded player than defensive, also im not convinced by Morgan but he seems to be getting his chance at the moment from Brown in the centre back shake up.

Also if Hume is fit come three o'clock tomorrow he would walk into the starting eleven. But the key thing in this potential line up is the use of Coutts as a central midfielder and maybe even a playmaker. (An option which will be discussed in a later blog). As I feel and I have seen and heard from many other fans that he his wasted out wide.

It is not too dissimilar from some of Browns selections but with the two attack minded wingers, it is a more positive approach to take (particularly at home), than using the likes of Nicholson in a more rigid midfield. As for Danny Mayor he is clearly a confidence player and his inclusion can go either way, but I do think if managed correctly he does have something to offer the team.

Obviously this is just opinion, so please comment and add to the debate. Hope you enjoy the game tomorrow (for a change) and lets get behind the team.

Hero or villain?

Peter Ridsdale seen by many as an incompetent swindler, looking out only for himself. But more recently, after his revival of the once 'doomed' Plymouth FC, he has been seen by some in a new light.


Ridsdale insists he has nothing to prove after over two decades in football but his announcement of imminent cut backs are concerning. Only time will tell... but please VOTE on the poll at the right to let us know your view and feel free to comment.

Media Coverage

Preston have never had the luxury of great media coverage, even a few years ago when the club was on the brink of the Premier League, we were discarded and considered a 'small club'. The ever present media sources who do cover our club are also unfortunately of a low quality. The PNE website is obviously incredibly bias and only worth visiting for a quick match report and the LEP sports writer Dave Seddon seems scared to place any sort of slight criticism on anybody at the club. The only man worth reading in the back pages of the LEP is John Roper who gives honest opinions on the club's staff and players.

Therefore this blog simply aims to give an honest assessment of events taking place at the club, at this increasingly concerning time and to create debate on a wide range of issues concerning the club. As debate with fellow fans and friends is what increases our passion and love for the sport and the club.