Stags vs Moose (Mansfield vs Cambridge)

[Vanni]

Does anyone else think it a bit odd the plural of moose is, well, moose? Surely moosies would be a better word eh?

As it was looking like no one was bothered enough to start a thread on this game, and as I happen to hate threads started by mods (Mansfield vs Cambridge - in here please), I've taken it upon myself to start one. So, onto the game, and we find ourselves occupying bottom place, and we can't say it isn't deserved as the footy has been dire, bar the first 60 mins against Luton where we didn't look too bad at least. Still, that was a home match, and so far the story's been different on the road - two defeats out of two games in which we've also failed to score a goal.

If we're being honest, this is a game where we have to get something out of. It's far too early to say it's a must win game, but we're at Plymouth after this one and that's always a tough place to go to. Then Morecambe are next and they've made a great start to the season so it could well be another toughie.

My prediction is a draw, either a goalless one or a 1-1. The Stags don't concede a lot of goals on their patch so, imo, it's vital we score the first goal. If we don't and Mansfield do, then I can see the players morale sinking deeper, which iI believe to be the biggest problem we have atm.

 

[Laker]

Goose ---> Geese
Moose ---> Meese

No? ;-)

I'm not going which is probably a bad thing as I've failed to attend a defeat yet but seen all our non-defeats. Hopefully our run without my support will end tomorrow.

 

[Optipez]

I hope I'm wrong but I've a feeling Shaun Derry may be the first Div 2 sacking of the season.
The fixture run is awkward, Mansfield, Plymouth and Morecambe all look loseable which could leave Cambridge adrift .

 

[AdamStag]

We do tend to draw with Cambridge at home, so it wouldn't be any surprise.

Last season Cambridge would be the sort of game where Murray would struggle in, he'd set up relatively defensively and the opposition would be happy to sit back themselves, take the point or even nick the win on the break - hopefully we can be a bit different this season.

At home We've drawn with Cheltenham, and won 1-0 against Yeovil despite being down to 10 men after 8 minutes.

Cambridge will be afforded the necessary respect - though apparently the football hasn't been great they've endured a rough open set of fixtures, I think it'll be close.

Safe trip for those travelling up - look out for the railway pub - a tad small, but great ales on offer - about 5 mins from the away end

 

[Habbinalan]

Approaching this one with more optimism than it deserves. Not expecting a great match but think we might get something from it.

Thanks for the steer to the Railway but Il Rosso has earned our loyalty over the years.

Away following will probably be down on recent years. It's largely because of recent results, despite the fact that we're flying high in the Checkatrade Trophy. I'm sure things will have settled down and we'll have found a way of winning by the time we get to October.

 

[Habbinalan]

Goose ---> Geese
Moose ---> Meese

No? ;-)

I'm not going which is probably a bad thing as I've failed to attend a defeat yet but seen all our non-defeats. Hopefully our run without my support will end tomorrow.

Well done for defying the popular opinion and boosting our support at Shrewsbury - I'll resist calling you scab as I'm sure you actually didn't notice that fixture. I'm still milking the memory of our beasting of Wednesday in extra time as a basis for believing Derry has got something right in the camp.

 

[StagsForLife]

2-1 Mansfield, should easily have enough to beat Cambridge, they will click eventually but hopefully not today.

 

[Look Out There Are Llamas]

Meese was my reaction as well. A group of moose are now meese. Settled.

Seen both teams this season, Mansfield impressed me, Cambridge were, to use a technical term, fucking wank. They have to come good soon though, surely.

 

[AdamStag]

Approaching this one with more optimism than it deserves. Not expecting a great match but think we might get something from it.

Thanks for the steer to the Railway but Il Rosso has earned our loyalty over the years.

Away following will probably be down on recent years. It's largely because of recent results, despite the fact that we're flying high in the Checkatrade Trophy. I'm sure things will have settled down and we'll have found a way of winning by the time we get to October.

Home fans tend to avoid that one, it still decent? I live in Manchester so haven't been in for a good few years tbh. Fans tend to head for the Talbot across the way.

Still, a decent chippy opposite which is always a bonus

 

[Conker]

Rosso is full of cretins driving some crappy £2000 Porsche pretending they don't live in Mansfield, Talbot is decent opposite though.

I'm not too confident, if we were playing at Cambridge I'd put money on Mansfield winning but it's never a good idea to do that when we play at home.

 

[AdamStag]

Rosso is full of cretins driving some crappy £2000 Porsche pretending they don't live in Mansfield, Talbot is decent opposite though.

I'm not too confident, if we were playing at Cambridge I'd put money on Mansfield winning but it's never a good idea to do that when we play at home.

It's a shame that the stupid cup game on Tuesday doesn't actually count for suspensions (could danny rose have played then? I assume he could have done Tuesday had Murray wanted to risk him!?) but we've managed alright without him.

The next 2 games against Cambridge and Barnet could be pretty big for our season - get 4 or 6 points from them and we'll really have some confidence

 

[Arbury]

Another toughie today, Mansfield have started well and seem to have something about them this season, think Murray has learned a lot and has assembled a decent squad.

As for us, we're desperate for our injured players to back, just to give us a little spark but you can't hide the fact that Derry/jez has signed some crap over the summer, we've progressed so much in recent years but it's definitely a testing period for everyone involved at the club, I haven't heard of any issues behind the scenes but something just doesn't seem right, or perhaps Derry is just a crap manager?

Anyway, if we come back with anything other than a defeat then I'll be happy.

Not going.

I'll go for a rather hopeful 1-1.

KTF.

 

[StagsForLife]

Home fans tend to avoid that one, it still decent? I live in Manchester so haven't been in for a good few years tbh. Fans tend to head for the Talbot across the way.

Still, a decent chippy opposite which is always a bonus

Really? Not a fan of that chippy opposite it, there's much better in Mansfield.

 

[Conker]

Unbeaten at home in 8 now but we simply don't turn up at Field Mill. Weird.

 

[StagsForLife]

The atmosphere is toxic usually, there's a fair bit of the support that are jizzing in their pants as soon Chapman misplaces a pass.

 

[Laker]

Well done for defying the popular opinion and boosting our support at Shrewsbury - I'll resist calling you scab as I'm sure you actually didn't notice that fixture. I'm still milking the memory of our beasting of Wednesday in extra time as a basis for believing Derry has got something right in the camp.

I'm not counting that game, no one should count that game.

On today's game, at least we didn't lose. Nuff said.

 

[Baratheon]

Thought Cambridge were the better side for much of the game. They seemed to threaten a lot but didn't really create many chances (2 shots according to the stats). We were, let's just say, not really at the races. We were a little devoid of ideas around their box and Chapman had a bit of a stinker. We need Clements back I think.

 

[Vanni]

Thought Cambridge were the better side for much of the game. They seemed to threaten a lot but didn't really create many chances (2 shots according to the stats). We were, let's just say, not really at the races. We were a little devoid of ideas around their box and Chapman had a bit of a stinker. We need Clements back I think.

Thanks, I'm interested in hearing what the Mansfield fans made of today's game. Our fans who were at the game are saying we're weren't poor at all, but didn't manage one shot on target, and imo that's the biggest problem we're facing atm. 0 shots on target in a 95 minute game tells it's own story I think.

 

[AdamStag]

The game in general was terrible.

Murray is so, so, so defensive at home, his tactics are negative, dull, defensive and uninspiring. He's won 8 out of 28 home games in all competitions since the start of last season - a story in itself.

Today was that in a nutshell, no attacking movement of options, a few hopeful potshots from oppurtunists when the option of a forward chance wasn't available.

He's a good manager in general and we have moved forward under him, but just how can you be like that against Leyton orient last week and this today.

Cambridge were alright, closed down well, played to their strengths well, limited upfront. Shouldn't worry about relegation, won't trouble the playoffs with that showing (that said we were abysmal today and are 5th). Attacking wise, there was nothing by either side, we could still be there now and it be 0-0

 

[Habbinalan]

Home fans tend to avoid that one, it still decent? I live in Manchester so haven't been in for a good few years tbh. Fans tend to head for the Talbot across the way.

Still, a decent chippy opposite which is always a bonus

We've usually been kept out of the Talbot but the beer in Il Rosso is decent and well kept - TT Landlord and Harvest Pale Ale today. Food is good if pricey and the relevant company is other U's fans. Soccer on the telly but we avoided it today (Posh and Power is a nasty mix).

Kev's has provided decent pie, chips and gravy on occasion but we've never been tempted by his kebabs or suasages.

We got about what we deserved - a point and another clean sheet. Onwards and upwards.

 

[AdamStag]

Must say despite the poor start the away following still surprised me.

 

[Flaxman's Alibi]

Cambridge were the better side in a woeful game. Can't recall a single shot on target from either side. As bad as anything the home fans have seen (attacking wise) at home for a while. U's midfield was on top for almost the entire game, however, we never really looked like conceding.

If I could have the afternoon back I'd like to rub chillies in my eyes for a more enjoyable experience.

 

[Tom_CUFC]

Much improved from us yesterday and deserved to win, but we have a clear problem in front of goal. Pigott played alright but never got into a scoring position, Williamson coming on sapped the energy from us for a bit and he likewise didn't get on the ball and ever look like he was going to threaten having a shot, and Newton missed a sitter and should've pulled the trigger another two times but waited too long and got tackled. 2 gaping opportunities he's missed this season now that would've got us a point at Donny, and put us into the lead yesterday, potentially 3 points down the swanny which whilst still not great, would have us in a slightly more calming position.

Halliday looks the business, him and Mingoia worked really well. Piero's delivery wasn't at its best yesterday, I know it's not his game but I wish he'd try and take his man on down the line a couple of times when he gets the ball on the touchline 30-35 yards out, he showed against Sheffield Wednesday he can get past people with pace but he always wants to stop and slow the play down. Elito very good again, Berry was looking more like his old self buzzing around, but not as far forward as I'd like. Newton, finishing aside, was good, as was Dunne, injury doesn't look good though. Legge solid, Norris a bit indecisive and his kicking was terrible, but made the one save he had to in the first half, Taylor was atrocious, and Dallison, I don't know how this bloke is a professional, Coulson must've done something terrible in a previous life to get turfed out for these awful centre halves year after year.

Without a doubt with Corr up top yesterday we'd have won and we're really suffering without him, we're getting in decent positions and getting balls in the box but our strikers just aren't good enough to get to the ball in a scoring position. Ikpeazu has to start next week, with Williamson for me, and hope he has that knack for goal, or that he at least creates enough distraction to get Williamson in with his pace.

We've played well for 85% of the last 3 games but we have to get a win on the board in the next 2 games or it's going to really start to become crunch time for Derry, regardless of if we're still playing alright.

 

[Richard Cranium]

That was one of the worst games I've ever seen. Cambridge were the better team but still didn't have a shot on target. Our back 4 were pretty solid but once again we didn't have a midfield. Hemmings is still poor. Chapman whilst he wasn't great and least he was trying to create something unlike Hurst who bar the first 2 games hasn't look brilliant at all.

 

[Tom_CUFC]

Lest we forget the two of us did play out possibly the worst 0-0 draw of all time on the last day of last season, yesterday wasn't a great 0-0 but it was light years ahead of the previous one....

 

[Richard Cranium]

I'd thankfully forgot about that game until you just mentioned it. To be fair that was a game in the last day that meant squat to either of us. Yesterday was the 6th league game this season. I'm just going to stop attending our fixtures at Field Mill I think.