Thetownend.com

Educate me.

Having been out of the country for the last 3 years I have been very limited in my opportunities to see the Mighty Reds. The last game I went to was Brentford at home in April. It was dire. Really, really bad. We lost 3-1. And we were awful.

I've moved back now, and am going to the game on Saturday. We must be better than we were back in April. Right?

Yes. yes we are.

not really, opposition has just got worse.

You are clearly wrong Mexico. This team would not have been relegated from League 1 last season.  :|

we are fitter than last year and the opposition is worse but we still have some poor players.

The players we have are generally pretty comfortable at this level so we are able to play quite poorly and still win. This has indeed happened on a number of occasions this season, some would say the majority of occasions.

We have been unable to killl teams off when we have gone a goal up several times this season and dropped a lot of points as a result. I believe this will change under Sturrock though.

Sturrock is ace - FACT!

Well that's good to know.

I've listened to the games on t'internet but you never quite get the sense of what the players are doing/capable of from that.

Do they play with a bit of heart these days? In that Brentford game (the last one I went to) we started with McPhee and Benjamin up front. Aaron Brown scored the only goal. I'm hoping to be impressed by the improvements in Shakes, Nicholas and Roberts since I last saw them...

Nicho and Robbo are coming on ok. Roberts is our top scorer!

shakes...?

well he can do a lovely dance.

We've been crap for about 2 years now.....the last time I recall thinking wow we're a quite good side was around early 04....that side which  :king:  put together was

.......................................Evans

  .............Gurney........O'Hanlon.......Heywood..........Nicho

 ...............Igoe............Migz.............Hewlett...........Howard

.............................SSP...................Mooney..........


  After the  Boxing Day shambles at Rushden, we put together a 12 game run undeafeated and played some decent stufff.

  That side playing as it did then would cane today's side....Nicho would have to play for the 04 model.

Going through that side - there's not much difference at the back - some would say we're stronger now.

Midfield, far more invention from both wings than there is now. I know Igoe tailed off horribly after that season, but I'd take him back even now for the right. Centre mid of Weston and Evans vs. a centre mid of Hewlett and Migs - think I'd have to stick with what we have now, althugh Migs on the top of his game (one game in 10) would piss over any of them.

Up top is where it counts though - that says it all about the difference between that team and this. Best two strikers in the league playng together - and they didn't even need to pay well as a two - they just did the job.

In all honesty we've been pretty poor in a lot of games this season..............

Fortunately, most of the teams in our league are worse than us, so we WILL GO UP!!

TBH, I'd play our current team but put SSP and Mooney up front. That would be class and we'd piss this league  8)

.......................................Brezovan

  .............Gurney........Ifil.......Williams..........Nicho

 ...............Igoe............Migz.............Evans...........Brown

.............................SSP........Mooney/Roberts..........


I can't see an argument to not have Brez in the team (other than that he has a broken arm!). Igoe is probably still better than Shakes, and dfinitely was in that season. Mooney up front was very good for us but I think had Roberts been at the top of his game he would have done well alongside Parkin too. We will of course never know!

I'd have Howard over Brown, especially 03/04, any day.  Mooney versus Roberts I'd have to say I can't see Roberts having as much influence in a season as Mooney did then.

I'd say Moonraker called it right, although I think Migz that season and the previous one was championship level, whereas a couple of good performances from Weston and Evans consistently decent doesn't merit anywhere near that yet.

To be honest, I think its only on the wings and up front where the 04 play off team is really any better than todays side.

I'd take Brezovan over Evans
Williams ------> Heywood
This seasons Ifil ----------> O' Hanlon
Evans------------------------------------------------------------------------------> Hewlett
Gurney in 04 and Jack Smith are of a similar standard but very different players
Migs is a tough one as he was gifted but rarley played to his potential. I'd have him in his 04 form over Weston at the moment though

Its all in the mind Mex. Same standard team, different mentality. Focus, determination and a bit of hard work will always get you way above your station in football.

I suspect Iffy was too soft on the players. Hence us folding last season when we really should have carried on march's good form.

Comparing now to 04. Williams is better than Heywood. Brez was better than Evans, but Smith isnt as good as Evans. Paul Evans better than Hewlett.

Attacking four of Migz, Howard, SSP and Mooney all better than what we have now. Unfortunately. Neutral position on Igoe.

Whoever said they'd pick Roberts over Mooney needs their head checking.

I do see why peopole would automatically pick Mooney and fair enough he did get the goals for us. I just think that had Roberts played and played as well as he CAN do, Parkin would have had a few more to make up fr losing Mooney. If that makes sense.

They are very different players, and I didn't say i WOULD pick him over Mooney, I just wanted to make the point that he would have fitted into the team well.