Viking Supporters Co-operative
Viking Chat => Viking Chat => Topic started by: selby on January 31, 2021, 02:11:59 pm
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Nothing get's easier, from playing the top of the division, we now have the top form side to play with a very impressive run of wins behind them coming to the Keepmoat to test our resilience and stop our little run that has got us all excited about just how far we can go in the division this season.
Eight wins on the trot, including seven in the league by Oxford setting a new club record is certainly impressive after a poor start to the season, and what has propelled them to the fringes of a play off place in the table. Taylor with 11 league goals to his name is an obvious threat and Ruffels goal yesterday ended a run of thirteen games without a win v Fleetwood who up to yesterday must have been one of the best jinx sides of all time never having beaten them before. There away record is won 5 drawn2 lost 5 soring 20 but conceding 20 although obviously most of the losses came earlier in the season with the play off hang over still raw.
So a hard game in prospect against a Carl Robinson team, a manager who I have always wondered just what is the fascination with him by the media, a miserable interviewee who seems to land clubs with funds and never does a lot, always eventually messing up and seemingly blaming other things and the fourth official ala Fergie.
We now have a little break both to have a little rest from the heat of battle, and also to assimilate our new acquisitions into our way of doing things, which is not always to hang on for most of the game like yesterday, while Oxford hope to extend their long unbeaten run V AFC Wimbledon in the pizza cup on Tuesday, not an easy game for them, and could end up feisty being fairly local.
What team will we pick? god knows and Darren only I think, but go ahead and have a go, the odds on getting all eleven correct about the same as six lottery numbers, in fact do both.
Will our new signings be involved?
Can we stop the Oxford run of victories?
Are you now getting nervous about our chances to push on?
Because of their long victorious run, is this our hardest game to date?
Have you like me been very impressed with Smith in the last couple of games? some one I think has really stepped up and is real quality.
If Taylor Richards carries on improving like he is, can the pair of them become the new Stock and Wellens in our hearts? although young players they are rapidly improving and are highly tallented and are starting to effect games with their play on a regular basis.
Are we likely to do the business a little easier this weekend, and save our hearts from all that fluttering and tension?
Lots to talk about this game,lots to look forward to, and can we get another win against a side that could enter the party at the top of the division? Please have your say, any Oxford Dons who want to join in please do but please use plain English language us Yorkies will understand easily.
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Crikey!! The new Stock and Wellens! If that is true then we will be blessed beyond I ever imagined. I never dreamed I would see a midfield duo as good as they were. In my eyes they were so good I would have had their babies... Never imagined i would again see a Rovers midfield as good as theirs.
What a team is being built here. And what leadership we have - right up to the very top. I am stunned tbh.
BobG
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Interesting point made on the EFL on Quest show last night. Their league run has only been against teams in the bottom half of the league. Still, you have to beat what's in front of you, and they have done that and built a good run. They will be far more tested when we play them.
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Interesting point made on the EFL on Quest show last night. Their league run has only been against teams in the bottom half of the league. Still, you have to beat what's in front of you, and they have done that and built a good run. They will be far more tested when we play them.
I hope so Rob. But they have definitely turned the corner and this is going to be a tough game. Tough for both teams.
I think Oxford were the best team we played last season at the Kassam stadium. Some very good players in their team.
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They are top of the form guide and we are second. I still think we will win this one as our games have been slightly tougher than theirs over the last 10 games even though the number of points has been equal. If you like stats this is a good place to look.
https://www.footballwebpages.co.uk/lincoln-city/form-guide/ten
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Oxford fans were baying for his head at the end of November when they conceded twice in the last few minutes against local rivals Swindon to lose.
Since then, they are unbeaten in 12 in all competitions but they have only really played Hull City from the teams in and around the top. Reading local reports, Fleetwood were apparently very unlucky to lose on Saturday despite playing most of the game with ten-men.
We haven't got a great record against Oxford despite winning the last meeting.
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1-1 draw, toughish game but I never feel optimistic to beat Oxford....
Narrrrrr f##k it , we’ll beat em 1-0
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They’ll be feeling very confident after such a run, but how must our lads be feeling?
Tough one to call for sure, as who knows what our team will be? Will Bostock be available, Robertson maybe? Gomes will be available and he’d be in my 11, with Simoes dropping to the bench. It would certainly make the midfield stronger and, as we’ve seen earlier in the season, he brings an additional goal threat. Maybe Bostock could make the bench, at least.
Fingers crossed for Bogle and Sims to make speedy recoveries, as Fej could do with resting.
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Interesting point made on the EFL on Quest show last night. Their league run has only been against teams in the bottom half of the league. Still, you have to beat what's in front of you, and they have done that and built a good run. They will be far more tested when we play them.
I liked the lads comment after seeing those results “It will be the first proper test coming up against a class team like Doncaster"
They will test and stretch us no doubt. We need to be a little better in possession by keeping the ball for longer, as we have given it away a bit cheaply at times. DM has a full week to address that and tweak things.
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Richards being subbed early was interesting? Someone suggested that it was maybe due to his lack of passing to team mates.. And DM was making a point. I think potentially that DM was shielding him from the foul upon foul he seemed to be on the receiving end.. That the ref did bugger all about.?
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DM seems to have a habit of subbing T-R off around the hour mark in recent games.
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Richards being subbed early was interesting? Someone suggested that it was maybe due to his lack of passing to team mates.. And DM was making a point. I think potentially that DM was shielding him from the foul upon foul he seemed to be on the receiving end.. That the ref did bugger all about.?
He's been subbed at a similar time in the last few games (except, WHU) which I think is just protecting him however now we have more options he may not need to be so protective.
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We don’t want or need another hamstring injury, so that maybe in the manager’s thoughts. Richards tends to make some lung bursting runs with the ball, probably more than any other midfielder.
I think he’s keeping him available for selection.
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Yes definitely. He is the main man for opening teams up so we've not been able to afford to lose him.
With Gomes and others to come in then he can let Richards more off the leash and burn himself out for an hour
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selby '' So a hard game in prospect against a Carl Robinson team, a manager who I have always wondered just what is the fascination with him by the media, a miserable interviewee who seems to land clubs with funds and never does a lot, always eventually messing up and seemingly blaming other things and the fourth official ala Fergie''
I think you're being a bit tough on KR selby his record so far is not to be sniffed at.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karl_Robinson
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Their last six away games have yielded 4 wins and 2 draws but Portsmouth are they only decent team they have come up against and that was way back at the start of that run in late November (1-1). They are no mugs but their run of three away wins on the roll has been against Rochdale, Burton and Plymouth.
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and Fleetwoods Mulgrew got a straight red around 10 minutes in, Oxford must have been a bit frustrated they could only score once.
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Their last six away games have yielded 4 wins and 2 draws but Portsmouth are they only decent team they have come up against and that was way back at the start of that run in late November (1-1). They are no mugs but their run of three away wins on the roll has been against Rochdale, Burton and Plymouth.
Plymouth are strong at home CBcb so that was a very good result for them.
Always confident of winning and our lads must be buzzing at the moment. We can’t afford to drop our standards though against Oxford. They will be buzzing also.
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Interesting point made on the EFL on Quest show last night. Their league run has only been against teams in the bottom half of the league. Still, you have to beat what's in front of you, and they have done that and built a good run. They will be far more tested when we play them.
it’s ok them on Quest saying they have not played anyone. they should know as we all do it doesn’t matter who you play and beat, as winning breeds confidence. So we will have to be full on our metal against all teams especially those clubs near the bottom as this time of the year they become as good as the top clubs with trying to battle away from the danger zone
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Glyn, he came from Chelsea youth not a surprise there that he was reasonably successful and gained a reputation at that time they were buying every good youngster in Europe. He has since managed MK Dons when they had money thrown at them and used his contacts for loans for such as Bamford, Charlton again in a period when money was being chucked about by the new owners with the benefit of being a London side with the pull on players especially the better loan players from Arsenal Chelsea Spurs etc. and now Oxford again an easy reach for good loan players and within easy travelling distance from London and again in
the top spenders in the division.
Result he has overseen a couple of failed play off positions, managers like Paul Cook, Derek Adams, John Coleman and especially Gareth Ainsworth make him look what he is, a very bang average manager who has a pitch side manner to match the worst, and a history of bottling the big occasions, who for some reason the media bull up, probably because of his Chelsea connections.
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Karl Robinson has never worked for Chelsea.
He took over at MK Dons aged 29 and did a very good job, his record speaks for itself in my opinion and he consistently manages sides who do pretty well at this level. He got MK into the Championship, hardly a failure.
Derek Adams is one of the most whiny, deluded managers in the EFL so he's a strange comparison as well.
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RA, my mistake should have put Liverpool youth teams and Blackburn, was thinking of Bamford from Chelsea at the time, drop him into Morecombe the same as Adams and see how he went on, he is a serial bottler when he has had the advantage of being backed at the clubs he has managed.
Another Fergie, people get fed up of him and his ways and he floats off to the next succor.
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Fair enough Selby, and to be fair I don't find Robinson too pleasant but he has got a good record at this level and has earned promotion before.
Derek Adams though, christ. I'll not forget him claiming Plymouth "would be top of the league if you only counted games played on Saturdays" during the League Two promotion season.
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On Richards as much as i'm sure protecting his game time is a major factor, by the time he has come off recently we've been in front and his biggest weakness is his defensive work so i suspect DM likes to shore up those last 25 mins or so.
We don't need to fear anybody in this league and we can beat anybody so they should be more worried about us than we are about them.
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Oxford have just signed Blackburn defender Joe Grayson on loan......... not a regular in the Blackburn squad.
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As RA says, Robinson has a good record as a manager, its just I can't stand the fella, last season he moaned at the fourth official in our game at the KM from the first minute to the last.
If we put it together we are half decent ourselves as our goal tally and goals against column indicate with strengths at our level through out the team. Our work rate and covering the ground as a team must be up there with most sides in the division with James and Holidays fitness up there with the best of them the ground they cover I would guess.
If we play well we can match any team in the division as we have seen in the first half of the season,but off the ball we are the best I have seen in our division this season, disrupting the other sides momentum on a regular basis, keeping our shape and generally working hard for each other, and when the game is coming to an end we have kept our concentration and generally run the games down quite well by dominating possession of the ball.
Long may it continue, Darren's voice may have something to do with it, he would scare me to death.
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As RA says, Robinson has a good record as a manager, its just I can't stand the fella, last season he moaned at the fourth official in our game at the KM from the first minute to the last.
If we put it together we are half decent ourselves as our goal tally and goals against column indicate with strengths at our level through out the team. Our work rate and covering the ground as a team must be up there with most sides in the division with James and Holidays fitness up there with the best of them the ground they cover I would guess.
If we play well we can match any team in the division as we have seen in the first half of the season,but off the ball we are the best I have seen in our division this season, disrupting the other sides momentum on a regular basis, keeping our shape and generally working hard for each other, and when the game is coming to an end we have kept our concentration and generally run the games down quite well by dominating possession of the ball.
Long may it continue, Darren's voice may have something to do with it, he would scare me to death.
So he’s gone from being a “bang average manager” to having “a good record as manager” in less than 12 hours. Hopefully his Oxford side have a similar reversal in fortunes by the weekend.
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Richards being subbed early was interesting? Someone suggested that it was maybe due to his lack of passing to team mates.. And DM was making a point. I think potentially that DM was shielding him from the foul upon foul he seemed to be on the receiving end.. That the ref did bugger all about.?
He's been subbed at a similar time in the last few games (except, WHU) which I think is just protecting him however now we have more options he may not need to be so protective.
I said the other day that Richards has not managed 90 mins since the second match of the season. He's got all the talent in the world, but he needs to up his fitness if he's really going to make the most of it.
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Oxford United have made their second signing of the day - and the second son of a former professional footballer.
Elliot Lee, son of Rob, has joined on loan from Luton until the end of the season. He is a 26-year-old forward.
Earlier today they signed Blackburn defender Joe Grayson, Simon's son, also on loan.
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They are after around four players today. They are also being linked with former Man City kid Brandon Barker who is now at Rangers.
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I'm expecting DM to rotate the squad a little for this game, he mentioned how the team looked leggy on sat. I just hope he doesn't go too far as I think that would play into Oxford hands. I can imagine he may give James a rest to play Robertson there. Play Taylor on the right and drop wright (although harsh) maybe drop simeo's for lokilo although until he tired on sat I thought he was doing ok.
Tough choices but am sure DM will throw something in the mix that leaves us baffled until the end where we scratch our heads saying what a tactical genius he is
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If there was one guy that looked leggy, it was Fej and how do we rest him at the moment? Maybe DM will tell him to rest up and miss training for a couple of days? I can see Halliday dropping back to right back, with Taylor in front of him and that balances the right side. I can’t see DM partnering Smith with Robertson in the defensive 2, but James deserves some time out, with all the running he’s doing. Until Bostock is right, I think James will sit in there again (although he has covered on that left side of midfield before and that could be a change, with Gomes partnering Smith).
The problem area is the left side, with Simoes. He tried to cover when he didn’t have the ball, but he wasn’t that much help to CJ, as he almost seemed to be too far away from his man. I’d put Gomes in his place, despite my comment in brackets, above, as he loves to get up and down the pitch. I think the penny will drop with Simoes, but it’ll take time.
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Everyone wants game time in a winning side Alan
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They are after around four players today. They are also being linked with former Man City kid Brandon Barker who is now at Rangers.
They did sign four players including Brandon Barker.
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I'm expecting DM to rotate the squad a little for this game, he mentioned how the team looked leggy on sat. I just hope he doesn't go too far as I think that would play into Oxford hands. I can imagine he may give James a rest to play Robertson there. Play Taylor on the right and drop wright (although harsh) maybe drop simeo's for lokilo although until he tired on sat I thought he was doing ok.
Tough choices but am sure DM will throw something in the mix that leaves us baffled until the end where we scratch our heads saying what a tactical genius he is
Don't understand why you would propose dropping Wright in a discussion on resting players. He's only just returned from a good rest and the only player who could replace him - Halliday - was showing signs of fatigue in the last game. Surely he is the one of those two needing the rest?
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If we were playing tonight then the points about resting players are valid. That we have a whole week in between games means that unless carrying injuries, those players should be well rested for Saturday.
However we have lots of games this month so I would not be surprised to see rotations and/or early ish subs.
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If we win on Saturday then I think I will REALLY start to believe! Another really tough game on paper. Three points would be huge.
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The last time I looked Oxford were well on their way to another win v Wimbledon being 2-0 up with a team that shows a number of changes from Saturday.
Looks like we will have to become the party poopers to stop a long list of victories by a very in form Oxford side.
Very much not beyond us though, and we have a habit of being party poopers.
Accrington 3-1 up v Bristol Rovers Portsmouth 1-0 up v Charlton
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4-1 up
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The last time I looked Oxford were well on their way to another win v Wimbledon being 2-0 up with a team that shows a number of changes from Saturday.
Looks like we will have to become the party poopers to stop a long list of victories by a very in form Oxford side.
Very much not beyond us though, and we have a habit of being party poopers.
Accrington 3-1 up v Bristol Rovers Portsmouth 1-0 up v Charlton
To be honest selby, I would have expected Oxford to put out a much changed team tonight as they are playing in the pizza cup.
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Where the f*ck have I been this season? I didn't know they'd signed Sam Winnall on a permanent.
Scored 2 tonight.
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I admire your guts lads trying to pick the side to play on Saturday and matching what team Darren picks, do you all do the lottery?
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Nick Syd, in my opinion a bang average manager can have a decent record when at the level his teams perform at have the luxury of being constantly some of the best financed squads in the division they are in.
And that's how I see Robinson who has always had the benefit of funds available, as the last week shows again with the number of acquisitions for Oxford, always meddling always changing.
He has a decent record, by no means that outstanding considering the money he has had at his disposal at all his clubs, and the attraction to players those clubs have especially the wages, would I employ him as a manager, No, there are far better with worse records but have achieved a lot more with less.
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That’s how I see him Selby. He comes across as the big I am in his interviews for me.
Darren Moore shows far more humility but seems to have achieved more and it’s always more about the players and the club than himself in his interviews.
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I am sure that the Charlton side were under instructions by the management in 2017 to take Coppinger out of the game, as in the 9 minutes he was on the pitch they did a roll up on him and had him off with an unpunished sending off tackle in the centre circle early doors.
Taylor Richards will get the same treatment on Saturday when he collects the ball if things repeat, stopping his runs in the middle of the park away from danger, a signature of his teams wherever he has been, and we need a strong referee who is up to the off the ball and cynical fouls his teams employ in those areas.
Oxfords right back in our away game last season wanted his leg breaking, as he spent most of the game trying to do it to our lads and got away with it.
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I know Oxford won last night but I was not impressed by them
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But all it takes is for us to have a an off day
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Or Oxford to have the same luck we had last weekend....
BobG
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No luck last weekend Bob......resolute defending and outstanding goalkeeping :thumbsup:
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I know Oxford won last night but I was not impressed by them
3-1, hit the woodwork 3 times and played some who haven’t appeared recently. Saving themselves for Saturday?
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No luck last weekend Bob......resolute defending and outstanding goalkeeping :thumbsup:
Two saves from Balcombe, he won the game.
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Both teams have signed a number of new players to strengthen their squad for the second half of the season, with Oxford already giving a couple a run out in their game v Wimbledon who did well in the game and impressed the fans.
Pre game talk about our new signings suggest that The Rovers are more likely to bring them in slowly rather than drop them straight in, but would anyone put money on it as Darren played players who had just got off the bus in Waterdale the first game of the season.
Oxford fans however on their forum seem to expect changes and the new signings to play despite their record breaking run of wins, which would be hard on the players that achieved that particular mile stone.
An interesting conundrum do the sides bring in new players signed just last week and possibly disrupt teams that have been playing well anyway and possibly bring a couple on as substitutes, or go the whole hog and pick the new players straight away after signing.
At least we have not got long to wait to find out the two managers decisions.
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Both Sims and Bostock shown training with the first team in a video on twitter today it will be interesting if they are in the match day squad. The difficult decision for DM is which fit outfield loanee he leaves out of the match day squad to accommodate Sims, so he will have be sure he is ready to play.
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He’ll not risk Sims. He has to be 100% sure he’s ready to go.
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Just read DM’s comments I do not believe Sims will be read yet but Bostock is close.
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Another thing being thrown into the mix in what is already an intriguing fixture is with the weather situation, quite a few fixtures will do well to be completed today if this amount of rain is common throughout the country because of waterlogged pitches, let's hope this game is not one of them.
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The Oxford fans seem to think that superior ball retention and passing will deliver a result...I think resolute defending and a breakaway goal may suffice, ...we don’t have to try to over-power technically better players, we have to absorb and reinvest our energies.....
But I feel we may end up on the wrong end of a 2 niler if we attempt to play them off the park....
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The ref will be the biggest influence, Robinson has always used the tactical foul to stop the other team breaking.
He always employs a sitting defensive mid fielder who does the dirty stuff with the central defenders, running straight at them can expose them, and cause them a lot of trouble with the referee. Taylor Simoes and Lokilo can upset them and put them on a tight rope if they are clever and brave enough to take them on and go for the byline.
As for them footballing us off the field teams have only been able to do that in front of us this season, very rarely getting in behind, and have slipped up against us on quite a few occasions when we have stepped in and been direct through their lines in attack hence the number of goals we have scored from shots from outside the area stepping in on mis placed passes.
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Photo on Twitter from Liam pitch looks perfect for us to play our football and break quick. Will be a good game from two sides who have good form at the moment.
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What’s the weather like in Donny. Forecast looks bad with heavy rain.
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Chucking it down
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No problems
https://twitter.com/liamhoden/status/1358018150051233792
COYR
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Hope we don’t get a weather affected game.
Now getting twitchy after a week without iFollow Live.
Posting here is just distraction therapy.
However good timing as I can get to watch my Jock neighbours get beaten at Twickenham straight after. My son’s schoolmate on the bench for the Jocks.
Beer and hopefully fizz being cooled
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Really looking forward to this game. Don't remember, even in the SO'D era, feeling so assured by the team's ability to control games and get results. This one, like Lincoln last week should be a great test. The irresistible force versus the immovable object.
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Really looking forward to this game. Don't remember, even in the SO'D era, feeling so assured by the team's ability to control games and get results. This one, like Lincoln last week should be a great test. The irresistible force versus the immovable object.
A good way to describe it.
Not sure about this one. Another tough game for us to rise to the occasion. We need to be better in possession than last week but Lincoln were excellent on a poor pitch.
Not a clue how DM will see this one so won't even try to call the line up.
DFP hinting that Bostock and Robertson could be in line for their debuts however, with Gomes getting a few minutes under his belt, he's more likely to start if DM sees fit.
If nothing else we should be very difficult to beat and let's hope Balcombe is equally switched on as he was at Lincoln when called upon.
Either way, get your tranquillisers and a cushion to hide behind ready for another thrilling instalment.
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I don’t know about anybody else but even though we aren’t in the grounds I’ve still got my buzz back every week. DM has got us playing some great stuff but most importantly we are getting results!
Trying not to get carried away but I do feel like we really will get promoted this season!! A win today could be huge.
Having said that, I think it’ll be a tough game today and I’ll go 1-1. Which wouldn’t be a disaster.
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Todays team
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EtjEk-nXUAEJ8_5?format=jpg&name=small)
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Attacking line up that. Expecting James to be on the wing and Gomes in the middle as oppose to the the lineup above!
Good to see Bostock on the bench, he might get a few minutes. Yet tinder Robertson also so that is another option possibly!
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What a bench as well
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Ref has got money on Oxford it would seem. Some of his decisions are unbelievable.
If that was a foul by Gomes then I cant possibly have ever seen a game of football in my life.
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Sign of a promotion team this as we never got out of 2nd gear today.
Took our chances and it’s goals that win matches.
Hull losing at Burton a huge bonus for us roday. :thumbsup:
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Ref was appalling. That foul at the end plus the earlier one in first half when he penalised Gomes for kicking the ball was bizarre!
We were a bit careless today but got away with it.
Bostock had a couple of good touches when he came on. Can't tell difference between Smith and Robertson. Look like twins.
Another great 3 points is all that matters. 3 cracking goals.
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Where do these refs come from.
Surely not planet Earth. Must have different rules on Mars.