Managing Expectations
Tranmere Crest
By David Sindall
March 5 2025
Two games two points. Two games against opponents we probably would have lost to a few weeks ago, but draws are not enough, we need wins. Andy Crosby is doing quite well, not quite fashioning a silk purse from a sow’s ear, but getting a tune out a piano that mostly has broken keys. That’s not a bad achievement.
It’s too soon to say if our new fella is the right person going forward. Given the uncertainty at Prenton Park it seems likely that he will be around for the rest of March and probably until the end of the season. The Palios approach has tended to be to appoint from within and whilst Crosby is not strictly from within, he’s been around long enough to feel as if he is.
Saturday’s game against Bromley is a must win. Morecambe have now closed the gap to a point, and Carlisle are 3 points behind us but we have a terrible negative goal difference. They play each other on 12th April, and Morecambe and Accrington face each other on the final day of the season. My point is that we are not at the stage of the season where it seems our fate is out of our hands. We need others to do well against clubs around us and we need to start winning. Good Friday looks like a crucial set of fixtures. We take on Doncaster, Morecambe travel to Bromley and Carlisle host Port Vale. A crunch set of fixtures.
It seems to me that most supporters already expect us to be relegated. That doesn’t mean that people have given up, just that the odds are stacked against us. Hendry and Morris are back from injury, Hawkes has started to become a first team regular, but in the final analysis we are running out of games. Getting to the mid 40s total requires at least 5 wins. Safety seems a long, long way off.
Next season,wherever we are, will be tough. Season card renewal notices have been sent out and there is a degree of reluctance to commit to enough 23 games watching us struggle. Time will tell as to what League we are in but we have to hope that Andy Crosby can get a concerto, not just a tune, out of the resources he has available to him.
Managing Expectations
Posted by: Total Tranmere (IP Logged)
Date: 05/03/2025 17:58
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Re: Managing Expectations
Posted by: DevonExile (IP Logged)
Date: 06/03/2025 19:35
It is now more hope than expectation. We have not won since 3rd January ,despite some favourable fixtures. How could there be reasoned expectation ?
Re: Managing Expectations
Posted by: Bored rover (IP Logged)
Date: 06/03/2025 19:44
Relegation is out of our hands, we are nett bottom 2 if Carlisle win there game in hand, never mind Morecambe. Whats going to cost us here is our results against the bottom teams, not those against the top teams.
Morecambe have taken 4 points off us vice versa and we are 9 points clear of them, even if we drew both we are 4 clear. Accrington have taken 3 off us , Gillingham we drew with , Swindon beat us, drew at MK.
Even if we inly beat 3 of those we would be 10 points clear now.
Morecambe have taken 4 points off us vice versa and we are 9 points clear of them, even if we drew both we are 4 clear. Accrington have taken 3 off us , Gillingham we drew with , Swindon beat us, drew at MK.
Even if we inly beat 3 of those we would be 10 points clear now.
Re: Managing Expectations
Posted by: Jack of all Trades (IP Logged)
Date: 06/03/2025 20:25
You missed out our 6 points against Carlisle.
Re: Managing Expectations
Posted by: Bored rover (IP Logged)
Date: 06/03/2025 20:48
Quote:Jack of all Trades
You missed out our 6 points against Carlisle.
Yeah cuz we have those 🤣
Re: Managing Expectations
Posted by: Zint (IP Logged)
Date: 07/03/2025 12:58
Our goal difference is the equivalent of a 2 point handicap
Re: Managing Expectations
Posted by: Talormane (IP Logged)
Date: 07/03/2025 13:48
It can only ever be a one point handicap ! 
As things stand we are already in the relegation zone because whatever the result between Morecambe and Carlisle we are in the bottom 2. We somehow need to get 4 points ahead before that game. Really tough and actually starting to feel in the realms of fantasy. We probably have to beat Bromley.
Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2025:03:07:13:51:02 by Talormane.
As things stand we are already in the relegation zone because whatever the result between Morecambe and Carlisle we are in the bottom 2. We somehow need to get 4 points ahead before that game. Really tough and actually starting to feel in the realms of fantasy. We probably have to beat Bromley.
Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2025:03:07:13:51:02 by Talormane.
Re: Managing Expectations
Posted by: Pensby74 (IP Logged)
Date: 07/03/2025 13:51
I think Andy Crosby can be judged more accurately after the home game against Bromley. Anything less than 3 points and I'd say theres been no discernible upgrade on Adkins. What morsal of optimism I have left is based more on the return of Regan Hendry and Kieran Morrris. Hendry particularly who I believe is probably our best player.
Re: Managing Expectations
Posted by: birkenhead tranny (IP Logged)
Date: 07/03/2025 15:50
if and its a big if we can get norris back for half dozen games i think we can get a few wins keep the faith chaps
swa swa
swa swa
Re: Managing Expectations
Posted by: Bored rover (IP Logged)
Date: 07/03/2025 16:00
Quote:Pensby74
I think Andy Crosby can be judged more accurately after the home game against Bromley. Anything less than 3 points and I'd say theres been no discernible upgrade on Adkins. What morsal of optimism I have left is based more on the return of Regan Hendry and Kieran Morrris. Hendry particularly who I believe is probably our best player.
Bromley are the form team in league 2, tomorrow is a tougher than Vale and Grimsby but because they are called Bromley many of our fans will feel we are guaranteed a win.
We have an insanely difficult run in which is one of the reasons i struggle with why it took Palios so long to act, we had to he secure by the end of February
Re: Managing Expectations
Posted by: hong kong rover (IP Logged)
Date: 07/03/2025 16:24
Quote:Pensby74
I think Andy Crosby can be judged more accurately after the home game against Bromley. Anything less than 3 points and I'd say theres been no discernible upgrade on Adkins. What morsal of optimism I have left is based more on the return of Regan Hendry and Kieran Morrris. Hendry particularly who I believe is probably our best player.
+1..i agree..It's important that Hendry stays fit for the rest of the season.
Re: Managing Expectations
Posted by: DevonExile (IP Logged)
Date: 07/03/2025 18:50
In fairness no manager should be judged on just three games regardless of results.
I agree with BR that the fixtures for the rest of the season are difficult and that retaining a failing manager when there was a run of easier fixtures was a grave mistake by MP. I fear that we will pay the price of such a failure to act
I agree with BR that the fixtures for the rest of the season are difficult and that retaining a failing manager when there was a run of easier fixtures was a grave mistake by MP. I fear that we will pay the price of such a failure to act
Re: Managing Expectations
Posted by: hong kong rover (IP Logged)
Date: 07/03/2025 19:41
Quote:DevonExile
In fairness no manager should be judged on just three games regardless of results.
I agree with BR that the fixtures for the rest of the season are difficult and that retaining a failing manager when there was a run of easier fixtures was a grave mistake by MP. I fear that we will pay the price of such a failure to act
Problem with that Devon is that we have to judge him after 3 games coz there aren't many games left and we desperately need points..we should have got rid of Adkins before Xmas when our Xmas fixtures didn't look particularly tough, we could have had that really important new manager bounce and also that new manager could have done a whole lot better in the Jan transfer window than what we did actually do...we were utterly PATHETIC in the window..it was clear as day that we needed to bring in players that would help us stay up, and what we did just beggared belief, bringing in 2 very inexperienced kids at the eleventh hour that have hardly featured for us and Garrett who sure ain't no saviour for us...I simply couldn't believe Adkins comments about those 2 Man Utd kids, "We welcome them to Tranmere, look forward to working with them and hope that we can aid them with their development."...TRULY STAGGERING BEYOND BELIEF....Who gives a damn about their development, we are in a serious crisis...Adkins should have brought in players that could really have helped us and he should have been saying, " we really feel that these additions will help us move up the table."
Re: Managing Expectations
Posted by: Matt34 (IP Logged)
Date: 07/03/2025 20:04
Judging people that quickly is easy for some.
Enoch Showunmi missed part of pre-season when he signed and was ragged on for half a friendly. Some people came on here and didn't even let him have 3 games.
Then I ate his Liver.......... with some baked beans and a can of coke.
Enoch Showunmi missed part of pre-season when he signed and was ragged on for half a friendly. Some people came on here and didn't even let him have 3 games.
Then I ate his Liver.......... with some baked beans and a can of coke.
Re: Managing Expectations
Posted by: johnoshackers (IP Logged)
Date: 07/03/2025 20:12
Quote:I agree HKR in my opinion Atkins should have gone after the Oldham game..hong kong roverQuote:DevonExile
In fairness no manager should be judged on just three games regardless of results.
I agree with BR that the fixtures for the rest of the season are difficult and that retaining a failing manager when there was a run of easier fixtures was a grave mistake by MP. I fear that we will pay the price of such a failure to act
Problem with that Devon is that we have to judge him after 3 games coz there aren't many games left and we desperately need points..we should have got rid of Adkins before Xmas when our Xmas fixtures didn't look particularly tough, we could have had that really important new manager bounce and also that new manager could have done a whole lot better in the Jan transfer window than what we did actually do...we were utterly PATHETIC in the window..it was clear as day that we
needed to bring in players that would help us stay up, and what we did just beggared belief, bringing in 2 very inexperienced kids at the eleventh hour that have hardly featured for us and Garrett who sure ain't no saviour for us...I simply couldn't believe Adkins comments about those 2 Man Utd kids, "We welcome them to Tranmere, look forward to working with them and hope that we can aid them with their development."...TRULY STAGGERING BEYOND BELIEF....Who gives a damn about their development, we are in a serious crisis...Adkins should have brought in players that could really have helped us and he should have been saying, " we really feel that these additions will help us move up the table."
Palios was expecting the takeover to have been completed by November which in my opinion is why he stuck with him. The ASAP trail being delayed put the kibosh on it and we are where we are today in limbo land.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2025:03:07:20:13:38 by johnoshackers.
Re: Managing Expectations
Posted by: Ingleboro08 (IP Logged)
Date: 07/03/2025 21:30
I think the majority agree Adkins was here too long.
But I don't believe it was ever about when the takeover happen, otherwise why the three year contract?
We are in limbo cos of the lack of investment in the football side of the club.
But a good manager could have got a lot more out of this lot with a decent strike force.
But I don't believe it was ever about when the takeover happen, otherwise why the three year contract?
We are in limbo cos of the lack of investment in the football side of the club.
But a good manager could have got a lot more out of this lot with a decent strike force.
Re: Managing Expectations
Posted by: Coatedgorilla (IP Logged)
Date: 07/03/2025 21:37
Quote:birkenhead tranny
if and its a big if we can get norris back for half dozen games i think we can get a few wins keep the faith chaps
swa swa
On what basis. Feed me facts
Norris is a waste of space. His stats are terrible. He’s had one half decent season and offers nothing. Defenders have a day of with him playing.
Re: Managing Expectations
Posted by: johnoshackers (IP Logged)
Date: 07/03/2025 23:20
Quote:I don’t disagree Ingleboro but it’s not the amount of money the club has spent ( according to Palios it’s the highest budget they have had ) more so the squad they have brought in with it.Ingleboro08
I think the majority agree Adkins was here too long.
But I don't believe it was ever about when the takeover happen, otherwise why the three year contract?
We are in limbo cos of the lack of investment in the football side of the club.
But a good manager could have got a lot more out of this lot with a decent strike force.
My opinion is Atkins was given a 3 year contract because Palios thought the Takeover would be sorted by November and he’d be gone so the length of Atkins contract was irrelevant to him. Whilst at the same time giving a 3 year contract he could financially look after his mate ..
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