Downes & Nico.

[portugull]

My first reaction to the team selected yesterday was that 2 senior pros had a bust up with Chris Hargreaves.

Very little comment on this site but if there has been trouble between the Manager and Downes and Nico then it demonstrates to me that CH must have a really massive clear out and start again. The problem is that about 7 players are contracted for next season including Karl Hawley. If we make them available who is going to sign them?

Nico fell out with Knill and has he fallen out with CH? Downes is an Aussie and they always speak their mind.

I backed the appointment of Chris Hargreaves but I was utterly shocked by the decision to allow Tonge to take the penalty. No Manager should abdicate such a decision. Never let this happen again Chris. It is unprofessional. Some decisions are very crucial. A top Manager would never ever abdicate such a decision.

The problem in my opinion is that it is not the Manager who is at fault it is the players. You can see it all over the pitch. THEY EXPECT TO LOSE.

Until the players change we are not going to see a winning team. The winning mentality has long gone and it is hard to change.

[PlainmoorRoar]

anyone know if this is the case or Downes injured?

imagine nicho wasn't needed with Cruise and Cooper fit.

Positive sign he won't get a new deal!

[Lloyder5]

Both were in civvies sat in the Bench

[ferrarilover]

Portu, your ability to fabricate that load of complete shit out of the fact that two players didn't start a football match is, frankly, astounding.

Matt.

[supergulls]

Nicho was injured and Hargreaves is not a big fan of Downes.

[Fonda]

Nicho was injured and Hargreaves is not a big fan of Downes.

That being the case, you wonder quite why Anthony O'Connor spent so much time on the bench. Fact is, Pearce and O'Connor are the only decent defenders in the squad. Cooper might be, but I wonder if we'll ever know...

[SuperNickyWroe]

That being the case, you wonder quite why Anthony O'Connor spent so much time on the bench. Fact is, Pearce and O'Connor are the only decent defenders in the squad. Cooper might be, but I wonder if we'll ever know...

its quite apparent that CH isnt a fan of many of the players.

[DTUFC]

Odd that Downes wasn't even on the bench, with Hargreaves opting for a Cooper surely short on match fitness instead. I notice Downes did an interview with the Australian Daily Telegraph (http://m.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/au ... 6874983512) on Saturday morning in which the journalist said "[Downes] will line up for Torquay...against Scunthorpe", as if he was guaranteed to start.

The interview was also titled "the worst team in the English Football League", which, although clearly an epithet of the author's making, not of Downes', hardly breeds confidence. If I was a conspiracy theorist I might suggest Hargreaves saw that title and took offence...

[Bomber]

Odd that Downes wasn't even on the bench, with Hargreaves opting for a Cooper surely short on match fitness instead. I notice Downes did an interview with the Australian Daily Telegraph (http://m.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/au ... 6874983512) on Saturday morning in which the journalist said "[Downes] will line up for Torquay...against scunthorpe", as if he was guaranteed to start.

The interview was also titled "the worst team in the English Football League", which, although clearly an epithet of the author's making, not of Downes', hardly breeds confidence. If I was a conspiracy theorist I might suggest Hargreaves saw that title and took offence...

Shoot the Sub-Editor- the man responsible for the headline- and put Downesy back in the team; he is our second top scorer after all with four goals.

[SuperNickyWroe]

Odd that Downes wasn't even on the bench, with Hargreaves opting for a Cooper surely short on match fitness instead. I notice Downes did an interview with the Australian Daily Telegraph (http://m.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/au ... 6874983512) on Saturday morning in which the journalist said "[Downes] will line up for Torquay...against scunthorpe", as if he was guaranteed to start.

The interview was also titled "the worst team in the English Football League", which, although clearly an epithet of the author's making, not of Downes', hardly breeds confidence. If I was a conspiracy theorist I might suggest Hargreaves saw that title and took offence...

well, you'd have to say that currently we are.

[tommyg]

Odd that Downes wasn't even on the bench, with Hargreaves opting for a Cooper surely short on match fitness instead. I notice Downes did an interview with the Australian Daily Telegraph (http://m.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/au ... 6874983512) on Saturday morning in which the journalist said "[Downes] will line up for Torquay...against scunthorpe", as if he was guaranteed to start.

The interview was also titled "the worst team in the English Football League", which, although clearly an epithet of the author's making, not of Downes', hardly breeds confidence. If I was a conspiracy theorist I might suggest Hargreaves saw that title and took offence...

Downes stated on Twitter that that wasn't his choice of words. Interestingly, he mentions all the players must take a 20% pay cut if we are relegated. At least the board insisted on those clauses or is that standard practice for all clubs who lose their Football League status?

[Fonda]

The very idea that Downes was dropped because a sub-editor gave a less than complimentary title to an interview he gave. This season just gets more and more ridiculous.

[ferrarilover]

but not a 20% decrease in ticket prices? if true just shows how supporters are veiwed

Remarkably, this isn't the greatest demonstration of false logic in this thread.

Matt.

[portugull]

Matt. I suggest you read carefully what I posted. I asked the question was Nico injured?

To not even have Downes on the bench, our joint leading scorer, made no sense to me.

There is trouble in the camp you just cannot see it.

This is a poor team, the results say it all. To leave out Downes and Chapell tells me the Manager is not picking the team on ability. I am entitled to my opinion just like everyone else on this site.

[Scott Brehaut]

Matt. I suggest you read carefully what I posted. I asked the question was Nico injured?

I've read your op several times now. Not once did you ask the question "was Nico injured".

Maybe YOU need to check what YOU'VE written..........