Steady away at win, top scorer in league, top scorers…….but……..

I don't think the current top 2 will make the autos, maybe not even playoffs. Top 2 will come from the 4 teams currently in the play off positions, probably Bolton and us.

 

It's called the rules. If there is a ball drop within the 12 yard box it goes to the keeper. Ref was just enforcing this rule.

 

Portsmouth will be there, or thereabouts at the end of the season. Not so sure on Oxford. Last night might be a blip, but it could also be the start of them falling back.

 

I was saying something similar to my brother at the game last night. There are plenty of positives; third in the league, highest scorers in the league, great away form, plenty of players to come back from injury, etc.

However, I'm not really enjoying our style of play. Far too much passing sideways and backwards in our own half. Playing with our backs to goal and passing back from attacking positions. Slow build-up and then a long ball forward. Lack of ideas up front when we get there, and not willing to just go for it on many occasions.

When we do run at people, then we seem to score, as Devante proved last night; almost twice.

Long way to go though, so hopefully the attacking excitement level will increase.

 

Devante seems to be carrying this team on his own goals wise, the other strikers need to start chipping in & putting in a performance. I don’t hold out much hope for Watters, but Cosgrove might come good with a run of games. The problem will ultimately be January when we inevitably sell Cole. He’ll be worth a punt to somebody given his contract expires next summer.

 

It’s the lack of pace in central midfield that costs us against the top sides. Kane, Styles, Russell, Benson - all slow, with no leader amongst them. We lose possession and suffer for it, that’s why Styles gets booked a lot - he’s not quick enough to get back or challenge and track back. If we can get Connell fully fit and somebody quicker in foot and thought then we’ll do well against anybody. That’s why we go sideways and backwards, there’s nobody moving into the spaces looking for the ball, and most are one footed.

 

I've seen this said a few times on here and I can't agree, I really enjoyed it.

 

Prior to last night, Devante hadn’t scored in 4 games. We scored 6 goals in those games.

I too think Cosgrove will come good, but Watters has already showed way more quality and workrate than Cosgrove has this season.

 

Only Scored 2 in the last 7 games Cole, same amount as kane and 1 less than Styles.

I actually like how well distributed our goals seem to be, with goals coming from midfield, defence and attack recently. With how Styles has grabbed 3 goals you can see Collins tactics coming out more and how he likes one of the midfield to always be bombing forward and supplement Cole, which allows Mcatee the freedom to wander a bit and link up play more which was evident last night.

I think yesterdays game was the first time i could see Collins tactics clearly. Two wing backs who are incredibly wide and attacking, we've got one of the centre midfielders who has license to get forward whenever he can and support the attack while allows our more creative striker the chance to drop into gaps and receive balls to feet and help get the ball further forward.

Great stuff and i hope it continues.

 

still waiting for Plymouths blip

 

It started in August - they've lost 6 already this season...

 

I'll bet you 50 quid for charity that we don't sell Cole in January if we're in the top eight in the league.

 

It’s third division footballl, and we have a manager and players that are here because for now, this is their level.

It’s a league where all teams can get from box to box, but it’s how you finish and how you defend that defines the result, as we’ve seen all season.

I think our main ploy is to try and pull teams around with our passing, and create gaps for our wide men to exploit, and also to play on the break. Not often we go through the middle as opponents try crowding us out - as you would when up against Cole, he’ll be the main focus.

 

Go on then. I'll take that bet.

So to be clear (assuming we're in the top 8 - or the bet's invalid). If we sell Cole before the end of the transfer window - you will give £50 to charity of my choice; if we don't sell him, I give £50 to a charity of your choice?

 

Yep. Everyone's a winner.

 

P.s. That's on the understanding Sam doesn't take me up on the bet.

 

I'm sure you could take on all comers!

 

Couldn't afford him

 

The ball wasn’t in the area when he blew, was it? I thought we had the ball just outside the area, down our right.

 

The sneaky swine waited until we had crossed it into the box to blow his whistle.