Thetownend.com

2-0 against all odds in make or break game for Luke Williams. Goals from Murray and Goddard in dominant display. Talk of play off push after game, only to mess it up against Rochdale Tuesday!

1:1 Norris bundles home from a scramble to equalise in final 5.

The exact kind of team who will bully us into submission. 3-1 loss with a late consolation goal.

1:1 Norris will score. he will, he might, OK he night not.

I think there are 10-12 goals in him this season.

2-1 Wombles.

I'm going today. It will be interesting

I'm going today also.

Apparently if you are less than 6ft (which I am) and aren't at the front of the terrace you see nothing.

So I'm going to miss Norris' first goal for us, merely a consolation in a 3-1 defeat.

Does Callum Kennedy still play for them?

4 0 loss with same problems. But we have 55% possession so all is well. Anything from this game would. E great.

2-0 defeat unfortunately.

Nah he's at Orient now.

Jake Reeves and Dean Parrett both play for the Dons though.

Sadly, can't see anything other than another defeat.  Hope Vigs is on form!

Pre match preparation in The Watchman, in downtown Seoul, sorry New Malden.

Second visit to Franchise sister club.
In the home end last time, away terrace this time.

Some grit and determination needed today.
A Norris deflection from a wayward Kasim effort in added time. 1-0 and pandemonium.

AFC are the only club in the four divisions with an Admiral kit.

Favourite Womble was Orinoco.

My favourite Womble is Great Uncle Bulgaria. 

Today is a horrible game. Defeat leaves us in the same position as v Millwall last season. Then as now, we could barely field a viable XI, nevertheless Cooper was sacked.

Think most punters will have this down as a banker home win..... if by some good fortune we don't lose by a few, then it might be regarded as OK, actually getting something would be a major achievement.

Does anyone know of a decent away pub near to the ground? First time at Wimbledon

Kasim to score,us to lose

Loads of town in the bricklayers arms

TOWN STARTING XI | Vigouroux; Furlong, Thomas, Thompson (C), Brophy; Rodgers, Kasim; Goddard, Murray, Iandolo; Delfouneso

TOWN SUBS | Henry, Barry, Smith, Evans, Ouldridge, Twine, Norris.


Dons starting 11 v Swindon: Shea, Fuller, Robinson, Charles, Meades, Bulman, Reeves, Parrett, Elliott, Taylor, Barcham. #AFCW

4-3-2-1 then.

at least we'll dominate the ball ;)

surprised Norris isn't the lone striker mind. Fonz doesn't strike me add the hold it up type

Not even an official match day thread, that's a new low.
5-0 defeat.

Probably the weakest defence I have ever seen Swindon put out, going to be a long afternoon.

Certainly the weakest since Feb. At least Luke has realised we need to go 4-5-1 and try and park the bus. Try being the operative word, we struggle to defend crosses into the box even when we've got a couple of centre halves, without  any, going to be very, very difficult.

Who the fuck is Twine?

Youth team striker/attacking midfielder.

Is it much different to Gillingham away earlier this season? Got a similar feel to it.

We played well and could have won.

I genuinely can't think of a weaker back 4, basically Thompson and Furlong are two right backs, Brophy is a winger and Thomas is a midfielder.

The man to tie the opposition defence up in knots.

We had one recognised CB that day in JSW, we also had BOO and Brophy playing so double cover at LB even if both are poor at LB.

VIGOUROUX   
Jamie SENDLES-WHITE   
Nathan THOMPSON   
Conor THOMAS   
Brandon ORMONDE-OTTEWILL   
Darnell FURLONG   
Michael DOUGHTY   
Anton RODGERS   
James BROPHY   
John GODDARD   
Brad BARRY   

I have to admit thats a lot stronger defensively than todays team.

optimistic aren't we :)

where is boo by the way. presumably injured?

The gourmet burgers aren't.

The uncovered bit of the terrace smells of shit.

It's all going to be ok.

At Vale Park in Feb.....Barry, Nathan, Doughty, BOO.

Not a lot in it, I'd prefer Furlong to Barry defensively, Doughty tries, although Thomas has played a bit at the back, neither BOO or Brophy have the first idea how to defend, but I'd prefer Brophy because he tries, whereas BOO doesn't.

It's certainly a bracing smell.

Watching the lads warm up taking shots at goal didn't feel me with much confidence

Yes thats pretty comparable, I agree about Brophy being better but not sure about defensively better than BOO.

I hope I am proved wrong, it could be a master stroke by Williams, although this side is pretty much playing the only fit players that can play there, can't blame him for this line up at all, the side pretty much picks itself with Barry not being fully fit yet.

it's just like this time last year, injury crisis, confidence crisis, league position worry...

it'll all be OK, it'll all be OK

Fulham must be away today ;) .

Many years ago I worked out the dangers inherent in standing about 10 yards wide of the goal, when the players are warming up.

'interesting' protest at the valley

1' Play is stopped. Pigs on pitch. #cafc #CAFCLive

I read earlier that Charlton and Coventry were teaming up with joint protests against their respective owners.

Interesting indeed!

Apparently 4,000 plastic ones..

are the pigs arresting someone?
 ;)

https://twitter.com/LouisSealey/status/787293770349936640

yeah. the fl paper Twitter tweeted a clip

Take a look at @TheLeaguePaper's Tweet: https://twitter.com/TheLeaguePaper/status/787293787202654208?s=09

[kod]sounds OK so far..[\kod]

(https://media.giphy.com/media/516AAAP8q2M8/giphy.gif)

We are actually playing quite well

True KOD

Ffs

Come on Vigs.

nice one :)

not a penalty says doughty, dive. consulting lino............ given......saved.


mwhahaha.

another yellow for kassim for gobbing. how many is he on.

Saved Vigs.

Cracking save

FFS why can't the commentary at least describe what's going on? Just saying "it's a pen" is not helpful - yeah who the fuck to. We can't see what you're seeing...

TBH the commentary today is better than it usually is.....yes it usually is very fucking shit!

Nice bit of luck at long last!

Cmon lads!!

Vigs keeping us in it at the moment.

Half time 0-0 Doughty saying that is about fair.

Blatant elbow on Furlong right in front of the linesman, mad

better than expected results wise.

any sign of any attacking threat sonic? sounded we did on occasion

I'd say so, the trio behind Delf are operating quite well but poor final ball

Also some of our fans are utter dicks, view is shite but blocking people who arrived early to get a half decent view is nothing short of cuntish

Yep, embarrsing so far. For some reason a section have decided that embleton needs a load of abuse...

Is Embleton on his own?

cheers,

shame about the fans. its a terrible ground for view as it is, that's out of order

Couple of posts from the Wombles forum.

astute bunch.

Norris on for fonz

Norris badly needs to get off the mark for us, not to mention we need him to as well!

Norris last five....cmon...

FT.

0-0 is a fantastic away point under the circumstances.

0-0 every point counts.

Best result we could have got.

A clean sheet with a back four, what chances that we stick with that?

Drawing away is a good result.

Well pleased with that.

We got to start getting all three at home.

Look forward to hearing from some hardy souls that went.

Very decent point and players and coaching team getting pelters from some of the fans

Dale on Tuesday, currently the in form team in Div 3 aside from Scunny.....nothing to lose really, we'll be rank outsiders.

Got to be happy with that in the circumstances, at least it shows some sort of commitment to scrap, which is more or less all fans ask.

ffs. the pox got a last minute winner against Bradford.

An impressive 820 Town fans there. Only received 799 tickets!

Williams:
- Pleasing
- Opposition excellent
- Shown before we can dominate
- Shown today we can battle
- Capable of playing in different ways
- We can pass the ball and create chance after chance
- Needed to protect the group and make us more difficult to score against us
- Simply not a penalty
- Need everyone at top of game
- Vigs stepped up in a crutial moment
- Set up to have more behind the ball than normal and break into space quickly
- Final pass and finishing only thing missing
- Some of formation out of necessary. Needed to protect group to show them they can keep clean sheet
- Fonz will have enjoyed more space to run into. Murray linked up well with him
- Barry not quite match fit. Encouraging to get him back
- A Trialist: Cant say too much. Always looking. Many talented players out of contract. Worth us keeping our eye on what there is
- 5 points from last 3 away games aint bad

Decent point with 2 average teams on display. They bullied us all game and ref finally handed out a few cards in the 2nd.

No one played shit but thought Brophy stood out.
Coaching staff came in for stick all game and the end with one ( DT) giving as good as he got and even throwing some badge thumping in for good measure.

Oh well at least wasn't a loss. Keeps Williams safe till Tuesday

He's right about the away haul....very good.

We have to start getting some results at home.

Thompson not too happy with the section of fans what have the coaches verbal. Understandable

Totally, thats uncalled for, its not like we aren't trying or putting any effort in we just aren't good enough on the pitch.

It was a few different individuals around me, totally pointless.

More than a few. Think you were in front of me first half.  Second I stood closer to our goal and was stick from around there as well.
More when players from clapping

Just reading back on the bus, Williams' comments very accurately summed it up for once.

The trio behind Delf worked well and we remained solid at the back, Nath had a great game and I maintain that Thomas is better at the back than in midfield.

Kasim strolled.

On the open terrace?

I heard that people up by the dug out spent the entire game abusing Embleton and Williams.

Decent performance that, considering the lack of defence available. Still got the same problems going forward, no cutting edge at all. Kasim is a shadow of the player he used to be, and neither striker looks like they will score any time soon.

Nathan and vigs deserve praise, both were excellent. Other than that, not a lot to shout about and a pretty dire game, can't comment on the penalty as you can't see a thing from the away end.

Found myself feeling totally embarrassed by a section of our fans today. Yes we aren't very good at the moment but some of the abuse that the players and coaching staff were getting is completely ridiculous. Some of it personal too, there is just no need. Support the team ffs, don't bother going if your just going to chant shite about how bad we are and shout childish abuse at players and staff. Really makes me question if I want to be seen with these idiots, I'd rather not go than be have to listen to them and be assosiated with them. You could see that some of them, especially RE, was quite upset with it all.

But apart from that, not an awful performance and always good to get a clean sheet and point away from home.

I was behind our dugout first half. Couldn't be assed to listen to it 2nd so moved.
Obv not you then  :Ride On Fatbury's Lovestick:

Whoever it was was on here though out game

The worst has to be the 3 man defence of Viveash, Reeves and Heywood away at Chesterfield.

Sounds like either we were unbelievably fortunate, or you were talking bullshit. Let's not speculate.

I was to the left of the dugout (I could barely see the pitch) and yes, a number of 'fans' gave Embleton pelters, questioning what he was paid for. Unfortunately Ross gave him the time of day which is a recipe for disaster. A handful of fans booed at the end and he gave them a sarcastic shake of the head. It was nothing really but bearing in mind it's quite a good point the abuse was pretty unwarranted.

However, our set pieces continue to wind the fuck out of me, consistently awful.

2 pretty poor sides today, neither side created much. A point fair and a clean sheet handy. Nobody stood out although I personally was disappointed in the effort by Kasim and I thought Goddard was anonymous in the second half.

The lack of confidence is clear as nobody want to shoot!

Personal attacks on staff is sad. Wrong.

BUT it is happening for a reason. That reason is because the fans are not galvanised....the results are shit....the football is shit (unless you like a dominating loss).... The model has stopped working and is broken, that's shit.....the communication between fans and club is shit...AND the relationship between factions of the fans is shit.

It is awful at the minute.

That today was a good result in my eyes and saving a pen felt like a goal.

Not read back. Home from footy by 6 is great. Good point. Good day. Can imagine those who were crying for 451 and a boring 0-0 are delighted.

Thomas, Thompson excellent. Norris far more effective than Delf.

A significant proportion of our fans, unfortunately, proved themselves to be brain dead. I was on the receiving end of some verbals from a group of old knob heads who thought it best to abuse our own manager, owner, players and fans who disagreed from minute 1, and slag me off because they "didn't recognise me and I wasn't wearing colours". Heard a few fans on the way out say they were ashamed of our fans today and I agree. I had a neutral with me and he was appalled at the consistent and unwavering negativity.

When I heard the group to the left of me start the Martin Aldridge song I knew I was in for an afternoon of braindeadery. And so it proved with the consistent slagging of Williams and Embleton.

Unfortunately the rift between club and fans is going to be difficult to fix.

Power was alright as long as results held up, but was always going to be in trouble when as now results and performances are indifferent to poor.

A few points at the CG will help.... without this it will get worse before it gets better.

Nah. Great Uncle Bulgaria is my favourite Womble...

(http://vignette3.wikia.nocookie.net/wombles/images/c/c5/Great_uncle_bulgaria_1990s.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20130325225948)

I don't agree with Reg's pessimism generally, or the weird logic it often entails, but I really don't think anyone who has seen us play lately (or looked at the league table), then thought "we might lose today" was talking completely out of their arse.

Nailed it.

We are not Millwall with a consistent following of mongs.

This shit is happening for a reason.

If we get beat on Tuesday it will just get worse.

Patience is wearing thin if not gone in some quarters.

Thinking we might lose is one thing yeah, but assuming we will lose by a few goals is another. There's nothing to suggest that the team will lose by a few goals; it hasn't done so for months. Bizarre.

The game against Bolton was only 1-0 because Vigs played a blinder and they were really shite. Sooner or later if we keep making mistakes at the back in the way we have been doing we are going to get battered.

By the way I'm considered a rose tinter. I am not despondent over this season.

there was lots to suggest that the team are capable of being hammered. mainly by how easy even mediocre teams carve is open at the county ground, couple with a patchwork defense

LW did the right thing and a good job steadying it up with a change to the system. But you couldn't have predicted he would do that after his 'its not the system' and some drivel about 'dominating the ball' list week.

 Just got back in. It was a strange night. You don't notice it a first but when it is pointed out to you, it's rather profound that EVERYBODY is wearing black. It's also the first time I've not been able to find a place open for late night boozing.

Anyway.

I hope that the game gave us reasons to have confidence in the manager?!.........

Over the course of the last 11 away games we've conceded 21 including 6 at Scunny. We've won once.

oh Christ, sober flashheart, he's going to be all 'fun Bobby' :)
-------
useful point, good that LW changed around, but the biggest problem in terms of giving confidence was it was in front of 790 town fans not 7000. in fact we've done fine away in the last 3 outings.

I think the pressure is still on and the knife's are still drawn if he doesn't start to improve us at home.

You've genuinely lost me......

Sober FH eh. I remember Ricky Gervais said he didn't know his father was a drunk until he ran out of booze once and started talking funny  ;)

I'm not unconvinced the fact that knives are ready to be drawn at home isn't part of the reason we've been so shit there..

Ells, have you watched the new Theroux documentary on Scientology yet?

http://friends.wikia.com/wiki/Fun_Bobby

I'm sure nervousness of making a mistake plays a part.

but I reckon the way teams set up away from home is more of a reason

Friends?

That's minus man points for you Batch. I get + man point for not getting the reference,

On the subject of our own fans, it's nothing new, I remember seeing two old time regulars, who were good friends it seemed, square off at half time when we were beating Swansea 1-0 at home in the 95/96 season.  We were top of the league.  One of the blokes was angry, audibly, that we weren't beating them by more and his mate completely lost it with him.  The angry guy didn't watch the 2nd half.

Not yet, but I can't wait to see it. Haven't watched the Savile thing yet either but got it downloaded. I think you have to be in the right mood to watch that sort of thing and not go mental.


Yeah, there are obviously multiple factors. But the entitlement and whinging of the home crowd can't be ignored.

I know, I know. it's my younger sisters fault, honest.

equally it has to be recognised discontent is based on demonstrably shite football/league position.

it's always been the case as long as I can remember. maybe things are a bit more instant now. but shit seasons always go hand in hand with eventual fan dissatisfaction. man, this lot would probably have pissed themselves at some of the "not fit to wear the shirt," chants that used to arise.

I think that's why it's annoying though, because the players are trying. Getting on someone's back when they're trying to do something and they're just as frustrated as you is about as counterproductive as it gets.

I don't think that's always true. Some people up after being criticised, even as a fuck you/siege mentality thing.

not suggesting that's normal mind. but I think it's sometimes fair game in the last 5/after the game.

Some people respond positively to criticism - but very rarely when it's inane and abusive.

If Luke Williams says "you were fucking shit out there, sort it out" I wouldn't complain. But some cock in the crowd? It won't work.

I would have bitten your hand off for a 0-0, told my mate this morning that it will either be 0-0 or 1-0 to them so I take the result gladly.

To follow the theme of dickhead fans... Three or four guys turned up during subs shooting practice, Norris scored which brought an ironic cheer from them, being only a few feet away he heard and was visibly put out by it.

I understand people are frustrated we have paid money for him and he's not produced as yet but that's not the way to do things. 

Another one here to add to the 'embarrassed and ashamed' of some in our section today - calling them supporters just doesn't seem the right word.  Dimwitted fuckery and ignorance of the lowest order - abuse, provocation and ridicule of our own, of the vilest kind - damn you and your poisonous bile.  From before the game, to incredibly, booing after it, yuk.

As for the game, enforced though it was, we looked so much more comfortable in 4-2-3-1...OK little threat whatsoever that we might score, but considerably more solid at the back.  Vigs and Thomas were excellent, Nathan imperious, and I'm going to out on a limb and say well played Anton too.  All put a shift in, genuinely looked like they gave a toss, and generally, performing with that application and determination will see us turn the corner.

Wimbledon were agricultural.  A bunch of blokes pulled out of the gym for the afternoon to bully their way around the pitch - fair play to them and The Fairytale for getting this far.  If you can get away with it, why not?  As usual, the officials gave us nothing, collectively ignoring their 90 minutes of physical shithousery, to avoid making difficult decisions.

So all in all, a decent willingness to mix it and deserved point, in tough circumstances made even harder by some of our own finest.  For the sake of the rest of the season and perhaps beyond, let's hope that the players and staff draw strength from some positives rather than get sucked into and absorbed by the negative cesspit.

Roll on Tuesday.  

I completely agree, the players are trying, perhaps apart from Kasim who seems to be strolling through games at the moment, I'd almost be tempted to play Tom Smith ahead of him at the moment. Talking of midfield I can't wait to have Doughty back, I think his drive and energy is massively missed currently.

I've mentioned it before but I'll say it again....

Forget Power or the style of football it's the sheer number of absolute twats that follow us (not calling them fans or supporters) that are making me lose interest. It's getting increasingly difficult to support a club when you hate a significant portion of the so called fanbase!

Agreed. And great post Christy.

that's just odd to me. you get people moaning, but singling out people for continuing abuse is fairly rare in my opinion, other than the odd 'for fucks sake soinso pull your finger out ....' type comments

there is a guy who sits near us for whom whatever the players do it's wrong. we just take the piss a bit.

you get moaners at all clubs,.

You don't many 'supporters' of other clubs behaving like ours did today. I also just made the mistake of looking at the Facebook page and they are outraged the coaching staff and players reacted to being called cunts all game.

Right then, so over the course of the last 10 games we've conceded 15 and lost twice.

You are determined to make everything as negative and downbeat as you possibly can. You are well aware that you have been consistently (and drastically) wrong over a period of several years, but are a little too arrogant to acknowledge your consistent and comprehensive inaccuracies  :bye:

Awful game. We were satisfyingly alright at the back, inevitably shite in the final third.

special mention to the baldy twat who decided it would be a good idea to bang on the dugout perspex above embleton's head in the first half. Fuck off back to your zoo enclosure with your other mates, you utter cunts.

Agreed.

I've been to several games where I've been (I believe understandably) unhappy with the performance but I've felt so much worse about it due to the constant moaning of dickheads around me.

with you there. We have some great fans, but we also have some absolute helmets that go and watch us, sadly, they are the more vocal ones.

We almost had a version of 'Wimbledon's a shithole, I want to go home' today. Geographically inaccurate and also a song we can almost never sing (doubt we are going to be playing Aleppo City anytime soon) without taking the total piss.

No. Over the last 10 we've lost 4.

Fans moaning about moaning fans. Classic.

I'd hazard a guess that some fans at most clubs would be just the same after nigh on 2 years of shite.

I take each game individually - bollocks to extrapolating how things will turn out eventually.

Bolton was absolute cack so I wont be going Tuesday. If they, miraculously, stop Rochdale winning 10 games in a row I'll be there Saturday.

Now, that's what pisses fans off. Fucking Rochdale winning 9 in a row and we can't win a fucking raffle..

Hope is what keeps fans going to games and there's precious little of that at the moment.

There is a vast difference between moaning and the verbal abuse that was everywhere yesterday.

Walsall D
Rochdale D
QPR D
Chesterfield L
Gillingham D
Peterborough D
Oxford L
Oldham W
Shrewsbury D
Wimbledon D

Even if you're desperate enough to call QPR a defeat, I still haven't a clue what you're on about.

as I said, in my experience personal abuse like that is pretty rare. that said I sit in the drs. if he gets it every week from the arkells you have a point.

If you take each game individually, why let one game influence whether you attend another? Yes, Bolton was shit, but surely the Wimbledon result/performance was encouraging - why not let this influence your decision to go Tuesday?

I don't get this almost sense of entitlement (x team is winning, so we should be winning; we're not winning so it is permissible to spit personal abuse at players/staff), especially when for most of the time in most games, the players are obviously trying. They're just not good enough to win games, at the moment.

Hope may keep some fans from going to games. The lack of wins keeps customers away.

STFC is an average third division club that's not performing very well in a poor division. It has happened before, it will happen again. I suppose there are a dwindling number of us 'grey' fans that can accept this and just get on with watching and supporting our chosen team.

What does the W next to Oldham mean?

Wankers?

Don't include cup games in league game sequences.....having had a few I forgot to factor in yesterday, so it should be 3 defeats in the last 10.

Away form like that over a season would give you 20 points on the road, not too bad, but puts pressure on the home form to find the other 32.  Last season that is how many we got at the CG.

Not much to add - defensively solid, thanks to a combination of a change in formation, limited opposition and the absence of Branco who has become a complete liability in recent weeks. Thompson and Thomas both impressive as has been said.

I never thought we were going to score and our complete lack of threat is likely to see us in trouble. It's a shame we cannot bring in any loans until January as I am sure Power would have acted by now with reinforcements.

Embleton really did not help himself by constantly engaging with the supporters shouting verbal abuse at him and Williams. After the penalty was awarded he turned around to face our fans and stared them out for at least a minute which was never going to end well.

More chants against Power, 'fuck off Lee Power, get out of our club' and 'we want Power out' was sung loud and clear during the first half...I wonder if he made the trip.

Looking at the highlights the AFC #9 briefly tried to tell the ref it wasn't a penalty before going along with the majority

there were more Swindon chances in the YouTube highlights than I thought there would be.

It's a proper token effort though isn't it!

This is my 6th decade supporting Town and, like many of a similar ilk, the buzz has disappeared completely so it doesn't take much nowadays for me to give a game a miss.

I've seen us relegated at Newport, thrashed 7-0 at Bolton and the mega highs of 3 Wembley visits to more than balance out the shit seasons.

The combination of not going to the pub before a game very often, sitting down and a complete lack of atmosphere has diluted my 'passion' somewhat.

All that and the creeping realisation that we really are on a downward spiral makes me a stop-go fan these days.

Fwiw, I think giving the manager a hard time is fair game - not so the players.

I wonder if any other league 1 club has 2 fairly regular strikers that dont have a goal between them?

Not a surprise though. Fonz has 16 in 165. players can come good at a club or in a system but fuck me he's hidden any sign of it well.

madness to have only him and Norris  when Obika is so injury prone..

not sure where power/Williams saw the goals coming from.

Still think Norris could get a dozen this season, obika a few more, but then what?

Think the hope was that Goddard could chip in with some significant numbers....he is currently joint second leading goal scorer.......with 1  :)

yeah I guess so. he might yet. seems to be struggling a bit with pace of game to me but I have a feeling he'll come good ( not that he's bad). Murray and doughty should get a few too with luck

From a SW London report

'Them: allegedly ravaged by injury but I wonder if that did them a favour, it sometimes does when your out-of-form players have a week or two off.

What was left looked a young team, decent in possession and uninhibited in their attacking play. They had little threat up front but – unlike the opposition at The Ricoh a week or two back – I didn’t see a side heading for relegation.'

I suppose Oldham or Cov could fit the bill.

Interestingly, I wondered if there'd ever been a season when after 13 games our leading scorers only had 2 goals.  Bizarrely, the first example going back was 09/10, when several player shared 2 goals, including Billy Paynter, who went on to get 26 and Charlie Austin had yet to play....and he got 20 including PO games.

So all hope is not lost  :)

We have had a trialist score a couple, is he set to be the next Charlie?  I doubt it.

It is frustrating, with an Ajose we'd have won yesterday, not because we'd necessarily deserved it but because he'd have nicked something, same can be said of a couple of other games so far such is the standard of the league this term.

well that's shut me up :) genuinely amazed at that stat, I know he had penalty duty but even so that's some form turnaround.

unfortunately as said I suppose Charlie was the key

This. Bolton being an example.

Just an observation from Saturday to illustrate why some or maybe the majority of the fan base become frustrated with the style of play.

In the first five minutes, Iandolo in a good crossing position on the left wing, two players in the box. A couple of passes later and the ball is back on the halfway line. Collective groan from all around.

Also, normally look forward to the rare occasions when we are able to stand on a terrace. Kings Meadow is very much the exception to this.
For a relatively new stadium (1989) there are no excuses for making the terracing so shallow.

Tomorrow against Rochdale is going to be a very difficult game with them on the back of a 7 matches in a row winning run, they have only let in 2 goals in the last 5 games too.

Hopefully we didn't pick up any extra injuries this weekend.

Just the Yaser suspension ......so far!

is that served tomorrow? bugger. Smith...

Bizarrely their excellent run and our utter ineptitude at the CG offers our best chance. It's very difficult to keep such runs going past 6 or so games, and even when we've been uber shit like 10/11, losing 5 in a row at home is rare, although of course we managed it last season.

So a draw might not be beyond the realms of fantasy. The crowd might look a bit sorry though.

to answer my own question


http://www.thefa.com/football-rules-governance/suspensions/clubdiscipline?league=32&club=10631221

There's no point in crossing it to a crowded penalty box resembling land of the giants with just Goddard and maybe Delf in there though is there. We're better off coming out again.

When we had Mighty Michael Smith and Andy Williams up top, a couple of years back with crosses being provided by Byrne and Toffolo....they scored 35 between them....SJO waded in with 9.

Considering Smith was a big un, not many were headed goals, more seemed to be low crosses that were swept in, if there was a template goal at all.  

Barry into Ajose last season was similarly a feature, again no headers. It's kind of what you're meant to do with wing backs. Neither of Delfonouso or Norris, seem to make the runs, SJO will, but he's always injured.

So really as things stand, we haven't  got an attacking template goal in us, which is why the odd goal comes from an unlikely source, maybe a pen or OG, or perhaps a corner, roughly every few games.

Corrected ;)

Looks like none of the injured players will be back in contention tomorrow then according to LW.

Thought the back four worked well v Wimbledon.  N.Thompson can definitely play as a centre back in a two. Encouraged by Iandolo: great touch and can go by players.  My team v Rochdale would be:

                                       Vigouroux
  Barry           Thomas                       Thompson       Brophy
                     Furlong                       Rodgers
             Goddard                Murray               Iandolo
                                       Delfouneso

Norris and T.Smith to come on.

Anyone know if BOO is injured or if there has been a bust up after the Bolton debacle?

Don't think you can get away with both Barry and Brophy as full backs. Furlong shows some idea of defensive discipline, so I'd leave him at RB. Straight swap Smith for Kasim for me.

“Jon Obika is progressing, he’s still a little bit of a way off but he’s progressing and hopefully he’ll be back on the grass soon.


Hmmm have we discovered the reason for the apparent lack of commitment from the squad this season.?  :hmmm:

Well last season it was gas....

I would tend to agree, it was just an observation.
However, first five minutes, away from home, nowt wrong with taking a gamble sometimes and just banging it in hard and low, anything could happen. Peterborough being an example where a low cross led to an own goal.
Reg also made the point regarding relative success from the lower whipped in type cross.
All goes out of the window though if we don't have capable finishers.
Still have some hope for both ND & Norris and confident that Goddard will score a few.

Furlong put in an absolute peach of cross on Saturday, at the culmination of our best move, and there was precisely zero red shirts anywhere near.

That will happen though, if we play 451 with two very deep holding midfielders - but is also what a lot of people have been crying out for.

If we're going 451 and we have some fit players, I'd like to see Murray in alongside Kasim and Goddard as the 10 but of course we have no wingers, because we've never planned on playing 451.