3rd November Match Thread

[Crewelad87]

Crewe 0-0 Gillingham HT

this is getting ridiculous now, another half dominated and we missed six very good chances, 1st Kirk misplaced a sitter, then Powell got the post when 1 on 1, then Kirk hit a tame effort at the keeper when only 10 yards out, next Powell headed over when 5 yards out in the middle of the goal with nobody around him, next Mandron effort is blocked, ball falls to Ng two yards out he a balloons it, and finally Ainley great feet to beat the last man curls one towards the top corner and the Gills keeper tipped it over.

I can call exactly what will happen now, we will miss a few more and Oliver will score a scrappy winner for Gillingham.

we’re playing great football, but the finishing has got to be better.

Here we go, Mandron hit the post, Gills Chuck Akinde on up top with Oliver, cross one in and Akinde scores.

 

[Guernica]

FT: Imps 1 - 3 Portsmouth

Fully deserved win for the away side whose attacking players really but a bit of a patchwork defence to the sword. Best side we've faced this season. Hopper finished off a nice move for us but we weren't in the game and not unsurprisingly didn't have the quality or squad depth of match.

I'll keep saying it but we miss Bridcutt to shield the defence and we just don't have a direct replacement for him, not sure how long he's injured for but we need him back for the next run of league games.

FGR in the cup on Saturday and with that line up it'll be a close fought game. I imagine Appleton will give a few more players a bit of a rest if he can.

 

[PuB]

How the fuck Crewe have managed to lose that one is beyond me, absolutely battered us for the most part and should have been out of sight by half time.

Still glad we got the win, and I can’t see Crewe struggling this season once they find their scoring boots.

 

[Crewelad87]

Words absolutely fail me........ 75% possession, 20 shots at goal, at least 6 or 7 gilt edge chances missed, and conceed yet again from a headed in cross. The majority of games we’ve been head and shoulders the best side until the final finish. Beyond gutted by those last two games.

 

[Crewelad87]

How the fuck Crewe have managed to lose that one is beyond me, absolutely battered us for the most part and should have been out of sight by half time.

Still glad we got the win, and I can’t see Crewe struggling this season once they find their scoring boots.

It was a carbon copy of our last game at Ipswich, same at Hull also, play good football miss sitters and lose 1-0 to a header from a cross.

 

[Bobbin']

Made harder work of that than we should have done in the end, 2-0 up and in complete control but that said, Fleetwood probably the best side we’ve faced this season so good to grind one out.

Annoying to lose the run of clean sheets but that’s 6 wins in a row and now up to 3rd.

Delighted.

 

[GFC4EVA]

Massive win for us, crewe battered us and should be out of sight by half time.
After our recent form it was win at any cost

 

[GeneralLee]

We bloody scored some goals and didn’t let many in!

Very impressed with Ollie Rathbone for ‘Dale. He had an excellent game.

 

[codaplenty]

Hugely disappointed we lost this, after being 2 down, we got back to all square with excellent finishes from Evans At times we totally dominated play and without doubt we will play a lot worse than this and comfortably win games. Poor marking from a corner led to the Addicks first goal and a goalie mistake gave them the second
The harsh reality is that at the beginning of November we have already lost 5 matches but then this is not a normal season
I want to say how concerned I feel, and am sure many others at seeing Accrington Stanley continue to see their games postponed. This is more than cruel for the players, club and supporters. Obviously Covid is causing this dreadful situation, the backlog of games the club are facing is horrendous, not sure what can be done about it but can only wish them well

 

[SuffolkBlue]

2-1 loss at Sunderland. 2 really poor sides. 2 decisions cost us by the ref but I can see why they were given. A narrow defeat was expected with such low expectations. Lambert out.

 

[TrinidadsNumberOne]

Can't blame the manager. He sets the team up right and the team follow instructions. Midfield 3 hardly put a foot wrong, Mandron very little service but wasted what he had. Jaaskelainen had nothing to do all night and should've saved the goal but our four wide players (Ng, Pickering, Powell and Kirk) were all poor tonight. Ng was exceedingly poor and I genuinely think if there's no improvement, we must sign an RB. Powell is coming off an injury, Pickering had an off day by his high standards but Kirk is also lagging. Last season he was taking more shots and was far quicker with his build up play, but he was far too pedestrian at times tonight.

Saw the loss coming. When fans were raving about how we played vs Ipswich, I was genuinely concerned as to where our next goal was coming from because we really don't look like scoring whenever I've watched us lately. COVID and the sudden Saturday-Tuesday-Saturday schedule may have stopped us in our stride after the MK and Wigan performances which were superb, but it really is down to woeful finishing.

We've conceded 9 goals in 10 games at a higher level which is decent for a promoted side. Last season at this stage we conceded 12 goals in10 games at a lower level. But our woeful finishing means it's a return of 8 goals in 10 games. 7 of those came in our 3 wins and 1 came in our only draw. We've lost 6 games despite conceding 9 goals and it shows you where the problems lie.

I like Mandron. Work rate is excellent and he brings players into play, but he's very different to Porter and Anene who were more direct forwards. He's too back to goal and I'm struggling to see him fitting into our system in the long run. He's just not direct enough but we know he can score. So he must make the necessary improvements. At least one forward is needed in January, possibly two. We're not playing badly but we just can't hit the target and we don't test the opposition keeper enough.

 

[LadyWomble]

Donny, as expected, by far the better team tonight. But, we scored first, didn't lose and, at the end of the day, Brian, few of us were bothered about the score because WE PLAYED OUR FIRST GAME BACK IN WIMBLEDON FOR 29 YEARS. Very happy and just ever so slightly pissed ;-)

 

[TractorBoys]

2-1 loss at Sunderland. 2 really poor sides. 2 decisions cost us by the ref but I can see why they were given. A narrow defeat was expected with such low expectations. Lambert out.

The tackle as soon as I saw it I thought it was a red; baffled me that the Ipswich commentary said they were mystified however Ifollow does not provide enough replays to be sure.

As for the penalty, no idea what it was given for so cannot comment.

Frustrating as whilst we were poor, it was finishing 1-1 before those 2 events.

 

[dannyc5]

Can't blame the manager. He sets the team up right and the team follow instructions. Midfield 3 hardly put a foot wrong, Mandron very little service but wasted what he had. Jaaskelainen had nothing to do all night and should've saved the goal but our four wide players (Ng, Pickering, Powell and Kirk) were all poor tonight. Ng was exceedingly poor and I genuinely think if there's no improvement, we must sign an RB. Powell is coming off an injury, Pickering had an off day by his high standards but Kirk is also lagging. Last season he was taking more shots and was far quicker with his build up play, but he was far too pedestrian at times tonight.

Saw the loss coming. When fans were raving about how we played vs Ipswich, I was genuinely concerned as to where our next goal was coming from because we really don't look like scoring whenever I've watched us lately. COVID and the sudden Saturday-Tuesday-Saturday schedule may have stopped us in our stride after the MK and Wigan performances which were superb, but it really is down to woeful finishing.

We've conceded 9 goals in 10 games at a higher level which is decent for a promoted side. Last season at this stage we conceded 12 goals in10 games at a lower level. But our woeful finishing means it's a return of 8 goals in 10 games. 7 of those came in our 3 wins and 1 came in our only draw. We've lost 6 games despite conceding 9 goals and it shows you where the problems lie.

I like Mandron. Work rate is excellent and he brings players into play, but he's very different to Porter and Anene who were more direct forwards. He's too back to goal and I'm struggling to see him fitting into our system in the long run. He's just not direct enough but we know he can score. So he must make the necessary improvements. At least one forward is needed in January, possibly two. We're not playing badly but we just can't hit the target and we don't test the opposition keeper enough.

Weird that we can’t blame the manager for not being able to hit a cows arse. His team. His players. His signings. Zanzala woooooooooo

 

[Marked Ox]

We bloody scored some goals and didn’t let many in!

Very impressed with Ollie Rathbone for ‘Dale. He had an excellent game.

Whilst in a normal season I'd be taking the mickey if we did it, I'm glad we had Oxford chants being played over the ground's tannoy. Definitely improved the viewing experience on iFollow and I bet some of the players preferred it albeit Elliott Moore didn't seem bothered!

And Elliott Moore was immense tonight with some of his last ditch defending.

 

[DearneValleyRover]

Whatever. Who gives a shit.

You, obviously

 

[K-Win]

Good bounce back for us against the Imps last night. Probably a good time for us to play them as they had a few important players missing.

Good to see that Jackett didn't throw the good things out of the window after the Charlton defeat. The Marquis / Harness partnership delivered the goods again and Curtis looks like he's come back into form. Getting dropped a few games back seems to have got him focussed again.

Tough trip to Ipswich in the cup on Saturday. A lot will depend on what sort of team each put out but we're coming in with confidence.

 

[DearneValleyRover]

Donny, as expected, by far the better team tonight. But, we scored first, didn't lose and, at the end of the day, Brian, few of us were bothered about the score because WE PLAYED OUR FIRST GAME BACK IN WIMBLEDON FOR 29 YEARS. Very happy and just ever so slightly pissed ;-)

Happy you are back home at last, Piggot took his goals well even if it was poor defending and Keeping by us. Another game where we created chance after chance but didn’t have enough of a cutting edge

 

[iWomble]

Another game where we created chance after chance but didn’t have enough of a cutting edge

You were easily the best side we've played this season I thought. Add some firepower and you would be right up there.

 

[Gills4years]

Crewe fans. All I can say is keep the faith. On watching the highlights, you appear to have opened us up far more than the five teams that have beaten us in our awful run, and you play some lovely stuff.

We liked Mandron apart from his lack of ruthlessness in front of goal. Signed off with us by scoring two lovely goals at the Stadium of Light but struggled to score ugly goals or tap ins.

The worst miss last night was the early one by your number ten, Kirk, right in front of goal. He looked like he had enough time to bring it under control but almost seemed to be trying to trap it as he put it wide. Surely some of your wags must suggest that he beams himself up at times like that !

 

[AusGill]

Home vs to Gillingham for us. Just hope we carry on how we were at Ipswich as bar the result we were very good.

Your hopes came true, because that's exactly what happened.

 

[TimeyWimey]

We're in one of those ruts where it's hard to see us ever scoring again. I think most of our team have missed a sitter in the last couple of games, with both Ipswich and Gills keepers getting MOTM. Does nothing for confidence. It felt like we lost hope at the start of the second half of the Gillingham match and then were resigned to them nicking it 1-0 before they'd even scored. We need to stick Porter back in the side imo, despite his drawbacks he is probably our only so called 'natural' goalscorer. If he can scramble in a goal off his left calf, it'll do.

On plus side, as Ipswich and Gillingham fans have seen, our general play has not suffered in the step up in leagues. The way we carved Ipswich open over and over again was immense. If we find a way of actually scoring, we'll be reet.

 

[PuB]

Absolutely no doubt in my mind that Crewe will be fine this season.

 

[THE LAST WALTZ]

Crewe was a strange one.
They opened us up time and again but as soon as they got in a goal scoring position they seemed like rabbits in the headlights.
They seemed to be looking to pass the buck rather than taking the shot at goal.
It looked a confidence thing to me.
Nothing a few goals won’t put right.

 

[dannyc5]

This has been going on for 18 months now. We got away with it in League 2 because we created even more chances, and also the defences and keepers were poorer. But make no mistake, we missed an awful lot of chances last season as well (some of us pointed this out but when you are winning nobody cares). This season is on another scale, though. And frankly it’s a bit embarrassing, and I’m sure the players feel this way too. They are playing in empty stadiums under you would guess less pressure, yet are clearly terrified in front of goal. I don’t see how that will change with this squad. I’m afraid this will be a recurring theme. Hopefully we have a bit of money for a goal scorer in January.