Barnet v Cambridge

[BeesKnees]

Ì think this could be an intriguing game. On form to date it's 0-0, due to both sides being defensively sound ( except for a 5 min spell when a concussed Charlie Clough was allowed to wander aimlessly around the pitch), but... Cambridge should be scoring more with the quality they have and Barnet suddenly have two on form strikers.

Plenty of injuries for us, plus a suspension. All first choice if fit and no news to suggest they will be available.
Stephens (GK),Santos(CB),Brindley (RB),Johnson (LB),Blackman (LB),Weston (CM),Akinde

We will probably line up
Ross
H.Taylor Clough Nelson Tutonda Vilhete
Fonguck J.Taylor JCR
Coulthirst Tarpey

 

[TommoCUFC]

I'd just put Uche on Nelson and let the result take care of itself.

 

[rudebwoyben]

I'd just put Uche on Nelson and let the result take care of itself.

Look, you guys warned us that Nelson would be physically incapable of completing a full season at this level when he joined us from you. He's now in his third season with us...

 

[Laker]

We'll stuff the fuckers. 4-0.

I'm not entirely sure how we've managed to get three clean sheets in a row, in the same way I'm not sure how we only scored once in our last two home games. Our defensive prowess shouldn't be overestimated in my opinion.

 

[George Reilly's Hairpiece]

Just shows how strong a squad we now have to be without some many first team players and to have only one glaring weakness at left back, which is understandable when we are two men down in that position.

 

[Arbury]

Hard one to call this, we've improved a little but I'm far from convinced we've turned the corner, I'm going to go for 1-1.

KTF

 

[Vanni]

Whenever we play Barnet I always remember that infamous 2-2 draw back in 2013. That game had everything - smoke bombs and a disallowed goal, trouble in the away end (though it wasn't entirely caused by the U's fans), Kwesi Appiah, a 'nice person' with No 1 on the back of his shirt and my side frittering away a 2 nil lead.

TBH, haven't given this one that much thought but I reckon we'll lose, either by the solitary goal or by two at most. I think the only way we'll get a point out of this one is if we take the lead, but if Barnet score first then we'll probably lose.

 

[Habbinalan]

I think I might get to this one after all (already got my ticket for Crewe).

If Derry's going to go with a "don't change a winning team" approach, I hope it's more about the team that's been finishing recent matches than starting and he sticks with 2 up top. I don't think he will and I can see us reverting to the standard away 4231.

Jabo's finishing will be the key to success in the next few matches as the rest of the forwards (apart from Brown) look like they need at least 10 chances per goal. I'd like to see Azeez and Elito starting on the bench and hopefully finishing there because we're not chasing the game. Although I recognise their strengths, Az's speed and Medy's fast feet combined with calmness that can see a pass, their main contribution to the recent clean sheets has been keeping the ball and opposition in the other half. I think Barnet will be our sternest test to date and will have us under the cosh at times - so I would prefer not to be coming from behind. If Derry thinks the same, he''ll probably be more conservative than me and strengthen midfield at the expense of keeping either Jabo or Uche back as an impact sub. My team would be:

Forde
Halliday, Legge, Taylor, Dunk
Deegan
Mingoia, Maris
Brown
Ibhere, Ikpeazu

I'm pessimistic but rarely predict a defeat, so I'll go for a battling 2 - 2 and hope that the spine of Forde, Legge, Deegan and Jabo avoid red cards and injury to take the battle on to Gresty Road on Tuesday.

 

[Urban]

How has Mingoia been for you since his move from Accrington? Not heard much about him really which is weird because I really highly rate him

 

[BeesKnees]

Santos not mentioned in the injury update. Would be a big boost if he is fit to play.

 

[Habbinalan]

How has Mingoia been for you since his move from Accrington? Not heard much about him really which is weird because I really highly rate him

It's the Mingoia/Halliday partnership that is magic.

He's scored a couple of cracking goals coming inside (last season), including probably goal of the season before it's started against Sheffield....

His crossing and general play has been off this season but........................

Halliday is back from an appendectomy and the partnership is bubbling under - provided that prima donna, Medy Elito, steps aside.

 

[Vanni]

Medy Elito a prima donna? And there I was thinking that Habbinalan knows a good player when he sees one. Or it be that he's getting influenced by a certain poster on our mb who always manages to get a dig in at Elito in his many, mostly incoherent, pre/post match ramblings.

As you all well know by now, I don't like Derry at all, but I'm not that biased as to think he doesn't get some things right sometimes. Playing Elito is one such thing, and it actually gives me hope that Shaun knows what makes a good player. Watch Medy closely and see how comfortable he is with the ball at his feet (unlike loads of other L2 players), his fast decision making (esp. in deciding when the time's right to play the ball forward), his ability to see who is unmarked, and his eagerness to win the ball back after he or one of his teammates loses possession (although tbf, he often resorts to fouling the opponent in attempting to do so).

Still having that, I definitely believe that his best position is just behind the striker/s, and not out on the wing. The thing is that Jevani's been excellent so far playing there, and Derry would be mad to drop him now and play Elito in that role instead.

 

[AmberRich]

I agree with Vanni on Elito. I think he's underrated by a number of Cambridge fans.

I'm not sure what the result will be tomorrow, I'm going to say it will be a draw, though Derry said a couple of our players have knocks if one of them is Halliday then I think Barnet might get a win.

 

[Laker]

That's interesting because I'm more inclined to Alan's way of thinking - I think he goes missing far too much in games and doesn't influence a game enough. I sometimes forget he's even on the pitch which is telling for an attacking player.

 

[Habbinalan]

I'm pleased that Medy Elito's at the club. As I said above, he's got the vision, ability and skills of a player well above this level. Sometimes I swoon as he makes a pass (usually unsuccesful - hence the time to swoon) or just creates some space for himself.

But we're playing in L2 and most are not on his wavelength and he makes some rubbish passes and he's a liability when he occasionally tracks back.

I'm not sure I want him in the trenches away at Barnet tomorrow but as an alternative/substitute for Jevani I think he's more exciting/promising than Maris or the non-league January signings. A guy called Luke Berry would have been quite good in that role, now we've got a few "front 2" options.

The clincher is that Halliday/Mingoia is an L2 match made in heaven, so we'd have to stick Medy on the left in most of my formations and I'd rather start with the solidity of Maris away from home at the Hive.

I don't stay long enough on our Messageboard to be infected these days but I was wrong to suggest he's still full of his own self-importance. We've enough characters in the dressing room to have knocked that out of him since he's arrived and I think he might be a keeper. We might even take Liam O'Neil down the same path as I'm sure there must be a L2 player in there somewhere.

Apologies for the unintended insult to our Medy......... apparently, based on last week's highlights, known to our Channel 5/Sky commentators as an icon, I give you Melito of Sardis.

 

[Tom_CUFC]

Great impact sub, bang average starter for the most part. Rather have him than not, but he's not in my starting XI if everyone's available.

 

[SVH]

Vanni must have been watching Elito on ifollow because some of the stuff you've seen him do im still yet to see.

Average at best and walked off sulking when he got the hook last week. Derry was not amused so he will be a banker for the bench today.

 

[barnet_pls]

Excited to see Tarpey firsthand together with the rejuvenated Coul Hirst, so as long as we don't give them any type of headstrong, then this should be a good game as prelude to Exeter on Tuesday - which will give us an idea on how far away we are from the early pacesetters.

 

[huddsmoose]

Elito isn't a good enough starter but interesting option to bring on against tiring legs.

Maris will be lucky to keep his place after last week and IMO should never play on the left; it leaves us very narrow, crowds the attacking midfield position and leaves the left back exposed.

I'd like to see us using a team close to last week's, but with more players in their best positions. Something like:

Forde
Halliday, Legge, Taft, Taylor
Mingoia, Deegan, Maris, Dunk
Uche, Jevani

Jabo would be unlucky to miss out but I've got a feeling Brown and either Ikpeazu or Ibhere would be a really dangerous partnership.

I'd be tempted to give Osadebe a go instead of Maris but we haven't really seen him yet so have no idea if he is any good.

 

[Vanni]

Vanni must have been watching Elito on ifollow because some of the stuff you've seen him do im still yet to see.

Average at best and walked off sulking when he got the hook last week. Derry was not amused so he will be a banker for the bench today.

Hold on, you're telling me that watching the game on iFollow is better than being present at The Abbey itself? Hmm, food for thought but I have my doubts as O'Neil is still crap on live streaming so I dunno.

He may well have sulked at being subbed, he won't be the first one to do so that as I've seen it happen in the Sunday Leagues too. Thing is that sulking doesn't mean anything about a player's ability at all, all it shows is that the player wants to play for his side.

 

[Laker]

We've gone:

Forde

Halliday
Legge
Taylor
Dunk

Mingoia
Deegan
Maris

Ibehre
Brown
Ikpeazu

I think most would go along with that as our best side at the moment - only Mingoia's and Maris's inclusion (and Dunk's position) would provoke debate in my opinion.

Edit: and superstar Medy Elito is on be bench.

 

[BeesKnees]

Pleased with our line up

Ross
H.Taylor Clough Nelson Santos Tutonda
J.Taylor Vilhete JCR
Coulthirst Tarpey

Santos being fit is a huge plus, as is keeping Vilhete in midfield so we have the energy to play a pressing game

 

[Vanni]

We've gone:

Forde

Halliday
Legge
Taylor
Dunk

Mingoia
Deegan
Maris

Ibehre
Brown
Ikpeazu

I think most would go along with that as our best side at the moment - only Mingoia's and Maris's inclusion (and Dunk's position) would provoke debate in my opinion.

Edit: and superstar Medy Elito is on be bench.

Yep, prima donna Melito will replace Maris with 20 mins to go and set up Uche for the winner. Anyway, I'm more worried about the 3 guys* we paid fees for, just one of them is on the bench today, O'Neil.

*the January guys

 

[Urban]

Wonder what on Earth happened to Santos to have be in such a state last weekend then!

 

[BeesKnees]

So much for Tarpey, injured in under 5 min

 

[George Reilly's Hairpiece]

Hope I'm wrong, but looked a bad one for Tarpey.

 

[Vanni]

Thank god for David Forde. Honestly can't pick any outfield player who's had an average half so far, all look below par. Barnet look very decent if I'm being honest, though they're helped by our managerial genius who decided that playing 4-2-4 was a brilliant idea.

Anyways, time for St. Melito to silence his detractors.

 

[Urban]

We've scored 11 in our last 3 matches. Without Akinde.

Be afraid, League 2.

 

[Laker]

Thank god for David Forde. Honestly can't pick any outfield player who's had an average half so far, all look below par. Barnet look very decent if I'm being honest, though they're helped by our managerial genius who decided that playing 4-2-4 was a brilliant idea.

Anyways, time for St. Melito to silence his detractors.

Bit too attacking and not enough midfield? Derry needs to find a way of setting us up which isn't gung ho but also is capable of creating something. The times I've seen us with numbers in midfield we've looked toothless up top.

 

[SVH]

Hold on, you're telling me that watching the game on iFollow is better than being present at The Abbey itself? Hmm, food for thought but I have my doubts as O'Neil is still crap on live streaming so I dunno.

He may well have sulked at being subbed, he won't be the first one to do so that as I've seen it happen in the Sunday Leagues too. Thing is that sulking doesn't mean anything about a player's ability at all, all it shows is that the player wants to play for his side.

My point being you should watch Elito off the ball. You won't see that on the one camera angle of Ifollow.

Elito is lazy off the ball and gives no cover for the full backs and Davies was like a rabbit in the headlights at home to Carlisle because Elito was in front of him.

He gives the ball away a hell of a lot as well. Against the poor teams he looks ok but against a decent team he can look good.