Saturday August 5th Fixtures

[Master D]

It gave a bit of a gloss to a game where we were soundly beaten by a better side.

That said, get our first choice defence back, and Mullin back and we will be fine.

Oh and send Waters back to Barrow. Terrible. Bickerstaff did more in the half hour he was on.

Waters was simply dire. He looks like a player who should only ever come on as a sub. I have thought all summer that we would need a better class of striker to go with Mullin. I'm certain that we are in for Armstrong from Harrogate so will see what happens there.

 

[jacobncfc]

Hmm strange game, was gone in 15 mins with their opening goal where the guy heads in after doing everything but take an AK47 to Palmer in the box from a corner. I think the ref could’ve given a yellow to Stone as there was a covering defender but I don’t have massive complaints about the red really, one of those things.

Otherwise we did enough to dominate the ball and territory with ten men to suggest we’re going to be able to score at this level, and looked vulnerable enough every time Sutton countered to suggest we probably need to strengthen our defence to complete, which we kind of knew anyway.

 

[Gi Dalor]

Don't think I've ever seen a worse debut from a player than Ash Taylor. And this is in a game where we've had someone sent off.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1687841969563639809

Suggest he shouldn't search for his name to argue with fans after this.

 

[Casey]

Decent game breaking out at Crawley spoiled by a red card. Too far away to see if the second yellow was deserved but the first was definite.

After the sending off we played keep ball around the back but should have had a couple more but their keeper only had to make one proper save.

We had 21 shots. It took us until Xmas to reach that last season.

Your number 4 . Please keep him.

Casey

 

[AdamStag]

It’s a tough one with that, would’ve took the point before the game, left feeling disappointed as we should’ve danced off into the sunset with the 3 points in the first half hour, we then do what mansfield do best and self destruct.

Even at 2-2 with a man down we were the far better team and had more than enough chances to get the winner, yet sadly didn’t choose the right options.

Meh, point on the board away, move on.

 

[Chris FGR]

Lost by two which I understand was a bit flattering to Salford, competing at making chances at least.

Definitely better than last season (not hard) but it’s going to take time for us to get going this season, we just haven’t had the proper preseason you need to hit the ground running. This system needs more pace, especially at fullback & up front. Lavinier will help with that but we need more in other areas too.

 

[クレイグ]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1687841969563639809

I genuinely hope he never plays for this club again.

 

[Republic of Womble]

Penalty aside, no real clear cut chances for either side at BP. Encouraging for Eastwood to save a pen and rebound on his debut and all new signings okay. Rodgers and Maher look like a solid partnership at the back going off that. Was a decent pace to the match, but lacked any proper quality. Poor delivery in general from us but some tidy build up play. Said in pre-season that I'm not sure Danny Rose is a focal point lone striker in a three alongside Eisa and Vernam and I saw nothing to dissuade me there.

Wimbledon were solid and defended well. Al Hamadi looked dangerous but lacking composure, might have been a different story had he not had his pen saved. Seemed to carry a threat from corners, think they'll score a few as the season goes on.

Fair result all in all.

Can't disagree much with that.
We seemed set up for a point and to try and nick something. It almost worked, but Al-Hamadi's penalty was very poor and as you said, I think the miss got to him.

Grimsby played the better stuff, but neither side created anything really clear cut.
Best thing for me is that we looked fairly solid and hard to break down, if we can sharpen up going forwards we might have a decent season.
Slightly concerned we might get a bit of Wrexham backlash next week....

 

[Gi Dalor]

I genuinely hope he never plays for this club again.

Genuinely interested to see any marks out of 10 given for performances. I suppose you could give him 1 because one of his throw ins wasn't terrible.

 

[BarraMatt]

It gave a bit of a gloss to a game where we were soundly beaten by a better side.

That said, get our first choice defence back, and Mullin back and we will be fine.

Oh and send Waters back to Barrow. Terrible. Bickerstaff did more in the half hour he was on.

Any potential return was within 3 months only, we'll be keeping the £450k.

 

[pontoonlew]

If Wimbledon are a good side then I’ll be less disappointed than I currently am. The disappointment comes from the fact the performance mirrored loads of others last season, yet all our new signings looked very good.

All can change, but we’ve failed to address our biggest issue from last season based on that performance alone.

 

[Stocky]

Gillingham smash and grab to an extent and we didn't "deserve" to lose but that is the name of the game in League 2. You have to grind it in League Two. Gillingham could be a Stevenage type team this season no danger.

 

[クレイグ]

Genuinely interested to see any marks out of 10 given for performances. I suppose you could give him 1 because one of his throw ins wasn't terrible.

A 1 is very generous. Not sure I'd give anyone higher than a 3/10 today.

 

[Stocky]

Wrexham and Notts just need to get to grips with the fact that teams take their chances more in L2. They'll be alright IMO but both shipping 5 is a slap in the face but could be beneficial in the long run.

 

[dan_wrexhamafc]

I've been big supporter of Parky since he came in but a lot of that was on him today.
Starting with you best midfield in LCB when you've got Hayden on the bench, Boyle and Cleworth on even in the squad.
Playing long ball when you've got Waters, who'd be small for an unders 16s team up top. James Jones wouldn't give it away in an empty room today yet got left on.
Missed Mullin a lot, he takes the Palmer and Bickerstaff chance. Think Bickerstaff who didn't go on the US tour being the most energetic shows how poor of pre season was

Think it could be a blessing in disguise though getting a beating at home. Hopefully shakes off the overconfidence from the majority of our fans and our manager actually realises we need more depth.
1st goal massive lack of communication
2nd - Sunday league defending
3rd just backed off and let him shoot same as the 5th
Missed the 4th in the pisser

 

[WilsdenBantam]

Bizarre team selection at the back from us. Tbh if we played with that intensity and press that we started with, but didn’t start with right backs at centre and Ash Taylor I think we’d have won comfortably.

Hughes has to take the blame, why you start Taylor over Platt I have no idea. Unlike some I like Platt and he’d get in a lot of teams at this level. Why he didn’t start I’ll never know.

 

[Reading-Gills]

Stockport same as last season. Cross cross and cross again.

 

[EnglishRed]

Any potential return was within 3 months only, we'll be keeping the £450k.

I can't believe we are paying him 18k a week

 

[tff77]

Gillingham smash and grab to an extent and we didn't "deserve" to lose but that is the name of the game in League 2. You have to grind it in League Two. Gillingham could be a Stevenage type team this season no danger.

That's because our main striker was injured for today and we're in the market to buy another.....

 

[AdamStag]

Wrexham and Notts just need to get to grips with the fact that teams take their chances more in L2. They'll be alright IMO but both shipping 5 is a slap in the face but could be beneficial in the long run.

that and the pace is faster and you aren’t playing the dog & partridge every other weekend, but you’re right.

 

[PuB]

I can't believe we are paying him 18k a week

19k I heard

 

[Mighty_Bantam]

Bizarre team selection at the back from us. Tbh if we played with that intensity and press that we started with, but didn’t start with right backs at centre and Ash Taylor I think we’d have won comfortably.

Hughes has to take the blame, why you start Taylor over Platt I have no idea. Unlike some I like Platt and he’d get in a lot of teams at this level. Why he didn’t start I’ll never know.

Agreed.

No idea why we've moves to a wing back system when we only have one wing back on our books. Then proceed to play him at centre half. Square pegs in round holes and all that.

Can't be bothered with the whole ten games to gel thing anymore. Come out swinging, no where near good enough from the manager today.

 

[pontoonlew]

Its almost like globetrotting for your pre season isn’t great preparation for a bunch of 4th division footballers

 

[EnglishRed]

Its almost like globetrotting for your pre season isn’t great preparation for a bunch of 4th division footballers

Judging by MK Dons preseason losing to Wealdstone is the best preparation.

 

[Chris FGR]

Refreshing to see us up in 22nd in a league table after getting so used to seeing us 24th for a lot of last season. Things are looking up.

 

[1862]

Hmm strange game, was gone in 15 mins with their opening goal where the guy heads in after doing everything but take an AK47 to Palmer in the box from a corner. I think the ref could’ve given a yellow to Stone as there was a covering defender but I don’t have massive complaints about the red really, one of those things.

Otherwise we did enough to dominate the ball and territory with ten men to suggest we’re going to be able to score at this level, and looked vulnerable enough every time Sutton countered to suggest we probably need to strengthen our defence to complete, which we kind of knew anyway.

Ideally only Cameron of that back 3 that started would be playing regularly but I doubt we're going to bring more in.

Not the end of the world to get an early reality check, as long as they don't just throw it away because we went down to 10 early.

 

[JJ1990]

Up and down performance from Crewe today. Looked dreadful for the first 30 minutes and Mansfield deservedly went 2-0 up. Thankfully managed to settle down and get a goal back from Demetriou.

2nd half looked like Mansfield would emerge with a comfy win, hit the post at 2-1. But then McDonald dives in high and late, looked a red card for me and gave us a route back into the game. Get an equaliser shortly afterwards, but then run out of steam after 70 minutes and can't push for the win.

Mansfield probably the better team overall, looked more cohesive and deeper in terms of fitness and quality. We had a weak bench and are 2-3 signings away from a finished squad. Not a bad point to start things off, got 2 tough trips now to Sunderland and Swindon.

 

[The_Viking_Magpie]

It's just great to be back

 

[EnglishRed]

It's just great to be back

100%

 

[Stocky]

It's just great to be back

We had this last season. Convinced you two will be up there. And us after getting suckered today. It's a really long season. Cream will rise to the top.

I actually thought we played some good stuff second half today. Fair play to Gillingham though I admire them digging in. It's a great away from home three points that. They'll know we're a good side walking off despite the three points in their pocket. We still have some key players to come back too.