Cole post match interview

[redrobo]

https://www.morecambefc.com/news/2023/a ... nderers-h/

Maybe I'm clutching a straws but Cole sounded like a player wanting to save his club from relegation.

A typical laid back interview from Cole.

Would love to see him back next season whatever league we are in.

[BerlinWaller]

Maybe if he tried a little bit harder after throwing his dummy out of the pram and dragging our club through the mud, we wouldn't be in a relegation battle.

Great goal yesterday but we should never forget.

[Cisco Kid]

https://www.morecambefc.com/news/2023/april/cole-stockton-reaction--wycombe-wanderers-h/

Maybe I'm clutching a straws but Cole sounded like a player wanting to save his club from relegation.

A typical laid back interview from Cole.

Would love to see him back next season whatever league we are in.

To follow up on his 5 goals this season? Really?

Stockton has sulked his way through most of the season, and not pulled his weight.

If he had been on it from the begining of the season, I suspect we would not be in the position we are in now. 5 goals from a striker is not good enough. Dont get me wrong, I hope he bangs a hat trick in every match we have left, but too little, too late for a new contract. Derek Adams offered him a massively improved one at the begining of the season. He didnt want it. He has played it all wrong and been badly advised. It has left us both much worse off.

Time to shake hands and let him walk away. In my opinion.

[redrobo]

Whilst I will accept Cole has done himself no favours this season to date following his attitude after the speculation concerning a transfer, there are in my opinion (which no doubt you and others will find hard to accept) a number of mitigating circumstance that have seen our talisman of last season under perform.

Strikers feed on a regular supply of service from midfield as well as other areas and our midfield this season has been totally ineffective in supplying the necessary ammunition for Cole to work with. DA has more than once said that we lack experience and that for me is an acknowledgment that our midfield is under performing due to our dependence on (in my opinion) a midfield made up in the main of loanee players sent out to learn their trade in a mans league and not in the luxury of U21 games where a lack of competitiveness is the norm.

Give Cole the ammunition and he will score.....

Another factor for me is that EFL1 defenses are aware of what Cole is capable of following his outstanding performances of last season. In almost every game I've seen this season Cole has been well marshalled and in many cases manhandled by the opposition defense with little if no protection from referees. He is so closely marked often by 2 defenders that there is little if any room for him to work his magic.

Hopefully when we have an entire new midfield with a bit of experience (Danny Lloyd would be an excellent midfield general to replace the much missed Tooms) next season then I'm confident that assuming Cole stays he will have much more support from the engine room.

As for the comments about my understanding of a Local Consortium already to step in as and when the EFL reject the current bidders.....I'll keep names in the frame between me and those in the know to myself.....

And as for your constant dig about my attitude towards DA, John Mc was yesterday on the touchline throughout the game giving encouragement to the team to play higher up the field. He spent the entire game giving advice of positional play to the entire team that is not DA's way of doing things. That is no criticism of DA just how someone different on the touchline approached yesterdays game....

DA has worked bloody wonders this season due in no small part to issues off the field which he can't control. Hopefully when the ownership issue is resolved he can concentrate on on the field issues that we all know his expertise comes to the fore.

[Phil Anderer]

Neil, as someone next to me said yesterday when Cole scored, 'he's been stealing a wage for 90 minutes then he does that'. I think you're probably in a small minority wanting him to stay.

[RedRedWine]

Undoubtedly Cole has done himself no favours by wanting away earlier in the season - and how he went about that, in my opinion trying to force a move away from the club handing in sick notes rather than getting his head down.

However, I do have sympathies with him when people point to a lack of effort and or output in terms of goals. The service in to him at times has been non-existent. I wouldn't say the service he had last season was great either to be honest - he just isn't firing in world class screamers from outside the box which covered over this area. People crow on about never getting a penalties, and although there are a couple of instances where we didn't get a decision, we don't get the ball in the box frequently enough to gain many in general. It must be frustrating when you are a striker constantly ploughing a lone furrow.

The biggest disappointment for me so far, apart from Dylan Connolly missing one-on-ones for fun in drawn games, has been the signings of Ash Hunter and Jake Taylor. Both have been injured for large parts, when I assume both were brought here to be playing regularly and pulling the strings. I think we all expected a lot more, and if they looked/reflected upon themselves surely they must know that as individuals they are capable of more than what they have been able to produce so far. I don't think the plan was to be so reliant on young lads like Jensen Weir and Luke Shaw, and to limp through the season - which we have had to do. Both Hunter and Jake could still have a big part to play, obviously Jake made an impact on Saturday - which we need to see more of.

Ultimately we do need Cole to be on top of his game. Hopefully Saturdays last minute winner, where he showed great anticipation and inventiveness, gives him a boost ahead of our remaining three important fixtures. We also need some bodies back for the weekend. Bedeau was strapped up from the first minute, and went off with a knock.... That we marshalled the squad we had available to victory on Saturday against play-off chasers no less, was some achievement.

We are not in action on Tuesday - but I'm sure we will all be watching the results from the teams around us.

[vvm]

Last season was a bit of an anomaly and we can't expect him to hit screamers every other week. I think his normal level should be closer to the output he produced in the promotion season which was 13 goals and 3 assists.

If he hadn't gone on strike earlier in the season and had similar service from midfield as the previous 2 seasons, he probably would have achieved that.

Would I keep him? Would he even want to stay? Not sure. There's still a decent striker in there though.

[Wild Bill]

I think both the club and Cole need each other again.

Last season was a bit of a freak for Cole. He's never been prolific but after those goals against Ipswich his confidence sky rocketed and it took advantage of being the unknown striker is a fairly gung hoe team. His form slowly dropped come the end of the year as teams wised up. Still, he scored a decent amount until the end of the season.

Cole didn't handle the transfer situation well, however if you are offered several times your salary to move but can't you can understand him getting the hump. The problem then though is your form disappears and before you know it you are out of the team and looking like you might end up looking for any league club to take you on.

Personally I think Cole is a decent L2 striker with some potential to do well in L1. If he scores a few more before the end of the season I'd consider offering another contact. I doubt he'd get a much better deal elsewhere, so better the devil you know.

[redrobo]

Neil, as someone next to me said yesterday when Cole scored, 'he's been stealing a wage for 90 minutes then he does that'. I think you're probably in a small minority wanting him to stay.

Phil, interesting comments about the person next to you because a few around me had the opposite view which goes to show how diverse opinions can be on the same subject.

What will be...will be in 3 weeks time but if it is EFL2 then i can see nobody better in the striking department who we could afford with a proven record than Cole BUT assuming DA stays then it will be for him to decide if he feels Cole can replicate the form of last season provided DA can build a new engine room in midfield to supply that much needed ammunition.

COYS....

[Old Man Kensey]

It would be a no for me.
The attitude shown when things didn't go his way was appalling to watch. Yes it was a tidy finish at the weekend but too little too late for me.

Tuesday Night is going to have a far greater say in us staying up or not, and with everyone playing at home we could potentially be totally out of it anyway.

We need to not drop a single point until the end of the season and even then it would take at least a couple of other sides to go into total melt down.

Undoubtedly there is a very good striker in there but the months that he spent sulking has cost us and we are too small a side to be carrying players.

[KenH]

It's a no from me too. He's had an up & down career, not just last Autumn, so that suggests his "attitude" problem wasn't a one off. We can't risk probably our biggest wage going on a player who has that kind of attitude. We're better with a player of lesser ability who'd put in a shift every game, not just when he feels like it. If we had the budget for such a "luxury" player and had alternative strikers when he couldn't be bothered, then that's a different story, we we don't and never will have that luxury, so we need players to put in a shift every game, even if they are less able.

As for the other players not feeding in to him, then it's no surprise when he's missed so much game time through attitude and sickness (fake or otherwise), and then not been bothered when he did get game time. When Cole got consistent feeds in his good season(s), it was when he was consistent, with the midfielders knowing he was there, and up for it, and they fed into him accordingly. For the first half of the season, he was barely playing and when he was, he clearly wasn't interested, so the midfielders were basically ignoring him and trying to find other outlets or to score themselves.

I think he's only suddenly started to make an effort because he wants to be in the shop window for a better contract offer in the Summer. That's fine - it may work for us, if he can score in the last few games (even better if he scores the winner) - it may mean we don't get relegated and if "Cole saves the day" for Morecambe, he'll be well and truly in the shop window for a good contract from a richer team in Summer. A win-win for both Cole and Morecambe. Let's hope he can do it.

[redrobo]

Surprise...surprise....I can't agree with your assessment BUT if DA stays and decides to keep Cole (and assuming Cole decides to stay himself) then I'm sure we'll give him the support needed for him to regain that form we've sadly missed this season.

Tomorrow night will go a long way to determine what league we will be in next season.

The only concellation is that WE WILL STILL BE AN EFL CLUB.....for at least another season.

[Keith]

I can't remember who said this (or similar) but it sums up Stockton's sulk.

'Hard work beats talent, when talent doesn't work hard'.

I'd rather a player with a little less talent, who won't ever score from the half-way line, but will put a shift in every game. On Saturday, at one point, Stockton was stood on the touchline, and actually stood in the way of Watts, who had to try and dribble past him, while looking for a pass. No movement from him. He took his goal superbly, the talent is clearly there, but I can't help thinking, if he signs a new contract with us, it would be purely because he's not had anything elsewhere, rather than actually wanting to be a Morecambe player. I expect him to go anyway. If he could pull his finger out and score three hat-tricks in our final three games before he leaves, that would be nice.

[Little Shrimp]

I'd have no issues seeing him released. He was poor on Saturday aside from the goal, and overall his performance this season has been pretty pathetic.

We've not exactly been bristling with creativity this season (good point from RRW about Taylor and Hunter), but there's a lot more Stockton could have done in his performances which would have helped the team.

Saturday was pretty typical of this season. Grimmer was ahead of him at every second ball or long pass forwards. You can't always be right when guessing where the ball's going, but Stockton showed pretty much zero anticipation. Then on the rare occasion he actually managed to get in ahead and take a good touch to lay the ball off, his movement to drive forward and follow his pass was non-existent. Keith's example with Watts is a good example of this. Last season he'd be legging it forward to look for a return pass or get into the box. This season he just ambles about a bit. Compare that to Phillips who was always looking to find space to get the ball in dangerous areas. Can't just blame the midfielders for not creating enough - you need a striker who can actually be bothered moving!

[sandgrown]

Give Cole the ammunition and he will score.....

very true, some of his link up play and touches are pure class.

IMO he's the most exciting striker we've had since JC !

[Old Man Kensey]

Give Cole the ammunition and he will score.....

very true, some of his link up play and touches are pure class.

IMO he's the most exciting striker we've had since JC !

Nobody doubts his ability, just his attitude.

Imagine if he had the attitude of John Coleman or John Norman or Justin Jackson, he would be 20+ goals a season.

[BerlinWaller]

Crowley is forever searching for a forward pass to Cole but he isn't interested. He makes no runs in behind which in turn puts us under pressure because teams push up against us. LS is bang on, he is second to every ball, he is always on the back of his foot. He was shocking on Saturday and the standing watching Watts sums him up.

[CityShrimp]

Regarding service from midfield… I acknowledge that Cole has a difficult role in the side and doesn’t get presented with tap ins every week but equally, Cole offers so little movement and running… we have talent in our midfield but there’s no options ahead of them. I accept that this isn’t solely Coles fault and I’d like to see some more energy and work rate across our forward line next season.

[chipbuns]

Whilst I will accept Cole has done himself no favours this season to date following his attitude after the speculation concerning a transfer, there are in my opinion (which no doubt you and others will find hard to accept) a number of mitigating circumstance that have seen our talisman of last season under perform.

Strikers feed on a regular supply of service from midfield as well as other areas and our midfield this season has been totally ineffective in supplying the necessary ammunition for Cole to work with. DA has more than once said that we lack experience and that for me is an acknowledgment that our midfield is under performing due to our dependence on (in my opinion) a midfield made up in the main of loanee players sent out to learn their trade in a mans league and not in the luxury of U21 games where a lack of competitiveness is the norm.

Give Cole the ammunition and he will score.....

Another factor for me is that EFL1 defenses are aware of what Cole is capable of following his outstanding performances of last season. In almost every game I've seen this season Cole has been well marshalled and in many cases manhandled by the opposition defense with little if no protection from referees. He is so closely marked often by 2 defenders that there is little if any room for him to work his magic.

Hopefully when we have an entire new midfield with a bit of experience (Danny Lloyd would be an excellent midfield general to replace the much missed Tooms) next season then I'm confident that assuming Cole stays he will have much more support from the engine room.

As for the comments about my understanding of a Local Consortium already to step in as and when the EFL reject the current bidders.....I'll keep names in the frame between me and those in the know to myself.....

And as for your constant dig about my attitude towards DA, John Mc was yesterday on the touchline throughout the game giving encouragement to the team to play higher up the field. He spent the entire game giving advice of positional play to the entire team that is not DA's way of doing things. That is no criticism of DA just how someone different on the touchline approached yesterdays game....

DA has worked bloody wonders this season due in no small part to issues off the field which he can't control. Hopefully when the ownership issue is resolved he can concentrate on on the field issues that we all know his expertise comes to the fore.

I'm not sure why you keep going on about Danny Lloyd as I'm guessing you've not seen him play recently if at all?

He isn't a "midfield general" and is about 5ft7. He plays out wide or just behind the strikers at Rochdale, not as an 6 or an 8 that you so crave and never has done. I'd be worried if that's the kind of player you want as a centre midfielder.

[redrobo]

I remember seeing Danny playing for Tranmere in the semi finals before our promotion to EFL1 at the Mazuma and he was excellent in midfield which he has been playing a similar role for Rochdale of late.

Just think he could do a good job for us in an area that we badly need some experience next season.

Just a pity that Tooms is no longer with us because for me had he been we wouldn't be in the position we find ourselves at the moment.

Only my opinion but which others like yourself me not agree with.

No problem....

[Little Shrimp]

Only my opinion but which others like yourself me not agree with.

It's not an opinion, it's factually incorrect!

Danny Lloyd didn't play in either of Tranmere's play-off games against us. Pretty sure he was injured at the time. And while I'm no expert on the player, my understanding is he's a skilful attacking midfielder rather than the Toums style midfield general you have in your head. No doubt he'll drive up the pitch from deep at times, but he's not defensive midfielder.

I agree with have a massive gap at the base of midfield and could really have done with a good experienced defensive midfielder this season to help our young loanees flourish, and while Danny Lloyd is a player I like he's not one you'd be recruiting for that role.

[redrobo]

Actually we are both partially wrong / right....

He came on as a sub at Tranmere but wasn't in the Tranmere squad at the Mazuma or was it still the Globe then.....

[redrobo]

Actually we are both partially wrong / right....

He came on as a sub at Tranmere but wasn't in the Tranmere squad at the Mazuma or was it still the Globe then.....

https://www.google.com/search?q=morecam ... ln;fp;1;;;

[Little Shrimp]

Actually we are both partially wrong / right....

He came on as a sub at Tranmere but wasn't in the Tranmere squad at the Mazuma or was it still the Globe then.....

https://www.google.com/search?q=morecam ... ln;fp;1;;;

Ah yes, must have missed that! Point still stands though, note sure how you've managed to interpret him as a bossing midfield general when he came on for 19 minutes to help Tranmere chase the game!

I genuinely wouldn't mind signing him, but he's not a defensive midfielder and if you think he is then you will be disappointed.

[BerlinWaller]

This is the man who wanted Adam Buxton to play in the CDM role. Try not to take him too seriously