Clint Hill v The Beast (Carlisle v Wycombe)

[shoddycollins]

See how this match goes, on form Wycombe should win but we've been pretty strong in defence the last few games and if that continues then I reckon will be among the hardest teams to score against in the division. In fact since Clint Hill arrived five games ago we've only conceded three goals, two of those were howlers from Shamal George and the other was a set-piece.

Wycombe will be a threat no-doubt and I'm not expecting a clean sheet in any way, but I think it's not as outlandish a suggestion as it was last season.

I don't think we will be bottom half with our defence just about keeping us out of real trouble, as some fans have suggested. I think any team with either one of the best defences or best attacks in the division can look at the playoffs as a realistic target. Going forward is a concern, especially at home where we play more attacking football . Away from home we're sitting back, taking the impetus out of the game, keeping clean sheets and then snatching goals on the break. If we do that at home the fans will go ballistic, they'd rather we try and play attacking creative football even if our strikers can't get on the end of anything and we end up losing having failed to score.

Personally I think at home we need to try and hit teams on the break, we have a good enough midfield I think that this doesn't mean we have to always try and get our goals from long balls forward, but still just try and put players through with passes from midfield instead of trying to build attacks that don't come off because nobody gets forward. This might be a game for Hallam Hope. but I would like to see Jason Kennedy feature at some point because if we do end up loading the box with crosses, he's the most likely player to get on the end of them.

And yes I'm aware that playing as if we were an away team against Wycombe will mean one of the dullest games in the history of football and around three hours of injury time.

 

[mowgli]

Injury problems have hit us hard with 5 regular starters out,Saunders,Umerah are short term but Harriman,O'Nien and Tyson are long term and Bean who is playing his best football for us out suspended with 5 bookings. If we were at full strength i would have expected a win but i'd be happy with a draw now keeping our away unbeaten record since last Febuary going.

 

[hellogregory]

We're a striker away from being a playoff challenging team imo.

Defensively we're as good as we've been for years and like last season our midfield is decent when Jones and Kennedy are fit. But now we've solved one problem, we've created another by weakening our attack over the summer. We've lost 30+ goals a season from our team in Wyke and Ibehre and we simply haven't brought in anyone even half capable of replacing even one of them. Bad management, poor scouting and an unambitious "that'll do" approach is what it is. It wouldn't be so bad if our strikers could hold the ball up and lay on goals for others, but they don't even do that!

We've only beaten the teams in the bottom half. Against top half teams we've fallen short because we can't score against them. This is why we'll finish in the bottom half if we don't rectify our toothless ineffective attack. It's frustrating because I genuinely feel we're only one player away from being a good team.

We lack ideas at home of how to break teams down. I can see a narrow Wycombe win.

 

[cufc17]

1-0 either way. Not used to the lack of goals in our matches in the last few games (bar the Crewe game) in comparison to the last few seasons of goals galore.

Always a tough game against Wycombe, it definitely won't be a pretty game but hopefully we can knick a goal and move up the table.

 

[shoddycollins]

We're a striker away from being a playoff challenging team imo.

Defensively we're as good as we've been for years and like last season our midfield is decent when Jones and Kennedy are fit. But now we've solved one problem, we've created another by weakening our attack over the summer. We've lost 30+ goals a season from our team in Wyke and Ibehre and we simply haven't brought in anyone even half capable of replacing even one of them. Bad management, poor scouting and an unambitious "that'll do" approach is what it is. It wouldn't be so bad if our strikers could hold the ball up and lay on goals for others, but they don't even do that!

We've only beaten the teams in the bottom half. Against top half teams we've fallen short because we can't score against them. This is why we'll finish in the bottom half if we don't rectify our toothless ineffective attack. It's frustrating because I genuinely feel we're only one player away from being a good team.

We lack ideas at home of how to break teams down. I can see a narrow Wycombe win.

I'm not sure if it's poor scouting that's to blame for our inability to replace Jabo and Wyke or lack of funds, I know one or two of the players Mansfield signed over the summer were ones we tried to get and I think it was also said we'd lost out to Lincoln on a target, don't know whether these were top strikers but I'd imagine our management team had anticipated us being stronger. Also players like Jabo and Wyke aren't easy to come by, we didn't have to break the bank for either of them. Jabo had a good career and reputation in the division above but had to be fair just been released by Colchester and didn't have a reputation at all as a prolific goalscorer, Wyke was still young, had a run out with Hartlepool and took a little while to get going with us. I can't remember who said it but I'm sure I remember one of the United fans on here suggested a few months into Wyke's time with us that wasn't sure he had what it took to succeed at this level (I've a feeling it was the keep/release thread and the fan in question was saying keep Wyke because he showed promise but there were question marks).

Shaun Miller though, is a good striker, just not the sort of striker who holds the ball up and lays it off. Hallam Hope is showing signs of improvement and Richie Bennett is still an unknown quantity, we could still be looking back on his signing this time next year and saying how glad we were he finally got going.

I think though, if we can keep within reach of the playoffs until January we might well be able to bring in someone of the quality of Jamie Proctor on loan (shame to hear Proctor is out for the season injured by the way).

 

[mowgli]

Great news that Sam Saunders is starting after missing a couple of games through injury,with Gape and Eze that's a strong midfield with Freeman,Mackaill-Smith and The Beast up front.Luke O'Nien is on the bench so hopefully our injury problems are easing but still no Umerah.

 

[hellogregory]

Grainger suspended. Down to 4 available defenders. An injury tonight and we're fucked.

But still my big concern still is up front. We have nothing, which is why I'm glad Devitt is playing. The more attack minded midfielders the better when your strikers do nothing. Would like Kennedy in the team asap as well for the above reason.

 

[hellogregory]

Honestly, this fucking team drives me insane.

The one time we actually score more than 1 goal we leave our arses hanging out to get fucked.

 

[hellogregory]

It's quite telling that we're a third of the way through the season and we've failed to beat any top half team. All of our wins have come against sides in the bottom half.

The fact we can beat teams down the bottom eases any relegation fears despite the bottom 3 all winning and gaining ground on us tonight, but it proves beyond doubt that we are and will continue to be nothing more than a bottom half team.

Positives are that we scored 3 goals though. That's a bit of progress. I'll put the poor defensive showing as a bad night as we've looked more solid recently.

 

[cufc17]

As I said, 1-0 either way..

Looks like it was an entertaining game and we actually scored some goals at home, but so disappointing to mess it up at the very end. Need to beat Notts County on Saturday really for it to be a positive week, but that's unlikely. 1 home win this season is awful, even if the performances are coming. Less than 3500 home fans isn't a surprise considering our home form in 2017.

 

[hellogregory]

3 wins at home in 2017 is diabolical.

 

[shoddycollins]

It's quite telling that we're a third of the way through the season and we've failed to beat any top half team. All of our wins have come against sides in the bottom half.

The fact we can beat teams down the bottom eases any relegation fears despite the bottom 3 all winning and gaining ground on us tonight, but it proves beyond doubt that we are and will continue to be nothing more than a bottom half team.

Positives are that we scored 3 goals though. That's a bit of progress. I'll put the poor defensive showing as a bad night as we've looked more solid recently.

A bit contradictory. We've progressed a bit in attacking and just had a bad night defensively yet we've gone from just a decent striker away from challenging for the playoffs to proven beyond doubt to be nothing more than a bottom half team.

 

[mowgli]

Phew! You gotta love a late equalizer At least we've kept our unbeaten away record going that equals a club record hopefully we'll break it at Swindon on Saturday. One thing about our current squad of players is they never give up and are always looking to score something we're not used to seeing under 5 years of having Ainsworth as manager.

 

[shoddycollins]

Carver's in the thread, haven't seen him in a while, he isn't banned again is he?

 

[Carver]

Phew! You gotta love a late equalizer At least we've kept our unbeaten away record going that equals a club record hopefully we'll break it at Swindon on Saturday. One thing about our current squad of players is they never give up and are always looking to score something we're not used to seeing under 5 years of having Ainsworth as manager.

Shut up Mowgli, you little mug.

You wanted Ainsworth out last season and now he's working wonders for your club. Do not foget your clubs five year plan to get out of this league, there must be 3 years left to go.

 

[Carver]

Honestly, this fucking team drives me insane.

The one time we actually score more than 1 goal we leave our arses hanging out to get fucked.

Err we beat Crewe 5-0 just a few week ago, did you forget about that one? ffs.

 

[mowgli]

Shut up Mowgli, you little mug.

 

[Carver]

Carver's in the thread, haven't seen him in a while, he isn't banned again is he?

No, I just took a months break from here for my own peace of mind and now that Im back I see HG is still being a misezable prat, can he not just shut the hell up for once and be pleased that we actually scored some goals at home?

 

[Carver]

Don't you fucking laugh at me, it pisses me off to get beat off you against the run of play, I know it was a draw but it felt like a loss.

 

[mowgli]

Don't you fucking laugh at me, it pisses me off to get beat off you against the run of play, I know it was a draw but it felt like a loss.

 

[hellogregory]

A bit contradictory. We've progressed a bit in attacking and just had a bad night defensively yet we've gone from just a decent striker away from challenging for the playoffs to proven beyond doubt to be nothing more than a bottom half team.

Not really. While we have such a toothless attack we won't be any where near a playoff place, nothing more than a bottom half side. It's clear from how the first third of the season has gone.

I'd love to hear your reasons why if you think differently.

 

[hellogregory]

Err we beat Crewe 5-0 just a few week ago, did you forget about that one? ffs.

I was there you fuckmonk

 

[hellogregory]

No, I just took a months break from here for my own peace of mind and now that Im back I see HG is still being a misezable prat, can he not just shut the hell up for once and be pleased that we actually scored some goals at home?

If you bothered to read, you'd see that I did say the positives were that we scored 3 and it's a bit of progress. FFS

 

[mowgli]

Ffs that penalty decision was a joke,had to laugh at Akinfenwa's goal as he was sandwiched between 2 defenders and didn't even have to jump to score with a header

 

[cufc17]

All of the goals were poor defensive mistakes or where the keeper could've done better, bar the very soft penalty. How Lambe finds himself in so much space for both goals (especially the first) is astonishing.

 

[mowgli]

All of the goals were poor defensive mistakes or where the keeper could've done better, bar the very soft penalty. How Lambe finds himself in so much space for both goals (especially the first) is astonishing.

Nothing your keeper could have done about Saunders brilliant free kick goal he placed it perfectly.

 

[GTFCfish]

The Carlisle player who won the pen has now been charged by the FA for conning the referee.

 

[shoddycollins]

The Carlisle player who won the pen has now been charged by the FA for conning the referee.

Wouldn't surprise me, not that Shaun Miller is one for this kind of thing, no more than anyone else and couldn't hold a candle to Danny Hylton, but that referee was absolutely atrocious, I wasn't certain about the free kick Wycombe got to pull one back before half time, not accusing simulation, just looked a very soft decision and a free kick in that location is almost as good as a penalty.

 

[thewwfc]

(thinks about indignantly claiming moral high ground)...
(remembers which team he supports)...
(nah, maybe best not.)

 

[Alan Partridge]

I dunno how they’ve worked that one out.

He goes down easy, yes, but it’s not as if he claims for a penalty or starts rolling about on the floor looking for it. He gets back up, keeps the ball in play and lays it off back to one of our lot - it ain’t his fault that the ref gave it.