December 29th match thread

[Conker]

So Bradford vs Mansfield ended with one shot on target for Mansfield, none for Bradford and that’s it. So basically the difference were two fair penalties.

I dunno how a side with Maynard, Cook, Rose, CJ etc can be so limited, it’s bizarre.

*Just to add our shot on target was not a proper shot I don’t think either!

 

[EricSabin]

Battered Cheltenham but couldn’t put them away in the second half. Hopefully not going on to a what would have been deserved win doesn’t cost us in the long run.

 

[Chris FGR]

Winless run over. Thank fuck for that. Very tight from 3rd down.

 

[LeonTheGreen]

90+6 winner! What a feeling!

 

[Gladders]

Got better second half when Ogbu came on, actually held the ball up and brought others in, had a few chances but as usual couldn't finish them, draw a fair result in end

 

[Gladders]

So Bradford vs Mansfield ended with one shot on target for Mansfield, and that’s it. So basically the difference were two fair penalties.

I dunno how a side with Maynard, Cook, Rose, CJ etc can be so limited, it’s bizarre.

*Just to add our shot on target was not a proper shot I don’t think either!

Just seen table and we are only one point behind you having played two games less.

I knew you were having a bad season but didn't realise it was that bad, we haven't won in 11 league games!

 

[GTFCfish]

just watched us play Col U on ifollow - what a gobby, annoying **** that Harry Pell is.

You missed out ‘diving cheating bastard’.

 

[LeonTheGreen]

Forget "Fergie Time"
The Cornish are "old skool" - they still rely on "Busby Time"
#90+6 minute winners.

Hahahaha up the Greens

 

[The_Viking_Magpie]

Where's the expected new manager bounce?

Creating nothing away from home sounds like a Dempster Stags performance! Has he not had an impact on the players or style of play yet?

Early days

 

[denzel ecfc]

Pretty good game at Colchester. I feared the worst when I saw our lineup, many rested but deserved the lead and never gave up after falling behind.
Good to see Ajose back and he already looks like he could make a real difference for the rest of the season.

 

[Crewelad87]

I didn't think you did that bad today. Yes, there were issues in both boxes, but you knocked it around well, pressed, were pretty organised. Clear your treatment room and you should be able to get a comfy mid-table finish and build for next season.

As for us, I didn't think we played all that well. Scored the first out of nowhere, but took the 2nd well. 2nd half we should have been 4 or 5 up with the chances we had, some lazy/poor finishing. Then we switch off as they seemed to lose energy and suddenly it's game on. Thankfully the keeper lets in a howler and it kills it. Could have been a very different story had that not gone in.

The makeshift defence did pretty well I'll admit. Didn't think Ainley did that well, but did liven up in the last 10 minutes he was on, plus he set up the 3rd. Standing ovation though? Anene got better as the game went on. Lowery and Green covered well for Wintle in the middle. I'll take the 3 points and move onto another winnable game in Carlisle.

I think your giving Scunthorpe to much praise they were flat as a pancake, very little threat and looked dodgey at the back, plus the keeper had a stinker. Also thought we were decent, the only criticism would be we weren't clinical enough. I thought Ainley struggled 1st half but was fantastic in the 2nd half. Powell was my man of the match though, him Vs Junior Brown was a mismatch all game long.

 

[EricSabin]

90+6 winner! What a feeling!

Best feeling in football

 

[Attila the hun]

Strange game at boundary park half time stats Oldham 60% salford40% shots Oldham 10 salford 3 Ht score 0-3 Salford played well on the counter attack could of ended up 3-6 instead of 1-4 Fourth goal so far offside even the Salford player s didn’t celebrate straight away poor officials all game for both sides though it feels we didn’t get the rub of the green on the important ones oh and we missed a penalty any way wishing you all a happy new year and thank feck this decade is about to finish

 

[dedwardp]

Good game today between two decent enough sides - think a draw was a fair enough result really. We decided to sit deep at 2-1 and rode our luck a few times before the equaliser, then strangely went for it a bit more again once down to ten men. Pell blazed a complete sitter over the bar in injury time from 12 yards out, but we certainly can't complain at drawing.

Thought Randell Williams looked good for Exeter, albeit we ended up with a central midfielder playing left back for much of the game. Always threatening though.

 

[Vanni]

The game of the decade today at The Abbey! Free flowing football from the two sides: could easily have finished 6-6 or something.

Seriously though, the first half was awful and the second not much better. Morecambe set up in a 5-4-1 formation, probably looking to get a draw (quite understandable considering their poor away record), and they nearly succeeded in doing so were it not for a lucky deflection for our goal.

We always struggle to break down the more cautious sides but I felt that today we struggled more than usual; absolutely no width in the side with Hannant missing from the squad. About the only good thing I can say about today is the clean sheet and the rather undeserved win IMO.

 

[Boletus Edulis]

96th minute winner. Delirious celebrations. Never seen 11,000 people have an orgasm at the same time before!

First half we were reasonable and should have been out of sight. Second half we were awful: the worst I have seen at home this year.

Stevenage were sound at the back, and not the worst to visit Home Park this season, by a long chalk.

 

[Stringy]

Where's the expected new manager bounce?

Creating nothing away from home sounds like a Dempster Stags performance! Has he not had an impact on the players or style of play yet?

Early days

I've been waiting for us to turn it around since pre-season. Some of our lot will keep saying we'll turn it around until we are relegated.

 

[LS Bantam]

2-0, both penalties in a game I don’t think either keeper made a save. We were dire as we are every week at the minute and Mansfield had all the ball without turning that into anything that threatened. We can’t even shoot and still win, still near the top, you lot are so so bad if we’re up there playing like this.

 

[The_Viking_Magpie]

I've been waiting for us to turn it around since pre-season. Some of our lot will keep saying we'll turn it around until we are relegated.

Can't happen with Bury and Maccs situations Stringy surely?

You haven't got an egomaniac in charge which is a huge bonus. That aside, after all the nastiness towards the (ex)manager surely the finger has to be pointed at the players more? Such a talented well paid squad, looks like they are viewing MTFC as a meal ticket this season.

 

[Bottega Don]

I didn't think you did that bad today. Yes, there were issues in both boxes, but you knocked it around well, pressed, were pretty organised. Clear your treatment room and you should be able to get a comfy mid-table finish and build for next season.

As for us, I didn't think we played all that well. Scored the first out of nowhere, but took the 2nd well. 2nd half we should have been 4 or 5 up with the chances we had, some lazy/poor finishing. Then we switch off as they seemed to lose energy and suddenly it's game on. Thankfully the keeper lets in a howler and it kills it. Could have been a very different story had that not gone in.

The makeshift defence did pretty well I'll admit. Didn't think Ainley did that well, but did liven up in the last 10 minutes he was on, plus he set up the 3rd. Standing ovation though? Anene got better as the game went on. Lowery and Green covered well for Wintle in the middle. I'll take the 3 points and move onto another winnable game in Carlisle.

Giving us far too much credit there, it was men against boys today. Crewe never had to get out of first gear to win, I would imagine you're a fantastic side when you need to try.

We might have been better with some other players fit, having our starting GK, RB and LB would've helped as they were our poorest performers. However, that Kirk looked very good regardless of his poor opposition.

 

[Stringy]

Can't happen with Bury and Maccs situations Stringy surely?

You haven't got an egomaniac in charge which is a huge bonus. That aside, after all the nastiness towards the (ex)manager surely the finger has to be pointed at the players more? Such a talented well paid squad, looks like they are viewing MTFC as a meal ticket this season.

It's unlikely but it was also unlikely last season that we would miss out on promotion. I don't think we will be relegated, but we are where we deserve to be in the table and a new manager is unlikely to change that quickly.

The players deserve criticism and I maintain that after last season we should have been much more brutal in deciding our retained list. However, the board seem to think that because they are ploughing money in that we can't have an opinion on what they are doing. Sacking JD took way too long and has to factor into the players' form, and their confidence being shot to pieces. Sacking JD was worth a hundred thousand or so of someone else's money to make a proper fight of the season. I do like the club's leadership and am very happy over the longer term, but they have done a bloody shocking job of this season and it annoys me that they are so precious about hearing it. Perhaps if they had heard the criticism and acted on it in September instead of waiting until bloody December then we wouldn't be in this situation.

 

[devilofajob]

Another 90 minutes of my life I won't get back, but at least we got a point.

On the balance of play Grimsby probably deserved 3 points, but good defending and shite finishing (waterfall and 14) kept it to one.

We scored from our best chance.

Turgid end to the decade.

 

[E10rifle]

We got absolutely battered 1-1. Scored in the second minute, then spent the next 88 clinging on for dear life on the edge of our own box. Completely negative pish performance-wise but I’ll take the point at somewhere as god forsaken as the Dave.

 

[The Terminator]

We scored with our first attack and then basically decided to sit back and defend it for the remaining 89mins.

Which in the main we did well for the most part against a big side who pump countless balls into the box, but fuck me we offered very, very little in the second half on a poor pitch. Nothing went for us. Great finish by Almond for the equaliser - seen many strikers at this level screw those chances up.

In the end I was just happy to get something from the game, Newport should really've won it. 2 goals in 2 games for youth striker Ruel Soitiriou now - Which has all but confirmd James Alabi's departure.

Lovely tribute to Justin Edinburgh at half time and all over the match programme.

 

[ProfessorGreen]

We papered over some cracks today with the last minute winner.

First half great but we couldn’t make it the 3 or 3 or 4 it should have been. This appears to be a common problem.

Second half I thought we got outplayed despite the Westley time wasting for the last 15. Fortunately we scrapped a goal at the end.

The table looks good for us. If we were to win our 2 games in hand we’d go 2nd I believe.

Also very important to note:

Prior to today we’d played 10 of the top 12 away from home already. Not researched it after today’s results but I can’t imagine it will have changed drastically. When we are so good at home I’d say this is a very favourable stat and actually look very well set for a promotion challenge.

Swindon next will be a good indicator! Ideal that Doyle is now on a drought prior to the match.

 

[hellogregory]

An unexpected but welcome 3 points. Certainly seemed more competent and less naive than we were under clown Pressley. Wouldn’t say we were the better team because Walsall missed an absolute sitter first half, but once Walsall went down to 10 only one team was going to win. Was a red card as Mckirdy would hav been clean through to surely score, so a bit of justice in the end.

Important 3 points ahead of our severe beating on New Year’s Day at Crewe.

Beech isn’t doing too badly all things considering. He can only work with what he’s got which is an absolutely horrendous squad, so 1 win and 3 draws in his first 5 games is an achievement.

 

[FiRTHYY]

Absolute dog shite. Everything and anything!

Shite tactics - shite opposition - bare injuries.

Perhaps in the second half of the season Bowyer will grow a pair of bollocks and we’ll have a full strength squad to choose from.

Dire, fucking dire.

 

[Hedonist Puncture]

Awful from Scunny against a good Crewe side. Van Veen was ill apparently and had to be replaced at half time. Didn't make any difference, we were shocking throughout. Defence was awful, as we look to be slipping back down the table again. Need a proper goalkeeper in January as a priority. Central midfield was inept, costing us a goal and failing to provide the attack with any ball. Need to sharpen up if we are to hold onto a midtable position.

Crewe move the ball well and looked dangerous. Should have scored more goals. Wonder whether they held back a bit, with New Year in mind.

 

[Boletus Edulis]

We papered over some cracks today with the last minute winner.

First half great but we couldn’t make it the 3 or 3 or 4 it should have been. This appears to be a common problem.

Second half I thought we got outplayed despite the Westley time wasting for the last 15. Fortunately we scrapped a goal at the end.

The table looks good for us. If we were to win our 2 games in hand we’d go 2nd I believe.

Also very important to note:

Prior to today we’d played 10 of the top 12 away from home already. Not researched it after today’s results but I can’t imagine it will have changed drastically. When we are so good at home I’d say this is a very favourable stat and actually look very well set for a promotion challenge.

Swindon next will be a good indicator! Ideal that Doyle is now on a drought prior to the match.

Your first and penultimate paragraphs sum up the contradictions I feel. There do appear to be some cracks, and yet we are getting into a potentially good position. NYD against Swindon is going to be interesting.

January will be very important. Will we strengthen our squad and will a few of our rivals have their best players move on?

 

[Sydney Posse]

Very happy with a point away at Colchester. Some tough games coming up for us, if we are still in the top 3 by the end of Jan I will truly believe this is our year. I see them greens are sneaking up on the rails......