International fixture - Mansfield vs Newport.

[AdamStag]

Not been on in a few days and saw there wasn't a thread which I thought there would be given there's a fair number of fans from each club on here.

Interesting one tomorrow - as a Mansfield fan I shudder whenever we play someone poor or up against it as we nearly always find a way of giving them a leg up. We've already done it twice this season - losing to Exeter at st james park when they hadn't won in about 15 home games, then drawing with Notts county when they'd lost 11 games in a row!

From a Mansfield perspective, after a disappointing return of 1 point from the last 6 we'd be hopeful of getting back into the playoffs.

As for Newport, Is Mitch rose about tomorrow? His red card was overturned from the Cambridge game, but has then been charged for misconduct for knocking the card out of the refs hands....

Hopeful of a comfortable 2-0 win.

 

[Boletus Edulis]

Nice creative thread title

Always hard when you are playing sides fighting for their lives. I go 1-1.

 

[Roger Stone]

Rose is available I believe. Has requested a personal hearing to plead his case so his likely lengthy ban is yet to start.
Hopefully we'll have a few lads back from injury so hoping for a draw.

 

[Baratheon]

If Newport employ similar tactics as Stanley did recently, you may well get your wish of a scrappy, nasty 1-1 draw. We didn't cope too well with the endless feigning injury etc and we may need to fight fire with fire, although we are not too good at it! Need stronger officials methinks.

 

[northstandexile]

Well that was a scrap, just as would expect from a Wesley side.

 

[Richard Cranium]

My favourite part was when Westley wanted to make a sub. The 4th official puts the board up, Player starts walking over then Westley tells 4th official he doesn't want to make it yet. A minute and a half later and the player in question gets booked twice and it was see you later.

Scrappy game, Always going to have to battle against the sides fighting for it though. I'll take 4 points from 2 away games that follow now.

 

[ProfessorGreen]

Evans vs Westley. I presume there was an influx of neutral football purists at Field Mill for this one?

 

[Conker]

Only positives are the fact we won, and we had to 'dig in' to do so. Plus CJ did well.

Shit performance again though, unfortunately we have three goalkeepers at the club and they are all either shite or too old. Defence was a joke again, and although Shaq scored the penalty he's lucky not to be dropped like every other striker so far.

 

[Flaxman's Alibi]

It was a very disappointing spectacle and we seem to have lost any of the swagger and confidence that had been built up. Mentally we seem a fragile bunch. Though we shaded the game and probably deserved the points for our huffing and puffing.

Newport showed plenty of fight and were very unfortunate to have Gordon sent off. It was never a second yellow in a million years but the referee was weak all game and was definitely influenced by the crowd. These things go against you when you're in the mire and it contributed in handing us the points - although it always felt like we'd get a second goal. As for the penalty, it looked one all day long for me. Reid slid in with both arms up and blocked the goalbound ball. I'd expect that to be given against ourselves.

Back to us. I can't see us qualifying for the play offs, simply because of that fragile mentality. A rough ten days seems to have spooked them. The once solid defence looks rattled. The loan goalkeeper looks a calamitous liability. The midfield has lost a lot of its zing - though that may be temporary. And up front, not convinced by Coulthirst; for a former Prem academy product his touch is atrocious. For me, Green and Rose are still our best strikers and ought to be starting.

 

[Conker]

Coulthirst first touch, and always being offside are his downfalls. I think he's a good player at this level but I agree Green and Rose are our best two strikers.

 

[AdamStag]

For me it's all about being relative. After the Morecambe debacle on Boxing Day those relegation spots had crept to within 4 or so points - maybe it was 3 maybe it was 5, irrespective 2 months later it's now 20 or so points - there in lied immediate priority which was achieved.

The next objective was to bring in better players than we had and to move up the league - which we've achieved.

As stated above - the playoffs would be a total bonus / you have to feel next season will be ours - with the added incentive of Lincoln hopefully coming up and the financially challenged sheep molestors from across the m1 coming down it could be fun.

 

[Apollo]

Mansfield Fans, How is Alex MacDonald doing for you?

 

[Baratheon]

Mansfield Fans, How is Alex MacDonald doing for you?

Jury still out for me. Scored a cracking goal not long back so seems to have the ability. He's not starting all games ATM. Time will tell I suppose.

 

[Conker]

Mansfield Fans, How is Alex MacDonald doing for you?

Scored a great goal on his home debut, shown moments of class too.

He comes across like a player that out of nowhere can produce magic, he's clearly struggled with match fitness so far but I feel he's going to only get better for us.