2020/21 General Match Thread

[RLC]

At what point do Lincoln fans start getting concerned ? They have got a strong squad on paper and were widely expected to outperform the other promoted sides this season, but are in freefall at the moment.

We were expecting a struggle but have steadily improved in recent weeks, while the opposite seems to be the case at Sincil Bank.

 

[GFC4EVA]

Dominated Lincoln from start to finish, they really were awful today.
Had we won 3-0 it would have been deserved, will take the 1-0, shows how much we need proven goal scorer

 

[Luke Imp]

At what point do Lincoln fans start getting concerned ? They have got a strong squad on paper and were widely expected to outperform the other promoted sides this season, but are in freefall at the moment.

We were expecting a struggle but have steadily improved in recent weeks, while the opposite seems to be the case at Sincil Bank.

I'm not overly concerned at the minute, it feels like we're just fine margins. Performances haven't necessarily been as poor as results would suggest, although today was a stinking one apparently where we didn't create anything at all.

We're not aided by losing probably our best player on Wales duty again, as he was today and has missed about 20% of the season. In fact we were missing both our CM's today, not just him so our CM partnership was an 18 year old kid and Pett who's hardly played this season because of injury.

I wouldn't class it as a strong L1 squad either. It's not a bad one but we have younger players or older ones with few in between in their prime (oldest squad in the league apparently and I can't vouch for the accuracy of that but we do have 8 or so who are 30+). It's a squad that's approaching the end of its cycle, which is why I expect a fair bit of movement in January. Just a transition phase that we need to get through.

Ironically enough, having been written off a bit the last two seasons in L2 when we knew we were good enough for the ambitions at the time (PO's and then Auto's), people were tipping us this season despite it being pretty obvious to Lincoln fans that we weren't as good as opposition fans were making us out to be and were about to hit the end of a squad cycle.

I think Appleton's view of us had been slightly skewed by the Oxford debacle as well and he's looked to tighten us up when in reality it didn't really need doing. The problem is the scoring goals and I think that's linked slightly.

The other issue when it comes to goal scoring is that we only have two strikers on the books. Walker can't do it all himself and Akinde is technically well short of L1 level and despite scoring 17 last season, only 5 of them were from open play (although he was good last season in the role he was asked to do and wasn't necessarily there to score goals, just like most of Cowleys strikers).

 

[Luke Imp]

As for today, I don't think any player performed. Appleton's reckons it's the worst performance of one of his sides in his managerial career, which gives an indication of just how bad it was.

 

[RLC]

I wouldn't class it as a strong L1 squad either. It's not a bad one but we have younger players or older ones with few in between in their prime (oldest squad in the league apparently and I can't vouch for the accuracy of that but we do have 8 or so who are 30+).


The other issue when it comes to goal scoring is that we only have two strikers on the books. Walker can't do it all himself and Akinde is technically well short of L1 level and despite scoring 17 last season, only 5 of them were from open play (although he was good last season in the role he was asked to do and wasn't necessarily there to score goals, just like most of Cowleys strikers).

That is similar to us actually. We have got some very raw, promising youngsters, such as the lads we brought in from Villa, but our better, experienced players are all 34/35 plus (Potter, Perkins, Danns), with very few proven League One players in the 24-28 age bracket.

We obviously have not really replaced Norwood either and are short up front. However, Stefan Payne has been a semi-regular scorer, even if he divides opinion, and we are scoring quite a few from midfield through Jennings, Banks and co.

 

[PUSBCCFC]

Anyone wanting to see a good goal, watch Liam Walsh's. Messi-esque. Brilliant.

 

[nerazzurro]

Anyone wanting to see a good goal, watch Liam Walsh's. Messi-esque. Brilliant.

It was such a well worked goal. Can’t grumble with that. Your first though... Christ we make life hard for ourselves this season. I suspect you weren’t firing on all cylinders today as the other top 6 sides we’ve played have looked a lot sharper. Some of the chances you had in the first half could and perhaps should have put the game to bed. That’s not a dig as you’re clearly decent or you wouldn’t be up there!

 

[The Reverend Skyblue]

At last we beat Rochdale. Could have gone either way.
As I've said before long term injuries are at last near to playing again so I hope we can now start a good run of results.
Rochdale will be perfectly fine, they do play some good stuff.
What a joy to play on a pitch with grass on it instead of a sand based surface that can't stand rugby being played on it let alone football.

 

[PUSBCCFC]

It was such a well worked goal. Can’t grumble with that. Your first though... Christ we make life hard for ourselves this season. I suspect you weren’t firing on all cylinders today as the other top 6 sides we’ve played have looked a lot sharper. Some of the chances you had in the first half could and perhaps should have put the game to bed. That’s not a dig as you’re clearly decent or you wouldn’t be up there!

We are really weak going forward.

 

[Back in the DHSS]

Best team won at Prenton today. Wycombe looked very solid defensively too. Hopefully we can put a better team performance in on Wednesday night against this lot.

 

[RLC]

I did not think there was much between the two sides today, similar to the cup tie last week. However, the players Wycombe brought back into the side - Akinfenwa, Grimmer and Kashket - gave them an edge and we did not deal with Akinfenwa's threat from set plays.

It will be interesting to see whether Wycombe rest players for the replay on Wednesday. If they do, we have a definite chance of going through.

 

[Reginald Fodstain]

Ryan Allsop is a twat, we'll just leave that there and be done with it...

 

[Super_horns]

Ryan Allsop is a twat, we'll just leave that there and be done with it...

So is he just making up the allegations?

 

[RLC]

So is he just making up the allegations?

If the allegations are true, he was right to report them.

It is one idiot in a crowd of 5,500. He will get a lifetime ban and we move on.

 

[Reginald Fodstain]

So is he just making up the allegations?

No, I literally heard it be shouted and you just can't do that, he'll be banned. But Allsop's as much to blame for the incident occurring - football fans are generally pretty thick and the keeper should know better than to goad a whole stand of them and not expect some sort of reaction and then go crying to the ref about it. There's no place for homophobia, but this is as much gamesmanship on his behalf.

 

[getoutofit]

If the allegations are true, he was right to report them.

It is one idiot in a crowd of 5,500. He will get a lifetime ban and we move on.

Get a grip

 

[RLC]

Get a grip

I think you might need to do that. Or at least research the law.

 

[getoutofit]

I think you might need to do that. Or at least research the law.

Lamentable.

 

[GodsGift]

Jesus, grow up.

 

[SF_]

Have Blackpool fans stopped complaining about Grayson for a while now?

He's working wonders with that club.

 

[joethegill]

No, I literally heard it be shouted and you just can't do that, he'll be banned. But Allsop's as much to blame for the incident occurring - football fans are generally pretty thick and the keeper should know better than to goad a whole stand of them and not expect some sort of reaction and then go crying to the ref about it. There's no place for homophobia, but this is as much gamesmanship on his behalf.

You can call someone a twatting wanker without referring to sexual orientation you know.

 

[Reremnart]

If anybody from that Wycombe team deserved abuse yesterday it was little moaning diving piece of crap Kashket. Every time he was tackled he rolled on the floor screaming in agony and then when he did get up he was straight in the refs ear, pointing fingers and wearing imaginery cards. The fact that he worn a short sleeved shirt and gloves was enough to get him screamed at

 

[SeasideKurt]

Have Blackpool fans stopped complaining about Grayson for a while now?

He's working wonders with that club.

No different to when your lot were calling for Alex Neil to leave. Football fans.

Also, he's stopped being a total retard and started playing the right team so giving our better players a chance to do well.

 

[SF_]

No different to when your lot were calling for Alex Neil to leave. Football fans.

Also, he's stopped being a total retard and started playing the right team so giving our better players a chance to do well.

Did that ever happen? If so, news to me.

 

[Gassy]

If anybody from that Wycombe team deserved abuse yesterday it was little moaning diving piece of crap Kashket. Every time he was tackled he rolled on the floor screaming in agony and then when he did get up he was straight in the refs ear, pointing fingers and wearing imaginery cards. The fact that he worn a short sleeved shirt and gloves was enough to get him screamed at

Guess you haven’t played Wycombe under Ainsworth yet then.

Sounds like you got off luckily, usually it’s about 8 players instead of 1

 

[joethegill]

Gills v Gills cast-offs at the weekend as we go to Kingsmeadow, looking to build on 4 games unbeaten in all comps, with the last three all also seeing us keep a clean sheet. Extra time wasn't helpful last night, but at least the Dons played as well so I doubt it'll be a huge advantage. Evans has been stingy with substitutions of late which may have taken it out of certain players, but general consensus suggests this squad is amongst the fittest we've seen at Priestfield in a long time - making up for a lack of quality in certain quarters.

We'll probably make a couple of changes, but much of the side will be similar to the last few days:

Bonham
Fuller - Ehmer - Tucker - Ogilvie
Jones
O'Keefe - Byrne
Charles-Cook
Mandron - Hanlan​

Walsh, O'Connor, Hodson, Pringle, Lee, Jakubiak, Ndjoli on the bench.

2-1 Gills, RCC and Hanlan cancelling out a Wagstaff opener.

 

[Back in the DHSS]

I’m looking forward to Tranmere’s first ever competitive fixture at Fleetwood‘s Highbury on Saturday! Should be a good day out regardless of the result.
I fancy Fleetwood for a top 6 finish, a lot of quality in their squad. Wonder how the Tranmere players legs will hold out after their exploits at Wycombe last night. Surely Micky Mellon can’t pull another shock result off, especially with all those injuries and suspensions.

 

[Luke Imp]

Week off for us - should have been Bury. Then we hit an easy December to New Year period of, in no particular order, Burton, Tranmere, Ipswich, Sunderland, Oxford, Peterborough and Coventry...

As both Sunderland and us are out the FA Cup, at least our game remains on 3rd Round weekend. Wouldn't have been an ideal midweek game.

 

[Bartonyellow]

Peterborough away for us and I can see nothing other than a 3.1 defeat despite a probable spirited performance. Same as last day of last season.
Then Sunderland away Tuesday to finish off our play off hopes in November if we lose it.

 

[Shrimpurh]

Oxford at home. Think we might get something says the ever optimist