Cambridge vs Newport

[Tom_CUFC]

We're going to get Westley'd, aren't we?

Derry's returned to very negative football again recently and I fear we'll do the same today with them on a decent run by their standards, but they're built on defence and not attack so we should be coming out strong at them, which is why I'd start Corr rather than bring him on, I would say of our top 10 performances under Derry at least 8 of them have been playing in that style, but I doubt that's what we'll see today. I expect it to be a frustrating afternoon similar to the Plymouth game, but not having played well at the end of it.

0-1.

 

[Habbinalan]

We did it again ^^^^ . Clearly our pre-match routines are becoming synchronised. I'll double check before hitting post in future.

We're going to get Westley'd, aren't we?

Derry's returned to very negative football again recently and I fear we'll do the same today with them on a decent run by their standards, but they're built on defence and not attack so we should be coming out strong at them, which is why I'd start Corr rather than bring him on, I would say of our top 10 performances under Derry at least 8 of them have been playing in that style, but I doubt that's what we'll see today. I expect it to be a frustrating afternoon similar to the Plymouth game, but not having played well at the end of it.

0-1.

Although memories of recent home matches and Morecambe remain, I can stir more optimism than you - not based on our record at home but more on a strong midfield plus Uche, with strength on the bench and a decent pitch.

Main memory of the reverse fixture was a corner turned and the arrival of Uche. If County had the same (poor Conference standard) team and (out of depth) manager, I'd have no worries - but they don't.

A return to the Abbey for Ryan Bird (and Micky Demetriou) and the prospect of a Westley parked bus drains the optimism. It looks like Uche will be playing, with BBB Corr coming off the bench, so we should be OK. An early goal will be essential for a relaxed afternoon. 2 - 0 to the U's before two tough away matches.

Norris
Davies, Legge, Roberts, Carroll
O'Neil
Mingoia, Berry, Lewis, Dunk
Ikpeazu

My mate Mike makes his debut alongside Johno in the commentary box, as Doug takes a break.

 

[Vanni]

Yay! Trevor Kettle!

 

[Arbury]

I've gone for Newport win in my accy, I'm struggling to have any confidence with the way we're playing at the minute, injuries aside we're pretty pants.

I fecking hate westley and kettle so it makes me wonder what we've done so bad that we get them on the same fecking day!!

1-2 and a big drink afterwards.

KTF

 

[Vanni]

I know i'm not generally this optimistic, and with good reason I think, but we'll turn this around in the second half. 2-1 U's.

 

[Roger Stone]

Shit and piss.

 

[Vanni]

I'm sure I wasn't the only one who thought we weren't going to score the penalty, right? Berry and Corr both off the pitch so Maris had to take it, but at least Roberts was in the right place.

 

[Laker]

I couldn't make it today as our baby girl arrived this week. So I listened on the radio. It sounded like we played well but couldn't score and conceded two goals really against the run of play.

I was all for sacking Derry at 2 down (which I admit was a bit hasty!) but the team showed really good character to turn that round.

14 points above the drop now, 4 off the play offs. Still looking up rather than down despite the recent poor run.

 

[Habbinalan]

It took a while for the penny to drop that it was Trevor Kettle in the middle. I double checked the programme but his unique pompous incompetence confirmed there must have been a change. At least he got up Westley's nose more than mine - but he nearly managed to spoil a talismantastic afternoon by ensuring both Berry and Corr were off the pitch for the pen.

As I remain in a relaxed, mid-table finish, mindset, I can forgive our stuttering first half display/finishing and frustrating ability to concede goals from ex-strikers. Little Leon had another strong game. McDonagh may offer something up front after all - even ben Williamson looked threatening alongside Barry Corr for 15 minutes.

Although I get to quite a lot of games, that was the first time I've heard Coconuts since we hammered Coventry at the beginning of December - and it was very welcome, however achieved. Form suggests 3 defeats coming up but I can see us buiilding on this and managing a couple of results. 8th place finish would reflect a good finish to the season, top 10 should be doable even if we keep stuttering.

 

[Arbury]

Well that's handy, didn't expect it at 2 down but I'll take it, was needed to.

It's sooooo good to have corr back, his intelligence on playing up top is top notch, big uche can definitely learn a thing or two off him.

Muchos congrats laker, hope mum and baby are doing well, all the best.


KTF

 

[Laker]

Muchos congrats laker, hope mum and baby are doing well, all the best.


KTF

Thanks mate, mum and baby doing well. Best of luck yourself in the next few weeks. Honestly, it's the most amazing thing I've done. Takes your breath away.

 

[Urban]

That reaction to being sent off from Rose was pretty funny. Larger ban incoming?

 

[Vanni]

Congrats Laker. Great to hear everything went well.

All the best to you and the madam Arbury!

 

[Roger Stone]

Looks like guesswork by the ref to give the pen in the first place. Little doubt Rose went for the ball so why the red card after pen was awarded? Surprised Rose didn't twat the prick. Fella that scored the rebound was 2 yards inside the box when the pen is taken. Another tip top L2 refereeing performance, won't have that cross to bear next season.

 

[Tom_CUFC]

We just weren't good enough in the first half yesterday, the setup was all wrong, Williamson is done with us as a player but I wasn't opposed to starting him, you have to move the ball quickly and keep it on the deck to make that work, but we did neither of those things and contributed towards him looking absolutely hopeless in that first half. He then managed to do that himself alongside Baz in the second half and got rightly hooked for McDonagh, who would've been far more suited to the way we played it, but ultimately we are too slow at moving the ball and that limits our ability to create opportunities.

Of course once you can bring Corr on all logic and theory goes out the window and anything is possible, what a guy. We have to start him going forward, he's our only hope.

Defensive pairing looking shaky again, Roberts is starting to get caught out by his slowness again recently and isn't doing much to justify a new contract. Davies the better of the two full backs again, how we miss Halliday and Taylor though, the combination of those two plus Mingoia and Dunk on the wings provide us with so much balance, nothing any other combination of players we have can get close to.

Lewis did alright at best, but no worse than Bez who again was disappointing despite his shiny new boots (paid for by his move to Ipswich no doubt....). I really don't see what O'Neil brings us that Dunne doesn't, and everything else they do Dunne does it 10 times better. I try not to write people off too early but if our proposed starting XI next season includes him and Carroll then we may as well all just come back in August 2018.

Based on what I saw yesterday out of Corr and McDonagh, I see no reason why Corr and Uche couldn't work. Both big guys but two very different footballers, you can let Uche do the leg work and allow Corr to stay within the tramlines, get the ball out wide to Mingoia and Dunk who will give Corr ample opportunities to score each game, and probably create a bit more space for Berry (like Uche did at first) coming through the middle. An 11 of Norris, Halliday, Legge, Roberts, Taylor, Mingoia, Dunne, Berry, Dunk, Uche and Corr would give anyone in this division a run for their money. The problem we have is that, possibly Wharton aside, any other combination of players we put in there just isn't going to prove to be consistent enough, all our other players deficincies are so glaring that it makes it hard for us to carry any passengers.

Wanted Newport to go down anyway, but mostly because I don't want to lose two great aways in Orient and Notts, however after their antics second half yesterday (a Westley side, why was I shocked) then I hope they go down crashing and burning, vile bunch. Credit to Ryan Bird mind you, two very cool and composed finishes yesterday, that was always his strong point with his problem being offering absolutely nothing else, whilst they've got someone able to do that then they'll have a chance if they can spend enough time not throwing themselves to the floor to get the ball into his feet inside the box.

The ref was awful both ways yesterday, unsurprisingly with Mr Kettle, but it was definitely a penalty, guy just took Berry's leg away as he was making contact with the ball, no way it isn't a penalty. Can't believe (after all the antics) Mingoia didn't take it, Maris is a very lucky boy.

Good to get a win but still a lot of work to do, must start Corr and Dunk Tuesday and play the same way we did for the last 30 minutes from the off, no more of this conservative shite.

 

[Habbinalan]

I agree that Carroll is our third best left back, at best. Is he young enough for coaching to improve his defensive attributes? He's adequate going forward.

In fact, I agree with most of your analysis, including thinking Dunne is perhaps unlucky to lose his place to O'Neil - although he may benefit from the rest and it will be good to have both available. That said, I think O'Neil offers more than you're seeing. Dunne is perfect as the anchor for a midfield two. I think O'Neil has the athleticism, vision and passing to be more flexible in the role he plays.

A win on Tuesday puts us back on the fringes, if the match goes ahead and finishes (I've been checking the weather forecast), but we'll need the CHARACTER in spades pus a bit more of the talisman effect to achieve it. With Barnet and Doncaster coming up, I hope we just go for it and see if we can make life more interesting for everyone. The worst that can happen is 3 defeats and a few injuries - leaving room for the likes of McGurk, Elito, Halliday, Wharton et al to deliver the points in March that we need for a comfortable mid-table finish.