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Post by davidm on Nov 16, 2019 9:18:51 GMT
Another Saturday morning and no thread.
This game falls into the “must-win” category although the talk of additional points deduction does dampen the mood.
Apart from injuries, about which there seems to be a hint or two from the manager, I would expect the”normal” side with Verlinden back in after the cup match.
This is hopefully the time when we hit a positive points total.
If we play a bit quicker than last Saturday and cut out the sideways/backwards passing that afflicted us then, we must be capable of a decent win. Keep up the attacking approach and it will be a good match,
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Post by OohMac on Nov 16, 2019 10:17:27 GMT
Saw Joe Mason pushing for a start for them. Did very little here but a very rare hattrick ball owner. In the league thats even rarer.
I think the off field decisions has dampened the mood a bit. Almost makes the games irrelevant if theyre going to hit us with 9 or 12 more points, as rumoured.
To get to positive points and back down again would be a real kick in the groin.
What do people think are important between now and May - results or performances? Performance levels have dropped a bit but points tally has gone up as weve won, and big games too, ugly or nitty gritty. Is staying up ugly going to better than going down getting prepared for next season. Then if we did go down even playing well those key performers would be off and it would be square 1.
2-2 today.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 16, 2019 10:19:54 GMT
Well here we are again on the 🚂 I wish I could get back to driving but I can’t see that happening much before Christmas. Today a must win but not to bothered as I’m enjoying watching football win or lose have a booze 🍷 hahahaha 3-1 win COYWM
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Post by whitesince63 on Nov 16, 2019 10:36:28 GMT
I think you’re being a bit harsh there OM, I think other than last week performances have improved as well as results. I’m feeling pretty confident about today and think the players will be more up to it than last week. It would have been better if we’d know any penalties but the players have to ignore that and concentrate on 3 points, which are essential. If we don’t beat those clubs immediately above us we can forget staying up. I don’t want to get relegated, it will mean many of our players, young or seasoned will leave and as you say we’ll be right back to square one. Even a small points penalty could be fatal but there are still 90 points to play for so if we can stay unbeaten for the next 4 or 5 games we should be in good shape to escape. I’m confident today and expecting a 3-0 win to a revived Whites.
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Post by OohMac on Nov 16, 2019 12:53:09 GMT
Dont mean that to come across as harsh and its unfair as ive not been able to get to matches so going off some highlights, reports and stats. But seemed early we were playing free flowing football and creating lots. Even with buckley in. In that time dropped points where we were better. Oxford, Sunderland, Portsmouth.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 16, 2019 13:52:54 GMT
My god I have arrived here on time and with time for a 🍺 or two COYWM
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Post by andyl on Nov 16, 2019 17:17:13 GMT
It takes character to miss a penalty and undeterred strike a winner in extra time and in Daryl Murphy we have such character thankfully. Credit also to Luke Murphy who after a strong first half faded yet summoned the skill for the vital assist from the bye-line.
It was really the youth and fire of Verlinden that ignited our push for victory. He quickly beat his man for two crosses upon introduction, niggled an opponent into dismissing himself to give us numerical advantage and the fired us forward with a drive we had earlier lacked.
Joe Mason had served up an early shock and but for a kindly post we would have been in arrears. At the outset KH had produced a secret surprise with the unheralded return of Bridcutt. He stayed deep but for one run and was quiet overall but his extra composure was a bonus..
in truth our youth less starting eleven proved a bit one paced and we offered two Luke Murphy shots and a few corners in a barren first half. Lowe was exposed for lack of skill repeatedly. I thought Chicksen was perhaps our best player on the day in a dullish game strewn with errors. MKD were very lightweight but at their most threatening in midfield. We ckould and should have had another penalty when Politic was tripped. He added a bit I thought. Good substitutions.
Matthews 6 Emmanel 6 Earl 6 Wright 6 Chicksen 8 Bridcutt 6 Lowe 5 L Murphy 6 D Murphy 6 O Grady 5 Dodoo 5 Verlinden8 |
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Post by Deleted on Nov 16, 2019 17:22:31 GMT
1-0 should have been a lot better but a win is a win and we are on 1 point until Wednesday but we will enjoy it while it lasts hopefully I can get 🏡 on time. COYWM
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Post by davidm on Nov 16, 2019 19:03:32 GMT
Maybe our luck has turned at last. After having awful luck with injuries etc, today we got a bit back. Two bad misses from MK Dons and a stupid sending off plus a lucky (but correct) penalty in the last minute and then a winner in 90+3 minutes.
This match was very similar to last Saturday against Plymouth. We set off well for 10 minutes and then faded into mediocrity.
I think we struggled through lack of creative skill in midfield. Bridcutt, Lowe and LMurphy are all decent players but, basically, all are defensive midfielders so there is a desperate lack of positivity up front. DMurphy is starved of decent ball so we struggle.
First half, we had decent possession but, apart from 2 long range accurate shots from LMurphy, did not trouble MK Dons’ keeper. Mk Dons had one brilliant chance when Bridcutt was caught in possession and a hole appeared in the right of our defence for ex-Wanderer Joe Mason to get clear and hit the post when he should have scored. I don’t think Matthews touched it - just a bit more luck for us.
As against Plymouth, little changed after half time and MK Dons had as much of the play as us and missed a sitter about 10 minutes from end.
The changing point came from the replacement of Dodoo with Verlinden. Verlinden tormented the full backs and stupidly the right back swiped him across the face after conceding a free kick. An obvious but stupid sending off.
We then had 25 minutes to play against 10 men which we did not do well. LMurphy had another good long range shot but everything was being blocked on the edge of the box until the 89th minute when a Verlinden centre was clearly handled by the defender. DMurphy took the resulting pen but the goalie made a reasonable save and we all thought that was it.
Credit then to LMurphy who made a charge down the left, got a lucky bounce against the defender and played the ball into the box for DMurphy to score.
I think we just about deserved to win but it was not a great performance.
3 wins on the trot and Accrington, Wimbledon and Southend to come plus the EFL so maybe there is still hope.
Marks:-
Matthews - 6 Not called on much but did what he had to do.
Emmanuel - 6 As usual some good positive stuff but also got caught trying to dribble in his own half.
Chicksen - 7 Some good enterprising runs in the second half when Verlinden was on.
Wright - 7 Very very steady. Nothing outlandish just solid defending.
Earl - 7 Like Wright, a really good solid performance.
Bridcutt - 6 Welcome back. Pretty quietish game but good to see him.
Murphy L - 6 Strange mixture of some good positive shooting but also some of what was wrong last week but massive credit for setting up the winner.
Lowe - 6 I don’t think he is a positive midfielder so we lose something when he is played in that role.
DoDoo - 5 Not a good day. Most centres hit the first man.
O’Grady - 5 It was a struggle for him on the left. I really believe that if he plays, it should be upfront alongside Murphy.
Murphy D - 6 He looked absolutely shattered when he stepped up to take the penalty but mighty credit to him for being in the right spot for the goal.
Verlinden - 7 Changed the game when he came on. I wish his final ball was a bit better but he got us the win in this game.
Politic - 6 Not much to see of him but appeared to be brought down in the box.
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Post by OohMac on Nov 16, 2019 19:04:24 GMT
Biggest mystery for me is how can we have come to acquire Chicksen. Doesnt look like a left back at 8 stone and 5 foot 3 but may be the most solid LB weve have since Paul Robinson(ronseal)
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Post by kenglowhite on Nov 16, 2019 20:20:09 GMT
I think I have discovered why we are looking less like the team that promised so much a few weeks ago. Players are not taking just one touch before passing, but often two or three, by which time they have lost control and their orginal option, be it passing or moving with the ball. They then resort either to a suicide pass, a useless square ball.or a back to the goalkeeper. It seems to me they are full of nerves, which makes them uncomfortable on the ball.
Jow Dodoo was again a disappointment, and what a duifference Verlinden made. No wonder Stoke cup-tied him. Anyone know why Andy Madly booked him. Did he foul first before the red card offence?
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Post by Deleted on Nov 16, 2019 21:00:44 GMT
Just got 🏡 with another delay getting back but all the sweeter with 3 points but bloody hell we made work of it. I hope the EFL doesn’t kick us to hard on Wednesday it’s hard enough without them making it near on impossible to stay up. COYWM
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Post by whitesince63 on Nov 16, 2019 22:11:53 GMT
I think I have discovered why we are looking less like the team that promised so much a few weeks ago. Players are not taking just one touch before passing, but often two or three, by which time they have lost control and their orginal option, be it passing or moving with the ball. They then resort either to a suicide pass, a useless square ball.or a back to the goalkeeper. It seems to me they are full of nerves, which makes them uncomfortable on the ball. Jow Dodoo was again a disappointment, and what a duifference Verlinden made. No wonder Stoke cup-tied him. Anyone know why Andy Madly booked him. Did he foul first before the red card offence? I completely agree with that Kenglo, I just don’t know what’s happened to that quick pass and move we were playing a few weeks ago. We seem to have become lethargic somehow. I can’t see why they’d be nervous though, surely with the run they’re on they should be full of it. We’ve had good results and performances against good teams so surely against these lower teams they should be right up for it. I’m not blaming Keith Hill exactly but if his talking down is the same to the players as it is in his comments, he might be creating the problem himself? I accept he has to control expectations amongst supporters but if the players are any less than totally committed to winning every game, we will fall short. We were poor today and very lucky to win but we deserve a bit of that after what we’ve been through and what a difference coming out of the stadium with a win and driving home happy makes. Long may it last and bring on Accy now. |
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Post by bonaparte on Nov 16, 2019 22:35:43 GMT
I agree with the match assessments of Andy and David.
Kenglo has a good point, but I think that the set up was wrong.
Dodoo and O'Grady cut in too often, and when KH brought on two out and out wingers, who drove to the byline, they looked more dangerous.
There was also an aggorance by some, particularly Emmanuel, who tride to beat too many men when a simple pass would have been more effective.
Too many poor passes gave the ball away too often, back passes looked good and upped possesion stats, but did not produce results.
Comr on KH you are better than this, sort it.
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Post by whitesince63 on Nov 17, 2019 11:34:37 GMT
Yes it’s strange bony, KH started with two out and out wingers getting wide and past defenders and a quick pass and move game which was proving highly successful but now he’s put what are effectively strikers out wide in Dodoo and O’Grady which doesn’t make sense to me and at the same time we seem to have adopted a sideways, backwards method in midfield. At least he reverted back with the wingers but at the cost of Dodoo and O’Gradys goal threat. Maybe he’s just still trying things and I’m being too picky. The footballs still light years ahead of last year and one way or the other we are at least winning games. Let’s just hope that continues in the run up to Christmas and we also get a bit of Santa Claus from the EFL?
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