2020/21 General Match Thread

[Caer]

Deserved to lose against a Portmsouth side who could have scored more. Now to see how we bounce back against a very much rejuvenated Bradford side.

 

[Maple Hatter]

Another good win. Slightly laboured as an attacking force, but enough comfort with our excellent defensive press all over the pitch restricting a decent looking football side to few if any good chances.

Eight games or the trot unchanged will be in doubt but if it does come to an end will be a little concerned to lose our Capt and heartbeat for any length of time. Is McCormack fit? Pelly scares me there with his occasional erattic distribution.

Pelly's having a bit of bad patch by this seasons standards that is. He seems a little indecisive on the ball and prone to misplacing his passes or dwelling too long inviting a challenge. That said we know what he can do and today he was playing in a role which I don't think suits him. Burton are a tidy side who pass the ball well. Reminded me a little of Southend and like Southend they lack a quality finisher. We were a bit under par today but still worthy winners. Our strength of course is that we have quite a few players who can find the net. Today it was our RB Stacey to put us into the lead. Good to see NJ bringing on Hylton. It gave us a different option and gave Burton something to worry about.
At the moment we are on some run and all that can do is install a sense of belief in the team that they can beat anyone. Today summed that up a bit. A performance slightly under par but yet good enough to beat a Burton side who are fresh from beating one of the favourites to up from the Championship on their own patch.

 

[finley]

Comfortable win today Alnwick for Scunny kept the score respectable.Was dreading going to Sunderland 3 weeks back, now I’m actually looking forward to it, bring it on.

 

[womble76]

We are showing the signs of a revival since binning off ardley. Let's get to transfer window in touch and see what happens. Not a good position but we ain't down yet.

 

[Bobbin']

We are showing the signs of a revival since binning off ardley. Let's get to transfer window in touch and see what happens. Not a good position but we ain't down yet.

I didn’t go so can’t comment myself but everyone I spoke to said you were by far and away the worst side we’ve played this season despite playing against 10 men for 89 minutes, granted you only had a man advantage for about half hour or so.

Looked at the table earlier and hadn’t realised how tight it was down there, any 4 of about 10 teams could end up relegated at this point.

 

[womble76]

I didn’t go so can’t comment myself but everyone I spoke to said you were by far and away the worst side we’ve played this season despite playing against 10 men for 89 minutes, granted you only had a man advantage for about half hour or so.

Looked at the table earlier and hadn’t realised how tight it was down there, any 4 of about 10 teams could lend up relegated at this point.

We were missing are entire strike force against you and played a winger up front who then got sent off. Of course were shit. We are not good all of a sudden either bit we are improving and weave a massive amount of business to do in Jan.

 

[Bottega Don]

Today was just the perfect summary of our season as a whole.

Even game to start with, we have a few chances, nothing major but we're in it. Two individual errors by the same two players as always, we're then 2-0 down and the game is over. Once the 2nd goes in our team falls apart and it becomes easy for Bradford.

Second half, we start off okay and look like we might bring a goal back. Burgess then gets sent off and ends the game once and for all.

We just make it far too easy for everyone we face. Rory McArdle and Charlie Goode both make an individual error that causes a goal every week. It's the same old every single week.

We are absolutely doomed to relegation. If I was McCall I would walk tonight and get away from the shit tip this club is.

 

[nelsonpfc]

Sunderland although thought they are a good passing side, I was surprised how light weight and small they were. This is the issue Pompey had last season. You need a team of big strong players to get promoted, at least at the back. For all of their possession they only mustered 2 shots on target the whole game. Luckily Hawkins decided to draw the foul as he's not the best one on one finisher. Only one winner after the pen and sending off.. Massive 3 points. We've played Charlton, Barnsley and Sunderland and got 4 points which I would have taken. Luton and Sunderland have some hard games in January. 51 points at half way, 8 points above 3rd is cracking.

 

[CCFC_Charlie]

Portsmouth could win the league with a record points haul and the most impressive part of their season will still be getting 500k off us for Conor Chaplin.

We look like a relegation side and we’ll be right down there within a month or too, we really are utter shite. I don’t think a single player we signed in the summer have looked anywhere near good enough, aside from the two loans. Ogogo, Chaplin and Brown the biggest disappointments.

 

[BelizeHatter]

Still a long way to go but Portsmouth looking very good bet. Leaves one auto spot to play for it seems - At this stage.

I expected Barnsley to pull away too, but they seem to have slumped as have Peterboro. Sunderland, unlike many others I didnt expect to challenge until late in the season and have exceeded that so they're a big chance still, esp with the resources to spend big in the window.

We've had a great run but let's see where we are come end if January once we play the other top teams. Charlton doing every well and Doncaster if a little inconsistent at times are in with an outside shout too.

 

[Bucket_]

If you don't fancy seeing a spaff akin to a Luton post on any given Saturday evening look away now, but given that I felt a loss was on the cards today I can't resist.

Today was bloody class! Sunderland's going down to 10 men undoubtedly made a difference but regardless, the whole team to a man gave everything and were absolutely fucking excellent today. The first half was pretty even, Sunderland definitely looked more composed than us in possession, as expected with the amount of Championship/Prem experience in their team, and the two big moments of the game were undoubtedly the save from MacGillivary in the first half and of course the sending off/penalty. But we just outmatched them in crucial areas - the midfield two of Naylor and Thompson once again dominated and stifled so much, Ronan Curtis absolutely terrorised and infuriated Sunderland's right side, Hawkins bullied the central defenders and won most balls that came to him. Ben Thompson jumps so high for headers I've started calling him Salmon.

It was the best performance I've seen from us all season today, and felt very similar to the Wigan game last season; our highest attendance in quite a few years, and sure enough the atmosphere was loud and came in waves (with definite periods of palpable tension in between).. the players just seemed to feed off of it and deserved the win by a long way.

Halfway through and that's a huge win for us, psychologically more than anything I feel. Great following from Sunderland and mutual appreciation seemed to be the general feeling come the end of the game. Cracker of a game. Spaff over.

 

[thewwfc]

I didn’t go today, so there’s that.

But a few of our fans are whining at AFCW for being cheating cvnts against us today.

Really? Even if they were (and I don’t know)...what comes around goes around, right?

 

[Bottega Don]

Our record win in our history was against Luton (8-1), I can see them getting some very belated revenge for that on Boxing Day.

 

[codaplenty]

Good luck buddy and a merry Christmas to you and yours my friend
Keep well...

Cheers Oaky, another dismal performance for us but you are going great guns and can celebrate Christmas, all the best to you and yours mate

 

[codaplenty]

Well done to the Gasheads, sounds like a thoroughly deserved victory against Fleetwood. The Cods managed to pick up 6 yellow cards, 1 red - dont know if the ref was card happy but frankly its a shocking statistic and questions should be asked, still the good news is Joey Barton kept his nose clean, after this display that shows great restraint on his part !

Correction, Mr Joseph Barton was shown a red card after a dug out melee..........

 

[Super_horns]

Would he have made so much of a fuss had the game ended 1-1?

 

[Kenneth E End]

Portsmouth could win the league with a record points haul and the most impressive part of their season will still be getting 500k off us for Conor Chaplin.

We look like a relegation side and we’ll be right down there within a month or too, we really are utter shite. I don’t think a single player we signed in the summer have looked anywhere near good enough, aside from the two loans. Ogogo, Chaplin and Brown the biggest disappointments.

Don’t sit on the fence, tell us what you really think about this Chaplin bloke...

 

[BelizeHatter]

Just read and realised we have played everyone once.........and haven't beaten a single team in the current Top 9.

 

[Maple Hatter]

Just read and realised we have played everyone once.........and haven't beaten a single team in the current Top 9.

Oh no we're doooooooomed! Out of the play offs by the end of January. NJ to leave and join Peterborough when they sack Evans and take with him all our promising youngsters. Power Court planning permission to be denied and the council refuse to extend our lease on KR. Merry kin Christmas!

 

[Kenneth E End]

Of course gaining points against the top 9 are weighted more than the bottom 15.

 

[Bobbin']

Doesn’t bode well if you finish in the play-offs though does it?

 

[Gassy]

Well done to the Gasheads, sounds like a thoroughly deserved victory against Fleetwood. The Cods managed to pick up 6 yellow cards, 1 red - dont know if the ref was card happy but frankly its a shocking statistic and questions should be asked, still the good news is Joey Barton kept his nose clean, after this display that shows great restraint on his part !

I think after a the red he was pretty card happy. Evans could/should have been sent off in the first half so it was amazing he lasted so long. He was clearly always going to get sent off yesterday, he came out with red in his eyes. If I’m honest with you, your team was exactly what I expected from a Joey Barton team, dirty & tough tackles, 100% effort but also very well organized.

Your defence plays the ball well out of the box and gave their life to stop us winning it. But with the overly physical performance, you were your own enemy in the end.

Wicked atmosphere though, that’s my only game I’ll see for the Christmas period and I must admit, it was an excellent game and well deserved.

 

[Craig]

Great 3 points at a tough place to go despite all their off field problems. Back into the top 6 courtesy of Oxfords 97th minute equaliser, cheers lads.

Great 3 points made all the more sweet after taking some stick from a couple of Donny mates yesterday morning.

 

[Hooped Wizard]

Obsessed
Great point against the in form team in the league

 

[Jamo]

Bradford for the play-offs imo. Doing what we did in 15/16, lull everyone into a false sense of security by being utter shite up to Christmas, then winning virtually every game between then and May. You heard it here first.

 

[Gills4years]

Charlton on a good run and deserved their win.

Second week running we have given the opposition a two goal first half lead but Charlton did not look like relinquishing it.

Worrying thing for us is that losing Eaves just before kick off led to a toothless display.

Rumours are that he is going in January so we do not lose him for nothing in the summer.

As others do not look like stepping up, this will be a vital transfer window for us as we will need a replacement striker, at least on loan, if we want to stay up.

 

[Caer]

If you don't fancy seeing a spaff akin to a Luton post on any given Saturday evening look away now, but given that I felt a loss was on the cards today I can't resist.

Today was bloody class! Sunderland's going down to 10 men undoubtedly made a difference but regardless, the whole team to a man gave everything and were absolutely fucking excellent today. The first half was pretty even, Sunderland definitely looked more composed than us in possession, as expected with the amount of Championship/Prem experience in their team, and the two big moments of the game were undoubtedly the save from MacGillivary in the first half and of course the sending off/penalty. But we just outmatched them in crucial areas - the midfield two of Naylor and Thompson once again dominated and stifled so much, Ronan Curtis absolutely terrorised and infuriated Sunderland's right side, Hawkins bullied the central defenders and won most balls that came to him. Ben Thompson jumps so high for headers I've started calling him Salmon.

It was the best performance I've seen from us all season today, and felt very similar to the Wigan game last season; our highest attendance in quite a few years, and sure enough the atmosphere was loud and came in waves (with definite periods of palpable tension in between).. the players just seemed to feed off of it and deserved the win by a long way.

Halfway through and that's a huge win for us, psychologically more than anything I feel. Great following from Sunderland and mutual appreciation seemed to be the general feeling come the end of the game. Cracker of a game. Spaff over.

Fair assessment really. Thought the first half it was very even and it was a shame Maja was not really in the squad due to illness as that was something we were definitely missing. Then came the 2nd half and we were just outplayed, after socring to make it 2-1 I thought 'here we go again, let's see how they deal with this' but Portsmouth jut regrouped and continued controlling play.

Next 5 games are huge for our season now but if we can stick close to Portsmouth for the duration I think we'll be fine for pormotion.

 

[Stanleyfan]

It was a huge relief to see us back to winning ways - although we had been winning in the cups still we hadn't won in the league since 20th Oct!!
Hopefully this sets us up for the next two games both at home to Shrewsbury and Peterborough.
Happy Christmas everybody!

 

[djs]

Just read and realised we have played everyone once.........and haven't beaten a single team in the current Top 9.

True, but as I wrote in earlier thread (and got shot down for, no idea why) we HAVE beaten teams WHO WERE in the top 9, WHEN WE PLAYED THEM.

 

[K-Win]

We understand what you're saying, djs. However, it's still an interesting statistic if you take into account that we are at the stage in the season where most teams have played each other once, and thus the league table is a fair reflection on who the strongest teams are. So it's perfectly reasonable to analyse a single team's performances against the best teams in the division at this point in time.

So the good news is that Luton are clearly vying with Sunderland as the second best team in League One. League position doesn't lie. What the interesting stat shows us is that maybe Luton are fantastic at putting away weaker teams, but sometimes struggle to break down the better teams. It's not a criticism, just an observation.

This may well turn out to be a bit skewed as Luton had a tough start, fixture-wise, and so had to play many of the better teams when they were just finding their feet.

Anyway, Luton are on a fantastic run and may carry on sweeping all before them in the second half of the season which will make a complete mockery of the above.