Match Day PNE vs Millwall

[TomPNE94]

Bit early for this but fuck it, I'm already excited.

Expecting a very tough game here, not seen Millwall but heard from plenty of people that they've been good this season and deserved more. The way we're playing at the moment though, at home, I'd fancy us to beat anyone. Doesn't work like that though obviously so I wouldn't be too disappointed with a point, much more confident of winning at Hull on Tuesday night.

Pearson should be back for this one, glad I don't have to decide who makes way for him as the midfield have been excellent last two games. Also interested to see if Fisher comes straight back in for Woods.

 

[SF_]

Despite Millwall playing well and getting some good results i'd be disappointed with anything less than 3pts at Deepdale. That's not to say i'd be surprised if we dropped points or lost though, Barnsley came with a game plan and left with a point, take your chances or get punished.

If Pearson is fit, he plays. Unlucky for anyone who misses out but he's better than them.

The front three have looked good in the last two games, Maguire and Barkhuizen combine really well and Hugill creates the space.

Maxwell
Fisher, Huntington, Davies, Earl
Pearson
Harrop, Johnson
Maguire, Hugill, Barkhuizen
​

​

 

[Etienne Vermeer]

We've beaten top of the table Leeds and been held at home by bottom cub Bolton, so predicting us is futile really.

We'll probably play well, miss a bunch of chances, and either lose or draw.

 

[mossypne]

Beyond excited for this. Not been this excited for a home game for a long time.

PNE 2-0
Maguire FGS

 

[Jockney]

No Gregory, but otherwise full squad to choose from (at time of writing). I haven't expected us to beat anyone this season because every game on paper looks very difficult. I might have to revise that mentality if we continue to show good form. Given how well Preston have started the season, even a point would look like a very impressive result.

2-1 Preston. O'Brien with ours.

 

[SF_]

Conor McLaughlin playing well?

Looked a great prospect when he broke into our team but suffered a broken leg which set him back massively and ended up getting released. Rebuilt his career at Fleetwood and its good to see him back at this level. Will get a clap from me.

 

[SF_]

No Pearson again this weekend, Gallagher is still ill and Fisher is a doubt.

Good interview by Neil, last season i'd be worried to be without Pearson but the squad is so competitive this season, options from back to front.

Alex Neil thinks the intensity which Preston play and train at will lead to players suffering niggling injuries.

Right-back Fisher missed the trip to St Andrews with a tight groin but could be back for Saturday’s Deepdale clash with Millwall.

Pearson’s absence is likely to stretch beyond Millwall’s visit, Neil doubting he will be back for the weekend.

North End manager Neil said: “I think it is probably the intensity we are playing at. “I don’t like naming other teams and I won’t, but in one game this season we ran 5km more than the other team. “Over a 90-minute match that is an incredible amount. The intensity, work-rate, legs and energy we have got, if teams are not up for that, they are going to find us a problem.

“Equally, that comes at the expense sometimes of some players getting a few niggling injuries because they are working at such a high tempo. “I have got a huge belief in the way I want my teams to play, I have been successful at doing it at two clubs.

“This is my third club and I want to try and do it again here. “I know what it takes to get a successful team going and I have got a really good group of players at the moment who I think are capable of doing that.”

Paul Gallagher will miss the Millwall game because of illness, as he did last week at Birmingham.

 

[Millwall_Matt]

Conor McLaughlin playing well?

Looked a great prospect when he broke into our team but suffered a broken leg which set him back massively and ended up getting released. Rebuilt his career at Fleetwood and its good to see him back at this level. Will get a clap from me.

Looks ok without being outstanding. Scored a very good goal the other week at QPR. Has a big prospect behind him in Mahlon Romeo who he'll do well to keep out of the team until the end of the season, but looks good enough for certain.

 

[Jockney]

Looks ok without being outstanding. Scored a very good goal the other week at QPR. Has a big prospect behind him in Mahlon Romeo who he'll do well to keep out of the team until the end of the season, but looks good enough for certain.

Makes sense to have a more dynamic fullback like Meredith behind O'Brien, who isn't a natural wide-man. I like Romeo for pace and skill, but McLaughlin is very steady and Wallace should be given as much freedom on the right as possible with the form that he's in -- McLaughlin can give him that.

But yes, in McLaughlin, Meredith, Romeo and Ferguson we have the best fullback options since 2000 with Lucas Neill, Matt Lawrence, Robbie Ryan, etc.

 

[Etienne Vermeer]

Makes sense to have a more dynamic fullback like Meredith behind O'Brien, who isn't a natural wide-man. I like Romeo for pace and skill, but McLaughlin is very steady and Wallace should be given as much freedom on the right as possible with the form that he's in -- McLaughlin can give him that.

But yes, in McLaughlin, Meredith, Romeo and Ferguson we have the best fullback options since 2000 with Lucas Neill, Matt Lawrence, Robbie Ryan, etc.

That 2000 team was fucking ridiculous looking back on it.

Your thoughts on McLaughlin echo mine - his steadiness allows Wallace to be a menace going forward rather than having to worry about defensive duties. Scored a cracker at QPR too.

 

[Jockney]

That 2000 team was fucking ridiculous looking back on it.

Your thoughts on McLaughlin echo mine - his steadiness allows Wallace to be a menace going forward rather than having to worry about defensive duties. Scored a cracker at QPR too.

Cahill was most successful, certainly the best all-round player to come out of that team, but I think probably a notch behind Lucas Neill, Steven Reid, Paul Ifill, Richard Sadlier and Neil Harris in terms of 'natural' ability. Anyway, it was a magnificent squad and but for unfortunate events and a lack of ambition at crucial times, they'd have all turned out for us in the Premier League. Such is football.

 

[mossypne]

Dragged down to their awful standard

 

[Jockney]

Not one for the neutrals *ahem*. I'd have bitten your hand off for eight points from Norwich, Wolves, QPR, Leeds and Preston. That's play-off form against some of the best sides in the division so far. Keep these performances up and we might soon be able to put away our relegation fears and start looking towards midtable.

 

[Jockney]

Dragged down to their awful standard

Oooh, that elitism is gross. Keep it away from me.

 

[Etienne Vermeer]

Haha, their awful standard. I forgot Preston is the bastion of tiki taka or something.

 

[Jockney]

Haha, their awful standard. I forgot Preston is the bastion of tiki taka or something.

Sky Sports generation.

 

[mossypne]

Oooh, that elitism is gross. Keep it away from me.

Not elitism. Its true. Its the exact same way we played when we got promoted, it works and its frustrating to play against. But my god its shite.

 

[Jockney]

Not elitism. Its true. Its the exact same way we played when we got promoted, it works and its frustrating to play against. But my god its shite.

I could understand if it was a bombardment, but you had about as many chances as we had. That your first thought was attack our performance rather than look at the ways your own team failed to inspire, tells me that you're disappointed that we didn't lie down for you.

Edit: this is not to mention that some Leeds fans were saying the same things about us last weekend, despite the fact that we dominated them for 90 mins and had 20-odd shots to their solitary effort. Seems like people can never get over their pre-conceptions. Every expects to beat us -- fine -- but they can't seem to take it when we don't roll over for them.

 

[JJH]

Dragged down to their awful standard

 

[TomPNE94]

Was a fucking awful game. I don't blame Millwall for playing that way, the referee was the one who killed that game. Abysmal for both teams, blowing up every 30 seconds for the slightest thing. A decent point against a very solid side but one that I can't see scoring many goals at all if you set up like that every week (which I'm sure you don't)

 

[KevinMcallister]

congratulations you now have the best defence in the league, we have to settle for only the best attack now

 

[JJH]

congratulations you now have the best defence in the league, we have to settle for only the best attack now

That'll be ours again Tuesday we have Bolton

 

[Jockney]

Was a fucking awful game. I don't blame Millwall for playing that way, the referee was the one who killed that game. Abysmal for both teams, blowing up every 30 seconds for the slightest thing. A decent point against a very solid side but one that I can't see scoring many goals at all if you set up like that every week (which I'm sure you don't)

Alright kiss-arse

 

[LeylandWhite]

On holiday so wasn't at the game, didn't miss much by the sounds of it.

I wasn't there so obviously can't comment on how Millwall played, but it's a bit hypocritical for North End fans to be whinging about a teams tactics after the way we shithoused teams for the past 2 seasons.

Anyway, 6 points next week and this point look a good un, I hope we smash Sunderland.

 

[SF_]

That was fucking painful, Millwall obviously came to spoil and the referee was very weak, refusing to let the game flow but it's no excuse for how poor we were in possession and how clueless we looked at times.

Millwall were organised and defended in numbers so it was frustrating that we had a creative wideman Sat on the bench in Daryl Horgan. Definitely the sort of home game where me missed McGeady.

Hugill was especially wank today, their centre back did a job on him but he was just plain shit. He's great on his day but I'd have hauled the fucker off at half time today.

Harrop missing the ball when he had a 2 yard tap into an open net summed today up. The least attacking game I've ever seen.

 

[SF_]

That fucking ref awarded 34 free-kicks today, I'd guess about half of them would have been let go by a reasonable referee. Any form of contact was punished, don't know his name but he absolutely destroyed the game today.

Delayed everything by having pointless chats with players at every set piece. Utter bell end.

 

[TomPNE94]

That fucking ref awarded 34 free-kicks today, I'd guess about half of them would have been let go by a reasonable referee. Any form of contact was punished, don't know his name but he absolutely destroyed the game today.

Delayed everything by having pointless chats with players at every set piece. Utter bell end.

Darren Bond. From Wigan ffs