Well, I made it. In large part thanks to the ever lovely @Fanny Fanackapan. Great to see Jean and her family, @AFKABartram, @Mendonca In Asdas, @killerjerrylee, John from Coventry and our German chums together with my old mates from the past. Thank you all. And as my good friend and chauffeur for the day said “mate, your name’s being read out at half time and you’re not dead!” A lovely touch. Thank you.
It was a little emotional and a big bit surreal being back in all the circs. I can’t honestly say that the experience as a disabled fan is all that great. The size of the crowd yesterday didn’t help but football stadia are just genuinely difficult things to negotiate when you have restricted mobility and no balance. It is what it is. But I’m glad I did it though. Another challenge crossed off the list.
I’ve always been mildly amused by those who come and go at inconvenient times during games. However, as someone who can’t stand up after I’ve negotiated my way down, it is a proper pain in the arse. Otherwise, not being able to stand up yesterday wasn’t all that much of a problem as, frankly, there was nothing much to stand up for watching this latest bunch of malingerers in red. Fair play to those of you who have faithfully trotted out for successive seasons in league 1. I thought we were very poor. Can’t fault us for effort but we’re were devoid of shape and ideas. If the goals were at the sides of the pitch we’d be great as we seem very good at going from side to side to no great purpose. My thoughts on individuals are in the player marks thread but I didn’t see anything in the flesh that surprised me. And I leave more convinced than ever that our manager is a clown. The rather sad irony of a fat, nasty never-was becoming the 1000th to have the privilege of wearing our proud shirt thanks to a favour from his old guvnor was not lost on me. And yet we are still in the hunt………..
One highlight though, I did enjoy watching Wrexham's no15. The boy had something about him. If we could manage to sign someone like him we might be on to something………
Mannion is soooo ordinary we need a better keeper to get promoted
Going under the radar a bit, but we missed a trick not signing a top keeper. He's ok, but he's not much better than AMB, Isted etc. Protected by a better defense (especially when Jones was playing)
I’ve never rated him, when he came in, he wasn’t going to be No.1, for some reason they haven’t bothered to get another keeper in.
I think "haven't bothered" is a bit harsh. Every other week was a rumour about another new keeper. Yes we failed to get one and that is looking like a real problem but I don't think it's because anyone was thinking that Mannion was the answer all along.
Davies (Stayed at Sheff Utd) - Begovic (Cost too much) - Hein (Went to Valladolid) - Sinisalo (Went to Celtic)
Were the Goalkeepers I can remember us really being linked with, might have forgotten one or two - Maybe we aimed too high, yet two of those (Davies and Sinisalo), chose clubs where they'd earn more money, but aren't starting games.
Hein was the frustrating one as looked a potential talent from the mentions from Arsenal, but then of course you're not going to opt to join League One, over La Liga when Valladolid came in last minute.
Its evidence you can want to do your Transfer Business as early as possible, but its never that straightforward
Special day for me as my son got to walk out with his favourite player (Godden) as mascot, couldn’t have picked a better game.
Big thanks to Bill who works at the club some of you may know him as he’s been there for 30 years, very warm to the kids and us parents and gave us an all round great experience.
Well he clearly didn’t do that good a job. He’s name’s Bob 😃
Berlin,Curran aribo.2019 midfield Coventry,docherty,Anderson 2024 midfield Just scraped into playoffs in 2019 need a Cullen or an aribo to emerge for similar heroics this time
Berlin,Curran aribo.2019 midfield Coventry,docherty,Anderson 2024 midfield Just scraped into playoffs in 2019 need a Cullen or an aribo to emerge for similar heroics this time
We finished 3rd; 16-pts ahead of 7th?
Albeit we finished 3rd with an excellent / smart display against Rochdale on the final day of the season, which saw us leap from 5th to 3rd on GD, partly because Portsmouth and Sunderland had their form implode.
Had we not had our yearly f**k up against Oxford, along with three games in February where we had no Grant / Taylor thanks to the Accrington mess there is the chance we could have even finished 2nd
I think you're thinking of 2017-18 where we scrapped into the Play-Offs, and got beaten by Shrewsbury
Special day for me as my son got to walk out with his favourite player (Godden) as mascot, couldn’t have picked a better game.
Big thanks to Bill who works at the club some of you may know him as he’s been there for 30 years, very warm to the kids and us parents and gave us an all round great experience.
Well he clearly didn’t do that good a job. He’s name’s Bob 😃
Hate Wrexham and the way they play. Mullin and Palmer are shithouses of the highest order.
6 points out of 12 against teams in the top half isn't a bad thing. I know holes will be picked but I'll admit we need a win soon.
Still, we kept on and got a point. Last season we would have crumbled.
Also, fuck James McClean....massive prick.
I didn’t know why he was getting booed but it was explained to me it was because he won’t wear a poppy. I’m now annoyed I didn’t give him a round of applause.
TC end product would be better if we had more than one or two players in the box. Berry supposedly our attacking midfielder but all his goals have been from 20+ yards.
It was very noticeable today how many Wrexham players were in the box when a cross came in compared to how many we had.
The effort they had that hit the bar (from Lee ?) went past 2 of their players before he latched onto it. We are lucky if we have 2 in the box at any one time. Sometimes today it was just Godden as it was TC supplying the cross !!
There was one moment where they had 7 players going forward and 6 got into the box, it was 1-1. The last time we’ve had that is in added time when we’re playing gung-ho without any real plan. It’s been an issue for us for a while where our attacking phases of play are broken down because we have too few players in dangerous positions and is why we, despite having May last year, have never been near the top goalscorers in the league, we just don’t attack the same way others do.
It’s interesting how much a performance is ultimately what affects opinion. This hasn’t been a happy season in here so far but I think back to that Barnsley game. If we’d held on for the last minute then we would have taken 8 points off a run of games against Birmingham, Stockport, Barnsley and Wrexham and that would have been something Powell’s side would have been happy enough with. Despite that you’d think we were in the relegation spots not 3 points off the playoffs. I think more than anything else Jones needs to inject a bit of joy into this side. There’s no flair and there’s not enough goals and shut outs to stop the bad thoughts when it gets so boring. Maybe he could loosen his grip a bit and allow a little more freedom and see if that creates some more dynamic football to watch. I reckon the way we play even if we made the playoffs people would end the season fairly unhappy which isn’t the way to go
Mannion is soooo ordinary we need a better keeper to get promoted
Going under the radar a bit, but we missed a trick not signing a top keeper. He's ok, but he's not much better than AMB, Isted etc. Protected by a better defense (especially when Jones was playing)
I’ve never rated him, when he came in, he wasn’t going to be No.1, for some reason they haven’t bothered to get another keeper in.
I think "haven't bothered" is a bit harsh. Every other week was a rumour about another new keeper. Yes we failed to get one and that is looking like a real problem but I don't think it's because anyone was thinking that Mannion was the answer all along.
Davies (Stayed at Sheff Utd) - Begovic (Cost too much) - Hein (Went to Valladolid) - Sinisalo (Went to Celtic)
Were the Goalkeepers I can remember us really being linked with, might have forgotten one or two - Maybe we aimed too high, yet two of those (Davies and Sinisalo), chose clubs where they'd earn more money, but aren't starting games.
Hein was the frustrating one as looked a potential talent from the mentions from Arsenal, but then of course you're not going to opt to join League One, over La Liga when Valladolid came in last minute.
Its evidence you can want to do your Transfer Business as early as possible, but its never that straightforward
Sums it up nicely , it's not as if we weren't being ambitious with our targets it's just we got outbid and are now left with the situation we're in. I don't think NJ was really expecting Mannion to be No1 this season but that's how sometimes the transfer window plays out. Mannion is a middle of the road League 1 keeper really, can do some things well but has gaping flaws much like AMB and Isted.
Great to see you looking so well @Sillybilly and sorry it wasn’t a better game for your now rare visit.
I’ve said all season I think our performances have been harder to endure in person than how it carries via the stream and I really think that’s true.
“If the goals were at the sides of the pitch we’d be great as we seem very good at going from side to side to no great purpose.”
This comment sums us up in possession so well. For the Stockport game last week i genuinely think Mitchell / Gillesphy / Edwards broke the world sideways record.
Really don’t think we are that far away… people losing trust in Nathan Jones perplexes me.
On another day we find the winner against Stockport and on another night we hold on to win against Barnsley.
Really small margins that would’ve changed October’s points tally from 6 to 10. Despite that, we’re still in touching distance of our ultimate end of season goals while carrying a few key injuries in the defence and not being able to secure a clear no. 1 keeper in the summer window.
There is still work to be done and I didn’t expect everything to be magically fixed in one window after three (four?) seasons of disappointment.
Callum I’m sorry but your opinions are so biased and and unbalanced, are you even watching our matches?
- you mention fine margins that could have favoured us, but seem to completely ignore the fine margins that could have just as easily/ more easily gone against us ie. Losing or drawing with Wigan, drawing with orient, losing to Rotherham, drawing with Shrewsbury, all of which were every bit as possible “on another day” as nicking a winner against Stockport.
- Barnsley one we deserved to lose that match comfortably, winning that would have been daylight robbery.
- we look clueless the moment the ball crosses the halfway line! There is no strategy for attacking or winning games and no quality to do so, and we can barely keep the ball once we attempt to progress it out of the defensive line.
Looking solely at the table, we are still just about in touching distance of the play offs (notwithstanding teams with games in hand), but evidence to date ie 1 good performance all season, a paltry 6 points from our last 7 matches, and continuing failure to offer any sign of being able to control football matches for any period of time suggests something significant needs to change.
The 1 window thing is an excuse, it’s perfectly possible at this level to make vast transformation at this level with 1 transfer window - the one we’ve just had was very poor and has arguably made the squad worse than it was in March or April. If what you do in one transfer window of significant overhaul is negative/ at best par, then further transfer windows are unlikely to help you.
I really hope he can turn it around and we can go on a run in November.
Mannion is soooo ordinary we need a better keeper to get promoted
Going under the radar a bit, but we missed a trick not signing a top keeper. He's ok, but he's not much better than AMB, Isted etc. Protected by a better defense (especially when Jones was playing)
I’ve never rated him, when he came in, he wasn’t going to be No.1, for some reason they haven’t bothered to get another keeper in.
I think "haven't bothered" is a bit harsh. Every other week was a rumour about another new keeper. Yes we failed to get one and that is looking like a real problem but I don't think it's because anyone was thinking that Mannion was the answer all along.
Davies (Stayed at Sheff Utd) - Begovic (Cost too much) - Hein (Went to Valladolid) - Sinisalo (Went to Celtic)
Were the Goalkeepers I can remember us really being linked with, might have forgotten one or two - Maybe we aimed too high, yet two of those (Davies and Sinisalo), chose clubs where they'd earn more money, but aren't starting games.
Hein was the frustrating one as looked a potential talent from the mentions from Arsenal, but then of course you're not going to opt to join League One, over La Liga when Valladolid came in last minute.
Its evidence you can want to do your Transfer Business as early as possible, but its never that straightforward
Sums it up nicely , it's not as if we weren't being ambitious with our targets it's just we got outbid and are now left with the situation we're in. I don't think NJ was really expecting Mannion to be No1 this season but that's how sometimes the transfer window plays out. Mannion is a middle of the road League 1 keeper really, can do some things well but has gaping flaws much like AMB and Isted.
I dont think Mannion has been that bad to be honest... Only mistake he's really made is that Barnsley first goal, first goal yesterday I felt was harsh to blame him as deflections can go anywhere, and its difficult to read them.
He was maybe a bit at fault for being beaten at his near post for the second goal yesterday, but think he was equally given the "eyes" by the striker who bluffed him into thinking he was going far post with his shot.
Goalkeeper is only as good as the defence in front of him, and some of the issues in recent games have highlighted we're missing Lloyd Jones more than the fact that we've got a No.2 between the sticks.
It’s interesting how much a performance is ultimately what affects opinion. This hasn’t been a happy season in here so far but I think back to that Barnsley game. If we’d held on for the last minute then we would have taken 8 points off a run of games against Birmingham, Stockport, Barnsley and Wrexham and that would have been something Powell’s side would have been happy enough with. Despite that you’d think we were in the relegation spots not 3 points off the playoffs. I think more than anything else Jones needs to inject a bit of joy into this side. There’s no flair and there’s not enough goals and shut outs to stop the bad thoughts when it gets so boring. Maybe he could loosen his grip a bit and allow a little more freedom and see if that creates some more dynamic football to watch. I reckon the way we play even if we made the playoffs people would end the season fairly unhappy which isn’t the way to go
He tried that yesterday with the removal of Anderson. What was the other away game when he completely changed the formation and ended up apologising to away supporters after it backfired? The problem is that he just hasn't got the players for exciting free flowing football. .. and that was his call.
Was nice to see the valley full but won't miss the tourists or Wrexham fans sat near us. 3 sat directly in front even went to the effort of buying Charlton scarves, but couldn't hide their delight or Welsh accents when their second went in... When asked they apparently couldn't get tickets in the away end lol. Good day out though but we need to convert our chances.
Coventry is pretty much the dictionary definition of 'a Cullen', it's the hyenas who are the real enemy others who lose massively by comparison to that team
Hate Wrexham and the way they play. Mullin and Palmer are shithouses of the highest order.
6 points out of 12 against teams in the top half isn't a bad thing. I know holes will be picked but I'll admit we need a win soon.
Still, we kept on and got a point. Last season we would have crumbled.
Also, fuck James McClean....massive prick.
I didn’t know why he was getting booed but it was explained to me it was because he won’t wear a poppy. I’m now annoyed I didn’t give him a round of applause.
It’s probably less about the poppy (matter of choice) and more about the pro IRA stuff, you know, the people that murdered innocent people.
He knew what he was doing. Starts putting his arm behind back and then clearly pushes out to hit the ball while keeping arm low to act if he's natural position. Well done ref for getting decision correct.
Coventry is pretty much the dictionary definition of 'a Cullen', it's the hyenas who are the real enemy others who lose massively by comparison to that team
He might be a similar player, but even as a Coventry fan he is not nearly as good as Cullen was
Coventry is pretty much the dictionary definition of 'a Cullen', it's the hyenas who are the real enemy others who lose massively by comparison to that team
Coventry also loses massively if you're doing that comparison. Cullen was everything he isn't, and everything that we desperately need in the middle of the park.
Thing is, I actually don’t mind the sideways passing if it’s being patient and trying to pull the opposition out of position.
The problem is, we don’t have any movement infront between the lines, no presence up front to drill the ball into and no runners in behind.
In the end, we pass it to look like we’re trying to play, until Gillesphie over hits his 60 yard diagonal and the ball goes out for a goal kick.
One of the best bits of sideways passing in recent years was when we had that Gallagher lad on loan for a few months.
I can't remember who it was against but the ball went from one side of the pitch to the other in an area about 20 yards deep barely crossing the halfway line. After what seemed like an eternity enough of a gap had been opened up in the defence and Gallagher launched the attack and within a couple of seconds we'd scored.
Of course, it helps when you have a forward and midfield line that actually moves about, dragging their markers with them, creating space behind and leaving defenders with a decision of whether to stick with their man or move to defend that space. We have statues who tend to wait for the ball to come to them.
It was an interesting incident packed game. But it was another two points dropped. We are now eight points behind target, that means winning all of our remaining home games, drawing all our remaining away games bar four, those four we need to win. We are probably at the last chance saloon regarding automatic promotion now, and then the next aspiration has to be the lottery of the playoffs which is an utter drag and a big stress.
Comments
One highlight though, I did enjoy watching Wrexham's no15. The boy had something about him. If we could manage to sign someone like him we might be on to something………
Were the Goalkeepers I can remember us really being linked with, might have forgotten one or two - Maybe we aimed too high, yet two of those (Davies and Sinisalo), chose clubs where they'd earn more money, but aren't starting games.
Hein was the frustrating one as looked a potential talent from the mentions from Arsenal, but then of course you're not going to opt to join League One, over La Liga when Valladolid came in last minute.
Its evidence you can want to do your Transfer Business as early as possible, but its never that straightforward
I agree, he’s a great ambassador for the club
Coventry,docherty,Anderson 2024 midfield
Just scraped into playoffs in 2019 need a Cullen or an aribo to emerge for similar heroics this time
Albeit we finished 3rd with an excellent / smart display against Rochdale on the final day of the season, which saw us leap from 5th to 3rd on GD, partly because Portsmouth and Sunderland had their form implode.
Had we not had our yearly f**k up against Oxford, along with three games in February where we had no Grant / Taylor thanks to the Accrington mess there is the chance we could have even finished 2nd
I think you're thinking of 2017-18 where we scrapped into the Play-Offs, and got beaten by Shrewsbury
Sums it up nicely , it's not as if we weren't being ambitious with our targets it's just we got outbid and are now left with the situation we're in. I don't think NJ was really expecting Mannion to be No1 this season but that's how sometimes the transfer window plays out. Mannion is a middle of the road League 1 keeper really, can do some things well but has gaping flaws much like AMB and Isted.
“If the goals were at the sides of the pitch we’d be great as we seem very good at going from side to side to no great purpose.”
This comment sums us up in possession so well. For the Stockport game last week i genuinely think Mitchell / Gillesphy / Edwards broke the world sideways record.
- you mention fine margins that could have favoured us, but seem to completely ignore the fine margins that could have just as easily/ more easily gone against us ie. Losing or drawing with Wigan, drawing with orient, losing to Rotherham, drawing with Shrewsbury, all of which were every bit as possible “on another day” as nicking a winner against Stockport.
- Barnsley one we deserved to lose that match comfortably, winning that would have been daylight robbery.
- we look clueless the moment the ball crosses the halfway line! There is no strategy for attacking or winning games and no quality to do so, and we can barely keep the ball once we attempt to progress it out of the defensive line.
In the end, we pass it to look like we’re trying to play, until Gillesphie over hits his 60 yard diagonal and the ball goes out for a goal kick.
He was maybe a bit at fault for being beaten at his near post for the second goal yesterday, but think he was equally given the "eyes" by the striker who bluffed him into thinking he was going far post with his shot.
Goalkeeper is only as good as the defence in front of him, and some of the issues in recent games have highlighted we're missing Lloyd Jones more than the fact that we've got a No.2 between the sticks.
The problem is that he just hasn't got the players for exciting free flowing football. .. and that was his call.
Then he can pop down to Specsavers to get his eyes tested.
I can't remember who it was against but the ball went from one side of the pitch to the other in an area about 20 yards deep barely crossing the halfway line. After what seemed like an eternity enough of a gap had been opened up in the defence and Gallagher launched the attack and within a couple of seconds we'd scored.
Of course, it helps when you have a forward and midfield line that actually moves about, dragging their markers with them, creating space behind and leaving defenders with a decision of whether to stick with their man or move to defend that space. We have statues who tend to wait for the ball to come to them.
But it was another two points dropped.
We are now eight points behind target, that means winning all of our remaining home games, drawing all our remaining away games bar four, those four we need to win.
We are probably at the last chance saloon regarding automatic promotion now, and then the next aspiration has to be the lottery of the playoffs which is an utter drag and a big stress.