Chairboys v U's

[Habbinalan]

Lots of reasons to ignore this event until early saturday afternoon but getting back on the horse to see if I can manage Morecambe and CUFC away before spring is sprung.

Got my ticket, first away match since first of the year (Colchester - why did I bother?). Momentum building to convert lower mid-table to upper mid-table finish. Be afraid; Be very afraid. Hoping we can start like this:

 

[Arbury]

Liking the avatar alan(thumbs up)

We’re looking half decent again which is nice, been a while coming, least we can go in hope. I’m thinking our record against Wycombe is bad, really bad but I don’t know for certain.

We’re in mid table stability while Wycombe are near the top, pressure is all on them so enjoy whoever goes.

KTF

 

[Laker]

Yes, very poignant avatar - good stuff.

I’m not going to Wycombe. I’ve been twice before, we’ve lost 1-0 both times and barely had a shot. The first time I went on the coach (only time I’ve done it) because I’d arrived back from holiday in Mexico that morning and didn’t fancy trying to stay awake driving home from Wycombe on my own. It was a crap performance and wish I hadn’t bothered!

Wycombe are in funny form at the moment whereas our only defeat recently was the robbery at Accrington. Therefore we’re due a defeat.

3-0 U’s, Uche hat trick.

 

[mowgli]

The last 3 games between the sides at Adams Park ended up with us winning 1-0 i'd be happy if it finished the same on Saturday. Hopefully the postponement of last weeks game at Crawley will mean some of our injured players are fit to play,right back Harriman is doing light training after recovering from a broken leg but it's centre back Stewart we've missed the most who has been out with a calf problem but the club aren't giving any info on when we can expect to see him playing again.

 

[Tom_CUFC]

Our last 5 visits to Adams Park have seen us lose by a goal (1-0 four times), so that's where my bets are going this weekend.....

Good to see Leon back but the defence is playing well enough to keep it as it is I reckon, as seems to be the case every week I'd love to be able to push Dunk on into midfield but moving Taylor out of the middle is an absolute no go, unconvinced about Taft at left back, and nothing needs to be said about Carroll, so same back 4.

Jevani's dip in form I would hope gives us the opportunity to do something a little bit different, but I think again it'll be the same guys that started last week except maybe Maris for Elito.

Personally would go with the below in a 4-3-3/4-2-3-1 hybrid:

Forde, Halliday, Taylor, Taft, Dunk, Deegan, Maris, O'Neill, Amoo, Waters, Uche

Subs: Mitov, Carroll, Legge, Elito, Mingoia, Brown, Ibhere

1-0 home win.

 

[Habbinalan]

Our last 5 visits to Adams Park have seen us lose by a goal (1-0 four times), so that's where my bets are going this weekend.....

Good to see Leon back but the defence is playing well enough to keep it as it is I reckon, as seems to be the case every week I'd love to be able to push Dunk on into midfield but moving Taylor out of the middle is an absolute no go, unconvinced about Taft at left back, and nothing needs to be said about Carroll, so same back 4.

Jevani's dip in form I would hope gives us the opportunity to do something a little bit different, but I think again it'll be the same guys that started last week except maybe Maris for Elito.

Personally would go with the below in a 4-3-3/4-2-3-1 hybrid:

Forde, Halliday, Taylor, Taft, Dunk, Deegan, Maris, O'Neill, Amoo, Waters, Uche

Subs: Mitov, Carroll, Legge, Elito, Mingoia, Brown, Ibhere

1-0 home win.

Although I agree, same team but with Maris back for Elito is the most likely option, we could really do with Jabo's goal touch if he is now fully fit. Even though we'd miss Waters' harrying and workrate, I'd be tempted to start both Jabo and Uche. It would leave us dependent on fullbacks to provide the width but I think Joe will once again keep Amoo back as an impact sub and go with the diamond. That would make it even more necessary to go with anyone but the blessed Melito/DonE. I think Jevani has done enough to keep his place but wouldn't object to Maris as the 10 if Piero can come back in as a starter - perhaps against Swindon? So....

Forde
Halliday, Taylor, Taft, Dunk
Deegan
O'Neil, Maris
Brown
Ibehre, Ikpeazu

Subs: Mitov, Carroll, Legge, Amoo, Waters, Corr, Mingoia

He won't drop Elito from the squad and there's no need to rush Corr and Mingoia back - but they need to get some game time soon. Lewis might make the bench but what has happened to Phillips? Either he's not cutting it in training or his U23 experience is just not transferring to L2.

The opposition will clearly be a severe test, especially if they can score first but I have a feeling in my water that we can end their winning run and our goal shyness. A draw would be a good result but I'm predicting a battling 2-1 to the U's and a further boost to Accrington's promotion prospects when combined with a similar result up the road at the Kenny.

 

[Vanni]

Something tells me we'll be seeing a repeat of that game at Meadow Lane, except that this time after going 3 nil up, Wycombe will only get two late consolation goals, much to the relief of the travelling bobble hat army.

Re. Philips, I had him down as a 3rd rate Elito after only his second match for us and so it's not surprising to me to see him overlooked. To be brutally honest I have his signing down as another cock up by the recruiting team. He's good at delivering a decent ball in from a set piece but that's about it, and quite frankly, any half decent player is able to do this afaic.

On Amoo, while I rate him highly and can see what he brings to the side, I'm not too sure if he should be starting or whether to unleash him on tiring full backs for those final 20 mins or so. Football's changed a lot and nowadays nearly all sides like to keep it tight for 60-70 mins and then look to grab a late winner, and that's the problem I have with Amoo if he's starting as I don't think he's good at getting back and helping out the back line. But like I said, I'm still unsure on this little dilemma and I hope I'm wrong obviously.

What I said about Amoo also goes for Maris IMO, talented as he may be. Far too inconsistent for my liking and sometimes I think he's one that does better when he comes on as a sub.

3-2 win - Waters, Taft and Brown with the U's goals.

 

[mowgli]

As per usual buses are running from the train station leaving at 1-05 and 2-05 PM, plus the beer marquee will be open for away and home fans but there's no mention of the BBQ which normally is laid on.

 

[Laker]

Loved our equaliser today - the timing, the type of goal, even the goal scorer was beautiful. Lovely stuff.

How did we play today, people?

 

[Tom_CUFC]

Shite. Who cares though, been starved of these moments for so long, two in a month is bliss

 

[Habbinalan]

It was a horrible, horrible, game - only relieved by the attitude and application we showed, capped by THAT GOAL. .

I commiserate with Wycombe fans who have to suffer that every week. Even the results and league position can't be a compensation. It's perhaps just acceptable for crunch matches, especially relegation related, against superior opposition. Each to their own. They have some really good players, as was occasionally shown in the second half, and I don't doubt the have the ability to play to their ability if needed because they've fallen behind.

That said, I had thoughts that we were going to out-Wycombe Wycombe in a close stop-start first half tussle - then a lump down the middle deflected off Akinfemwa's ear, past Forde in no-man's land, and I was reminded that we are not in their league, not even close.

It wasn't a game for considering individual technical performances. Everyone did their bit and seemed to understand what they were aiming to do. Apart from his goal, Lewis suggested he has (headed) goals in him. We found a way of playing Jabo and Waters. Greg and Tafty handled Akinfenwa (and the ref) pretty well - Leon may have to wait even longer to get a start.

I was more confident than I usually am at Adams Park that we had a goal in us; Despite the classic tactics we stayed focussed. That said, we could easily have gone a further goal behind before we converted one of the chances we created.

It's easier to feel positive about the performances behind the last 3 results from our current league position. I'm not confident that we could produce such performances week in week out if we were nearer the play-off positions.....but I'd have liked the opportunity to find out.

 

[mowgli]

As soon as i heard central defender Scarr was limping from early in the 2nd half and left back JJ went off with a tight hamstring i knew we'd let an equalizer in,oh well still 4th whith 10 games to go something i hadn't even dreamed of at the start of the season.

 

[thewwfc]

Yep, we’ve punted in so many late goals this season (5 or 6 at least? can’t be arsed to check) that we can’t really complain when we get stung by one.

Need to make sure the current blip doesn’t turn into a dive though, we’ve tailed off badly towards the end in the last couple of seasons.