League 2 General Chat Thread

[Luke Imp]

How we're still top I have no idea. We're good at keeping the points column ticking over, don't get me wrong, but we've hardly won tonnes of games over the last 6 weeks and the gap is still about the same to 4th.

What a goal from McCartan, though. We've scored a lot of good individual goals this season.

As it stands, we only have 16 or 17 available players for the Grimsby game.

 

[MrGloverLover]

It was an absolute car crash of a performance. Yeovil were there for the taking, and we put in that, whatever it was.

Folk after the game thought we weee worthy of a point, how wrong were they? We were worthy of jack shit. If that’s a “bounce back” performance after Carlisle then wow.

A win on Tuesday puts us back in the top 3, but if we actually get there it’ll be short lived on that performance.

Khan did nothing, rose again was hopeless apart from that save, Atkinson did alright in the role of “macca” but isn’t him - and got unfair stick when coming off

A side note on the ref - what an absolutely terrible performance all round. Not giving Yeovil’s “penalty” early into the game was mad - you could see it from space - seemingly the only lad in the ground that didn’t. Then the little black lad (best player on the pitch yesterday) scythes down our lads 3 times and gets nothing, we touch him and it’s a yellow. Same goes with the shot from Danny rose which nearly went for a throw but he gives a corner when no Yeovil player was anywhere close, then gives a foul for nothing when taking it as realises he’s made a mistake! - he wasn’t at fault at all for the loss but he made a bad afternoon even more frustrating

I agree Jordan Green was MOTM he was superb, most of our fans are giving it to Nathan Baxter our keeper though. You did have some decent chances but then so did we, Jake Gray was unlucky to hit the bar and Zoko slipped with the goal at his mercy.

P.S. Khan was terrible, thanks for the £100k

 

[AdamStag]

I agree Jordan Green was MOTM he was superb, most of our fans are giving it to Nathan Baxter our keeper though. You did have some decent chances but then so did we, Jake Gray was unlucky to hit the bar and Zoko slipped with the goal at his mercy.

P.S. Khan was terrible, thanks for the £100k

He’s looking increasingly like a dud

 

[Stringy]

The performance against Yeovil yesterday was very rubbish. As soon as I saw a midfield of Atkinson, Khan and Mellis and a front line of Hamilton and Walker I said we didn't have enough strength. Predictably we barely won a battle up front or in midfield.

Opposition teams have realised since Swindon (h) that if they stick three attackers on our three defenders we don't have the confidence to play out from the back. At such times we need something to aim at up top, but Walker and Hamilton won't win a header and hold it up, although Walker wins his fair share for a small guy. We sometimes try getting Hayden White to push on and boot it to him to win the header against the full back but he doesn't win that many.

I thought the new keeper had a very shaky start but as the game wore on his distribution got better and he was even able to distribute it accurately into the midfield line on occasion so there's one positive.

Can't say that we deserved anything from the game but I'm amazed that Yeovil were able to waste so much time. I don't recall a booking but may be wrong. I felt the ref was very weak in that respect and didn't have a great game from the perspective of either side.

Need Bishop back as our midfield was pants yesterday.

 

[Conker]

I agree Jordan Green was MOTM he was superb, most of our fans are giving it to Nathan Baxter our keeper though. You did have some decent chances but then so did we, Jake Gray was unlucky to hit the bar and Zoko slipped with the goal at his mercy.

P.S. Khan was terrible, thanks for the £100k

Khan will make Mansfield a lot more money than £100k, he’s been out for ages and that was his first start so he deserves some slack.

 

[Conker]

The performance against Yeovil yesterday was very rubbish. As soon as I saw a midfield of Atkinson, Khan and Mellis and a front line of Hamilton and Walker I said we didn't have enough strength. Predictably we barely won a battle up front or in midfield.

Opposition teams have realised since Swindon (h) that if they stick three attackers on our three defenders we don't have the confidence to play out from the back. At such times we need something to aim at up top, but Walker and Hamilton won't win a header and hold it up, although Walker wins his fair share for a small guy. We sometimes try getting Hayden White to push on and boot it to him to win the header against the full back but he doesn't win that many.

I thought the new keeper had a very shaky start but as the game wore on his distribution got better and he was even able to distribute it accurately into the midfield line on occasion so there's one positive.

Can't say that we deserved anything from the game but I'm amazed that Yeovil were able to waste so much time. I don't recall a booking but may be wrong. I felt the ref was very weak in that respect and didn't have a great game from the perspective of either side.

Need Bishop back as our midfield was pants yesterday.

Thanks for reminding me re the playacting and time wasting which was definitely the worst I can recall in recent times.

It was nearly embarrassing as our performance, I know they were desperate for it but really the blame must go to the referee for letting them get away with it.

At one point the referee went over to talk to a Yeovil player that was taking 5 minutes to throw the ball, he didn’t even book him but managed to waste another minute.

 

[Blue Lion]

Probably our most complete performance of the season so far with everyone playing well for the whole game for once. Our taller players Smith and Kelleher had a field day in the air against a very short Grimsby team. Can't deny Grimsby played into our hands massively, whether that was due to bad tactics, the wind or our pressing. Anyway it should really have ended up more than 2-0.

 

[Indian Dan]

How we're still top I have no idea. We're good at keeping the points column ticking over, don't get me wrong, but we've hardly won tonnes of games over the last 6 weeks and the gap is still about the same to 4th.

What a goal from McCartan, though. We've scored a lot of good individual goals this season.

As it stands, we only have 16 or 17 available players for the Grimsby game.

You looked a pale shadow of the team that beat us earlier this season. Time wasting - even before the sendings off - and sheer petulance was taken to a new level yesterday. I can’t see how this ‘style’ will get you anywhere in L1.

 

[AdamStag]

You looked a pale shadow of the team that beat us earlier this season. Time wasting - even before the sendings off - and sheer petulance was taken to a new level yesterday. I can’t see how this ‘style’ will get you anywhere in L1.

Tbh I don’t think anyone wants it. Lincoln’s form hasn’t been great but no-one else’s has improved enough to catch them, MK not on great form, Mansfield got 4 from the last 12, Carlisle got dicked yesterday after a good run, bury seem to be the only one going for it

 

[Gladders]

From the excellent @experimental361

 

[Luke Imp]

You looked a pale shadow of the team that beat us earlier this season. Time wasting - even before the sendings off - and sheer petulance was taken to a new level yesterday. I can’t see how this ‘style’ will get you anywhere in L1.

We've lost our way a bit, in part to an injury (now suspension) to Andrade because he's a very creative outlet but we're that small a squad that we can't change too much around. With 4 games in 9 days, then running Everton close, a trip all the way down there and I can't see that helping much either.

We'll see in the next couple of weeks whether or not we're likely to kick on in the final 3 months.

That more cautious approach isn't unusual for us away from home. We've generally tried to get in level and then had a go second half. That obviously couldn't happen yesterday.

 

[darren gregory]

We've lost our way a bit, in part to an injury (now suspension) to Andrade because he's a very creative outlet but we're that small a squad that we can't change too much around. With 4 games in 9 days, then running Everton close, a trip all the way down there and I can't see that helping much either.

We'll see in the next couple of weeks whether or not we're likely to kick on in the final 3 months.

That more cautious approach isn't unusual for us away from home. We've generally tried to get in level and then had a go second half. That obviously couldn't happen yesterday.

Yes I remember you being extremely cautious at Vale.
Had your manager instructed you to be more expansive it would of been 10

 

[valefan16]

Yes I remember you being extremely cautious at Vale.
Had your manager instructed you to be more expansive it would of been 10

To be fair Darren we weren’t exactly battered in the game itself I.e open play it was more than every set piece was scored! Even at their place where they only had one corner they bloody scored it! If we had defended the corners with average ability we’d possibly not lost.

 

[Conker]

Mansfield biggest problem is our replacements for certain players, ie CB, Bishop, and Walker we have no back up plan for any of them, and Preston is suspended for our next game.

We have a few midfielders in Atkinson, Butcher and Anderson that are on big wages and just don’t suit the style at all so need binning.

Our business in January is going to make or break our automatic challenge,

 

[cufc17]

Lost 3-0 at Northampton, wasn't very confident going into this one despite our good run, lost a couple key players and Curle would've been desperate to get one over us. No complaints by the sound of it, poor second half and Northampton deservedly ran away with it.

Decent chance to put things right at home to Cheltenham next week, but still don't rate our chances in the transfer window.

 

[Chris FGR]

Northampton are a decent side, liked the look of Matt Crooks the other week, big lad but seemed to cover a lot of ground and looked good on the ball.

 

[Reginald Fodstain]

Horrible team Cheltenham, diving all over the place. First half we were pretty poor, but still had chances, second half came out and blew them away. Always enjoyable to watch everyone's favourite racist Scott Flinders make a mistake or two as well

 

[Luke Imp]

Northampton are a decent side, liked the look of Matt Crooks the other week, big lad but seemed to cover a lot of ground and looked good on the ball.

Now at Rotherham.

 

[denzel ecfc]

No complaints about our result yesterday. Even if they were still playing now it would be 0-0.
Of course we are missing Stockley and too early to say if Bowman will replace him but we certainly need to create more and get the likes of Boateng fit if we are going to challenge for the playoffs.
But we aren't great if the opposition is happy to come for a point.

 

[denzel ecfc]

From the excellent @experimental361
View attachment 10253

So eight teams have a better than 50% chance of the playoffs? How does that work then

 

[AdamStag]

Mansfield biggest problem is our replacements for certain players, ie CB, Bishop, and Walker we have no back up plan for any of them, and Preston is suspended for our next game.

We have a few midfielders in Atkinson, Butcher and Anderson that are on big wages and just don’t suit the style at all so need binning.

Our business in January is going to make or break our automatic challenge,

Absolutely. A new midfielder is a must. Yesterday we needed Mellis to step up which he didn’t in the slightest. Atkinson did alright, but clearly isn’t to the ability of macca.

A forward is a must - great save from the Yeovil keeper aside, Danny rose again did the sum of fuck all, he’s not good enough and hasn’t really been since he had his head turned in August.

Rectify that and we’ve a real chance, but only if we revert to type and not the tripe we’ve served up at Carlisle and yesterday

 

[Tranmerewhite]

First half Cheltenham had possession, but the “domination” their managed inferred didn’t happen. We still had 4 good chances we should have scored at least one from and they took their best chance.

Second half we organised a lot better and cut off all their supply lines with a high press, dominating possession ourselves but with a lot more cutting edge than Cheltenham managed first half.

Their back line was terrified of Norwood, who as expected was back to his best after the return of Ollie Banks.

4pts from our last 2 away games so maybe we’ve turned the corner on that now and kick on. Need to back it up with a home win vs Swindon.

 

[Tinnion's right foot]

Living as I do in the West Country I toddled along to Swindon to see the mighty chimps.

Thought we were crap before the sending off, and then much better until half time. Swindon's half-time change made a big difference, and we were back to being second best. And then another sending off and it's backs to the wall stuff for the rest of the game. It was heroic defending, though I thought Swindon lacked guile in trying to break down a 7-man defence. Generally they were the better team, but lacked a cutting edge. And I think they could do with a new goalie. No arguments about the first sending off; the second... well, who knows what Shackell said (apart from him), but he's old enough to know better. The penalty was right in front of us, and I thought it was.

I'm not a fan of Lincoln's 'game management'. I know Cowley's thing is getting the best out of what he has at his disposal, and he certainly does, but I can see why it would send opponents up the wall. Speaking to a couple of Swindon fans afterwards though, they said that they thought it was what you needed to do get out of this division. And we've been top all season, so it seems to work. Mixed emotions though.

And.... you'll not see a better goal than Shay McCartan's all season.

 

[EricSabin]

Now at Rotherham.

That and Van Veen leaving ironically led to our best team performance of the season.

Think this season is pretty much gone so hopefully young Jay Williams gets a run in the side as he looks a terrific prospect and was very good again on a Saturday. Another young lad Shaun McWilliams looked back to his best in the middle of the park too so more experience for them would be a good aim for the rest of the season.

 

[devilofajob]

No drizzle forecast so our match at Mansfield should be OK tomorrow.
I can't see us winning, but I didn't think Yeovil would either.
If we have more than 40 there I'll be amazed.

 

[Luke Imp]

Nothing imminent obviously, but planning is being submitted for the Western Growth Corridor development this month in Lincoln, which includes a new Stadium for us.

They've been talking about this development for years and finally decided it probably needs doing.

 

[JJ1532]

What's wrong with Sincil Bank? Ok, the main stand aint great, but overall, it's a decent enough stadium. Why the need for a move?

 

[Luke Imp]

What's wrong with Sincil Bank? Ok, the main stand aint great, but overall, it's a decent enough stadium. Why the need for a move?

There's no urgent need in terms of how the Stadium looks or its condition. There are quite a few restrictions around it, though i.e. parking (bad enough at 4k, never mind 8k-10k) and any redevelopment to stands (specifically the Echo Stand) having serious access issues but the main drawback is that the Stadium is basically just stands. I know that sounds a bit daft but there's very little in terms of non-match day revenue and everything is maxed out from a commercial point of view. We're one of the lowest in the FL when it comes to revenue from commercial activities. We just don't have the facilities to do much other than your standard stuff i.e. advertising boards, shirt sponsorships etc.

If we had the facilities of say a Doncaster, Rotherham or Chesterfield (I name them as new, local Stadiums rather than knowing exactly what they have available), then we'd have been coining it in even more over the last couple of years.

We're included in the plans because it *might* happen rather than definitely is. The Board have said they'd be open to staying at SB so it's not as if we're aggressively looking to leave SB. There isn't enough room for everyone at the minute but 10 years down the line it might have all changed again so it'd be silly for us to offer anything concrete at this stage (although they have said any new Stadium would be 12k kinda size rather than anything outlandish like Darlington's white elephant).

 

[Son of Cod]

Well well well, Mansfield arrange a game almost immediately after signing top L1 quality attacking player and win. What a surprise.

 

[Spanishstag]

Well well well, Mansfield arrange a game almost immediately after signing top L1 quality attacking player and win. What a surprise.

Yes and him ,ajose and jorge grant both done ok ,though how ajose missed his biggest chance was unbelievable ,but he looked lively ,we toiled for a while but got there in the end