Exiles v U's (Newport v Cambridge)

[Habbinalan]

Changed plans and just picked up ticket. Leon, Josh et al deserve some support for this one and if Shaun Derry is gone after the next two matches, he'll go with my best wishes - just proved to be missing some of the key attributes for a L2 manager.

....... with a crunch game at fellow strugglers Newport looming this weekend, Leon Legge said it was time for the players to repay the faith Derry had shown in them.

He said: "I suppose it's the first time that he has had this period.


When he came in last year, everything was rosy. When we did lose one, we bounced back with a win and went on another little run, so it's the first time where he has had that little blip.

But he has thrown down the gauntlet with us and we've got to get something for him.

The amount of work behind the scenes that he and everyone else does to set us up for the next game, we've got to do it for them. We've got to get a win for the gaffer."

It will be a lonely wet drive back if/when we don't win - the rest of the posse can't face it this time.

Hoping for a win, fearing the worst. I'm expecting a bit more steel, even if we go behind, but struggling to see where the goals might come from. Going for a 2-1 win, with goals from Leon and Lukey (pen). Might scrape 120 travelling U's?

Norris
Halliday Legge Coulson Clark
Mingoia Berry Newton Dunk
McGurk Williamson

I seem to remember the Clark/Dunk left wing partnership working well at Rodney Parade last season. Difficult to drop Elito and I'd like to see Ikpeazu get a start but that would be my starting 11.

Have they got any grass seed to take on that beach or should I bring my bucket and spade.

 

[Tom_CUFC]

Only positive thing about this terrible run is that Mansfield excepted we're on a pretty boozy run of away games,which continues for a while yet including this one, means at least we can have a few hours enjoying ourselves before the depression kicks in.

If we play 4-4-2 I'd go Norris, Halliday, Legge, Coulson, Dunk, Mingoia, Berry, Newton, Elito, McGurk, Ikpeazu. Any other formation and we begin getting into a situation where we have to drop someone we don't want to (when ideally it'd be Berry or Newton).

2-1 loss, 9/1, EAW.

 

[Habbinalan]

Only positive thing about this terrible run is that Mansfield excepted we're on a pretty boozy run of away games,which continues for a while yet including this one, means at least we can have a few hours enjoying ourselves before the depression kicks in.........

As designated driver (by default) I don't even get that compensation At least I get to chose the music. Might fish out some Judas Priest and Soft Boys for the trip down, Man and Dr Feelgood are in the frame for the trip back.

 

[PortyPort]

Have they got any grass seed to take on that beach or should I bring my bucket and spade.

It's quite green at the moment, but it might turn into a lake at any moment if it rains, so be warned! Forecast is okay at the moment though...

We need a win, I simply cannot see us getting it. I imagine Elito will unnecessarily get a bit of stick and then score the winner. I very much hope I am wrong about all of this. In fact my only hope is that I am often wrong.

 

[Brooksy]

I'm with PortyPort. I cannot see us getting a win. we have forgotten how. Nevertheless we seem capable of scoring goals from all over the pitch even if we cannot defend for toffee. Time to give Rhys Heaey a crack and any player making basic defensive errors should be hung from Newport bridge by his testicles to encourage the others.

 

[Laker]

It's about time we won really and it has to happen at some point or else Derry will be on his way. I'm not going so will avoid any heart ache from defeat again.

2-0 U's.

 

[Arbury]

We're garbage and it sounds like Newport are garbage.

0-0

KTF

 

[Vanni]

Had a look at Newport's results so far and it looks like they aren't as bad as some think. They only lost at Luton by a 96 min highly disputed pen, and Mansfield only beat them on the opening day with a 93rd goal. Also looks to me like they're good at going behind and then getting an equaliser.

So I reckon we need to go 2 goals up if we're to win, and that's a tough ask considering the way we're playing atm. I'll go for a 1-1 draw.

 

[huddsmoose]

#projectpromotion

 

[hellogregory]

How long will this but Derry? Another month regardless? Or still 1 defeat away from the boot?

 

[huddsmoose]

Who knows? We've got two home games in a week now (Yeovil and Accy). Looks like an excellent opportunity to string some wins together and push up the table.

If we fail to beat either team I think Derry will be under severe pressure.

 

[Habbinalan]

How long will this but Derry? Another month regardless? Or still 1 defeat away from the boot?

A poor performance ending in a loss or even a draw on Tuesday could possibly be the end of the road but probably not - it doesn't look like Derry will jump and the players were battling for him yesterday. Anything less than 3 points from Yeovil and Accrington at the Abbey next week may be the tipping point. I think the board will act later rather than sooner - it's a generation thing. Act in haste, repent at leisure?

Chatting with Newport fans in the supporters club, they share my concern as to who are we/they going to get as a replacement - experience will probably mean experience of failure at our level, inexperience will be another gamble. Our boards may be thinking similarly. We've probably got more chance (can better afford) a safer option but I'm ready to keep supporting the team until it comes right or falls apart.

As to the match, neither side looked capable or very likely to score from open play. County had the long throw onto Parkin. McGurk's free kick was tipped onto the bar in the first half and we had enough play to win (be gifted) some free kicks in dangerous areas in the second half, with the wind behind us. Mingoia was a big miss but Elito showed occasional quality. In truth, we were both pretty rubbish and it felt like a Conference game at times (Parkin v Roberts and Will lumping clearances straight to their keeper). I guess Mark Roberts was in because of Parkin but was less than convincing on a couple of occasions. I'm sure Josh would have done a better job - has he pissed in Derry's tea or something?

Once we got into the second half, I grew in confidence that we would get a goal - body language on both sides plus Dunk moved forward and an actual presence up front with our Uche. Once we'd scored we had momentum and the odd chance but usually needed the free kicks to get the ball into dangerous areas.

Berry, relieved of the burden of captaincy, and Clark were effective as a two in midfield against an inferior, nervous and tiring County in the second half. They still need help against a better calmer side. We kept the ball quite well once we'd got into their half but too many balls were lumped down the middle, even before we had the lead. The players were certainly up for the battle, with 2 of the 3 yellows (Clark and, off course, Captain Legge) for crunching ball winning tackles that caused the ref (and a few others) to wince. Ikpeazu has the potential to become a fan's favourite but more in the Delano mould than the BB Corr mould.

On to Tuesday. If we play like that at home, patience on the Habbin and in the Main Stand will be thread-bare well before half time, even if we repeat the passion and effort of the second half. I think he'll have to start with Dunk and Ikpeazu (Edit: or perhaps not. He only looked fit enough for 30 minutes of a Derry type game - although he's fitter than Parkin has been for years) up front. A return for Josh and hopefully Piero may be enough to build the momentum. It's rarely boring down the Abbey.