Tuesday night games

[Agombar stool]

I watched last night's game and it was another hugely frustrating tale of 'Swindon Town at home' woe. Not sure what the atmosphere was like in the ground, but on the laptop it seemed quite flat for a team at the top of the table (albeit only after 3 games).

We huffed and puffed but Northampton were very organised and happy to soak up our 'pressure' and leather it forward for Williams to chase. This tactic clearly paid off as they scored by doing this. Yes, the goal was offside and quite how the linesman missed the touch that Williams ran onto is baffling but at the end of the day we didn't do nearly enough to make the cobblers keeper earn his overtime.

I was quite happy with the side overall, Isgrove looked great, Lydon and Doughty a good centre midfield pairing. I don't think we are the finished product yet and really need to sort out how to unlock teams at home. That's going to be the difference between a play-off chasing side or something with a bit more ambition.

 

[Agombar stool]

Not that clear cut, I was sat almost in line, at the time it looked a long way offside, there were quite a few who didn't even bother celebrating waiting for the flag.
Watched it on Sky, freeze frame etc. It was a lot Closer. The photo doing the rounds, posted by Swindon fans, shows that Williams was behind the ball when put through by Watson, therefore not offside.
VAR would need a better angle to sort that out but in the absence of VAR, the Assistant was in the best position.

I did actually wonder whether Williams was behind the ball when Watson got his touch. If that was the case then fair enough. Not that I'm that bothered, its done now and the decision was made.

 

[EricSabin]

Not that clear cut, I was sat almost in line, at the time it looked a long way offside, there were quite a few who didn't even bother celebrating waiting for the flag.
Watched it on Sky, freeze frame etc. It was a lot Closer. The photo doing the rounds, posted by Swindon fans, shows that Williams was behind the ball when put through by Watson, therefore not offside.
VAR would need a better angle to sort that out but in the absence of VAR, the Assistant was in the best position.

Have just had a look at the video the Cobblers twitter account posted of the goal, it’s a pretty clear cut offside. When Watson flicks it on he’s in line with the penalty area and Williams is in front by a good couple of yards

 

[Deepcut Cobbler]

Have just had a look at the video the Cobblers twitter account posted of the goal, it’s a pretty clear cut offside. When Watson flicks it on he’s in line with the penalty area and Williams is in front by a good couple of yards

The ball is in front of Williams when last touched by Watson. Not offside.

 

[Crewelad87]

Some very complimentary comments from Crawley fans over social media about us last night which is always good to see. "Best team to visit them in years" and "real contenders to win the league" also alot of praise for Tommy Lowery and rightly so, since he's come into the team towards the end of last season he's been sensational.

Another tough week to come though Newport away followed by Villa and Bradford at home. Not so fussed by the cup but if we come out of the league games with 4 points I'd be ecstatic and truly believing were the real deal this season.

 

[EricSabin]

The ball is in front of Williams when last touched by Watson. Not offside.

Surprised you managed to find your way home from Swindon with those claret tinted goggles on

 

[GTFCfish]

Dismiss the other three City threads created and focus solely on a Tuesday night affair against a team who seemingly have no fans who post on this forum.

Which is the whole point of having a combined midweek thread, before you went all billy big bollocks and created your own thread.

 

[GTFCfish]

If you wanna watch a couple of great strikes look at Colchester’s first and our second here, the Colchester one was right in the postage stamp too as I was sat right behind it and the second it left his boot it was always in.
Also I thought at the time that our pen was very soft and looking at this I’d be very pissed off if I was a Colchester fan, not a pen for me although later in injury time we should’ve had one which was more of a pen than the one given.

 

[Moomin]

Not so fussed by the cup but if we come out of the league games with 4 points I'd be ecstatic and truly believing were the real deal this season.

Don’t mean to piss on your chips but even if you’re top after 8/9 games it’s still way too early to get excited. We’ve had great starts the last two years and then hit a sticky patch that saw us drop a bit. That can be down to a number of things such as teams working you out, injuries, suspensions etc. However, if you get to 15 plus games and you’re up there then it’s fair to say you should be serious too 3 contenders.

For the record I like Crewe. They play good football and I love how you have a number of key players which have come through your academy, so I hope you stick it out.

 

[JJ1532]

Its hard to gauge after 4 games. I feel like we've played 3 teams that will be mid-table at best(in Oldham's case anyway) in the last 3, so we really should be winning those sorts of the games if we even have aspirations of the top half. We still look shaky and lack depth in defence. The keeper is still a work in progress. And we only have 1 open play goal from our strikers as they keep missing great chances. We've allowed 2 average teams in Crawley and Oldham to hang around and almost snatch draws. Feel like better teams would have put them to the sword. I just worry we lack that clinical finish when it matters. I also wonder how we'll do against the stronger sides, namely Newport and Bradford.

However, I can't help but think that there is a heck of a lot of average in the league this season. I don't think anyone looks particularly amazing at this stage. Plymouth are still living off that opening day win, they've scraped out a win in game 2, lost game 3 and almost lost game 4. Teams expected to do well like Northampton, Colchester and Scunny have come out slow. Mansfield have defensive issues, FGR and Exeter seem to lack firepower.

The league is wide open and I think it could well be a very tight race for the play offs. I still think we'll end up somewhere between 8th-11th as our lack of depth hits us later in the season. But that being said, we've won 3 games without playing that well at either end. If we do click into gear, then maybe, just maybe, we could be proper promotion contenders. Long way to go yet. Get 4 points from the next 2 and I'll start to dream.

 

[GTFCfish]

Over 62 posts per thread on average. Probably more than what this thread will receive.

You were so close to being correct, just the 225 posts in here versus 11 in your own huge match thread, well played Sir.

 

[F!RTHY]

Which is the whole point of having a combined midweek thread, before you went all billy big bollocks and created your own thread.

Read it again and hopefully you’ll eventually grasp the point.

 

[EricSabin]

I’ve just run the numbers, Firthy’s 4 threads have received a total of 198 posts, an average of 49.5 posts per thread. The general match threads have received on average 228 posts per thread.

A resounding success.

 

[TimeyWimey]

Its hard to gauge after 4 games. I feel like we've played 3 teams that will be mid-table at best(in Oldham's case anyway) in the last 3, so we really should be winning those sorts of the games if we even have aspirations of the top half. We still look shaky and lack depth in defence. The keeper is still a work in progress. And we only have 1 open play goal from our strikers as they keep missing great chances. We've allowed 2 average teams in Crawley and Oldham to hang around and almost snatch draws. Feel like better teams would have put them to the sword. I just worry we lack that clinical finish when it matters. I also wonder how we'll do against the stronger sides, namely Newport and Bradford.

However, I can't help but think that there is a heck of a lot of average in the league this season. I don't think anyone looks particularly amazing at this stage. Plymouth are still living off that opening day win, they've scraped out a win in game 2, lost game 3 and almost lost game 4. Teams expected to do well like Northampton, Colchester and Scunny have come out slow. Mansfield have defensive issues, FGR and Exeter seem to lack firepower.

The league is wide open and I think it could well be a very tight race for the play offs. I still think we'll end up somewhere between 8th-11th as our lack of depth hits us later in the season. But that being said, we've won 3 games without playing that well at either end. If we do click into gear, then maybe, just maybe, we could be proper promotion contenders. Long way to go yet. Get 4 points from the next 2 and I'll start to dream.

On the flip side, we also should have beaten a fairly strong Middlesbrough before it went to penalties (that we won anyway). This 'flash in the pan' form has pretty much lasted since Christmas now. We'll hit a rocky patch, we haven't got the depth or the experience in defence to last the long haul, but I'm also pretty convinced the attack will click and someone will get smashed in the next few weeks. It'll probably be followed by us getting smashed but nothing swaying me from my pre-season play-off/promotion prediction. Artell taking notice of the defence would be nice but when have we ever bothered with having a defence?

 

[valefan16]

The table is too embryonic to really take anything at all from it at this stage, its simply a four game form table. We got relegated three years back despite spending the first two months and a half in the top 5 or 6.

Crewe have won the games i'd expect them too and got beaten in the one I wouldn't but their overall form since January is positive and have a fairly settled squad over the past two seasons to think they could surprise a few and do better than expected.

League looks like it could be average, the side at the top has already been beat 3-0 and there is no-one on 0 points with some real strange results, Orient getting panned at Macc then beating Mansfield for example, Cobblers losing to Macc then beating top of the league Swindon. Could be a real close battle throughout the table but we will see.

 

[SVH]

Crewe were my surprise team of the season tip. Got them down as finishing in the play off's after they impressed at the abbey towards the end of last season.

Anyone tip us? CC is quietly building something at the Abbey, not saying we'll go up but I think we'll finish top 10.

 

[darren gregory]

Crewe were my surprise team of the season tip. Got them down as finishing in the play off's after they impressed at the abbey towards the end of last season.

Anyone tip us? CC is quietly building something at the Abbey, not saying we'll go up but I think we'll finish top 10.

I'm not tipping you but I'd like to thank you for what was virtually a swap deal Amoo for Hannant.
Get in, happy days.

 

[kieran_vale]

I'm not tipping you but I'd like to thank you for what was virtually a swap deal Amoo for Hannant.
Get in, happy days.

Been a good move for both clubs. We get the pace up top we've so sorely lacked for a very long time and they get someone with good workrate which reading their match thread seemed to be a bit lacking last season.

Be interesting what Askey does for Grimsby now with it being a quick turnaround to that game. Looking at Monty when he went off I doubt he'll be available and Browne still is out injured so imagine Ryan Lloyd may get the nod. Up front would expect him to stick with Bennett who was very impressive last night. Saw shades of Lee Mills in the way he played, particularly liked the fact he's not afraid to take a shot early.

 

[SVH]

I'm not tipping you but I'd like to thank you for what was virtually a swap deal Amoo for Hannant.
Get in, happy days.

No, thank you. Amoo was exciting to watch with his run's and pace but he was lazy defensively. Hannant has been a revelation so far with his work rate and all round game. Cleared one off the line at the death and an excellent assist for the winner last night. We are playing a narrow midfield this season so no room for out and out wingers who don't track back.

I really liked Amoo so I'm pleased he's started well. Seems like we are both very happy with the swap deal.

 

[Crewelad87]

I was expecting this league to be very strong this year, but as JJ stated there are alot of average teams. Most of the ones I'd have expected to be strong have problems in particular the likes of Salford, Northampton and Scunthorpe. It looks a great opportunity for us get ourselves out of this league this season, because many of the bigger clubs have rebuilt in the summer and we might not see them at there best til next season.

 

[valefan16]

I was expecting this league to be very strong this year, but as JJ stated there are alot of average teams. Most of the ones I'd have expected to be strong have problems in particular the likes of Salford, Northampton and Scunthorpe. It looks a great opportunity for us get ourselves out of this league this season, because many of the bigger clubs have rebuilt in the summer and we might not see them at there best til next season.

Could be the case. Most Vale fans accepted mid table would be the best aim after the damage done but to be honest we've had four pre season favourites and performed very well against all of them, battering three of them so may be more of an opportunity than first appeared to challenge.

 

[LordJord]

Spot on mate. 27 shots on goal, 5 on target. I’d put Baxter alongside Mayor. If teams are going to let us have the ball then he’s the most creative out of him, Sarce and C Grant.

Its interesting you guys raise that point. I posted on twitter earlier this week Plymouth average by far the most passes per minute of possession in the league. Baxter averages nearly a third more passes per 90 minutes than any of his team mates. Its clear he helps add the impetus / creativity needed!

 

[Indian Dan]

I know we all have to put up with useless officials but the Lino last night takes the biscuit. Not only is he way behind play, he reckons the reason he didn’t flag for offside was because the long punt from the Cobblers half went directly to Andy Williams, who scored. He didn’t notice the pass from their player right in front of him by the penalty area. I fucking despair.

Oh, and we’ve got Trevor Kettle next

https://mobile.twitter.com/Official_STFC?ref_src=twsrc^google|twcamp^serp|twgr^author

 

[LeonTheGreen]

Its interesting you guys raise that point. I posted on twitter earlier this week Plymouth average by far the most passes per minute of possession in the league. Baxter averages nearly a third more passes per 90 minutes than any of his team mates. Its clear he helps add the impetus / creativity needed!

It’s nice to know I might actually know what I’m talking about

 

[EricSabin]

I know we all have to put up with useless officials but the Lino last night takes the biscuit. Not only is he way behind play, he reckons the reason he didn’t flag for offside was because the long punt from the Cobblers half went directly to Andy Williams, who scored. He didn’t notice the pass from their player right in front of him by the penalty area. I fucking despair.

Oh, and we’ve got Trevor Kettle next

https://mobile.twitter.com/Official_STFC?ref_src=twsrc^google|twcamp^serp|twgr^author

Yeah unbelievable if true. He’ll be back running the line somewhere else on Saturday no questions asked.

 

[Indian Dan]

I know. Not moaning about the result, but decisions like that . . .

No wonder someone lobbed something at him - probably a brain.

 

[EricSabin]

Must be a bit worrying that you didn’t create anything of note once we’d gone 1-0 up

 

[Indian Dan]

Didn’t create much before either. Replicating our home form over the last couple of seasons. We struggle against teams stacking their defence.

 

[Casey]

I was at work last night so for me it's a disappointing result but the Crawley fans who were at the game seem more upbeat.

The general view is we did ok but we're beating by the better team and although beaten we did try to get something from the game. Most of us at this level know we will get beaten every now and then and we tend to be ok with it if the team tries. We gave it a go, come up a bit short. Move on to the next game.

Casey

 

[lordofthepies]

Crewe were my surprise team of the season tip. Got them down as finishing in the play off's after they impressed at the abbey towards the end of last season.

Crewe doing well shouldn't be seen as a surprise. We were the best team in the league from Boxing Day onwards last season.