Saturday 4th & Sunday 5th January

[Ainsty]

Ground out a much needed win, not pretty but effective. The new lad, Morris looked good and playing Marsh and Muldoon up front worked well. Farman looked unsure all match and the first goal was due as much to his indecision as Muldoon's reactions.

We got away with another penalty when Connor Mahoney skyed it over the crossbar. Barrow just didn't look up for it today. I'm not sure if they are carrying knocks but neither Mahoney nor Newby had much fight in them and pulled out of tackles and headers.

 

[Scum.]

Ironically the idea to bring our kick off forward to 1PM to stop any trouble had the opposite effect, the train back from Bradford had to change at Donny so a load of our fans stopped off in a pub in Donny and a load of Donny fans decided to start on them.
Our lot would not back down so there was a mass brawl that was not pretty and did not end well for the Donny fan who decided to pull a knife out as he ended up getting a chair wrapped around his head.
I don’t get the mentality of them trying to start on our fans when we weren’t even playing each other, absolute cretins.

Successful day out for the Cleethorpe’s Beach Patrol and Grimsby Hit Squad then. Doncaster Defence Regiment done in their own town.

Always someone with a knife in these tales. Starmer needs to get a grip.

 

[RavenBish]

This obsession with passing football does me a bit, take Barcelona in their glory years… everyone raved about it but I found it boring to watch… something that could take 50 passes to achieve Real Madrid or say United in their prime would do in 3 or 4 passes.

Since Pep came over it’s become a thing now where even in L2 teams do it, at times yeah fair enough but look at our wins today, MK and especially Notts, didnt Walsall double Notts with 28% possession? Sit in, let teams pass it in front of your back 7-8 knowing they will have to resort to going long or just run the clock down in midfield with no incision. Probably beats the weaker sides like County did today but any organised and solid outfit at this level should feel fairly confident away from home where for instance you can get away with sitting in.

We tried it under Crosby and it worked a bit at the start and was more workable when we had a premier league level midfielder in a league one midfield in Arblaster (he was in the away end today I see!) and Alfie Devine but once they went, the pitches became boggy and injuries meant we had Uche or Ryan Loft at the spearhead that was a mess.

It’s a spectrum innit, some fans have this false dilemma in their head that they either have to play out from the back or play direct and there’s no in between. I think it’s the fine line, Notts are admittedly the worst offenders of this over the last 2 years. When it works, you can play from back to front in 10 passes and it’s about as pleasing on the eye as you’ll get, when it slows down for half a second it looks like aimless lateral passing.

Our problem isn’t our style, Walsall is an interesting example given what we did to them in the first half - I personally think we’re the only team in the division that could have done that, because it’s a team that have built a squad and philosophy to do that over 3-4 seasons. It’s about knowing when to compromise rather than change, just because your centre back is under pressure and has to send it down the line for your striker to chase, doesn’t mean you’ve abandoned your philosophy - it simply means you’re 1-0 up and occasionally playing a blind pass into your mercurial central midfielder isn’t the smartest risk/reward decision.

 

[gary]

This obsession with passing football does me a bit, take Barcelona in their glory years… everyone raved about it but I found it boring to watch… something that could take 50 passes to achieve Real Madrid or say United in their prime would do in 3 or 4 passes.

Since Pep came over it’s become a thing now where even in L2 teams do it, at times yeah fair enough but look at our wins today, MK and especially Notts, didnt Walsall double Notts with 28% possession? Sit in, let teams pass it in front of your back 7-8 knowing they will have to resort to going long or just run the clock down in midfield with no incision. Probably beats the weaker sides like County did today but any organised and solid outfit at this level should feel fairly confident away from home where for instance you can get away with sitting in.

We tried it under Crosby and it worked a bit at the start and was more workable when we had a premier league level midfielder in a league one midfield in Arblaster (he was in the away end today I see!) and Alfie Devine but once they went, the pitches became boggy and injuries meant we had Uche or Ryan Loft at the spearhead that was a mess.

When Jackson became our manager at Wimbledon a couple of seasons ago he started off by having us play it across the back four and trying to play it through the thirds. It was so bloody boring and to be quite honest we didn't have the player's to do it anyway. He soon realised the supporter's won't having it and changed our style of play. I just think that there are certain clubs that feel it's in their DNA to play a certain way. By that I mean clubs that think playing out from the back through the thirds is the only way to play football. It's all about winning at the end of the day.

 

[Scum.]

We have been playing passing out from the back since Karl Robinson became our manager in 2010 (barring 2-3 months of god awful Graham Alexander ball last season before we reverted back to our usual style). We haven’t much history but it’s very much in our ‘DNA’ to be one of those described above. 15 out of of our 21 years to be precise!

 

[saddler78]

Some strange comments on the Doncaster forum, stating they were by far the better team today. How many times does it have to be said that knocking it from side to side along the back to win the possession stats does not equate to being the better team. We often had 70%+ possession under Crosby but we did exactly what Donny did today, knock it from one side to the other and back again and then get to the box and not have a clue what to do with it.

The sooner this 'Man City' style at league 2 level is consigned to the dustbin, the better.

It's giving people a false representation of the game.

We didn't have as much of the ball 2nd half but looked the more likely.

Completely agree about that style at this level some managers seem baffled as to why we beat them and are quite salty after we only have 35% of the ball it's not the Premier league teams can win playing many ways in this League.
We do well because we press and work very hard and have quality to take and create chances when we do have it.
Also none of the three promoted sides last season played possession football.

 

[saddler78]

It’s a spectrum innit, some fans have this false dilemma in their head that they either have to play out from the back or play direct and there’s no in between. I think it’s the fine line, Notts are admittedly the worst offenders of this over the last 2 years. When it works, you can play from back to front in 10 passes and it’s about as pleasing on the eye as you’ll get, when it slows down for half a second it looks like aimless lateral passing.

Our problem isn’t our style, Walsall is an interesting example given what we did to them in the first half - I personally think we’re the only team in the division that could have done that, because it’s a team that have built a squad and philosophy to do that over 3-4 seasons. It’s about knowing when to compromise rather than change, just because your centre back is under pressure and has to send it down the line for your striker to chase, doesn’t mean you’ve abandoned your philosophy - it simply means you’re 1-0 up and occasionally playing a blind pass into your mercurial central midfielder isn’t the smartest risk/reward decision.

Your possibly the exception at this level like I've said since we played you at our place best side I've seen this season easily so far..

 

[leedsvaliant]

It’s a spectrum innit, some fans have this false dilemma in their head that they either have to play out from the back or play direct and there’s no in between. I think it’s the fine line, Notts are admittedly the worst offenders of this over the last 2 years. When it works, you can play from back to front in 10 passes and it’s about as pleasing on the eye as you’ll get, when it slows down for half a second it looks like aimless lateral passing.

Our problem isn’t our style, Walsall is an interesting example given what we did to them in the first half - I personally think we’re the only team in the division that could have done that, because it’s a team that have built a squad and philosophy to do that over 3-4 seasons. It’s about knowing when to compromise rather than change, just because your centre back is under pressure and has to send it down the line for your striker to chase, doesn’t mean you’ve abandoned your philosophy - it simply means you’re 1-0 up and occasionally playing a blind pass into your mercurial central midfielder isn’t the smartest risk/reward decision.

I think it really works for you against some of the poorer teams....to coin a cricketing term a bit if a 'flat track bully'. The challenge for you is when you come across a more organised team, who will be happy to let you knock it side to side for 90 minutes. Clearly it's working OK for you at the moment but I'm not convinced that style is effective long term at this level....the players just aren't good enough, especially against well organised teams.

There's more than one way to skin a cat of course but the last 2 times we got promoted from this league, we got the ball forward or wide quickly.

 

[leedsvaliant]

Ground out a much needed win, not pretty but effective. The new lad, Morris looked good and playing Marsh and Muldoon up front worked well. Farman looked unsure all match and the first goal was due as much to his indecision as Muldoon's reactions.

We got away with another penalty when Connor Mahoney skyed it over the crossbar. Barrow just didn't look up for it today. I'm not sure if they are carrying knocks but neither Mahoney nor Newby had much fight in them and pulled out of tackles and headers.

They beat us 4-0 earlier in the season and yet I don't think we played that badly and probably should have been winning before they scored their first.

They started the season strongly but seem to have fallen off a cliff. Looked to have a few decent forward players but maybe it's just one season too far for them? They're only a fairly small club and we've seen a number of these types of clubs come up for a few years and then drift back into non league.

I'm hoping that they're still struggling next week when we play them!

 

[Meadow]

When Jackson became our manager at Wimbledon a couple of seasons ago he started off by having us play it across the back four and trying to play it through the thirds. It was so bloody boring and to be quite honest we didn't have the player's to do it anyway. He soon realised the supporter's won't having it and changed our style of play. I just think that there are certain clubs that feel it's in their DNA to play a certain way. By that I mean clubs that think playing out from the back through the thirds is the only way to play football. It's all about winning at the end of the day.

Passing out from the back bored me. Just lob it to the front as Wimbledon back in the day did.

 

[Red Dragon]

There's a thin layer of snow this morning in Newport as at 05:30. Shouldn't be a problem for today's match as plenty of rain is also forecast.

 

[kieran_vale]

Some strange comments on the Doncaster forum, stating they were by far the better team today. How many times does it have to be said that knocking it from side to side along the back to win the possession stats does not equate to being the better team. We often had 70%+ possession under Crosby but we did exactly what Donny did today, knock it from one side to the other and back again and then get to the box and not have a clue what to do with it.

The sooner this 'Man City' style at league 2 level is consigned to the dustbin, the better.

It's giving people a false representation of the game.

We didn't have as much of the ball 2nd half but looked the more likely.

Their fans in the ground were certainly getting a bit frustrated during that period they were knocking it across the back and we just retreated and allowed them. With that said they did change it up as the game wore on and started mixing in some diagonals and it did make them more threatening. Would also note the other biggest moment of the game outside the goals was Amos pulling off a great save from Sharp while it was 0-0. That goes in this game is most likely a different conversation so it’s that old phrase of small margins again.

 

[The_Viking_Magpie]

The sooner this 'Man City' style at league 2 level is consigned to the dustbin, the better.

It's giving people a false representation of the game.

Couldn't disagree more.

As RB says it's a spectrum and you need the right balance to suit your playing squad. Which we clearly got wrong last season but adjustments have been made. We didn't have the players to play it.

I'd much rather my club lean towards Prime Barca than Prime Wimbledon. Had years and years of long diagonals aimed in the rough direction of a big man with the sole aim of picking up the knockdown, scraps.second ball in the oppositions half. Yay a free kick, get the big men up each and every time.

Much prefer players purposefully passing the ball on the deck, nice triangles and all that even if it involves needless passes, mistakes and can be slow at times or heavens forbid involve a pass or three backwards or to the side. Rather than the classic full back ball up the line, long diagonal to the big man bypassing midfield, the hoof from the limited centre half and the false hope of another long throw expert flinging it from all angles and distances. Boring.

Personal preference but when both are effective I'd pick the former every time and I believe the youngsters prefer it too. Helps boost your crowds considerably as it's like what they see on TV.

 

[spireite]

Our game's off. Can't say I'm sad about that. Give us a chance to get some bodies in, some injured bodies back.

 

[lordofthepies]

Over the last 40 years or so, our most successful teams have always been the ones keep hold of the ball and play proper passing football, it took us to the Championship for a decade, which is well above our level. We've been playing out from the back for a long time. This current team is probably the exception really, we're not a long ball team, but Bell doesn't mind letting the opposition have more of the ball when it suits us, but we'd all like to see a bit more possession football, especially against the weaker teams.

As for today's game, there's a covering of snow up the road in Stockport, so the game has to be in some doubt. It's not forecast to get about 2°c at any point today in Crewe.

 

[lordofthepies]

This obsession with passing football does me a bit, take Barcelona in their glory years… everyone raved about it but I found it boring to watch… something that could take 50 passes to achieve Real Madrid or say United in their prime would do in 3 or 4 passes.

I could (just about) understand that criticism about Spain, who didn't have Alves and Messi, but I'd suggest that if you found peak Barcelona boring, you're either misremembering it or you're doing football fandom wrong.

 

[Optipez]

I think it really works for you against some of the poorer teams....to coin a cricketing term a bit if a 'flat track bully'. The challenge for you is when you come across a more organised team, who will be happy to let you knock it side to side for 90 minutes. Clearly it's working OK for you at the moment but I'm not convinced that style is effective long term at this level....the players just aren't good enough, especially against well organised teams.

There's more than one way to skin a cat of course but the last 2 times we got promoted from this league, we got the ball forward or wide quickly.

The style works well enough if you've a decent budget for good players. We've more or less brought in a whole new squad since promotion as to carry on playing as we do required an upgrade.
There's a lot of running off the ball to make it work, it's all pass and move and the wingbacks, midfield and strikers cover miles each game. Matt Palmer had the highest running stats in the NL two seasons running I think, him Crowley and Abbott never stop.
We are flat track bullies, we don't take enough points off the top teams and when it's not going well it's a hard watch with some really bad goals against conceded but overall we've been good to watch since the new owners came in five and a bit years ago and had four playoffs, two Wembley visits a promotion and aiming for promotion this season.

 

[1862]

Also none of the three promoted sides last season played possession football.

Stockport had the third most possession in the league last season

 

[Kauto Star]

Talking of Stockport though… Ryan Croasdale… what a signing he has been!

Another player I wish we had have signed from Stockport. I believe we were interested in the summer too.

 

[Bianconeri 1862]

I'd sooner watch a very entertaining game and lose playing our way than watch a lump it side and lose.
Walsall done us but they're not a lump it side, reminded me of Stockport last season.

 

[womble76]

Footwork verses Wimbledon is off in believe. Heavy snow in Fleetwood continuing

 

[Kauto Star]

There's a thin layer of snow this morning in Newport as at 05:30. Shouldn't be a problem for today's match as plenty of rain is also forecast.

Glad we are not playing you today as not many fans would have travelled down. Deep snow in the Bradford area, a lot of side streets and minor roads in the surrounding villages and suburbs impassable as the snow continues to fall.

Don't envy any football fan travelling today

 

[Crewelad87]

Over the last 40 years or so, our most successful teams have always been the ones keep hold of the ball and play proper passing football, it took us to the Championship for a decade, which is well above our level. We've been playing out from the back for a long time. This current team is probably the exception really, we're not a long ball team, but Bell doesn't mind letting the opposition have more of the ball when it suits us, but we'd all like to see a bit more possession football, especially against the weaker teams.

As for today's game, there's a covering of snow up the road in Stockport, so the game has to be in some doubt. It's not forecast to get about 2°c at any point today in Crewe.

Pretty much no snow in Crewe, just very wet.

 

[codaplenty]

Fleetwood Wimbledon match PP

 

[womble76]

Chesterfield also off

 

[Grimsby Road]

This obsession with passing football does me a bit, take Barcelona in their glory years… everyone raved about it but I found it boring to watch… something that could take 50 passes to achieve Real Madrid or say United in their prime would do in 3 or 4 passes.

Since Pep came over it’s become a thing now where even in L2 teams do it, at times yeah fair enough but look at our wins today, MK and especially Notts, didnt Walsall double Notts with 28% possession? Sit in, let teams pass it in front of your back 7-8 knowing they will have to resort to going long or just run the clock down in midfield with no incision. Probably beats the weaker sides like County did today but any organised and solid outfit at this level should feel fairly confident away from home where for instance you can get away with sitting in.

We tried it under Crosby and it worked a bit at the start and was more workable when we had a premier league level midfielder in a league one midfield in Arblaster (he was in the away end today I see!) and Alfie Devine but once they went, the pitches became boggy and injuries meant we had Uche or Ryan Loft at the spearhead that was a mess.

Dire when it's pass for passings sake - I think it was Spain who won either the world cup/euros playing 4-6-0 with 70% of the ball but a really boring watch . My preference was the 90's or a bit later style with the likes Windass , Mooney and that as proper lumps up top with a bit of ability and basic 4-4-2 . The game seems to have changed a lot now though a lot more details which I don't always like so much . Our regulars hate the passing it about at the back ,as seen yesterday if you don't do it well a decent team can pick you off and make it look a bit daft .

 

[Cloudy]

Warren should have been there.

He followed his man!
A very poor goal to concede but boo boy target Warren, wasn’t to blame.

 

[Grimsby Road]

He followed his man!
A very poor goal to concede but boo boy target Warren, wasn’t to blame.

He is their new regular now I reckon , it was Wright last game . Will be someone else next week no doubt

 

[Kauto Star]

Dire when it's pass for passings sake - I think it was Spain who won either the world cup/euros playing 4-6-0 with 70% of the ball but a really boring watch . My preference was the 90's or a bit later style with the likes Windass , Mooney and that as proper lumps up top with a bit of ability and basic 4-4-2 . The game seems to have changed a lot now though a lot more details which I don't always like so much . Our regulars hate the passing it about at the back ,as seen yesterday if you don't do it well a decent team can pick you off and make it look a bit daft .

You reminded me yesterday of us under Mark Hughes. Prefer the high pressing we deployed yesterday and breaking fast from midfield.

 

[GTFCfish]

He is their new regular now I reckon , it was Wright last game . Will be someone else next week no doubt

Wouldn’t be surprised if some of our lot tried to blame Michee Efete for our defeat yesterday.