Barnet v Cambridge

Probably play well and draw

Probably play shit and lose.

Had we not bailed ourselves out by playing how we should be starting every game for the last 30 minutes against the worst team in the league last week, then Derry's seat might have just been getting a bit warm again, from the fanbase anyway. Not having to play on a quagmire of a pitch at Accrington and lose uninspiringly is probably a good thing, although that makes me surprised that Corr won't start as I thought he'd either start both Tuesday games, or Saturday. With that, I suggest not a lot will change, and we'll be fairly tepid until Corr comes on which hopefully will be at worst at 1-0 down and not anymore.

Rumours of Brad Halliday's return are very welcome, although Leon Davies has done a good job out there and will be incorrectly sacrificed in favour of Carroll. I would expect the other 9 to be the same that started against Newport except McDonagh for Williamson, not what I'd do, but likely to be the reality. (Norris, Halliday, Legge, Wharton, Davies, Mingoia, Lewis, Dunne, Dunk, Maris, McDonagh, for the record)

Think Akinde has been a bit off colour recently but I wouldn't be surprised to see him run rings around a slowing Roberts.

Won't be a great following from us, 550 sold as of yesterday and with the price putting off a few, as well as the main train line into Kings Cross being shut, more than likely less than 1,000 but we'll still have a good piss up.

2-0 Barnet.

I'd be happy with Tom's team, although I think I'd still start Berry ahead of Maris as I think a Corr/Berry combination is our best option up front and would give McDonagh more support for his first start. I think Derry will actually start Roberts, Carroll, O'Neil and Berry. He might even begin with Williamson rather than McDonagh.

I've no great hopes for tomorrow or the rest of the season but I think we'll benefit from not playing Tuesday night. If we can get our wing/fullback partnerships working and throwing in the crosses for McDonagh/Corr and Berry, I can see goals. If Williamson features, I can see 0-2 or worse.

Rumours of a Dusky Thrush near the North Circular in Walthamstow may give me reason for an early start.

Not confident for this, uche will be a big miss and a fart is potent up front than Williamson, I'd rather see us try out a youngster.

Slightly better news on the injured players returning but I can't see any featuring tomorrow.

Hoping storm Norris can keep us in the game.

1-1

KTF

Arbury said:

Not confident for this, uche will be a big miss and a fart is potent up front than Williamson, I'd rather see us try out a youngster.

Slightly better news on the injured players returning but I can't see any featuring tomorrow.

Hoping storm Norris can keep us in the game.

1-1

KTF

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I've heard the calls for giving Foy a run out before the end of the season and he has been scoring goals for City but......... I saw City play King's Lynn on Monday and, although Jordan Williams seemed to be getting good experience under his belt, it was difficult to see Matt Foy gaining much benefit from playing on the St Neots hilly bog with the service (lack of) that he had in that match. The game seemed to just pass him by and he looked a long way from ready for L2 - admittedly based on a single showing in a kick and rush 0-0.

We haven't done much at Barnet in recent years. I suspect a draw might be the most we can hope for.

With regards to the team, I'm too disconnected from it at the moment to hazard a guess but agree with the general sentiment re Williamson being too lightweight. And I'd be tempted to bring Berry off the bench too.

Team will probably be largely unchanged at a guess unless the rumours of an emergency keeper are true
Vickers
Clough Nelson Santos Johnson
Vilhete Champion Bover Weston
Akinde Akinola

BeesKnees said:

Team will probably be largely unchanged at a guess unless the rumours of an emergency keeper are true
Vickers
Clough Nelson Santos Johnson
Vilhete Champion Bover Weston
Akinde Akinola

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Think we sent you Harry Burgoyne

That's 2 games in a row we've conceded with only one shot on target all game. They didn't have a sniff otherwise.

Whereas we had about 6 chances. Football eh.

Urban said:

That's 2 games in a row we've conceded with only one shot on target all game. They didn't have a sniff otherwise.

Whereas we had about 6 chances. Football eh.

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Our inability to take our chances is becoming a serious problem

BeesKnees said:

Our inability to take our chances is becoming a serious problem

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Serious in that we're not making the playoffs - which was a bit of a long shot anyway. Just got to rebuild for next season already.

Today was a frustrating day though. So many players had off games - and despite that Cambridge still didn't get a sniff. Both them and Portsmouth have been there for the taking.

I didn't go but listened on the radio. Sounded like we were really hanging on first half then got going a bit more in the second but were still lucky not to concede second half. Nice to finally get more from a game than we probably deserved - first time that's happened in ages.

We were under the cosh, against the wind, in the first half but strangely Norris had more saves to make and bailing out of defenders to do in the second.

Once we weathered the storm, I was much more confident of getting something in the second half - classic Derry performance and we were closing down well before the goal and superbly after - when Barnet began to run out of steam and ideas whereas we got stronger.

Urban said:

That's 2 games in a row we've conceded with only one shot on target all game. They didn't have a sniff otherwise...... Football eh.

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Possibly but what a gilt edged chance. Dunk did great but I'm surprised he didn't create more, probably because he had a lot of defending to do. He must have been licking his lips at the prospect of a centre half playing fullback.

Based on the second half, we rode our luck a bit but I can't accept we didn't earn the points, especially playing a novice Conference standard striker - who did all he was asked and capable of but confirmed we're up shit creek in terms of goals, especially as Barry Corr tweaked his groin warming up and disappeared from bench to dressing room.