Our real cup final, The Champagne Derby, Jabo v Muggleton (Carlisle v Barnet)

[hellogregory]

I agree with Dave. Tough tough game, I expect them to come up here and punish us for our defensive frailties and take the 3 points.

I also expect them to surprise a few by finishing top 7. They've made some good signings over the summer.

 

[rudebwoyben]

How much have you seen of Shomotun and Gambin?

To be honest he's seen as much of Shomotun as me and probably the majority of Barnet fans have - absolutely nothing.
Luke will (and has done well for us all season) but we need a creative presence in the centre of the pitch.

 

[BeesKnees]

To be honest he's seen as much of Shomotun as me and probably the majority of Barnet fans have - absolutely nothing.
Luke will (and has done well for us all season) but we need a creative presence in the centre of the pitch.

That's really the problem, not that we have no creative talent at all, but that we do have isn't being used. In the case of Shomotun I have only seen his ability in friendly and youth games where he appears to be the breath of fresh air we lack, it's time to stop leaving him on the bench and give him some minutes to prove whether he can improve our forward play.

 

[daviejones]

In the lead up to this game we appear to have already been robbed once - Jabo has lost the player of the month award to Dean Cox. Clearly done just because nobody could be arsed coming to Carlisle to get the picture but still a bit peeving.

 

[rudebwoyben]

That's really the problem, not that we have no creative talent at all, but that we do have isn't being used. In the case of Shomotun I have only seen his ability in friendly and youth games where he appears to be the breath of fresh air we lack, it's time to stop leaving him on the bench and give him some minutes to prove whether he can improve our forward play.

I don't disagree with that. Even though Donaldson didn't actually play very well for Cambridge Utd against us at the Hive, I could see that he was doing something that no one in our team was doing - linking up play between the midfield and attack and giving the attackers an extra option who they could lay the ball off to.
So far, we have created one goal in the league from open play (I don't count Weston's goal as the opportunity for that came from a ricochet). That really isn't good enough.

 

[E10rifle]

How much have you seen of Shomotun and Gambin?

Yeah... come back when you've scored more goals than you've played games.

 

[BeesKnees]

Yeah... come back when you've scored more goals than you've played games.

Says the man claiming to know our team inside out from one game

 

[E10rifle]

Says the man claiming to know our team inside out from one game

Yes, you're right, I'm wrong. The only reason you haven't scored loads of goals is because Akinde is too shithouse to put away all of the myriad of chances you've been creating. Have I got it now?

 

[WSBee]

Well, this one is gonna be fun.

Leaving from Whetstone, on the coach at 5.45.

Here's to picking up our first away points of the season...

 

[Mucca Mad Bee]

I think our chances of winning this game solely depend on the Carlisle defence. If they have a smidgen of organisation then we won't score and the only way we will score is if Akinde turns on the heat. I actually feel sorry for Big John because he can be great at this level if we wasn't so reliant on him. Carlisle fans don't expect much entertainment from us, i'm fairly certain Muggleton will start and our tactics won't involve much build up play.

On the other hand I remember when Jabo destroyed us for Leyton Orient at Underhill a few years ago so if he's the same player i'm concerned. I think we'll lose 0-2, have one shot on-target and Martin Allen will come out and say we were unlucky and that we've got a great group of lads.

 

[BigDaveCUFC]

I think our chances of winning this game solely depend on the Carlisle defence. If they have a smidgen of organisation then we won't score and the only way we will score is if Akinde turns on the heat. I actually feel sorry for Big John because he can be great at this level if we wasn't so reliant on him. Carlisle fans don't expect much entertainment from us, i'm fairly certain Muggleton will start and our tactics won't involve much build up play.

On the other hand I remember when Jabo destroyed us for Leyton Orient at Underhill a few years ago so if he's the same player i'm concerned. I think we'll lose 0-2, have one shot on-target and Martin Allen will come out and say we were unlucky and that we've got a great group of lads.

me thinks that will not be a problem

we've let in about 7 goals though individual mess-ups and lack of co-ordination at the back.

The key is if we play 6-7 men forward will you be able to keep that at bay and then nick it as I have said apart from Wimbledon we have usually played 3 at the back, 1 defensive midfielder, then 2 attack based midfielders supporting 2 very high up wingers (in easier words in opponents box) and 2 forwards.

that means most of the game we play 6 men in your half and only 4 men in our half and mistakes get capitalized on easily, but at same time when we pump any crosses into box we have 6-7 men to aim at.

 

[BeesKnees]

Yes, you're right, I'm wrong. The only reason you haven't scored loads of goals is because Akinde is too shithouse to put away all of the myriad of chances you've been creating. Have I got it now?

Sadly not.
For a club you described as an abject irrelevance you appear to have an unhealthy obsession.

 

[E10rifle]

Sadly not.

That's a shame - well, I guess I'm just not intelligent enough to figure out how such a wildly creative side as yourselves have scored the joint-fewest goals in the division. It's a mystery.

For a club you described as an abject irrelevance you appear to have an unhealthy obsession.

Sigh. Good work on the context there. You're an abject irrelevance as rivals, but that doesn't mean that I don't like talking about football with you all. Though I'd probably prefer it if so many of you weren't so fantastically precious about any perceived criticism of your club.

 

[BeesKnees]

Happy to discuss and I'm not precious in the slightest.
Also happy to admit we have lacked creativity but you seem to have missed this along the way. As I said earlier, it's not that we have no creativity, it's that creative players haven't been given enough opportunity to find out if they can make the difference. If they can't then we need to go into the loan market to solve the problem

 

[daviejones]

I think our chances of winning this game solely depend on the Carlisle defence. If they have a smidgen of organisation then we won't score and the only way we will score is if Akinde turns on the heat. I actually feel sorry for Big John because he can be great at this level if we wasn't so reliant on him. Carlisle fans don't expect much entertainment from us, i'm fairly certain Muggleton will start and our tactics won't involve much build up play.

On the other hand I remember when Jabo destroyed us for Leyton Orient at Underhill a few years ago so if he's the same player i'm concerned. I think we'll lose 0-2, have one shot on-target and Martin Allen will come out and say we were unlucky and that we've got a great group of lads.

By the sounds of it Jabo is now better than he was at Orient. We're going into each game semi expecting him to score and being disappointed if he doesn't, even in a 25 minute cameo on Tuesday he was unlucky to have a couple of chances cleared off the line. He's pretty much our only goal threat at the moment, everyone else has been pretty shite up front in terms of scoring goals, so if we do score I'd say it's fairly unlikely to not be him.

 

[springerbfc]

We were absolute dog$hite at Bristol Rovers and another performance like that and we'll be on the end of another resounding defeat.

I suspect we'll attempt to pack the midfield and hope that launching it aimlessly over the top gives Akinde a few chances to get in behind the Carlisle backline. If their defence is as bad as BigDave says then we should be capable of nicking a goal. It won't be pretty from us but I can see it being effective at least against some teams this season so fingers crossed that's tomorrow...!

This is the first fixture we've had against a side not widely tipped to do well this season so this should give us a better indication of where we stand. I'd be delighted with a point but will go for a narrow 2-1 loss, with Akinde-pen ending his goal drought.

 

[daviejones]

I would hope Curle has realised that your main/only goal threat is Akinde and will be organising the defence accordingly. Put Miller in centre back alongside Troy/Raynes maybe, then make Troy/Raynes mark him for headers and have Miller covering for pace in behind. McQueen and Brough in the wing back roles. This'd be my team:

Gillespie
McQueen Miller Troy Grainger Brough
Hery Joyce Kennedy
Ibehre Asamoah

 

[hellogregory]

I'd keep Grainger on the left.

Gillespie
Miller Raynes Troy
Dicker Joyce
McQueen Kennedy Grainger
Ibehre Asamoah​

 

[shoddycollins]

I'd keep Grainger on the left.

Gillespie
Miller Raynes Troy
Dicker Joyce
McQueen Kennedy Grainger
Ibehre Asamoah​

Agree with this, if I was going to drop one of the centre backs, then it wouldn't have been Raynes (or Rayne's as he is now known). Wouldn't want to leave Hery out though... maybe leave Joyce out instead.

If Barnet are likely to go for the hit and hope tactic, then have we conceded any to that sort of thing this season yet? As has been pointed out, an overwhelming majority of our goals against have been due to mistakes, and usually that's happened when the ball's been on the ground. Raynes and Troy seem pretty adept at winning the ball in the air.

 

[hellogregory]

I'm just thinking Hery has played the last 2 full matches and Curle mentioned last week that Hery has been struggling playing 3 matches in 8 days as he's not used to it. Joyce and Kennedy were rested on Tuesday so I think they'll play.

 

[shoddycollins]

I'm just thinking Hery has played the last 2 full matches and Curle mentioned last week that Hery has been struggling playing 3 matches in 8 days as he's not used to it. Joyce and Kennedy were rested on Tuesday so I think they'll play.

ah, fair point, well made

 

[daviejones]

Feels like we lose something when Hery doesn't play though. Kennedy, Dicker and Kennedy are all similair (vaguely) players when compared to Hery and the midfield is a bit more balanced with him in it. By the sounds of it the players won't be too tired after the Port Vale game either, didn't sound too impressive until mid second half.

 

[shoddycollins]

Kennedy, Dicker and Kennedy are all similair (vaguely) players

Especially Kennedy and Kennedy... they're uncannily similar.

 

[daviejones]

Especially Kennedy and Kennedy... they're uncannily similar.

I haven't slept much of late.

*Joyce

 

[hellogregory]

So maybe Balanta is a better alternative for Hery. I know what you mean Daviejones, Hery has that flare that some of the others don't. But I always feel like Kennedy is more of a goal threat than any of our other midfielders.

 

[Aber gas]

Is balanta doing well for you lot ?

 

[cufc17]

Is balanta doing well for you lot ?

Surprisingly decent.
He's mainly being used in cup games, and primarily in centre mid rather than on the wing.

I seem to remember most of your lot slating him on here when he signed for us, so I'm happy with his contribution thus far.

 

[Aber gas]

Surprisingly decent.
He's mainly being used in cup games, and primarily in centre mid rather than on the wing.

I seem to remember most of your lot slating him on here when he signed for us, so I'm happy with his contribution thus far.

Well that's shit , bit like a fat ex suddenly getting fit . Seriously though , he had the tools , just looked like he couldn't be bothered when he was here .

 

[daviejones]

Well that's shit , bit like a fat ex suddenly getting fit . Seriously though , he had the tools , just looked like he couldn't be bothered when he was here .

If that's the case then Curle must have set him straight a bit. I wouldn't have an issue with him starting league games in place of Hery if an injury arose, but then I wouldn't want him starting ahead of him if it was unforced, so that's probably a measure of how well he's doing.

 

[hellogregory]

Is balanta doing well for you lot ?

I thought he was a winger, but he's not. He's a far far better player playing in central midfield than out wide. He's doing ok though, at the moment I'd say he's on course to get an extension to his 6month deal.
There's absolutely no sign of laziness in his play I have to say. He's surprised me so far.