Saturday 12th September 2020

[DearneValleyRover]

Got a way with it today, MK are well organised and should have got a winner straight after they equalised, we looked very disjointed but hardly surprising given we played 3 who hadn’t had a game in pre season. I think we will get better as the season progresses, whether it’s enough to trouble the top six I’m not so sure

 

[Luke Imp]

Wasn't expecting that and I don't think we had to work particularly hard for the win either.

It was a crazy opening 5 minutes but between then and the hour mark, I'm not sure Oxford had a shot. They improved in the second half as you'd expect and tested Palmer two or three times in the final half an hour but despite having lots of the ball, it was pretty sideways and in the middle third of the pitch.

No stand-out performers for us today, just a solid team performance. We look much more athletic than last season and can counter attack as a team rather than relying on the front 3 or 4.

Not sure the free-kick for our second was one and I'd have to see the red card again to judge if it was a straight red. No complaints from the player, though, so that perhaps tells you it was.

Robinson gave us no praise whatsoever post match, which I thought was a bit unjust. I didn't think we were negative as he suggested, we just chose our moments to attack and did so fairly well. It's not our job to make it easy. If his team are unimaginative and sideways, it's not our fault. It's all well and good dominating the ball as he suggested but there's no threat 50 yards from goal.

 

[Guernica]

Karl Robinson crying back to Oxfordshire, think he'll be dissapointed with his post match interview when he looks back on it.

 

[GeneralLee]

Wasn't expecting that and I don't think we had to work particularly hard for the win either.

It was a crazy opening 5 minutes but between then and the hour mark, I'm not sure Oxford had a shot. They improved in the second half as you'd expect and tested Palmer two or three times in the final half an hour but despite having lots of the ball, it was pretty sideways and in the middle third of the pitch.

No stand-out performers for us today, just a solid team performance. We look much more athletic than last season and can counter attack as a team rather than relying on the front 3 or 4.

Not sure the free-kick for our second was one and I'd have to see the red card again to judge if it was a straight red. No complaints from the player, though, so that perhaps tells you it was.

Robinson gave us no praise whatsoever post match, which I thought was a bit unjust. I didn't think we were negative as he suggested, we just chose our moments to attack and did so fairly well. It's not our job to make it easy. If his team are unimaginative and sideways, it's not our fault. It's all well and good dominating the ball as he suggested but there's no threat 50 yards from goal.

Karl Robinson is not one for praising oppositions too often. It’s just his demeanour, I wouldn’t take that personally!

From a possession point of view we dominated, but we didn’t look at all threatening. Our possession largely counted for nothing and that was disappointing. We were too lethargic on the ball and continually played predictable football until it wasn’t possible and then we played Hollywood balls. It just doesn’t work.

I wouldn’t go so far as to say Lincoln were negative. 11 men behind the ball is what was needed; had you gone toe-to-toe we probably would have played through you. It’s an effective strategy and ultimately your opportunities to score you took. Tactically MApp got it spot on. Deserved winners really; we require pace on at least one flank and we don’t have that right now. We were never going to score many today, if at all.

Lincoln simply defended our inept penetration comfortably, maintained a disciplined shape and when two opportunities presented themselves by virtue of a mistake and a set piece, they won the game.

 

[PuB]

Lump on Evans to get the old tin tack.

 

[womble76]

We should habe really gone 3 1 up and put northampton away just before the 2 all point. Better signs from us. Still some of our signings to come in and we were pretty decent. We will be better than last year whatever that means.

 

[codaplenty]

This was an encouraging start against a tough Burton team. Callum Camps scored a good goal and can be a really influential player for us in the middle. Young James Hill has the talent to break through into the first team and was unlucky not to score with 2 headers against the woodwork, his throw ins are incredible and a massive attacking boost for the whole team. Good blend with experienced pros like Whelan/Coutts and Duffy to help the younger players out there, and there are a few around. Still need a couple of additions, especially a right back -any teams got any spare ?

 

[Big Bird]

Good win for us but as stated Rochdale were extremely poor. Will enjoy being top for a week nonetheless unless Ipswich give Wigan a good going over (very possible!)

 

[iWomble]

We should habe really gone 3 1 up and put northampton away just before the 2 all point. Better signs from us. Still some of our signings to come in and we were pretty decent. We will be better than last year whatever that means.

Yes, should have put it to bed with one of those two chances at 2-1 but credit to Northampton they dug in and came back. They need to get their communication in the back line sorted out or better teams than us will put a hatful past them. They looked much better going forward, with that lad they picked up in our own backyard from Carshalton looking a real find. Pleased with some of the stuff we played - second goal was real quality.

 

[Fedora Dale]

Textbook Rochdale, look crap for the first half of the season, to then become the best team in the division and overtake Peterborough for 6th on the last day of the season

Corrected for you.

 

[Kenneth E End]

Without intentionally stating the obvious, that is a huge huge hole in the Wigan squad - I didn't realise how many players had actually departed. In midfield and up front they have some quality, but they look severely limited behind those areas. And lose some players to injury and they're buggered. I'm sure when they get the new ownership in place they will add numbers, but the salary cap is going to hurt no doubt.

 

[TractorBoys]

We look quite slick after a slow first 5 minutes. Ward still looks very useful at 35, guiding Toto at the back and got a good cross in him.

 

[Claret Forever]

Yes, should have put it to bed with one of those two chances at 2-1 but credit to Northampton they dug in and came back. They need to get their communication in the back line sorted out or better teams than us will put a hatful past them. They looked much better going forward, with that lad they picked up in our own backyard from Carshalton looking a real find. Pleased with some of the stuff we played - second goal was real quality.

We've looked stronger in previous matches, but I having a brand new back 5 is going to mean a good settling in period needed for a good understanding to be present - also think the keeper isn't helping much, Arnold made a few mistakes in pre-season too and surprised to see him start infront of Mitchell.

Interesting to see that all four goal-scorers were in non-league two years ago. Don't know if that's testament to good scouting or a indictment of the recources available at both our clubs.

 

[dannyc5]

I saw on twitter that our (Crewe) xG was higher than Charlton’s, and most stats suggest we were the better team. I guess that shows how difficult it is to analyse a game when you have a bias towards one team, but also how misleading stats can be. I thought Charlton were the better team (although not by a huge margin) and took their foot off the gas slightly in the 2nd half in the knowledge they had a two goal cushion. We did miss some good chances, however I got the impression if we had pulled one back, Charlton had another gear to go into.

 

[Davidimp]

Does Robinson eat a lot of lemons?
What bitter man! Knew he was going to give an interview like that looking at his demeanour during the game.
Oxford had more possession so that means you win, clearly expected it to be like last season. Knob

 

[Imp in Branston]

Does Robinson eat a lot of lemons?
What bitter man! Knew he was going to give an interview like that looking at his demeanour during the game.
Oxford had more possession so that means you win, clearly expected it to be like last season. Knob

And it’s not only about possession but what you do with it. We still looked more dangerous with less of the ball than Oxford for the majority of the game. How dare we sit back and see what Oxford can throw at us by taking an early lead.

 

[DippyDon]

Our glaring need for a prolific goal scorer Is evident, but with some key players not even in the squad I’m very pleased with the draw. We dominated the first half and should have been clear. Doncaster did well to go ahead but overall I think while the draw was fair (mainly due to our lack of quality shooting) we were the better side. Things look positive for when Fraser, Gladwin, Keogh and Williams come into the side, as well as hopefully signing a top striker with the Healey/Gilbey money.

 

[masi51]

Without intentionally stating the obvious, that is a huge huge hole in the Wigan squad - I didn't realise how many players had actually departed. In midfield and up front they have some quality, but they look severely limited behind those areas. And lose some players to injury and they're buggered. I'm sure when they get the new ownership in place they will add numbers, but the salary cap is going to hurt no doubt.

Heard this morning that the American/French consortium had put a £2m final offer to buy Wigan but the administrator is holding out for 3.14

 

[Indian Dan]

I really don’t understand administrators. Who actually appoints them? Also, it’s in their interests to string it out as long as possible to clock up more billable hours - conflict of interest there.

These ones at Wigan have a track record of sucking clubs dry in the process. Weren’t they at Leeds as well? Surely be better if there was an EFL appointed team of administrators ready to go when needed.

 

[masi51]

I really don’t understand administrators. Who actually appoints them? Also, it’s in their interests to string it out as long as possible to clock up more billable hours - conflict of interest there.

These ones at Wigan have a track record of sucking clubs dry in the process. Weren’t they at Leeds as well? Surely be better if there was an EFL appointed team of administrators ready to go when needed.

The 3.14 gone over your head Dan pye R Squared

 

[Kenneth E End]

I really don’t understand administrators. Who actually appoints them? Also, it’s in their interests to string it out as long as possible to clock up more billable hours - conflict of interest there.

These ones at Wigan have a track record of sucking clubs dry in the process. Weren’t they at Leeds as well? Surely be better if there was an EFL appointed team of administrators ready to go when needed.

It would be against English law for another entity to appoint administrators other than the company directors. The EFL is just a membership organisation. Like it or not, the owners of the club are obliged as they wish to instigate an insolvency event.

That said, I'd argue the EFL should be placing far, far more emphasis on potentially licencing owners; perhaps mandating bonds or other securities / letters of credit in case of a situation like this.

 

[Indian Dan]

Thanks. Didn’t realise owners appointed them. Huge opportunity for bias there, though.

 

[Plumbob]

And it’s not only about possession but what you do with it. We still looked more dangerous with less of the ball than Oxford for the majority of the game. How dare we sit back and see what Oxford can throw at us by taking an early lead.

We didn't even need to use the keeper going down injured tricks. He was just too easy