20/21 Matchday Thread

[Atavistic]

No Pukki for us for the next two games, but he'll be back when we take on Middlesbrough. Time for Hugill to step up and show he's worth the £2.5 million we paid in these couple of games. All being well, Krul should be back between the sticks tomorrow night, but I'd also be happy with more game time for Barden given his performances so far.

 

[SF_]

Birmingham tomorrow.

We need to change it up, its been toothless lately, losing 0-1 & 0-2, although we have hit the bar 3 times. Performances haven't been terrible but we can't persist with Maguire up front on his own, he's not a striker any more. Riis will be a good player, need to just persist with him, even if he's struggling at times, got that raw pace and skill to make something of nothing.

I'd drop DJ, Barkhuizen & Maguire for this one and use them as impact players, been ineffective in recent games.

Iversen
Fisher, Huntington, Davies, Hughes
Whiteman, Molumby
Potts, Browne, Sinclair
Riis​

 

[Super_horns]

Another home win.

Actually played quite well but had the usual trouble of not taking our chances.

Good job Deeney can score a penalty.

Barnsley looked lively and dangerous although their best chance came when we almost scored for them!

 

[Kenneth E End]

What did Tindall blame this time? Another day another defeat, no goals, no clean sheet.

 

[CCFC_Charlie]

Utter, utter shit from us. Huge week coming up next week as play Sheff Weds, Birmingham and Forest, all at home, in 7 days. We need to get at least 4 points else we’re in big trouble given the February we have coming up.

 

[Atavistic]

Well, our new left back joined yesterday, but based on Farke's usual approach I don't expect to see him start tonight, but maybe on Saturday in the cup.

Whatever the case will be, one of our local journalists has given us some interesting information about our left-back situation, namely that our option to buy Quintilla turns into an obligation if he plays half of our league games this season. Of course, I may very well be putting 2 and 2 together to get 5 here, but the fact that this has come out just after the new left back's arrival suggests that we really aren't that keen on being forced to sign Quintilla for whatever reason.

Hell, we might still sign Quintilla in the summer anyway as he's only going to cost us something like £2.5 million, but whatever happens I don't know where that leaves McCallum going forward.

 

[That Fat Centre Half]

Not expecting much tonight at Brentford, thought they were excellent earlier in the season and probably the best side I’ve seen is play this season.

We got played through very easily in that game so we need to find some method of ensuring that doesn’t happen otherwise it could be another 3-0 or something of that nature. Hopefully not a repeat of last year!

 

[Atavistic]

Only change from Saturday's XI sees Krul return in goal after recovering from covid, while Rupp and Martin give us further depth on the bench as they also return from illness (reportedly flu rather than covid, as both tested negative on a few occasions).

No Giannoulis in the squad at all, which is probably because he has to isolate for a bit having to come into the country from abroad (though I've honestly lost track of what the rules are on that front anymore, so I may be wrong).

 

[Atavistic]

1-0 up at half-time and it's proving very easy so far. Bristol City offering absolutely nothing - they've not even had a single shot yet - and generally showing us far too much respect. They're organised and they've clearly come for a point, but now that they're behind I don't really know what their gameplan is to try and get back into it.

A deserved goal for Hugill after his recent graft on the pitch.

 

[SF_]

I know Neil loves him but you can't keep shoe-horning Browne into the team unless he's playing midfield.

He's crap at right back, although I think i've heard Molumby has played there in the past too.

Just sign one, Rafferty is wank and Fisher will always miss games.

Iversen
Browne, Huntington, Davies, Hughes
Whiteman, Molumby, Ledson
Potts
Riis, Sinclair​

Hard to guess the actual formation.

Huntington's 300th game for PNE.

 

[SF_]

1-0 up at half-time and it's proving very easy so far. Bristol City offering absolutely nothing - they've not even had a single shot yet - and generally showing us far too much respect. They're organised and they've clearly come for a point, but now that they're behind I don't really know what their gameplan is to try and get back into it.

A deserved goal for Hugill after his recent graft on the pitch.

Can never fault Hugill when it comes to putting in a shift.

 

[That Fat Centre Half]

Shocking start by us and in already a bit worried about it being a battering again.

Very strange shape, having just won against one of the leagues best sides with a back 5 we’ve gone to a 4 with no DM in front of them as Rea isn’t playing and rather unsurprisingly look all over the place at the back.

 

[Atavistic]

And Hugill with his second, although I don't think he knew much about this one, given it deflected off a defender onto his chest and in. It makes a refreshing change to have a striker like Hugill giving our crosses an outlook, as for all his strengths Pukki doesn't really offer that. Fantastic work from Aarons in the build-up too to get round his man and get the cross into that packed six-yard box.

Let's get one more for the goal difference while we're at it.

 

[MagpieBee]

Shocking start by us and in already a bit worried about it being a battering again.

Very strange shape, having just won against one of the leagues best sides with a back 5 we’ve gone to a 4 with no DM in front of them as Rea isn’t playing and rather unsurprisingly look all over the place at the back.

You guys have been much better second half. We might regret not putting this to bed when we had a chance

 

[oakroader]

Why wait till we’re in the ascendancy then make a triple substitution ???

 

[SF_]

Obviously the rain has been mad but that's one of the heaviest pitches i've seen at this level.
Made for a shocking game.

 

[That Fat Centre Half]

After the first 15 minutes i was a bit fearful but we grew into and second half I thought we were absolutely brilliant. Very pleased that we have given them a game there, they certainly knew they were in one! Played really high tempo, dominated the ball. Lacked that bit of extra polish in the final third it has to be said though.

My only criticism would be that despite being very dominant in the second period, you probably have to say that the better chances still went Brentfords way on the counter but a really pleasing performance even though the result is disappointing in the end.

No idea what happened with Lockyer and Toney at the end and I doubt we will know as was so far from the ball i doubt a camera was on it. Will be a big miss for us in the coming games.

 

[Kenneth E End]

Feel a bit robbed after that one today. Brentford are clearly a crack outfit and obviously expensively assembled. But our final third play again is found wanting. A first half bit of real quality only separated the sides. All of the approach play was perfect, but some glorious chances go astray.

As for the red card, it shouldn’t really have got to that stage as Toney should’ve been sent off a few minutes before for flaying his arms in Lockyer’s face (again).

 

[That Fat Centre Half]

Feel a bit robbed after that one today. Brentford are clearly a crack outfit and obviously expensively assembled. But our final third play again is found wanting. A first half bit of real quality only separated the sides. All of the approach play was perfect, but some glorious chances go astray.

As for the red card, it shouldn’t really have got to that stage as Toney should’ve been sent off a few minutes before for flaying his arms in Lockyer’s face (again).

My problem is that despite being dominant I think we had probably 1 "glorious" chance, and that was Cornick who didnt make good contact with it and ended up going nowhere near the goal. Clark had a decent strike but a tight angle that eventually almost went out for a throw on. Other than that it was half chances and us "almost" creating something without quite getting the final bit of play right.

For all our good play, Brentford still had the better chances, the miss by Jensen and the one v one where Toney put it straight at Sluga.

 

[SF_]

Rancid conditions but we defended really well, impossible to play much football but we countered well and managed to take a chance. Good finish.

Job Done. No way should there have been 7 minutes of injury time, 4 max.

Huntington easily my man of the match in his 300th game.

Molumby looked very promising too, quality run for the goal, just very busy in general.

 

[SF_]

Forum is fucked

 

[SF_]

Still fucked

 

[SF_]

Yeah

4 Duplicates, that's a record

 

[That Fat Centre Half]

Jones seems pretty adamant that Lockyer shouldnt have been sent off and will appeal it. Be interesting to see if there is any footage of the incident, which I assume there must be if we are appealing.

 

[Kenneth E End]

Jones seems pretty adamant that Lockyer shouldnt have been sent off and will appeal it. Be interesting to see if there is any footage of the incident, which I assume there must be if we are appealing.

Don’t worry, everyone else will get off, ours will be frivolous. Clearly the referee didn’t see it (no one saw it on camera live) and was instructed by his assistant.

 

[SF_]

Reading at home, on Sky on Sunday.

We beat them pretty easily in the away fixture but they're obviously a good side this season so expecting a tough game, Aluko & Ejaria always pose a big threat and Joao is on fire for them.

Fisher has to come back in for me, think Browne played there against Birmingham because he expected an aerial battle at St Andrews but he won't stand a chance there against a good, pacey winger. Not sure who makes way for Fisher though, harsh to drop any of the midfielders, so maybe we will be unchanged which I think would be a mistake.

Didn't think we would be in a position where Pearson, Barkhuizen and Johnson are fit but not playing.

Can move up to 8th or 9th if we win and results go for us.

 

[That Fat Centre Half]

Don’t worry, everyone else will get off, ours will be frivolous. Clearly the referee didn’t see it (no one saw it on camera live) and was instructed by his assistant.

Been over turned which is great news. Amusingly as Toney wasn’t a straight red card and thus cannot be appealed, he will remain suspended.

 

[Super_horns]

Big 3 points!

Not great and made it nervy at the end but got the job done !

Well done Troy and nice finish by Sarr.

 

[SF_]

Unchanged from us, Browne at RB against their pace worries me.

 

[SF_]

Will take that, free scoring this lot with a lot of creative quality.

Was always going to be a case of keeping it tight and waiting for our moments.

Sinclair had to spend too much time in his own half helping out with Ejaria and nothing really fell for Riis.

We need 6pts from Sheff Wed & Rotherham really.