Saturday 29th October 2022

[Luke Imp]

I'm surprised at how well you've done to be honest. A lot of the predictions (including your own fans) was for a season of struggle. Usually bring a pretty good following do Lincoln, so I'd imagine maybe 1000?

We're getting a bit more consistent with our performances and have perhaps been unlucky not to get another 6-8 points. What we don't want is to be a hard luck story that plays well but doesn't pick up points.

Looks like we'll need to be fully on it again to get anything again.

EDIT - The short version of the below is that there were that many changes over the summer, no-one knew how anything would pan out!

I think a big part of that was the unknown due to the big changes behind the scenes at the Club over the summer and also having a lot of players still under contract - ones who didn't perform last season. We've been pretty settled over the last 6 years and I think changes were made behind the scenes because the Board wanted to a) freshen it up after a shambles of a 2021/22, and b) a general step up in the standards, because quite a few were with us back in our NL days. That's not to say they weren't good at their jobs but just like you upgrade players when you move up leagues, it makes sense to do the same behind the scenes as well.

We appointed Kennedy whose managerial experience was 12 games at Macclesfield when they weren't paying anyone, the backroom coaching staff moved to Blackpool with the recently sacked (sorry, mutual consent) Appleton and we 'moved on' nearly all of the sports science and medical department (Mike Hine joined you). The only ones who really remained were the recruitment side, which shows you where the Board thought most of the blame lied for last season.

Over the summer we didn't really sort out all our glaring weakness (probably a big ask to do so) so we're still short of pace at the back, the midfield combinations when we played a three hasn't worked really but in wide areas we did address the lack of pace and a bit of a spark in Diamond and Mandroiu. The difference now is that we're not exposing our weaknesses i.e. compensating for a lack of pace at CB by playing three instead of two, not pressing as high or playing as expansive.

The first third of the season has been one of two halves really. The first 7 games, up to and including our 2-0 defeat at Cambridge, we had 7 points and looked a million miles off it and probably about right in terms of points. We were too expansive, pressed too high, played too high a line for our squad and didn't deal with pressure too well. It was all a bit panicky and no control to it.

The next 7 games have seen us pick up 14 points and in the 6-3 against Bristol Rovers, I think that struck a chord with Kennedy (who wasn't actually very happy after the game) that his preferred way of playing isn't suited to this squad, hence the change albeit I think in October he would have gone a bit more defensive anyway because of who we were coming up against. We haven't had to really chase a game yet either (despite falling behind to Wednesday) so I'd argue we've not been tested in that sense. The whole is greater the sum of its parts at the minute IMO but it's working bloody well. It's a work in progress when we have the ball, we're not particularly fluid but it's been a huge change in results in a short period of time considering it's a new system.

We're not gonna crash the PO's or anything like that, but the recent change in formation gives us a far better chance of settling comfortably in mid-table.

 

[SVH]

Does seem a weird one. Not withstanding the fact that you lot have been floundering well below us for a couple of decades like the non-league fluffies you really are and as such we have not had to slum it by playing you, it does seem weird that the police may have forgotten how this one tends to go.

Anyway good luck Saturday in your Cup Final. Looking forward to hearing the 'all we are saying is give us a goal' chants, when you are 4-0 down after an hour.

That's you and Ipswich who now think the fixture is our cup final.

No matter the outcome Saturday, I will make my way back to Cambridge whereas you will still have to slum it in Peterborough.

 

[coronakopite]

That's you and Ipswich who now think the fixture is our cup final.

No matter the outcome Saturday, I will make my way back to Cambridge whereas you will still have to slum it in Peterborough.

I presume that our friend Shit is an armchair iFollow follower.

 

[Sh*tOnTheCobblers]

That's you and Ipswich who now think the fixture is our cup final.

No matter the outcome Saturday, I will make my way back to Cambridge whereas you will still have to slum it in Peterborough.

No need to get personal. Still a precious bunch I see.

Good to see two decades fannying around playing Borehamwood, Dover and such like etc has not diminished your middle-class fluffiness.

 

[codaplenty]

Accy at home at the weekend. Not that long ago playing them was almost a guaranteed 3 points, how times have changed. Under John Coleman who has done a terrific job they have become a tough team to play, ok there leaking a few goals at the moment but still dangerous to play against. They got the double against us last year and will fancy their chances at the weekend. There is some pressure starting to build on Scott Brown, which will disappear a soon as we find a win from somewhere. Unfortunately I cant see anything other than another draw which will not help anybody.....1-1 ( which incidentally will be an improvement on last year )

 

[codaplenty]

Another tough away game and one where we really need to pick something up from after two defeats on the bounce. Normally do half decent at Fratton Park from memory and if we play as though we did in the first half last night, we’ll pick something up here.

Prediction:-
Majority of the Pompey fans moaning and getting rattled by Salop’s shithousery

Shithousery, take that as a compliment mate, you play to your strengths and if teams cant get past that you know you have done a good job

 

[HutchECFC]

Cambridge - Posh is just a shit derby really isn't it?

 

[BRFC_Gas]

Cambridge - Posh is just a shit derby really isn't it?

I think any derby where both teams aren't in the same city is a poor derby.
There's just something about having to 'live amongst em' that gives same-city derbies added needle.
Thats not dissing anyone else's big day btw, just comparing playing City to our other 'derbies' V Cheltenham, Exeter, Plymouth, FGR etc...couldnt really give a toss about any of em.

 

[UppaTowen_ITFC]

That's you and Ipswich who now think the fixture is our cup final.

No matter the outcome Saturday, I will make my way back to Cambridge whereas you will still have to slum it in Peterborough.

Don’t be so precious. It was your clubs twitter account referring to us as a ‘derby’. You must’ve surely assumed when that was tweeted we’d rightly take the piss. Everyone in football knows Ipswich only hate one team and it certainly isn’t yours. Likewise most of your fans don’t care about us either. Just a few of your younger fans did, likely because you haven’t played Peterborough in so long.

For what it’s worth I much prefer Cambridge to Peterborough anyway so hope you win.

 

[denzel ecfc]

I think any derby where both teams aren't in the same city is a poor derby.
There's just something about having to 'live amongst em' that gives same-city derbies added needle.
Thats not dissing anyone else's big day btw, just comparing playing City to our other 'derbies' V Cheltenham, Exeter, Plymouth, FGR etc...couldnt really give a toss about any of em.

But you are.

 

[leedsvaliant]

I think any derby where both teams aren't in the same city is a poor derby.
There's just something about having to 'live amongst em' that gives same-city derbies added needle.
Thats not dissing anyone else's big day btw, just comparing playing City to our other 'derbies' V Cheltenham, Exeter, Plymouth, FGR etc...couldnt really give a toss about any of em.

It's like Vale v Stoke....vs Crewe. I know, live among and am friends with quite a few Stoke fans, but I don't know any Crewe fans. With a derby, you should be coming into contact with your rivals on a daily basis. I dare say that there's people who live in Cambridge who have never been to Peterborough and vice versa.

 

[Tom_ITFC]

I think any derby where both teams aren't in the same city is a poor derby.
There's just something about having to 'live amongst em' that gives same-city derbies added needle.
Thats not dissing anyone else's big day btw, just comparing playing City to our other 'derbies' V Cheltenham, Exeter, Plymouth, FGR etc...couldnt really give a toss about any of em.

You would have that opinion though because you are in a same city derby.

 

[Laker]

It's like Vale v Stoke....vs Crewe. I know, live among and am friends with quite a few Stoke fans, but I don't know any Crewe fans. With a derby, you should be coming into contact with your rivals on a daily basis. I dare say that there's people who live in Cambridge who have never been to Peterborough and vice versa.

Maybe but that’s only because you have to have several vaccines to go to Peterborough and when you come out you have to be disinfected heavily afterwards. Even then there’s a heavy decleansing to go through.

Derbies only being in the same city is bollocks frankly as it means Norwich/Ipswich, Portsmouth/Southampton, Cardiff/Swansea, Newcastle/Sunderland etc aren’t derbies. It’s just a stupid statement to make as all of those are bigger derbies with clubs bigger than both Bristol clubs.

 

[leedsvaliant]

Maybe but that’s only because you have to have several vaccines to go to Peterborough and when you come out you have to be disinfected heavily afterwards. Even then there’s a heavy decleansing to go through.

Derbies only being in same city is bollocks frankly as it means Norwich/Ipswich, Portsmouth/Southampton, Cardiff/Swansea, Newcastle/Sunderland etc aren’t derbies. It’s just a stupid statement to make as all of those are bigger derbies with clubs bigger than both Bristol clubs.

I'd kind of agree with that, although some of those examples are pretty close geographically (less than 20 miles), so people will live and work together (apart from maybe Ipswich and Norwich, however they're the 2 major urban areas in that part of the world, so there's some likely cross over with people living and working in either place. ).

There's 44 miles between Peterborough and Cambridge. It's very unlikely that each other's fans encounter each other on a daily basis.

 

[Laker]

I'd kind of agree with that, although some of those examples are pretty close geographically (less than 20 miles), so people will live and work together (apart from maybe Ipswich and Norwich, however they're the 2 major urban areas in that part of the world, so there's some likely cross over with people living and working in either place. ).

There's 44 miles between Peterborough and Cambridge. It's very unlikely that each other's fans encounter each other on a daily basis.

I dunno, I work with one and we’ve reached a point where we can only talk to each other if we don’t discuss football.

 

[SVH]

There may be 44 miles between us but the PE post code goes as far as St Ives and there are plenty of Posh fans that way. St Ives, Huntingdon and Godmanchester have a strong Peterborough/Cambridge following so there is a daily encounter.

 

[GEORGE]

Maybe but that’s only because you have to have several vaccines to go to Peterborough and when you come out you have to be disinfected heavily afterwards. Even then there’s a heavy decleansing to go through.

Derbies only being in the same city is bollocks frankly as it means Norwich/Ipswich, Portsmouth/Southampton, Cardiff/Swansea, Newcastle/Sunderland etc aren’t derbies. It’s just a stupid statement to make as all of those are bigger derbies with clubs bigger than both Bristol clubs.

What a load of shit you've just spouted. When you live in the same city its not just when the clubs meet twice a season. It becomes a daily thing even with next door neighbours hating each other. Plus organised meetings between the 2 groups in local pubs.

 

[denzel ecfc]

What a load of shit you've just spouted. When you live in the same city its not just when the clubs meet twice a season. It becomes a daily thing even with next door neighbours hating each other. Plus organised meetings between the 2 groups in local pubs.

You're just rattled because the clubs he quoted occasionally play in the same league...

 

[coronakopite]

What a load of shit you've just spouted. When you live in the same city its not just when the clubs meet twice a season. It becomes a daily thing even with next door neighbours hating each other. Plus organised meetings between the 2 groups in local pubs.

OK. It's not a Derby.

We've just got two sets of fans that hate each other and each other's clubs with an intensity.

For F*ck's sake I've been going to the Abbey and away for nearly 20 years and we still sing about them and Barry Fry at least 2 or 3 times every game - and the only time I've been to London Road was when we beat them in the FA Youth Cup. The only time I've seen Posh first team was at Holker Street in Sept 1967 - the season they had 19 points deducted for financial irregularities and were relegated to Div 4.

So it's a BIG and potentially messy game - although you may be right and it may be a bit of a one sided rivalry because, last time I looked, they still hadn't sold out their home end.

 

[GEORGE]

OK. It's not a Derby.

We've just got two sets of fans that hate each other and each other's clubs with an intensity.

For F*ck's sake I've been going to the Abbey and away for nearly 20 years and we still sing about them and Barry Fry at least 2 or 3 times every game - and the only time I've been to London Road was when we beat them in the FA Youth Cup. The only time I've seen Posh first team was at Holker Street in Sept 1967 - the season they had 19 points deducted for financial irregularities and were relegated to Div 4.

So it's a BIG and potentially messy game - although you may be right and it may be a bit of a one sided rivalry because, last time I looked, they still hadn't sold out their home end.

The difference is . You say Peterborough are your derby. My mate who is also a Cambridge United fan says Luton are the derby. I'm sure others may say Northampton are your derby. The difference is teams from the same city whether or not your in the same division ALL no that the other team in their city is there derby.

 

[Sh*tOnTheCobblers]

OK. It's not a Derby.

We've just got two sets of fans that hate each other and each other's clubs with an intensity.

For F*ck's sake I've been going to the Abbey and away for nearly 20 years and we still sing about them and Barry Fry at least 2 or 3 times every game - and the only time I've been to London Road was when we beat them in the FA Youth Cup. The only time I've seen Posh first team was at Holker Street in Sept 1967 - the season they had 19 points deducted for financial irregularities and were relegated to Div 4.

So it's a BIG and potentially messy game - although you may be right and it may be a bit of a one sided rivalry because, last time I looked, they still hadn't sold out their home end.

It wouldn't surprise me if we don't sell out...it's hardly Cobblers is it? It's nice to beat you and to have lorded it over you for the past 20 years, but it's really not 'the big one' for us. That will always be Cobblers.

 

[UppaTowen_ITFC]

It wouldn't surprise me if we don't sell out...it's hardly Cobblers is it? It's nice to beat you and to have lorded it over you for the past 20 years, but it's really not 'the big one' for us. That will always be Cobblers.

Interesting article this as for who regards who as rivals:

The top five rivals of English football's top 92 clubs revealed - Fan Banter

The top five rivals of English football’s top 92 clubs has been revealed and it’s got many supporters talking about it online. The 2019 study, which has been named ‘The League of Love And Hate’, has been carried out, with tens of thousands of football fans said to have responded to it, to find...

fanbanter.co.uk

 

[denzel ecfc]

The difference is . You say Peterborough are your derby. My mate who is also a Cambridge United fan says Luton are the derby. I'm sure others may say Northampton are your derby. The difference is teams from the same city whether or not your in the same division ALL no that the other team in their city is there derby.

In your opinion, and very few other peoples...

 

[SVH]

The difference is . You say Peterborough are your derby. My mate who is also a Cambridge United fan says Luton are the derby. I'm sure others may say Northampton are your derby. The difference is teams from the same city whether or not your in the same division ALL no that the other team in their city is there derby.

I assume your mate is under 30 if he thinks Luton is the derby.

The younger supporters haven’t seen this derby as they were too young. They sing about it every week but will finally get to experience it tomorrow.

 

[Stroud]

Interesting article this as for who regards who as rivals:

The top five rivals of English football's top 92 clubs revealed - Fan Banter

The top five rivals of English football’s top 92 clubs has been revealed and it’s got many supporters talking about it online. The 2019 study, which has been named ‘The League of Love And Hate’, has been carried out, with tens of thousands of football fans said to have responded to it, to find...

fanbanter.co.uk

Thought I'd check out our local Gloucestershire clubs: -

 

[Boletus Edulis]

What a load of shit you've just spouted. When you live in the same city its not just when the clubs meet twice a season. It becomes a daily thing even with next door neighbours hating each other. Plus organised meetings between the 2 groups in local pubs.

I’d like your wisdom to help to unpack this a bit. I think your term the same city can be stretched as a concept. Bolton are in Greater Manchester, so as Manchester is a city, presumably it is a Derby when they play all other sides in Greater Manchester?

Are not the boundaries of cities some what practically flexible? I remember driving through Leeds to get to Bradford and it was hard to tell when you were in one place or the other.

If derbies can only be played between teams in the same city, such as Liverpool, Sheffield and the like, what Is the correct term from games between other clubs? non-derbies, un-derbies or what?


Ta very muchly.

 

[Gassy]

I’d like your wisdom to help to unpack this a bit. I think your term the same city can be stretched as a concept. Bolton are in Greater Manchester, so as Manchester is a city, presumably it is a Derby when they play all other sides in Greater Manchester?

Are not the boundaries of cities some what practically flexible? I remember driving through Leeds to get to Bradford and it was hard to tell when you were in one place or the other.

If derbies can only be played between teams in the same city, such as Liverpool, Sheffield and the like, what Is the correct term from games between other clubs? non-derbies, un-derbies or what?


Ta very muchly.

Agree with this and disagree with fellow Gasheads here.

For me a derby is what the fans of said club think it is.

I also don’t think teams can really have more than 1 derby either. Rivals, sure. But not derbys (no evidence to back this up, just a feeling - but then I support a team where there is only 1 derby)

 

[Boletus Edulis]

Agree with this and disagree with fellow Gasheads here.

For me a derby is what the fans of said club think it is.

I also don’t think teams can really have more than 1 derby either. Rivals, sure. But not derbys (no evidence to back this up, just a feeling - but then I support a team where there is only 1 derby)

100 per cent agree. yes geography is a typically a core part, but the fans are also core to this. I suspect you would struggle to persuade Palace and Brighton fans they do not have a derby/intense rivalry.

I think who is a rival/Derby can change over time. I am led to believe that in the dim and distance past of living janners their rivalry was more with Torquay than Exeter.

 

[Floreat Salopia]

Interesting article this as for who regards who as rivals:

The top five rivals of English football's top 92 clubs revealed - Fan Banter

The top five rivals of English football’s top 92 clubs has been revealed and it’s got many supporters talking about it online. The 2019 study, which has been named ‘The League of Love And Hate’, has been carried out, with tens of thousands of football fans said to have responded to it, to find...

fanbanter.co.uk

That can’t be right regarding Shrewsbury supporters.

I’d say the majority of Salop fans regard Wrexham as our main rivals followed by Telford and Walsall. Definitely don’t see Crewe or West Brom as a fierce derby. Both close, yes… but not a derby.

 

[valefan16]

Burton hate us… weird one!

2019 so imagine we will be top of Walsall now and onto Swindon’s hit list!