Black & Amber v The Bees (Cambridge v Barnet)

[BeesKnees]

Here we go again.
Martin Allen says he wants us to win the league, Chairman says extra money has been made available for a promotion push and most of the fans aren't really buying it, but feel we could improve on last year.
It has been a very good pre-season on the pitch with almost no changes in personnel, which for us is virtually unheard of. Allen has played an unbeaten same first eleven against Ipswich, Gillingham and Oxford in pre-season so it would be a surprise if they weren't the players that line up on Saturday.
We have three injured players so it isn't our absolute strongest side with Pearson, Hoyte and Stephens out but should be good enough to give a decent account of ourselves. Hopefully the loanee keeper will be ok and I'm sure young Harry Taylor will be fine at right back.

We will line up
Vickers
Taylor Nelson Dembele Johnson
Weston Watson Togwell Gambin
Nicholls Akinde
Bench : KML, Ngala,Gash, Akpa Akpro, Day\Champion, Shomotun, Muggleton

My prediction, not a clue. I think it will be close and I think there is a good chance we will score first as our tactic appears to be come out with all guns blazing and then hang on for dear life. If we don't score then I expect a defeat as I'm not convinced we are defensively strong enough to keep a clean sheet

 

[Arbury]

Fancy a Barnet win for this, don't think we've got the goals in us, no corr, no mcgurk and a uninspiring Williamson(pre season only)

Hope I'm wrong obviously.

0-1

KTF

 

[George Reilly's Hairpiece]

We've a very poor record on opening day games at this level over recent times. Only a win at Morecambe 5 years ago and a draw against the same opponents four years earlier to show for our last eight opening days in League Two.

Stephens and Pearson are big misses, especially Stephens.

Would happily take a draw but fear we might continue our wretched opening day form.

 

[ProfessorGreen]

I like Barnet, they're my second team in this league and think they'll have a good season (Akinde each way Top Goalscorer tip). Cambridge look strong too, an uninspiring 1-1 for both sides my guess.

 

[Tom_CUFC]

Tricky first game, fancy Barnet to go really well this season and based on the predictions thread it seems I'm not the only one. Akinde always does a job on us and they should've put the game to bed at our place last year before that incredible 60 second turnaround.

Still a few questions regarding who he'll start, should be Adams at left back, but then Dallison/Coulson alongside Legge, Clark/Newton alongside Dunne, and Pigott/Williamson up top. I suspect he'll go Dallison, Clark, Pigott, I'd probably play Newton over Clark but I'm not too concerned either way, same with the centre backs.

2-2.

 

[Vanni]

Well, since we got back in the league we've managed not to concede in our first game of the season (1-0 Plymouth, 3-0 Newport) so I think we'll keep a clean sheet once again.

Nah not really. I expect a far stronger Barnet this year, not that it really matters as we always struggle when playing the Bees, irrespective of smoke bombs I'm going for a 1-1 or a 2-2 draw, though a defeat wouldn't be unexpected afaic.

Now watch Laker predicting a 4-0 win

 

[Urban]

4-2 Cambridge. Akinde (Pen) with 2 for us

 

[Laker]

Well, since we got back in the league we've managed not to concede in our first game of the season (1-0 Plymouth, 3-0 Newport) so I think we'll keep a clean sheet once again.

Nah not really. I expect a far stronger Barnet this year, not that it really matters as we always struggle when playing the Bees, irrespective of smoke bombs I'm going for a 1-1 or a 2-2 draw, though a defeat wouldn't be unexpected afaic.

Now watch Laker predicting a 4-0 win

You've called me out so I have to reply now. ;-)

I've got us down to lose 2-0 on our board and I'll stick with that here. A lot of expectation on us again and Barnet are always well organised. Won't be easy and can see Barnet doing us.

No positivity from me I'm afraid. ;-)

 

[SVH]

I really have no idea so this game won't be in my accumulator on Saturday.

We seemed to of had a good pre season and only losing McGurk to injury. Positive games again Ipswich and Villa, creating lots but not scoring enough. We have lots of goals in the team on paper but for whatever reason it just hasn't clicked in front of goal in pre season.

However we have looked fairly solid at the back so should it click in front of goal we should win the game.

I'll sit on the fence though. 1-1.

 

[Habbinalan]

Disappointed I'll not be back for this. We (should) take off in around 20 hours - then 24 hours flying/faffing should get us back in Heathrow in time to pick up a copy of the Football League Paper and see how it all went.

Everything points at a score draw banker - so I'll take us for a 2-1 win thanks to a pen conceded by the Admiral and general mayhem caused by Berry and Williamson in the second half. Picking up the Laker baton, I have nothing to base this prediction/hope on other than blind optimism and a keen memory of what Nelson can bring to a shaky Barnet defence.

 

[BeesKnees]

Really do have to wonder who you had playing next to Nelson. With pacy defenders around him he does an excellent job of keeping us organised. Dembele, Johnson and Taylor are no slouches and Togwell fills in when the full backs push on.

 

[SVH]

We had no pace in our back line so the admiral was exposed. Not only was he exposed but his attitude stank when he didn't get his bonus from the Man United game.

Through the towel in after that so not well thought of round these parts.

 

[Tom_CUFC]

Yup, Nelson was a 5/10 with us until the Man Utd games, did sure us up a little bit from when he joined, and then a 1/10 after that, plus a complete tosspot.

The goal below (48 seconds in) just typified his attitude in the second half of that season, lazy fucker. Certainly won't get a good reception from us tomorrow, as opposed to Champs in the unlikely event he gets some playing time.

 

[George Reilly's Hairpiece]

Nelson has been a great signing and is our captain this season. No sign of any poor attitude in our colours.

 

[Vanni]

Nelson has been a great signing and is our captain this season. No sign of any poor attitude in our colours.

Just make sure you give him a tenner should you lot draw L'pool or Man U in the cup, and you won't have any trouble with him. He was decent enough before we played Man U, and by decent I mean average, but he expected a bonus so he didn't play well after that game. In fact, I still see it as one of R Money's mistakes, cos if I was in his shoes I would've dropped him and played some 14 year old kid instead. In my book, an inexperienced kid will still put more effort in than a disgruntled player.

 

[BeesKnees]

Gash instead of Nicholls, otherwise as expected.

 

[rudebwoyben]

Didn't stop Nicholls from coming on and scoring a great goal for us, set up by Akpa-Akpro. MA deserves credit for his subs, which really turned the game around.

 

[huddsmoose]

Well, not a thrilling game to start the season!

The first half was terrible - Barnet lumping the ball to Akinde at every opportunity and togwell (?) Taking a long throw on every occasion. We weren't in the game and resorted to hopeless punts up field too.

Second half slightly better; we scored with the only decent move we managed in the game and then some horrific defending allowed Nichols to score a good goal.

Barnet looked far better after bringing on Nichols, Akpa-Apro and Campbell-Ryce. Why the hell didn't all 3 start?! We were hanging on a bit at the end.

The 2 new lads in defence were poor - hopefully just symptomatic of needing to form a relationship.

At least it was sunny.

 

[rudebwoyben]

Well, not a thrilling game to start the season!

The first half was terrible - Barnet lumping the ball to Akinde at every opportunity and togwell (?) Taking a long throw on every occasion. We weren't in the game and resorted to hopeless punts up field too.

Second half slightly better; we scored with the only decent move we managed in the game and then some horrific defending allowed Nichols to score a good goal.

Barnet looked far better after bringing on Nichols, Akpa-Apro and Campbell-Ryce. Why the hell didn't all 3 start?! We were hanging on a bit at the end.

The 2 new lads in defence were poor - hopefully just symptomatic of needing to form a relationship.

At least it was sunny.

An accurate summary although I didn't see what was so bad about your defending for our equaliser.
Think it was too hot and sunny to actually get down to the business of playing football for the most part.

 

[huddsmoose]

The left back was miles out of position and then none of several players bothered to get in Nichols' way. Good run and finish though.

 

[Urban]

Frustrating first half. Decent second although if we'd failed to attack decently with all the strikers we had on he pitch at the time it would've been ridiculous.

Mingoia looked very good. You lot really disliked Akinde for some reason. Too hot to be sat in plastic seats.

 

[rudebwoyben]

It was steaming in that stand!

 

[Urban]

Also, I forgot how fucking moany Barnet fans are. I mean Jesus Christ Weston actually got boo'd once just for misplacing a pass. Blokes around me sitting there doing nothing but prattle on about wasted high balls and useless players. FFS Allens been there 2 years now, you should've got used to the style by now. If you don't like it, why the fuck travel to an away game to sit there and allow yourself to be pissed off? Does my head in.

And that's coming from the most pessimistic poster 14/15 (no autographs plz). Which shows how bad our moany, geriatric support can be.

 

[rudebwoyben]

Also, I forgot how fucking moany Barnet fans are. I mean Jesus Christ Weston actually got boo'd once just for misplacing a pass. Blokes around me sitting there doing nothing but prattle on about wasted high balls and useless players. FFS Allens been there 2 years now, you should've got used to the style by now. If you don't like it, why the fuck travel to an away game to sit there and allow yourself to be pissed off? Does my head in.

And that's coming from the most pessimistic poster 14/15 (no autographs plz). Which shows how bad our moany, geriatric support can be.

I noticed that too. It really came out as soon as we went 1-0 down. Talk about a knee-jerk reaction...
They were all singing his praises afterwards..

 

[Urban]

I noticed that too. It really came out as soon as we went 1-0 down. Talk about a knee-jerk reaction...
They were all singing his praises afterwards..

It's an attitude which really holds this club back at times. Allen's referenced it loads of times recently in interviews and programme notes (Really need support from stands/Fans are more important than they realise/Better as a team etc) so they definitely realise that people here are moany old fucks.

But what really annoys me is the stupidity of it. These people are paying money (even going to away games ffs) to actively watch something they don't enjoy... Why do it? One guy even walked off at 85 minutes (after spending 45 of those making comments along the lines of 'Why do I even bother thinking they'll change every year?' etc) saying that that's his lot for the season. Walk off then you fool, save yourself some money and buy yourself some personality replacements.

God it irritates me more than I thought.

 

[rudebwoyben]

It's an attitude which really holds this club back at times. Allen's referenced it loads of times recently in interviews and programme notes (Really need support from stands/Fans are more important than they realise/Better as a team etc) so they definitely realise that people here are moany old fucks.

But what really annoys me is the stupidity of it. These people are paying money (even going to away games ffs) to actively watch something they don't enjoy... Why do it? One guy even walked off at 85 minutes (after spending 45 of those making comments along the lines of 'Why do I even bother thinking they'll change every year?' etc) saying that that's his lot for the season. Walk off then you fool, save yourself some money and buy yourself some personality replacements.

God it irritates me more than I thought.

Some people just wouldn't know what to do if the situation was perfect. If they had nothing to moan about, they'd shrivel up and die.
We were too aimless going forward for the first 35 minutes but we improved as the game progressed away at a club many people fancy to do well this season and it's clear that our new signings will all give us extra variety in our play. It's pleasing that they all made a positive impact on their debuts.

 

[SVH]

Before the game started I couldn't believe how poor a turn out it was from the travelling fans. After 20 mins I knew why.

I salute the ones who travel up and down the country to watch that style of football week in week out.

 

[rudebwoyben]

Before the game started I couldn't believe how poor a turn out it was from the travelling fans. After 20 mins I knew why.

I salute the ones who travel up and down the country to watch that style of football week in week out.

I'd hardly say that it was poor, 590
is about a third of our core support and equivalent proportionally to what you bring to us. We took fewer to you last season as well.
I have to agree that our football in the first half was not easy to watch!

 

[Urban]

Before the game started I couldn't believe how poor a turn out it was from the travelling fans. After 20 mins I knew why.

I salute the ones who travel up and down the country to watch that style of football week in week out.

We're a small club, you expect us to bring our entire support around the country every week? Attendances don't mean shit. Style of football doesn't matter - I'd rather play like that and get a draw than play pretty little passing triangles and lose in front of 3k travelling fans, but have it be ok because Weston got 96% passing accuracy.

Basically, it's not pretty, it's effective and it gets results, so I couldn't care less. People who don't like - don't come!

 

[BeesKnees]

We're a small club, you expect us to bring our entire support around the country every week? Attendances don't mean shit. Style of football doesn't matter - I'd rather play like that and get a draw than play pretty little passing triangles and lose in front of 3k travelling fans, but have it be ok because Weston got 96% passing accuracy.

Basically, it's not pretty, it's effective and it gets results, so I couldn't care less. People who don't like - don't come!

Sadly people not liking the football and not coming might be another factor in poor crowds. I'd rather see entertaining football and less wins but I guess I'm in the minority.
That said I don't get the impression Cambridge saw us at our best.
As I didn't go can anyone confirm that Cambridge played exciting Barcelona style football?