Reading this thread I seem to be a lot less positive (note, not negative) than others.
I thought it was largely a god-awful, nondescript game with a complete absence of creativity or quality on display. It was only the left winger who come on 2nd half for Wigan that seemed to add anything in that regard and generally I felt if anyone would Nick a goal they’d be more likely.
Fortunately there was a defensive error that led to our goal. Jones produced a fantastic finish you wouldn’t expect from a centre half. One moment effectively dictated the game and had that mistake and strike been at the other end the consensus on here on the performance would have been completely different and the performance marks halved.
Thankfully, it wasn’t though. Three points is ultimately all that matters and we got them. We have to get out of this league, the football is awful. I don’t know whether it’s playing in half empty stadiums that doesn’t help but I watched some of Blackburn v Derby and the gulf to the quality of football, pace of game to the Championship now seems huge.
Will be interesting to see how our approach is at home when the emphasis will be more on us to dictate attacking play as opposed to keeping it right away from home and then try to nick something.
Hopefully the opening win takes pressure off and acts as a platform to improve.
Precisely my thoughts and I said the same to my "boys". Awful game that we looked more likely to lose than win. I said if they nick one and we lose the majority will say we were rubbish and if we nicked a goal and won the majority would say how well we played.
So with 79 minutes gone and virtually zero chance of a goal I took decisive action. If I go to the toilet I have a 90% success rate of missing either a goal or a wicket if watching cricket. Like clockwork the ball was in the net within about 10 seconds.
One game into the new season, away from home to a team that has, recently, had a good home record, and we record a 1-0 victory. This was the first truly competitive game of the season for our new look squad. They are still building 'on pitch' relationships and playing in a new style. Yes, it wasn't pretty, but we won, got 3 points, kept a much needed clean sheet, and are off to a good start, I'd much rather that than play 'well' and lose! NJ will use his squad the way he sees fit, but his objective is to get us promoted out of this godforsaken league. I, for one, don't care how he does it, but I hope he's successful! I don't understand some of the negativity, we won, enjoy the first 3 points of the season, I think this could be a good one!!
Hopefully as many changes as possible. The under 21 game today means I doubt we'll see any kids involved, and given Ness and Fraser don't have squad numbers I wouldn't expect to see them either. With Godden having a strain I'd think he might only be on the bench. I'd go:
AMB Watson, Reg, Z.Mitchell, Gillesphey, Small Taylor Berry, Edun Kanu, Campbell
I imagine NJ has had this game pencilled in as effectively the final pre-season game for the rest of the squad. Or any players from Saturday that he and the medical experts think could benefit from extra minutes.
Hopefully as many changes as possible. The under 21 game today means I doubt we'll see any kids involved, and given Ness and Fraser don't have squad numbers I wouldn't expect to see them either. With Godden having a strain I'd think he might only be on the bench. I'd go:
AMB Watson, Reg, Z.Mitchell, Gillesphey, Small Taylor Berry, Edun Kanu, Campbell
I think we should appraoch this game as a game to get up to speed and would like to see minimal changes. Maybe give Small a game and start Kanu and Godden if fit. I think Ahadme was a bit behind pre-season and probably needs games. Berry could probably do with the run out too but not big changes for me Maybe make a few on 60-65 minutes. I'd stick with Mannion at this stage and maybe use AMB in the Mickey Mouse cup.
Reading this thread I seem to be a lot less positive (note, not negative) than others.
I thought it was largely a god-awful, nondescript game with a complete absence of creativity or quality on display. It was only the left winger who come on 2nd half for Wigan that seemed to add anything in that regard and generally I felt if anyone would Nick a goal they’d be more likely.
Fortunately there was a defensive error that led to our goal. Jones produced a fantastic finish you wouldn’t expect from a centre half. One moment effectively dictated the game and had that mistake and strike been at the other end the consensus on here on the performance would have been completely different and the performance marks halved.
Thankfully, it wasn’t though. Three points is ultimately all that matters and we got them. We have to get out of this league, the football is awful. I don’t know whether it’s playing in half empty stadiums that doesn’t help but I watched some of Blackburn v Derby and the gulf to the quality of football, pace of game to the Championship now seems huge.
Will be interesting to see how our approach is at home when the emphasis will be more on us to dictate attacking play as opposed to keeping it right away from home and then try to nick something.
Hopefully the opening win takes pressure off and acts as a platform to improve.
Precisely my thoughts and I said the same to my "boys". Awful game that we looked more likely to lose than win. I said if they nick one and we lose the majority will say we were rubbish and if we nicked a goal and won the majority would say how well we played.
So with 79 minutes gone and virtually zero chance of a goal I took decisive action. If I go to the toilet I have a 90% success rate of missing either a goal or a wicket if watching cricket. Like clockwork the ball was in the net within about 10 seconds.
I never thought we would be more likely to lose than win. They hardly had any chances. It was a game we could have lost though if our defence was like season, it would probably have been. I am still suprised hardly anybody is mentioning the penalty shout on Anderson. For me that was a pen any day of the week. It doesn't matter if he got a bit of the ball, the defender recklessly went through him. Then there was the Doherty Chance, Campbell's shot and the goal. I look at Wigan and there were some wide shots Mannion had covered and the Asgaard chance and that was about it. That was a good chance but even then it was probably a 50:50 whether it would lead to a goal. The going to the loo works for me too but I do recall when it works and forget all the times it doesn't!
I don't see any value in AMB being out there tonight. He's there as third choice keeper once we get someone else in and if a decent offer came in he'd be gone. I'd much rather Mannion get more games to settle and show what he's about. I think we'll see REG, Taylor, Kanu, Small, Berry and Tennai from the start, though it wouldn't surprise me if Jones kept a few starters in like Mitchell and Ahadme to give them some more time in the side
I think I saw film of Zach Mitchell getting off the coach at Wigan, and thought at the time that it was a positive as well as a pointer that he travelled to that game with the squad. It could be that the head injury protocol might mean Mitchell for Mitchell this evening amongst other changes, though Ahadme is supposed to be super fit and I expect him to start up front like on Saturday.
Will be interesting to see how NJ approaches these Cup games. Mix it up, whole hog, we’ll find out at 6.45pm. I would be surprised to see Mannion start without the other keeper we are looking to bring in, if he got injured tonight we have AMB in goal for Saturday. Wondering if he is brave enough to start Aneke
Comments
Especially with there one shot on target.
Awful game that we looked more likely to lose than win.
I said if they nick one and we lose the majority will say we were rubbish and if we nicked a goal and won the majority would say how well we played.
So with 79 minutes gone and virtually zero chance of a goal I took decisive action.
If I go to the toilet I have a 90% success rate of missing either a goal or a wicket if watching cricket.
Like clockwork the ball was in the net within about 10 seconds.
This was the first truly competitive game of the season for our new look squad. They are still building 'on pitch' relationships and playing in a new style.
Yes, it wasn't pretty, but we won, got 3 points, kept a much needed clean sheet, and are off to a good start, I'd much rather that than play 'well' and lose!
NJ will use his squad the way he sees fit, but his objective is to get us promoted out of this godforsaken league. I, for one, don't care how he does it, but I hope he's successful!
I don't understand some of the negativity, we won, enjoy the first 3 points of the season, I think this could be a good one!!
AMB
Watson Reg Z Mitchell Jones Small
Coventry
Berry Docherty
Ahadme Kanu
AMB - Z.Mitchell, Jones, REG- Watson, Berry, Taylor, Edun, Small - Kanu, Godden
AMB
Watson, Reg, Z.Mitchell, Gillesphey, Small
Taylor
Berry, Edun
Kanu, Campbell
Bench: Mannion, Asiimwe, Jones, Anderson, Docherty, Godden, Aneke
Mitchell Ness Hector
Chin Payne McGrandles Camara Edun
Kirk Kanu
The team that played in the first round against Newport 12 months ago.
It could be that the head injury protocol might mean Mitchell for Mitchell this evening amongst other changes, though Ahadme is supposed to be super fit and I expect him to start up front like on Saturday.