Sat 26th/Mon 28th Oct Fixtures

[YEO YEO YEO]

Thought it was two pretty average sides at Lincoln yesterday. Can't see either side doing anything dangerous. Can see why the Lincoln fans I spoke to weren't complimentary to their style of play.

We need to get back our identity of playing which was high press, front foot. We have lost our way in terms of what we're good at, I've said that all season tbh.

Expected far better from yourselves yesterday. There was nothing about you first half and 2nd half you just kept launching to Wooten and not having much joy. The only time you seemed to trouble us was with Barry's pace.

Thought we mixed it up well yesterday considering the injuries and deserved the win. We had a lot of set pieces and nice for you to leave Cadamateri with all the space to slot home the winner.

 

[Stocky]

Expected far better from yourselves yesterday. There was nothing about you first half and 2nd half you just kept launching to Wooten and not having much joy. The only time you seemed to trouble us was with Barry's pace.

Thought we mixed it up well yesterday considering the injuries and deserved the win. We had a lot of set pieces and nice for you to leave Cadamateri with all the space to slot home the winner.

We've been like this for a while this season. We either pass it round the back for ages going nowhere or knock it long, no in-between whereas in between is exactly what won us League Two last season.

I thought you worked hard as a team but set pieces or gifts aside you never really looked like being creative. Liked the look of your right wing back.

 

[BarrieOwl]

Expected far better from yourselves yesterday. There was nothing about you first half and 2nd half you just kept launching to Wooten and not having much joy. The only time you seemed to trouble us was with Barry's pace.

Thought we mixed it up well yesterday considering the injuries and deserved the win. We had a lot of set pieces and nice for you to leave Cadamateri with all the space to slot home the winner.

How's Bailey getting on?

 

[Conker]

Thought it was two pretty average sides at Lincoln yesterday. Can't see either side doing anything dangerous. Can see why the Lincoln fans I spoke to weren't complimentary to their style of play.

We need to get back our identity of playing which was high press, front foot. We have lost our way in terms of what we're good at, I've said that all season tbh.

Time for Challinor to give Cloughie a ring again for tips and advise.

 

[Bobbin']

Charlton deserved nothing out of that, but football doesn't always work out that way.

A good point all in all, but highly frustrating to not win.

I’ve seen this a little bit but why exactly?

We weren’t great granted but I’m struggling to see what Wrexham did to deserve to win?

We had more possession, more shots, more shots on target, more corners, our keeper had to make fewer saves.

Wrexham looked better in midfield and maybe even a bit fitter but other than when they hit the bar and scored their second goal they rarely threatened.

 

[chief]

I’ve seen this a little bit but why exactly?

We weren’t great granted but I’m struggling to see what Wrexham did to deserve to win?

We had more possession, more shots, more shots on target, more corners, our keeper had to make fewer saves.

Wrexham looked better in midfield and maybe even a bit fitter but other than when they hit the bar and scored their second goal they rarely threatened.

We dominated the 2nd half and had you pinned. We should've gone after and scored a third to go with that dominance though, granted.

 

[chief]

Time for Challinor to give Cloughie a ring again for tips and advise.

Do you lot say 'Cloughie' to annoy us all? It's rancid.

 

[AdamStag]

Do you lot say 'Cloughie' to annoy us all? It's rancid.

He’s been known that for years, so not exactly owt new.

 

[Conker]

Do you lot say 'Cloughie' to annoy us all? It's rancid.

Yeah.

He doesn’t like it himself, Nigel is his preference.

Or Big Nige, that’s what Parkinson calls him.

 

[Casey]

I didn't go to the Northampton game yesterday and I'm bloody glad I didn't!

Those who did say Crawley were completely powderpuff, slow and preferred to keep the ball to trying to attack. Sums up our season.

Watched the highlights, the defending for the first goal was terrible! Short corner routine where they had 2 players and we had 1. I would be screaming at Sunday league level to get another player out there. Its fine to speak about coaches organising the defence but players have a responsibility to react to changing circumstances. Ours don't seem capable.

I could rant for hours but who wants to listen?

Onwards!

Casey

 

[Luke Imp]

How's Bailey getting on?

Starting to get to grips with us now (and us with him I suppose). Seems to have been an improvement in his hold-up play over the last two or three weeks as well.

I think it's 4 in his last 5 starts.

 

[Luke Imp]

We've been like this for a while this season. We either pass it round the back for ages going nowhere or knock it long, no in-between whereas in between is exactly what won us League Two last season.

I thought you worked hard as a team but set pieces or gifts aside you never really looked like being creative. Liked the look of your right wing back.

I think that basically sums us up.

We don't play high risk football in our defensive third (even though we encourage both wide CB's to carry the ball forward when they can) or pass for the sake of passing. We do the basics consistently really, really well and we're set up to pounce on mistakes when they arise, which they invariably do either via sloppy play from the opposition or our press, and are generally clinical with them. As a team you know we're going to be a 6/10 or 7/10 every week, which for one of the youngest squads in the EFL is a decent base to work from. We go too long, too quickly sometimes and end up being too direct than we need to be but that's just inexperience.

All that said, we saw in the second half of last season that Skubala is equally as adept at setting a side up to play some handbrake off, gung-ho passing football and get results but for a side with our budget in amongst your Birmingham, Bolton, Posh, Charlton etc, it's probably not viable over the course of a full season, especially after losing three of your four best players in the summer (two of which was the best GK in the league and your top scorer).

 

[Luke Imp]

What a job Selles is doing at Reading by the way.

 

[Conker]

What a job Selles is doing at Reading by the way.

Yep. No idea what the expectations are at Reading mind.

 

[Luke Imp]

Yep. No idea what the expectations are at Reading mind.

Mid-table would probably be a good season for them. They've got a decent core of players but then it seems to drop off into an U18 side.

I think they're under a transfer embargo and didn't sign anyone in the summer.

 

[folletto]

I’ve seen this a little bit but why exactly?

We weren’t great granted but I’m struggling to see what Wrexham did to deserve to win?

We had more possession, more shots, more shots on target, more corners, our keeper had to make fewer saves.

Wrexham looked better in midfield and maybe even a bit fitter but other than when they hit the bar and scored their second goal they rarely threatened.

Yeah not sure Wrexham can say they deserved a win but did think they managed the game really well when they did have the lead, right up until a stupid handball. Haven’t seen it back properly but really think Mannion should have saved their first too. Like you said, apart from Lee smashing the bar our goal wasn’t overly threatened

 

[saddler78]

We are still in contention despite having no less than 7 out every game since August
We played that 2/3 in midfield again today with Mcatee the one dropping into midfield.
Posh offered nothing and we got the win we deserved.........They came for a point and got sucker punched
Awful tactics again of falling over feigning injury. We are there to be beaten if only teams come and have a go. The 7 missing today 5 would certainly start if everyone was fit. This league is closer than the last few years bar Birmingham.......Not sure it is stronger

Reckon you'll be full strength against us in the Cup mate?

 

[Bobbin']

Yeah not sure Wrexham can say they deserved a win but did think they managed the game really well when they did have the lead, right up until a stupid handball. Haven’t seen it back properly but really think Mannion should have saved their first too. Like you said, apart from Lee smashing the bar our goal wasn’t overly threatened

Yep, they didn’t do nearly enough to win the game.

Agree, he should have done better with the first, it didn’t seem to come at him with any real pace.

 

[Rhys]

What a job Selles is doing at Reading by the way.

Amazing job, especially given what he’s got to work with

 

[masi51]

Reckon you'll be full strength against us in the Cup mate?

Not a chance though Evatt will put out as strong a team he can........Even does it in the EFL cup
Baxter, Jones, Firino, Dempsey, Thomason, Tu,Tu and Gomas will be missing
We have a decent Keeper in Southwood who has stepped in for Baxter we are light in midfield Matete and Sheehan may play in a two with McAtee just in front of them with Collins and Charles up front

 

[EnglishRed]

I’ve seen this a little bit but why exactly?

We weren’t great granted but I’m struggling to see what Wrexham did to deserve to win?

We had more possession, more shots, more shots on target, more corners, our keeper had to make fewer saves.

Wrexham looked better in midfield and maybe even a bit fitter but other than when they hit the bar and scored their second goal they rarely threatened.

If you look at the game as a whole then I think a point apiece is about right. I think we just about shaded it but there wasn't much between the two teams. It's just frustrating to concede an equaliser with the last kick of the game.

All in all I am pretty satisfied with our away performance, and coming away with a point. We've played far worse away this season and typically don't do great with London away trips.

 

[DaveBirm1875]

Stags 1-1 Blues

Full credit to Mansfield who after they equalised, could have won that, a deserved point.

We again, pretty profligate in front of goal, the game should have been sewn up before we gave up the free kick goal, we came up against a team that didn't need any assistance to try and press and take the game to us, poor goal to give away. It gave them a sniff and they went with it. Our wall we set up for the free kick was hilarious.

Hopefully Davies gets them in for some shooting practice this week.

The tough start to the season is now behind us, some easier fixtures based on league position to come, so all in all cannot complain too much.

 

[Conker]

Stags 1-1 Blues

Full credit to Mansfield who after they equalised, could have won that, a deserved point.

We again, pretty profligate in front of goal, the game should have been sewn up before we gave up the free kick goal, we came up against a team that didn't need any assistance to try and press and take the game to us, poor goal to give away. It gave them a sniff and they went with it. Our wall we set up for the free kick was hilarious.

Hopefully Davies gets them in for some shooting practice this week.

The tough start to the season is now behind us, some easier fixtures based on league position to come, so all in all cannot complain too much.

For what it’s worth I thought your #4 in defence looked the weak point on the day, dodgey on the ball and a bit hesitant with his decision making - dunno if that’s something you’ve spotted before or it was one of those days. The Japanese international who came on looked very good Yokayama? I think, I am glad he did not start.

Pretty much agree with what you’ve said, despite all the control you had in the first half other than the goal you failed to create much other than shots from outside the box, in fact I think we had more shots on target overall. A draw felt like the correct result.

 

[DaveBirm1875]

I think it was an off day for Klarer, hes been really good for the majority of the season to be fair.

Yeah i think we missed a few the first half and early second half, you guys scored and we couldn't respond. From thatr point on the stags looked the more likely for sure.

That is Yokoyama indeed, he is raw but quick and direct, we think he should get some more game time, but he's found it hard to adjust to the area so he's taken a bit of time to get involved, think there is a player there.

Its annoying, for all the ball we have we dont always bang the door down, we try and walk it in like peak Arsenal sometimes probe and look for openings but against low blocks there isnt or should not be a gap, and it can be frustrating to watch, i do believe someone will get a tonking at some point this season if we actually find our shooting boots

 

[Strawberry_Jam]

I think it was an off day for Klarer, hes been really good for the majority of the season to be fair.

Yeah i think we missed a few the first half and early second half, you guys scored and we couldn't respond. From thatr point on the stags looked the more likely for sure.

That is Yokoyama indeed, he is raw but quick and direct, we think he should get some more game time, but he's found it hard to adjust to the area so he's taken a bit of time to get involved, think there is a player there.

Its annoying, for all the ball we have we dont always bang the door down, we try and walk it in like peak Arsenal sometimes probe and look for openings but against low blocks there isnt or should not be a gap, and it can be frustrating to watch, i do believe someone will get a tonking at some point this season if we actually find our shooting boots

Whats the deal with Leonard? If you're not going to use him, I know a club that will...

 

[DaveBirm1875]

Whats the deal with Leonard? If you're not going to use him, I know a club that will...

Crazy really, Iwata for less than a million came along and now Leonard cannot get a game, healthy competition and tbh a few times recently the fans have been wondering why no rotation, Paik and Iwata look knackered at times and the gaffer has not used Leonard. Strange one, but he will still play a big role i reckon

 

[Conker]

Blackpool gone to pot a bit since losing to us then Steve Bruce stepping away temporarily.

2-1 down to Wigan at HT with Blackpool scoring in stoppage time so all to play for.

Dion Rankine looks a good player, caused us issues last Tuesday.

 

[RebornKirtonRed]

Why isn't handball given against Tickle almost every time he kicks out from hands outside 18 yd box ?

 

[Super_horns]

After a good start under Bruce Blackpool's form really seems to have nosedived in recent weeks.

 

[EnglishRed]

I've only watched the last ten minutes but this game is a real clown show.