Cobblers v U's

[Habbinalan]

This local game (hardly a derby as we both have bigger fish to fry) should attract a decent crowd and atmosphere, especially now that the Financial Embarassment East Stand has some seats on it. Unfortunately a clash with the Kettering carnival (how could they allow that?) means that away numbers will be a bit down as a reunion had to be postponed (One of the old gang wears a kilt and plays the big drum).

The only positives that I can take from Tuesday's debacle were that there were no injuries and Barry Corr will continue his 30 minute cameo role a bit longer, our Irish midfielder Manny O'sadebe should hopefully have played his last game for us (he was worse than his last League Cup outing at Bristol, which I was also foolish enough to attend) and the rest of them couldn't play much worse - could they?

Finally some selection head aches and options again. At least 6 changes from Tuesday's starting 11 and the youngsters will probably miss out. Can't see us going 2 up front. Might even leave Amoo on the bench to come on with Corr and give hotshot Azeez another run out but I'd go with

Forde
Halliday, Taft, Taylor, Carroll
Deegan, Maris,
Amoo, Brown, Dunk
Ibehre

Subs: Mitov, Davies, Darling, O'Neil, Lambe, Azeez, Corr

At this stage, I'd be more than happy with a draw to get the show back on the road. Hoping for a 2 - 2 but fearing the worst. I gather we last lost at Sixfields in 1995, although they have won at the Abbey in living memory (2004).

 

[Laker]

If we lose, I think Joe will start coming under pressure. The two defeats were heavy and the win was far from convincing. A battling draw would restore some faith /hope while a win would be just the tonic.

I’m not going tomorrow, struggling with away games at the moment. Brown and Dunk have to play for me, as much to freshen it up as anything else. Maris and Deegan, I guess, in the middle. Corr to come on second half.

 

[Arbury]

Got to feel for dunne really, he’s been given the last wipe without any bog roll left whereas that **** Derry had 24 rolls of andrex aloe Vera.
It would be absolutely pointless in giving dunne a hard time, the board on the other hand deserve all the shit that comes they’re way.

As for the game, it looks like we’ve got a few back but whether we’re good enough to get anything from this I’m not so sure.

Fingers crossed for a 1-1.

KTF

 

[EricSabin]

We've been creating a lot of chances so fancy us to register our first win.

 

[huddsmoose]

Play Azeez as lone striker and we lose, play Jabo/Corr instead/alongside him and we'll nick something.

Or something else will happen. I suspect this will be a season of despair and false dawns. Annoyed I can't go tomorrow though.

 

[EricSabin]

How many you lot bringing?

 

[huddsmoose]

"Over 500 sold in advance" according to the club. So 700 or so? Disappointing.

 

[EricSabin]

Not the best

 

[EricSabin]

Again not sure how we're level. Getting fucking frustrating

 

[Laker]

That’ll do, unbeaten at Sixfields in 23 years now. Good point for us.

 

[Vanni]

Well deserved draw for the U's. Both sides let down massively by very poor defending, and while it's only to be expected from my lot with the slashed playing budget and everything, not the same can be said for Cobblers. I think I may have been too hasty in predicting them for promotion.

Good game by almost all U's players, bar Lambe and O'Neil, with special mention going to Deagan (my MOM), Carroll, Taft and Azeez. Maris was decent too but it's a waste not playing him just behind the strikers. Darling was decent enough at spells but he made one massive blunder for Cobblers second goal.

BTW, their no.22 (Crooks) was the poorest player on the pitch by some distance. Looked like a player straight out of some Connie South side.

 

[EricSabin]

Should have won that, Cambridge had late pressure but we should have been out of sight before it got to that point. We really need our first three points just to get settled, but I think we'll be fine going forward. Defensively we looked ropey, most of the chances Cambridge had were self inflicted, poor clearances etc and that looks to be the Achilles heel so far.

Biggest positive is Van Veen, two cracking finishes and 3 in 2 now for him.

 

[Strawberry_Jam]

BTW, their no.22 (Crooks) was the poorest player on the pitch by some distance. Looked like a player straight out of some Connie South side.

Funny that. I thought he controlled the game.

 

[BetterCallSaul]

As an MK Dons fan at the game as a neutral thought Northampton deserved the win by a long way. If they managed to hit the target first half they would have been out of sight. I don’t really know what Cambridge offered, poor defending from set pieces for Northampton threw the game away for them.

Kevin Van Veen was also atrocious first half but scored 2 great goals so there’s that.

 

[Vanni]

Funny that. I thought he controlled the game.

Haha, it's funny how we all see things differently. There was this U's fan on BBC camb saying he thought Deagan was poor while O'Neil had a good game, while I said the complete opposite in my post on this thread.

Back to Crooks, I thought he looked sluggish if I'm being honest, in fact I thought to myself that he looked like he was carrying an injury. Mind you, he was decent in spells but I thought he had a poor game on the whole.

 

[EricSabin]

As an MK Dons fan at the game as a neutral thought Northampton deserved the win by a long way. If they managed to hit the target first half they would have been out of sight. I don’t really know what Cambridge offered, poor defending from set pieces for Northampton threw the game away for them.

Kevin Van Veen was also atrocious first half but scored 2 great goals so there’s that.

I think as soon as we get that first win and get some confidence we'll be away.

 

[shoddycollins]

They love a good 2-2 do those Northamptonites

 

[EricSabin]

They love a good 2-2 do those Northamptonites

We are blessed to have the presence of Archbishop Desmond with us

 

[Tom_CUFC]

Never doubted you Deegs, good finish son.

 

[Habbinalan]

Very pleased with the draw and I got my forecast Desmond. On both occasions we went behind I was frustrated but was confident we could get the goal back - we are able and know how to get goals when we have Amoo and either Jabo or BBB Corr on the pitch, never mind all 3, with hotshot Deegan (first goal in 5 years) and George Maris on the front foot. His goal wasn't from a set piece it was a result of Amoo (as always) getting a decent cross in that was not defended well.

We haven't really deployed the diamond this season and rarely done it successfully last season. Today, not only were the fullbacks exposed but Maris and O'Neil were still regularly dragged wide enough for Deegan to struggle with players running at him.

Both defences looked pretty fragile/porous and Cobblers wasted a shedload of chances. We, especially Azeez, missed a fair number as well. I agree with Vanni , I expected more from the names in the Cobblers squad - both in defence (perhaps we were just pretty good at creating but I don't think so) and in the finishing, especially with the names on the bench as well.

It was an interesting battle in midfield, tactically and individually, that went back and fro. Difficult to get a proper view from behing the goal but Crooks (22) was one of the stand outs to me with some powerful runs and a range of passes.

Harry Darling had a nervous start and gifted another goal but I'm sure the experience is benefitting him and otherwise he was pretty good today. I'd only be resting him if Greg is ready to come back on Tuesday but John must be panting at the leash. Some tough matches coming up and we need some bodies. Lambe and O'Neil are just about OK as back ups but must be fairly expensive. Osadebe needs to go (out on loan?) and we need a couple of decent loans as direct cover for Ibehre and Deegan.

 

[BetterCallSaul]

Thought Ibehre was very good today myself